interest (part 2.)
The relentlessness of Marvel continued to play against them. For some time now, under Billy's care, Ronald Perelman had spent a license for Autodesk, with the allied help of Saban Haim. Together, they embarked on the idea of creating numerous television series. They had already started investing in two animated films for DVD distribution: the Fantastic Four series. Although the rights lay with Billy, the initial negotiation allowed Marvel the right to recreate a series.
Stan Lee and Billy were having coffee at Marvel Enterprises.
-I'm filled with contradictions, - Stan Lee commented to Billy. Lost in thought, Stan Lee wasn't a politician, but his ambition lacked the experience of Billy's. Over the last six years, Billy's crash course had been top-notch. Running a company, numerous entrepreneurs by his side, economic activities, an MBA course, lecturers, professors, and many others providing top-tier education had taught him some lessons. For example, he knew Stan Lee promoted his agenda, and Billy was merely a means to an end. If Billy failed, Stan Lee would turn to another medium.
-I can see why. I offered to produce the series. I have a licensing agreement for the Fantastic Four. However, there's a clause that as long as it's a Marvel initiative, they can participate, as long as it's not distributed as a feature film. By distributing it on DVD, they bypass the clause... I would have done the best job possible - Billy commented, doubting how many more series he would create for Marvel until they were entirely his.
-That's not the point. They want to make a Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Daredevil, and Thanos series. With minimal resources, they want to deceive consumers. Our fans are unhappy. I was at the Comic-Con last year; many people expressed their disappointment. I even understand why you started gaining popularity... Congratulations on your great work! - Stan Lee commented.
-So risky? Even for me, coordinating the Spider-Man and X-Men series was quite challenging. It took two years, and I used the best animation technology. We reviewed the script with your help and worked based on all the comics. I can't believe they're making four series, - Billy commented, with some happiness inside. In his heart, he wished they would make more and more series. Pokemon trading cards would start selling, along with Tamagotchis. On the other hand, the X-Men and Spider-Man series used the best cartoons, the best graphic designs, along with thick scripts. The demand and cost doubled the value proposed by Saban.
The next plan was to make Marvel spend more money. Even if he had to lie about the success of his cards, he wanted to highlight, like flies, although only throwing darts. He wanted a deep fall for Marvel; now he just had to play politics.
-Let's buy stocks. I think the stocks between you and me can generate great profits. The company has a future; it's just going through a rough patch. I already have the money to buy the shares; that percentage will be ours. With 7.6%, we might make some profits, - Billy commented.
-For now, Ronald has been in charge of injecting money and buying the remnants with the profits. We don't have any more layers, but you must be careful with Avi Arad; he's more ambitious than he seems, and I don't like his way of doing things, - Stan Lee responded, taking a sip of his coffee. On the table where they sat, there were scattered papers of different Billy stories. The excuse for the meeting was a draft of Billy's next comic. Both were tossing around ideas, with nothing more than the pleasure of savoring the space they had.
Helssing's drawings were one of the forms. The beautiful drawing highlighted by hyper-realism would captivate anyone, but Stan Lee, he liked seeing that they had the confidence to show him some progress on their series. For now, the nine volumes were the fantasy of the illustrators.
-Keep buying. I'll let you know of any moves Ronald makes. His recent failure with baseball stamps was just a setback. I see the next failure; the first three years sales went up, the layoffs, the departures of great illustrators thrown in the trash, the sale of rights, the deprivation of creativity. I just want the company not to go to hell, - Stan Lee replied.
Considering their closeness, Billy's words were only seeking to build full trust with Stan Lee. Buying Marvel wasn't just buying it; he had to attend to numerous acquired companies, subsidiaries, employees, boards of directors, a publicly traded company with shares, and of course, satisfy the whims of some illustrators.
-But you'll have another boss, and I'll try to separate companies. But many of the activities done by Ronald Perelman seem interesting to me... I want to create movies, invest in animated series, toys, and merchandising, and I want to own their characters... I also want more young people to work on their ideas. There are so many worthy characters to be, good stories, good comics, good movies, - Billy replied, deliberately needling Stan Lee. He just wanted the image of trust between them to be maintained.
-Just as you do with your series, son, you exploit your series with gusto... Will you respect the decisions of the old? Will you humiliate people in our company? Will you fire people who have given their lives? Son, don't worry; we'll talk about business later, - Stan Lee replied.
One response after another response... there was a struggle after Billy acquired the copyrights, after the exclusive success of Marvel's movies. Many children, cousins, and surrounding family... filed numerous lawsuits against Marvel over copyright, some lawsuits were lost, some agreed to juicy prices that made those families millionaires, and others were left in the past.
-For now, I'll send the information to my manager. My only wish is that we can go as far as we plan, and I also wish to continue creating magnificent comic series, - commented Billy.
In less than a decade, the world has moved for entertainment companies more than in the last fifty years. Since Sony's purchase of Columbia in a bidding war, the revolution, the big productions, began to be eye-catching, with an increase in technology, novel ideas, and franchises, cinema was at a point of explosion.
-More series, son? - asked Stan Lee.
-Yes, I'll publish a series called 'The Boys' and another one called 'Hunter x Hunter,' -replied Billy.
***
In a distant mansion in a residential area of New York, Billy took a breath, exhausted from traveling and having meetings. Getting out of the car, his loyal bodyguards and a very unsuspecting Gwyneth greeted him with a smile. Nervous? Nothing far-fetched, but women are anxious.
-Don't be nervous, Dad and Mom aren't ordinary parents. My mother prefers to have a glass of wine rather than live through an uncomfortable situation. She's wonderful, she might overdo her confidence, but they'll love you, my sweet cowboy, - commented Gwyneth, smoothing Billy's hair.
Once again, doubt arose in Billy. There had been a change in Gwyneth's attitude for some time now, her closer attitude, her way of indulging his desires, and her concern for his food were simply different from the carefree blonde he met at first.
-I haven't had very good relationships with my ex-girlfriends' mothers, but I'll take this as it comes, - replied Billy.
They both walked towards the Patrowl family mansion, nothing extravagant but outstanding for its difference, with an agricultural touch, somewhat distant from the city, surrounded by a fence and some security, nothing extravagant or out of the ordinary, but the wealth was obvious to anyone who approached.
-Good morning, miss, - commented some employees of the family estate. Both parents are producers and actors; some work on other scenes and stages in theater, music, and cinema. Somehow or another, they were a united family. His parents had been married since 1968, had a long friendship, and relationship, and cared for two children, the second in line being Jake Patrowl.
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