America's Road to Wealth

The emergence of Jean-Marie Messier, CEO of Vivendi Universal Group.

The paparazzi reporters around the square on the first floor of the Vivendi Building all became excited.

Everyone found that there were several senior executives of the group beside Jean-Marie Messier.

They were even more excited.

Vivendi Global Group has a very high status in France.

Because in fact, it is not just an entertainment media network company.

Its predecessor was the French General Water Group.

This group was founded in the 19th century by order of Emperor Napoleon III.

Later, it was renamed Vivendi Global Group and began to enter other markets.

At present, this group company has achieved the ultimate in many fields.

For example, it itself is already the largest water treatment company in the world.

In terms of waste disposal, Vivendi owns Onyx, the world's third largest and Europe's first all-round waste disposal company.

In terms of transportation, Connex, Europe's first private operating company, is a subsidiary of Vivendi.

In terms of energy, Dakoya Group, which ranks first in Europe, is also one of its companies.

Then there are the media and Internet industries that have been mentioned before.

Vivendi Global Group is also the second largest company in the world and the first in Europe.

The CEO of such a huge group is born with unparalleled power.

Some French people say that what Jean-Marie Messier sometimes said in Paris was more useful than the current commander-in-chief Chirac.

Such a big shot suddenly brought with him a group of senior executives.

Among these executives, there is also the CEO of Vivendi Entertainment and the heads of several other subsidiaries.

Not to mention European and French entertainment reporters.

At this time, even other more elite reporters will be excited and excited when they see these big names appearing together.

With so many big names coming out, there will undoubtedly be news.

Even their gathering together can be one of the bigger news in Europe.

Their appearance must be accompanied by the security guards of the Vivendi Building.

The reporters couldn't get any closer. They even discovered that the security guards of Vivendi Group were clearing the venue, as if they wanted to clear a spacious venue.

The reporters were quite cooperative because they were all curious about what Vivendi was doing by clearing the place.

Many paparazzi reporters have even sent out the news, notifying their friends, newspapers, or other close colleagues to come over.

Around 10:15 minutes in the morning.

Vivendi's security personnel successfully cleared the venue.

paparazzi, reporters, and passers-by.

I saw a group of senior executives of Vivendi Global Group, headed by the CEO, gathered together.

They didn't know what they were talking about, and they looked like they were waiting for some big shot.

A paparazzi reporter couldn't help but whisper: "Is Chirac coming today?"

Chirac is the current commander-in-chief of France, and he is still a relatively accomplished one.

He has a relatively good reputation among French people and has a high support rate.

Looking at the top management of Vivendi Global Group, everyone felt that the person coming today must be a big shot.

If we talk about a big shot in France, of course it would be Commander Chirac.

"Haven't you heard? If Chirac is coming, there will be an itinerary notice."

"That's right. If the commander-in-chief had come, the commander-in-chief's guards would have been here long ago."

"That's right. It's not Chirac who's coming. Maybe Lionel Jospin is coming?"

Lionel Jospin is the current Prime Minister of France and can be regarded as the head of the French government.

The speculations of the paparazzi reporters vary, but they all have one thing in common.

Those are the top executives of Vivendi, who should be waiting for some big shot to show up.

Otherwise, it would be so hot at ten o'clock in the morning in Paris in mid-August.

Isn’t it comfortable to have air conditioning in a skyscraper?

Why go to the square below to bask in the sun?

Passers-by around, as well as employees of other companies who work in the Vivendi Building.

Or there are some visitors who want to enter and leave the Vivendi Building for business. These people's guesses are the same as those of the reporters.

at this time.

Not far from the Vivendi Tower Square, under a shady tree.

Several elites in the European entertainment industry were also guessing who the Vivendi executives were waiting for.

"Is it really Chirac who is coming?"

The speaker was a man in his thirties named Luc Besson.

He is a well-known French director, producer, screenwriter, and actor.

in September last year.

Luc Besson founded his own film company, Europa Pictures.

Since its establishment last year, Europa Films has filmed five consecutive films, four of which have been released.

Four movies a year, for a fledgling independent film company.

This result looks excellent.

Many well-known independent film companies in Hollywood do not produce so many movies in a year.

But in fact, none of the five films produced by Europa Pictures has an investment of more than US$2 million.

They are all typical French literary films with small investment, and have not even gone abroad in France.

Fortunately, the investment cost is low, the box office is not bad, and in the future, it can be repaid by selling DVDs.

It's hard to make a lot of money, but it's easy to get back your capital or even make money.

Next to Luc Besson, a beautiful woman with a slender figure who looked to be in her thirties, but still gave people a sense of clarity, said: "Is Chirac coming today?"

"I don't know. I've never heard of such news." Luc Besson said.

"Who is Chirac?"

Another beautiful woman next to the two, a black-haired woman who was much younger than the one in front said.

The Spaniard's "ignorant" speech left the two Frenchmen in front of him speechless.

Fortunately, the two Frenchmen thought at the same time - we don't seem to know who the president of Spain is?

Thinking of this, the two Frenchmen understood that a Spaniard who had not been in Europe very much did not know the name of the French commander.

"Chirac is the commander-in-chief of France." Luc Besson reminded.

"Oh no wonder someone as big as Jean-Marie Messier appears," said young Spanish actress Penelope Cruz.

"Chirac shouldn't be coming." Sophie Marceau, who spoke earlier and was older, said:

"If Chirac had come, the general's guard would have been here long ago. It must be some big shot coming."

The two beauties standing next to Luc Besson at this time.

It was Penelope Cruz, who was later known as Spain’s national treasure.

And French Kiss Sophie Marceau.

Three European entertainment elites who have broken into Hollywood.

The reason why we are here together today.

It was because at the invitation of Luc Besson, they planned to make a movie together.

The film still doesn't have a name, just a simple script.

Script written by Luc Besson himself.

As the most Hollywood-oriented director in the whole of France, and maybe even in the whole of Europe.

Luc Besson cannot be willing to let Europa Pictures only shoot the kind of small investment production this year.

Since June this year, Luc Besson has been traveling around Europe.

He wants to use his own Europa Pictures to take the lead in filming a blockbuster movie.

He didn't dare to think about a masterpiece for the time being, but he also wanted to be like the movie "The Fifth Element" he made in 1997.

Prove your ability with hundreds of millions of dollars in global box office.

It would be even better if I could win a Cesar Award or some Hollywood award.

Luc Besson felt that if it could be done.

Both for himself and for European films.

It will be an exciting thing.

For this blockbuster, Luc Besson found many investors.

These investors were happy to invest when they saw Luc Besson.

After all, he is already a famous director.

But when they heard that he was going to shoot a European blockbuster, everyone backed down.

In desperation, Luc Besson resorted to the trick of using empty gloves.

With his connections and fame, he invited well-known European actresses such as Sophie Marceau, Penelope Cruz, Monica Bellucci, and Isabella Adjani.

His idea was to lure these well-known European actresses over and sign a cooperation agreement.

Then take these intention cooperation agreements and go to investors for investment.

Monica Bellucci, Isabella Adjani and others declined Luc's invitation.

Sophie and Penelope are developing in Hollywood and recently returned to Europe.

The two men agreed to come over and read the script.

Today they came to the Vivendi Building to read scripts at Luc's Europa Film Company.

As a well-known French director, the headquarters of Europa Film Company is of course also rented here.

Now because the place has been cleared, the three people and their entourage cannot enter.

This is the conversation above.

Just when Sophie Marceau and Penelope Cruz, two Europeans who were not British, were conversing in English proficiently and discussing matters concerning the two countries' presidents and prime ministers.

Wearing sunglasses, Luc Besson suddenly shouted:

"Hey, wait a minute, look over there. It seems a convoy is coming."

Penelope and Sophie stopped their conversation and looked in the direction Luc pointed.

Sure enough, it is on the left side of the Vivendi Tower Square, facing the Champs Elysées in Paris.

A fleet of seven black cars slowly entered the square on the first floor of the Vivendi Building.

The security personnel of Vivendi Global Group quickly stepped forward to welcome the commanding officer to stop the car.

Luc Besson couldn't help but feel a little envious and said curiously:

"I don't know who it is. It's such a big show. Six Rolls-Royces and one... Am I right? That car seems to be a Cadillac?"

Cadillac sells very well in the United States and also has some sales in Canada.

But it has been selling poorly in Europe, the ancestral land of cars.

Before the rise of China, Cadillac generally only existed in North America.

Cadillacs are rarely seen here in Europe.

Unlike Rolls-Royce, you can see it everywhere.

The three Europeans in front of me have all been in Hollywood and have stayed in the United States for a long time.

Otherwise, even Luc Besson might not be able to recognize a Cadillac.

"Why do American cars appear here?" Penelope Cruz wondered.

"Could it be that the rich people from the United States are here?" Sophie Marceau guessed softly.

There is no need for three Europeans to continue guessing.

Because the people in the motorcade had already begun to get out of the car after stopping in front of Jean-Marie Messier and others.

The first person to come down was a black man who, despite being so far away, felt very strong to Luc and others.

The next few people who came down were also tall and strong guys.

"Are the basketball players or rugby players here?" Luc Besson said quietly, "We don't play these two here."

The person who came was certainly not an NBA superstar or a football superstar.

Soon the three of them saw these people coming down from the Cadillac car in the middle of the motorcade.

A tall man in a suit walked down.

Because it is too far away and there are no telescopes or other things.

The three of them could not see each other's specific appearance.

You can only see the appearance of this person.

Jean-Marie Messier and other Vivendi executives, who had been standing still, immediately started to move.

They all came to the tall man in a suit, hugged him, shook hands and talked.

Even too far away to see facial expressions.

The three of them seemed to be able to feel the warm and friendly greetings from Vivendi's CEO and the senior executives.

Under the welcome of Vivendi's senior executives.

The man in the suit soon walked into the Vivendi Building with Jean-Marie Messier and others.

After they entered, the security at Vivendi's entrance quickly evacuated.

Ten minutes later, the building entrance returned to normal.

Everyone is free to enter.

Three European entertainment elites who had watched a show also walked inside in a low-key manner.

After arriving at the office on the 23rd floor rented by Luc Besson.

Penelope Cruz still couldn't help but said curiously:

"Who is here? Even Jean-Marie Messier looks like that."

"I don't know." Luc Besson said: "I can only be sure that it is an American. A rich man from the United States. But don't worry, I have asked people to find those paparazzi. They were very close just now, and With the equipment, we should be able to know who it is.”

Penelope Cruz too, come to think of it.

Half an hour later.

In the offices of Europa Films.

The trio who were discussing the script found out who had just arrived.

"It's Abe Smith!"

The younger of the three people present, Penelope Cruz, who is only 27 years old this year, was a little excited.

Sophie and Luc were also surprised.

Mainly these three people have all seen the world of Hollywood.

From the end of last year to the beginning of this year, the three of them stayed in Hollywood.

Therefore, the trio knows what the name Abel Smith means in Hollywood better than anyone in the European entertainment industry.

I also know this person’s status and reputation in the United States.

Sophie Marceau, who has always had a very calm temperament and exuded a literary and artistic atmosphere inside and out, smiled:

"That's understandable. If Abel Smith comes, even the CEO of Vivendi will have to greet him."

Luc Besson couldn't help but nodded.

Compared with the two goddesses, the great director is more concerned about the identity of Abel, the richest man in the world.

The richest man in the world is here.

Not to mention Vivendi.

It is estimated that even if Abel wanted to go to the Elysee Palace, Chirac would invite him.

Because under the operation of American and Forbes.

The world's richest man has long become a cultural symbol, a cultural symbol that represents wealth.

The emergence of such a cultural symbol will naturally be welcomed in capital countries.

"What's Smith doing in Vivendi?" Penelope Cruz suddenly thought, "Does he want to acquire Vivendi?"

"It's possible." Sophie Marceau agreed.

Unlike the two women, Luc Besson knew this was unlikely.

That's Vivendi, how could it be acquired casually?

But thinking about how easily Abel acquired MGM, DreamWorks and other companies.

Luc Besson isn't sure either.

"I don't know." Luc Besson said:

"But this actually has nothing to do with us. The world's richest man is too far away from us. Two beautiful ladies, I think what we should discuss now is about our movie."

Luc Besson's realistic words also brought the attention of the two European goddesses back to reality.

Yes, no matter how powerful Abe Smith is, he is still extremely powerful in Hollywood.

That has nothing to do with them.

European actresses, no matter how beautiful they are, no matter how good their acting skills are.

You can only go to Hollywood as a match.

This is something that they, who have been severely beaten by Hollywood, know very well.

Instead of hoping to be noticed by big shots, it is better to strengthen yourself and make a good movie.

If European cinema can rise up to compete with Hollywood, they can also benefit.

Thinking of this, Sophie Marceau and Penélope Cruz devoted their energy to the conversation with Luc Besson.

Only at noon.

Luc Besson's Europa Films received an invitation.

The invitation comes from overhead giant Vivendi Entertainment.

It is a subsidiary of Vivendi Universal Group that is responsible for European film, television and other entertainment businesses.

"Spike invited me to a party tonight."

Luc Besson raised the invitation in his hand to the two European goddesses.

"The reception will be held at the Machapsay Hotel in Saint-Ouen."

When the two European goddesses heard the name of the hotel, they were not unfamiliar with it.

Because this hotel is considered one of the venues for high-end cocktail parties in the entertainment industry in Paris.

Many European entertainment circles like to hold cocktail parties and events there.

For example, the Cesar Award, the highest award in the French film industry, is usually held in this hotel at the celebratory social reception after the award.

"Spike's invitation."

Penélope Cruz had an envious expression on her face, "That must be a big party."

If Jean-Marie Messier, as CEO of Vivendi Universal Group, is the number one person in the European entertainment industry.

Spike, the president of Vivendi Entertainment who is responsible for specific affairs, is the second person in the European entertainment industry.

Many times the CEO of Vivendi Universal Group doesn't care about the entertainment industry.

The person in charge is still Spike.

Spike has held this position for more than ten years.

Over the past ten years, "Spike's invitation" has become synonymous with the most exclusive cocktail parties in the European entertainment industry.

Any European actor, singer, director, or practitioner is eager to get an invitation from Spike.

The person who can get the invitation means that he/she is already one of the elites in this small circle in Europe.

This is not the first time that Luc Besson and Sophie Marceau have received such invitations.

Penelope Cruz has never been.

The main reason is that when she was very young, she went to the United States to develop.

Rarely return to Europe.

Even though she would rather go to Hollywood.

But she is a European after all.

If she can gain greater fame and recognition in Europe, that would be a very happy thing for her.

Luc Besson saw this desire in Penelope Cruz.

Thinking of bringing a female companion to the reception, Luc wanted to bring Penelope in.

Now in order to fool the two of them into making a movie for himself, Luc Besson is willing to do many things.

Just when the director was about to speak.

The cell phone in Penelope Cruz's bag suddenly rang.

"Sorry, pick up the phone."

A few minutes later.

Penelope Cruz came in with a happy face, "I was invited too! Spike's invitation."

After another hour.

The trio discovered that Sophie Marceau had also received an invitation.

The trio simply decided to go to the Saint-Ouen Machopsey Hotel for a cocktail party in the evening.