Leonardo has played various rebellious, romantic, and hippie-like prodigal characters since his debut. However, outside the big screen, he always avoids putting himself in any trouble. Women and pleasure are the themes of his life.
In the Hollywood vanity fair full of money and games, he has almost never publicly conflicted with any male star.
"This damn jinx..." After finding an excuse to slip away, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Watching the other party's receding figure, Leon teased: "It seems Leonardo is not as difficult to handle as you said."
Jeff gritted his back molars in anger. "Next time you want to achieve your goal by using dirty means like coercion and inducement, don't bring my name into it. You must promise this is the last time..."
Although he is the president of Warner Bros. and a powerful leader, it doesn't mean he can do whatever he wants.
It took him more than a decade to climb to the top of the pyramid. The executives around him flatter him openly, but stare at the president's throne like vultures behind his back.
Using threats to pressure the production side to interfere with casting for personal gain—if such things are used by competitors to make an issue, he will have a hard time in front of the board of directors.
"I promise, I swear to God." Leon replied instantly, baring his teeth.
"You guy also have faith? Don't tell ghost stories in front of me..."
While the two were laughing and complaining about each other, the surrounding noise suddenly subsided gradually.
Hollywood celebrities stopped discussing money, sex, and charity one after another, staring at the temporary podium.
Harvey Weinstein walked onto the podium accompanied by two female assistants.
His bulging belly was about to burst the belt, and his voice was rough like a bison. When speaking, the trembling of his vocal cords made the flabby flesh on his face shake along.
"Dear friends, on behalf of The Weinstein Company and the NOW International Women's Association, I welcome everyone to this dinner. This excites me more than attending any Oscar ceremony. Hollywood filmmakers always stand with brave women pursuing rights!"
An impassioned speech won a full house of applause. Leon also clapped his hands perfunctorily twice.
Hollywood's hypocrisy is vividly reflected in Weinstein. Two months ago, TMZ exposed his sexual assault on interns. This matter only stayed in the public eye for two days before being suppressed.
As early as 2004, Sharon Waxman, a former reporter for The New York Times, also tried to expose Weinstein's sex scandal. Warned sternly by Weinstein himself, her editor-in-chief withdrew the report.
The ugly story of Weinstein using power to seek sexual resources is well known in Hollywood, yet he is now talking about women's rights amidst the crowd and cheers of celebrities.
After a long and boring thank-you speech, Weinstein grandly introduced actress Jennifer Lawrence. This Kentucky country girl of the same age as Leon is currently the hottest actress.
She successfully portrayed Mystique in X-Men: First Class and was designated as the heroine of The Hunger Games film series.
In addition, the literary film Silver Linings Playbook, mainly for competing for awards, is also being filmed.
She is sprinting towards both box office and trophies. If nothing unexpected happens, her name will completely shake the film world next year.
A fledgling girl can continuously get multiple enviable roles, which cannot be separated from Weinstein's operation behind the scenes.
"I guess this girl is already in Weinstein's shape." Leon whispered jokingly.
"Keep your voice down; say less undignified words on such occasions." Jeff warned him with a glance. "Your performance in tricking women into bed is not bad either. You have thirty years to catch up with Weinstein; sooner or later you will surpass him in quantity."
Leon was speechless for a moment by the other party's spicy sarcasm. To some extent, Weinstein is nobler than him.
At least the former really gives resources after sleeping with girls, while he himself is a shameless bastard who pulls up his pants and runs.
"On the matter of women, you really have no qualification to educate me. Let's not call the kettle black..."
After rolling his eyes for more than ten seconds, Leon mocked back. Struggling in the film industry for so many years, maybe the actresses Jeff has slept with can make a calendar.
After the lengthy opening speech, Weinstein toasted and chatted with the important figures present one by one with a champagne glass.
At the same time, the charity auction session also officially started.
Most of the items in this charity auction came from artworks voluntarily donated by celebrities, among which Weinstein provided the most items.
Most of the items are contemporary art works after the second half of the 20th century, not from the hands of art masters tested by the auction market for a long time like Paul Gauguin, Cézanne, or Lucian Freud.
Contemporary art is a high-risk investment. A painting that no one can understand may be auctioned for tens of millions of dollars today, and it is common for its value to shrink or skyrocket several times a year later.
Hollywood is a loyal supporter of contemporary art. Wealthy actors who claim to be "artists" support half of the value of avant-garde art.
Among the nearly $5 billion net assets of David Geffen, one of the former "DreamWorks Big Three," more than one-third is art collection.
He especially favors modern and contemporary artworks and is also the private collector with the most works of American Abstract Expressionist master Pollock.
The enthusiasm of the Hollywood upper class for contemporary art today is largely driven by Geffen, and Weinstein is no exception.
"Don't you plan to participate?" Jeff stared at the items on the podium, his right hand itching to move.
"Absolutely no such idea." Leon said.
"This is not like you at all. The increase of these artworks in recent years is crazy, and it comes with a good reputation for being keen on charity and the opportunity to show your face in the newspaper. You guy won't be moved?"
"I'd rather buy a piece of dinosaur poop fossil; at least that thing has some time value." Leon found it increasingly difficult to understand Jeff's investment philosophy.
The other party is not only addicted to Reid Hoffman's Silicon Valley lottery game but also has no resistance to contemporary art with typical "hot potato passing" nature.
Works of famous artists before the 20th century will appreciate over time due to scarcity and unique artistic expression.
But now these abstract paintings pieced together with a lot of paint, probably even the painters themselves don't know what they painted if asked to describe.
"Okay." Jeff spread his hands and complained: "You are only 21 years old, but your thinking can't keep up with the times, as if a 100-year-old soul lives inside. David Geffen earned at least $1 billion by reselling artworks. Think about how many songs you have to write and how many movies you have to make?"
Leon smiled and didn't answer: Without so many fools in Hollywood taking over, how could Geffen make so much money?
While exchanging pleasantries with the actresses who came up to talk, he looked at the time on his watch.
Since what should be done is done, continuing to stay is just wasting time on ineffective socializing.
Just as he was thinking so, Weinstein walked towards him accompanied by Jennifer Lawrence.
"Leon! Street Jesus! I noticed you long ago, amazing young man." Weinstein held his head high, a cigar in his mouth. "Straight Outta Compton taught us old guys a good lesson. A black music biopic can complete three consecutive championships in the summer season. Dare you believe it, Jennifer?"
"His talent in music is even more amazing. Every song he wrote is in my Spotify favorites list." Jennifer stared at Leon up and down, light flashing in her eyes.
She is not a blonde beauty in the traditional sense, often mocked by entertainment media for having overly masculine facial features.
But this is precisely the quality that makes her popular. Her cool appearance plus a height of over 1.75 meters (5'9") and a well-proportioned athletic figure make her noticeable at a glance among a crowd of blonde Barbies.
To become popular in current Hollywood, relying solely on face won't work; one must also be beautiful with characteristics.
"You flatter me, Mr. Weinstein, Miss Jennifer. It's my honor to attend this dinner. Everyone knows I am the person who respects women's rights the most." Although Leon didn't know why Weinstein paid attention to him, he gave the other party enough respect in his words.
The name Weinstein represents the golden finger leading to the Oscar podium.
Whether during the Miramax Films period or the first five years of The Weinstein Company's development, he always had a way to send the films he favored to the Oscars.
In Weinstein's marketing thinking, "White Oscars" is an important point.
As is well known, Oscar awards are voted by more than 6,000 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
And the most prominent feature of these judges is "White Old Men"—white, male, middle-aged and elderly.
According to a survey by the Los Angeles Times, 94% of the judges are white, 77% are male, and the average age is 62.
So winning an Oscar is a marketing campaign to win the favor of old white men.
The 98 Oscar ceremony was called "the biggest injustice in Oscar history." Shakespeare in Love overturned the strongest opponent Saving Private Ryan to win Best Picture.
At that time, the Oscar PR fee for an independent film was about $250,000, and $2 million for a major studio film, while Weinstein spent $5 million in PR fees for Shakespeare in Love.
Hiring water armies to splash dirty water, buying columns to pave reports, inviting judges to various cocktail parties and private screenings attended by stars, sending actresses to sleep with old white men...
After exhausting underhanded tricks, the Oscar was finally obtained as wished.
"You don't look like what is described in the media at all... Don't be too restrained; I like young people with personality."
Saying that, Weinstein took two cigars from the assistant and handed them to Leon and Jeff. Not all guests present had the opportunity to enjoy the precious cigars provided by him.
Facing this white boy who confronted P. Diddy as soon as he debuted and took whatever he wanted in both the music and film industries, he dared not be careless at all.
Although he doesn't often attend Diddy's parties, preferring to seek excitement on a private island in the Caribbean rather than staying with a group of black people.
But as one of the financiers of the Democratic Party and a figure in First Lady Michelle's circle of friends, he knows very well that terrifying political energy is hidden behind the "collapse of the Diddy Kingdom."
"Taste it; this is the same style as Fidel's. I spent a lot of money to get it from those Cuban diplomats..." Leon took the cigar cutter from the waiter, skillfully cut the tail, lit it, and puffed smoke.
Squinting his eyes in the smoke, he said with a smile: "Fidel knows how to enjoy."
"That's why we Americans always obsession with Cuba." Weinstein laughed loudly at the top of his lungs. "Cigars, beaches, wheat-skinned girls. With these, men have no other pursuits."
"I totally agree." Leon tilted his head and echoed.
The two sides chatted more and more congenially. Weinstein proactively proposed to deepen understanding and found a secluded corner by the window to sit down.
"I have to congratulate you, young man. Your film company is doing a great job. It's unimaginable that you could grab a project from Spielberg. Looking around the entire Hollywood, no one can do this." Weinstein complimented while tapping the table with his hand. "But as a senior, I have to remind you that independent film companies must take one step at a time. Investing hundreds of millions of dollars at once is simply too crazy."
"In fact, we are also investing in some low-budget movies. And I am a novel fan of Ready Player One. You know I am always willing to pay for nostalgia; money is not important." Leon appeared neither humble nor arrogant, meaning one thing inside and out: I have money!
The shrewd Weinstein understood his meaning in a second. After being stunned, he turned his gaze to Jeff. "Old friend, heard you invested in Leon's film company?"
"That's right."
Facing the spicy Weinstein, the equally shrewd Jeff cherished words like gold, not saying a single extra word that shouldn't be said.
"Hahaha~ Your investment vision and courage always make me admire." Weinstein lowered his voice. "But as an old friend, I have to remind you that Warner Bros. will be very unhappy about your personal participation in the investment of another film production company."
These words seemed plain, but every word hid a threatening meaning.
Although Weinstein sold Miramax in 1993, he still served as CEO for a long time.
In 2005, relying on the copyrights of nearly 200 movies in his hands, he established The Weinstein Company and remains the number one figure in the independent film industry to this day.
He doesn't want to see another independent film company rise strongly.
"You don't need to worry about me, buddy. My investment is completely public. Everyone on the board understands and supports me. We look forward to reaching more cooperation with Leon through this." Jeff looked cold, every word resounding.
Even though he didn't want to offend Weinstein in any way, he had to be tough at such times.
Relying on the success of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, his position as President of Warner Bros. is very stable.
His subtext is: Don't think about putting pressure on me through the Warner board!
In the interval of their verbal confrontation, Leon seemed to be out of it, chatting hotly with Jennifer sitting opposite.
This girl showed excessive enthusiasm from the first glance she saw him, throwing out many childish questions that only tabloid reporters would ask.
"Old Town Road is simply amazing. I often loop this song to find performance state during breaks on the set of The Hunger Games."
"Heard you will have new songs released this month. Can you reveal some information to me in advance?"
"Media reported that you and Taylor are getting married. Is this true?"
Weinstein suddenly felt the atmosphere was a bit wrong, intentionally leaned closer to Jennifer, coughed twice to show his presence.
Immediately afterwards, he said to Leon and Jeff, "I had no malice in what I said just now. I simply appreciate Mr. Leon's talent and am also very optimistic about the development of this film company. Maybe I can give you some wisdom on managing an independent film company well and do some big things together."
Leon and Jeff's smoking movements froze one after another, looking at each other.
This is bluntly wanting to intervene in SLW Apocalypse.
Seeing no response from the two, the timing was ripe, and Weinstein completely revealed his fangs. "This industry is not so easy to mix in. Jeff should understand this very well. Look, how many independent film companies can avoid disbanding after the production of the first movie? But with me, the situation becomes completely different."
When speaking, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes stacked together due to grinning.
If the previous warning was insinuation, now it is a naked threat—if you don't let me take a share, don't think about making money here!