“Is it just an investigation?” Ronald saw the curly-haired man Robert nod, thought for a moment, and said, “Go make contact with the people at the office and find out what impression they have of Hollywood. Also, gather some information about Abu Dhabi, like investment and cultural environment and such.”

Robert-Li thought for a moment and said, “I have a friend who often does business with Arabs. I can have him make contact.” He seemed to have guessed Ronald’s intentions: “Are you planning to seek investment from the Arabs?”

Ronald nodded. “I have a classmate from Abu Dhabi at USC. I’ve talked with him these past couple of days. Arab oil tycoons are extremely wealthy and are waving their checkbooks around the world looking for investments.”

George-Clint interjected, “Is it possible to attract Arab investment into the company? As for film investment... Ronald, we just messed up a project.”

Ronald shook his head. “If we let Arab capital directly buy shares in the company, we might face tremendous pressure.”

The three immediately understood what he meant. There is an unusually powerful force in Hollywood that is completely at odds with the Arabs.

Ronald continued, “Our priority is to secure film projects. A single film project isn’t that sensitive.” Since the plan needed manpower, he decided to rope the three of them in: “You three are the veterans of Sahara. In difficult times, you didn’t give up on Sahara, nor on me, Ronald Anderson. I’m truly grateful.”

“No need for that, Ronald,” Mary replied. “It’s what we should do.”

Ronald knew well the importance of team cohesion. After the emotional talk, he moved on to practical matters, promising, “If we can secure investment this time, each of you will get one percent of the total as a bonus.”

The next steps of the plan would require their execution, and these three were industry veterans.

Robert-Li and George-Clint exchanged a glance. The latter asked, “Ronald, how much are you planning to raise?”

“My target for now is Arab tycoons,” Ronald said, pretending to be relaxed. “Raising a few million dollars shouldn’t be a problem.”

There were backup candidates like A-San and others.

These three had stayed with the company until now, so they definitely had feelings for Sahara Entertainment. With the added incentive of money, their spirits were somewhat lifted.

As soon as the impromptu meeting ended, Ronald took Mary to the Los Angeles branch of Blockbuster.

In the office, Robert-Li said to George-Clint, “Feels like Ronald has changed.”

“Yeah.” George-Clint sighed. “After a painful failure, it’s normal to change.”

“Let’s hope we don’t mess up this time.” Robert-Li wasn’t very confident in Ronald.

But George-Clint said, “Everyone in Hollywood has come through failure. Ronald is talented; what he lacks is experience.”

Some things he would never say to Robert. He himself had been considering resigning and leaving recently, but for now, he’d wait and see. What if they could secure investment? Those Arabs who got rich from oil supposedly never cared about money.

Ronald took Mary to Blockbuster’s Los Angeles branch in Century City, where they met the copyright buyer Anthony in a reception room.

Blockbuster was the largest video rental chain in the US, mainly engaged in video production, sales, and rental. In the early 1990s, it was acquired by Sumner Redstone’s Viacom, and had a faint monopoly in the video market.

The Anthony who received Ronald was just an ordinary copyright buyer, but he didn’t think much of Sahara Entertainment.

Small production companies like Sahara were a dime a dozen in Hollywood.

“Absolutely impossible to pay $200,000 for the rights!” Anthony’s voice was calm, but there was a hint of arrogance in his tone. “'Deadly Survival' was a box office flop. It’s not worth that price.”

Of course, Ronald knew he was asking too much, but he still tried to negotiate: “'Deadly Survival' is a uniquely styled action film, blending B-movie gore elements. This type of film has always been a favorite in the video market. And there are plenty of precedents for box office failures becoming big hits in the video rental market. For example, 'The Shawshank Redemption' has performed very well in the rental market these past few years.”

Anthony said with a hint of disdain, “That film still hasn’t recouped its costs. Maybe in another five years it’ll turn a profit. Isn’t time a cost?”

Ronald simply asked, “What’s your offer?”

Anthony replied coldly, “Eighty thousand dollars.”

“That’s impossible!” Ronald put on a look of disbelief. “'Deadly Survival' cost six million dollars to make!”

Actually, this was a normal offer. In most cases, the basic video rights fee for a film is ten to twenty percent of the North American box office.

The more successful the box office, the higher the rights fee, plus a share of sales or rentals.

Sahara Entertainment was an old client of Anthony, but in the face of business interests, that meant little.

Especially since Sahara Entertainment was on the verge of bankruptcy.

Anthony shrugged, his tone again tinged with disdain: “Let me remind you, 'Deadly Survival' only made $800,000 at the North American box office.”

A film that was a complete box office failure like this couldn’t give Ronald any confidence.

But $80,000 really was too little.

Ronald added, “Aside from the industry association’s mandatory standards, Sahara Entertainment doesn’t want any backend share.”

Anthony frowned in thought. Just as B-movies are an important category in the video industry, gory action films do have a certain market in video rentals.