Donnie asked with a smile, "Meyer, I think Miss Yaxia who''s aiming for the top spot in the preliminarypetition must already be a hot favorite for the regional champion by now, right?"


    Actually, Donnie also wanted to expand the "Antic City Post" to other cities at this time, but the "Antic City Post" did not have the capacity to do so at present. Even if it were possible, it would only rank as a lesser-known newspaper, which would adversely affect the Miss America event.


    Therefore, in the end, Donnie chose to coborate with local newspapers; however, no one had anticipated the Miss Americapetition to be such a huge sensation prior to this.


    Thus, those newspapers had all secured their coboration with Starry Entertainment at a low price.


    Meyer nodded proudly and said, "Of course, Yaxia is naturally the biggest favorite!"


    Although the voting data was controlled by Starry Entertainment, their control could not be baseless; at the very least, they had to ensure that the girl with the most ''flower value'' was leading ahead of the others in the initial stage.


    This was also to demonstrate the fairness of the Miss America pageant!


    Donnieughed, "That''s right. If you, Meyer, wish to earn less and are willing topensate for mine and Nucky''s losses, I have no objections!"


    Hearing Donnie''s words, Yaxia''s face immediately showed a look of disappointment because she knew Meyer all too well, even knowing about the mole on his body!


    Sure enough, after hearing Donnie''s words, Meyer immediatelyughed and said, "I think second ce isn''t bad either!"


    Donnie nodded; respect was still necessary toward this underworld kingpin from New York.


    "After thepetition is over, I will arrange for Miss Yaxia to meet some Hollywood directors!"


    Yaxia, who had be disappointed because of Meyer''s denial, was instantly excited when she looked at Donnie.


    "Haha, if that''s the case, then that''s great!" Meyerughed heartily.


    At this point, Donnie saw Charlie, the lucky guy with a sullen face who hadn''t spoken, "Charlie, we haven''t seen each other in quite a while, and your friends in Antic City are starting to miss you!"


    Hearing Donnie''s teasing, Charlie''s face grew even darker, but remembering that Donnie still held leverage over him, he could only suppress his dissatisfaction.


    "Charlie, that''s where you''re wrong. Since you have your own friends in Antic City, why did you always make excuses when I invited you toe over?"


    Meyer asked curiously.


    "I, I was just not feeling well at the time!" Charlie said awkwardly.


    In Donnie''s mind, these Miss America contestants were just tools for him to make money. To any capitalist, it would be hical not to squeeze everyst drop of value from a product.


    "Walker, what do you think about us establishing our own filmpany in Los Angeles?"


    Donnie asked Walker.


    Walker was startled and asked, "You want to set up your own filmpany?"


    Donnie nodded, "Indeed I have such a thought. As you know, the Miss Americapetition will alwayse to an end, but I need these Miss Americas to continue to advertise the brand after the beauty pageant ends. Therefore, I need them to be in the public eye continuously. Apart from movies, I can''t think of any better way to do this!"


    Walker nodded in agreement with Donnie''s opinion, but still threw cold water on him, "It''s very difficult to seed in Hollywood. You should know that the exclusionary sentiment in Hollywood is very serious, and you have no prior experience in the film industry. Even if you establish your own filmpany, it would be difficult to seed there.


    You can see this from United Artists, founded by people like Charlie Chaplin, Pickford, Dous, and Griffith—each one a famous Hollywood star—and even so, theirpany remains a small one in Hollywood, unable to break the monopoly of the major studios."


    Hollywood is not only exclusionary, but there''s also a severe issue, which is the major studios'' monopoly over the American film industry''s production, distribution, and exhibition.


    Originally, Chaplin and others wanted to use their joint efforts to establish a filmpany and use their fame to break the monopoly of the major Hollywood studios.


    But as the saying goes, the idea is beautiful, the reality is cruel.


    Under the pressure of the major studios, the mere survival of United Artists was already quite an achievement!


    After Walker told Donnie about these issues, Donnie realized that his earlier thoughts were a bit too idealistic.


    But Donnie still remembered that, wasn''t United Artists at one point during the ''30s and ''40s one of the big eight in Hollywood?


    Which means, they must have used some operationster on to develop!


    "If we take a stake in Chaplin''s United Artists?" Donnie thought that since United Artists could riseter on, taking a stake in them now at their lowest point would also be a good decision.


    Moreover, investing in thispany would mean that he and the current hottest stars in America would be colleagues.