The Tyrant Billionaire

Chapter 268: Chapter 268 Establishing Authority.

At ABC Television, the noon news broadcasted the entire arrest process of the agent. Such documentary style news is very appealing, and many people watched it with great interest.

But it didn't end there. The host said, "There are many more details behind this story. For a detailed report, stay tuned to tonight's 'Global View' program, produced by the Global Times."

To promote the Global Times, Hardy specifically created a segment on ABC called "Global View," a news documentary program that airs irregularly whenever there's a good topic or material.

At 8:30 PM, the "Global View" program began.

The program immediately captured the audience's attention, with the camera delving into the Actors Guild building and entering the president's office. Hardy was seen reading documents, with the vice president and assistant secretary Reagan beside him. Hardy handed a complaint letter to them, frowning, and said, "This is a very serious matter.

Our guild members are being mistreated, which is absolutely unacceptable. Investigate this, report it to the police, and if confirmed, hire lawyers to sue them. We cannot allow such things to happen."

The scene then shifted to show a man, identified by a voice over as G. Vagna, the owner of a small talent agency that had signed the seven girls.

As the documentary progressed, it revealed how Vagna forced the girls to sell their bodies, threatening Luna by grabbing her hair. Many viewers felt heart wrenched, sympathizing with Luna's plight.

Forced to comply, Luna dressed up and went for the so called "audition," which was actually just selling herself. Just then, the situation took a dramatic turn as the police appeared, arresting the despicable fat man.

In reality, the fat man wasn't a deputy director but a deli owner who liked young girls and had some money.

Prostitution is illegal in Los Angeles, and his actions were already against the law.

Next, the agent was also arrested. The HD security personnel pressed his head into the police car, much to the audience's satisfaction.

Luna and the other six girls were taken to the police station for questioning, where Guild lawyers appeared, offering to help them with their lawsuit. The police interrogated Vagna, who confessed to his crimes, leading to his detention and pending trial and imprisonment.

In the footage, other victimized girls asked the lawyers if they could also get help. The lawyers clearly stated that they only helped Guild members since they were hired by the Actors Guild.

This is very capitalistic.

The audience also found no fault with it.

If you didn't pay before, how can you expect to enjoy the benefits now?

However, this made many non members think that joining the guild would be beneficial. The Guild would stand up for them if anything happened, making the annual fee worth it.

In the end, the vice president of the Actors Guild, George, said to the camera, "The Actors Guild will follow up on this matter. We have hired lawyers to fully protect our members' rights."

"We also warn certain people not to engage in illegal activities. The Guild will do everything to help its members resolve issues."

"And to those newcomers to Hollywood, find reputable talent agencies to work with. If you're unsure which agencies to choose, come to the Guild. We can recommend trustworthy agencies. The Guild will review all talent agency qualifications and release a list of reliable agencies. Don't trust those shady agencies, as they could harm you."

Hardy's move was strategic.

With a recommended list of agencies, small agencies would struggle to survive, while large ones would thrive.

For example, HD Talent Agency.

Trashy, shady agencies would gradually lose their ground and be phased out, while big companies would want to get on the list.

Of course they have to pay up. Investigating qualifications is resource intensive.

If you dare offend the Guild, you'll never get on the list.

Hardy's goal as president of the Actors Guild is not just for the little bit of power but because the Guild can become a lever. He can use the guild to leverage many things.

Starting with setting rules for talent agencies.

This ABC documentary had a huge impact. The Actors Guild includes actors, journalists, radio personalities, recording artists, singers, voice actors, and other media professionals.

The number is well over tens of thousands.

The Actors' Guild only has 40,000 members. Why? Because previously, their protection for members was very limited. Now, with Hardy in charge, he's already taking action against an agent, which shocked many.

The Guild can indeed be a home for actors and media professionals.

For a time, many people have submitted membership applications, hoping to join the Actors Guild and receive the union's protection. It is estimated that the membership fees will increase dramatically next year.

The agents also became more restrained and no longer dared to exploit their artists as they did before. The atmosphere in Hollywood changed a lot in an instant.

Hardy's reputation soared significantly due to this incident, especially among the artist community. Various film and talent agencies once again witnessed Hardy's power.

Some companies that had previously ignored the union's demands for outstanding payments were now hurriedly settling their dues, and many actors received overdue wages and performance fees during this period.

Hardy proved that you don't need any extreme measures; simply using legal and reasonable methods can completely ruin you—not just financially but also legally, sending you to prison. Few are not afraid of this.

On the other hand, the talent agencies recommended by the union have become popular, with many people eagerly joining them. For instance, 'HD Talent Agency,' which ranks first, has become a hot favorite among people.

Hardy feels no shame about this.

This is called appointing the capable without avoiding personal connections.

However, there are also dissenting voices. Some say that the union only dares to take action against small talent agencies and small film companies, and that they still don't dare to challenge major film companies.

But just a week after the talent agency incident, ABC Television broadcasted another news story. Actress Gina Davis sought help from the actors union, claiming that she had been threatened and coerced by a director contracted by Columbia Pictures during a film shoot.

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Following that the actors union stated they will not tolerate such malicious acts and will hire lawyers to help Gina Davis file a lawsuit.