August 15.

  The acquisition of Panini, and its annex, did not cause a major uproar for Marvel or the business world. The deal cluded with a purchase of 48 million dolrs. The sticker and album panies have been shaken sihe early '90s, especially since 1993, whifortunately couldn't be plemented by many managers who couldn't find viable solutions.

  Raimon closed the deal ohe iations were pleted and traveled to Italy to learn about all the aspects of the pany. Billy was here, visiting, and already had some knowledge about what to do with Panini. His trip to Italy included necessary yovers, one of which was Zurich, Switzernd, chosen for two special solutions. The first was to secure a lising agreement for FIFA World Cup and Euro Cup stickers, and the sed was to make an offer for a video game lise for at least 20 years, starting from 1999 or 2000.

  The founders are the briuseppe, Benito, Umberto, and Franco Panini. Of these four, only Franco Panini remains the official administrator of Panini, and his name is reized as such. There are pns te it with the ic distribution pany and begin sales. Currently, Panini has factories and locations in five pces besides Modena, Italy.

  -Mr. Franco, I am Raimon Green, the current director of operations at Lux Animation. We are the new owners of Panini, - said Raimon to Franco, who still had some doubts. Frand his brother had po buy back Panini in a partnership, but the move didn't go as pnned, and they had a new boss, ohey knew little about, except that he was an actor. raveled slower in Europe than in the Uates and the United Kingdom.

  In the Panini offices, not as promi as expected but still a signifit sticker factory, all their assets were currently being used for small lises in colboration with some panies, while they waited for 1998 when the World Cup would be firmly established.

  -I uand, are you the one who requested a meeting? - Franco Panini ented.

  -I am, for now. I am here because we want you to use your es to help us expand lising to three petitions. The first is the Champions League, the sed is the Euro Cup, and the third is the FIFA World Cup, - mentioned Raimon, biting his cheek. He didn't know much about football, but he memorized everything on the flight over to say this.

  -You want to rehe football lise, - Franented, somewhat relutly.

  -Yes, sir. We want to secure a lise for at least another 30 years, enough time to expand. My boss, Billy Carson, created a graphic representation of how the albums for the three petitions should look, along with their boxes, designs, and what o be improved, - said Raimon, handing over the album. It featured a cssic yout: crest, team, squad oalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards, along with a slot for the coach.

  In the same way, the first pages followed this order: Panini profile, FIFA logo, World Cup ball, World Cup trophy, mascot, and photo of the trophy, followed by the stadiums. The st pages included World Cup winners, great pyers, top scorers, and the team with the most World Cup wins.

  Billy even suggested using hard and soft cover albums and providing sponsorships on the World Cup pages to two global sponsors to cover produ costs. Everything would be packaged in boxes of 100 packs, with five stickers per pack, and sold by the box.

  Franco Panini saw the entire anization and even mao observe how the Champions League oration appeared for the year 2000, the new millennium.

  -This is pure gold! But who will be our sponsors? - Franco asked, seeing that official sponsors were a crucial part of the activity.

  -We have two panies in mind: Coca-d Pepsi. Simirly, we have Nike or Adidas, and Chevrolet or Ford Motors, - ented Raimon, in that order. Although the two panies might be sidered direpetitors, this is not as effective as their petitors, but it could be. The campaign depends on marketing and the timing of the campaign.

  -It's a great idea. The ideas here are revolutionary, - Franented, seeing everything from the designs, yout, how tahe pages, the stickers, even the colors, the representation of something, and how it should be. It was fantastic.

  -Indeed, with just the sponsorships, our produ could increase by at least 80%. I believe that if we implement the grand pn for '98, our profits will be astronomical, - ented Raimon.

  Billy's mission is to use the press, give away some albums, and likewise talk to the sponsors and run campaigns for Coca-Co sales. Better yet, it involves ercials worldwide with a single logo: Luxnation and Panini. Marketing takes off, and the campaign only increases and increases.

  -Billy was anizing his thoughts as he entered a casting room. There, he would o focus on his role, one he was determio fight for. The script was good, and the attention was right. This year, he had taken on the risk of five movies, three as the lead or co-lead and two in supp roles in key films like "Nixon" and "How to Make an Ameri Quilt."

  The story revolves around a trial where two young Ameris he Mississippi it an act against a girl. Her father, upon finding out, shoots them both ialiation. The tension rises due to a radical, racist group. The wyers, Jake Brigand his assistant Ellen Roark will do everything possible to save Carl Lee, the girl's father.

  Billy would py the role of Jake Brigance. For this role, he would grow a beard. For "Jerry Maguire," he had been asked to shave and undergo intense exercise routines, but for this role, he needed a fuller beard and a more worn appearance due to the stress his character endured.

  -Are you ready?- they asked Billy as he prepared for the interview. Not long before, he had made a brief trip to the bar to meet the film's producers. Nothing new or special.

  Arnon Mil was seated alongside Joel Schumacher and John Grisham. Grisham had personally rejected Kevin er and Woody Harrelson twice, and Val Kilmer had also been celed due to not fitting the profile, and appearing too old. They needed someone who looked aged, but not too old.

  -Wele, Mr. Carson,- ented Joel.

  -It's a pleasure to meet you,- Billy responded, adjusting his suit. This time, his tie was ly fastened, and his appearance was impeccable. His freshly ironed shirt and tailored suit, plete with cufflinks, made him look the part. His father had worn cufflinks, and uhe others, Billy wore a light suit.

  Although his beard was just starting to grow, it was well-trimmed a.

  Even with brief details, Billy knew how to portray a wyer tired of his job but still eager to excel.

  -Start,- ented John Grisham, seeing a spark of a wyer. It was an impromptu interview, with no script, just responses. Without much time, Billy nodded, straightened his back, and adopted a serious, cold, and tough demeanor.

  ...

  -No! No! Honey, I o attend to this right now,- Billy ented.

  -It's important that you take note. You stay,- Billy said warmly, a clear, simple, and quick smile, one given to loved ones.

  -It's fantastic.-

  -I'll take some questions, but let's move on... Yes, of course, I'll do what I ... I hope you're satisfied.-

  -Gentlemen, I stand before you with my heart in my hand, and peculiarly, I speak to you as a citizen, a citizen of the rule of w, a man who turns oV in the m wanting to know about the state of a try, a free, just, and democratic try. Ask yourselves, are we here for justice, or the favor of others? Are we here to judge people by their gender, raational or familial in, nguage, religion, political or philosophical opinion? That’s why justice has a scale and is attended by a blindfold to remain impartial,- Billy said, trying to vey passion in his performance, driven by a simple sense of dignity and strength.

  There was silenow he was Jake Briganot too harsh, but not too calm, with a strong, arrogant air.

  -Thank you for that. Remember, doubts must always be resolved in court; everyone has the right to a fair trial,- Billy said, interpreting the wyer.

  -Thank you, thank you,- Billy ented.

  Just as they were about to the interview, Billy terattacked forcefully.

  -I never said that! I hope you don’t take my words as ing. I adhere to the rules of a social state of w and the legal equality of individuals uhe w. The assertion you’re making is erroneous, journalist,- Billy said, pointing. He hadn't read the whole book, just fragments, and from there imagined how the matter would work. It was a quick reversal, mostly thought out and impressive, given he wasn’t provided with a script, just a few pages of the plot.

  -You go to court, I'd like to go to court,- Billy ented quickly, f a smile. He was a wyer, not a politi. He made a rare, self-depreg grimace, mimig his father's manner perfectly.

  -Thank you for your performance.-

  ...

  Billy listened, giving himself no more time but to keep up with the impromptu interview.

  ***

  -What do you think? - Joel asked his two producers.

  -I felt a wyer, - Arnon Mil ented, feeling the power of the performance, one he accepted as good.

  -He’s good, the boy, better than expected. Though he souentative, he has the character, that character that’s hard to portray, - Joel ented.

  -We have other didates, but I hope they’re all as good as this one, - John Grisham ented.

  Ihan a week, they had to choose one of the many roles, regardless of whether it satisfied the eable. The film was mostly produced, with all its sets. -

  ...