American Tax Officer

This movie also involved an issue with tax evasion through an inflated cost structure.

The previous Independence Day, along with the current [X-Men], while starring Will and Hugh Jackman respectively, were both produced by the Fox Film Corporation.

Now that the two leading actors have faced heavy penalties, can the film producer and distributor possibly remain unaffected?

Of course, that's impossible!

Everyone in the spectator's gallery realized that David seemed to have sharpened his knife against the Fox Film Corporation and blood would likely be shed next!

"Mr. Jackman, you can now plead guilty!"

Seeing that the knife was sharpened, David didn't bother to waste any more words.

"Okay, I plead guilty, Your Honor, and I am willing to pay the fine!"

"Hmm, next..."

"..."

Fox Film Corporation.

"Fake Yau, what the hell is going on? How could they have such detailed information about these two movies and the personnel?"

"Although I don't know how the Western Suburb Branch figured out so much about the past, the punishment of these two movies and the two leads is clearly a warning to us. I think he's definitely going to pin the blame on us next!"

"Now that these two movies have been accused, our company being the producer and distributor will definitely not be able to wash our hands clean of this, we're in some real trouble..."

Although the trial was not broadcast live, there were many invited attendees, so it was not difficult for Fox Film Corporation's top brass to know the real-time situation in the courtroom.

When they learned that the two movies produced by their company, Independence Day and [X-Men], were accused, everyone became tense.

Apart from Fox, the other seven major film companies were also among the first to know the results of the trial, and they too were on edge.

But the most tense of all was the Disney Film Company.

Hollywood's Eight Major Film Companies is actually a term from the last century, and after so many years of changes, the eight companies are no longer truly the 'Big Eight'.

It's just that due to their long-standing history and influence in Hollywood, they are still referred to as the Eight Major Film Companies by the outside world.
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For example, United America Movie Company and Migaomei (MGM) have merged into one company and later separated again to operate independently.

And, for example, Fox Film Corporation, which was acquired by The Walt Disney Company in 2019 for a huge sum, is now a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, just like Disney Film Industry.

And precisely because Fox Film Corporation and Disney Film Industry are currently subsidiaries of The Walt Disney Company, if Fox faces disaster, Disney Film Industry is also likely to be directly implicated, which is why Disney's top brass are more nervous than other companies.

The current situation of the major film companies is still unknown to those at the trial.

After Hugh Jackman's case had been dealt with, in the time that followed, Tom Hanks, other big names such as the big cousin and the widow, and Cameron too were all subject to trial one by one.

However, as soon as they were called, they followed Hugh Jackman's lead, no longer wasting words, offering no defense; they all chose to plead guilty and accept their fines.

Clearly, they were aware of their own affairs.

Moreover, Julie's example was right there for all to see.

Julie suffered not just a huge fine because she wouldn't take the out that David gave her; but even worse was the huge scandal that broke, which was a total loss.

Despite their glamorous appearances, every star in the entertainment industry has, more or less, some dark history.

They did not want to be publicly exposed by David in such a manner, which would be incredibly embarrassing.

However, it's worth noting that while they got away with fines for pleading guilty,

due to the inflated finances in a series of movies like Independence Day, [X-Men], Titanic, and Star Wars, it was obvious to anyone with eyes that the scrutiny was primarily focused on the Fox Film Corporation.

Yet, this also made many who were unaware of the full picture begin to wonder.

What was the purpose behind Fox Film Corporation producing so many films with inflated costs?

If it was for money laundering, this seemed to be amiss as well.

After all, as times progressed and the company grew in size along with stricter regulation, why would such a large corporation take such risks?

But they didn't have to wonder long, as David soon provided an answer.

"Your Honor, based on these testimonies and evidence, coupled with the admissions of guilt by the celebrities, the result is quite obvious. In the years before and after the twentieth century, Fox is suspected of severe financial fraud and tax evasion in order to achieve rapid development."

"So I even have reason to suspect that in 2018, Fox Film Corporation, in order to raise its market value, ended up being acquired by Disney for 71.3 billion US dollars, which definitely involved major regulatory and legal malpractice!"

David's words were like a rock thrown into a pond, causing ripples to spread far and wide.

It wasn't just about the Fox Film Corporation anymore.

Now it even implicated The Walt Disney Company.

One must know, The Walt Disney Company doesn't only own America's leading film subsidiary, but due to its involvement in comprehensive entertainment ventures like Disneyland, it's also hailed as the world's leading entertainment industry company.

To date, this giant ranks 145th among the Global 500, with a market value of 270 billion US dollars.

If such a mammoth corporation was also involved in tax evasion and financial fraud, it would be an earthquake for the entertainment industry.

But bringing the discussion back,

many instantly understood why Fox chose to massively falsify and inflate the costs of their films.

After all, only by doing so

would they be able to make their finances look good, achieving rapid development, going public, and eventually catching the eye of a behemoth like Disney, and being acquired for 71.3 billion US dollars.

But this 71.3 billion US dollars is quite thought-provoking.

Did they pay taxes on it?

Did they pay the full amount?

Or did they use some means to evade tax laws?

If it indeed involves tax evasion, then Disney, a behemoth of a corporation, could be placed in the eye of a storm.