Chapter 208： See the poor picture (2 in 1 six thousand words big

Golf, a sport that can generate infinite associations, used to be a variety of jokes on the Internet. It is said that a ball is worth tens of millions.

The putt swung lightly, and the white ball passed through the neatly trimmed grass and rolled out of the hole. It was originally only three feet from the hole, but it ran five feet away.

"Ronan, you still need more practice in this technique!"

The speaker has a black face and a pair of conspicuous ears, and he is born with a pleasing appearance.

Ronan straightened up, looked at the white ball rolling away with a little disappointment, and said, "Will, I'm a novice."

Will Smith came over with the cue and said, "Would you like me to demonstrate it for you?"

Ronan shrugged slightly and said, "I'll do it myself."

Will Smith was called by Tom Cruise. According to Tom Cruise, the Will Smiths are the key development targets of Scientology and they have participated in several Scientology activities.

"It's farther now." Will Smith speaks very fast. Unlike comedy stars who are serious guys in reality, this person is full of joy in life: "I bet ten dollars, you can't do this. Into the hole."

Ronan and Will Smith just met today. They are not very familiar. They just shook their heads. Why does Will Smith’s last sentence sound weird?

Is this charming ear not serious, or am I not serious?

Ronan posed and swung the putter lightly, the ball rolled out, this time it still did not enter the hole.

No way, the level of novices is limited.

The little Anderson used to play golf, but his level is just that. Ronan also played golf once and twice, so his level is better than a pure novice.

Ronan shook his head and sighed, why can others enter two holes at once? Not only is the technology superb, but people can't get it out after entering, and there is a huge gap in level.

Novices need to practice more, so I’ll buy more golf **** to spare.

"It's up to you, Will." Ronan handed the caddy to the caddy next to him.

Will Smith is also not welcome, poses and puts easily into the hole, worthy of a veteran.

"Practice more." Will Smith pulled out the golf ball from the hole and encouraged: "Practice for a while. At such a close distance, you can easily get into the hole in one shot."

Ronan nodded: "I will go back to practice."

Practicing in a more advanced way, after the practice, the doctor must pick the ball to fix the hole...

At this time, a battery car drove over. There were Tom Cruise and Jeff Kasenberg in the car. Tom Cruise said to this side: "Have you finished this hole?"

Ronan waved: "It's over."

Will Smith shook his ears and said, "I helped Ronan finish the last shot."

"Get in the car." Tom Cruise greeted the two.

Ronan and Will Smith got into another battery car, and the driver pulled them to keep up with Tom Cruise and Jeff Catzenberg.

"You have known Tom for a long time?" Will Smith asked

Ronan replied: "It's been over a year, we hit it off right away, and soon became friends."

Will Smith turned his head and looked at Ronan a few more times, guessing that this guy is also a member of Scientology?

The battery car entered the rest area of ​​the stadium. Tom Cruise and Will Smith seemed to be regular customers here, and several people they met took the initiative to greet them.

There are not many people in the rest area. When he came to a place where there was no one, Tom Cruise took the initiative to call Will Smith over: "Shall we talk about the next church activity?"

Will Smith has participated in Scientology activities several times, and he does not reject this, saying: "Okay."

The two randomly found a place to discuss how to follow Scientology to conquer the sea of ​​stars in the future.

"Mr. Katzenberg." Ronan shook hands with Jeff Katzenberg: "We meet again."

shook hands with Ronan, and Katzenberg looked at him and asked directly: "Are you the me who asked Tom to make an appointment?"

Some time ago, he and Spielberg commissioned Tom Cruise to make an appointment with Ronan, and now Ronan asked Tom Cruise to ask him out.

Ronan didn’t have to deny it, and said, “It’s the Tom I asked for.”

Katzenberg held his shiny forehead and said, "You have something to do with me? Have you changed your mind? Are you ready to cooperate with DreamWorks?"

Besides, he couldn't think of Ronan asking him to come out.

Ronan said very seriously: "I want to cooperate with DreamWorks Animation Studio and cooperate with you."

"Cooperate with me?" Katzenberg frowned: "How do you want to work with me."

At this point, thinking of Embassy Pictures, he had some guesses in his heart.

Ronan said calmly: "Mr. Katzenberg, DreamWorks Animation Studios have had anime feature films released every year in recent years. Last year’s "Prince of Egypt" and this year’s "Brave to the Golden City", the former is composed of 20 Century Fox’s overseas distribution, the latter is issued by Universal Pictures in markets outside North America, and DreamWorks Animation Studio lacks a long-term stable overseas publisher.

Katzenberg stared at Ronan scorchingly, and said: "Your Embassy Pictures wants to release movies overseas for DreamWorks Animation Studios?"

"Exactly." Ronan was originally for this purpose: "I heard that DreamWorks has several animated feature films that are negotiating with other companies for overseas distribution.

, Your negotiations with Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures are not going well, why not consider Embassy Pictures? "

During this week, Connie and others collected a lot of information about DreamWorks Animation Studios and Jeff Katzenberg. Although they were all widely circulated news, Ronan still analyzed a lot of useful information. information.

Katzenberg laughed suddenly and said, "If I remember correctly, Embassy Pictures has only discovered the film "Human Removal Project 2" overseas so far."

Ronan must be confident: "This small production cost of only US$0 million has already received US$40 million in the box office through the overseas distribution channels of Embassy Pictures."

The biggest problem with Embassy Pictures is that the overseas distribution network has just been established, and only one film has been released. If three or four films successfully released overseas are the base, maybe Jeff Katzenberg will take the initiative to talk to him about DreamWorks animation work. The overseas issue of the room.

"Has the overseas box office reached 40 million US dollars?" Katzenberg was a little tempted.

What if these overseas distribution networks belong to DreamWorks? Many problems faced by DreamWorks can be resolved.

belongs to a small company.

Ronan said: “It’s not hard to find out. This weekend, this number will continue to increase. Mr. Katzenberg, you are a senior in the industry. It’s clearer than me that the audience for animated films is far more than horror. For thriller films, if Embassy Pictures were to operate and release an animated feature film on the same scale, the results might be even better."

Katzenberg shook his head: "Ronan, you are secretly changing the concept."

Ronan was not at all embarrassed by being exposed, and said with a smile: "Mr. Katzenberg, I just provide you with a possibility of choice. Cooperation is a win-win situation. It is you who love me. If you feel that six Large companies are more suitable for publishing DreamWorks Animation Studios films, and Embassy Pictures is willing to wait."

He glanced at Katzenberg and continued: "DreamWorks Animation Studios has produced four feature-length animated films so far, and each of them has changed overseas distributors. Why? The six major companies' attitudes towards DreamWorks are all Hollywood. Yes. But why do DreamWorks Animation Studios want their competitors to publish movies for themselves? Because apart from the six major companies and their affiliated labels, there is no more suitable choice for Hollywood."

Katzenberg asked Ronan: "Your Embassy Pictures is the right choice for DreamWorks Animation Studios?"

Ronan is certainly not humble at this time: "At least more suitable for DreamWorks Animation Studios than the Big Six companies. Embassy Pictures and its parent company, Relativity Entertainment, are not as powerful as DreamWorks. There is no competitive relationship between the two parties. Embassy Pictures The overseas distribution network is simple and clear, not as complicated as the Big Six companies, which is conducive to the supervision of the producers, and the Embassy Pictures does not have such bloated institutions and personnel, the distribution cost of the same scale is much lower, and the related distribution is proportional Naturally it will also decrease."

Katzenberg asked concerned: "How much can it be lower?"

The conditions of the six major companies are too harsh, otherwise he would not repeatedly change overseas issuers. Those people have absorbed more than half of their overseas revenue.

Ronan learned about the overseas distribution of several animated feature films from DreamWorks Animation Studios, and said: “Online draws 40%, and offline home entertainment channels represented by discs and TV stations’ copyright revenues Thirty-five, 40% of derivatives, and the promotion expenses do not need to be calculated separately."

Katzenberg is obviously thinking that this is much better than the distribution conditions of the Big Six companies, but he also has doubts: "Ronan, what an animated movie is watching is more than online distribution capabilities."

"I know, there are offline distribution capabilities." Ronan said: "The Embassy Pictures got the distribution network of Polygram Pictures that year. It was built on the basis of record distribution and has everything online and offline! From the beginning of this year to the present, I have invested heavily in further expanding channels. Today, the overseas distribution network of Embassy Pictures is only stronger than Polygram Films in its heyday."

He knows what Katzenberg’s concerns are, and what Katzenberg is constantly converting among the six major companies: "Do you still have illusions about the six major companies? DreamWorks Animation Studios have already produced Four animated feature films have changed four overseas distributors, Universal Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, and Warner Bros. They have all worked with you. You know more about the harsh release conditions than I do. The rest. Sony Columbia has never released Hollywood animated feature films overseas, and Disney..."

Hearing the name Disney, Jeff Katzenberg's face changed slightly for a moment.

Ronan keenly caught it, and said: "When it comes to the release of an animated feature film, no company in the world can compare to Disney. Mr. Katzenberg, would you cooperate with Disney?"

Katzenberg has returned to normal, and said calmly: "Disney, huh..."

Ronan knows very well that as long as Katzenberg is still in charge of the DreamWorks Animation Studio, even if the film is rotten in his hands, it will not be handed over to Disney for distribution.

Who does not know in Hollywood? Jeff Kasenberg, the head of Disney Animation Studios, who made the great success of "The Lion King" and pushed Disney animation to the highest peak ever, was killed by Walt at the most glorious moment in his life. Disney sweeps out.

In the field of animation film production, Jeff Katzenberg was a huge success, but in Disney's internal power struggle, he was a complete loser.

The one who defeated him was Michael Eisner, who turned Disney from a studio into a giant media company.

How many people have lost in the battle with Michael Eisner? Michael Ovitz, Roy Disney, Cook Dee

Dick, Jeff Katzenberg...

Since leaving Walt Disney, Jeff Katzenberg’s biggest wish is to step on Disney animation in the field of animation film production.

In his previous life, Jeff Kasenberg did this very quickly. Disney Animation Studios has been in a slump since "Tarzan of the Apes", but Jeff Kasenberg is unfortunate. In the years after the new millennium, Disney The animation production couldn't fight the DreamWorks Animation Studio, but directly got a group of hangers.

Walt Disney directly acquired Pixar Studios, and put aside their face, so that the five tigers of Pixar Studios will fully enter the field of Disney animation production, thus bringing revolutionary changes to Disney animation films, and Disney soon regained animation. The location of the movie boss.

When many Oscar judges acted as the voice actors for the animated feature films of DreamWorks Animation Studios, they dubbed Katzenberg's films but voted for the animated feature films of Disney's Pixar Studios, which gradually became the norm.

For Jeff Katzenberg, who wants to avenge Disney, the biggest sadness is the group of people who met Pixar Studios.

"Let's put it this way, Ronan." Katzenberg said: "I don't like the Big Six companies, especially after working with them a few times. They rely on their position in the upper reaches of the industry chain and wish to share all the overseas income of a film. Put it in your pocket."

If there is a better choice, DreamWorks Animation Studios will not continue to contact Universal Pictures and Paramount Pictures before, and the overseas income of the lower investment "Shrek" and the higher investment of "Little Pony King" Extremely critical.

Katzenberg sighed lightly. Embassy Pictures is a publishing company. Even if it does not cooperate, it is necessary to handle the relationship. He said: "I don’t doubt Embassy Pictures’ online distribution capabilities. "The overseas box office is gratifying. But for animated films, offline income, especially derivative income, is the most important."

Since Ronan is here, of course he is ready and said: "Mr. Katzenberg, I am sorry. Just one thing, in addition to Disney, the other five large companies have produced animations with a wide range of dissemination. Is it a feature film?"

Katzenberg thought for a while and shook his head: "No. In fact, the other five companies have only really started the animated feature film business in recent years."

"We don't talk about Disney." Ronan first excluded Disney: "Several other companies have just started the animation film business. The so-called offline distribution channels, especially overseas offline distribution channels, are still mainly authorized. They simply don’t have the complete offline distribution channels for animated films like Disney, no surrounding distribution channels, no closely cooperating toy doll cooperative manufacturers, no terminal sales outlets such as Disney Town and Disney Stores, and offline overseas. Issuance is nothing more than a simple and extensive authorization."

He raised his voice slightly: "Like the TV stations and home entertainment channels they come into contact with, Embassy Pictures can also come into contact.

Ronan beckoned to the side, and Connie who came with him immediately brought a briefcase. He opened the briefcase and handed a thick pile of copies to Jeff Katzenberg: "This is Embassy Pictures in You can look at the list of contracted agents from all over the world and the photocopies of the contract head."

With Katzenberg's professional ability, the true and false of these things can be distinguished in a few glances.

After taking it over, Katzenberg turned it over and it looked like he was turning quite fast. When he turned to the second half, he couldn't help but said: "The distribution network of Polygram Pictures was so sound back then!"

Ronan sighed: "They have great ambitions, but unfortunately they are a British company."

"Your overseas distribution network is stronger than I thought." Katzenberg had to admit this: "Except for derivatives."

Derivatives, toys, dolls, figurines, figures, etc., animated films are extremely profitable in this regard.

Single authorization will lose a lot of profits.

Ronan knows this very well, and has related considerations: "We use the DVD disc sales model, entrust a third-party agent to produce, and then contract with the terminal channel provider to distribute the goods. And I can find a suitable manufacturer with good quality Guarantee, the cost is only one-fifth of North America’s."

may even be less, but there is room for such words.

The following words immediately moved Katzenberg, he asked: "Where is the manufacturer?"

Ronan did not answer.

Katzenberg then thought of a place, and the expression on his face turned into doubts: "It's not Indian, right? Some of Disney's products are processed by Indian agents, and the quality is a bit poor. Last month, the customs also caused excessive bacteria. And the filling did not meet the standards, and a large number of them were detained."

"I am not an Indian." Ronan was engaged in the film industry in his previous life and had contact with the derivatives industry: "In terms of export products, these agents are trustworthy, low cost, and good quality. I can guarantee this."

It is too common that export standards are generally stricter than domestic standards.

In this era, Hollywood hasn't really cooperated with other movie products in this era, but don't worry that the producers there have not been in contact. Many toy doll manufacturers may have been in business for several years in producing Hollywood animation products.

It's like processing these small commodities as an agent. For the industries in some areas over there, it can only be said to be a trifle.

After another five or six years, some passengers who come to California Disneyland or Orlando Disney World will spend a lot of dollars to buy a lot of things, it is very likely that exports will be sold domestically.

Katzenberg did not ask any more, knowing it was a trade secret, and Ronan would not say it after asking.

" Ronan

, You gave me a problem. "Kasenberg did not hide his heartbeat, he sighed long, and said: "How should I choose between the six major companies and your embassy film industry?" "

He was not asking Ronan about this question, but more about himself.

choose to continue to cooperate with the six major companies, overseas issuance may be more stable, but the major part of the income will be taken away by the issuer,

Choosing a new company like Embassy Pictures will inevitably come with certain risks, but DreamWorks Animation Studios may get more benefits.

Katzenberg can only sigh secretly that gains and risks always go hand in hand.

Ronan slowly said: "Unless you choose to cooperate with Disney, other companies are not much different from Embassy Pictures."

For the other five big companies, it didn't take long for them to really start the animation feature film business.

The decision is difficult, and Katzenberg didn't plan to make a decision immediately.

"Mr. Katzenberg, I have a suggestion."

Having said that, Ronan timely revealed the real key point: "As far as I know, DreamWorks Animation Studios now has two animated feature films facing distribution problems. One is "Shrek" with a public production cost of $10 million. , And the second is "My Little Pony King" which costs 80 million US dollars."

These are all public information, and Katzenberg nodded and admitted: "The two films were originally planned to be released in the first half of next year and the other in the second half of next year. Now..."

Ronan continued with what he said earlier: "DreamWorks Animation Studios might as well hand over the lower production cost of "Shrek" to Embassy Pictures for overseas distributionLittle Horse King" to continue with the six major companies Cooperation, so that large investment films can still be released by the six major companies as a guarantee. Then compare the results of these two animated films, and the effect will be clear at a glance."

Katzenberg thought about it. This is also a way. The two films "Shrek" and "My Little Pony King" were launched almost at the same time. The latter is the focus of DreamWorks Animation Studios. This is also in investment. Embodied.

Ronan asked: "Has "Shrek" been completed?"

"Most of it is done." Katzenberg said: "The rest is some work on the soundtrack and voice acting."

Ronan asked again: "If we cooperate, can I watch this film in advance? After all, this is related to overseas distribution."

Katzenberg felt his head a little messy, and said, "Ronan, I will think about it."

"No problem." Ronan said with a smile, "I hope I can get good news."

The two shook hands and said goodbye. Jeff Katzenberg didn't go golfing anymore, and left the golf club first. Ronan didn't wait much, saying hello to Tom Cruise and Will Smith. Also out of the club.

DreamWorks’ live-action film department is best to get the overseas distribution rights of several key films. If not, Ronan will not force it.

But if the overseas distribution rights of DreamWorks Animation Studio can be obtained, there will be more room for operation in the future.