Chapter 708: King Alexander

The bright sunshine fell into the window, and the reception room was warm.

The Pacific Investment Foundation welcomed two special visitors, from the CEO of the famous Pixar Studios Idel Kamut and the chief creative officer John Lasseter.

Robert Iger accompanied the two of them and was warmly received by Scott Swift.

The two sides have dealt with each other before, and they have already reached a tacit agreement on certain things.

In the past few months, Robert Iger has met Idel Kamut and John Lasseter five or six times.

Sitting in this reception room, Idel-Kumter and Robert Iger and Scott Swift discussed in detail the possibility of future cooperation, even involving many details.

The Pacific Investment Foundation has funds, and Relativity Entertainment has distribution channels.

The latter has even proven the marketing capabilities of Embassy Pictures in the global market through the "Shrek" series and "The Shark Gang".

may not be better than Disney, but it is not much worse.

Adel-Kumter said directly: “Pixar can no longer cooperate with Disney and needs to find new partners, but the most urgent thing is to solve the financial difficulties after Disney may raise funds and ensure the production of several animated feature film projects.”

Robert Iger said: "Relativity Entertainment is willing to cooperate with Pixar Studios."

Scott Swift asked: "How much money does Pixar need?"

"Not less than 150 million U.S. dollars." Adel Kamut has estimated.

"The Pacific Investment Foundation can provide funds for Pixar Studios." Scott Swift said: "Pixar Studios can choose between mortgage lending and investment."

Idel-Kum nodded his head. It is precisely because of Relativity Entertainment and Pacific Investment Foundation as the trump card that Pixar will no longer have to worry about breaking up with Disney.

He said, "I will make a decision after discussing with Mr. Jobs."

Scott Swift characteristic head: "Yes."

Right now it is only to confirm the intention of cooperation, and the specific situation will be discussed later.

Not to mention the Pixar studio, the big boss behind him, the picture is huge.

The contradiction between Pixar Studios and Walt Disney has not yet surfaced, and we can't rush for success.

Robert Iger discussed the collaboration on feature animation films with Idel Kamut and John Lasseter for a while. The computer production equipment of Shahai Entertainment Animation Studio was actually purchased from Pixar Studios.

Although animation production is in full swing, Pixar Studios has not given up the hardware sales business.

Adel Kamut and John Lasseter also agreed to provide Shahai Entertainment Animation Studio with the best technical equipment.

As for technical guidance and animation production guidance, that's not necessary.

Pixar Studio and Shahai Entertainment Animation Studio have a completely different production style.

Don’t say anything else, Pixar’s players are definitely spending money like water. They strive for perfection in technology. Without a cost of more than US$150 million, they basically cannot complete the production of an animated feature film.

Shahai Entertainment Animation Studio is different. On the basis of ensuring a certain picture quality, how to save money and how to do it, the first animated feature film "Despicable Me" only cost 60 million US dollars.

This little money, put in Pixar Studio, is just enough for those guys to model.

Idel Kamut and John Lasseter did not stay longer in Los Angeles and returned to the Pixar headquarters in Emeryville that night.

Although the relationship between Steve Jobs and Michael Eisner has been torn apart, business decisions are still cautious. Both sides have temporarily maintained a certain degree of restraint. All contradictions are still hidden under the calm water. It seems that there is no short time. Signs of eruption.

However, the longer the volcano brews, the more energy it accumulates, and when it erupts, it will go straight into the sky.

"As long as the relationship is broken, it will have a huge impact."

In the office of the Theory of Relativity Building, Robert Iger said to Ronan: "The stock prices of Disney and Pixar will go down."

Ronan said: "We are not suitable as kickers. We are Pixar's partners and rescuers."

Robert Iger reminded: "Back then, Disney and Michael Eisner were also the saviors of the Pixar studio, but Steve Jobs was not half grateful. Ronan, with Jobs as a person, at most another ten years, we It will also have sharp contradictions with him."

"I know." Ronan said softly, "Bob, you forgot one thing. Jobs has pancreatic cancer."

The meaning of these words, Robert Iger couldn't hear him, he couldn't help but smiled and shook his head: "I have forgotten this key point."

He knows a little bit about cancer. Money can really save your life, but pancreatic cancer, the king of cancer, is terminally ill in current medicine.

As for Jobs' family, Robert Iger has heard that Jobs's wife Laurena is not the kind of person who likes to stand in front of the screen and fight for power. Several daughters are still early to adulthood.

Relativity entertainment, as long as it survives the first few years, all problems are no longer a problem.

Ronan asked, "Michael Eisner and Disney have no response for the time being?"

Robert Iger said: "What Michael Eisner really wants to do, he will also plan and respond to it. This is not a trivial matter."

"Where is Roy Disney?" Ronan asked again.

"Contact lobbying shareholders." Robert Iger replied: "I want to find a way to integrate Disney's voting rights. My people are staring at him. The Disney family is no longer Disney in its heyday."

Today's Disney family, only Roy Disney is the real climate, and Roy Disney's son can barely count one.

Ronan said: "The time comes, you don’t care about other things, just make a decision. In terms of funding, go to Scott. The Pacific Foundation has just received a large investment from India."

Robert Iger nodded slowly: "I understand."

In fact, in the battle between Michael Eisner and Roy Disney, the final battlefield is the shareholders' meeting. Whoever can win the majority of voting shares will have an absolute advantage.

Relativity Entertainment and the Pacific Foundation must also prepare for funding, which is also a major reason for pushing Netflix to go public.

The reality is here. If Netflix wants to make a qualitative leap, listing is a must.

Two days later, Robert Iger went to Emeryville, but did not see Steve Jobs, but made progress in the cooperation between the two parties.

Shahai Entertainment Animation Studio signed a contract with Pixar Studios to purchase the most advanced animation production equipment from Pixar Studios.

In this way, when Shahai Entertainment Animation Studio is familiar with the equipment, the production efficiency of animated feature films will be greatly improved.

Currently, the panda project initiated by Shahai Entertainment Animation Studio has entered the character design stage.

"Little Yellow Man" is still being produced, and "How to Tame Your Dragon" is also being written.

Shahai Entertainment Animation Studio must have the ability to produce two to three animated films and several animated series at the same time in the future.

Before this weekend, Ronan participated in the pre-screening conference of Embassy Pictures’ "Museum Wonderful Night". This typical family movie, of course, will be released on the Thanksgiving holiday schedule. Now it has entered the final screening. Publicity.

Two theater representatives and audience trial meetings, "A Wonderful Night at the Museum" received high praise. The representatives of both parties thought the film was full of fun and was very suitable for the whole family to watch.

In addition, the performance of the films produced by Relativity Entertainment has been very good, so the Embassy Pictures did not expend too much effort, and during the crowded Thanksgiving schedule, it won no less than 4,000 North American painting theaters for "Museum Wonderful Night".

The specific number of screens will need to be coordinated later, but the Embassy Pictures has already prepared 5,000 copies.

This weekend before the Thanksgiving holiday is one of the best schedules in North America. In addition to "A Wonderful Night at the Museum", there are also Warner Bros' epic masterpiece "Alexander the Great", Universal Pictures' "BJ Single Diary 2" and Mira "Spring of the Cattle Class" purchased by Max at the Toronto Film Festival.

Among them, the epic "Alexander the Great" by Warner Bros. is undoubtedly the most concerned.

The production cost of this film is as high as 155 million US dollars. It is directed by the famous director Oliver Stone who has filmed "Field Platoon", "Nixon", "Born Murderer" and "Assassination of Kennedy". Stars such as Farrell, Angelina Jolie, Fang Kimmer and Anthony Hopkins.

In many aspects, this seems to be a big-selling work with great ambition and market prospects.

It is said that Warner Bros.’s first favorite actor is Heath Ledger but Heath Ledger rejected the role because he took over Lee’s film, and the crew chose Colin Farrell. .

In some ways, the heroes of the two films are very similar.

Ronan once watched this film, but the specific plot is not clear. He only remembers that Alexander the Great and the supporting actor are very affectionate.

Warner Bros. seems to have learned the experience and lessons of "Troy", but only conducted an internal test screening of "Alexander the Great". There was no external screening, and the specific situation is difficult to know.

If this film fails, the impact on Warner Bros. will not be great. The investor consists of five companies including Warner Bros. and Constantine Pictures. Warner Bros.'s investment ratio is less than 20%.

The success of the film, Warner Bros. can use the release to make a large profit; if it fails, most of the pot will be left to other investors.

However, before Thanksgiving, Embassy Pictures has another film to be released, and the "Diary of the Emperor Penguin" purchased from France will be screened on a small scale.