Age of Dreams

After David stopped being so complacent, he told the ins and outs of the matter.

A little different from the previous life, this time Paramount felt that "Transformers" would bring him huge profits, so it wanted to release "Transformers 2" in advance to make up for the lack of funds.

But things backfired. Not only did "Transformers 2" have no hope of being released in advance, but because of overspending on special effects, an additional investment of at least 30 million U.S. dollars was needed.

House seemingly endless rain.

At this time, Deutsche Bank, who had survived for a month longer than in the previous life, couldn't stand it any longer, and asked Paramount to repay the loan of 450 million US dollars owed to him, so that he could fill other big holes.

For the few films in hand, Paramount almost sold their pants to raise money. How can they have the money to pay back Deutsche Bank, and it is such a huge sum of 450 million US dollars?

You can say that Paramount's market value exceeds 10 billion US dollars, but their stall is too large, it is very laborious to turn around, and there is not much cash on weekdays.

And because "Transformers 1" made a lot of money before, they overspent and invested in "Transformers 2", and they were even more stretched. They didn't borrow another 100 million US dollars from Deutsche Bank. No!

They originally had entertainment tycoon Redstone behind them, and Redstone's Viacom was originally their parent company, but Viacom's economic situation during this period was also not good, and they couldn't come up with the money. To them, only let them handle it themselves.

In desperation, Paramount started its own long road of borrowing as in the previous life.

Generally, these film companies do not borrow money from their peers, because the seven major Hollywood film companies basically have no relationship.

Don't look at them often co-produced movies and so on, it's all for profit. In fact, they all hope that other companies will go bankrupt, and then the entire market will be owned by themselves.

So they usually borrow money from major commercial banks. For example, one of Paramount's financial backers is Deutsche Bank.

Back when Deutsche Bank was rich. Lending money to Paramount, not only can you slowly wait to collect interest. Moreover, if there is nothing to do, they find Paramount to do a few advertisements for themselves, and the lives of both parties are extremely nourishing.

But once there is a financial crisis, even Deutsche Bank, Germany's largest commercial bank, can't stand it, let alone other commercial banks. In terms of bank stability, Germany is the number one in the world, even more stable than Swiss banks. Practical.

Of course, there are many powerful giants in the banks on the US side. But the problem is that these banks were either hit too hard by the subprime debt turmoil, or they were involved in other bond crises and the crisis of the bankruptcy of borrowing companies. Paramount, which has always been known for making huge profits from injustice, God knows when it will get its money back.

So Paramount had no choice but to cast a net everywhere to find rich people, and one of them found David's head.

Who told him that he likes movies and has a father who is one of the top ten super rich in the United States?

David has long been eyeing the film industry. Looking at this opportunity now, I immediately pondered it.

After thinking hard for several days, he finally came up with a good idea. It happened that he met Sam who had the same hobbies as him after returning from practicing, and the two discussed it for a while. Immediately came to Huaguo to look for Xiao Qi.

Well, Paramount is looking for a fool everywhere, and they are here to find a fool.

"I think so." Speaking of this, David became serious: "Paramount owes 450 million dollars, which is only against Deutsche Bank, and they also owe about 1 billion dollars in other places. , They still haven’t paid these out, they can only repay the interest every year. When the economy is good, others allow them to delay. But when the economy is not good, the banks will tighten their funds. They will pay a lot in two or three years money.

Of course, Paramount doesn't have the money and can only rely on external forces to support it. Their parent company, Viacom, has also had a hard time in the past two years, and it is impossible to give this money. So now is one of the most difficult times after Paramount was acquired by Viacom, and it is also the most beneficial period for us. "

Xiao Qi listened and nodded, David's words were his considerations in his previous life, there was no difference.

"What I mean is, the three of us will work together to repay Paramount's $1.45 billion in debt, so as to obtain Paramount's priority film investment rights for the next 10 years." David said excitedly: " Believe me, friends, "Transformers", "Mission Impossible", "Iron Man", "Captain America", "Avengers"...these blockbusters will definitely make us a lot of money, 10 years later , Doubling and earning 3 billion U.S. dollars is no problem!"

"1.45 billion?" Xiao Qi thought he heard it wrong. In his previous life, David only paid 450 million US dollars and got the same return.

"That's right!" David explained: "Oh, I didn't say completely, it's not just the priority investment rights. What Paramount means is that if we pay them back all the money, then the film copyright in their hands will It’s up to us to choose, what we ask them to shoot, they will shoot first! We decide how much to invest, and the rest of the investment is shared by others, and we can even invest the full amount.”

Sam also added at this time: "We have all planned. In the next ten years, at least one hero blockbuster will be released every year. The goal is the four movies that David just mentioned! Think about it, Xiao Qi, we were familiar with these when we were children. What an honor it is to be able to make such a great movie from our hands and share it with people of the same age all over the world!"

"Isn't it a little wrong that you came to me after you made a plan?" Xiao Qi said with a smile, "Could it be that in your eyes, I'm just a money bag that pays money and doesn't care about the rest?"

"Then what do you think of our plan? I'm a professional! If I can't make you money, I'll come to Huaguo from the United States to apologize to you!" David said confidently, "Don't worry, Xiao Qi, I never Don't lie to your friends, you have to trust me!"

Of course David did not lie, he really made a lot of money from this project operation.

However, unlike his previous life, David will give an extra 1 billion US dollars in exchange for the "full investment rights" and "designated filming rights" that he did not have in his previous life.

Xiao Qi doesn't know much about the film industry, and he doesn't know whether these two rights can be worth 1 billion US dollars, but according to David's thinking about the film industry, Xiao Qi knows that at least it won't lose money.

"Transformers 2" alone is worth 830 million at the global box office, and "Transformers 3" will earn 1.1 billion US dollars in the global box office. It is said that "Transformers 4" will be about the same... Calculated in this way, David is These three films should have earned US$500-700 million in profits.

There is also "The Avengers", which did not lose to "Transformers", but directly hit the global box office of 1.5 billion US dollars! What about the second and third parts?

In addition, "Mission: Impossible", "Iron Man", and "Captain America" ​​are all golden hens that make money. At least in Xiao Qi's previous life, it has been proved that they are all money-absorbing weapons, so if large-scale investment is made, 14.5 One hundred million dollars can definitely be earned back, and it can really be doubled.

For any film investor, earning about US$1.5 billion in 10 years is definitely a remarkable achievement.

But what Xiao Qi thought was not so simple, his ambition was bigger.

"David, Sam." Xiao Qi said flatly: "I think 1.45 billion US dollars is not enough for these promises... Don't be so busy talking, listen to me!"

After a pause, the boy continued: "I don't understand movies, but I understand finance. Our current cooperation with Paramount is indeed a win-win situation, but you have overlooked one point, that is, now we and Paramount Ramon, not on the same level! Paramount is waiting for money to save their lives! The funds in our hands are their life-saving funds, why can't we get more?"

For American companies, Xiao Qi has no sympathy. Taking advantage of the fire is his favorite thing to do, because American companies often do this to Huaguo companies. It has nothing to do with justice or evil, but only with his own interests.

David and Sam were dumbfounded.

"Xiao Qi, you are too cruel!"

"Wow, this is taking advantage of the fire!"

It's true that the two of them are film investors, but they really like the film business more. Otherwise, with their family wealth, they would have no problem going to female stars, eating, drinking and having fun all day long. Live to invest in filming?

Hearing Xiao Qi's way of talking about business in business, the two people's first reaction was that they were not used to it, and then they felt that Xiao Qi was a little too greedy.

"I invest to make money, David, you should have known this from the beginning." Xiao Qi said with a smile: "Let's go back and negotiate with them, 1.45 billion is only for this, do you really think our money is blown by the wind? MGM only sold for 4.8 billion US dollars! It’s really not good, you tell them, we spend 5 billion US dollars to directly acquire Paramount!”

"Uh……"

The two were dumbfounded for the third time.

"You, what you said is true?" David stammered a little.

"If they're willing to sell, I'm definitely willing to buy it, but I'm afraid Lei Shidong won't." Xiao Qi smiled, "But now we have their life-saving money in hand, and I don't feel comfortable if we don't knock it hard... By the way, both of you, if you can sell the copyright to us for the five movie series you just mentioned, I think 1.45 billion can be given.” (To be continued~^~)

PS:  Brothers, Happy Valentine’s Day, if you don’t have a girlfriend, hurry up and confess your love, I wish everyone success! !