Heads Up Hollywood

According to the traditional definition, the concept of the film industry includes two parts: the film production industry and the film distribution and exhibition industry.

Among them, in the film production industry, the production of films and the ancillary industry that provides services for films, mainly cinema chains, are two subdivisions of the production industry.

The film distribution and projection industry refers to film distribution services, mainly relying on movie theaters or movies, through a series of intermediate links such as film promotion and release, to connect movie production companies with ordinary consumers.

In the current market environment, with the integration of resources in the entertainment industry, movies have long been more than just the economic benefits of movie theaters, and have instead developed into a large movie industry consisting of industrial chains and derivative industry definitions, industrial chains, and derivatives.

This big film industry requires collaboration and interaction between various industries, including: financing planning - film services - production and production - distribution marketing - screening theaters - film product development / TV stations / video on demand / DVD sales/TV drama copyright development...

That is to say, in addition to the core part of the integrated process of screenwriting, production, distribution, and screening referred to in the traditional definition, it also includes the front-end and back-end of the film industry chain.

The front end refers to film financing; the back end refers to diversified post-film products, including film audio-visual products, games, CDs, film advertisements, pay TV channel broadcasting, etc.

With so many diversified extension products, the film industry has gradually become the core of the entire cultural industry, providing abundant resources and economic power for the star economy, tourist attractions, audio-visual industry, advertising industry, service industry, game entertainment industry, etc. .

As a result, the film industry has become a big film industry, and the film economy has become a "big film economy".

Hollywood has already figured out this movie model.

This is an advantage and a disadvantage.

The advantage is that Hollywood can lead the group and is the capital of the kingdom of the world film industry.

The disadvantage is market saturation and loss of growth potential.

The strongest evidence is the box office market, which has seen a 20% increase in box office revenue in the North American market over the past five years.

The increase in overseas markets... as high as 48%!

This is still in the absence of strength in the Chinese market.

It also shows that the development speed of the overseas film market is far greater than that of Hollywood.

This is the main reason why New Universal will strive to develop the smart industry after opening up the upstream, midstream and downstream of the film industry chain.

The development of the overseas film industry is unstoppable. In order to maximize the benefits of New Universal in the process of rapid development of the film industry, it is necessary not only to produce films that satisfy the appetites of global movie fans, but also to provide overseas film companies with relevant information about the film. service, and then get a commission.

Let foreign film companies work for New Universal.

As long as New Universal can take advantage of its technological advantages and its resource advantages in Hollywood, it can open up links between film companies at home and abroad, and become a platform-like organization.

New Global will be able to firmly control the resources at both ends, thereby maintaining its leading edge in the industry.

New Universal's Netflix, Dolby Laboratories, imax, Imdb, Rotten Tomatoes, and even the newly established website Facebook, as well as Avid Technology, LP Media, and THX, which are trying to acquire, are all aimed at creating this An intermediary movie platform.

Not only to provide services to global movie fans, but also to serve global film companies.

Firmly grasp the dividends of the rapid growth of the global film market!

Fortunately, Avid Technology and LP Media have a combined valuation of between US$1.2 billion and US$1.5 billion.

In contrast, THX, which has the smallest market share, is the most difficult to deal with.

The reason is simple, THX Corporation is a subsidiary of Lucasfilm.

For this reason, taking advantage of the world premiere of "Pirate Alliance 2: Dead Man's Chest", Tang En specially dragged George Lucas to a separate lounge.

"Twain, I like the first part of "Pirate Alliance" very much. Tim Burton's style is very distinctive, and it can be said to complement each other with Johnny Depp's performance. Not enough for the second part... the one called Gore Verbinski's director?"

The film hadn't started showing yet, so George Lucas was inevitably a little worried.

I was afraid that Twain would screw up this big project by choosing an unknown newcomer director Gore Verbinski.

Tang En smiled and said: "Don't worry, the era of movies has changed, especially after the establishment of Hollywood's industrialization standards, the position of director of commercial films is far less important. He is the assembler of assembly line products and has no technical barriers. Me and Tim Burton is also a producer on the film, and with us, there's nothing wrong with the film."

George Lucas nodded.

Regarding the theory of the film industry, no one in the current Hollywood industry can compare with Tang En.

However, Tang En's words made him feel uncomfortable.

Who is the director of a commercial film... Doesn't matter anymore?

This is too demeaning the director's role!

Tang En explained, "Of course, original works still need a strong director to control the style and movie style. Movies like Marvel movies and "Pirate Alliance" have a strong brand and have formed their own characteristics. For the series, if you put a freshman from the director academy on it, you can do it decently."

George Lucas darkened.

The "Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith" he is currently working on, isn't it the kind of movie series with a strong brand that Tang En said?

However, this is indeed a piece of his heart.

When "Star Wars Episode 1" was filmed, the director was Twain, and then the box office was a big hit, with a North American box office of 580 million U.S. dollars and a global box office of 1.18 billion U.S. dollars.

It is the second film in history to gross more than $1 billion after "Titanic".

As a result, when it came to "Star Wars Episode 2", George Lucas was the director, and the box office results were not satisfactory. The North American box office was 300 million U.S. dollars, and the global box office was 650 million U.S. dollars, which has almost shrunk by half.

He still made a lot of money, but he was far from reaching Tang En's level.

At that time, many critics also criticized him, thinking that he was outdated. Compared with emerging directors such as James Cameron, Peter Jackson, and Don Walker, his narrative techniques and expression , are too rigid.

With Tang En's level of conversation, of course there would not be such an obvious verbal loophole that would cause the other party's displeasure.

Then there is only one reason, he did it on purpose!

"You want THX company?" George Lucas realized Tang En's attempt.

Tang En smiled, "George, if I remember correctly... you are already 60 years old, right? Your achievements are already unparalleled. The "Star Wars" and Industrial Light and Magic you created are the jewels of Hollywood. You can definitely Retire in peace."

In fact, George Lucas is now in a semi-retired state.

As long as "Star Wars Episode 3" is not being produced, he will be busy.

""Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith" will be my last movie." George Lucas also has self-knowledge, and his greatest talent is not making movies.

"Where's Lucasfilm?" Tang En's eyes were burning.

George Lucas laughed and said, "What? Don't you mean not only THX, but also Lucasfilm as a whole?"

"Can't you?"

"Are you serious?"

George Lucas looked serious.

Tang En smiled and said, "George, I remember that I told you a long time ago? Pixar was the animation department of Industrial Light \u0026 Magic back then, and was later bought by Jobs. Now, Pixar is already an animation studio under New Universal. Could it be... ...you don't want Pixar and Lucasfilm to be family again?"

George Lucas nodded, then shook his head again, "Twain, the timing is not right now. You should know that before the release of "Star Wars Episode 3", I can't talk about anything about Lucasfilm. mergers and acquisitions.”

Tang En expressed his understanding, "George, I can let you in on a little secret. If there are no accidents, the New Global Group will go public next year... the year after at the latest."

"Oh? Really? Congratulations?" George Lucas congratulated sincerely.

Tang En looked at him strangely, "Don't you want to get involved?"

As we all know, with the strength and potential of New Global Group, going public is tantamount to an explosion in market value!

If New Universal Group can complete the acquisition of Lucasfilm before going public, George Lucas will definitely be able to get a large share of New Universal Group.

When it goes public...he will become the second richest celebrity in the United States after Dunn Walker!

Right now, the list of the richest celebrities in the United States is probably——

Dawn Walker, $61.5 billion;

Steven Spielberg, $2.2 billion;

George Lucas, $2 billion;

Oprah Winfrey, $1.7 billion;

Michael Jordan, $900 million;

David Cofield, $760 million

Tiger Woods, $600 million...

Once George Lucas can participate in the listing of the New Global Group, his personal net worth will double, and it will not be a problem at all!

Unexpectedly, George Lucas said firmly: "I will not start any negotiations until the dust of "Star Wars Episode 3" settles, I'm sorry, Twain. However, you are the old man of "Star Wars" Friends, if possible, someday in the future, I will hand over this series to you."

The failure of "Star Wars Episode 2" once made him disheartened.

"Star Wars Episode 3" will be his last movie.

He doesn't want to be disturbed by any outside world, he wants to make this movie well.

With his current net worth, wealth is just a number and cannot be spent at all.

Whether it's $2 billion or $4 billion, how much difference can it make?

As long as "Star Wars Episode 3" can be successful, even if Lucasfilm is sold to New Universal, will the price be lower?

You know, for a dilapidated Sillywood animation studio, Disney can offer a sky-high price of 2.2 billion U.S. dollars.

Tang En nodded lightly, then smiled, "Let's go, let's go to the movies. "Pirate Alliance 2: Dead Man's Chest" is about to start. I have a hunch that this movie... will be a huge hit!"