Rebirth In Hollywood

The adaptation of novels and comics can be said to be an important part of Hollywood movies. Except for "The Hobbit" and "Silmarillion", which have been won long ago, including "Twilight: Twilight", Ryan has become the master of China. In the past few years after T. Disney, he has always been closely watching the adaptation market, and through a series of means and negotiations, he has obtained the film adaptation rights of many works.

Such as the novel "How to Tame Your Dragon" by Grecida Cowell in 2003, such as the comics "Kick-off King" and "Assassin League" by Dingniu Comics, and so on.

Of course, these works won by Disney will not be adapted into movies, and there must be plans to launch them one after another. It is impossible for Disney to put all the billions of dollars of liquidity on the movies every year.

Although the boards of Google and Blizzard Entertainment were dismissed one after another, and George was only allowed to represent himself, at the end of September, Ryan appeared on time in Glendale, a small town north of Los Angeles. He came here to participate in DreamWorks The board of directors of the animation studio.

As the largest shareholder of DreamWorks Animation Studio and the person who revitalized DreamWorks Animation, Ryan has not come here too many times. Unless there is an extremely important matter, he usually only sends representatives to attend the board of directors.

When Ryan appeared in the conference room, whether it was the ** director or the executive director, looking at him was a bit complicated.

Although Walt Disney has never held more than 5% of the shares of DreamWorks Animation, and has not officially announced its purchase of DreamWorks Animation Studios, all the people here are sensible, and Disney has privately held more shares with them. People have contacted, in their opinion, DreamWorks Animation could become a subsidiary of Walt Disney at any time.

Sitting at the conference table, Ryan basically did not speak from the beginning to the end. This is a routine board of directors, and the most discussed is the business and financial issues of DreamWorks Animation Studio.

actually. DreamWorks Animation Studios is far from being as glamorous as it looks on the surface, with a net profit of only $10.65 million in the last quarter...

The reasons for this are very complicated. The most crucial point is that DreamWorks Animation Studio is only a high-end production company, without distribution capabilities, nor a complete derivative industry chain of peripheral products, and can only achieve extensive income.

Also, the animated feature films it produces are always good and bad. Maybe those cartoons with a global box office of 200 million to 300 million US dollars, operated by Walt Disney or other large media groups, may take advantage of the industry. Advantages recoup costs and even generate some profits. However, under the extensive operation of DreamWorks Animation, there will be losses.

For example, last year, excluding those short films and a small number of animated series, DreamWorks Animation Studios released two animated films, "Madagascar" and "Galmain", but the studio's profit last year was only 54 million US dollars.

Compared to DreamWorks Animation Studio's global reputation, its performance is not very good.

After the board of directors, Ryan did not leave, but went directly to the office of Jerefer Katzenberg.

"Sit down, Ryan."

In the reception room of the suite. After the secretary brought the coffee, Jerevel Katzenberg and Ryan sat on the two adjacent sofas, "I didn't expect you to come over in person today."

"Actually..." Ryan didn't beat around the bush, "Jerrival. I'm here mainly to talk to you."

"Persuade me to lead DreamWorks Animation Studios to Walt Disney?" Jerefer Katzenberg knew exactly what Ryan's purpose was. "Ryan, I think you remember. I was kicked out by Disney."

"No, no..." Ryan shook his finger at him. "It was Michael Eisner who drove you out. He used to be our common enemy, and I've driven him to Switzerland."

Looking at Katzenberg, this short, thin, serious-looking CEO of DreamWorks Animation Studios is a lean, dedicated standard Hollywood-style Jewish businessman.

"Animation is pure imagination, animation is my true love." Ryan continued, "I still remember, this is what you said about The Lion King when I first met you with Don Han. , you also said that making an animated feature film requires a lot of teamwork and requires adequate financial support."

"Jerival, you've always wanted to make DreamWorks Animation into the second Disney Animation division." Ryan wouldn't be stupid enough to have a relationship in business, "Don't tell me you can't see DreamWorks Animation exist. The problem."

"DreamWorks Animation does have a lot of problems." Jerry Fu Katzenberg said slowly, "but I believe these can be solved."

"Is that really the case?" Ryan didn't mean to be sarcastic, just telling the basic facts, "DreamWorks Animation Studio has been fighting alone, it's just a pure content maker, and most of its revenue comes from For the movie box office itself, to have the same stable distribution and derivative sales channels as Pixar Studios after being acquired by Disney, DreamWorks Animation must seek external support.”

"Yes, DreamWorks Animation has high-quality content resources, and I also believe that you will create more high-quality content resources in the future." Ryan emphasized, "But DreamWorks Animation also needs a larger company to ensure future development space. ."

"DreamWorks Animation needs a strong distributor, such as Disney, to use high-quality content resources to build a derivative business."

Today, Ryan holds 35% of the shares of DreamWorks Animation. David Geffen has long wanted to quit the two DreamWorks. Spielberg needs funds to control DreamWorks Studios. Paul Ai Lun also reached a tacit understanding in private that those small shareholders are not a problem at all, and the most difficult one is undoubtedly Jerefer Katzenberg.

Although Walt Disney can get the controlling stake even if the other party does not agree, no one wants to turn a well-intentioned merger into a hostile takeover unless it has to.

"DreamWorks Animation can maintain the production of two or three animated feature films a year." Jereph Katzenberg seemed to ignore Ryan's words, "We are more efficient than Pixar and Disney Animation. too much."

"Warner Bros.'s animated feature "Happy Feet" is about to be released, and Universal Animation will soon launch its own animated feature." Ryan is not in a hurry, he has no magic power, how can it be possible in a few words To persuade a film company, "The competition will become more and more fierce in the future, and DreamWorks Animation must develop a long-term strategy to help the company get out of the stagnant situation of relying solely on the box office."

His words are no exaggeration at all. If DreamWorks Animation Studio continues to maintain its current operation mode, its future income will not increase much, and even a few years later, it will inevitably fall into a very embarrassing situation as it did in its previous life-the company itself has a relative structure. Single, just like Pixar Studio, which has not been acquired by Disney in its previous life, the animation production itself has a long cycle and high cost, and the company will be too dependent on the success or failure of a movie.

Expanding more businesses to seek a better living environment and expanding one's own size is what DreamWorks Animation needs to do.

"Jerival..."

Ryan is very clear that Katzenberg has a heart for Disney, and he can't put his face down, but there are some things that are enough to make face a cloud, "Walt Disney will take out shares of the same value in exchange for DreamWorks Animation in your hands. Shares of the studio, I promise that for the next five years, you will still be DreamWorks Animation, and apart from some necessary financial and technical creative staff adjustments, DreamWorks Animation will remain as secure as Pixar."

This can be regarded as a very favorable condition. Disney's share price has been rising steadily, while the share price of DreamWorks Animation Studio has basically stagnated in the past two years.

"I know you've always wanted to expand the influence of DreamWorks Animation to the East." Ryan, regardless of Katzenberg next to him, said to himself, "Disney will assist you in establishing the East DreamWorks Animation Studio and indoor amusement projects. ;DreamWorks Animation wants to prepare animation series, can cooperate with TV station and Disney TV Children's Channel; if you want to network the very TV, will reserve a column for you..."

How to impress someone?

After spending so many years in the Hollywood Vanity Fair, Ryan naturally has some experience. While attracting each other with interests, he also has to satisfy some of his ambitions and ideals.

What's more, those ideas of Jerefer Katzenberg are extremely beneficial to the development of DreamWorks Animation. If Disney swallows DreamWorks Animation Studio, it will definitely promote those projects that Ryan said.

"Ryan..."

As a company decision maker, Katzenberg couldn't give an immediate answer, "I need time to think about it."

"Probably won't make me wait too long?"

Having said this, Ryan stood up to say goodbye, "Is that right, Jerefer?"

"I'll give you a definite answer before the new year."

Jerefer Katzenberg stretched out his hand here, and Ryan shook it firmly, "Then I'll wait for your good news."

After leaving Katzenberg's office, Ryan sighed softly. This result was also what he expected. After all, this is a transaction involving a large amount of money, not a game of lip service, unless Katzenberg is crazy. , will be persuaded by him together and happily agree.

And Ryan also knows that it is not only Walt Disney who is interested in DreamWorks Animation Studios. For example, SoftBank Group from Japan has also contacted Jerefer Katzenberg and wants to get a foot in it.

However, Ryan is not very worried. The other party is only an outsider. Hollywood has investment value, but after the integration in the 1990s and the beginning of this century, its system has determined that there are not many opportunities for new entrants. (To be continued..) ()