I’m in Hollywood Chapter 438: Do n’t do it yourself
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"Dennis Noel resigned last week, remember, he personally showed you a special effects shot," the two returned to the office and Stan Winston just sat down and said.
Eric recalled, remembered the special effects engineer named Dennis Noel in the mouth of Stan Winston, a thin white man, born in 30, graduated from the computer department of Stanford University, Stan Winston once introduced himself to the special effects production process in the later period of "Twister" Excellent performance in.
"Stolen by someone?" Eric asked, if it was a normal resignation, Stan Winston would not specifically mention this matter.
Stan Winston nodded and said: "Sony Film Industry intends to set up its own film and television special effects subsidiary and invites Danny to be the supervisor."
"We can't stop people walking high, but are there other things?"
Stan Winston found a form on the desk and handed it to Eric, saying: "Eric, you see, since the release of" Terminator 2: Judgement Day ", six months have passed since the company has resigned 12 top special effects artists, including Two supervisors. "
Eric took a look at it. Not only did these people have the time to resign, but they also included their destinations, most of them were stolen by other special effects companies, and even included the largest rival Industrial Light & Magic in the digital field. Several people set up their own portals and set up their own special effects studios.
"Your side is better," Eric finished reading, looking up and looking at Stan Winston with a smile: "Pixar over this situation is even worse, John also submitted a report to me, hoping to pass the competition agreement Such restrictive measures prevent this from happening. "
"You seem not to be worried at all?" Stan Winston's originally worried expression eased a lot in Eric's smile.
Eric put down the separation form. Looking at Stan Winston said: "Stan. You know starting from taking over Pixar and the digital field. How much R & D funds have I invested in the technology R & D teams of the two companies one after another?"
Stan Winston shook his head. He was more concerned about the problems of special effects technology, and he was not very focused on finance. When Eric was reorganized last year, Firefly reorganized the Pixar and digital R & D teams from the two companies and handed them over to Ed Carmore for operation. In this respect, Stan Winston is even less clear.
Eric Recalling the data in my mind, explained: " Ed Carmore The fixed technology research and development team in hand has more than 400 people, these are the top technical talents in all aspects. Per capita annual salary 100,000 USD About this, only this item is consumed every year 40 million USD Funds. and Pixar The professional and technical personnel of the two companies in the digital field have now reached 600 people, and the average annual salary of these people is not much worse than those people. This is again 60 million , In addition, Firefly Still Stanford University , Washington University and California The university has invested in three technology R & D centers. The top scientists in these R & D centers are Pixar And the digital field provides a higher level of technical support, which is another big expense. "
Stan Winston secretly slurped, he did not expect Eric to be so willing to spend money. If calculated in this way, Eric has invested at least 200 million USD in recent years. In the case of CG Special Effects and 3D animation prospects are completely uncertain. It is estimated that Eric is the only one who dares to smash into 200 million USD.
Eric looked at Stan Winston's surprised expression and continued: "Now the outside world estimates the net profit of Firefly1990 as 400 million USD, but in fact, due to various expenditures on R & D of special effects technology, Firefly's profit last year was only a little more than 200 million. "
Stan Winston also relaxed at this time, he also fully understands the intention of Eric to say these, although the loss of top technical talents is a pity, but it is not enough to shake the status of the digital field and Pixar in the industry, because in Hollywood, in addition to Firefly, No other company will invest so madly in technology.
Industrial Light & Magic has always maintained its leading position in the special effects industry, but as the focus of film and television special effects shifted from model special effects to computer special effects, Industrial Light & Magic, which previously focused on model special effects, is also destined to fall behind the advanced digital field.
One step behind, it almost means that it will continue to fall behind. Since the release of "Terminator 2: Judgement Day", the digital field has received several special effects film production projects. In the past, these were usually only Industrial Light & Magic business. With these projects in the digital field, you can accumulate more technology in the production engineering, so the virtuous cycle will continue, and Industrial Light & Magic will no longer be able to catch up or even surpass the digital field.
Thinking of this, Stan Winston showed a faint smile and said: "The profit of 200 million is also good. There are few seven Film Studios with annual profits exceeding 200 million USD. This year, Disney, Metro Goldwyn Mayer and Paramount have all lost money. In other words, Hollywood is now back to eight Film Studio. "
Eric said: "The acquisition of Disney will soon be the seventh largest."
Stan Winston remembered the quotations from Firefly and Viacom on newspaper's crazy increase of Disney. Although I was curious, I did not ask. The big transactions of 1 billion USD were too far away from him.
"By the way, after leaving Eric and Dennis Noel, I also asked if I can buy the right to use Maya and other software from the digital field. I remember you mentioned this thing?"
Eric has indeed considered the monopoly of special effects software. In the original space and time, it was Autodesk that monopolized film and television special effects software. Maya, 3CDMAx and other mainstream special effects software were all products of Autodesk, but that was already a thing after ten years. .
Now the special effects company is still in a kind of "aristocratic stage", it is not ten years later that it can be set up by just a dozen of technical staff, so it is not the best time to make money through special effects software. Now, the most important task in the digital field is to accumulate technology to reach a position that is difficult for any company in the industry to reach. Once the special effects industry begins to become civilian, the digital field with strong technical accumulation can enter the special effects software market at any time.
“Do n’t do this for the time being. It ’s the most important thing to keep the technological lead in the digital field at this stage. Since they chose to do it now. Let ’s start from the beginning,” Eric said, with a faint smile on the corner of his mouth: “ I will let the legal department keep an eye on this one. Once these departing personnel are suspected of technical infringement, I will make them and the gold owners behind pay enough. "
"I get it," Stan Winston nodded, looked at his watch, and had already passed off work hours: "Eric. Or go for dinner together, there are several good restaurants in Venice."
Nothing happened next, Eric agreed happily.
......
One week passed slowly, and the final competition moment of Viacom and Firefly came slowly. On January 18, two days before the deadline of bidding, Firefly announced to the media, including "Jurassic Park" and "Deep Impact" Four major film production plans, at the same time, a full page on 《Los Angeles Times》, published a "Twister" poster, and said that "Twister" will play a trailer of up to 1 minute 30 seconds on the latest Super Bowl.
Almost simultaneously. Viacom also stated tit-for-tat that once Disney was successfully acquired, Viacom would spend 500 million USD to produce six to eight special effects movies.
Because I have tasted the high investment and high return of big production movies. The investment scale of Hollywood movies has been increasing over the past two years, and the announcement of similar news can also strengthen confidence in all aspects.
After the last week of games, January 20th finally arrived.
Although I already had 100% confidence in my heart, Eric woke up less than five o'clock and arrived at Burbank Disney Headquarters by car at eight o'clock.
Seeing the appearance of the Eric car, hundreds of reporters who had been waiting outside the Disney Headquarters all night swarmed up, directly draining the water around the car of the Eric, and the flashing lights madly, and various questions outside the car window Ran into the ears of Eric in a mess.
The Eric stuck in the car pushed the door of the cart hard, but it could not be squeezed open. It could only wait patiently for the Disney security personnel to come to maintain order.
Wait for two or three minutes, the bodyguard of another Eric car and the security guards of Disney Headquarters got through the crazy reporters and came outside the door of Eric.
"Mr. Williams, will Firefly retain the Disney's brand after the acquisition?"
"Will Disneyland be renamed Firefly Paradise?"
"Will Firefly put Pixar studio into Disney?"
"It is said that the Disney executives have signed the" Golden Parachute "compensation agreement up to 500 million USD. Will the Disney management be replaced on a large scale after the Firefly acquisition is completed?"
"..."
"..."
These questions will obviously be answered in a unified manner at the press conference after the acquisition is completed, but the reporters around obviously want to get the latest news.
However, the human wall was finally squeezed apart, but Eric did not dare to stop and answer any questions, and hurriedly walked towards the office building of Disney Headquarters.
Two minutes later, Eric finally stepped into the Disney Headquarters hall, and a large number of reporters were blocked from the door.
Taking a deep breath with fear, Eric followed Disney's to guide the staff to a spacious lounge.
I just pushed the door in and Eric went to see an old man sitting on the sofa directly opposite the newspaper. The old man was a bit rich, but the most striking thing was the scars left on his face due to burns. Obviously, this old It is the famous Summer Redstone.
Unexpectedly, for the first meeting, in this case, Eric looked at the guide next to him. The young girl was also a little surprised, and immediately realized that she had taken the wrong room. This is the lounge of the Viacom team.
Although Eric does n’t mind quitting, it is undoubtedly showing weakness when facing Redstone ’s unobtrusive and compelling eyes.
Smiling calmly, Eric took the initiative to walk over to Redstone and politely extended his hand: "Mr. Redstone, we finally met."
Redstone snorted coldly, and looked at the hand that Eric stretched out, then raised newspaper again, a look that turned a blind eye to Eric.
The female employee who brought Eric to the wrong room was even more terrified. In case of conflict between the two, her job would be gone. The female employee glanced at Eric with embarrassment, but she did not seem to see Eric Too concerned, shrugged, took back my hand and sat down on the sofa next to me, looked at the girl's badge that brought me over and said, "Miss Gleason, can you help me make a cup of coffee, don't have sugar, and add more milk." "
"Ah, okay ... okay." The girl quickly ran to develop for Eric.
Eric also picked up a prepared newspaper from the coffee table and looked over it.
"Young people, don't be too good, Gao Yuanyuan is good," Eric was looking at an analysis article about the acquisition, and a somewhat old but full of voice suddenly came from his ears.
Eric put down newspaper, looked over to Redstone, and laughed: "Mr. Redstone, are you talking to me?"
Redstone snorted again: "Your luck is very good, the film produced often can get a good Box Office, but the acquisition of Disney is not just as simple as luck."
Eric is not surprised by Redstone ’s indifference and ridicule. It ’s good that this hot-tempered tycoon did n’t point at his nose and scolded loudly. After all, Redstone is a person who will scold his son's idiot in public. In memory, Redstone has litigated with his wife, son, daughter, nephew, and his bad temper can be seen.
In the face of the aggressiveness of old man, Eric did n’t care too much, nor did it mean to be patient, retorted: "I remember someone said that in fact luck is also a kind of strength. Moreover, I feel that as a 70-year-old Elderly, you should not compete with these young people for these things. It is the best choice to support the world. "
Redstone glanced at Eric and said with a smile: "Actually, your Film Studio is good. If it is listed, remember to tell me that Viacom is still very interested."
Eric shook his head and said: "No, you are wrong, Mr. Redstone, although listing is the choice of a large branch, but I prefer to control everything in my own hands. However, in fact, I also have a lot of Viacom Interests, such as MTV TV Station. "
"Oh, it's really overwhelming. This is one of the most laughable jokes I have heard recently," Redstone laughed.
"Isn't it a joke, just knows in a few years," Eric took the coffee handed over by the female employee and looked at Redstone and continued: "However, since I stepped into Hollywood, many people have been saying I do n’t control myself, and then I ca n’t help but watch me continue to do it step by step, you will also see. ”(Unfinished ..)