I’m in Hollywood Chapter 482: Infighting
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Strictly speaking, "Hook" has not failed commercially, and has even made some profits, but it was achieved under the condition of consuming Spielberg personal word of mouth, and it is far lower than the industry's original estimate of 200 million USD Profit, therefore, "Hook" can also be said to be an extremely failed work.
Martin Davis is very clear about these situations, but he does n’t want to be taken to other places by Eric with the topic of "Hook": "When Eric, Sony and Panasonic acquired Columbia and Universal, you did n’t have Have you ever cooperated? Since that is the case, there is nothing wrong with working with Paramount. This is a win-win situation after all. "
Eric smiled silently, looking at Martin Davis and said: "Martin, you should know that the situation now is very different from a few years ago."
When cooperating with Columbia and Universal, Firefly is still quite weak, and can only improve its own strength through the two major Film Studio channels. The situation is completely different now. The strength and status of Firefly has been completely equal to that of the other six major parties. In the case of not seeing sufficient benefits, only relying on some old complaints with Viacom to cooperate with Paramount, it is equivalent to helping yourself. Competitors.
Martin Davis certainly understands this, but he has considered the relevant issues for a long time, and quickly said: "Eric, do you remember the" Hot Shots "you cooperated with Fox?"
Eric nodded gently, realizing what Martin Davis wanted to say.
"Paramount also has some movie project reserves. We can imitate the cooperation model of" Hot Shots ", you only need to pick out the next project and participate in the investment, and the other will be done by Paramount. What do you think?"
Most Hollywood movies usually have a very long project incubation period. This stage usually starts from a book or an script being selected by the producer until the film is officially started. The period often takes a long time. script Modify, look for investors, find Director and Actor and other stages. Over 90% of the projects may be aborted during the project incubation stage, and no more than 10% will be able to successfully invest. After all, but relative to the investment of tens of thousands of USD level. The story on paper is not valuable.
The project reserve mentioned in the mouth of Martin Davis is the movie project at this stage.
Hearing this suggestion, the look of Eric moved slightly and considered for a moment. He nodded and said: "It's not impossible to consider, but you must know Martin, the sequel of" Hot Shots ", if you cooperate, I will definitely not be able to agree to the conditions last time."
"Of course, everything can be discussed," Martin Davis immediately smiled and smiled: "Eric, I have the information ready, I will let someone send it to you later."
"Another point. If there is no project that satisfies me ..." Eric shrugged towards Martin Davis and made an expression you understand, he was just a little curious about the copyright library of Paramount. However, the most successful "Forrest Gump" and "Mission: Impossible" series copyright of the Paramount in the 1990s are now in Flower Films, so Eric does not have much expectations for the copyright library of Paramount.
The crew still has a regular meeting in the evening. After Eric had dinner, he left Martin Davis and left the restaurant.
In the early morning of the next day, just after Eric got up, the door of the room was knocked quickly.
"Eric. Look at this first," Alan entered the door. The first time I handed over the things in my hand.
Eric took a look at it, it was a copy of newspaper from Los Angeles fax.
"Martin Davis went to the Hawaii secret meeting Williams, and there was a major cooperation in anti-suspect."
Besides the blackened title, there is also a photo of Martin Davis entering the "Jurassic Park" shoots studio, and finally leaving with Eric by car.
Alan followed Eric into the room and closed the door. He said: "I met a reporter who took photos outside the studio yesterday. I thought it was ordinary paparazzi and I did n’t care. Now it seems that it should be arranged by Martin Davis, New York. By the way, after the stock market opened today, the stock price of Paramount Communications rose by 1.2 percentage points in a short period of time because of the stimulus of this news. I have received several calls to ask about it, and Mr. Hansson called me at four in the morning, " Alan said, handing a page of memo to Eric: "This is the communication record."
Eric took a look at the contact list. The executives of the Firefly system made a list, and the other list appeared longer. Eric raised his hand and looked at his watch. Hawaii was just six o'clock in the morning local time, Los Angeles was three hours earlier than Hawaii, and now it was just time to work. These people reacted really fast enough. Fortunately, Eric did not disclose the number of his room to too many people, and few people who knew it were also very clear about his situation. He called him without dawn, but turned to "harassment" Alan, otherwise he must have Was woken up.
Just give a call to Jeffrey to explain the situation, the phone in the room finally rings.
"Hello, this is Eric Williams ... Jeffrey, good morning, I just want to call you ..."
Introduced the situation briefly. Eric hung up the phone and handed the memo to Alan: "Firefly is no problem here. Please help me block it. Let ’s say that Martin Davis is coming to Hawaii for a holiday. On. "
Alan nodded and couldn't help but ask: "Eric, do we really want to cooperate with Paramount?"
"What do you mean?" Eric didn't answer immediately, but asked back.
Alan has just heard Eric's explanation of Jeffrey, and thought about it, said: "I think cooperation is not a good choice now, Firefly is now completely equal to the other six big cakes, and the annual cake Only so big, even with the cooperation model of "Hot Shots", it will definitely bring competition to itself. "
"You are right, but rest assured. Alan, this matter is completely unremarkable, and even if it is cooperation. It must be guaranteed that Firefly may be sufficient."
Alan raised the fax in Yang ’s hands: "What about this?"
"Just do n’t do this, Martin Davis advertises this matter, and it ’s no harm to us, it ’s Redstone or Barry Diller that should be anxious," Eric could n’t help laughing when it came to this Smiled: "So, maybe it can bring some windfalls. No matter what, we will not lose."
......
"Mr. Ma Long." Outside the door of the CEO office of QVC, when a middle-aged man in a neat suit looks scrupulously approached, Barry Diller's assistant stood up and greeted him.
John Malone yelled without changing his face, knocking on the door a few times. Just pushed the door and went in. The assistant just opened his mouth, but did not dare to block Big Boss, one of the parent companies of QVC.
"Barry, have you contacted Eric Williams?"
Barry Diller, who was sitting behind his desk reading a document, glanced at John Malone and said, "Eric's assistant just called me back, saying that Martin Davis was just traveling to Hawaii, and the two happened to meet."
"It happened, oh, how could such a coincidence happen," John Malone smiled disdainfully. Suddenly remembered what Barry Diller just said: "So, did you call Williams yourself?"
"No, my relationship with him has not reached the point where he can call him in person." Barry Diller said lightly.
John Malone can hear the tone of Barry Diller with a little bit of dissatisfaction, can't help saying: "Barry, you should cheer up. The proposal to acquire Paramount was put forward by you in person. It is only a small setback now."
"Is it really just a small setback?" Barry Diller glanced coldly at John Malone and said: "You have been to Los Angeles at least four times in the past few months. I guess Martin Davis has even got the acquisition plan that I personally drafted. John. You tell me, am I right? "
Finally speaking, Barry Diller's tone was already with a trace of irrepressible anger. He was not afraid of enemies or frustrations, but felt chills for the betrayal of his allies. In the past few months, Barry Diller's several attempts at Paramount have been blocked, and they behave as if they have taken precautionary measures against Barry Diller in advance.
After realizing the problem, Barry Diller immediately conducted a related investigation, and then easily revealed the truth of the matter. Although Telecommunications, one of the parent companies, has authorized the acquisition of Paramount by QVC, John Malone has the idea of monopolizing Paramount, and John Malone has not concealed his intentions, and has personally visited the Martin Davis office many times in a row Make a visit.
Therefore, Barry Diller can guess the ins and outs of things in a short period of time, knowing his acquisition plan in detail, only Comcast ’s CEO Brian Roberts and telecom ’s Boss John Malone, and of course, Barry Diller ’s own team, but he can be sure that his own There will be no problems with the team, and John Malone has done something too obvious.
John Malone heard such obvious allegations from Barry Diller and shook his head unchanged: "Barry, I think you must have made a mistake. I went to visit Martin Davis for the purpose of acquisition."
"It was for the acquisition of Paramount by telecom, rather than the acquisition of Paramount by QVC, right?"
John Malone was a bit hot with Barry Diller ’s lingering pursuit, and simply said: “Even if this is the case, Barry, I also gave you the opportunity, but you have not made any progress in the past few months, no Is it? "
Barry Diller was almost laughed at by the other party ’s coquettish words. If it was n’t for the other party ’s betrayal, he revealed his acquisition plan. Barry Diller can determine that QVC can at least acquire a certain percentage of Paramount shares from the secondary market to achieve entry. The purpose of Board of Directors.
Although John Malone is always a meticulous gentleman, Barry Diller knows that this is just an appearance, what kind of person the other party is, and it has been revealed from the rogue.
Acquiring Paramount and returning to the long-lost office as a master is the long-cherished wish of Barry Diller. Barry Diller does not have this capital. He can only rely on remote communications and Comcast funds.
Therefore, the two looked at each other for a while across a desk. Barry Diller still sighed in their hearts and opened the door in compromise: "John, even if Paramount and Firefly cooperate, they ca n’t change anything. Both of them At most, it only costs us more. Our real enemies are Martin Davis and Summer Redstone. Based on my knowledge of Martin Davis, he does not want to sell Paramount at all, so even if you spend a year in his office, this kind of The situation cannot be changed. If you want to win Paramount, there is only a mandatory acquisition. In this respect, Summer Redstone's style is more rigid, as can be seen from the Viacom acquisition in the 1980s and last year's Disney acquisition. Summer Redstone is a person who dares to overwhelm all chips. "
Speaking of which, Barry Diller paused for a moment, looking at John Malone with a disappointed expression: "Summer Redstone is using last year ’s financing to seek a controlling stake in Blockbuster. Once the other party succeeds, with the huge cash flow of Blockbuster, in bidding We wo n’t have any advantage, and at the same time, Martin Davis has begun to contact Williams to seek cooperation and self-protection. They are all working hard for their goals, and then look at us, what we are doing, ”Barry Diller hammered the desktop with excitement. Suddenly: "And we are infighting!"
"Mr. Diller, what happened?" Hearing the muffled sound in the office, Barry Diller's assistant worried that the two would fight, and slightly opened the door and asked.
Barry Diller has not spoken yet, but John Malone has turned his head to the assistant and shouted to the assistant: "Get out, who will let you in."
The assistant was so scared that he lowered his neck and glanced at Barry Diller. After getting the other ’s eye signal, he retreated with a lingering fear.
The office was quiet again. John Malone silently pulled out two cigars and handed them to Barry Diller. The two men ignited silently and took a sip.
“Brian Roberts is not enthusiastic about acquiring Paramount, it ’s only because of you that they agreed to this acquisition plan. Telecommunications does n’t want Comcast to take advantage of this ride, so I do n’t think I ’m doing anything wrong. And, even if Telecommunications acquires Paramount alone, I personally would like you to be in charge. "
"I have said to many people for a long time that I will not sign an employment contract again," Barry Diller retorted in Qingyan, Shen Sheng replied that he owns shares in QVC and is in accordance with the agreement signed at the time. The control of QVC, the acquisition of Paramount in the name of QVC, he is the master. But if the parent company Telecommunications acquired Paramount, then what does it have to do with him? (To be continued)