I’m in Hollywood Chapter 657: Sudden news
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After the heart bypass surgery, although Michael · Eisner was repeatedly told to rest by family and doctors, he was already sitting in his office at Universal Headquarters just seven o'clock the new day. Because at ten o'clock this morning, Firefly will officially auction its affiliated Hand-Drawn Animation Department at Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Open the brand-new IBM desktop computer on the desk, and Michael · Eisner will soon click on the sticky link of the Yahoo portal entertainment edition again, reading the detailed list of Animation Department assets that will soon face the auction.
Until now, Michael · Eisner still clearly remembers in 1986, under the suggestion of the then home entertainment department director Bill · Michanik, the management under the pressure of all parties began to release the Disney classic animation movie.
Before that, whether it was the industry or Disney, the valuation of the Disney library with hundreds of films was only 200 million USD, but then, Disney first tried to release the 1940 "Pinocchio" video tape in one year. 1.7 million boxes were sold, and the sales reached 51 million USD. The sales of animation films such as "Sleeping Beauty" and "Cinderella" all exceeded the valuation of Disney film library 200 million USD.
Michael · Eisner, who witnessed the re-emergence of the Disney 2D Animation movie in the late 1980s, believes that he definitely knows the value of the Disney animated movie better than anyone else.
When Firefly threw out the message of packaging and selling Animation Department, after determining that it was not a fake message, the first thought of Michael · Eisner was to win it at all costs, even if there was no Box Office explosion of "The Lion King", Michael · Eisner felt I should do the same myself.
However, the response of Universal ’s Japanese parent company Panasonic Group poured Michael · Eisner cold water.
The Panasonic Group ’s willingness to enter the entertainment industry has not been so eager from beginning to end. When the Sony bought the Universal, it was completely worried that it would be left behind by competitors in the electronics industry.
In recent years, Panasonic has found that the purchase of Hollywood ’s Film Studio has not been so obvious for its electronic products. Japanese also realized that from the beginning, they have been severely pitted by Hollywood. Compared with Sony, who still has some fantasies, Panasonic has little thought of continuing to operate Universal. It will not take out more than a dozen 2 billion USD cash for a Animation Department.
The unwilling Michael · Eisner flew the last Japan for the last month in a row, and did not receive any support from Panasonic. However, things quickly changed again.
The success of "The Mummy" brought a very beautiful financial report to Universal. Panasonic planned to take this opportunity to take off the gloves of Universal. Coincidentally, the Seagram group from Canada also expressed the willingness to enter Hollywood. The two parties quickly entered the stage of secret negotiations.
As the helm of Universal, Michael · Eisner is of course also among the negotiations. In the process, Michael · Eisner realized the strong interest of CEOEdgar · Bronfman of Seagram Group in the media industry, and took the opportunity to lobby Edgar · Bronfman to buy Disney Animation Department in advance before winning Universal. Encouraged by the success of "The Lion King", Edgar · Bronfman did not hesitate too much and agreed.
Time passed unconsciously, the secretary knocked on the door and pulled Michael · Eisner out of his thoughts: "Mr. Eisner, Mr. Bronfman is here."
Michael · Eisner stood up and sorted out the suit, greeted him with a professional smile, and at the same time. A middle-aged middle-aged man with glasses and tall beard came in.
Have greeted each other enthusiastically, Michael · Eisner said: "So, Edgar, let's go now."
Edgar · Bronfman hesitated and said: "Michael, don't we need to wait for Mr. Ovitz?"
Michael · Eisner shook his head slightly and said: "Edgar, if you are sure to buy Universal, maybe we need to take a moment to talk about Michael in detail, but today we still focus on Disney Animation Department."
Edgar · Bronfman realized from the expressions of Michael · Eisner that the recent news that the relationship between Michael · Eisner and Michael · Ovitz had broken down for decades of old friends is true.
However. After Eisner said this, Edgar · Bronfman didn't mention Michael · Ovitz anymore. The two drove to Beverly Hilton Hotel by car together.
......
After spending a sweet night together, Nicole would like to attend the Animation Department auction together with Eric. But had to fly to New York with manager to send Kingsley early in the morning to discuss a film contract. After "The Mummy", Nicole plans to take advantage of the "The Mummy" sequel before the start of the sequel to shoot an art film, hone his acting skills and brush the nomination, in order to improve his image of the vase in film critic.
Eric personally sent Nicole to the plane, and then rushed to Beverly Hills Manor Hilton Hotel.
Getting off the car in the parking lot, Eric saw Kelly hurriedly approaching holding a blue folder. Tao: "I'm so sorry, Kelly, there are some things temporarily."
Kelly smelled the faint fragrance of Eric. Although his face did not change, he still could n’t help saying: “You are my Boss, there is no need to apologize to me.”
Eric did n’t expect that the intelligent and capable female assistant and the tasteful little woman stepped forward with her forefinger, wanting to hug the waist of Kelly to appease, a black Cadillac was driving into the scenery. parking lot.
Kelly, who was startled by the action of Eric, stepped back awkwardly and was about to complain, the few people who came down on Cadillac came to Eric.
"Eric, long time no see," Michael · Eisner came over and took the initiative to shake hands with Eric, introducing the middle-aged people around him: "This is Edgar · Bronfman, CEO of Canada Seagram Group."
Eric has already read the information of relevant bidders, but it is not unfamiliar, and he enthusiastically reached out and greeted: "Hello, Mr. Bronfman."
"Mr. Williams, nice to meet you," Edgar · Bronfman and Eric shook hands, with smiles on their faces, but they felt a little weird in their hearts, especially when calling this young man 'Mr. Williams' who was 20 years younger than himself, This sense of violation is even stronger.
Because of the differences in the identities of buyers and sellers on both sides today, just a few words, Michael · Eisner and Edgar · Bronfman took the lead in leaving.
Watching the two leave with their entourage. Kelly smiled at the corner of his mouth and said to Eric: "You can always make the person who sees you for the first time feel very uncomfortable."
Eric knew that Kelly was talking about the reaction of Edgar · Bronfman just now, but just smiled. The Bronfman family, which owns the Seagram group, took advantage of the business opportunities brought by the United States prohibition order in the second 30 era to rise rapidly in Canada, although currently still operating the brewing business. However, it has developed into a diversified comprehensive group. Edgar · Bronfman is the third generation of the Bronfman family after its founding. It is in charge of the business of the family number 10 billion USD, but in front of Eric. This 'rich three generations' simply cannot find any sense of superiority.
Remembering the appearance of Edgar · Bronfman, Eric asked curiously: "Is Edgar · Bronfman Jewish?"
"Yeah," Kelly nodded: "Bronfman, the standard Jewish surname."
"Seagram has n’t won Universal yet, so it ’s Disney Animation Department. When the two are added together, it is likely to require 10billion USD cash. Both Panasonic and Firefly will only accept cash payment," said Eric. The tone became mysterious. Move in front of Kelly: "Hey, do you think there will be any organizations such as Freemasonry attempting to invade Hollywood?"
Kelly glanced at Eric and said: "Seagram Group bought 24.3% of DuPont company in 1981. In April this year, DuPont Company launched a share repurchase agreement, and finally bought Seagram Group with 9billion USD The shares of DuPont held by them are the source of funds for their acquisition of Universal and Animation Department. "
Eric looked at his watch and took Kelly to the elevator in the underground parking lot and said, "9billion USD, what to do is not good for this kind of outsider. It is really silly to buy Film Studio."
Kelly does not quite agree with Eric ’s point of view: “With the average annual growth rate of 9% in the film market, after Seagram bought Universal, even if it ca n’t do it, it can still be profitable by changing hands.”
Eric thought about it. I also think that Kelly is quite reasonable.
Remember the original time and space. After buying Seagram for Universal a few years later, because of various problems, Universal was sold to the French Vivendi group again. Vivendi played for several years, but still failed to play. Give it away to General Electric. However, although I failed to make any outstanding results, at that time, Universal did not fall into the downfall of Metro Goldwyn Mayer. In addition, now that Michael · Eisner is in control, Seagram will not be able to play at that time, it seems that it will not really lose too much many.
However, in the event that Seagram is forced by Michael · Eisner this time and forcibly used huge amounts of money to win Disney Hand-Drawn Animation Department, then the future situation will definitely be different.
Universal is still different from Paramount and Time Warner. Universal and its parent company MCA may be foreign capital now and in the future. According to federal law, only foreigners cannot hold United States TV Station, which restricts Universal not to It may be the path towards comprehensive media group development. This means that Universal's anti-risk ability will be far weaker than those of large groups such as Firefly, Paramount and Time Warner. If you get Hand-Drawn Animation Department, which is destined to be in trouble, Universal will almost certainly take the lead in this area in the next few years. In addition, the music recording industry will be impacted by the Internet. It is not impossible for Universal to fall into the dilemma like Metro Goldwyn Mayer.
Kelly seems to have thought of Eric, and asked: "Eric, which company do you hope to get Animation Department today?"
"Paramount, I do n’t want Warner to decline so quickly, I still hope that Warner can continue to compete with Firefly for several years. Of course, whoever gets the Hand-Drawn Animation Department in the end is a good thing for Firefly, which means One of our competitors will be in big trouble because of this burden. "
The two said, and soon came to a conference room in Hilton Hotel. Katzenberg, who will be the host of this auction in person, is holding a document with words, and seeing Eric and Kelly coming in, he just nodded and said hello.
Eric and Frank · Wells and other executives chatted for a while, and the time was still approaching ten o'clock. Eric left the meeting room with everyone and walked into the auction hall. Although the media reporters were blocked from the auction hall, more than half of them sat in the hall with hundreds of seats.
Eric greeted the Hollywood giants who came to participate in the auction or were purely hilarious, and took Frank · Wells and others to the back row.
At ten o'clock, Katzenberg walked up to the auction stand with high emotions. After the whispering of the audience calmed down, Katzenberg said to the microphone: "Women and ladies, welcome to today's auction site. Everyone knows , The 2D Animation movie "The Lion King" released on June 24 this year, has currently achieved global6. 700 million USD's amazing Box Office, this is a very exciting news for the entire Hollywood, which means that Hollywood animated film The market will usher in a new era again. However, due to the strategic development of Firefly Group, we still decided to sell the Hand-Drawn Animation Department as a whole. "
After a brief opening speech, Katzenberg continued: "Although you have obtained a detailed asset catalog, but here, let me briefly introduce to you, in addition to the assets that have been listed and about to be auctioned. Firefly Group also temporarily decided to extend the original one-year payment date to three years in order to reduce the financial pressure of the buyer in the short term as much as possible. "
The phrase Katzenberg just fell, and the quiet hall immediately buzzed into a piece.
The news is so sudden that all bidding did not expect Firefly to do so.
Of course, the purpose of Firefly to do this cannot be guessed, leaving buyers enough time to pay, which means that these buyers will likely be able to offer higher prices.
A somewhat old voice quickly overwhelmed all whispers and rang at the auction site: "Jeffrey, I request the auction to be suspended. I need to discuss with my team."
The people turned their heads together and found that the speaker was CEOSummer · Redstone of Viacom.
Katzenberg did not refuse, and smiled unchanged: "Of course, no problem, Mr. Redstone, then, the bidding time is delayed by half an hour. If you need urgent discussion, you can help yourself." (To be continued.)