I’m in Hollywood Chapter 990: Cooperation plan with cinema line
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Today, the office area in the digital field is particularly lively. Eric rushed to the scene with Carolyn and Meyer. Many senior executives of the group have been waiting here. In a hall inside the digital office Loft, Stan · Winston has started to introduce the RealD dual-machine 3D movie projection system to be demonstrated today for Katzenberg, Frank · Wells and others.
After finalizing the plan last fall, the two plans of ‘4200’ and ‘RealD’ are advancing rapidly within Firefly Group.
In the past six months, in order to promote these two plans, the company first took Canada's IMAX company under its control, and accelerated the development of DMR technology for the conversion of ordinary 35MM film to IMAX format film.
Because I was not optimistic about Hollywood film producers for a long time, IMAX had a very difficult time on the road to commercialization, many times on the verge of bankruptcy.
However, with the support of Firefly Group, IMAX's R & D team has produced a very excellent DMR conversion solution in only half a year with years of technical accumulation. Now it is solving the problem of DMR technology film length limitation By the end of this year at the latest, all problems will be solved and IMAX will be commercialized without hindrance.
Secondly, in the digital field, in order to develop a dual-machine 3D movie projection system, a subsidiary called ‘RealD’ was established in the digital field.
At the same time, the digital field is also responsible for the development of 3D conversion software and the training of 3D conversion teams. In fact, these two things have been gradually carried out as early as a few years ago. Only since the two plans were confirmed last fall. The stride began to advance.
Speaking of it, today can be regarded as the day to accept the technical achievements in the digital field.
Hello to everyone, Eric picked up a polarized 3D glasses on the workbench and tried it on. Seeing what Stan · Winston wants to say, Eric first said: "Stan, do n’t you understand, Is the fact more convincing than any eloquence, so let ’s go directly to the screening room. ”
"Haha, of course," Stan · Winston nodded, but picked up a pair of 3D glasses and rubbed, said: "However, these things took us a lot of thought, I still hope everyone can understand A little deeper. Eric, I promise, you will be surprised when you wait. "
Eric smiled and said: "I am really looking forward to it."
With a few jokes, a group of people left the office in the digital realm and walked to the projection hall in the nearby studio.
Ma Lisa · Meyer and Carolyn followed behind a group of gangsters, listening to Eric and Stan · Winston, Katzenberg and other people skillfully talking about various technical problems with 3D movies, and also noticed the body Next to Carolyn, I listened to it with great interest, and secretly decided to make up the relevant knowledge as soon as possible this weekend.
As an assistant, if you do n’t understand what Boss says, it ’s too bad. She didn't want to be really treated as a vase.
Walk into the screening room, and Carolyn took over the 3D glasses handed over by the staff, found a place to sit down, and Meyer looked at the 3D glasses curiously in his hands.
The black frame and the lens are light gray. After wearing it, there is nothing special except for the darkening of the sight.
The gangsters in the front row chatted for a while. The lights in the auditorium were dimmed, and it felt like it was dark. Meyer turned to the screen in front of him.
The hard metal screen on the front is on, Meyer has not yet reacted. With the excellent sound effect in the auditorium, Tyrannosaurus Rex with a big mouth in the blood screamed and came to face.
"Ah-"
Without any psychological preparation, Meyer suddenly leaned against the back of the chair, completely forgetting the occasion, and screamed and took off his 3D eyes.
Although everyone was taken aback by this hand played by Stan Winston, the crowd sitting in the front row took off their glasses and turned their heads to see when they heard the scream of a girl.
In the dark, I feel that a dozen pairs of eyes are concentrated on myself instantly. Meyer is so embarrassing that I ca n’t add to it: "Hug, sorry, everyone."
When everyone saw that she was okay, they quickly looked back and turned their attention back to the big screen.
In order to test the technical achievements of the team in the digital field, Eric deliberately selected several protagonists in "Jurassic Park" to perform a 3D conversion of a scene that encountered Tyrannosaurus Rex on the rainy night bridge.
Night drama, rain drama, these are the technical difficulties of 3D transformation.
Especially for night scenes, due to the triple brightness attenuation effect of projectors, screens and glasses, 3D movies have a common problem of darker screens. Therefore, if the night scene lenses converted by 3D are not done well, it is destined to be A dark piece.
However, from the response of Meyer just now, we can see that the effect of the digital field team ’s transformation is undoubtedly very good.
After watching this ten-minute re-production clip three times, the staff turned on the lights in the auditorium.
Eric did not leave with a group of senior executives, and continued to sit on the auditorium seats and started talking.
For the effect of the 3D picture just now, Eric could n’t find anything to be picky. He directly asked his most concerned question: "Stan, according to the standard we just saw, I want to complete a complete movie. How long will it take to transition? "
Stan · Winston sat next to Eric, thought for a while, and said: "The two-hour film will be completely converted and will take about three months."
It takes three months to complete the conversion of a film, and only four 3D films can be produced in a year. Although Eric's guidelines for the early stage of 3D movie promotion are not expensive, but four films are not enough to support the year-round screening. This number must be at least doubled.
Eric thought about it for a moment and said: "Continue to recruit people and double the size of the conversion team. I need you to be able to complete at least eight films in a year."
After listening to Eric and Stan · Winston, Katzenberg said: "So, Eric, now all technical problems are basically solved, are you sure we want to continue to advance the next plan?"
Katzenberg suddenly asked this question, not without reason.
Whether it is the DMR conversion technology of IMAX or the development of RealD projection system, the capital invested is actually only tens of millions of USD.
But then, once the plan related to the theater is officially started, it is definitely not a problem that tens of millions of USD can solve.
The RealD projection system developed in the digital field includes two customized film projectors, metal hard screens, and 3D polarized glasses. Even without considering the profitability of this projection system, the equipment cost has reached 250,000 USD. Therefore, if you want to transform a traditional 2D theater into a dual-machine 3D theater, each theater also needs at least 300,000 USD budget.
The unit price of a full set of equipment is not worth mentioning for Firefly, but the cost of transforming 4000 3D projection halls in global immediately reached 1.2 billion USD, which is definitely a very conservative estimate.
In addition to the planned 200 IMAX theaters, according to the average construction unit price of 2 million USD, this is another 400 million USD expenditure.
Together with the 1.6 billion USD project budget, for Firefly Group with a big business, even if it is completely loss-making, it can't hurt its muscles. However, the completion of the transformation of 4,000 3D projection halls and the construction of 200 IMAX projection halls are actually just the beginning of everything.
The whole plan is actually to create a brand new 3D film and television industry chain. Once successful, the strength of Firefly Group will definitely change once again. But if it fails, the consequences are definitely not as simple as the loss of 1.6 billion USD.
After the Firefly Group has made such a huge industrial layout, if the movie audience does not buy it, the project fails, not to mention the huge investment, but the follow-up processing of these 4000 3D projection halls is enough to make Firefly To the point of scorching, let alone a series of technical teams that Firefly Group specially built to promote this plan.
So, if you stop now, Firefly will not lose anything. The technical results of the previous investment will definitely be worth the money. Even if it is an acquired IMAX company, if it wants to get rid of the burden, the group can sell it again.
However, once the plan enters the next stage, the bow will not be turned back.
Either become the leader of a completely new film industry change, or become the object of ridicule by all Hollywood owners, and leave a mess that may cause a domino effect.
There was a brief silence in the screening room. Seriously, there was also a momentary hesitation in Eric ’s heart. However, after glancing at the group of executives around him, he quickly smiled easily and said to Katzenberg : "Jeffrey, let's talk about the results of your contact with several theaters."
Knowing that Eric has made a full determination, Katzenberg will no longer do unnecessary things, saying: "I have talked with the management of several North America cinema lines during this time. Overall, they all have plans for our Very interested, but at the same time feel that the risk is too great. "
Eric pointed to the metal hard screen in front of the screening room and said, "Maybe, next, you can bring them here and persuade them again."
"Of course, I just thought so," Katzenberg nodded with a smile and said, "However, even if they approve the effect of this sample, we still find it difficult to find too much initiative in future cooperation. My idea is that we set up a subsidiary and cooperate with several major cinemas at the same time. We fund the reconstruction of the 3D projection hall. The risk is borne by us. Then, we extract a certain percentage of Box Office from the Box Office of these projection halls. The cost may take a long time, but as long as it can be successful, it will become a very substantial and continuous income. As for the 200 IMAX theaters, the initiative is naturally completely in our own side, and do not need to consider too much. "
The biggest difficulty in transforming the 3D projection hall is that the North America theaters are basically multi-hall cinemas, which is why Firefly is completely unable to leave the theaters alone. After all, even if a cinema line is forcibly acquired, Firefly cannot transform a movie theater with five or six or even more than ten screening halls into 3D mode. In addition, different areas of North America have different divisions of theater power. Firefly is only buying one, or cooperating with one of them, it is difficult to cover the entire North America.
Therefore, the proposal proposed by Katzenberg is undoubtedly the most feasible. IMAX used this similar model in the process of commercialization.
However, as a result, Firefly has very limited control over these 3D projection halls.
Fortunately, the main purpose of Eric is not to get involved in the cinema industry, but to promote 3D movies.
Of course, the control of the terminal theater is limited. In order to ensure the initiative of Firefly in the promotion of 3D movies, it is necessary to become a standard setter.
After discussion, Eric decided to develop a dual certification system. One is the certification of the auditorium with the RealD projection system installed, and the other is the certification of the film using the 3D conversion technology in the digital field.
As long as it is possible to create a digitally certified 3D film that is only played in the RealD auditorium among the audience, the concept of the most authentic 3D film, then even if the 3D film market is chaotic again in the future, at least, Firefly The system has made the brand's 3D movies and will not be affected much.
Furthermore, after the confusion, other companies will gradually move closer to the Firefly standard for commercial reasons, whether they are willing or not.
People talked for a whole morning in the screening room, and had dinner together before everyone returned to their work positions and started to get busy.
Eric returned to his office in the studio, and only then had time to chat with his new female assistant.
"So, how do you feel now?" Leaning on the back of the chair lazily, Eric turned over a document just sent by the secretary and asked Ma Lisa · Meyer sitting on the opposite sofa holding a cup of coffee Yeah.
Meyer put down his coffee and nodded: "It's okay, but suddenly I feel I still have a lot to learn."
Eric nodded and applauded: "It's best if you can produce this feeling. Too many people always feel that they no longer need to learn."
Meyer only smiled, no words.
Eric also stopped for a while before saying: "It ’s time to tell you, Kelly must have told you."
Meyer naturally understands what Eric refers to, saying: "Yes."
"Carly is a very good girl. You will be very happy with her in the future," Eric said. Seeing Meyer's unconscious appearance, she thought about it and said, "You can talk Melanie talk, she can help you get used to this job as soon as possible. "
Meyer has reacted this time. Carolyn is in the office next door. If it is for work, it is more convenient to ask her if it is more convenient. There is no need to contact Melanie · Gleason in San Francisco.
"I know, Eric." Meyer didn't ask very interestingly, but just responded seriously.
Eric is not much to say, said: "So then, you go back to work first."
As Meyer left the office, Eric withdrew his gaze. The information he had in hand was exactly the work evaluation report made by Kelly to Meyer.
Unlike the original interview report, this report is more detailed.
Kelly ’s evaluation of Meyer is still very high, but Eric has seen the shadow of another guy from the series of evaluations such as ‘perfectionist’, ‘detail control’, and ‘strong control desire’. Eric is definitely not going to let Meyer control Yahoo as before. However, letting her take charge of the development of a product alone is a great idea.