Chapter 558: The Dreamworks Problem

The New Year's sun passed through the window and fell on the generous body. Tom Hanks opened his fingers, allowing the light to fall on the fingertips, penetrate into the skin, and convey a trace of warmth.

The rising sun in 2004 seems to bring people a new feeling.

Tom Hanks sighed softly in his heart. In a blink of an eye, he was fat and fat, and he also became greedy for sunshine like an old man.

Footsteps sounded, and Steven Spielberg, wearing round glasses, came over with two cups of black tea, put one of them on the coffee table in front of Tom Hanks, pulled out the soft sofa chair, and sat down. across from him.

"When did you change your taste?" Spielberg asked: "The black tea doesn't even add sugar?"

Tom Hanks pressed his tall belly, and with his finger as the center, a round pit that was always sunken suddenly appeared: "If I don't control my sugar intake, I will be so fat that I can't look at it. I will soon I know how to make new movies, and I also need to control and reduce my weight, too fat doesn’t look good.”

Spielberg immediately remembered the news of the previous few days, and asked: "The "Da Vinci Code" that Pratone Pictures and Relativity Entertainment collaborated on?"

A press conference has been held for this kind of thing, and Tom Hanks has no need to deny it, saying: "It's this project, and preparations will start in the second half of the year." He patted his belly pretending to be relaxed: "The actor I want to play It's a lean character who must slim down as quickly as possible."

Spielberg sighed: "This is Ronan Anderson who took the initiative to find you and ask for cooperation."

Tom Hanks simply said: "Originally Relativity Entertainment Group wanted to buy the film adaptation copyright of the original book, but I preempted it. It happened that Rita took a fancy to a movie of the musical "Mamma Mia" in the hands of Ronan Anderson. Copyright, Preton Pictures and Relativity Entertainment have reached a cooperation agreement on these two projects."

Spielberg pushed down his glasses: "The projects promoted by Ronan Anderson have a very high success rate, and the success of cooperation with him is guaranteed."

The two are old friends for many years. Tom Hanks smiled honestly: "The main reason is that Rita likes "Mamma Mia" very much."

Spielberg could understand Tom Hanks' approach, and he didn't mean to blame his old friend. He said: "The advantages of working with them are obvious. In the past two years, Relativity Entertainment Group has developed rapidly, and it may surpass DreamWorks in a short time. .”

Tom Hanks shook his head: "How is it possible? Steven, the scale and confidence of DreamWorks is something that new companies like Relativity Entertainment can catch up to if they say they can catch up?"

Spielberg showed a wry smile: "Tom,

DreamWorks seems to be huge, but in fact..." He didn't know how to describe it, so he had to say, "That means it looks huge. "

Tom Hanks knew that DreamWorks had encountered many problems, but he couldn't ask them directly, so he could only look at Spielberg.

Spielberg picked up the teacup, slowly took a sip of the slightly bitter black tea, and said: "The part of DreamWorks under my control is mainly engaged in live-action movies. There are many successful films made by DreamWorks in recent years. , but an extremely important link has been missing, and shareholders are also extremely dissatisfied with this.”

Tom Hanks is also a veteran in the circle, and he immediately understood what Steven Spielberg was talking about.

Spielberg tasted the black tea and continued: "Originally, after "The Da Vinci Code" entered the North American bestseller list in early December, I considered whether to talk to you about co-shooting, but after careful consideration, Still gave up."

"Why?" Tom Hanks asked.

"Because we are cooperating to make a film, limited by DreamWorks' distribution capabilities, the film still needs to find a suitable distributor." Spielberg's smile seemed to have a bit of bitterness, as if he was completely thinking about his old friend: "The explosion happened later. While Preton Pictures is planning to cooperate with Relativity Entertainment, I don’t think it will be as convenient as Relativity to cooperate with DreamWorks.”

Tom Hanks could only say with a smile: "Steven, there are some things about Preton Pictures that I can't decide on my own."

Spielberg said: "In terms of distribution, DreamWorks is far behind Relativity Entertainment."

Tom Hanks is silent. Isn't this one of the reasons why he can cooperate with Relativity Entertainment.

This is just pure business cooperation, nothing else is involved.

Tom Hanks believes Spielberg is well aware of this.

Spielberg sighed, and said: "Over the years, distribution has always been the biggest obstacle restricting the development of DreamWorks. There are almost no overseas distribution channels, and even the North American distribution channels are narrower than previous years. All these make me worry. , unable to fall asleep many nights, if DreamWorks continues, it will be very dangerous."

Tom Hanks frowned slightly: "There are also problems with North American distribution channels?"

"DreamWorks is poaching publishers from other companies, and other companies are also poaching people from DreamWorks." Spielberg said simply: "I have always wanted to establish an overseas distribution channel for DreamWorks, and many North American publishers were sent out. Then you encounter difficulties overseas that far exceed those in North America. Tom, you should know how difficult it is to develop channels from scratch. Overseas is more than ten times more difficult than in North America. Shrink and resign in the face of difficulties, and there are very few people who can stay overseas..."

Some words are hard to say, and Paramount Pictures has been keeping an eye on DreamWorks lately.

This is for people outside the industry to listen to, and maybe others will listen to it, but Tom Hanks is very clear that the actual difficulties may far exceed what Spielberg said.

Is it so easy to develop and establish overseas film distribution channels from scratch? In addition to the traditional Big Six, there are only a limited number of medium-sized companies such as Summit Entertainment, Gramercy Pictures, Relativity Entertainment, and Artisan Pictures among Hollywood companies that have overseas distribution capabilities.

Among them, Summit Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures' overseas distribution capabilities are not strong, that is, they can be distributed in overseas markets such as developed countries in Europe and Australia.

For example, DreamWorks and the emerging Lionsgate Films have been committed to developing overseas distribution channels in recent years, and the results are not without effect. However, apart from the English-speaking countries, there are not many overseas markets that have really established business.

Spielberg's words continued: "The overseas distribution business is not going well, which has led to the loss of a large amount of money invested by DreamWorks and the loss of distribution personnel. This is also one of the reasons why DreamWorks is struggling. Expanding overseas distribution channels not only affects overseas business, but also drags down DreamWorks’ North American distribution business, and the loss of a large number of professionals leads to the weakening of DreamWorks’ North American distribution capabilities.”

He sighed: "The personnel sent out to expand overseas are all elites in the publishing industry. After they leave, they take away not only the hope of DreamWorks, but also the network of contacts accumulated over the years in the publishing industry."

Tom Hanks is a little sympathetic to Spielberg. People who can be sent overseas to develop key businesses are definitely not ordinary employees.

"It's okay, Steven, everything will be fine." Tom Hanks can only say: "Any company will encounter various difficulties in the early stages of development. Come a golden age."

Spielberg forced a smile and said, "I hope so." He shook his head: "Look at me, how can I tell you these things."

Tom Hanks didn't mind at all: "Steven, I can see that you are under a lot of pressure. We have been friends for many years, and you can tell me what you want."

He was a little worried that the pressure from DreamWorks would overwhelm Spielberg, an old friend.

"Don't worry, I will persevere, DreamWorks will usher in an opportunity for development." Spielberg said seemingly relaxed: "Some time ago, someone in the company made a suggestion to let DreamWorks completely abandon the increasingly difficult publishing business. Not only stop developing overseas distribution channels, but also give up the somewhat incomplete North American distribution business, and concentrate on the film production industry."

In the recent period, Paramount Pictures has been aggressive and has continuously put pressure on DreamWorks, wanting DreamWorks films to go through Paramount's distribution channels.

This is the prelude to annexation!

Several other large companies are also waiting to watch the show.

Hearing this, Tom Hanks quickly interjected: "Steven, absolutely not. If you give up the distribution business, DreamWorks will only exist as a medium-sized production company forever."

No one knows better than him that the old friend's original intention was to build DreamWorks into an entertainment group comparable to the six major companies.

A company that doesn't even have the ability to distribute means that its throat is directly choked by people, and even the oxygen for breathing and growth must be controlled by people!

Spielberg nodded and said: "No, I will not give up the distribution business, and I will continue to develop overseas distribution channels. DreamWorks must develop..."

Tom Hanks suggested: "Consider the acquisition of overseas distribution business."

"It's difficult. Every distribution company regards its overseas distribution business as a treasure." Spielberg shook his head: "When the Polygram Group was acquired, there was an opportunity, but it is a pity that Polygram's overseas distribution business was acquired. Nan Anderson's Relativity Entertainment won, otherwise there would be no embassy pictures now."

Tom Hanks knew about this past, and it was also one of the reasons for Spielberg's prejudice against Ronan Anderson.

Spielberg picked up the black tea and took a big sip: "Thank you, Tom, I can only tell you these words."

"We are friends." Tom Hanks smiled, picked up the black tea and drank slowly, and after a while, he said, "It's a pity that I can't help."

Spielberg also laughed: "You are willing to listen to me and relieve my pressure, which is already the best help." He changed his voice: "Sometimes, I really admire Ronan Anderson. People are more suitable than me to be a film company owner, and as far as the current situation is concerned, they are far more successful than me."

Tom Hanks first echoed: "From the perspective of film company owners and producers, it is indeed remarkable that Ronan Anderson can achieve what he is doing at the age of twenty-five or six." He continued: "But this man is greedy for profit, good at calculating, and difficult to deal with."

While Tom Hanks and Spielberg were discussing Ronan, Ronan met David Fincher who had just returned to Los Angeles in the Beverly Hills clubhouse.