Chapter 708: Alexander the Great

The bright sunlight fell into the windows, warming the reception room.

PIF welcomed two special visitors, CEO Idel Kamut and Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter from the famous Pixar Studios.

Robert Iger accompanied the two and was warmly received by Scott Swift.

The two parties have dealt with each other before, and have already reached a tacit agreement on certain matters.

In recent months, Robert Iger has met with Idle Kamut and John Lasseter half a dozen times.

Sitting in this reception room, Idel Kamut discussed the possibility of future cooperation with Robert Iger and Scott Swift in detail, even involving many details.

The Pacific Investment Fund has funds, and Relativity Entertainment has distribution channels.

The latter has proved the marketing ability of Embassy Pictures in the global market through the "Shrek" series and "Shark Gang".

Not necessarily better than Disney, but not too bad either.

Edel Kamut directly said: "Pixar can no longer cooperate with Disney and needs to find new partners, but the most urgent task is to solve the difficulty in cash flow after Disney may withdraw funds and ensure the production of several animated feature film projects."

Robert Iger said: "Relativity Entertainment is willing to cooperate with Pixar Studios."

Scott Swift asked, "How much money does Pixar need?"

"No less than $150 million." Edel Kamut estimated.

"The Pacific Investment Fund can provide funding for Pixar Studios." Scott-Swift said: "Pixar Studios can choose between mortgage loans and investment shares."

Idel Kamut nodded. It is precisely because of Relativity Entertainment and Pacific Investment Fund that Pixar will no longer be afraid of tearing faces with Disney.

He said: "I will make a decision after discussing with Mr. Jobs."

Scott Swift nodded, "Yes."

Now just to confirm the intention of cooperation,

The specific situation will be discussed in detail later.

Not to mention the Pixar studio, the big boss behind him, the picture is huge.

The conflict between Pixar Studios and Walt Disney has not surfaced for the time being, and there is no rush for success.

Robert Iger discussed with Edel Kamut and John Lasseter about the cooperation on the animated feature film for a while. The computer production equipment of Shahai Entertainment Animation Studio was actually purchased from Pixar Studio.

Although animation production is in full swing, Pixar Studios has not given up on hardware sales.

Edel Kamut and John Lasseter also promised to provide the best technical equipment for Sandsea Entertainment Animation Studio.

As for technical guidance and animation production guidance, that's not necessary.

The production styles of Pixar Studio and Shahai Entertainment Animation Studio are completely different.

Not to mention anything else, Pixar's hookers are definitely the type that spends money like water, and they strive for excellence in technology. Without a cost of more than 150 million US dollars, it is basically impossible to complete the production of an animated feature film.

Shahai Entertainment Animation Studio is different. On the basis of ensuring a certain picture quality, how to save money. The first animated feature film "Despicable Me" only cost 60 million US dollars.

This little money, in the Pixar studio, is just enough for the group of jerks to model.

Edel Kamut and John Lasseter did not stay in Los Angeles, returning to Pixar headquarters in Emeryville that evening.

Although the face of Steve Jobs and Michael Eisner has been torn apart, business decisions are still cautious, and both sides have temporarily maintained a certain degree of restraint. All conflicts are still hidden under the calm waters. Signs of the outbreak.

However, the longer the volcano is brewing, the more energy it will accumulate, and when it erupts, it will go straight into the sky.

"As long as the breakdown in the relationship between the two parties is exposed, it will have a huge impact."

In his office in the Relativity Building, Robert Iger told Ronan: "Disney and Pixar are going to go down."

Ronan said: "We are not suitable as kickers, we are Pixar's partners and rescuers."

Robert Iger reminded: "Disney and Michael Eisner were also the saviors of Pixar Studios back then, but Steve Jobs was not half grateful. Ronan, as Jobs is, at most ten years later, we There will also be sharp conflicts with him."

"I know." Ronan said softly, "Bob, you forgot one thing. Jobs had pancreatic cancer."

How could Robert Iger fail to understand the meaning of these words, and he couldn't help shaking his head with a smile: "I forgot this key point."

He has some understanding of cancer. Money can indeed save one's life, but pancreatic cancer, the king of cancer, is terminally ill as far as current medicine is concerned.

As for Jobs' family, Robert Iger has heard that Jobs' wife, Laurenna, is not the kind of person who likes to stand in front of the screen and fight for power and profit, and her daughters are still young.

As long as Relativity Entertainment survives the first few years, all the problems are actually no longer problems.

Ronan asked: "Michael Eisner and Disney haven't responded yet?"

Robert Iger said: "Michael Eisner really wants to do something, he will make a plan, and there will be countermeasures. This is not a small matter."

"What about Roy Disney?" Ronan asked again.

"Contact and lobby shareholders." Robert Iger replied: "Find a way to integrate Disney's voting rights. My people are staring at him. The Disney family is no longer Disney in its heyday."

In today's Disney family, only Roy Disney is truly successful, and Roy Disney's son can barely be counted as one.

Ronan said: "When the time comes, you don't have to worry about other things, just make a decision directly. In terms of funds, go to Scott, the Pacific Foundation has just received a large investment from India."

Robert Iger nodded slowly: "I understand."

In fact, in the war between Michael Eisner and Roy Disney, the final battlefield is the shareholder meeting. Whoever can win the majority of voting shares will have an absolute advantage.

Relativity Entertainment and the Pacific Foundation also need to make financial preparations, which is one of the reasons for pushing Netflix to go public.

The reality is here, if Netflix wants to make another qualitative leap, listing is a must.

Two days later, Robert Iger went to Emeryville, but did not meet Steve Jobs, but made progress in the cooperation between the two parties.

Shahai Entertainment Animation Studio signed a contract with Pixar Studio and purchased the most advanced animation production equipment from Pixar Studio.

In this way, once Shahai Entertainment Animation Studio is familiar with the equipment, the production efficiency of animated feature films will be greatly improved.

At present, the panda project launched by Shahai Entertainment Animation Studio has entered the character design stage.

"Minions" is still in production, and "How to Tame Your Dragon" is also starting script writing.

In the future, Shahai Entertainment Animation Studio must have the ability to produce two to three animated films and several animated series at the same time.

Just before this weekend, Ronan participated in the pre-screening conference of "Night at the Museum" held by Embassy Films. This typical family movie, of course, will be released on the Thanksgiving schedule, and now it has entered the final pre-screening publicity.

In the two theater representatives and audience trial meetings, "Night at the Museum" received extremely high praise. Representatives from both parties believed that the film was full of fun and very suitable for the whole family to watch together.

In addition, the performance of the films produced by Relativity Entertainment has always been very good, so the embassy film industry did not expend too much effort, and won no less than 4,000 North American theaters for "Night at the Museum" during the crowded Thanksgiving holiday.

The specific number of screens will need to be coordinated later, but Embassy Pictures has prepared 5,000 copies.

The weekend before the Thanksgiving holiday is one of the best schedules in North America. In addition to "Night at the Museum", there are Warner Bros.' epic masterpiece "Alexander the Great", Universal Pictures' "BJ Single Diary 2" and Mira "The Spring of the Cattle Herding Class" purchased by Max at the Toronto Film Festival.

Among them, the most concerned is undoubtedly the epic masterpiece "Alexander the Great" by Warner Bros.

Produced at a whopping $155 million, Oliver Stone, director of Platoon, Nixon, Natural Born Killers and JFK, brings together Colin- Stars such as Farrell, Angelina Jolie, Val Kilmer and Anthony Hopkins.

In many aspects, this seems to be a blockbuster work with great ambition and market prospects.

It is said that Warner Bros.'s initial favorite actor was Heath Ledger, but Heath Ledger rejected the role because he accepted to shoot Ang Lee's movie, and then the crew chose Colin Farrell.

In some respects, the leading actors of the two films are very similar.

Ronan had seen this film before, but he couldn't remember the specific plot, but he only remembered that Alexander the Great had a romantic relationship with the supporting actor.

Warner Bros. seems to have learned the experience and lessons of "Troy", but only conducted an internal test screening of "Alexander the Great", and did not test it externally. It is difficult for the outside world to know the specific situation.

If the film fails, it will not have a great impact on Warner Bros. The investors are composed of five companies including Warner Bros. and Constantine Pictures. Warner Bros.'s investment ratio is less than 20%.

If the film is successful, Warner Bros. can use the distribution to make huge profits; if it fails, most of the blame will be borne by other investors.

However, before the arrival of Thanksgiving, Embassy Pictures still has a film to be released, and "Diaries of the Emperor Penguin", which was purchased from France, will be screened on a small scale.