Compared with the huge and monotonous studio and the busy administrative area, the digital field office LOFT, which is mainly constructed of glass and steel structures in Firefly Studios, is undoubtedly the most comfortable place to go. Several buildings side by side like works of art are hidden in the Between the green trees and vines, it is like a separate small world in the studio.
Of course, as one of the core departments of the Firefly Group, not just anyone can enter the digital office area.
Tom Freston was able to come to the second floor of an office LOFT under the personal leadership of Caroline.
All the way, Tom Freston secretly looked around.
However, what really attracted Tom Freston was not the exquisite decoration and special effects film models everywhere in the office LOFT, but the company itself in the digital field.
As one of the two co-presidents of Viacom Group, Tom Freston is mainly responsible for the company's film entertainment business, and Tom Freston knows all aspects of the digital field like the back of his hand.
Warner, Paramount, and Universal, the Light and Shadow Era Special Effects Company jointly established by the three companies, planned to imitate the digital field from the very beginning, but after more than half a year, the executives of the three companies basically had to admit that it was difficult to catch up with the digital field. Like going to heaven.
The company of the Firefly system has been laying out CG special effects since eight years ago. In eight years, it can be said to be deeply entrenched in Hollywood.
If the light and shadow era wants to catch up, the most convenient way in the traditional way is undoubtedly to poach people from the digital field.
But this model is not feasible now, because even if Light and Shadow Times poached the other party's technical talents from the digital field, they could not get the company's professional special effects software. The core special effects software in the digital field has even ceased to be sold. Instead, it adopts a rental authorization model to cooperate with other small and medium-sized special effects companies.
Naturally, the Light and Shadow Era cannot be included in the authorized list in the digital field.
Unable to obtain software authorization in the digital field, Light and Shadow Times can only choose to cooperate with the old graphics software manufacturer Autodesk to develop exclusive CG special effects software.
Because Autodesk was not optimistic about the prospect of CG special effects, it refused to cooperate with the digital field in software development. Now, in order to make up for the original decision-making mistakes, it can be said that it has spared no effort in the investment in related software development. However, the gap in technological accumulation over the past eight years is definitely not something that can be caught up overnight.
Moreover, even after several years of hard work, Autodesk will not be able to easily break the powerful chain of interests that the Firefly system has established in the Hollywood special effects industry.
You must know that the same movie, even if it does not use some top-notch special effects technologies unique to the digital field, is just a popular ordinary CG lens. all-round advantages.
Therefore, even if they understand that there may be a risk of being stuck by the Firefly system at any time, it will be difficult for other Hollywood film companies to decisively quit their dependence on the digital field and its subsidiary special effects companies.
"Mr. Freston, Eric still needs about ten minutes, please wait a moment."
Caroline took Tom Freston to the lounge on the second floor, explained a few words politely, and ordered the staff to prepare coffee for him before turning around and leaving.
After waiting for three days, Tom Freston didn't mind the last ten minutes. He thanked the employees in the digital field who brought him coffee, and sat at the table to quickly sort out how to deal with Ai Rui next. Jack Williams, heaved a sigh of relief after a moment.
Looking around again, he got up and took a copy of yesterday's "Hollywood Reporter" from the nearby bookshelf, intending to kill the last few minutes.
The headline of the newspaper in hand happened to be the eye-catching "Iron Man" box office figures.
Entering the third weekend of its release, the box office of "Iron Man" still fell by only 39%, and it collected another US$37.88 million in three days.
At the same time, the total North American box office of this superhero blockbuster has reached US$260.51 million in two and a half weeks, and it is almost certain that it will break through the US$300 million mark in the next week and a half. The North American box office broke 300 million in four weeks after its release. After the entire screening period, the North American box office of the film easily reached 400 million US dollars without any suspense.
In comparison, the box office of Paramount's "West Point Uncovered" in the same period is simply unbearable.
Ten days after its release, the cumulative box office of this $95 million big-budget movie was only $35.13 million.
Of course, not only "West Point Uncovered", under the strong impact of "Iron Man", "The Trap", which was released last Friday, only had a three-day box office of 19.15 million US dollars in the first weekend.
However, the production cost of this sentimental work mainly supported by the first 007 actor Sean Connery was well controlled by Columbia at 60 million US dollars.
Even if the North American box office is unsatisfactory, the overseas box office potential of "The Trap" is much higher than that of "West Point Uncovered". The final global box office expectation of around US$200 million is enough for Columbia to recover all production and distribution costs. The film's future videotapes, DVDs and TV peripherals are basically net profits.
Moreover, in Tom Freston's view, the significance of "The Trap" to Columbia does not lie in the box office at all.
The film's final cost control of 60 million US dollars means that after Columbia Pictures left Sony, it was quickly assimilated by the Firefly system with almost no buffer period. It was a chronic problem that Columbia Pictures hadn't improved completely in nearly ten years during Sony's control period.
In fact, due to the ease of financing for Hollywood movies in recent years, outside of the Firefly system, everyone spends money a bit extravagantly.
Just like the current "West Point Uncovered", if Paramount can be ruthless and strictly control costs, let alone 95 million US dollars, even 60 million US dollars is more than enough. With the budget down to $60 million, Paramount will now be under much less pressure to lose money.
However, in order to win over the director Simon West who became famous with "Prison in the Sky", the Paramount production department did not do this, but deliberately accommodated the other party during the production process. However, although the production cost has been increased by more than 50%, this director who is only directing a big-budget film for the second time has not been able to come up with a satisfactory work.
In comparison, the Firefly system is too strong.
In recent years, CAA once raised Sean Connery's salary to 20 million U.S. dollars, but in "The Trap", Columbia insisted on only offering the veteran 007 actor 12 million U.S. dollars in remuneration, not even Any box office split is optional.
Although Sean Connery threatened to withdraw from the project many times, he finally accepted it.
Obviously, Sean Connery also knows that without Sony being taken for a ride, it is impossible to get 20 million US dollars from Columbia, and he is definitely not worth 20 million US dollars in the eyes of other major Hollywood studios. As for companies such as Carlock Films, which frequently offered exorbitant remuneration to veteran Hollywood superstars in the past few years, with the completion of the integration trend of media groups, film distribution channels have been further monopolized, and have gradually quieted down after consecutive losses in recent years.
Flipping through the newspaper in his hand absently, hearing footsteps beside his ear, Tom Freston immediately came to his senses, got up and greeted Eric who walked into the lounge: "Eric, I'm very happy see you."
"Hello, Tom, sit down."
Eric shook hands with Tom Freston politely, sat down next to the table and chair, and looked at the slightly old middle-aged man in front of him at the same time.
Tom Freston is only in his forties, but his gray hair and wrinkles make him look ten years older than he really is.
Tom Freston also sat down, looking at the casually dressed young man in front of him with a calm demeanor, and said, "Eric, I came here this time in the hope that we can eliminate the previous problems between us. Some misunderstandings of the day."
Eric took the mineral water that Caroline handed him, put it on the table, and nodded with a flat expression: "Well, what then?"
Tom Freston didn't get any useful information from Eric's expression at all, so he could only continue: "Stanley Cullen will leave Paramount in the near future. As for Blockbuster, we can provide some information. A sum of compensation to seek a settlement with companies such as Firefly Group.”
Eric raised his hand, with a puzzled expression, and asked, "Who is Stanley Cullen?"
The entire youth on the opposite side will not let go of the former employees of the 'Hollywood Gossip' website. How could it be possible that they don't know about Stanley Cullen
However, the other party pretended to be stupid, but Tom Freston could only bite the bullet and explain: "Stanley Cullen is the vice president of Paramount Pictures, mainly in charge of the distribution business. The misunderstandings last time were that he asserted without authorization. caused."
"Oh," Eric nodded, but said again: "I don't know this person, Paramount, I only know Shirley Lansing."
Tom Freston froze for a moment, then understood, subconsciously shook his head and said, "Eric, this won't work."
"Whether it's okay or not is your business." Eric put away the casualness just now, sat up straight and stared at Tom Freston sharply, and said, "Anyway, at Paramount, I only know Shirley Lansing, then, if something goes wrong, it's Shirley Lansing's responsibility."
Eric's attitude suddenly became stronger, and Tom Freston's momentum suddenly weakened a bit, saying: "Eric, it shouldn't be like this. After all, the incident last time didn't affect you much."
If the head of one of the seven major studios resigned because of a gossip incident that did not cause any disturbance at all, not to mention the possible impact on the operation of Paramount Pictures, just the incident itself would be Serious blow to Viacom's prestige and status in the media industry.
"But what if it happened?" Eric glanced at the newspaper in front of Tom Freston, and said, "It's like "Iron Man", if Firefly Group didn't handle it properly, this movie with a global box office of 1 billion US dollars The film, how much box office is left in the end, 500 million, 300 million, or less. So, I will not allow this kind of thing to happen again. You should take as much risk as you have brought to the Firefly Group responsibility. Now, if you want to reconcile, Shirley Lansing must go."
After a moment of silence, Tom Freston could only nod his head and said, "Okay, I'll tell Summer, so, about Blockbuster?"
"Speaking of this, Tom, do you know what conditions must be met for a lizard to survive by cutting off its tail?"
Viacom's move to break up Blockbuster, announced on Saturday, has now proven to have little effect.
Hearing Eric say this, Tom Freston couldn't help but feel embarrassed, shook his head and said, "I'm not sure about this."
There was a little smile on Eric's face, like a young teacher who suddenly came to preach, and said: "It's very simple, the tail that the lizard broke off must be able to attract the attention of predators. If the predators behind it are not at all If you don’t want to eat that tail, what’s the point of doing that?”
Tom Freston nodded helplessly and said, "It seems that it is indeed the case."
"So, since you like to do this, you should pick a tail that is attractive enough."
Tom Freston had a bad feeling in his heart, but he could only follow Eric's topic and said, "Eric, what do you want?"
"Showtime TV station," Eric said without deviating, "Fire Shirley Lansing and transfer Showtime. This is my request. If you do these two things, we will cancel the last incident."
Eric deliberately didn't mention Stanley Cullen, but obviously, this person can't stay in Hollywood anymore anyway.
In recent years, with the continuous development of HBO and the rapid expansion of FFM TV stations, Viacom, realizing the commercial potential of paid cable stations, has also increased its investment in its Showtime TV station.
Although the development of Showtime TV is far less rapid than that of FFM, which is jointly supported by several major companies, it is also one of the fastest-growing businesses under Viacom. With lower charges and its own content channel resources, Showtime has now accumulated more than 6 million paying subscribers.
"Eric, your request is too much, and Summer will never agree."
"I'm still the same as I just said. Whether it works or not is your business. Just like you bring me trouble, it can only be my business to solve the problem. Now, I have solved the problem I am facing, and you should solve it The problems you are facing," Eric said, and added: "And, compared to the conditions offered by some people, my request is actually very reasonable."
"We already know about Carl Icahn's visit to you, Eric, you can't succeed. Moreover, even if you succeed, you will face a lot of trouble in the future, because your manipulation is seriously illegal of."
"That's the problem I'm going to face again, and it has nothing to do with you," Eric shrugged, and said, "You can let Summer try to see if he can keep his position. By the way, I also want to remind One thing for you, next week we will announce a list of foreign cooperation films. Although they are mainly non-core projects of MGM and Columbia, Wall Street’s film funds are definitely more willing to cooperate with the Firefly system. So, you guys At that time, we can consider whether to do another tail-docking to survive and spin off Paramount Pictures."