ps: I want to hear more of your voices, I want to receive more of your suggestions, now search the WeChat official account "qdread" and pay attention to it, and give "I Am Hollywood" more support!
"Thirty percent is definitely impossible," Eric leaned forward slightly, stared at Robert Shea and shook his head lightly. Before Robert Shea could refute, Eric continued: "If it's just a merger If a distribution company has to pay 30% of the shares, then there is no need for me to do so. This is not worth the loss for Firefly. I can use this share to cooperate with several major film companies, with the current momentum of Firefly I believe that none of the current seven major film companies will refuse to cooperate with me. I can even use this 30% of the shares to replace 10% of the shares from MGM, the weakest of the seven major film companies. .”
After Eric finished speaking, Robert Shea immediately retorted: "But in fact, Eric, you don't know how to do it. Once Firefly becomes a vassal of the movie giant, it basically loses its ability to develop into a company with other giants. The possibility of keeping pace with film companies. Controlling second- and third-tier companies through acquisitions to prevent them from developing to a certain scale and threatening their status is already a trick used by these big companies. I have been in Hollywood for more than 20 years and have seen this kind of thing It's been too much."
"I'm 9∑, of course I won't do this. I just said a possibility. If I have to pay 30% of the shares, then I would rather exchange shares with the giants. So, I also have my bottom line, Robert , I will give you up to 10% of the shares, of course, this is not all, and I can compensate some cash." Eric also offered his own price, 10%, which he thought for a long time The concessions made, he feels that this is already a lot, and Firefly will definitely introduce some collaborators in the future,
"Ten percent is too little," said Robert Shea, "New Line has been in development for more than twenty years in my hands, and he is like my child. If it merges with your Firefly, I feel Thirty is not much at all, if it is less than this number, I will never agree."
Eric almost laughed out loud: "RKO was established earlier, but now it has disappeared. United Artists was also established earlier, but unfortunately it has also become a subsidiary of MGM. Robert, time does not tell too much. In 1981, United Artists was merged into MGM due to the huge loss of "Heaven's Gate", leaving only six major film companies in Hollywood, Warner, Universal, Paramount, MGM and Fox, but now, since 1984 Michael Eisner took over Disney, and in just five years, the Big Six became the Big Seven."
Robert Shea's face turned red, and Eric's words meant that he was compared with Michael Eisner. Although he admitted in his heart that he was not as capable as Michael Eisner, he was beaten by someone thirty years younger than himself. The 20-year-old boy said it face to face, but his expression was still a little uneasy, and he blurted out in a hurry: "Whatever you say, Eric, anyway, I insist on 30% of the shares."
Eric saw that Robert Shea was a little anxious, and quickly comforted him: "How about it, Robert, since both of us have this intention, let's discuss it in detail later."
"No need," Robert Shea refused, "If you don't agree, we don't have to talk about any specific cooperation."
Eric was a little irritable in his heart, and he tapped his fingers on the table a few times habitually, but because of the tablecloth, there was no such light sound as usual.
"Robert, you have to understand that there is not much time left for us."
When Robert Shea heard Eric's inexplicable words, he was slightly curious, but he was afraid that he would weaken his momentum by speaking suddenly, so he held back from asking.
Eric didn't go around the corner, and continued: "Because of the vigorous development of peripheral channels such as video tapes and cable TV, movies have stepped out of the small circle that could only make profits through theaters more than ten years ago, which has also made movies popular in the media. The industry is getting more and more attention. I believe that in the next ten years, most of the Hollywood giants will be acquired by media groups and become a part of their huge industrial chain. Once this trend is formed, they will have huge media resources and Backed by financial resources, not only will major Hollywood film companies no longer worry about falling into bankruptcy due to investment failure, but they can also use the advantages of huge media resources to completely consolidate their position. Then, if the second and third-tier film companies do not go against the sky It is no longer possible to shake the status of the big film companies that are backed by media giants. Their fate will either be acquired by the big film companies, as you just said, completely losing the chance to become a giant, or they can only silently go from the big film companies. Scrapping leftovers from the market that the studios have carved up."
Robert Shea suppressed the surprise in his heart, did not show it on his face, and retorted: "Even if what you said... has some truth, it must take many years. I believe that the new line still has a chance, as long as..."
"No, you don't have a chance," Eric interrupted Robert Shea decisively: "Actually, this general trend has started since News Corporation acquired Twentieth Century Fox a few years ago. This year, Sony acquired Columbia. The seven majors will go to the second, and I also read in the newspaper that Warner intends to cooperate with Turner Broadcasting Company, which owns an independent television network, to establish a media group. Once it becomes a reality, the seven majors will go to the third. What do you think, the remaining four How long can the film company last?"
Robert Shea fell silent.
Eric did not stop lobbying, and continued his efforts: "Robert, this is the last chance for our second- and third-tier film companies to rise. The time left for us is no more than ten years, or even five years. Once we miss it, wait until the industry map After the planning is completed, even if, as you said, in the future, due to luck and long-term accumulation, the new line may be operated as a first-class company, and its profits will exceed those of the established giants, then you are destined to be only second-tier, because those movie giants have already Integrating with the media group, it is impossible for a pure film company to compete with it."
Speaking of this, Eric thought of Lionsgate Pictures in his previous life. Although Lionsgate surpassed the two established film companies in terms of profitability with the two series of "The Hunger Games" and "Twilight", but that At that time, the remaining six major film companies had already merged with the media group. Lionsgate Films was just an independent film company, and it was still far away from being able to compete with the two surpassed giants in terms of comprehensive strength.
"What you said... all of this is just a hypothesis, isn't it?" Robert Shea couldn't help rebutting again.
Eric could see that Robert Shea's heart was completely relaxed, and his tone slowed down: "Robert, although it is a hypothesis, based on your experience in Hollywood for more than 20 years, you can definitely tell the difference between this hypothesis Possibility, right?"
Robert Shea lowered his head and looked at the little coffee left in the cup in front of him: "However, ten percent is still too little..."
"Michael Eisner now owns less than 10% of Disney's shares, and his net worth is not much more than yours, but in the Hollywood power list, he ranks in the top three, and he is owned by more than 90% of Hollywood. People are envious and look up to. Robert, didn’t you say that money is no longer a big temptation for us. Think about it, after Firefly acquires New Line, you can get the position of Firefly’s CEO, and I believe you will not doubt the profitability of the films I produce. Then I believe that within a few years, we will be among the ranks of film giants. At that time, we will definitely have time to occupy our own place in the future integration of media groups. , At that time, if you own 10% of the shares, it may be worth more than one billion U.S. dollars. If you continue to operate the new line independently, how long will it take for the new line to reach a market value of more than one billion U.S. dollars?"
"Twenty percent, Eric, twenty percent, no less," Robert Shea was completely moved by the prospect Eric described, and took the initiative to make a big concession.
There was a subtle and triumphant smile on the corner of Eric's mouth, since Robert Shea no longer stubbornly insisted on the so-called 30% bottom line, he could continue the conversation, so he snapped his fingers and came over to wait on him. Ying Sheng handed over the credit card to pay the bill, and then said to Robert Shea, "Robert, we will definitely not be able to negotiate any results now, and it's a bit late, so it's better to choose a more formal occasion for specific negotiations." .”
Robert Shea already regretted the 20% concession. He found that he was fooled by a teenager who was a few dozen years younger than himself for a while, and he didn't want to slap him on the face. I decided to give in in my heart, but it would be too inappropriate to say it at this time. It seems that he has made several mistakes tonight, which made Robert Shea dare not despise Eric any more. I also made up my mind that I would never confront Eric head-on during the formal negotiation. Perhaps it would be good to find an agent who is good at negotiating. Seeing that Eric did not take the opportunity to keep pushing down the price, I hurriedly nodded along the steps: " Well, it's really too late, I should go back too."
After a few people said goodbye at the entrance of the restaurant, Aniston, who was originally quiet, suddenly put his arms around Eric's arm, tiptoed and smiled and said, "Wow, Eric, you were so handsome just now, Robert was taken by you." My aura has been completely covered, ha ha."
Eric stretched out his other hand to brush the long hair that fell on the forehead for the girl, and said with a smile: "What about you, do you suddenly have the urge to kneel down and kiss my shoes?" (My novel "I "It's Hollywood" will have more fresh content on the official WeChat platform, and there will also be a 100% lucky draw gift for everyone! Open WeChat now, click the "+" sign on the top right "add friend", search the official account "qdread" And pay attention, hurry up!)