"Dennis Noel resigned last week. Do you still remember that he demonstrated a special effects shot for you?" Stan Winston said as soon as the two returned to the office.
Eric recalled, thinking of the special effects artist named Dennis Knoll in Stan Winston's mouth, a thin and tall white man in his early thirties, graduated from the computer department of Stanford University, Stan Winston once told himself He introduced the other party's outstanding performance in the post-production process of "Tornado" special effects.
"He was poached?" Eric asked. If it was a normal resignation, Stan Winston would not specifically talk about it.
Stan Winston nodded and said, "Sony Pictures intends to establish its own special effects subsidiary and invite Dennis to be the supervisor."
"We can't stop people from going to high places, but are there other things?"
Stan Winston found a form from his desk and handed it to Eric, saying, "Eric, look, since "Terminator 2" was released, within half a year, the company has already had 12 top special effects The division has resigned, and there are two supervisors.”
Eric took it over and looked at it. Not only did these people resign, but also their whereabouts. Most of them were poached by other special effects companies, and even the largest rival industry in the digital field. In addition, several people set up their own special effects studio on their own.
"It's better on your side," Eric finished reading, looked up at Stan Winston and said with a smile: "The situation on Pixar's side is even worse. John even submitted a report to me, hoping to pass the competition. Restrictions such as industry agreements prevent that from happening."
"You don't seem to be worried at all?" Stan Winston's worried expression softened a lot in Eric's smile.
Eric put down the resignation form. Looking at Stan Winston, he said, "Stan. Do you know how much R&D money I have invested in the technology R&D teams of the two companies since I took over Pixar and the digital field?"
Stan Winston shook his head. He was more concerned about the technical aspects of special effects, and he was not very concerned about finances. And Eric, when Firefly reorganized last year, separated the R&D teams of Pixar and the digital field from the two companies, and handed them over to Ed Kamol for operation. Stan Winston is responsible for this aspect. It's even more impossible to be clear.
Eric recalled the data in his mind and explained: "The fixed technology R&D team in Ed Kamol's hands has exceeded 400 people, and these are top technical talents in all aspects. The per capita annual salary is around 100,000 US dollars. This alone consumes 40 million U.S. dollars of funds each year. At present, there are 600 professional and technical personnel in Pixar and the digital field, and the average annual salary of these people is not much worse than those people, which is another 6,000 In addition, Firefly has also invested in three technology research and development centers at Stanford University, the University of Washington and the University of California. Top scientists in these research and development centers provide higher-level technical support for Pixar and the digital field. Big expense."
Stan Winston clicked his tongue secretly. He didn't expect Eric to be so willing to spend money. If calculated in this way, Eric has invested at least 200 million US dollars in recent years. In the case of CG special effects and 3D animation prospects are completely unclear. Eric is probably the only person who dares to spend 200 million U.S. dollars in such a big way.
Eric looked at Stan Winston's surprised expression, and continued: "Now the outside world estimates that Firefly's net profit in 1990 was 400 million U.S. dollars, but in fact, because of various expenditures on special effects technology research and development, Firefly's net profit last year was estimated to be 400 million US dollars. The profit is only a little over 200 million."
Stan Winston also relaxed at this time, and he also fully understood Eric's intentions in saying this. It is a pity that the loss of top technical talents is no longer enough to shake the status of the digital field and Pixar in the industry, because in Hollywood, Except for Firefly, no company will invest in technology so frantically.
Industrial Light and Magic has always maintained a leading position in the special effects industry before, but as the focus of film and television special effects has shifted from model special effects to computer special effects, Industrial Light and Magic, which has focused more on model special effects before, is destined to fall behind the digital field that is one step ahead.
One step behind almost means that it will always lag behind. Since the release of "Terminator 2", the digital field has received several special effects film production projects. In the past, these were usually only the business of Industrial Light and Magic. With these projects in the digital field, more technology can be accumulated in the production engineering. If this virtuous circle continues, it will be impossible for Industrial Light and Magic to catch up with or even surpass the digital field.
Thinking of this, Stan Winston showed a faint smile, and said: "A profit of more than 200 million dollars is not bad. Not many of the seven major movie companies have an annual profit of more than 200 million dollars. This year, Disney, MGM and Pai Ramon lost money, uh... Or, Hollywood is now back to the Big Eight studios."
Eric said: "With the acquisition of Disney, it will be the top seven again soon."
Stan Winston remembered the wildly rising quotes from Firefly and Viacom for Disney in the newspaper. Although he was curious, he didn't ask. A billion-dollar deal was too far away from him.
"By the way, Eric, after Dennis Noel left, he asked me if I could buy the right to use software such as Maya from the digital domain. I remember you mentioned this?"
Eric has indeed considered monopolizing special effects software. In the original time and space, Autodesk monopolized film and television special effects software. Maya, 3dmax and other mainstream special effects software are all products of Autodesk, but that is already ten years later. thing.
Now the special effects company is still in a kind of "noble stage", and it cannot be established by a dozen casual technicians ten years later. Therefore, it is not the best time to make profits through special effects software. The digital field The most important task now is to accumulate technology and achieve a position that is difficult for any company in the same industry. Once the special effects industry begins to become civilians, the digital field with strong technical accumulation can enter the special effects software market at any time.
"Don't do this for now. At this stage, maintaining the technological leadership in the digital field is the most important thing. Since they have chosen now, let's start from scratch," Eric said, with a faint smile on the corner of his mouth: "I I will let the legal department pay close attention to this area, and once these resigned personnel are suspected of technical infringement, I will make them and the financial owners behind them pay enough.”
"I see." Stan Winston nodded, looked at his watch, and it was already past the off-duty time: "Eric, why don't we go have dinner together, there are several good restaurants in Venice."
There was nothing to do next, and Eric happily agreed.
…
A week passed slowly, and the final moment of competition between Viacom and Firefly came slowly. On January 18, two days before the deadline for bidding, Firefly announced to the media in one breath, including "Jurassic Park", "The Big World" Four big-production movie plans, including "Clash", published a "Tornado" promotional poster on the entire page of the "Los Angeles Times" at the same time, and stated that "Tornado" will be played on the latest Super Bowl. trailer.
And almost at the same time. Viacom also pointedly stated that once the successful acquisition of Disney, Viacom will spend 500 million US dollars to produce six to eight special effects movies.
Because I have tasted the sweetness of high investment and high returns of big-budget movies. In the past two years, the scale of investment in Hollywood movies has been increasing, and the announcement of similar news can also enhance the confidence of all parties.
After the last week of gaming, January 20 finally arrived.
Although he had 100% confidence in his heart, Eric woke up before five o'clock, and arrived at the Disney headquarters in Burbank by car at eight o'clock.
Seeing Eric's car appear, hundreds of reporters who had been waiting outside the Disney headquarters all night swarmed up, directly surrounding Eric's car, and while the flashing lights frantically lit up, all kinds of people outside the car window Questions also got into Eric's ears in a mess.
Eric, who was stuck in the car, pushed the car door hard, but he couldn't squeeze it open. He could only wait patiently for Disney's security personnel to come over to maintain order.
After waiting for two or three minutes, the bodyguards in Eric's other car and the security guards of the Disney headquarters got through the frantic group of reporters and came to Eric's car door.
"Mr. Williams, after Firefly completes the acquisition, will the Disney brand be retained?"
"Will Disneyland be renamed Fireflyland?"
"Will Firefly Put Pixar Studios in Disney?"
"It is said that Disney executives have signed a 'golden parachute' compensation agreement of up to 500 million US dollars. After the acquisition of Firefly is completed, will Disney's management be replaced on a large scale?"
"..."
"..."
Obviously, these questions will be answered in a unified manner at the press conference after the completion of the acquisition, but the reporters around obviously want to get the latest news.
However, the wall of people was finally pushed away, but Eric didn't dare to stop for a while to answer any questions, and hurriedly walked towards the office building of the Disney headquarters.
Two minutes later, Eric finally stepped into the lobby of the Disney headquarters, and a large number of reporters were blocked from the door.
Taking a deep breath with lingering fear, Eric followed Disney's guide to a spacious lounge.
Just when he opened the door and entered, Eric went to see an old man who was reading a newspaper sitting on the sofa directly opposite. The famous Summer Redstone.
Unexpectedly, the first meeting will be under such circumstances. Eric glanced at the guide next to him. The young girl was also a little surprised, and then realized that she had taken the wrong room. This is the lounge of the Viacom team .
Although Eric didn't mind withdrawing, facing Lei Shidong's undisguised aggressive gaze, withdrawing now would undoubtedly be tantamount to showing weakness.
Smiling calmly, Eric took the initiative to walk over, came to Lei Shidong's side and extended his hand politely: "Mr. Lei Shidong, we finally met."
Lei Shidong let out a cold snort of disdain, glanced at Eric's outstretched hand, and then raised the newspaper again, as if turning a blind eye to Eric.
The female employee who took Eric to the wrong room was even more frightened. If the two had a conflict, her job would be gone. The female employee looked at Eric anxiously, but saw Eric She didn't seem to care too much, shrugged, retracted her hands and sat down on the sofa next to her, looked at the badge of the girl who brought her over, and said, "Miss Gleason, can you make me a cup of coffee, no sugar , add more milk."
"Ah, good... good." The girl hurried to develop for Eric.
Eric also picked up a prepared newspaper from the coffee table and flipped through it.
"Young man, it's better not to be too ambitious," Eric was reading an analysis article about this acquisition, when a somewhat old but full of spirit suddenly came from his ear.
Eric put down the newspaper, looked towards Lei Shidong, and said with a smile: "Mr. Lei Shidong, are you talking to me?"
Lei Shidong snorted again: "You are very lucky, and the movies you make often get good box office, but the acquisition of Disney is not as simple as luck."
Eric was not surprised by Redstone's indifference and sarcasm. It's not bad that the hot-tempered tycoon didn't point his nose and scold him loudly. After all, Lei Shidong is someone who would call his son a fool in public. In his memory, Lei Shidong has filed lawsuits with his wife, son, daughter, and nephew, and his bad temper is evident.
Facing the aggressiveness of the old man, although Eric didn't care too much about it, he didn't mean to be tolerant, and retorted: "I remember someone said that luck is actually a kind of strength. Moreover, I think that as a nearly seventy-year-old Old man, you shouldn't argue with us young people about these things, it's the best choice to take care of your life."
Lei Shidong glanced at Eric, and said with a faint smile: "Actually, your film company is good. If you go public, remember to let me know. Viacom is still very interested."
Eric shook his head and said: "No, you are wrong, Mr. Lei Shidong, although going public is the choice of Daben Branch, but I prefer to control everything in my own hands. However, in fact, I am very interested in Viacom Tom is also very interested, such as mtv television."
"Heh, I'm really overestimated. This is one of the funniest jokes I've heard recently," Lei Shidong laughed.
"Is it a joke? I'll know in a few years." Eric took the coffee handed over by the female employee just now, looked at Lei Shidong and continued: "However, since I stepped into Hollywood, many people have been You are saying that I am overestimated, and then helplessly watching me go on step by step, and you will see it.” (To be continued..)