Eric was pestered by Peter Guber and talked for nearly an hour. If it wasn't for the important meeting to attend, Eric estimated that he would be consumed by this guy this morning.
After seeing off Peter Guber, Eric quickly came to the large meeting room of Firefly headquarters. At this time, the executive-level managers of the Firefly Films department had almost arrived, and even many executives from overseas branches had rushed away. Come back, there are always forty or fifty people. Because in June, with the arrival of the summer vacation, as a film and television entertainment company, all departments of Firefly will also usher in the busiest period. In order not to delay work, the management arranged the operation and financial summary meeting for the first half of the year at the end of May , Firefly is not a listed company, so there is no need to wait for the official first-half financial report to be released before conducting business summary and adjustments in accordance with the requirements of the board of directors.
In the first half of the year, the film market in North America was not stagnant. Only Paramount Pictures' "Pleasure Deal" released during the Easter period was lucky to get a box office of just over 100 million US dollars. In the first six months of 1993, Firefly released a total of seven low- and medium-budget films. The best performer at the box office was a family adventure comedy called "A Game of Cats and Dogs", produced by the Disney label, distributed by Bowei International, and harvested in North America The total box office of the seven films in North America is only ≥ 180 million US dollars.
This figure may seem inconspicuous, but in the first half of the year, Firefly’s total turnover in movie video tape sales, peripheral copyright operations, theme parks, Disney stores and other businesses reached 2.2 billion US dollars, and its pre-tax profit also exceeded 250 million US dollars. Calculated in this way, the revenue from the movie box office has only accounted for about 10% of the total turnover of Firefly Pictures. Eric is very clear. If such a revenue ratio is really achieved. It is the healthiest business composition of a comprehensively developed media group, which can also make a media company the strongest in resisting risks, and will not fall into the predicament of bankruptcy because of the failure of one or two movies.
However, in fact, Firefly is far from reaching this level. The reason for the temporary revenue ratio is mainly because most of the first half of the year is in the off-season of movies, and the most popular summer and new year schedules are concentrated in The last six months of the year. Firefly's main films will also be released within the next six months. The total production cost of the three summer films "Jurassic Park", "Clash of Heaven and Earth" and "A Bug's Life" totals 200 million US dollars. More than the sum of the production and distribution costs of the seven films in the first half of the year.
The whole meeting didn't end until 4:30 in the afternoon. Although there was still half an hour to get off work, Eric had already planned to go home early. However, as soon as he packed his things, he was stopped by Katzenberg, followed by Patrick Schneider, the person in charge of Disneyland Paris. Senberg originally planned to withdraw Patrick Schneider to the headquarters. However, the operation of French Disneyland has taken a turn for the better under the management of Patrick Schneider, after discussions between Eric and Katzenberg. So it was decided to let Patrick Schneider temporarily stay.
Today's meeting also talked about the status of Disneyland Paris. In the first two quarters, the total number of visitors to Disneyland Paris reached 6 million, and the operation has also reached a balance of payments. In the second half of the year, it may even achieve a certain profit. As a project that was seriously out of control during the development process, Eric's requirement for Disneyland Paris is that as long as it can maintain a balance of payments and not become a drag on the group, Eric has been overjoyed to be able to achieve profitability. You must know that after the opening of Paris Disneyland in the original time and space, it basically brought losses of hundreds of millions of dollars to Disney headquarters every year, and there were very few profitable years.
"Eric, it's like this. Louis Bartlow, the representative of the French investor of Paris Disneyland, has also come to Los Angeles. The French side is not very satisfied with the status quo of Paris Disneyland. They hope to take back the management rights of Paris Disneyland. " Katzenberg has never been a long-winded person, and he is not used to beating around the bush, so he explained the reason for stopping Eric in a few words.
Eric didn't take the two of them back to his office, and directly motioned for them to sit down together at the conference table, and asked, "I remember we told them clearly about the situation of Disneyland Paris last year, and we also A lot of changes have been made, isn't the situation always developing for the better, why do they still have this idea?"
Patrick Schneider, who was sitting on the other side, had the most detailed knowledge of the inside story, and said, "Mr. Williams, the situation in Paris Disneyland is indeed developing for the better, but compared with the profitability of Tokyo Disneyland, the gap is too big. The reason why the French came up with this kind of idea should be influenced by the independent operation of Tokyo Disneyland by the Japanese.”
Eric sneered in his heart. The Frenchman had a good plan, but he didn't think about whether he had the strength. The success of Tokyo Disneyland is mainly due to the recognition and adoration of American culture by the Japanese. These conditions do not exist in Europe. He remembered that in the original time and space, because of the huge losses in the early days of Paris Disneyland, the Disney headquarters was forced to give up control of the park. Disney's burden, based on this alone, it is impossible for Eric to cede control of Paris Disney. After all, Disney headquarters has a wealth of operating experience, which is why Paris Disneyland quickly adjusted and gradually improved in less than a year after discovering the problem. what it looks like.
"In any case, we will definitely not transfer the control of Disneyland Paris," Eric said, looking at the two of them, and asked, "Does Louis Bartello want to see me?"
"He invited us to a reception in the evening, and talk about this incident by the way. The two of us have already agreed. After all, we are guests from afar. I just want to let you know and discuss how to deal with it." Katzenberg said. He obviously knows too. Eric will not attend this so-called reception.
"I won't go." Eric shook his head, thought for a while, and said, "The French are envious of Tokyo Disneyland. Since they want to regain control, it's not impossible..."
Before Eric finished speaking, Katzenberg said anxiously: "Eric, absolutely not."
Eric stopped Katzenberg's words, and said with a smile: "You wait until I finish. You know that I was entangled with Peter Cooper a while ago. If we reject it, I think it will definitely happen in the future. The French are constantly entangled, so let the price go out. Since they want to get control like the Japanese, then just like the Japanese, buy back all the shares of Disneyland Paris in our hands. Now, we can only charge patent licensing fees like Tokyo Disneyland.”
When Katzenberg heard Eric say this, he immediately felt relieved, and Patrick Schneider also smiled and said: "This is a good way. If the French are willing to buy our shares, then the headquarters can get rid of this big It’s a burden. And we can continue to obtain profits from Disneyland Paris without drought or flood. Even if Disneyland Paris cannot survive in the hands of the French in the future, we don’t need to bear too much responsibility.”
Although the situation in Paris Disneyland has improved, as the person in charge, Patrick Schneider actually doesn't have many relaxing moments in his heart, and most of the time he is worried that the situation in the park will suddenly deteriorate. If he could get rid of this burden and return to the headquarters, he would really wish for it. However, he also knew that this was unlikely. The French are not stupid enough to take all the risks into their arms. Therefore, Eric's proposal of this condition basically cut off the French's idea of taking back Disneyland Paris.
Katzenberg also said at this time: "In this case, Eric, maybe you can also come to the reception tonight. Wouldn't it be better for you to convey this condition to Luis Bartello in person? I'm expecting him to hear this His face changed when the conditions were met."
Eric shook his head and said: "Forget it, it's not necessary. Besides, Jeffrey, although you have this condition as a shield, I think you can definitely explain the pros and cons to him with your eloquence. It's not necessary. Let the French keep this in their minds."
"Okay, I see," Katzenberg nodded, and after talking about it, the three of them left the conference room laughing.
When walking towards the elevator, Patrick Schneider suddenly said: "Mr. Williams, I heard that the company is planning to open a new art film production department recently, dedicated to the production of award-winning films, is it?"
Eric nodded and said with a smile: "Michael is in charge of planning this department now, don't you want to recommend yourself as the person in charge?"
There are too many people named Michael, but Patrick Schneider still knows that Michael in Eric's mouth is Firefly CEO Michael Lynn: "Of course not, Mr. Williams, but I have been staying in France, with France He also has good contacts in the film and television industry. Recently, there happened to be a very good young French director who planned to develop in Hollywood. Although he was only in his early thirties, he had already been nominated for several César Awards. Speaking of which, this guy was twenty-five The director's first film was nominated for the Cesar Award, which is very rare in the French film industry. Everyone knows that in the conservative French film industry, it is more difficult for young people to get ahead than in Hollywood. A hundred times, what is even more rare is that this director's works are both commercial and artistic."
The three walked into the elevator together, and Katzenberg said: "It is not so easy for French directors to get Oscar recognition, unless they have developed in Hollywood since their debut."
Patrick Schneider was only entrusted to mention it to Eric. He also knew that what Katzenberg said was true, and when he was about to conform, he heard Eric ask, "What's the name of this director?"
"Luc Besson," Patrick Schneider replied.
Eric thought it was this guy, he smiled, and said, "What a coincidence, I just watched his "Nikita", and it's not bad."
If Baige Wu's three tricks in Hollywood are slow motion, close-up and white dove, then Eric's impression of Luc Besson's "three tricks" is chasing, chasing and chasing.
This is not to say that Luc Besson's movies have a single style, but that the works of Luc Besson that Eric has seen are full of too many killing plots. From the early "Nikita", to the later "Taken", and the somewhat inexplicable "Super Body" with box office success, etc., they can't escape this kind of routine, and the audience also loves this kind of adrenaline-stimulating The simple and crude plot is very popular.
Thinking about this, Eric asked, "Pat, what do you mean that Luc Besson is going to Hollywood?"
Patrick Schneider replied: "He intends to make a killer film and plans to shoot in New York, so he is looking for a partner from us."
Eric thought that the killer-themed movie shot in New York must be "Killer Leon", "Killer Leon"!
"Well, let someone from the production department contact him. I'll take a look at the script first. If possible, Firefly can be responsible for the investment and production."
Patrick Schneider did not expect Eric to make such a decision on the spot, nodded and said: "No problem, he is also in Los Angeles recently, I will contact him tonight."
After getting out of the elevator, the three of them got into their own cars after saying goodbye to each other.
The driver drove the car onto the road, but Eric looked out the window in a daze. The trajectory of the world has changed so much under his influence. Although the director is still the director, the actor should also be the actor, but, no Know if Lolita is still the same Lolita.
The car passed by a movie theater, and Eric caught a glimpse of the huge two-meter-high "Jurassic Park" poster hanging on the outer wall of the movie theater, and then withdrew his thoughts. "Jurassic Park" is about to be released, and now this is the most important thing.
The initial investment of 25 million US dollars in publicity expenses has been fully drawn, and Eric did not hesitate to offer another 25 million US dollars. Moreover, with the successful example of the saturated release of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith", Eric did not this time. Hesitate again and insist on raising 3,000 yuan for the opening screen of "Jurassic Park". There is no doubt that "Jurassic Park" will become the first film in North America to open more than 3,000 screens.
Now, "Jurassic Park" has entered the final warm-up period. (To be continued..)