Chapter 176 Warner or Disney
After Little Gilbert attended the dinner in Washington, Little Gilbert's main partners, Disney and Warner, were also busy.
Although Gilbert Jr.'s projects have been the profit focus of the two companies' summer schedules, it does not mean that there are no other film businesses.
The disaster movie "Twister" co-invested by Warner and Universal continues to have strong box office performance. It seems that the North American box office may even surpass "Saving Private Ryan".
This is normal. The difference in ratings between the two films largely makes up for the gap in film quality.
What's more, the quality of the movie "Twister" is relatively good among summer popcorn movies.
In addition to this movie, Warner also has films such as "A Time to Kill", "The Order of the Vapor", and "The Sky of Love".
On Disney's side, its subsidiary Buena Vista Pictures released seven or eight films in one go this year, including "Ransom", "101 Dalmatians", and "A Different Miracle", focusing on large quantities.
That doesn’t include “Saving Private Ryan,” released by Touchstone Pictures, and several films released by Miramax Pictures.
While not every movie makes money at the box office, some are able to turn a profit through subsequent copyrighted merchandise.
It doesn't matter if a few movies lose money. With so many movies released, one of them will always make money.
If you are lucky enough to come across a movie like "Saving Private Ryan", you will make a lot of money.
But just as Warner has been unable to get rid of Disney, Disney can't get rid of Warner either. Little Gilbert was waiting for the price, as if waiting for which company would make the first bid.
After six movies in six consecutive years, all of which were hits, Warner finally became the first to lose its composure.
After little Gilbert returned to Los Angeles from Washington, Warner Pictures CEO Jeff Robinoff made a special trip to Melon Manor to visit little Gilbert.
"Little Gilbert, have you ever thought about merging Melon Studio into Warner Bros.?" Jeff Robinoff was not polite and explained his purpose directly.
Little Gilbert glanced at him and asked: "Jeff, is this your idea or the idea of Warner's board of directors?"
"It's not just my opinion," Jeff added: "The Warner Pictures board, including the entire Time Warner, is excited to have you as a part of our midst."
If Warner Pictures wants to acquire Melon Studios, it won't do it without paying some price.
It is obviously not feasible to rely on cash alone, because although Melon Studio has some of the copyrights of movies that have participated in investment in the past, the most valuable thing is undoubtedly Little Gilbert himself.
You said you acquired Melon Studio, but little Gilbert ended up moving to another studio, so that doesn't mean much anymore.
So what Warner Pictures means is to adopt a share exchange method to make Gilbert Jr. a member of Warner's board of directors.
If they all become members of Warner's board of directors, then little Gilbert will completely become a member of Warner Pictures, and he will continue to cooperate with Warner Pictures for a long time in the future.
This matter is too big and cannot be decided overnight.
Little Gilbert said: "Jeff, let me think about it, this is not an easy decision."
Jeff Robinzoff was very anxious: "Little Gilbert, the cooperation between us is quite pleasant, isn't it? I believe that no company can offer better terms than our Warner."
This is almost what I said: Little Gilbert, don’t hesitate, agree quickly.
But Gilbert Jr. still said that he would have to think about it for a while. After all, Warner Pictures launched an acquisition, which would have a big impact on Gilbert's future plans.
After Jeff Robinhoff left, Little Gilbert called his agent Sheena Boone: "Sheena, tell Disney that Warner Pictures is going to acquire Melon Studios and see how they react."
Sheena Boone on the other end of the phone was stunned: "Warner Pictures has already started to take action?"
"Yes," little Gilbert said after thinking: "This is an opportunity. We have to wait for the price and strive for the maximum benefit."
"I understand," Sheena Boone accepted the task and went to do the work.
In fact, Sheena Boone didn't need to tell Disney that Warner Pictures was going to acquire Melon Studios, and the news spread like wildfire in Hollywood.
As soon as the news came out, not only did it shock the entire Hollywood, but at least the giants started to take action.
Disney immediately held a high-level meeting.
"I think we must join this merger immediately and not let Warner Pictures succeed. Little Gilbert belongs to us at Disney, and he cannot leave Disney." Michael Ovitz made an impassioned speech at the high-level meeting.
Although his current situation at Disney is not very good, this statement has been unanimously recognized by senior management.
This year's "Saving Private Ryan" directed by Michael Ovitz was a hit. Logically speaking, Michael Ovitz's position should be more stable.
But the situation is exactly the opposite, and the cause is here at Disneyland Paris.
Movies are only one aspect of Disney's core business, especially live-action movies. In recent years, apart from Little Gilbert's movies, they have actually been a half-dead business.
Disney's real core business relies on the copyright market, various classic animated images, and peripheral markets plus Disneyland to build a kingdom with a huge commercial system.
Michael Ovitz was not satisfied with becoming the president of Disney and responsible for the film business. He also wanted to get more power and extend his hands into more core business aspects.
But Michael Ovitz overestimated his own abilities and underestimated Michael Eisner. When he intervened in Disneyland Paris, he was full of thorns.
From taking charge last year to June this year, Disneyland Paris’ performance continued to decline. Now it has dropped by 11% compared with the same period last year, which is a very serious decline.
Michael Eisner blames Michael Ovitz, whose position at the top of Disney is now in jeopardy. Especially those Disney shareholders who previously supported him, many no longer support him.
Under such circumstances, Michael Ovitz must hold on to little Gilbert and not let go. Because this is the only guarantee for him to stay at Disney and stay on the throne of president.
But now that Warner Pictures is going to acquire Cantaloupe Studios, Warner Pictures is likely to state in the merger and acquisition contract that Gilbert Jr. is prohibited from cooperating with other film companies in his own name.
If this happens, Disney will suffer heavy losses in the live-action film business.
Publicly or privately, Michael Ovitz had to keep little Gilbert at Disney, even more than Michael Eisner wanted.
There was a lot of discussion among the executives, and finally Michael Eisner decided: "We can't let little Gilbert go. Disney must join this acquisition war and initiate the acquisition of Melon Studios."
Michael Ovitz took the initiative to take over the task: "Let me go and communicate with little Gilbert and find out what he thinks."
"No," Michael Eisner disagreed. He looked at Robert Egger and said, "Bob, go talk to little Gilbert."
After speaking, Eisner glanced at Ovitz specifically, as if to emphasize: "Bob and Little Gilbert have a good relationship, so they are the most suitable."
Robert Iger agreed immediately. Seeing Michael Ovitz's face gradually changing color, he shook his head secretly. Michael Ovitz's career at Disney was coming to an end.
After the meeting, Robert Egger immediately rushed to the Melon Manor the next day to exchange ideas with him.
"Little Gilbert, has the new project been decided?"
"It's decided." Little Gilbert was fishing on the beach of Cantaloupe Manor, thinking that he should build a pier and get a small yacht. Then he could invite Little Plum to go fishing together.
While swinging out the fishing rod, little Gilbert said: "It's an original script, a slightly suspenseful thriller."
Robert Egger was moved in his heart and asked: "Is it a horror movie?"
"Not really, but it will have some horror elements. After I come back from vacation, I will submit the script." Little Gilbert said.
Robert Egger was relieved a lot, as long as it wasn't a horror movie.
Although Gilbert Jr. started his career in thrillers, "Dead Man" can be regarded as an unconventional horror movie with a rather strange setting.
In the hands of Touchstone Pictures, this series has produced several sequels in a row. The same setting has been followed, and although not all of them have been hits, at least they have made money.
But famous directors rarely come back to make horror films, because in the minds of many movie fans, horror films represent shoddy productions, blood flying around, and relying on scary scenes to attract audiences.
In other words, this type of horror movie is a bit low-level and has no style.
Although Robert Egger believed that little Gilbert could make a horror movie full of entertainment, he still didn't want him to go back to making horror movies.
Little Gilbert's image as a director cannot be damaged, and his image is an important asset to Disney.
After chatting about the new project, Robert Iger asked for new news: "I heard that Warner Pictures plans to acquire Melon Studio?"
"Yes, Jeff is very enthusiastic. He believes that Melon Studio can continue to cooperate with Warner Pictures for a long time." Little Gilbert readily admitted.
Robert Iger said: "Little Gilbert, when I persuaded you to come to Disney from Universal Pictures, I wanted to make you a part of Disney.
Now you are going to completely join the Warner Pictures ship, which makes us Disney..."
Little Gilbert waved his hand and interrupted Robert Egger: "Bob, it's just an intention."
"Then Disney also launches an acquisition. You won't object, right?" Robert Iger tried.
Little Gilbert raised his eyebrows and said: "Why should I object? It just depends on which one of you offers better conditions. Bob, personal friendship is a friendship, but this is a business matter.
but……"
"But what?"
Little Gilbert patted Robert Iger on the shoulder and said: "If you can become the CEO of Disney, I will be more inclined to continue to cooperate with Disney."
Robert Iger was shocked. That was the position of CEO of Disney. It would be a lie to say he was not interested.
Maybe you can use this to get yourself closer to the CEO position.
Robert Iger thought about the recent infighting between the chairman and the president, which had greatly damaged Disney's vitality. This made Robert Iger feel that the chairman was indeed old and that Disney should change its leader.
After Robert Iger left, Sheena Boone also came to Cantaloupe Manor and chatted with little Gilbert about the results of the initial communication with Warner Pictures.
At present, Warner Pictures has basically agreed to the share exchange plan. The question is just how many shares.
"Don't worry, Sheena, the longer you wait, the higher the value of the studio will be." Little Gilbert took back the fishing rod. Today is another day for the Air Force.
But it does not affect little Gilbert's continued fishing, it just depends on which fish bites the hook.
Whether to go to Warner or Disney, everyone votes...
(End of this chapter)