Chapter 157 Allies don’t shoot, pull your hips in 1994
Microsoft wants to enter Hollywood, that's nothing new at all.
In the 1980s, when George Lucas had too much money and no place to spend it, when he was spending money on computer special effects, Microsoft, who was also studying the graphical interface, had already hooked up with him; he found that Lucas was not interested in computer animation. After getting interested, Microsoft proposed an acquisition, hoping that Lucas could sell the complete Pixar team to himself. If Jobs hadn’t found Spielberg, Lucas and Spielberg would have been closer, perhaps in 1986. , Pixar animation has been in the hands of Microsoft.
After that, when Pixar Animation was losing money year after year, Microsoft, which had made great achievements in the graphical interface, was still raising prices, trying to buy Pixar Animation from Jobs, but who was Jobs? He is the big guy who hates Gates the most in the technology circle!
If you buy it with another person, he may have already sold it, and now Gates wants to buy it? dream!
It is precisely because of Jobs' tough attitude that the giants in Hollywood will feel relieved. Although Microsoft is a layman in entertainment for them, the professional team can still shine brightly if they spend more money.
Not to mention what step Microsoft can achieve, but no one wants rich giants to enter the market with banknotes and scream. After all, the entertainment cake is only that big, and if one more person shares it, others will eat less.
But now—
Microsoft voted DreamWorks what the hell?
The highest-grossing director in the world, the highest-grossing producer, and the guy who knows the market best accepted Microsoft's investment?
Isn’t this special rhythm of Silicon Valley’s invasion of Hollywood?
Although at the same time as the news was announced, the Hollywood giants had asked people to find out the reason, and learned that the investment of 500 million and 18.5% of the shares was made by Paul Allen alone, and Paul Allen had already made the investment. left Microsoft, but—
He had a falling out with Bill Gates, and he had already reconciled with the other party in 1987. When he bought the Seattle Supersonics of the Mosaic League, the guy who appeared in the audience with him was only Bill Gates. Ci one.
The reason why he bought the Seattle SuperSonics of the Mosaic League is also very simple, because Microsoft is headquartered in Seattle, and when he invited Bill Gates to watch the game, he didn't need to fly around by plane.
As for Samsung...their appearance did not arouse a strong reaction from Hollywood giants.
Although Koreans can’t get rid of the three things ‘death, taxes, and Samsung’ in their lives, Lee Mi-kyung, who invested in DreamWorks, is not Lee Kun-hee’s daughter! It is the daughter of Li Mengxi, the eldest son of Samsung founder Li Bingzhe!
Where is the difference between Li Mengxi and Li Jianxi?
The story of the love and killing of the Samsung Lee family could not be finished for three days and three nights. Generally speaking, Li Meijing’s father, Li Mengxi, did not receive any property from the Samsung Group when the Samsung family was separated. The ignorant eldest prince, carrying the name of Samsung, did a lot of heinous work such as smuggling. This kind of stupid behavior naturally made him lose his father's favor. After his father passed away, he inherited CheilJedang, which later changed its name to CJGroup.
And Li Jianxi, that is the current head of the Samsung Group.
Lee Mi-kyung and Lee Kun-hee, who invested in DreamWorks, are uncles and nieces, but this relationship is useless in the eyes of Hollywood giants, because Samsung Group, which is still buying semiconductor products from Sony, is simply not enough!
If Li Jianxi invested in DreamWorks, they would still pay attention, and the daughter of that useless prince?
hehe…
What's the point of taking 10.8% of the shares for 300 million yuan?
Is the entertainment industry in Korea good enough?
Lee Mi Kyung has nothing but money!
And if you really want to compare your pockets for money—the one who gets up year after year and shouts, ‘I’m going bankrupt! Quick special code to lend some money to Lao Tzu's operation! ’ The MGM United Artists are not afraid of the CJ Group!
After all, the Broccoli/Wilson family behind them does not want to see the "007" series collapse!
In this way, what really makes the Hollywood giants vigilant is actually the money invasion and technical support from Silicon Valley!
They didn't know how much impact the three SSR-level leading parties of DreamWorks would bring to the current film and television industry, but when they urgently held a meeting and wanted to deal with the sudden news, they were quiet. After half a year, Sony, together with Spielberg, issued another cooperation announcement.
Sony announced that it will spin off all Columbia International and Samsung International under the name of Columbia Samsung Pictures, and transfer all 41 global distribution offices and 26 long-term cooperation agreements to the newly established company.
Not only that, Sony also sold 50% of the shares in the new company in exchange for the investment rights in the "Spider-Man" trilogy and Spielberg's series of films. The new company has and only three shareholders, except for the Except for half of the Sony shares, Roland and Spielberg hold the remaining half.
When this news appeared, Ben was still thinking about **** the giants of DreamWorks, and he was all stunned!
Wwwwwwwwhat?
Stoppppp!
All the **** are worth it!
You big-eyed DreamWorks special is a friendly army?
Ben was still pondering whether it was time to work together, Time Warner, Viacom, Disney, and MGM United Artists to unite and take away DreamWorks who wanted to do something. They all stopped!
If it was just the establishment of DreamWorks, then they would definitely not be polite to old friends like Spielberg, because the table for dividing the cake is so big that there is no room for the emerging capital of Silicon Valley to pretend to beep here!
But the problem is, if it is to eat Sony's overseas distribution, then everyone will be friends!
Because Sony has always been the foreign force they want to clear out!
When Sony acquired Colombian Samsung, it was the heyday of the Japanese economy, and it happened to be the trough of the American economy at the same time, but even so, these guys were still not cold in the face of the hot money from Sony.
Since Coca-Cola sold Columbia Pictures, everyone has tacitly set Sony up.
Participating in the bidding, forcing Sony to acquire at a premium; encouraging Sony to hire the well-known brothers in the circle; Pierberg, Dustin Hoffman, Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise, Francis Coppola, these guys have contributed to Sony's brilliant reports one after another, and they have also made the film If not, even if Sony is stupid, it will not be able to lose nearly 3 billion in five years! Even if you don't understand the rules of the game, you still have the eyes to distinguish profits, right?
In fact, from the very beginning, these guys didn't pay much attention to Sony. In their view, even if the Japanese consortium acquired many American companies, they would have to spit out the profit in the end. Mitsubishi's acquisition of Rockefeller center? In the end, didn't it go back to Goldman Sachs at half price? Hideki Yokoi bought the Empire State Building? Matsushita, who dared to buy the American music company, is now crying and looking for a successor! And Sony...
They feel that Sony, which is about to lose money and cry, can't last long!
Of course, this was the previous idea. To be more precise, it was the industry consensus before Sony announced that it had obtained the investment rights of "Spider-Man"-but after winning "Spider-Man", these giants no longer think so up!
Because a market-recognized A+list can afford a company's performance!
MGM back then was carried on like this!
That's right, although the circle is harmonious, when the news that "Spider-Man" belongs to Sony broke out, their perception of Roland changed, and "Forbes" magazine later, "Buy and Sell" Forcing the copyright, it's all a way for them to test, but Roland doesn't know it. They are going to calculate everything, and then carefully study the relationship between Sony and the Jewish gang. If these old men live Tired of wanting to support Sony, then...
It’s still too late for you to turn around and give up on Sony, we’re still good friends!
...
Sony bought a company with a lot of money, but half of its overseas distribution has been gnawed?
Spielberg and those guys don’t want to introduce Silicon Valley funds to go it alone, but want to dismember Sony?
Grab the grass!
Since you want to kill Sony, the special ones are allies!
...
"What's the situation now?"
On the high slopes of Beverly Hills, the most secret and precious place is called Beverly Park. It is a wide green space, surrounded by trees and flowers, and dozens of mansions with different styles are hidden, as well as the landscape that separates these mansions from the world. Heavy iron gate.
Those who can live here are not Hollywood superstars, senior producers, and media tycoons. Even the smallest house has never sold for less than ten million yuan. The seventy-one-year-old rich man who came out sat on the edge of the reclining chair, allowing the waiter to wipe his body, while his eyes were always focused on the middle-aged man beside him, "It seems that there is a lot of trouble outside. sharp?"
"Yeah." The middle-aged man in a plaid shirt smiled, nodded and said, "Steven and the others are making too much noise."
"If we just attracted funds from Microsoft and Samsung to form DreamWorks, we would have already targeted them, but the problem is that while forming DreamWorks, Steven also took away half of the shares of Sony Overseas Publishing Company. If They are here to seize the market, we will definitely not give them time to develop, but if it is to replace Sony, then we will not be able to do it..."
The words of the bald middle-aged man made the old man laugh, raised his left hand slightly, and the waiter who knew it in his heart naturally handed over the wine glass, and after taking a sip, the old man asked again: "Isn't it your own idea? "
"Of course!" The bald middle-aged man responded: "Jeffrey, Gary, these guys are not doing anything now, because we all want to figure out what is going on..."
The Jeffrey and Gary mentioned by the bald middle-aged man are the two helmsmen of Time Warner, and the old man who asked about the matter here is Summer Redstone, the boss of Viacom, and the bald man is Philip Dow Mu, the deputy who has followed Lei Shidong for more than ten years.
"It's possible." Philip's answer was not so sure.
"Reason?" Lei Shidong put down his glass.
"Take the lead in overseas distribution?" Philip's eyes flickered.
Although he has been with Lei Shidong for more than ten years, Philip still dare not confront him, because he knows that the other party has a bad temper. If his answer deviates too much from Lei Shidong's idea, then Lei Shidong will definitely not save face yelling.
“Although the channel of overseas distribution is not making money now, selling it hastily is definitely a sign of Sony’s softness.”
"Since the acquisition, Sony has been losing money for five consecutive years, which is in line with our expectations. According to our estimates, if Sony still sees no hope of making profits, they can only give up the film and television entertainment project like Panasonic. , and now they would rather sell the shares of the overseas distribution company to win over Steven and the others. Isn’t it just that they want to make a last-ditch effort before the official launch? If they can make a profit, they still have hope of rising. If they can’t make a profit, then them…"
"I'm afraid it will officially withdraw."
Why do these media giants crowd out Sony?
Isn't it because the whole circle can't tolerate outsiders!
The two helmsmen of Time Warner are either Jewish or married Jewish wives. Redstone, who controls Viacom, the parent company of Paramount, is Jewish. Stanley Gold, who owns the vast majority of Disney shares, is also Jewish. And after removing these three companies, Universal is looking for a new owner, Sony is biting Hollywood, and Fox—
Although the interesting Murdoch is not Jewish, he has one-eighth of Jewish ancestry. Although he is not popular for being friendly to Jews, everyone has no intention of attacking him immediately. From this point of view, killing Sony is not a matter of course. should it?
Because there is only this one outsider messing around in the business now!
Killing Sony is because their identities are wrong, and the weapons of public opinion cannot be controlled by outsiders. They want to kill DreamWorks because the knife for dividing the cake is full, but if DreamWorks eats only the part of Sony...
"If DreamWorks wants to replace Sony, that's actually a good thing for us." Philip shrugged and said, "Sony's Columbia Samsung Pictures and Music Company are not of much importance to us. significance."
"Our next goal is to buy CBS, and Time Warner is eyeing the Turner Network, and Disney wants to eat ABC. For us, the first to carve up the cable media network is the most important thing. Well, film companies and music companies are not important to channels at all, and their existence overlaps with the businesses of our Paramount, Time Warner's Warner Bros., and Disney's headquarters. Maybe there is no live-action film business Disney would want to eat Colombia, but eating Colombia doesn't mean much to us..."
That's right, what Roland first thought was to use Sony's channel to break through the blockade of the Big Six, but for these giants, what they feared was not DreamWorks' ability to create myths at all, but too many people sharing the cake!
For them, the cake of entertainment can be divided among six people. If they tolerate the entry of DreamWorks supported by Silicon Valley, their interests will be damaged. However, if the total number of six people who divide the cake remains the same, DreamWorks It's just to replace Sony to share the cake, then they are still welcome! Because DreamWorks Big Three are all Jewish! Their interests are the same!
In their view, Roland asked Spielberg to eat Sony's channel. It didn't mean uniting Sony and fighting against the five companies, but uniting the five companies and eating Sony with their help! Because in the past five years, Spielberg "cheated" at least 100 million from Sony alone! Everyone has a tacit understanding! Everyone knows it!
Only Roland himself would think that it was a show of prestige when he encouraged Spielberg to exchange the game copyright for overseas distribution!
Actually, the old man is even smarter than him! With Sony's channel, his own people won't beat him for the time being!
Because on the surface, they are unanimous to the outside world!
Since they are allies, no one will invite them to eat pasta!
Since the Big Three of DreamWorks want to replace Sony, Columbia and Samsung, the interests of the other companies are the same!
"I can understand your thoughts, but how do you explain that 25% of Sony's newly issued company's shares are in the hands of Roland Allen?" Lei Shidong waved his hand, gesturing to the waiter who was standing aside All down.
"If DreamWorks wants to replace Sony, then please tell me why the shares in Sony's newly established publishing company are not directly held by DreamWorks? Instead, Steven and Roland divide it?"
"Because the half that belongs to Roland, DreamWorks can't take it away." Philip had read all the materials searched by his subordinates before coming, "All the copyrights sold by Marvel are now owned by Roland, and he "Spider-Man" with James is the project that Ronald (Perelman) and Carl (Icahn) need..."
"We can say they're doing something they love, or they're doing global advertising for those two guys, but either way, we can't deny that Ronald and Carl might profit from it. Possibly, the two of them used Marvel shares as collateral for loans, issued junk bonds to acquire other assets, and cashed in a total of nearly one billion yuan. In order to stabilize the stock price, they need to let shareholders see the film and television painting pie drawn in 1991. In this case Next, if Roland is bullied and cried, do you think they will stay on Wall Street and ignore it? I still get paid for working with you. Roland helped them stand up once when Marvel was listed, and then helped them Carl's brothers made an advertisement and cooperated with them to have a relationship with a relationship. Roland was so interesting, and some people wanted to grab what he deserved.
"And the company targeted by the two of them at the same time, can it last for three months or half a year?"
"Besides, isn't Roland one of Steven's students? Roland holds the shares, so Steven holds the shares? The two of them hold all the shares, and when they encounter something, they can discuss it behind closed doors. In DreamWorks, the three founders and the two major shareholders, every time there is a problem, do they have to hold a meeting and quarrel?"
"hey-hey…"
Philip's words made Lei Shidong laugh, and the corners of his grinning mouth showed his inner joy, "You mean, there are also conflicts within DreamWorks, we let them go now, and the final situation will only be DreamWorks and DreamWorks. Sony disappeared at the same time?"
"No one can guarantee this kind of thing, because it is also possible that the DreamWorks project will be popular and Sony will follow behind to make a profit." Philip did not mean to guarantee it, "We never question Steven's talent in movies. , DreamWorks and Sony share channels, and it is very easy to make it, and Sony will definitely find a way to fiddle with its own projects after turning a profit. Therefore, I personally think that we are keeping an eye on CBS At the same time, let Paramount find some fun for Sony and the others. Dreamworks has a high probability of making a profit, and Sony also has a high probability of turning around. At this time, if Sony's own projects continue to lose money, then they can only Constantly relying on DreamWorks."
"Under this circumstance, Microsoft and Samsung, which have seen the possibility of annexing Sony, have a high probability of continuing to inject capital, so that the three of them can eat Sony. As long as they fight, there are many things we can do."
Yes, although Time Warner and Viacom can accept six people to share the cake, the fewer hands they share, the more they will earn? The fight between DreamWorks and Sony is what they want to see the most, but now...
"Leave them alone for the time being, let them cooperate for a while." Lei Shidong put down his glass, and said with a final word: "No one will interfere with the "Spider-Man" project, and no one wants to provoke those two wolves. The goal is to **** the cable TV network, and the market share cannot be eaten by Time Warner and Disney!"
At the same time that Viacom's helm Redstone made this decision, Time Warner and Disney also maintained a high degree of consistency. The cable TV network is their biggest goal. As for the establishment of DreamWorks and Sony's cooperation with them?
No matter whether it is cooperation or embezzlement, there is no rush, let the bullets fly for a while!
It doesn't make much sense to shoot now. Not only that, the only target they can hammer at this time is Roland, but no one has a broken head to hammer Roland! They do have a big family and a big business, but they don't have a money printing machine at home!
And if Roland were to know the thoughts of these people, he would only sigh, the world is unpredictable!
How much he knows is true, but it doesn't mean he knows everything!
Cooperating with Sony can be considered by these guys as trying to swallow Sony?
Grab the grass! If he knew that this group of guys had such thoughts, he would be worried!
Let the old man take the lead first?
Hehe, this group of people never thought of fighting immediately!
However, this is also a good thing for Roland.
Sneakily enter the village, not those who shoot!
Notify the other party before doing something?
Isn’t that brain-damaged!
The tacit understanding of these giants is naturally impossible to be publicized by the media. Of course, this is nonsense. The media is run by their family. How can people speak ill of themselves?
As a result, after the news of the establishment of DreamWorks was released, the outside world was amazed and surprised. Those people who didn't know why they were eating melons were full of infinite expectations for the formation of the Big Three. The voice of resistance, those guys who really like music, animation, and movies, hope that DreamWorks can continue to create dreams like the name.
Under the sound of hope, other things continued in an orderly manner. "Warcraft" was released as scheduled, and the Olsen sisters entered the crew of "Game of the Brave" on November 14th. Sony PS Games The schedule was announced on time, and the Christmas schedule also kicked off...
Unfortunately, this year is the year of entertainment Mercury retrograde!
Regardless of how the film company struggles, there will always be social hotspots and people's livelihood news grabbing the headlines!
On December 19, 1994, Mexico suddenly announced that its currency, the peso, would depreciate by 15%.
Mexico's financial crisis came suddenly.
And what kind of impact has this country, which is close to America and needs to build a wall for isolation in later generations, brought to America?
America's 20 billion stocks in Mexico evaporated directly by 7 billion, plus the depreciation of the peso, the cumulative loss exceeded 10 billion. Because the money became waste paper and the prices soared, some guys who were already living in poverty wanted to take risks and smuggle America.
Such behavior naturally became a social hot spot.
In the face of such acute issues, what are Christmas files?
Refugees are constantly pouring into the country, so who goes to the movies?
The four states on the border between the United States and Mexico are directly affected. In this case, the guys who stared at the cable TV network did not hesitate any longer. If the movie is damaged, then they will start the TV business. There will be crises every year. Only when the volume is large enough and the business is large enough, can we strive to survive every time a risk arises!
In 1994, it was free, and this year's loss means better profits in the future!
Note: ①Paul Allen and Gates did have conflicts, but they were resolved shortly after Microsoft went public. Gates accompanied him to the game, and he helped Gates prepare for his wedding. They were all with Gates, and later proposed to buy Google. When he invested in DreamWorks, there were voices in Hollywood that Microsoft wanted to save the country. Those giants never doubted that if DreamWorks got up, Allen would sell the shares to Microsoft. ②In the beginning, Li Kunxi wanted to invest in DreamWorks. He prepared one billion for Spielberg. But during the conversation, the old man found that Li Kunxi was not interested in entertainment at all. He invested in DreamWorks just because Sony bought Columbia. The goal is to get rid of Sony's control on semiconductors and copy their successful model, so the old man refused to cooperate with this kind of guy who doesn't understand entertainment, and Li Meijing is interested in entertainment, so he reached an investment of 300 million yuan. ③Sony has been pitted by these guys since it entered Hollywood. In reality, it can no longer survive, but a miracle happened. Spider-Man saved its life. Time Warner’s boss is Jewish, and Paramount’s parent company Viacom It’s all true that Tom’s boss is Jewish, including now NBC Universal, the owner of its parent company Comcast, Ryan Roberts, is also Jewish, his father is the founder, and the Disney family’s stock in Disney is also owned by Stanley - Proxy for Gold (Burbank Clover Holdings), who is also Jewish. After Fox was acquired, only Sony survived, which is really not easy.
(end of this chapter)