Chapter 314 There is no difficult business in the world 3.0
Blue Sky Studio was established in 1987. At the beginning of its establishment, it only produced titles and CGI special effects for some movies and entertainment programs. It was not until the birth of "Terminator 2" that they discovered that the combination of live-action movies and CGI , To be able to bring such a perfect visual experience to the audience, so they, who have mastered the 'core technology', want to develop this business.
After more than three years of research and pondering, they formed a complete production team to undertake the visual effects production of "Alien 4", and obtained the virtual scene modeling of "Titanic" subcontracted by Industrial Light and Magic and the digital field. Ate the recipe for the talking penguin that Edward Norton met in meditation in Fight Club.
It's a pity that advanced technology can't bring them great fame and matching wealth. Most of the orders they receive are subcontracts from Industrial Light and Magic and the digital field, and even if a film company gives them For individual orders, the commission they can negotiate is only one-tenth of that of Industrial Light & Magic and the digital field.
No way, who made them not famous?
Just like e-sports is the original sin, in the special effects industry, if you are unknown, you deserve to die!
This is actually a well-understood matter. The film company places an order with the special effects company to let the special effects company produce CGI visual effects according to their own ideas. Why? Isn't it just to make money!
Industrial Light & Magic created Jurassic Park, Digital Domain created Titanic, two box-office successes that have studios willing to pay for their lions to open their mouths, and the rest of them company…
Then just watch!
Who made them have no works?
Who told them not to create box office records?
Who told them not to be the first to eat crabs?
So you deserve to die!
Of course, this is actually a logical paradox, just like when you play Karazhan when you play Yamaguchi, the leader only accepts Karazhan for graduation—I can only graduate after playing this book, but you only accept graduated players Daben, isn't this an endless loop?
As a result, countless special effects companies died suddenly.
It’s not that they are not skilled, but that people like George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and James Cameron only use their own visual effects company. It is clear that Industrial Light & Magic and Digital Domain are just middlemen, and most of them earn the difference, but they will still choose to place orders with them.
Not only because of everyone's relationship, but also because of influence.
Needless to say about the relationship, the Jewish gang will not look for outsiders to do things, but the influence...
I turned to Industrial Light & Magic for visual effects, and I turned to the digital field for visual effects. As soon as this kind of publicity is released, the audience will immediately have expectations for the movie, and the concept of blockbuster visual effects pops up in their minds. What about the company?
It’s okay if you don’t promote it, once you do, the audience will subconsciously think you are a bad movie!
Don’t look for Industrial Light & Magic and Digital Field for visual effects?
Isn’t that just to make money?
So, for the sake of the intangible influence and box office appeal, the film company chose to turn a blind eye.
In this case, any visual effects company that wants to become bigger actually has only one way to go.
Or, like Weta Digital, make a "Lord of the Rings" in the field of live-action movies!
Or, like Pixar, make a "Toy Story" in the field of animation!
Since I have no contacts and can't take orders for big movies, then I'll make a big movie myself!
Because of this, Blue Sky Studio officially entered the animation industry after finishing the order of "Titanic".
As for why I chose animation...
Isn't that because animation is cheaper than live-action movies...
The special effects blockbusters of live-action movies have an investment of hundreds of millions, while animations, tens of millions are enough.
Not only that, compared with the highly competitive field of live-action movies, the computer animation industry is still a blue ocean market.
As long as you dare to think and do, you may become the pig in the wind.
So, "Ice Age" was born.
The little hapless guy chasing acorns made Blue Sky Studios famous and made them one of the top 5 animation production companies in Hollywood. The other four are nothing more than old-fashioned Disney and Disney spinoffs. Pixar and DreamWorks, as well as lighting entertainment that created minions with big eyes and cute eyes.
It's a pity that, compared with Disney, which has been refurbished and brought forth new ideas in ten years, the background of Blue Sky Studio still needs to be considered;
Compared with Pixar, which has continuous sequels and innovative coexistence, the inspiration of Blue Sky Studios is slightly lacking;
Compared with DreamWorks, which is a shit-stirring maniac and crazily rising, Blue Sky Studio will not toss;
Compared with the younger generations of Illumination Entertainment, the IP derivative of Blue Sky Studio is very hip...
The animals in "Ice Age" can only appear in the form of a collection, and after separating them, it is impossible to achieve the separation effect of "Despicable Me" and "Minions", and the sense of existence is quite weak. If it is not Jon Landau specifically mentioned that Roland had even forgotten that he had watched a movie about funny squirrels more than ten years ago!
Of course, it doesn’t matter if you forget, as long as you can recall it now, then there is no problem!
Because animation is also a part of the entertainment industry!
But if this industry develops, and then find Disney to distribute, eh...
Disney: Roland, look at our cooperation...
Roland: Don't call me Roland, call me Father!
Disney: Alright Dad!
(ω)
At the beginning, Roland coveted Pixar and DreamWorks Animation.
It's just that the IP copyright of the former is in the hands of Disney, so even if Roland has money, he won't talk about the acquisition.
Because only by selling Pixar to Disney can Steve Jobs reap the greatest value, and Disney, which owns Pixar, can maximize the effectiveness of the copyright in its hands.
As for the latter... Jeffrey Katzenberg's ability to make money with a big bald head is stronger than his creative ability. With such a guy who desperately wants money, it is undoubtedly a dream to buy it completely.
Not to mention, behind DreamWorks Animation, there is the old man, that gold-fishing monster.
In Roland’s previous life, after going through the three rounds of cooperation between Microsoft, Paramount, and India Industries, the old man was still able to control the voting rights.
Even if the old man is willing to sell, Roland doesn't want to buy it!
Acquisition but no right to speak, isn’t it equivalent to using the public car for private use, and then taking this private car out to run the public Didi?
The green prairie above your head!
No way! useless!
As a result, when Pixar can’t buy it, DreamWorks Animation doesn’t want to buy it, and Illumination Entertainment hasn’t been born at all, there are actually only two ways to get involved in the animation industry:
1. Wait for the awakening of Blizzard Studios to focus on making CG, and dig out the strange attributes of the game with your feet;
2. Acquisition.
The effect of the first method is unknown, but the second method, isn’t it just right in front of you?
When Roland learned that the Blue Sky Studio had no owner, he couldn't bear the idea of buying it because he had spare money!
But when he asked, wanting to get more information from Jon Landau, the fat man froze on the spot.
I feel like my body is being hollowed out, I really can't squeeze out a drop!
"Roland, if you want to know more about Blue Sky Studio, may I ask for you?"
The fat man looked at Roland cautiously, because Roland's question touched his blind spot of knowledge.
‘It turns out that you are not omnipotent! I thought you had Google with you! ’ Roland breathed a sigh of relief, and while complaining secretly in his heart, he also asked knowingly, "You don't understand the situation in this regard?"
"I don't understand..." The fat man shook his head awkwardly.
"It's fine if you don't understand, I'm just asking casually."
Roland waved his hand, signaling the fat man not to worry, "Our priority is still "Princess Diaries."
"Go and get it first, and come to me when the preparations are almost done."
"Okay." The easy-going words made the fat man heave a sigh of relief, he nodded heavily, and drove away decisively.
Although this is not the first time he has dealt with Roland, the truck driver did the talking before.
In Fatty's view, Roland and the truck driver are laughing and joking because they have been friends for ten years, but if they were strangers, there would definitely be a gap, and adaptation is a must.
But after chatting with Roland for a while today, he found that Roland's temper didn't seem as bad as he thought.
Although he often asked some weird questions, in general, he didn't put on airs.
Looking at the straight driveway, the fat man pursed his lips, and made his own conclusion about Roland's behavior just now—
“Possesses a curiosity that matches his age.”
“The affinity that comes with having a good family background.”
“Although he became famous at a young age, he was not blinded by the hype.”
"And he's only twenty, yet he can achieve such an achievement! It's really terrifying!"
"By the way, most importantly, he is handsome!"
If Roland heard the fat man's evaluation, he would laugh like a pig!
Isn't that because he wants to kill Blue Sky Studios before Fox?
Affinity?
Isn't that because he has the attitude that the project in hand is the best, and it doesn't matter if it doesn't?
Haven't been touted to cover your eyes?
How could the guy with the upper thigh be blinded by fame and fortune?
The evaluation of being handsome is just so-so!
...
"Today is a good day, everything you want can come true~"
"Tomorrow is a good day again, I can't wait for my daughter~"
After sending the fat man away, Roland, who was in a happy mood, hummed a little song and went back to the house.
For him, the news that Blue Sky Studio has no owner is more exciting than finding Anne Hathaway.
After all, the purpose of his filming "Princess Diaries" is not only the idea of embedding his own brand advertisements in the movie, but more, in fact, he wants to make Warcraft Movies and Television into a happy stick that can make Disney happy.
In this way, a studio that can create a project to enter the park will naturally represent more interests than live-action movies.
Of course, Blue Sky Studio is great, but as an adult, Roland naturally wants them all!
But in the case of not knowing the other party, it is the first choice to find someone to inquire about information.
Roland wanted to know everything about Blue Sky Studios, and then tried to find flaws and wait for an opportunity to acquire them.
And the one who can do all of this...
Obviously there are only old men who can compete with the Big Six!
So, three minutes later, the old man, who was playing with his family in South America, received a call from Roland.
"Blue Sky Studio? What do you want its information for?" The old man was very puzzled.
‘It seems that the old man knows about this studio, otherwise he should ask me what Blue Sky Studio is. '
Roland muttered something in his heart, but he said the truth—
"Curious, Jon Landau told me that Fox is going to withdraw its own animation department and sign a long-term distribution contract with Blue Sky Studios, but I have never heard of Blue Sky Studios, so I want to know about it."
'That's it? '
This explanation made the old man a little speechless, "I thought what did you want to do? It turned out that you were just curious?"
"What else? I'm retired, I'm bored!"
Roland replied confidently, but the word retirement almost choked the old man to death.
‘I haven’t retired yet! ! '
Rolled his eyes, too lazy to talk nonsense with this little thing, "Then you go directly to Steve."
"What?" Roland didn't understand, "Steve? Which Steve?"
"Jobs! Steve Jobs!"
The old man raised his voice and asked angrily, "How many other Steves do you know?"
"The founder of Blue Sky Studios, Chris Wedge, is good friends with Pixar's chief creative officer, John Lasseter. You go directly to Steve and ask him to help you contact John, and the materials of Blue Sky Studios will naturally be sent to you. to your face."
'Hold the grass! Is it that simple? '
"Are you sure?" Roland felt a little unbelievable. The progress of the matter was so easy that he doubted life!
"When did I lie to you?" The old man asked back, but he still explained, "Chris Wedge, the founder of Blue Sky Studios, graduated in 1981 and became the chief animator of Disney animation in 1982. And Pixar’s chief creative officer, John Lasseter, worked at Disney in 1979 and co-created “Computer” with Chris Wedge.”
"In 1984, when John Lasseter's contract expired, George recruited him to Lucasfilm, and later, when George sold Pixar to Steve, John became Steve's subordinate. , and created Toy Story."
"When John joined Lucasfilm, he wanted to bring his friend Chris with him, and this behavior was also agreed by George. However, Chris did not want to work in California because his home is in New York, so he took the time to go to Lucasfilm to observe computer graphics production, and this habit has been maintained to this day.”
"So, you call Steve now and ask him to call someone for you, that will be much faster than me finding someone!"
"Don't say that you want to inquire about the situation of Blue Sky Studio, even if you ask Chris to come and meet with you, it will only take two days. After all, Chris and John are very grateful to Steve!"
"Although Steve agreed to let Pixar make animations back then, his biggest idea was to sell his own computer, but after seeing the achievements they made, Steve also squeezed out resources when his company was not running smoothly, and let them achive dreams."
"They will remember this kind of thing for a lifetime."
That's right!
The industry likes to use the word 'forever' to describe Disney, and that has its own reasons!
Because of Disney, the entire Hollywood animation industry has been supported!
Disney’s own creative ability needless to say, and those companies that can compete with Disney in the future are all established by former Disney employees!
Pixar’s chief creative officer, John Lasseter, is an animation director who left Disney;
DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, who was the former chairman of Disney Animation;
Blue Sky Studios founder Chris Wedge, who was Disney's former chief artist...
In addition, none of the animation departments of the six major animation departments can break away from Disney!
It is true that these guys were forced to leave because of company internal strife and political differences, but it is precisely because of this that Disney is even more terrifying! With so many talents excluded, we can still live well!
Several other companies, okay?
All are younger brothers!
When the old man hung up the phone with the clumsy excuse of 'my daughter called me', Roland's mind was full of question marks of 'why is Disney so awesome', but after he heard the beeping busy tone, he came to his senses , suddenly slapped his thigh.
"What does Disney have to do with me?"
"Anyway, I've already shaken someone!"
"Since you can get on the blue sky studio through Steve Jobs, then...Fox, you can eat farts!"
If Disney is great, let it be great. Anyway, my goal is to let you call me Dad!
In this way, isn’t it the easiest choice to be stabbed decisively?
As for participating in the bid for Blue Sky Studios, will it compete with Fox?
Hi!
Anyone can get the ownerless thing!
It is not your subsidiary, why can't I ask the price?
Normal business competition!
Whoever loses wins, each depends on his means!
After figuring this out, Roland stopped worrying about this issue.
Seeing that it was almost time for dinner and there was a party to attend in the evening, Roland got into the bathroom and took a shower.
When he came out again, Kate, who had gone out for yoga class in the afternoon, had already returned.
When Roland was brushing his hair while greeting his wife, the guy sitting behind the coffee table suddenly raised his head and showed Roland a half-smile expression, "Take a shower?"
"Huh? Didn't you say there was a party tonight?" Roland nodded.
"Are you comfortable?" Seeing that Roland didn't respond, Kate asked again.
"Comfortable? It's okay, take a shower on a hot day, it's much cooler." Roland said truthfully.
Hearing these words, Kate spoke again, but this time the tone was a bit bitch, "Much cooler?"
"Yeah! Any questions?"
Roland still didn't hear the weirdness, so he complained: "Before you left, Jon Landau came. He just left. I chatted with him all afternoon. The house came in and out, and it was cold for a while. It’s going to be hot, it’s almost unbearable to death!”
"Ah~ so that's the case? Then what are you talking about?" Kate's smile grew even wider.
"What are you talking about? Of course it's work!" Roland finally sensed something was wrong, and turned to look at his wife, "What's wrong?"
However, what responded to him this time was a strange understanding, "Oh~ So it's work?"
'Meow meow meow? ? ? ’ Numerous question marks popped up in Roland’s head, ‘Did this guy take the wrong medicine? '
Feeling strange, he carefully looked at Kate.
But when his eyes turned into X-rays and swept up and down, all he got was the smiling face of his wife, but when he sat down on the sofa, frowning and wanted to When he asked about the reason, the black-sealed file on the coffee table made him realize instantly, and he couldn't laugh or cry—'Come on, this guy is jealous! '
Note: ① Wikipedia says that Fox acquired Blue Sky in 1997. This information is wrong. It is recorded on IMDbPro that Lan Tian first set foot in animation in "Mrs. Brown Rabbit" in 1997. After winning the Oscar for Best Short Film, he was invited to co-produce "Frozen Planet" with the Fox animation department. Following the failure of "Frozen Planet", Fox chose to cancel its own animation department, and Lan Tian was taken into Fox's arms. Because there was no work, Fox signed a five-year long contract with Lan Tian after they made "Ice Age". Not only that, but in 1997, Lantian also received an order from Paramount to do the special effects of "Star Trek 9", and they also did the visual effects of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", that is, the scene where Yu Jiaolong jumps off the cliff. ② Minions are not made by Universal, but by Illumination Entertainment. Their founder Chris Meledandri is the chairman of Fox Animation. After the animation department was revoked, he was in charge of the Blue Sky project and stared at them Created "Ice Age", and left Fox in 2007 to create Illumination Entertainment. Their relationship with Universal is exactly the same as Pixar at the beginning, and now Blue Sky and DreamWorks. Big companies hold shares, but they are far from the point of full control. Self-promotion of ideas, long-term distribution, limited cooperation, but not a subsidiary. ③ Blue Sky founder Chris Wedge and Pixar Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter are close friends. How good is the relationship? Chris Wedge had finished watching Toy Story before its test screening, and John Lasseter had finished watching Ice Age before its test screening.
(end of this chapter)