Chapter 381： Don't take advantage, never give up

Disney's live-action movies in later generations have three trump cards in their hands - the "Avengers" series, the "Star Wars" series, and the animated film remake series.

Originally, "Pirates of the Caribbean" was also a box office sweeper, but with the elimination of Jerry Bruckheimer and the flaws in the original setting of the script, this series gradually became lonely.

Dunn lived again and again, and he worked in Hollywood. He encountered many competitors, and even DreamWorks had more or less friction.

These are normal.

Only Disney, with vicious competition that violates the principles of the market, will completely kill Dunn Pictures!

Don't look at the current thriving Tangen Films industry. With the influence of "assortment investment", "Unsinkable" and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" are sweeping the box office market.

But this time last year, Dunn Pictures almost went bankrupt because of Disney's unreasonable hegemony suppression!

Tang En will never forget the desperate eyes of the employees in the company at that time!

Therefore, Tang En can make war with 20th Century Fox, but he will never let Disney go!

Of course, he also knows clearly that it is impossible to get the cartoon copyrights that Disney has accumulated over the past few decades.

However, the adaptation copyright...especially the adaptation copyright of live-action movies, has a certain room for operation.

Because Disney's past animated films were mostly princess series, at this stage, it is impossible for a woman to be the protagonist to carry the movie box office in a major commercial production.

Even the three most attractive female stars in Hollywood right now, Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, and Cameron Diaz, can only be the core in some small and medium-sized movies, and want to participate in the big business. Production, it is necessary to make a background board to set off the actor.

With the current understanding of the film market by Disney executives, it is impossible to think that cartoons have the potential to be adapted into live-action films.

Roy Disney's face was gloomy, and his tone was unquestionable, "Even if it is the right to adapt, it is impossible! Disney's classic cartoons are my uncle and my father's lifelong efforts, and I can't let them leave the Disney family!"

Tang En said helplessly: "Mr. Disney, I didn't let them run away from home, I just invited them to come to Tang En Films to play around, and I'll do my best to give some small gifts!"

"small gift?"

"Yeah, I only need the adaptation rights, the adaptation rights for live-action movies! That is to say, when the film is successful in the future, it will definitely make Disney's animated characters popular again, and Disneyland will have more visitors, right? "

Roy Disney sneered: "Don't lie to me, I'm old, it doesn't mean I'm stupid! Once you get the adaptation rights, you will definitely make significant changes to the plot and characters of the cartoon, which makes the original cartoon characters , how much power can you borrow? At that time, with your personal influence, children all over the world will only know about Dunn Films’ movies, but forget about Disney’s cartoons!”

Tang En was seen through his mind, and he was not embarrassed. He smiled slightly, "Mr. Disney, it's wrong for you to say that. I made a request out of respect because you are a senior in the industry. In fact, you know, I can go the other way. Road."

Roy Disney's eyes suddenly became sharp, "You dare to infringe?"

"Infringement?" Dunn shook his head with a smile, "I don't dare to infringe, and Bill Gates can't stand the punitive fine! But I remember that "Grimm's Fairy Tales" and "Andersen's Fairy Tales" are both public copyright?"

According to the "Copyright Act" of the United States, more than 70 years after the author's death, his works enter the public domain and become the public wealth of all mankind, and are no longer owned by individuals. Foreign countries have even fewer restrictions, only 50 years.

Most of Disney's classic cartoons are adapted from "Grimm's Fairy Tales" and "Andersen's Fairy Tales", both of which belong to the public copyright.

Dunn's meaning is very clear, if Disney does not grant authorization, then he will directly adapt the original work!

From the other direction, a "homage" to Disney's classic cartoons.

Roy Disney smiled disapprovingly and pointed to his chest, "Young man, don't forget, when I was in charge of Disney, the main theme was "Grimm's Fairy Tales". Do you really think that the original content is suitable for film adaptation?"

In the United States, Grimm's Fairy Tales are gradually being removed from children's bookshelves, because these stories are full of **** and violence, and even murder, destruction, cannibalism, infanticide and **** / incest.

Such a story, even if it was adapted into a video game, would be banned.

For example, in "Snow White", the queen asked for Snow White's lungs and kidneys, and the little princess was only seven years old at the time, and was taken into the woods by a brutal hunter. In the end, the vicious queen was asked to dance to death in red-hot dancing shoes.

For example, in "Cinderella", Cinderella's bad sisters all had very miserable endings, and they... all had their toes cut off!

In the hand of "The Girl Without Hands", there is also a plot where the little girl's hand is cut off.

This can also explain why "Grimm's Fairy Tales" has been remade by film companies in countless countries, but only Disney's films have swept the world. It is because Disney's screenwriters have completed a successful adaptation, avoiding all **** and creepy plots, and treating them warmly.

In this regard, there is no difference between animated films and live-action films.

If Dunn wants to adapt "Grimm's Fairy Tales", he must touch Disney's adaptation structure.

This intellectual property lawsuit is very complicated and takes a long time. The key is that once Disney sues Dunn Pictures for infringement, it will definitely make Dunn Pictures' films subject to word-of-mouth storms.

More importantly, according to US law, works in copyright disputes are not allowed to be sold publicly!

That is to say, after 10 years of litigation, the movie cannot be released for 10 years.

This is a complete obliteration of the movie!

At that time, a small screenwriter wrote a script that used the idea of ​​​​traversing robots. When James Cameron made "Terminator" later, he directly sued Cameron for plagiarism!

What was the result?

Cameron paid $200,000 in royalties and included his name in the screenwriter column. It is to be able to reconcile as soon as possible, to avoid disputes, and to allow the film to be released smoothly.

To avoid copyright lawsuits, this is the fundamental reason why Dunn had to reach an agreement with Disney to get the adaptation copyright!

Seeing that the old guy's thinking was so clear, Tang En smiled helplessly, "Forget it, I have already proposed the conditions anyway. Whether you can cooperate or not depends on what you want."

"Copyright is absolutely impossible!"

Roy Disney categorically refused.

Dunn shrugged with an indifferent look on his face, "It's okay, I'm not in a hurry anyway. But with Michael Eisner, I can't help it."

Roy Disney gritted his teeth and pondered for a long time, "Dawn, change the terms!"

Tang En laughed, "Change the terms? Okay, do you want to sell me the espn TV station? Don't worry, don't look at me losing a lot of money in the stock market, but the price must be fair!"

ESPN Sports is the most profitable cable TV network in the United States.

Most of the cable channels, which are cheap channels, cost only 20 cents to subscribe, and the price of espn... $7.9!

Same subscription fee as sta TV network!

What's more, ESPN Sports has over 70 million subscribers in North America and nearly 90 million worldwide!

In the past year, Disney's profit income, espn accounted for 25%!

Because espn is so popular, Disney even adopted a strategy of "bundling", that is to say, if users want to subscribe to espn, they must subscribe to hundreds of other Disney channels at the same time in the form of a package, even if many channel users have a lifetime. impossible to watch.

Domineering!

In comparison, Dunn's sta TV network is so small and fragile.

Roy Disney's face was ashen, "Dawn, this is a serious matter, I don't have time for jokes!"

Tang En sighed and said slowly: "Mr. Disney let's not speak secretly, the current Michael Eisner is a cancer of Disney! Disney shareholders can't see clearly. , because they are investment institutions, they are businessmen and laymen, you are the seniors who have seen the wind and waves, and you must be able to recognize the reality.”

Roy Disney did not hide, nodding his head.

Tang En said: "So, here comes the problem. You urgently need my help to get rid of Michael Eisner. Supply and demand determine the supply price, and what is rare is the most expensive! If you want me to take action, you must provide Conditions to my satisfaction."

"The two things you said have no room for manipulation at all." Roy Disney shook his head.

Tang En said with a smile: "It's okay, I'm just raising a concept, only this level of conditions can satisfy my interests! Haha, I'm not boasting, in Hollywood now, I can also have a certain right to speak. I don't like the small discount of going there."

Roy Disney's face was unusually ugly.

He had already seen it clearly, Tang En is a tough guy, and he will never give up if he doesn't get any benefits.

"How can I be sure you can get rid of Michael Eisner?"

Dunn laughed twice, "Mr. Disney, you don't have to tell me what to say. You should think about my conditions first, and then talk to me when you figure it out. As for Michael Eisner, I can be very responsible. Let me tell you, I have a secret weapon against him!"

"Secret weapon?"

"Not bad! As long as it is activated and with your cooperation, I can guarantee that no matter how powerful Michael Eisner is at Disney, he will definitely step down!"

Roy Disney shook his head lightly, "Young man, you are too confident."

"I've always been so confident!"

Tang En picked up the coffee cup and took two sips leisurely.

(Sanqi Chinese)