Chapter 438： Not self-reliant

"Dennis Noel resigned last week, remember? He personally showed you a special effect shot," the two returned to the office, and Stan Winston just sat down and said.

Eric recalled, remembering the special effectist named Dennis Noel in Stan Winston's mouth, a tall, white man, in his early thirties, graduated from the computer science department at Stanford University, and Stan Winston once again to himself. Introduced the other side's outstanding performance in the special effects of the "Tornado".

"Is it being dug?" Eric asked, if it was a normal departure, Stan Winston would not specifically mention this.

Stan Winston nodded: "Sony Pictures intends to set up its own film and television special effects subsidiary and invite Dennis to be the supervisor."

"People go to the heights, we can't stop, but are there other things?"

Stan Winston found a form from his desk and handed it to Eric. He said, "Eric, you see, since the release of Terminator 2, the company has 12 top effects in half a year. The teacher resigned, and there are two supervisors. The average number of employees leaving is more, but I don't have statistics."

Eric took it and looked at it. Not only did the time when these people resigned, but also their place of departure, most of them were dug up by other special effects companies, and even included the biggest rival in the digital field, Industrial Light and Magic. There are also a few people who set up their own special effects studios.

"You are better here," Eric read. Looking up at Stan Winston, he laughed: "This situation is even more serious at Pixar. John also submitted a report to me specifically, and hopes to prevent this from happening through restrictions such as a competition agreement."

"You don't seem to worry at all?" Stan Winston's originally worried expression eased a lot in Eric's smile.

Eric laid down the resignation form. Looking at Stan Winston, "Stan, do you know how much R&D funding I have invested in the technology R&D teams of the two companies since I took over Pixar and the digital field?"

Stan Winston shook his head, he was more concerned about the technical aspects of special effects, and he was not very concerned about finance. In the last year, Eric reorganized Pixar and the digital R&D team from the two companies and handed it over to Ed Carmoll. Stan Winston is even less likely to be clear about this.

Eric recalled the data in his mind and said slowly: "The number of members of the fixed technology R&D team in Ed Carmore has exceeded 400. These are top-notch technical talents with an average annual salary of $100,000. Around this, this alone will cost 40 million US dollars a year. The professional and technical personnel of the two companies in Pixar and the digital field are currently 600. The average annual salary of these people is not much worse than those people. In addition, 60 million, in addition, Firefly also invested in three technology research and development centers at Stanford University, Washington University and the University of California, the industry's top scientists in the R & D center provide a higher level of technical support for Pixar and the digital field, which in turn It’s a big expense.”

Stan Winston secretly groaned. He didn't think that Eric would be willing to spend so much. If so, Eric spent at least $200 million in the past few years. In the case of cg special effects and 3d animation prospects are completely unclear. Those who dare to break into such a huge amount of 200 million US dollars are estimated to have only one Eric.

Eric looked at Stan Winston's surprised expression and continued: "The current estimate of the firefly's 1990 profit is $400 million, but in fact. Because of the huge expenditure on special effects technology research, the firefly's profit last year was only More than 200 million."

Stan Winston also relaxed at this time. He also thoroughly understood Eric's intentions. The loss of top technical talents is a pity, but it is not enough to shake the digital field and Pixar's position in the industry, because in Hollywood. Except for fireflies, no company will be so crazy about technology investment.

Industrial Light Magic has always maintained a leading position in the special effects industry. But as the focus of film and television special effects shifts from model effects to computer effects, industrial light magic that has been more focused on model effects is also destined to fall behind the first-step digital domain.

One step behind, almost means that it will continue to lag behind. Since the release of Terminator 2, the digital field has received several special effects film production projects. In the past, these were usually only the business of industrial light magic. In the digital field, these projects have been acquired, and more technology can be accumulated in the production process. As a benign cycle, the industrial light and magic will no longer be able to catch up with the digital field.

Thinking of this, Stan Winston showed a faint smile and said: "More than 200 million profits are also good. There are not many of the seven major movie companies whose annual profit exceeds 200 million US dollars. This year Disney, MGM and the faction Ramon is losing money, hehe...or Hollywood is now back to the top eight film companies."

Eric said: "The acquisition of Disney is immediately seven."

Stan Winston remembered the firefly and Viacom's mad offer for Disney in this newspaper. Although he was curious, he didn't ask, and the billion-dollar big deal was too far away from him.

"Right, Eric, Dennis Noel, after leaving, also asked me if I can buy the use of software such as Maya from the digital field, I remember you mentioned this thing?"

Eric did consider the matter of monopolizing special effects software. In the original time and space, the monopoly of film and television special effects software was Autodesk. The mainstream special effects software such as maya and 3dmax were all products of Autodesk, but it was ten years later. The thing is gone.

Now the special effects company is still in a 'noble stage', not ten years later, a dozen technical personnel can be set up together, so now is not the best time to profit through special effects software, digital field The most important task now is to accumulate technology. To achieve the status that any company in the industry can hardly match, once the special effects industry begins to become civilian, the digital field with strong technology accumulation can enter the special effects software market at any time.

"Don't do this for the time being. At this stage, it is most important to maintain the technological leadership in the digital field. Since they have chosen to leave now, start from scratch," Eric said, with a faint smile on his lips: "I Will the legal department keep an eye on this piece, and once these resignees are suspected of technical infringement, I will let them and the gold owners behind them pay a price."

"I understand." Stan Winston nodded and looked at his watch. I have already passed the time of work: "Eric, if you want to have dinner together, there are several good restaurants in Venice."

There was nothing next, and Eric happily agreed.

......

The week passed slowly. The final competition between Viacom and Firefly came slowly. On January 18, two days before the deadline for the bidding, Firefly announced to the media including "Jurassic Park" and "Heaven and Earth". The four major film production plans, while in the "Los Angeles Times" a full page, published a "Tornado" poster, and said that "Tornado" will play a trailer of 1 minute and 30 seconds on the latest Super Bowl.

At about the same time, Viacom also said in a tit-for-tat manner that Viacom will spend $500 million to make six to eight special effects movies once it is successfully acquired.

Because I have tasted the high investment and high return sweetness of making big movies. In the past two years, the investment in Hollywood movies has grown larger, and the announcement of similar news has also enhanced confidence in all aspects.

After the last week of the game. January 20 finally arrived.

Although he had 100% confidence in his heart, Eric woke up at less than five o'clock and arrived at the Burbank Disney headquarters at eight o'clock.

When I saw Eric’s car, hundreds of reporters who had been waiting outside the Disney headquarters for a whole night swarmed up, directly escaping Eric’s car, and the flash was flashing. A variety of questions outside the car window were also smashed into Eric’s ears.

Eric, who was stuck in the car, pushed the cart door hard and couldn't squeeze it. Only patiently waiting for Disney security personnel to come to maintain order.

After waiting for two or three minutes, Eric's other bodyguards and the security guards at Disney's headquarters opened the crazy reporters to Eric's door.

"Mr. Williams, will the Firefly retain the Disney brand after the acquisition?"

“Does Disneyland change its name to Firefly Paradise?”

"Will Fireflies put Pixar Studios in Disney?"

“It is said that Disney’s top management has signed a “golden parachute” compensation agreement of up to US$500 million. Will the large-scale withdrawal of Disney’s management be completed after the Firefly acquisition is completed?”

"..."

"..."

These questions are routinely answered at the press conference after the completion of the acquisition, but the surrounding reporters obviously want to get the latest news.

However, the wall was too easy to be squeezed out, but Eric did not dare to stop to answer any questions and hurriedly walked toward the office building at Disney's headquarters.

Two minutes later, Eric finally stepped into the Disney headquarters hall, and a large number of reporters were blocked.

Taking a deep breath, Eric followed a Disney-led employee to a spacious lounge.

Just pushing the door in, Eric went to see the old man sitting on the opposite sofa sitting in the newspaper. The old man was a bit rich, but the most striking was the scar on his face because of the burn. It is obvious that this old man is The famous Summer. Lei Shidong.

I couldn't think of the first meeting. In this case, Eric looked at the guide next to him, and the young girl was a little surprised. Then she realized that she had the wrong room. Here is the Viacom team's lounge. .

Although Eric did not mind to quit, but in the face of Lei Shidong's unconcealed eye-catching eyes, now withdrawing is undoubtedly equal to showing weakness.

Emotionally smiled, Eric took the initiative and went to Lei Shidong to politely reach out: "Mr. Lei Shidong, we finally met."

Lei Shidong’s nose screamed in disdain, looked at Eric’s hand, and then lifted the newspaper again, a pair of Eric’s inconspicuous appearance.

The female employee who brought Eric to the wrong room was even more shocked. In case of conflict between the two, her work would be gone, and the female staff glanced at Eric, but it seemed that Eric seemed to Not too concerned, shrugged, took back his hand and sat down on the sofa next to him, looked at the girl's badge with his own, and said, "Miss Gleason, can you help me with a cup of coffee, don't sugar, Add more milk."

"Ah, good... good." The girl rushed to prepare coffee for Eric.

Eric also picked up a prepared newspaper from the coffee table and looked at it.

"Young people, don't be too good and good," Eric is looking at an analysis of the acquisition, a sudden, old-fashioned voice in his ear.

Eric put down the newspaper and looked at Lei Shidong. He smiled and said: "Mr. Lei Shidong, are you talking to me?"

Lei Shidong snorted again: "Your luck is good, the movies you make often get a good box office, but the acquisition of Disney is not just as simple as luck."

Eric was not surprised by the coldness and ridicule of Lei Shidong. It was not bad that the tempered tycoon did not point his nose to blame. After all, Lei Shidong is a person who will slap his son's idiots in public. In his memory, Lei Shidong has a lawsuit with his wife, son, daughter, and nephew. His bad temper is evident.

In the face of the aggressiveness of the old man, Eric did not care too much, and did not mean to endure it. He retorted: "I remember someone said that luck is also a kind of strength. Moreover, I think as a seventy-year-old. Old people, you should not compete with these young people for these things. It is the best choice to support the world."

Lei Shidong looked at Eric and looked like a smile. "In fact, your movie company is good. If you go public, remember to tell me, Viacom is still very interested."

Eric shook his head and said: "No, you are wrong, Mr. Lei Shidong, although listing is the choice of most companies, I prefer to keep everything in my hands. However, in fact, I am Viacom. M is also very interested, such as mtv TV."

"Oh, it’s really not self-sufficient. This is the best laugh I have heard recently." Lei Shidong laughed.

"Isn't a joke, I know it in a few years," Eric took over the coffee that the female employee had just handed over and watched Lei Shidong continue. "A lot of people have been saying since I stepped into Hollywood." I don't care, and then I can't help but watch me continue to step by step and you will see it." (To be continued)