Chapter 524： Final warm-up

Eric was talked about by Peter Cooper for nearly an hour. If it wasn't for the next important meeting to attend, Eric estimated that he would be consumed by this guy this morning.

After sending away Peter Cooper, Eric quickly came to the large conference room of the Firefly Headquarters. At this time, the management level of the Firefly Film Department was almost the same, and even many executives from overseas branches rushed. Come back, there are always 40 or 50 people in Linlin. As the summer season comes in June, as a film and television entertainment company, the firefly's various departments will also usher in the busiest period. In order not to delay the work, the management will arrange the first half of the operation and financial summary meeting at the end of May. Fireflies are not listed companies, so there is no need to wait for the official first half of the financial report to be released and then conduct business summary and adjustment according to the requirements of the board of directors.

In the first half of the year, the film market in North America was not bad. Only one of the "Peach Trading" released during Paramount Pictures's Easter was lucky to get a box office of $100 million. Fireflies released a total of seven low-cost movies in the first six months of 1993. The best box office performance was a family adventure comedy called "Cats and Dogs Game", produced by the Disney label, published by Bo Wei International, harvested in North America. More than $43 million in box office, and the total box office of seven movies in North America totaled only $180 million.

This figure looks a bit less eye-catching. However, the total turnover of Firefly in the first half of the year in movie tape sales, peripheral copyright operations, theme parks, Disney stores, etc. reached $2.2 billion, and pre-tax profit exceeded $250 million. In this way, the revenue at the box office of the movie has only accounted for about 10% of the total turnover of Firefly's film industry. Eric is very clear. If you really achieve such a revenue ratio, it is the healthiest business composition of a comprehensive development media group, which can also make a media company's anti-risk ability the strongest, not because of the failure of one or two movies. In the dilemma of bankruptcy.

However, actually. Fireflies are far from reaching this level. The reason for this kind of revenue is that the majority of the first half of the year is in the off-season of the movie. The hottest summer and New Year schedules are concentrated in the middle of the year. Six months, and the main film of the fireflies was released in the next six months. It is only the summer movie "Jurassic Park", "Heaven and Earth Crash" and "Bug Crisis" three movies totaling 200 million US dollars. production cost. It surpassed the sum of the production and distribution costs of the seven films in the first half of the year.

The entire meeting did not end until 4:30 in the afternoon, although there was still half an hour to get off work, but Eric had planned to go home early. However, he had just packed up and was stopped by Kasenberg. Behind him is Patrick Schneider, head of Disneyland Paris. Because of the major mistakes in the operation of Disneyland in Paris last year, Eric and Kasenberg had originally intended to withdraw Patrick Schneider to the headquarters, but then to Disneyland in France. Under the management of Patrick Schneider, Eric and Carson Berg decided to let Patrick Schneider stay for a while.

Today's meeting also talked about the situation of Disneyland Paris. In the first two quarters, the total number of visitors to Disneyland Paris reached 6 million. The business has also achieved a balance of payments, and may even achieve a certain profit in the second half of the year. As a project that is seriously out of control during the development process, Eric's request for Disneyland Paris is to maintain balance. It’s okay not to become a drag on the group, and to achieve profitability, has made Eric happy. It should be known that after the opening of Disneyland Paris in the original time, it basically brought hundreds of millions of dollars in losses to the Disney headquarters every year, and the profitable years are few.

"Eric. This is the case. Louis Barthello, the representative of the French investor in Disneyland Paris, also came to Los Angeles. The French side is not too satisfied with the status of Disneyland Paris, they hope to take back the right to operate Disneyland Paris. "Cassenberg has never been a jealous person. Not accustomed to turning around, and in a few words, he said why he stopped Eric.

Eric did not bring two people back to his office. He directly sat down at the conference table and asked the two to sit down together and asked: "I remember that we have already told the situation of Disneyland in Paris last year that we are very clear. We also I have made a big change. Now, the situation is not always developing in a good way. How can they still have this idea?"

Sitting on the other side, Patrick Schneider knows the most detailed inside story and says: "Mr. Williams, the situation of Disneyland Paris is indeed developing in a good way, but the gap is too big compared to the profitability of Tokyo Disneyland. Some of the French people’s thoughts should be influenced by the Japanese people’s self-employment in Tokyo Disneyland."

Eric sneered in his heart, but the Frenchman played a good calculation, but did not consider whether he had that strength. The success of Tokyo Disneyland is mainly due to the Japanese people's recognition and worship of American culture. These conditions do not exist in Europe. He remembered the original time and space. Because of the huge losses in the early days of Disneyland Paris, the Disney headquarters was forced to give up control of the park. As a result, Disneyland Paris has not changed in the hands of the French for more than a decade, but has become more and more Disney's burden, on this alone, Eric can not give up control of Disney in Paris. After all, Disney's headquarters has a wealth of operational experience. This is why Disneyland Paris quickly adjusted and gradually improved in less than a year after discovering the problem. If it is handed over to the French, who knows that these people will make the paradise into a paradise. What it looks like.

"In any case, we will not transfer the control of Disneyland Paris," Eric said, looking at the two and asking: "Is Louis Barthol wanting to see me?"

"He invited us to join a cocktail party in the evening. By the way, we talked about this. We have already agreed. After all, it is a visitor. It is to tell you, and how to deal with it by the way." Kasenberg said that he Obviously also clear. Eric will not participate in this so-called cocktail party.

"I won't go," Eric shook his head and thought about it. "The French are not looking at Tokyo Disneyland. They want to get back control. It's not impossible..."

Eric has not finished, Kasenberg will rush: "Eric, absolutely not."

Eric stopped Kasenberg's words and smiled: "You wait for me to finish, you know that I was entangled in Peter Cooper some time ago, if we refused, I think it will definitely be in the future." I was entangled by the French, so I pushed the price out. Since they want to get the control of the Japanese, it is like the Japanese, buy all the shares of Disneyland in our hands. Yes, we can do the same as Tokyo Disneyland. Only the patent license fee is charged."

Kasenberger heard Eric say this and suddenly let go of his heart. Patrick Schneider also smiled: "This is a good way. If the French are willing to buy the shares in our hands, then the headquarters can get rid of this big. It’s awkward, and we can continue to make profits from Disneyland in Paris, where we can continue to pay for it. In the future, even if Disneyland in Paris can’t hold on to the French, we don’t have to take on too much responsibility.”

Although the situation at Disneyland Paris has improved, it is the person in charge. In fact, Patrick Schneider did not have many easy moments in his heart, and most of the time he was worried that the paradise would suddenly deteriorate. If he can leave this bag and return to his position, he really can't ask for it. but. He also knows that this is unlikely. The French are not stupid enough to bring all the risks into their arms. Therefore, Erik’s proposal is basically tantamount to the idea of ​​the French returning to Disneyland Paris.

Kasenberg also said at this time: "In this case, Eric. Maybe you can come together at the evening reception. Is it better for you to personally tell Luis Batllo? I am expecting him to hear this. The face is in the condition."

Eric shook his head and said: "This is not necessary. It is not necessary. In addition, Jeffery, although this condition is used as a shield, I think that with your eloquence, you can definitely explain the benefits to him, no need. Let the French always remember this matter."

"Well, I know," Kasenberger nodded and talked about it. The three men laughed and left the meeting room.

As he walked over the elevator, Patrick Schneider suddenly said: "Mr. Williams, I heard that the company is currently planning to open a new art production section dedicated to making punch films, right?"

Eric nodded and smiled: "This department is now Michael is responsible for planning, you will not want to recommend the person in charge?"

There are so many people named Michael, but Patrick Schneider still knows that Eric is in the mouth of Michael, is a firefly ceo Michael. Lynn: "Of course not, Mr. Williams, but I have been staying in France, with France. The film and television circle also has a good relationship. Recently, there is a very good young French director who plans to come to Hollywood. Although he is only in his early thirties, he has already won several Caesar Award nominations. The first film of the year-old director won the Caesars nomination, which is very rare in the French film circle. Everyone knows that in the conservative film circle of France, young people want to be more difficult than Hollywood. One hundred times, what is even more rare is that the director's work is both commercial and artistic."

Three people walked into the elevator together, and Kasenberg said: "It is not so easy for a French director to get an Oscar recognition, unless they are developed in Hollywood as soon as they debut."

Patrick Schneider was only asked to give Eric a sigh. He also knew that Kasenberg was telling the truth. He wanted to meet it. He heard Eric ask: "What is the name of this director?"

"Luc Besson," Patrick Schneider replied.

Eric said that it was this guy who smiled and said: "Oh, I just watched his Nikita, it was not bad."

If the pigeon's three-axe in Hollywood is slow motion, character close-ups and white pigeons, then Eric's impression of Luc Besson's 'three axes' is killing, chasing and killing.

This is not to say that Luc Besson's film style is single, but in the works of Luc Besson that Eric has seen, there are too many chasing plots. From the early "Nikita" to the later "Hurricane Rescue", and some of the inexplicable "Super" of the box office success, etc., they can't hide this routine, but the audience also have this kind of adrenaline stimulating. The simple and rough plot is very much bought.

Thinking about this, Eric asked: "Pat, you said that Luc Besson is going to Hollywood to develop, what is going on?"

Patrick Schneider replied: "He plans to make a killer film and plans to shoot in New York, so he is looking for a collaborator on our side."

Eric’s thought of the killer movie filmed in New York must be “killing the hand” and “killing the hand”!

"Let's let the people in the production department contact him. Let me take a look at the script. If you can, the fireflies can be responsible for investment and production."

Patrick Schneider did not expect Eric to make such a decision on the spot and nodded: "No problem, he is also in Los Angeles recently, I will contact him tonight."

Out of the elevator, the three people went to each other and then boarded their own cars.

The driver drove the car on the road. Eric looked at the window with some ecstasy. The world trajectory has changed so much under his influence. Although the director is still the director, the actor should also be the actor, but no. Know if Lolita is still Lolita.

When the car passed by a movie theater, Eric saw the huge poster of the Jurassic Park, which was hanged on the outer wall of the cinema, and retracted his thoughts. "Jurassic Park" is about to be released soon, and now this matter is the most important.

The $25 million in initial spending on the initial investment has been completed, and Eric has not hesitated to open another $25 million. Moreover, there is an example of the successful release of the "Smiths" and the Eric did not Hesitating again, insisting on raising 3,000 screens for the Jurassic Park. There is no doubt that Jurassic Park will be the first film in North America to open more than 3,000 movies.

Now, Jurassic Park has entered the final warm-up period. (To be continued)