Chapter 734： Far from being beautiful on the surface

The adaptation of novels and comics can be said to be an important part of Hollywood movies. Excluding the "The Hobbit" and "Silmaría" that have been won long ago, including "Twilight: Twilight", Ryan became the mainstay of China. In the past few years after Disney, it has been keeping a close eye on the adaptation market, and through a series of methods and negotiations, it has obtained the film adaptation rights for many works.

For example, the novel "How to Tame Your Dragon" published by Grace Cowell in 2003, such as the comics "King of Papillon" and "Assassin Alliance" by Top Niu Comics, and so on.

Naturally, these works won by Disney will not be adapted into movies all at once. They must be launched one after another in a planned way. It is impossible for Disney to put all its billions of dollars in liquidity on the movies every year.

Although the board of directors of Google and Blizzard Entertainment was pushed down one after another, and George was only allowed to participate on his behalf, at the end of September, Ryan appeared on time in Glendale, a small city north of Los Angeles. He came here to participate in DreamWorks. The board of the animation studio.

As the largest shareholder of DreamWorks Animation Studio and the person who revitalizes DreamWorks Animation, Ryan has not been here too many times. Unless there are extremely important things, he usually only sends representatives to the board of directors.

When Ryan appeared in the meeting room, whether it was a director or an executive director, the gaze looking at him was a bit complicated.

Although Walt Disney’s share of DreamWorks Animation has not exceeded 5%, and it has not officially announced its purchase of DreamWorks Animation Studios, everyone here is sensible, and Disney also holds more shares in private. People have been in contact, and in their opinion, DreamWorks Animation may become a subsidiary of Walt Disney at any time.

Sitting at the conference table, Ryan did not speak from beginning to end. This is a routine board of directors, and the most discussed business and financial issues of DreamWorks Animation Studios.

in fact. DreamWorks Animation Studio is far less beautiful than it seems on the surface. The net profit of the last quarter was only 10.65 million US dollars...

The reasons for this are very complicated. The most critical point is that DreamWorks Animation Studio is just a private production company, without distribution capabilities, and without a complete derivative industry chain of peripheral products, and can only achieve extensive income.

In addition, the animated feature films it produces are always good and bad. Perhaps those cartoons with a global box office of 200 million to 300 million US dollars are operated by Walt Disney or other large media groups, and may take advantage of the industry. Advantages recover costs and even generate some profit. But under the extensive operation of DreamWorks Animation, losses will occur.

For example, last year, excluding those short films and a small number of animated series, DreamWorks Animation Studios had two animated films "Madagascar" and "Super Invincible Head Dog" released, but the studio's profit last year was only 54 million U.S. dollars.

Compared to DreamWorks Animation Studio's worldwide reputation, its performance is not that outstanding.

After the board of directors, Ryan did not leave, but went directly to Jeff Katzenberg's office.

"Sit down, Ryan."

In the reception room of the suite. After the secretary delivered the coffee, Jeff Katzenberg and Ryan sat on two adjacent sofas, "I didn't expect you to come here in person today."

"Actually..." Ryan didn't mean anything, "Jerry Buddha. I'm here mainly to talk to you."

"Persuade me to lead DreamWorks Animation Studios to join Walt Disney?" Jeff Katzenberg knew Ryan's purpose very well. "Ryan, I think you should remember. I was driven out by Disney."

"No, no..." Ryan shook his finger at him, "The one who drove you away was Michael Eisner. He was once our common enemy, and I have driven him to Switzerland."

Looking at Katzenberg, the short, thin, and serious CEO of DreamWorks Animation Studios is a sleek, dedicated and standard Hollywood Jewish businessman.

"Animation is a pure imagination, animation is my true love." Ryan continued, "I still remember, this was when Tang Han and I met you for the first time, when you talked about "The Lion King" , You also said that making an animated feature film requires a lot of teamwork and sufficient financial support."

"Jerifer, you have always wanted to make DreamWorks Animation Studios the second Disney Animation Department." Ryan is not so stupid to talk about friendship in business situations, "Don't tell me you can't see DreamWorks Animation Studios exist. The problem."

"DreamWorks Animation does have a lot of problems." Jeff Katzenberg said slowly, "but I believe these can be solved."

"Is this really the case?" Ryan didn't mean to sneer, just telling the basic facts. "DreamWorks Animation Studios has been fighting on its own. It is just a pure content manufacturer, and most of its revenue sources come from For the movie box office itself, if it wants to have stable distribution and derivative sales channels like the Pixar studio acquired by Disney, DreamWorks Animation must seek external support."

"Yes, DreamWorks Animation has high-quality content resources. I also believe that you will create more high-quality content resources in the future." Ryan emphasized, "But DreamWorks Animation also needs a larger company to ensure future development space. ."

"DreamWorks Animation needs a strong channel provider, such as Disney, to use high-quality content resources to start the business of derivatives."

Today, Ryan holds 35 percent of DreamWorks Animation’s shares. David Geffen has long wanted to withdraw from the two DreamWorks. Spielberg needs funds to control DreamWorks Studios. Paul I. Lun also reached a tacit agreement privately, those small shareholders are not a problem at all, and the most difficult one is undoubtedly Jereford Katzenberg.

Although even if the other party disagrees, Walt Disney can obtain a controlling stake, but as a last resort, no one wants to turn a good faith merger into a hostile takeover.

"DreamWorks Animation can maintain the production of two to three animated feature films per year." Jeremy Katzenberg did not seem to listen to these words of Ryan. "We are more efficient than Pixar Studios and Disney Animation. too much."

"Warner Bros.'s animated feature film "Happy Feet" is about to be released, and the Universal Animation Department will soon launch its own animated feature film." Ryan is not in a hurry, he has no magic power, how can it be in a few words Persuading a film company, "In the future, the competition will become more and more fierce. DreamWorks Animation must formulate a long-term strategy to help the company get out of the stagnation of relying solely on the box office."

His words are not exaggerated at all. If DreamWorks Animation Studio continues to maintain its current operating model, its future earnings will not grow too much, and even a few years later, it will inevitably fall into a very embarrassing situation as in the previous life-the company's own structure is relatively Single, just like the Pixar studio that has not been acquired by Disney in the previous life, the animation production itself has a long cycle and high cost, and the company will rely too much on the success or failure of a movie.

Expanding more businesses to seek a better living environment and expand one's size is what DreamWorks Animation needs to do.

"Jerry Buddha..."

Ryan knows very well that Katzenberg has a heart for Disney and can’t wipe his face, but there are some things that are enough to make face and other things become a cloud. "Walt Disney will take out shares of the same value and exchange them for DreamWorks Animation in your hands. As for the studio’s shares, I promise that you will still belong to DreamWorks Animation for the next five years, and except for some necessary financial and technical creative staff adjustments, DreamWorks Animation will maintain sufficient security like Pixar."

This can be regarded as a very favorable condition. Disney's stock price has been rising steadily, while the stock price of DreamWorks Animation Studios has basically stagnated in the past two years.

"I know you have always wanted to extend the influence of DreamWorks Animation to the East." Ryan said without regard to Katzenberg next to him, "Disney will assist you in establishing the Oriental DreamWorks Animation Studio and indoor amusement projects. ; The animation series DreamWorks Animation wants to prepare can be co-operated with TV stations and Disney TV Children’s Channel; you want to network the very tv under the banner, and a column will be reserved for you..."

How can I impress a person?

Having spent so many years in the vanity fair of Hollywood, Ryan naturally has some insights. While motivating each other with his interests, he must also satisfy some of his ambitions and ideals.

What's more, those ideas of Jeff Katzenberg are extremely beneficial to the development of DreamWorks Animation. If Disney swallows DreamWorks Animation Studios, it will definitely promote the projects Ryan said.

"Ryan..."

As a company’s decision-maker, Katzenberg can’t immediately give an answer, “I need time to think about it Surely it won’t let me wait too long, right?”

At this point, Ryan stood up and prepared to say goodbye, "Is that right, Jeremy?"

"I will give you a clear answer before the new year."

Jeff Katzenberg stretched out his hand here, and Ryan shook it firmly, "Then I'll wait for your good news."

Leaning out of Katzenberg’s office, Ryan sighed slightly. This result was also expected by him. After all, this is a transaction involving large sums of money, not a game of talk, unless Katzenberg is crazy. , Only when he was persuaded by him, he happily agreed.

And Ryan also knows that Walt Disney is not only interested in DreamWorks Animation Studios. For example, the SoftBank Group from Japan has also contacted Jeff Katzenberg and wants to get a foot in it.

However, Ryan is not very worried. The other party is only an outsider, and Hollywood has investment value, but after the integration of the 1990s and the beginning of this century, its system determines that there are not many opportunities for new entrants. (To be continued...) ()