Chapter 821： Obstacles that cannot be bypassed

In the middle of the spacious dining room is a long oak dining table. Opposite the dining table is a transparent floor-to-ceiling window. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows made of tempered glass, you can capture the charming scenery of Malibu Beach. The sea breeze will lightly brush every inch of the space in the restaurant like a lover's hand.

Several people were sitting on both sides of the dining table, constantly talking and laughing. Sandy’s occasional childish speech would also arouse bursts of laughter.

You don't need to look at it, and you know that the atmosphere of the banquet is very harmonious, obviously not for mere entertainment.

Sitting across from Ryan and Nicole are George Lucas and his girlfriend Melody Hobson. Needless to say, the former is an executive at Disney, and she is an animation studio at DreamWorks Animation. Chairman of the Ministry.

George Lucas and Melody Hobson have been dating since 2006. Many people were surprised at that time. The reason is simple. Melody Hobson is a pure black, despite the slogan against racial discrimination. The shouting is loud, but Hollywood can be regarded as one of the most racist circles.

Fortunately, Melody Hobson is not a black person from a black community in the traditional sense. She is from a good background, has a higher education, and her family is also a mainstream middle class, perhaps as a black-skinned and white-hearted coconut person. It would be more appropriate, otherwise George Lucas and his children would not accept her.

Of course, just like Will Smith or Ohei Tan, the black people who can really enter the mainstream are basically coconut people.

"French food is good," George Lucas looked at Melody Hobson who was talking to Nicole, and said to Ryan, "very authentic."

"This is a chef Nicole specially hired from Paris."

Putting down the knife and fork, Ryan raised his glass to George Lucas, "I have no special interest in food."

"Yes." George Lucas agreed, "Hollywood is rumored that Ryan Jenkins only likes movies."

"Commercial film."

Ryan added a sentence deliberately, and both of them laughed.

After the laughter, George Lucas said again, "It is commercial operations that make movies the most important form of cultural entertainment in the world, and it is also business that allows Hollywood movies to conquer the world."

"I agree with this very much." Ryan put down his knife and fork.

"So..." George Lucas made a gesture, "You invest in James Cameron again, want to create a movie miracle again?"

"Five hundred and fifty million U.S. dollars," George Lucas seemed a little emotional. "Looking at the whole world, you are the only one who dares to make such a large investment, Ryan."

"Because I believe that James will not let me down." Ryan did not say much. The joint achievements he and James Cameron achieved on "Titanic" are the biggest proof.

"For every dollar of investment in movies," George Lucas seems to think of himself, "the pressure on investors and producers will increase by ten percent, and $550 million is enough to crush many people."

"Aren't we living under pressure all the time?"

Ryan seemed very relaxed. It seemed that the huge investment in "Avatar" did not put him under too much pressure. "Before the film is released, we have to worry about whether the film can be completed on time; when the film is released, we have to worry about whether it can sell at the box office; After downgrades, I also need to worry about whether there will be no one cares about the peripheral products."

In this circle, the pressure on investors is no less than that of first-line actors, directors and producers.

"I have been under such pressure for forty years." George Lucas seemed to think of the situation when he had just started his business with Francis Coppola. "In 1969, I co-founded Diorama Films with Fran. Under his guidance, I completed my film debut. The female work "Five Hundred Years Later". Since then, I have been surrounded by pressure..."

He shook his head, "From the time of independent directors against big studios, to later working with Twentieth Century Fox, I always felt that something was pressing on my shoulders."

"Perhaps he's getting older," George Lucas seemed a little bit self-deprecating, "can't bear the pressure anymore."

"So you want to retire again?" Ryan used a joking tone, nodded slightly when he saw George Lucas, frowned and said, "George, I remember you told me that you were going to retire a few years ago. Up."

"I'm really going to retire this time." George Lucas doesn't seem to be joking, "I will no longer directly participate in commercial films in the future, and I will focus most of my energy on experimental films."

These were not beyond Ryan's expectations. He invited the Lucas family to be a guest because he heard from Catherine Kennedy that George Lucas wanted to retire again.

Ryan did not extend the topic, but turned to other aspects. Several people discussed the current situation in Hollywood, and also discussed the upcoming "Despicable Me" and "How to Tame You" by DreamWorks Animation Studios. "The Dragon" and other topics.

Afterwards, Nicole picked up Sandy and took Melody Hobson to visit other places in the villa, while Ryan and George Lucas went to the study.

"George, we have been friends for many years."

Sitting on the two sofas in the study, Ryan didn't turn around and said directly, "I wonder if you are interested in becoming a Disney shareholder?"

No one would say ‘’ like this. No one knows about the development and prosperity of Disney, especially its terrifying profitability. It is difficult for the whole world to find a second media group whose profitability is higher than that of Disney.

George Lucas did not answer. He knew that Ryan had nothing else to say, and made a ‘please continue’ gesture.

"George," Ryan cast aside those jokes, and asked very seriously, "If you retire, what do you plan to do with Lucasfilm."

"Disney..." George Lucas still did not answer, but instead asked, "Ryan, are you very interested in Lucasfilm?"

"I think there are not many people in the world who are not interested in Lucasfilm." Ryan spread his hand and said, "If you want to sell Lucasfilm, please give priority to Disney?"

After thinking about it for about half a minute, George Lucas slowly said, "Ryan, I can only say that. I am personally interested in becoming a shareholder of Disney, but you understand that this is not something I can promise. I can't give you any promises."

From these words, Ryan clearly heard that George Lucas did intend to sell Lucasfilm. He nodded and said unhurriedly, "I think Disney’s board of directors can add another one. member."

This kind of transaction involving billions of dollars requires careful and long-term argumentation and negotiation. No one will finalize the cooperation intention in a few words. Ryan and George Lucas are no exception. The attitude behind Lucas It is clear that if he sells Lucasfilm, and the conditions are similar, Disney will be given priority.

If someone bid far higher than Disney, then I can only say sorry.

Of course, George Lucas is also very interested in some of the words that Ryan faintly mentioned, such as using Disney stocks in exchange for the shares of Lucas Pictures in his hands, and introducing him to the Disney board.

In short, the two did not reach a clear intention, but they were very interested in each other.

In fact, Ryan knows very well that under the premise that George Lucas and other shareholders intend to sell Lucasfilm, the biggest obstacle does not come from Lucasfilm itself, but from possible external competitors, and A few hurdles that Disney can't get around.

Lucasfilm has three key profitable projects, one is Industrial Light & Magic, the second is the "Star Wars" series, and the third is the "Indiana Jones" series.

Industrial Light and Magic need not be careful, this is the world's most powerful film special effects company, not one of them! Moreover, although Industrial Light & Magic's profit is not too much, it is relatively stable, and its business is relatively independent, and it does not have too many external factors like movies.

For the "Indiana Jones" series, Paramount has a more active voice-Paramount co-produced the series with Lucasfilm, and also owns the distribution rights-in view of the characteristics of this series, Ryan also Don't mind Disney sharing the revenue with each other.

The biggest trouble lies in Lucasfilm’s most profitable "Star Wars" series, even if it was hit by the financial crisis in 2008Star Wars series of toys and excluding DVD and TV network on-demand copyrights. Its peripheral products still bring Lucasfilm's net profit of more than 231 million U.S. dollars!

If Disney wins Lucasfilm, it will definitely restart the "Star Wars" series, and Twentieth Century Fox will become the biggest obstacle.

Twentieth Century Fox owns the perpetual distribution rights of "Star Wars: A New Hope", as well as the cinema, post-theatre, and DVD copyrights of five other Star Wars movies as of May 2030, as well as the TV network on-demand copyright, even if it is released in the future. "Star Wars" complete DVD set, Twentieth Century Fox is an obstacle that Disney can't get around.

Sharing the benefits of "Star Wars" with Twentieth Century Fox is not unreasonable. The problem is that Twentieth Century Fox and News Corporation, who had just been rejected by him, would watch Lucasfilm fall into Disney's pockets so eagerly. ?

"Lucasfilm has demonstrated extraordinary imagination, excitement and visual effects, as well as the ability to tell stories consistently from its founder, George Lucas. If Lucasfilm-a The world-class movie database and Disney's unique and inexhaustible creativity in platform, business and market operations are united, and it will definitely bring long-term, visible and significant driving force and benefits to Disney."

This is what Robert Iger said to Ryan in the previous meeting of Disney's highest trio. The CEO of Disney, just like Ryan, made no secret of his desire for Lucasfilm.

In addition to getting Industrial Light and Magic, which is Disney's much-needed special effects department, Lucasfilm's series of classic film images are an effective supplement to Disney's character library. R1152