Chapter 142： PolyGram

In the conference room of Embassy Pictures, Ronan called Robert Lee and Garcia Rodriguez.

Ronan asked Garcia directly: "Is the recruitment process going smoothly for the establishment of overseas channels?"

If Embassy Pictures finds the right manpower, there is no need to think of anything else.

Garcia shook his head: "It's not going well." He explained: "Only recruiting individual staff is not very helpful in establishing overseas distribution channels. What we need is a team. But among all Hollywood-capable companies, any one of them The scale and platform are much larger than those of Embassy Pictures. We have contacted the leaders and members of six small teams, but they were all rejected."

Robert then added: "We have quietly contacted the overseas distribution team of the new line, and they directly stabbed the high-level of the new line, and the high-level of the new line sent us a warning."

Ronan asked concerned, "Any other troubles?"

"No." Robert said, "We immediately stopped contacting people on the new line, and this matter passed temporarily."

Ronan remembered it in his heart and reminded: "Pay more attention to the new line in the future."

Such things as digging a corner of a wall are definitely very uncomfortable.

Garcia added: “Issuing this kind of key position basically has signed a breach of contract with the hiring company. If you want to hire people, the liquidated damages alone are huge expenses.”

Ronan nodded slightly. This situation is normal. Employees in key positions of Shahai Entertainment and Embassy Pictures also have liquidated damages.

I think that when the Japanese first entered Hollywood, they used to make big jokes on liquidated damages.

After Sony Entertainment bought Columbia Pictures, the Japanese were very self-aware and knew that they were laymen in the film industry. After being recommended and carefully inspected by others, they recruited Jon Peters and Peter Guber from Warner Bros. He is in charge of Columbia Pictures.

But I don’t know why. When Sony inspected, it didn’t find that Jon Peters and Peter Guber had breached the contract with Warner Bros. Warner Bros. sued the court with a complaint. Sony Entertainment paid US$800 million for the poaching. Compensation!

Of course, Sony Entertainment is willing to pay the money and definitely thinks these two characters are worth it.

Actually, these two are famous **** in Hollywood in the late 1980s.

The two invested in a purple piece directed by Spielberg, but Spielberg strongly demanded that there is a clear stipulation in the contract that Jon Peters and Peter Guber are not allowed to enter the set!

can make the famous Spielberg fear as a tiger, showing the outstanding destructive ability of these two men.

The cooperation between Sony Entertainment and the two is a tragedy in the tragedy. From Sony Entertainment’s acquisition of Colombia to the two’s dismissal in 1994, it is said that Sony has caused more than 3 billion US dollars in losses from film and related industries.

Morita Akio’s resignation is somewhat related to Sony Columbia’s dismal management and employment.

But the two of them are definitely not useless. Jon Peters and Peter Guber have a good investment vision, especially Peter Guber, who later established a film investment company, only investing and not participating in the production. After more than ten years, he became a gold Co-owner of the State Warriors.

Robert said at this time: "Not only does it cost a lot to dig people, it may also make us public enemies in the industry."

"The problem cannot be solved by digging people alone." Ronan had this kind of consciousness.

If digging a wall can solve overseas distribution, DreamWorks will not always have overseas channels.

Ronan asked: "Do you know about Polykin Film Entertainment Company?"

"I've heard of it." Garcia Rodríguez said: "A small film company under the record company Polygram, but this company... how to say it, too many staff and bloated organization."

Robert is more informed: "At the beginning of this year, Philips and Siemens, the holding companies of Polygram, sold the main company, the record company, to the French media giant Seagram for US$10.6 billion. Seagram was formerly of Universal Pictures. The holding company, but not anymore. They have reached an agreement with the French water group Vivendi, and Universal Pictures already belongs to Vivendi."

Ronan made a simple inquiry on the Internet last night, knowing what Robert said was true, and said: "This transaction did not involve Polygram's film subsidiary at first, but as Vivendi and Seagram Reached an agreement, Universal Pictures requested the new owner to take Polykin Pictures, because Polykin’s film library has many high-value film copyrights."

Thinking of the names of those movies, Ronan was a little envious: four weddings and a funeral, very suspect, train guessing, two big smoke guns, ice storm, death row walk, etc.

As we all know, the film library is the most valuable asset of a film company.

"Universal Pictures only needs Polaroid Films' film library?" Garcia is a special release, and he roughly guessed what Ronan meant.

Ronan nodded slightly: "This is the news I heard by accident. Universal Pictures itself has a complete distribution channel. There is no need to rashly increase a large number of manpower to disrupt the existing mature configuration, and PolyGram is located in the United Kingdom and Universal The film industry plans to dismiss most of the personnel of Polygram Pictures, especially the publishers who are of little use to them."

Robert raised his voice unconsciously: "This is our chance!"

Garcia knows more about the distribution industry, and said: "I remember Polygram has never released a movie in North America. The distributor of the very suspect is Sony Columbia, and the blood and death row is Gramercy Pictures."

Ronan frowned: "The news that I found on the Internet, Polaroid Pictures relies on its own world

The world's first-class record channel has established a film distribution channel. "

Is the news on the Internet fake? Ronan can't help but think so. After all, there are too many fake news on the Internet, and the Baike of the previous life has become a fake base.

"I only refer to North America." Garcia told the truth: "I don't know much about the overseas situation."

The business of Embassy Pictures is currently limited to North America. In addition, because of the nature of Americans, the energy to focus outside North America is relatively limited.

Ronan looked at Robert: "You can check the relevant situation. The transaction between Vidiwang, Seagram, Polygram, and Universal Pictures, the focus is on their attitude towards Polygram, and Polygram. Golden Pictures’ own business."

Compared to the duty businessman Garcia, Robert's path is more wild.

Robert has nothing to say: "I will go today."

Ronan said to Garcia again: "Do you know anyone in Universal Pictures? Ask if you have any."

Garcia knew that this was a major event related to the company's future, and said, "I'll go find someone to ask."

Ronan exhorted: "This matter must be dealt with first."

After Robert and Garcia left, Ronan thought for a while and called Dinah attorney again. The Shengzhi Law Firm where she works also has business in the UK. There is a London office which is also a company that specializes in entertainment and media business.

Then, Ronan personally rushed to Shengzhi Law Firm and had an interview with Lawyer Dinah for a while.

Lawyer Dinah provided him with a contact information: "This is a private detective, sometimes working with Shengzhi, and is very familiar with the British entertainment industry. You can find him to check the specific situation, and I will call him later."

Ronan knew that the world was not only white and black, but also that many law firms had contact with marginal forces, guessing that this should be some kind of private detective.

He responded and reached business contact with private detectives that day. Shengzhi Firm also has business dealings with Polygram Pictures. Lawyer Dinah will also help him collect relevant information within the scope permitted by regulations.

This is not a crime.

In just two days, all aspects of the situation have been gathered in Ronan's hands. There is a lot of information on all aspects, and it is necessary to summarize and find useful things.

Ronan has never interrupted his studies since he came here, and has analyzed countless cases. This work is not difficult for him.

After watching for an afternoon, he had an idea of ​​the general situation.

France’s Seagram Media Group, which is the controlling party of Universal Pictures in recent years, has started acquisition negotiations with Polygram since 1997. This transaction involving tens of billions of dollars has been discussed for two full years, and finally Achieved in 1999, Polygram Music was incorporated into Universal Music for US$10.6 billion.

However, as soon as the acquisition was completed, Seagram realized that what he got was a huge burden In addition to the deterioration of its other businesses, he had to merge Polygram Records into Universal Pictures, which also came from a French water company. Vivendi Group became the successor, and reached a deal last month, this month completed the share change.

Universal Pictures, as the transaction party, wants more than Polygram Records. It is also very interested in the film library of Polygram’s subsidiary Polygram Entertainment. When Vivendi negotiated with Seagram, in order to win The support of the senior management of Universal Pictures also agreed to acquire Polygram Pictures again.

Compared to the tens of billions of dollars of Polygram Records, Polygram Pictures is not worth mentioning.

As for the staff at Polaroid Pictures, Universal Pictures has almost no interest.

Polygram is a typical international company, and its employees are multinational forces, and Polygram Pictures is the same.

These people have been stationed in London for a long time, and Universal Pictures’ film business is entirely based on Los Angeles. If you want these people to move to Los Angeles, not to mention the employees’ wishes, subsidies alone are a bottomless pit.

Universal Pictures has negotiated with Polygram Pictures to acquire the film library, and other aspects have not yet been finalized, but from the current news, Universal Pictures does not need Polygram’s employees.

There are a lot of these people, the salary is high, and they don’t want to leave London. They are basically of little help to Universal Pictures.

Ronan doesn't need these people either. What he needs is a small part of the distribution department employees.

Polygram Films has the ability to distribute!