Chapter 590： Strategic Partners

The ambitions of establishing DreamWorks never faded. The successive blows and difficulties that have been encountered have made Spielberg more clearly aware of the reality. The big Hollywood companies will not just watch because they have worked closely with them. Seeing DreamWorks become the top company in the industry, it will actively set up barriers.

The same situation is happening in the relativity entertainment that is gradually growing.

DreamWorks and Relativity Entertainment have common opponents.

Spielberg looked at Ronan and asked, "You called me over today, not just to say this."

Ronan admitted: "If it weren't for today, I would visit in a few days." He picked up the coffee cup and took a sip. The bitter taste filled his mouth: "Steven, DreamWorks and Relativity Entertainment We have reached the apex of medium-sized companies in the industry, how can we go further?"

"I don't know." Spielberg said insincerely.

Ronan said with sincerity: "Relativity Entertainment has just come to this point. Since DreamWorks was founded, it has basically stood in this position. You know the current situation better than I do."

Spielberg suddenly took off his glasses, took out the mirror cloth, and wiped it slowly. After more than ten seconds, he said: "The top floor of Hollywood is stable and strong. The space above is not large. It is already standing on it. Not only do people want to squeeze the people next to them, they also have a tacit understanding that no newcomers are allowed to climb this level. This is their common interest."

Ronan directly clicked: "The six major companies."

"You should understand their strength." Spielberg put on his glasses: "It's too difficult to break through their siege."

Ronan picked up the coffee cup again and said before drinking, “A single company will face the encirclement and suppression of six companies, even if they are all methods within the rules, they will be unable to do what they want.”

Spielberg gradually guessed Ronan's intentions, and also had relevant considerations, echoed: "It is true."

In the past few years, in order to avoid the possible suppression of the six major companies, Ronan has always let Relativity Entertainment develop low-key, never take the initiative to waver, using DreamWorks as a shield.

However, the development of Relativity Entertainment until now can no longer hide behind DreamWorks, and the recent emergence of trouble after another, even if there is no evidence, it actually shows that the Big Six companies and their executives have already focused on Relativity Entertainment , Relativity Entertainment wants to hide but cannot hide.

Ronan took DreamWorks to acquire Artisan Pictures, so that DreamWorks temporarily got rid of the suppression of Paramount Pictures. He also wanted to distract the six major companies and establish a buffer between Relativity Entertainment and the six major companies. zone.

The idea is good, but the recent two things about Mel Gibson also remind Ronan that there are some things that the Big Six companies don’t need to do deliberately. Just a little push can bring trouble to Relativity Entertainment. Less trouble.

Relativity entertainment cannot fight alone, nor should it fight alone. DreamWorks is not only a shield for relativistic entertainment, it can also play a greater role.

When the shield can no longer block the arrow, you can pull it together and fight back.

Fortunately, the Big Six companies are never monolithic.

Ronan said very seriously: "Steven, DreamWorks and Relativity Entertainment want to continue to develop smoothly and must cooperate. We need to jointly break through the obstruction of traditional forces, so that it is possible to squeeze into the front line. "

Spielberg seemed like Ronan's best partner: "This is exactly what I want to say." He suggested: "Ronan, from today, how about the strategic partnership between Relativity Entertainment and DreamWorks?"

"Okay!" Ronan immediately agreed: "We are watching each other and fighting against the six major companies together."

Spielberg stood up first, Ronan then stood up, the right hands of the two clasped tightly together, it seemed that they had been close partners from this moment, and would cooperate sincerely from then on.

Ronan and Spielberg shook hands heavily, confessed a few specific communication matters between the two companies, and left the Starbucks one after another.

Spielberg entered Pretone Pictures and discussed with Tom Hanks about the work of "Happiness Terminal". He soon left and left, on the way back to Glendale, and talked with his deputy Philip. The conversation between Ronan.

Philip was the person Spielberg pulled up after the failure of DreamWorks' acquisition of Polaroid Pictures' distribution channel, and he was a trusted confidant.

"Ronan Anderson can only believe half of it." Philip is much more minded than the former confidant: "He doesn't really want to help DreamWorks, he just wants to use DreamWorks to win development space for Relativity Entertainment."

Spielberg is not bad, but not stupid, and said: "I know. Who is Ronan Anderson, I know better than you, this man is vicious and cunning. If we are not careful, he will never lie to DreamWorks. It will be soft. But relativity entertainment needs DreamWorks, and DreamWorks also needs relativity entertainment. We also need relativity entertainment to stay in front of it to support the development of DreamWorks."

Hearing this, Philip knew that his worries were unnecessary. Among the top tycoons in the Hollywood circle, even if Spielberg is a recognized good old person, who is a simple character?

The two companies, DreamWorks and Relativity Entertainment, are just taking advantage of each other because of the oppression of reality.

Spielberg said: "The daily connection between DreamWorks and Relativity Entertainment is up to you." Philip is someone he truly trusts: "You have to pay more attention, and the six major companies must be more vigilant. When cooperating, we must be more careful."

Philip said immediately: "I understand."

The car slowly entered Glendale, looking at the huge arched porch of the DreamWorks Industrial Park in the distance, Philip suddenly said: "Boss, there is one thing that I still don't understand."

Spielberg's tone was calm: "Say it."

This is to face Spielberg, and when replaced by someone else, Philip will never speak: "The last time the transaction was concluded, Embassy Pictures took away the North American distribution rights of the DreamWorks Animation Studios animation feature..."

Spielberg understood: "You mean DreamWorks should not transfer the animation studio's feature film distribution rights to the Embassy Pictures of Relativity Entertainment, right?"

Philip smiled embarrassedly, believing it.

"Based on the circumstances of DreamWorks at the time, we cannot refuse the conditions put forward by Relativity Entertainment." Spielberg said simply: "DreamWorks is facing a dilemma and is in urgent need of distribution channels. It can even be said that there is no distribution channel. We will survive in the next few years. problem appear."

He stands far higher than Philip: "DreamWorks’ distribution channels in North America have already had problems. Jeffrey was originally dissatisfied with us. Even if we did not actively hand over the North American distribution rights of the animation studio, Jeffrey would It is actually beneficial to us to find other companies, not the distributors of the Big Six companies. If the animation studio cooperates with the Big Six companies, it will be difficult for DreamWorks to recover the distribution rights of the animation studio in the future, but temporarily hand over the distribution rights. For Embassy Pictures, it is very likely that we will get back the distribution rights in the future."

Philip asked cautiously: "Embassy Pictures and Ronan Anderson will not let go easily?"

Spielberg laughed suddenly: "At the request of Jerevor Katzenberg, Embassy Pictures and DreamWorks Animation Studios signed a five-year distribution contract. Why did Jereef control the time?"

"Strive for the best conditions for yourself?" Philip asked.

"This is only one aspect." Spielberg said: "On the other hand, Jerefer has concerns about the Embassy Pictures. Another company under Relativity Entertainment, Shahai Entertainment, which is mainly engaged in production, has an animation studio. , This studio has not yet produced an animated feature film, but with the production quality of Shahai Entertainment, what will happen five years later? Will they produce works comparable to DreamWorks Animation Studio?"

Philip suddenly realized: "Once Relativity Entertainment itself can produce high-quality animated feature films, the distribution resources of Embassy Pictures will definitely be given priority to its own company's works."

Spielberg said slowly: "Jerifer had doubts about Ronan Anderson and Embassy Pictures before, but there was a problem with the distribution channels of DreamWorks. He had to make such a choice. Entertainment animation studios have developed. In order to protect the interests of DreamWorks Animation Studios, Jeff will no longer cooperate with Embassy Pictures."

Philip listened to these seemingly intricate words, and quickly summarized in his mind that the cooperation and competition between commercial companies could not escape the control of interests.

Spielberg’s next words are very meaningful: "You have little contact with Jerefer Some changes can’t be seen. In the past, Jerefer had a good relationship with Ronan Anderson, and he often had a relationship with Ronan- Anderson, Will Smith and Tom Cruise went out to play golf."

Philip nodded: "I have heard of this too."

"But Ronan Anderson established an animation studio, especially after he started to get involved in the production of animated feature films. Some things changed." Spielberg had also intersected with Jeff Katzenberg before and experienced similar experiences. Event: "In the past year or so, Jeff Katzenberg has seldom interacted with Ronan Anderson. The relationship between the two parties is obviously not as close as before. Why?"

Philip instantly understood: "Because from the perspective of industry and company interests, they are already competitors."

Spielberg nodded slightly: "Yes." He smiled inexplicably: "So, as long as our work can be done well and a complete global distribution channel is established, the future DreamWorks Animation Studio will be able to return."

Having said that, Spielberg's vision is more long-term. Now DreamWorks and Relativity Entertainment are partners, but what about the future? Things taken from DreamWorks, DreamWorks has the right and obligation to take it back.