Chapter 617： Jobs' attitude

In Emeryville, California, in the playground-like lounge area of ​​the Pixar studio, Steve Jobs and John Lasseter, whose physical condition has improved significantly, are sitting at a small table, flipping through a newspaper.

"Shrek 2 won the box office title again, and the drawing of "Troy" fell short of expectations!"

Steve Jobs pushed down the disc glasses and looked at the box office numbers. The former was 72.3 million US dollars and the latter was only 46.85 million US dollars.

"Do you know the production cost of "Troy"?" Steve Jobs asked.

John Lasseter said: "The figure released by Warner Bros. is $175 million."

Steve Jobs continued to read the newspaper. Because of the Pixar studio, he knew a little bit about Hollywood. From the perspective of input-output ratio, "Troy" seemed to be inferior to "Van Helsing", which was put off on the first weekend of the summer. ".

"This summer file is a bit special." Jobs said slowly: "Neither major production live-action movie is a success."

John Lasseter smiled and said, "It would be nice if these two films can pay for themselves within two years."

Steve Jobs’s words jumped: "Shrek 2 is issued by Embassy Pictures, right?"

"It's Embassy Pictures." John Lasseter reminded: "Ronan Anderson's Embassy Pictures."

Steve Jobs put down the newspaper: "John, talk about the distribution of Embassy Pictures."

John Lasseter knew why the boss had this question, and immediately said: "Embassy Pictures has a very strong cinema distribution capability. At the beginning of this year, Paramount Pictures used an exclusive screening strategy to target the Embassy Pictures, but the Embassy Pictures The release of "The Passion of the Christ" easily defeated Paramount. The animated feature film we care about most, "Shrek 2" opened in North America. Embassy Pictures won over 4,200 theaters. The second weekend This number has increased to nearly 4,400, even if "Shrek 2" is handed over to the six major companies."

Steve Jobs continued to ask: "What about overseas?"

"Currently, more than 100 overseas markets have been confirmed for release." John Lasseter admired a bit: "The overseas channels of Embassy Pictures are very complete."

He took a look at Steve Jobs and said: "The offline channel Embassy Pictures is also doing well. It is indeed not as good as Disney. But Disney was an animator before, with years of accumulation, Embassy Pictures can’t match. They are normal, but compared with other companies, the offline channel performance of Embassy Pictures to release two Shrek is not bad at all."

Steve Jobs suddenly smiled: "John, are you very optimistic about Embassy Pictures?"

Although facing a genius with a strange personality, the two have been partners for more than ten years. John Lasseter did not hide his thoughts: "We want to solve the pressure from Disney and Michael Eisner. The best way is to introduce a new distribution partner."

"Embassy Pictures is appropriate?" Steve Jobs seemed to be asking John Lasseter, more like himself.

John Rust lowered his voice: "We have contacted other members of the six major companies, and Ed is still negotiating with Warner Bros. The conditions they offer are no better than Disney. Faced with Pixar Studios located in the industry. The bottom six producers are not only arrogant, but also very greedy."

Steve Jobs did not answer, but instead motioned to John Lasseter to continue.

John Lasseter said: "I have talked with Ronan Anderson from Embassy Pictures. Ronan Anderson is a gentleman. This can be confirmed from the Robert Iger he used. In addition, this person is in the circle. Famously speaking about credibility and commitment, as long as we negotiate terms with him, we don’t have to worry too much about his temporary remorse and instead cooperate with Disney."

Seeing Steve Jobs still didn’t mean to say anything, John Lasseter continued: “Embassy Pictures is not a big six company, but an emerging publishing company. If you want to attract Pixar Studios to cooperate, it is bound to open up. Far higher than Disney’s conditions."

After talking with Ronan Anderson, John Lasseter focused on understanding and researching Embassy Pictures, and found that this might be a more suitable partner for Pixar after it got rid of Disney.

John Lasseter was also fed up with Walt Disney’s insatiable greed, and continued: “Embassy Pictures and Ronan Anderson’s Relativity Entertainment Group have recently encountered a lot of troubles related to the six major companies. Unlike the Big Six companies, and even standing on the opposite side of the Big Six, this is consistent with Pixar's position."

Steve Jobs said: “Pixar Studios has never stood opposite to the Big Six companies.” He suddenly said: “When Ronan Anderson went to Apple to change the shareholding registration, I met Ronan Anderson, and He had an in-depth conversation, and Ronan Anderson faintly expressed his intention to cooperate with Pixar at that time."

John Lasseter asked, "That was two years ago, right?"

Steve Jobs did not answer. Instead, he said: "I know Embassy Pictures, and I have some knowledge about it and Ronan Anderson. Do you know why I have not been in contact with Embassy Pictures? Even Ronan Anderson wants to meet several times. Me, I turned it off."

John Lasseter wondered: "Why?"

Steve Jobs said slowly: "I cannot easily put Pixar Studios on the opposite side of the Big Six companies. The development of Relativistic Entertainment will inevitably attract the suppression of the Big Six companies, just like they did with DreamWorks. We have become partners with Relativity Entertainment, and we are bound to be implicated."

"What you said makes sense, Steve." Edwin Kamter, the CEO of Pixar, came near the two of them. "But there is one thing you overlooked. Relativity Entertainment is currently developing very well. The trouble the company caused did not drag them down."

As the actual person in charge of Pixar’s animation production business, John Ruster really endures Disney and said: “We watched Disney take most of the income from Pixar’s works, but there is nothing we can do. How long will we have to wait? The studio is known as the number one animation studio in Hollywood, but Steve, Ed, we all know how fragile Pixar’s cash flow is!"

Edwin Kamtra opened a chair and sat down: "Michael Eisner will not give Pixar a chance to turn over. Pixar is just Disney's sweatshop."

In the 1990s, Pixar Studios and Steve Jobs had no money or resources. The cooperation agreement signed with Walt Disney was the root cause of all this.

The agreement stipulates that Walt Disney provides part of the investment for Pixar Studios, and Pixar Studios will hand over the next seven (not including sequels) animated feature films to Disney Pictures for distribution.

These seem to be normal, but what is abnormal is the almost harsh division rule.

According to the agreement, the two parties equally distribute the box office, TV copyright income and DVD video tape income of the animated feature film, but Disney enjoys the final copyright of the film and all other offline income. In addition, Disney has the final say in planning the sequel of the animated film.

Pixar Studios can only watch the big-end peripheral products of the animation film income!

Steve Jobs thought about it for a long time, first looked at John Lasseter, then at Edwin Kamter, and said: "John, you keep in touch with Ronan Anderson, I will not Get in touch with him. Ed, you stare at the Relativity Entertainment Group and Embassy Pictures to see how they are with the Big Six..."

He emphatically emphasized: "Pixar Studio is our painstaking effort. Even if I hate Michael Eisner to the extreme, I still endure Disney's exploitation. I just don't want our painstaking effort to be wasted because of rash actions. I did it when I was young. I have made many impulsive decisions, but due to my age and physical condition, there is no time to start again."

Thinking of Steve Jobs' illness and physical condition, John Lasseter and Edwin Kamter looked dimmed.

"Relax, Steve." Edwin Kamter said: "We will definitely let Pixar Studios continue to develop and become the top of the industry!"

In Burbank, Los Angeles, the relocation of Relativity Entertainment has entered the final stage. Ronan is also cleaning up his office, and all important documents are specially sealed in a safe, such as his notebook for recording ideas, brought back to the Future World Manor and stored in the huge In the underground vault.

In this regard, Ronan is careful and careful, and will never allow accidents.

After leaving the underground vault, he wiped his hands with the towel from the housekeeper Nikia. Ronan received a call from Pixar's studio John Lasseter.

John Lasseter said that he conveyed Ronan's greetings to Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs was very happy because his illness led to physical conditions that were not allowed, so he specifically asked him to convey his apology for not being able to meet immediately.

It is not a secret that Steve Jobs suffers from pancreatic cancer Ronan can only accept this apology generously.

After the formal chat, the two parties ended the call.

Ronan knows very well that there is still a long way to go between Relativity Entertainment and Pixar Studios.

Don't worry! Don't be anxious! Ronan was also telling himself that, more stable, the plan is advancing step by step.

Steve Jobs is not so easy to deal with. Although Steve Jobs is not as rich as his reputation, he must not be underestimated.

Putting down the phone, Ronan was just about to go upstairs, and Nikia suddenly said: "Recently, several security personnel responded that through surveillance set up in a hidden place, they found that there were more people moving near the manor."

"Huh?" Ronan was curious. Although Beverly Hills is quiet, it is not lacking in popularity. Future World Estate is close to Mulholland Road and Beverly Park, and there are often people nearby.

Nikia said again: "The situation is a bit abnormal."