Rebirth In Hollywood

In the middle of the spacious restaurant 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 see the charming scenery of Malibu Beach. If you open the small window, you will feel the slightly salty coolness. The sea breeze, like a lover's hand, gently brushes every inch of the restaurant.

Several people sat on both sides of the dining table, chatting and laughing constantly, and Sandy's occasional childish words would also cause bursts of laughter.

You don't need to look too much to know that the atmosphere of the banquet is very harmonious, and it is obviously not held for pure entertainment.

Sitting opposite Ryan and Nicole are George Lucas and his girlfriend Melody Hobson. Needless to say, the former is a Disney executive, and she is an animation director of DreamWorks Animation Studio chairman of the department.

George Lucas and Melody Hobson have been dating since 2006. At that time, many people were surprised. The reason is very simple. Melody Hobson is a pure black, although the slogan against racial discrimination Shout loudly, 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 well-born, has received higher education, and her family is also a mainstream middle-class family. Perhaps it can be described as a coconut man with black skin and white heart. It would be more appropriate, otherwise George Lucas and his children would not accept her.

Of course, just like Will Smith or Ao Heitan, the black people who can really step into the mainstream are basically coconut people.

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

"This is the chef that Nicole specially hired from Paris."

Putting down the knife and fork, Ryan raised his glass to George Lucas, "I don't have any special hobbies in food."

"Yeah." George Lucas agreed, "It's rumored in Hollywood that Ryan Jenkins only likes movies."

"Commercial film."

Ryan added on purpose, and they both laughed.

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

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

"So..." George Lucas gestured, "You invested in James Cameron again, and want to create another movie miracle?"

"Five hundred and fifty million dollars," George Lucas seemed to be a little emotional, "Looking at the whole world, the only person who dares to invest such a large amount of money is you, Ryan."

"Because I believe that James will not let me down." Ryan did not say much, he and James? Cameron's joint achievements in "Titanic" is the biggest proof.

"For every one dollar of investment in a film," George Lucas seemed to think of himself, "the pressure on investors and producers will increase by ten, and $550 million is enough to overwhelm many people."

"Aren't we all under pressure to survive?"

Ryan looked very relaxed. It seems that the huge investment of "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 the box office can sell well; After the downgrade, you have to worry about whether the peripheral products will be uninterested.”

In this circle, the pressure of 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 and Francis Coppola just started their business. "In 1969, Fran and I co-founded the Diorama Film Company. Under his guidance, I completed my debut film "Five Hundred Years Later", and since then I have been surrounded by pressure..."

He shook his head, "From the time when I was an independent director against the major studios, to later when I worked with 20th Century Fox, I always felt something was on my shoulders.

"

"Maybe I'm getting old," George Lucas seemed to be a bit self-deprecating, "I can't bear the pressure anymore."

"So you want to retire again?" Ryan said in a joking tone, seeing George Lucas nodded slightly, frowned and said, "George, I remember you told me that you were going to retire a few years ago gone."

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

These were not what Ryan expected. He invited the Lucas family to be guests because he heard from Catherine Kennedy that George Lucas wanted to retire again.

Ryan didn't continue the topic, but turned to other aspects. Several people discussed the current situation in Hollywood, and they also talked about the upcoming "Despicable Me" and "How to Tame You" by DreamWorks Animation Studio. 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've been friends for many years."

Sitting on the two sofas in the study, Ryan said directly without turning around, "I wonder if you are interested in becoming a shareholder of Disney?"

No one would say that. 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 with higher profitability than Disney.

George Lucas didn't answer. He knew that Ryan had something else to say, so he made a 'please continue' gesture.

"George," Ryan threw away his previous joking tone and asked very seriously, "If you retire, what do you plan to do with Lucasfilm?"

"Disney..." George Lucas still didn't answer, but asked instead, "Ryan, are you interested in Lucasfilm?"

"I don't think there are many people in this world who are not interested in Lucasfilm." Ryan spread his hands and said, "If you want to sell Lucasfilm, please give priority to Disney, okay?"

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

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

For this kind of transaction involving billions of dollars, prudent and long-term argumentation and negotiation are necessary. No one will finalize the cooperation intention in a few words, and Ryan and George Lucas are no exception. The attitude behind Lucas It is clear that if he sells Lucasfilm, and under similar conditions, he will give priority to Disney.

If someone bid far more than Disney, it can only say sorry.

Of course, George Lucas was also very interested in some of the words that Ryan vaguely mentioned, such as exchanging Disney shares for his Lucasfilm shares at a premium and introducing him to the Disney board of directors.

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

In fact, Ryan is very clear 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. A few hurdles that Disney can't get around.

Lucasfilm has three major profit-making projects, one is Industrial Light and Magic, the other is the "Star Wars" series, and the third is the "Raiders of the Lost Ark" series.

Needless to say, Industrial Light and Magic is the most powerful special effects company in the world, bar none! Moreover, although Industrial Light \u0026 Magic's profit is not too much, it is relatively stable, and its business is relatively independent, without being mixed with too many external factors like movies.

For the "Raiders of the Lost Ark" series, Paramount has a more active right to speak-Paramount and Lucasfilm jointly produced the series 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 2008, the "Star Wars" series toys and peripheral products do not include copyrights such as DVD and TV network on demand. , Still brought Lucasfilm a net profit of more than 231 million U.S. dollars!

If Disney wins Lucasfilm, it will definitely restart the "Star Wars" series, and 20th Century Fox will become the biggest obstacle.

Twentieth Century Fox owns perpetual distribution rights to "Star Wars: A New Hope," as well as theatrical, post-theatrical, and DVD rights to five other Star Wars films through May 2030, as well as TV network on-demand rights, even if released in the future" The complete set of Star Wars DVDs and 20th Century Fox are obstacles that Disney can't get around.

It is not impossible to consider sharing the profits of "Star Wars" with 20th Century Fox. The problem is that 20th Century Fox and News Corp., who have just been rejected by him, will be so eager to see Lucasfilm fall into Disney's pocket ?

"Lucasfilm has demonstrated extraordinary imagination, passion and visual effects, and consistent storytelling ability from its founder - George Lucas. If you take Lucasfilm - a The combination of world-class film database and Disney's unique and inexhaustible creativity in platform, business and market operation will definitely bring long-term, visible and significant driving force and benefits to Disney."

That's what Robert Iger told Ryan, the Disney CEO who, like Ryan, has made no secret of his desire for Lucasfilm during a previous meeting of Disney's top trio.

In addition to getting Industrial Light \u0026 Magic, Disney's much-needed special effects department, Lucasfilm's series of classic movie images are an effective supplement to Disney's character library. R1152