Chapter 78: First day box office
Eric nodded, and Geoffrey and others said, walking with Jobs to a nearby cafe.
"That is a country full of piety. I saw millions of pilgrims, so that I was pulled to shave my head, but I didn't have any dissatisfaction and resistance. Instead, I followed the crowd and walked to the bank of the Ganges. However, at the same time, I saw the backwardness and ignorance of that country."
“Later I think that perhaps Thomas Edison’s contribution to mankind is far more than that of philosophers or artists. After returning to California, I no longer pursue the illusory philosophy of life, but choose the electronics industry as my lifelong struggle. The goal. One year later, in an abandoned garage, I set up Apple with a few friends..."
In the coffee shop, Eric gently stirred the coffee and patiently listened to Steve Jobs's ambiguity. This opportunity was not easy to meet. Although Eric didn't like Jobs' personality, he admired Jobs' talent. .
After more than ten minutes, Eric finally couldn't help but whisper: "Steve, have you reflected on yourself?"
The unpleasant face of Steve Jobs, who was suddenly interrupted, died and asked: "Rethinking, why should I reflect?"
"For example, why are you being driven out by Apple?"
Jobs corrected solemnly: "No, Eric, I was not driven out by Apple, but I took the initiative to give up Apple."
Eric shrugged and said: "Look, this is a defect in your character. You are not willing to compromise. This has led to the bottleneck between the development of both you and Apple. If you made a decision to the Apple Board a few years ago. If you compromise properly, you may be able to stay in Apple. With your strength, it is a breeze to get back Apple’s leadership again."
Jobs retorted: "I made the first compromise, and the gang will force me to make a second, third or even more compromise."
Eric shook his head with a chuckle and realized that it was impossible to convince a young man to be paranoid. And now he took Pixar, I don't know if Jobs will have a chance to return to Apple in the future.
In the past, Jobs has made such a dazzling achievement, in addition to its own talent and perseverance, luck also accounts for a large part.
If he sold Pixar before, there would be no more Pixar's glory after the release of Toy Story. And he himself is more likely to be the object of people's ridicule. In that case, perhaps the desperate Apple would rather file for bankruptcy, and would not be desperate to throw Jobs back.
Eric did not want to convince Jobs to transfer the topic to the topic that two people met today: "Talk to Pixar, Steve, since you found me, you accepted my offer? ”
Jobs hesitated. The reason why he arranged this meeting was to see if he could convince Eric to add some price in the face-to-face situation. Jobs was quite confident about his eloquence.
It is a pity that just said so much, the young man in front of him is not interrupting himself, or showing a look that is unmoved. In the end, he also understood that if he said the wording of the fare increase, the other party would directly take the **** and leave as the last time on the phone.
“Eric, I agree with the $20 million offer, but all payments must be paid in one lump sum.”
“It’s perfectly fine,” Eric put down his coffee cup and happily snapped his finger.
Jobs looked suspiciously at Eric, who had been calm and addicted, and suddenly showed excitement. At that moment, he even felt that he might have made a huge mistake unconsciously.
But since he made the decision, Jobs would not repent, he is a person who rarely regrets. So Jobs immediately asked: "Eric, are you interested in personal computers?"
Eric picked up his eyebrows and quickly understood what Jobs meant: "Do you want me to invest in your NeXT computer company?"
"Yes, the personal computer is a promising electronic product. Look at the development data of IBM's personal computer business over the past few years, just last year..."
"Stop, Steven, I am not interested in the professional data. I only ask, if I take a stake in NeXT, would you accept my advice on the company's operations?"
"This... Eric, you only need to invest five... No, 30 million, plus Pixar's 20 million, I have enough money to implement a good idea before me. I believe that is sure Will bring you enough profit."
“That is, I am only responsible for investment and dividends, and I have not been involved in the management of computer companies?”
Jobs nodded. After the Apple incident, he would not give up his company’s absolute leadership again: "Eric, you are a good director, but I think that in electronic technology, I definitely know better than you. Much more."
Eric had some heartbeats, but after Steve Jobs clarified his words, Eric could only shake his head: "So, I refuse!"
"Amount, Eric, I have a project plan book here, maybe you can take a look first, actually..."
"No," Eric waved and interrupted Steve Jobs: "Steve, I know that you are a very thoughtful person, and I believe in your talent. But I will not put my money into one completely. Among the uncontrollable projects. Just as you stubbornly believe in your own ideas, I am also a stubborn person. When our ideas are inconsistent, the conflict like Apple will break out a few years ago."
Jobs stopped the action of pulling out the files from the bag. He thought that with his own eloquence, convincing an 18-year-old young man should be a breeze. Unfortunately, Eric did not listen to his explanation at all, which made the proud Jobs feel a trace of anger.
"Well, this is really a pity," Jobs said with a strong anger. "Eric, do you need to visit Pixar first? I hope that our transaction will be reached as soon as possible."
Eric thought for a moment and said: "Tomorrow is not available, "Feng Yue Qiao Jia" will be released tomorrow, the day after tomorrow I will fly to New York, my girlfriend's birthday..."
In Steve Jobs’s thoughts, the film release can also say a big event, girlfriend’s birthday, how can this kind of thing delay the transaction with Pixar: “Eric, perhaps, you can directly send a gift to your girlfriend. Anyway, you seem to have more than one girlfriend."
Eric looked at Steve Jobs silently: "Maybe I am the day after tomorrow..."
Jobs immediately patted the table and interrupted Eric’s words: “Well, then, the day after tomorrow, the girlfriend’s birthday is still very important!”
The mouth said that the next day is not available. In fact, Eric has nothing to do in person, but every director will have an anxiety disorder that plagues him. Eric is not in the mood to shift his attention to Pixar. .
Fox has arranged everything, because the size of the premiere is much larger than that of the film critics. Therefore, the film review of "Fengyue Beauty" appeared in the newspaper the next day.
In addition to the newspapers that were subscribed, Eric bought more than a dozen newspapers early in the morning and read all the reviews on Fengyue. In the total of 17 newspapers, there were nine praises, both praises. There are five more criticisms, and the remaining three are unceremonious criticisms.
Eric calculated according to the formula in his mind, and the rating should be 7.5. In past movie review websites, this score should be relatively high.
Word of mouth remained good, Eric put down a worry, had breakfast, Eric drove to Fox's headquarters in Century City. Because it wasn't for the golden period of the movie, Fox easily raised 1900 screens for "The Beauty of the Wind", which has reached the blockbuster level of this era.
In the previous two films, Eric got the box office data only a week later. Now, he has reached the level of being able to get single-day box office data from within Fox.
Early in the morning, Eric, Jeffrey and Fox executives waited nervously in the conference room, and even Fox President Barry Diller made an exception. Even if the conference room was large and the windows were open, there was still a thick cigar smoke in the room. At the same time, seven or eight staff members were quickly making calls outside and recording box office data.
When I was a child, the box office of the day finally came out. The statistician handed the data to the hands of several executives, and everyone gathered around.
Calta Hunter sat outside and was the first to see the data: "Wow, $4.36 million, it's a "little master"."
After seeing the data of 4.36millions on the report, Eric finally breathed a sigh of relief and let go of his heart.
There was a cheer in the conference room, and everyone’s original sleepiness was swept away.
Jeffrey said: "According to this, tomorrow, the box office will be higher, it may reach 5 million, and it will receive 15 million box office on the weekend. The next Tuesday is the Valentine's Day. There will be an outbreak at the box office. The working day is also very good. May get a $10 million box office."
Calta retorted with a smile: "Jeffrey, you are somewhat conservative in this calculation. The box office on the day of the festival will definitely exceed the weekend. I think that the first week's box office is more than a "little master" is not a problem."
Eric saw that these over-excited people set their goal on "Little Ghosts," but he knew that this was obviously impossible. Perhaps because of the huge propaganda role before, the first week of the box office would be high, but the next It’s impossible to continue in a week.
Thinking of this, Eric couldn't help but attack: "The key is that the decline of the box office next year will definitely be bigger. Now it is not a holiday schedule. So don't compare it with "Little Ghosts", "Little Ghosts" for six consecutive weeks. The box office exceeded $20 million."
All the professionals present, of course, know that Eric is telling the truth.
Barry Diller said: "Eric, you are concentrating on preparing for the next movie. If you need any help, Fox will fully support you."
Eric pretended not to understand the meaning of Fox wanting to intervene in his lower movie. He smiled and said: "If you can, the celebration party will be handed over to Fox."
Barry Diller didn't mind Eric's confusing, laughing: "Haha, this money Fox is still very happy. Just next week, Beverly Hilton Hotel."