Chapter 437: Finishing
After Eric rejected the conditions privately offered by Disney shareholders, Disney shareholders will negotiate with Firefly and Viacom for the management of Disney. In order to save his position, Michael Eisner spared no effort to help Viacom in all aspects, Disney and fireflies in any contact with the negotiations, Viacom team almost always know.
At the beginning, Michael Eisner followed Viacom’s statement, and the Firefly team expected this situation, and it was prepared. After the Disney shareholders completely decided to take out Disney, the negotiation process between Disney management and Viacom and Firefly quickly accelerated. After several bids, the price of the wholly-owned acquisition climbed to 5.6 billion US dollars in just two weeks.
This price is already higher than the market value of Disney's $3.5 billion, and the premium has reached 60%. In the past, most of the hostile takeovers, when the premium exceeded 50%, the malicious bidders often succumbed, but the fireflies Both Viacom and the Viacom did not mean any withdrawal. Whether it was open or private, the confrontation between the two sides brought more and more gunpowder flavor.
In view of this situation, many analysts on Wall Street have made a risk warning on this acquisition. Some companies that were planning to join the acquisition saw such fierce competition from both sides and silently put the originally prepared acquisition into a waste bin.
On January 14, 1992, after months of long negotiations between Disney, Firefly and Viacom, they finally reached a preliminary agreement on various acquisition terms. And the final bid will be held on January 20.
After half a year of busy work, the exhausted Firefly acquisition team can finally make a short break, but Eric is still busy preparing for the Firefly 1992 movie project.
After "Dumb and Agua". Immediately, there are a number of film companies that have contacted Kim Kerry, hoping to seek cooperation. Although Dumb and Agua are dual-lead structures, both film critics and ordinary audiences have praised Kim Kerry’s performances. The other male lead, Jeff Daniels, received a moderate evaluation, plus "Dumb and Agua" at the box office. Kim Kerry’s pay has also skyrocketed to $5 million.
The value of the water is rising, and the mood is different. In the beginning, as long as I could get an opportunity, I would be willing to pay for any condition, but now I feel that I have suffered a big loss. In an interview with a Hollywood newspaper, Kim Kerry publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the five-year option contract that was originally forced to sign. But I heard this news. Neither Eric nor tg's daughters were too concerned. The original option contract was drafted by the fireflies' special legal team. There was no legal loophole at all. Kim Kerry wanted to breach the contract, even if he tried to fight the lawsuit. To the Federal Supreme Court, you have to pay out a $100 million liquidated damages.
However, in order to prevent Kim Kerry from making a movie and tossing it once, Eric asked tg to directly issue a contract for two films of $10 million for Kim Kerry. This condition is definitely not to be ill-treated. Eric never thought about the good things of thinking about horses running and not eating horses, but Elizabeth personally came forward to discuss the plan. However, he did not directly see Kim Kerry himself. In the words of his agent Carl Meeksen, Kim Kerry went to Hawaii for a holiday.
Elizabeth certainly understands that Kim Kerry wants a higher price. She even thinks that Eric’s price is a bit high, and the other party is not satisfied. Elizabeth also directly puts Kim Kerry on the side.
Although there is no time to negotiate with Kim Kerry. Firefly successfully won the copyright of "Disguised Geek", and also dug the screenwriter Tom Shadillak of "Detective Aircraft Head" from Warner. Eric will directly take the two films to tg to set up the project and prepare for the preliminary period.
The studio base of Prea Vista. Eric is leading a few people to visit the special effects studio in the digital field, the original digital field headquarters of Venice Beach, but after the completion of the studio base in Prea Vista, the digital field has migrated, on the one hand, it can save a lot. The rent of the pen, on the other hand, the studio is close to the large studio, and it is also more work.
“This is a specially developed software developed by the Software R&D Center. It is mainly used to make shots of buildings being shattered.”
Stan Winston introduced, while picking up a related lens from the computer, Eric and the surrounding people gathered around and saw the movie screen of a car cinema on the movie screen under the influence of the hurricane. Broken shots, everyone gave a low sigh.
"This is just a section that has already been completed. There is another section where the whole villa was torn. But this section has not yet been completed," Stan Winston introduced and transferred the screen to the software operation interface. One side.
Standing in front of Eric, a thin middle-aged man in his thirties couldn't help but sit in the office chair and clumsily manipulated the computer to see the various options of the software.
"The functionality of the software is still being improved, but it is much better than the original version," Stan Winston said.
Eric looked at the middle-aged who was obviously not familiar with the software, but was very moving. He laughed: "Roland, you don't want to switch to a special effects artist, we just signed the contract, I am sure Will not let go."
When I heard Eric’s jokes, several people laughed. Roland Emmerich also smiled and stood up: “I feel that I am still a good director.”
James Cameron, standing on the right side of Eric, said: "I don't think there is any essential difference between the director and the special effects. We are all creating pictures, but the process is not the same."
Although this time and space James Cameron did not participate in the digital field, but with the good relationship with Eric and Stan Winston, and obsessed with film technology, every new digital special effects treatment program, Cameron will come to 'early taste', so he has not been as curious as Roland Emmerich.
Joke a few words. Eric said: "Well, I watched so much, just next to the coffee shop. Let's go there and take a break."
Several people echoed into the coffee shop. Because it was working hours, there were no employees in the coffee shop. Eric and the other six sat down around a long table.
In addition to the already mentioned Roland Emmerich and James Cameron, the other three are Jon Landau, Jerry Bruckheimer and Jane Debonte, the future directors or producers of Hollywood. People are the result of Eric’s recent work.
Perhaps the names of these people are somewhat strange, but they refer to films such as Titanic, 2012, Transformers, and Speed of Life. But they are all stunned, and these people are the directors or producers of the above films.
Among them, James Cameron and Jerry Bruckheimer are already famous. After Cameron completed "Terminator 2", signing with Firefly also became a matter of course. Jerry Bruckheimer was the producer of the famous "Top Gun". I don't know if it was Cheng Cruz, but also Cruz. The success of "Top Gun" made Jerry Bruckheimer a top producer, but Cruise’s $80 million Thunder’s box office last year was far below expectations, as producer Jerry Bruckheimer It was then dismissed by the old club Paramount.
Jerry Bruckheimer's future gold partner Michael Bay is still only a small rookie who is in contact with mv, and Eric can't help him promote him to the director. However, Eric did not hesitate to sign Jerry Bruckheimer, because the other party is very good at being a producer of big-production movies. The most missing thing for fireflies is this talent.
Jon Landau, Jane Debonte and Roland Emmerich are not very famous yet, but these people have been in Hollywood for many years, and their personal abilities are unquestionable, plus Eric’s hands are just right. There are projects for several people. I signed it together.
After the waiter left for a few people to leave the coffee, Eric said: "I have just watched those, I think everyone has no concerns about the script I gave you?"
In addition to Stan Winston, who is sipping coffee. Several other people nodded, but James Cameron said: "Eric, although the change script you gave me is good, but I don't want to start working so soon, I want to enjoy life, I am not like you. The workaholic. Moreover, Arnold has taken over a film of Sony Pictures, and will be free next year."
Eric said: "I know this. I didn't arrange you in this year's production plan."
"amount……"
"Ha ha ha..."
Jerry Bruckheimer said: "Eric, I remember that Mr. Jeffrey has always been your film producer. Why did you choose me to be the producer of Jurassic Park?"
"Jeffry wants to take care of the company, and will not personally act as a producer anymore. At most, he will hang up his name," Eric explained. Look at Roland Emmerich: "Roland, "The world is a big collision." "What do you think of the script?"
Roland Emmerich looked at Eric, the script was written by Eric himself. Although this group had the highest achievement of Eric, Roland Emmerich felt this. The script is very bad. Opening his mouth, Roland Emmerich still cautiously asked: "Eric, do you want to hear the truth?"
"Of course," Eric nodded.
"That, I think this script is a bit bad. The main story of the story is about the great crisis of human beings facing the catastrophe. But in the first half hour of the story, the heroine has been entangled in the high-profile scandals."
James Cameron heard the conversation between the two and interjected: "Eric, is your movie idea about the comet hitting the earth?"
Eric nodded and briefly told the story.
After listening to James Cameron, he shook his head. "I feel the same as Roland. Although the people always talk about such things as scandals and scandals, it is too bad for a disaster blockbuster to use this plot to pave the way." ”
Jane Debonte, who has been relatively silent, couldn’t help but say, “I did a photographer for a small-cost sci-fi film seven years ago. I think the movie is set up nicely, with family and love, or The life of the little guys is paving the way, which can make a bigger contrast and make it easier to bring the audience into the story."
Several people nodded.
Eric saw that the original script did not agree with one person, and he was not angry. He said: "I know, but this requires major surgery on the script."
"That's all overturned," James Cameron said without any scruples, "It's a pity that such a good disaster film theme would be ruined in a bad stock market."
"I think it's going to make some changes, but it will make this story even better," chubby Jon Landau said at this time.
Attracting everyone's eyes, Jon Landao continued: "Look, the heroine has been tracking the code of the official involved in the scandal. This code originally refers to a woman. If we replace this code with that one, What about comets?"
Eric’s eyes lit up, and James Cameron took the table directly: “It’s better, slightly modify the settings and remove the scandal. The White House concealed the news in order to avoid panic. The woman’s code is used to represent the comet. The high-ranking official who was misunderstood as being involved in the scandal and was forced to resign actually wanted to be able to disclose the truth to the public. His proposal was not approved and he resigned in anger.”
Jerry Bruckheimer nodded and echoed: "Eric, I think this is a good change. Although the public always has such opinions on the federal government, it always feels that the government is full of various kinds." All kinds of conspiracy theories, but in general, the average person still has a good fantasy on the high level, and this setting just meets the expectations of the public."
Eric smiled and said: "That's how it changed, Jim, Jon, do you want to add your name to the screenwriter?"
Cameron and Jon Landau shook their heads at the same time. They all knew that Eric was only joking. Although there are up to a third of the Hollywood scripts, there is a lawsuit of authorship, but I really want to get the signature. Right, but need to participate in more than 30% of the script modification.
Now that he has already talked about it, after the "Heaven and Earth Clash", Eric will take out the scripts of the three films "Real Lies," "Jurassic Park," and "Speed of Life" led by several people. After talking about it, I got a lot of inspiration.
Until the evening, the few talents who had enjoyed each other were separated, and Cameron and others were sent away. Ereli was also ready to get back to Malibu, but was stopped by Stan Winston.
"Eric, there is something they just got here, I don't quite want to tell you," Stan Winston pointed to the office not far away: "Let's go back and talk."
Eric looked at Stan Winston's serious look, nodded, slammed the driver a few words, and returned to the office with Stan Winston. (To be continued)