Four Hundred and Thirtieth Eight Chapters Go Beyond Their Means

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"Dennis Noel resigned last week, remember, he personally demonstrated a special effects scene for you," said Stan Winston as soon as the two returned to the office.

Eric recalled, thinking of the special effects artist named Dennis Noel by Stan Winston, a tall and thin white man in his early thirties, who graduated from Stanford University's Department of Computer Science. Stan Winston once told himself I introduced the other party's excellent performance in the post-production special effects of "Tornado".

"I was poached?" Eric asked. If it was a normal resignation, Stan Winston would not specifically mention this.

Stan Winston nodded and said, "Sony Pictures plans to set up its own special effects subsidiary and invite Dennis to be the director."

"We can't stop people from going high, but are there other things?"

Stan Winston found a form on the desk and handed it to Eric, saying, "Eric, you see, since the release of "Terminator 2", in half a year, the company has had 12 top special effects The teacher has resigned, and there are still two supervisors."

Eric took it over and looked at it. Not only did these people resign, but also their whereabouts. Most of them were poached by other special effects companies, including the largest rival in the digital field, Industrial Light & Magic. There are also a few people who stand on their own and set up their own special effects studio.

"You're better here," Eric looked up at Stan Winston after reading it and smiled: "The situation at Pixar is even worse. John also specially submitted a report to me, hoping to pass the competition. Restrictions like industry agreements prevent that from happening.”

"You don't seem to be worried at all?" Stan Winston's originally worried expression softened a lot in Eric's smile.

Eric put down the resignation form. Looking at Stan Winston, he said, "Stan. You know how much R&D money I've put into the technology R&D teams of the two companies since I took over Pixar and Digital Domain?"

Stan Winston shook his head. He was more concerned about special effects technology, and he was not very concerned about finances. And when Eric reorganized Firefly last year, he separated the R&D teams of Pixar and the digital field from the two companies and handed them over to Ed Carmore for operation. Stan Winston did this. It is even more impossible to be clear.

Eric recalled the data in his mind and explained: "The fixed technology R&D team in the hands of Ed Carmore has more than 400 people, and these are top technical talents in all aspects. The average annual salary is about 100,000 US dollars. This alone consumes 40 million US dollars of funds every year. And the professional and technical personnel of the two companies of Pixar and the digital field have now reached 600 people, and the average annual salary of these people is not much worse than those of those people, which is another 6,000 Wan, in addition to this, Firefly has invested in three technology R&D centers at Stanford University, the University of Washington, and the University of California. The industry's top scientists in these R&D centers provide higher-level technical support for Pixar and the digital field, which is another Big spending."

Stan Winston clicked his tongue secretly, he did not expect that Eric would be so willing to spend money. If so, Eric has invested at least $200 million in recent years. In the case of cg special effects and 3d animation prospects are completely unclear. It is estimated that only Eric is the only person who dares to pour in 200 million US dollars so recklessly.

Eric looked at Stan Winston's surprised expression and continued: "Now the outside world estimates that Firefly's net profit in 1990 is 400 million US dollars, but in fact, because of various expenditures on special effects technology research and development, Firefly's last year's The profit is only a little over 200 million.”

Stan Winston also relaxed at this time,

He also fully understood what Eric meant when he said this. The loss of top technical talents is a pity, but it is not enough to shake the position of the digital field and Pixar in the industry, because in Hollywood, except for Firefly, no company will be so crazy anymore. Make technical investments.

ILM has always maintained a leading position in the special effects industry before, but as the focus of film and television special effects shifts from model special effects to computer special effects, ILM, which has previously focused more on model special effects, is destined to fall behind the digital field.

One step behind almost means falling behind forever. Since the release of "Terminator 2", the digital field has received several special effects movie production projects, and in the past, these were usually just the business of Industrial Light and Magic. The digital field has obtained these projects, and can accumulate more technologies in the production process. If this virtuous cycle continues, Industrial Light and Magic will no longer be able to catch up or even surpass the digital field.

Thinking of this, Stan Winston showed a faint smile and said: "The profit of more than 200 million is not bad. There are not many of the seven major film companies that have an annual profit of more than 200 million US dollars. This year, Disney, MGM and Pi Ramon lost money, uh...or, Hollywood is now back to the Big Eight."

Eric said: "The acquisition of Disney will soon be the Big Seven again."

Stan Winston remembered the wildly rising quotations from Firefly and Viacom to Disney in the newspaper. Although he was curious, he didn't ask. The multi-billion dollar deal was too far away from him.

"By the way, Eric, after Dennis Noel resigned, he also asked me if I could buy the right to use software such as maya from the digital domain. I remember you mentioned this matter?"

Eric did think about monopolizing special effects software. In the original time and space, Autodesk monopolized film and television special effects software. Mainstream special effects software such as maya and 3dmax were all products of Autodesk, but that was ten years later. thing.

Now special effects companies are still in a kind of 'aristocratic stage', and it is not possible to set up a dozen or so technicians in ten years. Therefore, now is not the best time to make profits through special effects software. The digital field The most important task now is to accumulate technology and achieve a position that is difficult for any company in the same industry to reach. Once the special effect industry begins to become popular, the digital field with strong technical accumulation can enter the special effect software market at any time.

"Don't do this for the time being. It's the most important thing to maintain the technological leadership in the digital field at this stage. Since they have chosen immediately. Let's start from scratch," Eric said, with a faint smile on the corner of his mouth: "I The legal department will keep an eye on this, and once these resigners are suspected of technical infringement, I will make them and the funders behind them pay enough."

"I see," Stan Winston nodded, looked at his watch, and it was long past get off work hours: "Eric. Why don't we go to dinner together, there are several good restaurants in Venice."

There was nothing to do next, and Eric happily agreed.

...

The week passed slowly, and the final moment of competition between Viacom and Firefly came slowly. On January 18, two days before the deadline for bidding, Firefly announced to the media, including "Jurassic Park", "Tian Di Da", in one breath. At the same time, a whole page of the "Los Angeles Times" was published, and the "Tornado" promotional poster was published, and it was stated that "Tornado" would be broadcast in the latest Super Bowl for 1 minute and 30 seconds. trailer.

And almost simultaneously. Viacom also tit for tat said that once the successful acquisition of Disney, Viacom will spend 500 million US dollars to make six to eight special effects movies.

Because they have tasted the high investment and high return sweetness of big production movies. In the past two years, the scale of investment in Hollywood movies has become larger and larger, and announcing similar news can also enhance the confidence of all parties.

After the last week of gaming, January 20 finally arrived.

Although he had 100% confidence in his heart, Eric woke up less than five o'clock and drove to the Disney headquarters in Burbank at eight o'clock.

Seeing the appearance of Eric's car, hundreds of reporters who had been waiting outside the Disney headquarters all night rushed forward, directly surrounding Eric's car. Questions also rammed into Eric's ears.

Eric, who was stuck in the car, pushed the car door hard, but he couldn't squeeze it open. He could only wait patiently for Disney's security personnel to come to maintain order.

After waiting for two or three minutes, the bodyguards in Eric's other car and the security guards at Disney headquarters got through the crazy group of reporters and came to Eric's door.

"Mr. Williams, will Firefly retain the Disney brand after the acquisition?"

"Will Disneyland be renamed Firefly?"

"Will Firefly put Pixar Studios in Disney?"

"It is said that Disney executives signed a 'golden parachute' compensation agreement of up to 500 million US dollars. After the Firefly acquisition is completed, will Disney management be replaced on a large scale?"

"..."

"..."

These questions will obviously be answered at the press conference after the acquisition is completed, but the surrounding reporters obviously want to get the latest news.

However, the human wall was finally pushed aside, but Eric did not dare to stop for a while to answer any questions, and hurriedly walked towards the office building of the Disney headquarters.

Two minutes later, Eric finally stepped into the lobby of Disney headquarters, and a large number of reporters were blocked from the door.

Taking a deep breath with lingering fears, Eric followed Disney's guiding staff to a spacious lounge.

Just pushing the door and entering, Eric went to see an old man who was reading a newspaper sitting on the sofa opposite. The old man was a little rich, but the most striking thing was the scar on his face from the burn. Obviously, this old man is The famous Summer Redstone.

Unexpectedly, the first meeting was under such circumstances, Eric glanced at the guide next to him, and the young girl was a little surprised, and immediately realized that he had brought the wrong room. This is the lounge of the Viacom team. .

Although Eric didn't mind quitting, facing Lei Shidong's undisguised pressing gaze, quitting now would undoubtedly be a sign of weakness.

Smiling calmly, Eric took the initiative to walk over, came to Lei Shidong's side and politely extended his hand: "Mr. Lei Shidong, we finally meet."

Lei Shidong let out a disdainful snort in his breath, glanced at Eric's outstretched hand, and immediately raised the newspaper again, as if he turned a blind eye to Eric.

The female employee who took Eric to the wrong room was even more frightened. In case of conflict between the two, her job would be lost. The female employee looked at Eric nervously, but saw Eric He didn't seem to care too much, shrugged his shoulders, retracted his hand and sat down on the sofa next to him, looked at the girl's badge who brought him over, and said, "Miss Gleason, can you make me a cup of coffee, no sugar? , add more milk."

"Ah, okay... okay." The girl hurriedly ran to develop for Eric.

Eric also picked up a prepared newspaper from the coffee table and looked at it.

"Young people, it's better not to be too ambitious," Eric was looking at an analysis article about the acquisition, and a somewhat old but full of air suddenly came from his ear.

Eric put down the newspaper, looked towards Redstone, and said with a smile, "Mr. Redstone, are you talking to me?"

Redstone snorted again: "Your luck is very good. The movies you make often get good box office, but the acquisition of Disney is more than just luck."

Eric was not surprised by Redstone's indifference and sarcasm, and it was good that the hot-tempered tycoon didn't point his nose at him and scold him loudly. After all, Lei Shidong is someone who will call his son a fool in public. In his memory, Lei Shidong has fought lawsuits with his wife, son, daughter, and nephew, and his bad temper is evident.

In the face of the old man's aggressiveness, although Eric didn't care too much, he didn't mean to endure blindly, and retorted: "I remember someone said that luck is actually a kind of strength. Moreover, I think as a nearly seventy-year-old man Old man, you shouldn’t be arguing with us young people for these things, it’s the best choice to take care of you.”

Lei Shidong glanced at Eric and said with a half-smile, "Actually, your film company is good. If it goes public, remember to let me know. Viacom is still very interested."

Eric shook his head and said: "No, you are wrong, Mr. Redstone, although listing is the choice of the big company, I prefer to control everything in my own hands. Mu is also very interested, such as mtv television."

"Heh, it's really too much. This is the funniest joke I've heard recently," Lei Shidong laughed.

"Is it a joke, I'll know in a few years," Eric took the coffee that the female employee just handed over, looked at Lei Shidong and continued: "However, since I stepped into Hollywood, many people have been You're saying that I'm not self-sufficient, and then helplessly watch me continue step by step beyond my self-control, and you will see it." (To be continued..)

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