The black Mercedes sedan stopped in front of an office building, and Robert Iger looked out the window, hung up the phone, got out of the car, and walked into Lionsgate, where he soon met Lionsgate's chairman, Frank Gusta.

"Hello, Bob. Frank Gusta warmly shook hands with Robert Iger and said, "Welcome to Lionsgate." ”

Robert Egger still had the usual kind smile on his face: "I've wanted to come over for a long time, but I haven't had a chance." ”

Frank Gusta beckoned Robert Iger to sit casually, and said with a smile: "I heard a few years ago that you jumped ship to Relativity Entertainment, how is your development? If it doesn't go well, Lionsgate welcomes you at any time." ”

"It's been a good development and I'm happy with what I'm doing. Robert Egger took a proper position: "Mr. Ronan Anderson is very serious and has entrusted me with the entire group of companies. ”

Frank Gusta asked himself if he couldn't do this, and couldn't put the company in the hands of an outsider, so he simply stopped mentioning the topic and said, "Relativity Entertainment launched more than a dozen successful movie projects last year, right? ”

As long as he thinks of "Spy" and "Pirates of the Caribbean", Frank Gusta can't stop drooling with envy.

Lionsgate's initial strategy was to focus on lower-risk horror thrillers, but it wasn't that it didn't want to push for top-tier blockbuster productions, but it wasn't strong enough to do so.

Frank Gusta knows very well that the gap between Lionsgate and Relativity Entertainment is all-round, not to mention the key distribution capabilities, just in terms of production, big productions cannot be compared, and even the horror thriller projects that Lionsgate has focused on in the past two years are far from Relativity Entertainment.

It is precisely this gap that Frank Gusta has made up his mind to compete with Relativity Entertainment for Artisan Pictures, which is the best opportunity for Lionsgate to make up for its strength.

Robert Iger came over this time, and he did talk about cooperation with Lionsgate, but not about film project cooperation.

"Relativity Entertainment also wants to partner with Lionsgate. Robert Iger always seems to be very friendly because of his personal style: "I came here to talk about working with Lionsgate. ”

Frank Gusta immediately thought of Artisan Pictures, secretly raised his vigilance, and asked, "Bob, Relativity Entertainment wants to collaborate with Lionsgate on a film project?"

Robert Iger didn't want to go around in circles and said directly: "Artisan Pictures." ”

This answer is not as expected by Frank Gusta, Artisan Pictures has publicly announced that Lionsgate and Relativity Entertainment have been in talks with Artisan Pictures for the past few days, and it is said that Relativity Entertainment's offer has reached $340 million.

But after this price was opened, it did not rise further, and Frank Gusta guessed that it should be the psychological bottom line of Relativity Entertainment.

Relativity Entertainment is large-scale, far better than Lionsgate, and has good financing channels, but the capital needed by large companies is also huge, and it often affects the whole body.

This Robert Iger took the initiative to come to the door, and it is estimated that there is a reason for this.

Frank Gusta put away his smile and looked at Robert Iger: "Relativity Entertainment is ready to give up Artist Pictures? ”

Robert Iger said slowly but firmly: "Relativity Entertainment will not give up on Artisan Pictures. ”

In the past two years, Yijiang Pictures has not had much profit from new films, and 80% of the annual profit is supported by the film library.

Frank Gusta simply asked, "Bob, what do you mean by collaboration?"

Robert Iger said unhurriedly, "There has been little progress in the negotiations between Relativity Entertainment and Artisan Pictures, and if I'm not mistaken, Lionsgate is no different." Yijiang Pictures' performance has not increased significantly for many years in a row, so why do we have the confidence to bite the high price and not let go? It is precisely because of the competition between Relativity Entertainment and Lionsgate that it will be much more difficult for us to give up competition and cooperate in acquisitions. ”

"Relativity Entertainment voluntarily quit?" Frank Gusta probed, "so I have no opinion." ”

Robert Iger knew that there was an old fox sitting across from him, and he had to give a little explanation: "What is the greatest value of Artisan Pictures? Presumably Fran is the same as I thought, as much as nearly 7,000 film rights to the library and the production and distribution business of Artisan." ”

This is the simplest truth, and Frank Gust can only nod in acknowledgement.

"In the production business, Relativity Entertainment has Shahai Pictures. In the distribution business, Embassy Pictures' distribution capacity is second only to the six major companies. Although Robert Iger has always had a kind smile on his face, he is full of confidence in his words, which is also the confidence that Relativity Entertainment has brought to him: "Relativity Entertainment does not need the production and distribution business of Artisan Pictures at all. ”

He looked at Frank Gusta, "But Lionsgate is different, and it's said that you've always wanted to perfect the distribution pipeline. ”

Frank Gusta didn't admit it, nor did he deny it, but said, "So what Relativity Entertainment wants is just Artisan Pictures' library?"

Robert Iger said: "We work together to keep the purchase price down, Lionsgate gets the much-needed distribution channels, and Relativity Entertainment wins the Artisan Library, a win-win!"

"It's a really good idea. Frank Gusta nodded first, and then smiled: "As far as I know, how can there be the copyright of nearly 100 films in the film library of Relativity Entertainment? Lionsgate has only a dozen film copyrights, and the last time I talked to the TV station about packaging authorization, I didn't know how to talk to people." ”

Robert Iger's smile remained the same, and Lionsgate had a big appetite.

Frank Gusta simply singled out: "Artisan Pictures' distribution and production business is urgently needed by Lionsgate, and the library rights are also necessary for Lionsgate." ”

Speaking of which, Robert Iger knew very well that the plan he had envisioned had been shattered.

He is a very good professional manager, and he says: "I was presumptuous. ”

Frank Gusta smiled faintly and said, "It's okay. ”

Robert Iger then took his leave, quickly walked out of Lionsgate, got in the car, and asked the driver to go straight back to Relativity Entertainment.

Although he did not achieve his goal, Robert Iger was not disappointed or frustrated, and as the actual operator of the group of companies, he could not and would never put the hope of the acquisition on a single plan.

This path doesn't work, there is the next way to go.

Back to Relativity Entertainment, Robert Iger went straight into Ronan's office and gave a general account of the situation at Lionsgate.

"It's normal for Lionsgate to be ambitious. Ronan is not surprised: "Not every company will work with us, and their first priority is definitely to maximize their own interests." ”

Robert Iger nodded slightly: "Lionsgate's Frank Gusta is very ambitious, and it is said that when Lionsgate was founded, the goal was Hollywood Group 1. ”

Ronan knows this to some extent, and Lionsgate was once known as the seventh largest film company in Hollywood after DreamWorks, and its performance even ranked among the top three in Hollywood for a time.

But today's Lionsgate is a huge gap compared with the former Lionsgate, and the emergence of Relativity Entertainment has stolen a lot of Lionsgate's resources, and even Lionsgate's original pillar business, horror and thriller movies, are far less good than Relativity Entertainment.

Lionsgate is not developing as expected, Frank Gusta is ambitious, and with a certain amount of money in hand, it is also convenient to be able to solve the problem with acquisitions.

Robert Iger added: "Partnering with Lionsgate is also an option, and now that it's not an option, we continue to push for positive acquisitions. ”

"My psychological floor price is $400 million," Ronan said. ”

Robert Iger is far more conservative than Ronan in this regard: "More than $370 million, we give up." ”

"Good. Ronan said: "It's always been that you're in charge and you're making decisions. ”

Although the value of Yijiang Pictures' film library in the hands of Relativity Entertainment is definitely much larger than that of Yijiang Pictures, and even with the Netflix platform, it is not an exaggeration to double the benefits generated, but any product is cost-effective.

Robert Iger reminded Ronan: "We want a film library, and the rest of the business needs to be divested." ”

Ronan smiled: "Don't worry, I already have a plan." ”

To be precise, the real acquisition of Artisan Pictures is successful, in addition to soft assets such as film library copyright and script library copyright, Relativity Entertainment does not need other assets of Artisan Pictures.

Glendale, DreamWorks Headquarters.

Spielberg sat in the conference room, listening to his own personnel arguing with the people at Paramount Pictures, feeling haggard.

Paramount Pictures' distribution conditions were very harsh, and after several contacts between the two sides, the differences grew, and quarrels quickly became commonplace at the negotiating table.

DreamWorks has also been in contact with other distribution companies, and the other ones in the Big Six have offered conditions that are no better than Paramount Pictures, or even more demanding, as if DreamWorks' films are street goods.

Spielberg listened to the increasingly heated argument, simply got up and left the conference room, and came to the corner of the corridor that was a little cleaner, only to feel distraught, looking at the window in front of him, and feeling the urge to smash the glass.

As an old qualification, Spielberg can feel that it has not been normal recently, as if everyone is targeting DreamWorks and wants to tacitly push DreamWorks into the abyss.

The issuance capacity is insufficient, as if it is stuck in the throat, and it is almost impossible to kick it out.

Paramount Pictures is aggressive, and the other five companies are watching coldly, who should they find to distribute the films they invest in?

In North America, although DreamWorks has suffered from its strength, it can always do it.

What about overseas?

Spielberg pushed open the window, and a gust of wind blew, and his gray hair fluttered in the wind.