The New Year's sun shines through the window and falls on the broad body, and Tom Hanks spreads his fingers and lets the light fall on his fingertips, seeping into his skin and conveying a hint of warmth.

The sun that rose in 2004 seems to bring people a new feeling.

Tom Hanks sighed softly in his heart, and in the blink of an eye, he was wide and fat, and he became greedy for sunlight like an old man.

Footsteps sounded, and Steven Spielberg, wearing disc glasses, walked over with two cups of black tea, placed one of them on the coffee table in front of Tom Hanks, pulled open the soft sofa chair, and sat down across from him.

"When did you change your taste?" Spielberg asked, "Black tea doesn't even add sugar?"

Tom Hanks pressed his high belly, centered on his fingers, and the consistently sunken round pit suddenly appeared: "If I don't control my sugar intake, I'm going to be too fat to watch." I'll be filming new films soon, and I also need to control and reduce my weight, and it's not good to look too fat. ”

Spielberg immediately remembered the news a few days ago and asked, "The Da Vinci Code, a collaboration between Preton Pictures and Relativity Entertainment?"

There was no need to deny this kind of press conference, and Tom Hanks said: "It's this project, and preparations will start in the second half of the year." He pretended to pat his big belly relaxedly: "The actor I want to play is a capable role, and he must lose weight as soon as possible." ”

Spielberg sighed: "This is Ronan Anderson who took the initiative to find you and ask for cooperation." ”

Tom Hanks said simply: "Originally, Relativity Entertainment Group wanted to buy the film adaptation rights of the original book, but I preempted it, and it happened that Rita took a fancy to the film copyright of a musical "Mamma Mia" in the hands of Ronan Anderson, and Preton Pictures reached a cooperation agreement with Relativity Entertainment on these two projects. ”

Spielberg pushed down his glasses: "The success rate of the project promoted by Ronan Anderson is extremely high, and the success of working with him is guaranteed." ”

The two have been old friends for many years, and Tom Hanks smiled honestly: "The main thing is that Rita likes "Mamma Mia" very much. ”

Spielberg understood Tom Hanks's approach, and he didn't blame his old friend, saying: "The advantages of working with them are obvious, Relativity Entertainment Group has developed rapidly in the past two years, and it may not take long to surpass DreamWorks." ”

Tom Hanks shook his head: "How is it possible? Steven, the scale and confidence of DreamWorks are something that a new company like Relativity Entertainment can catch up with?"

Spielberg showed a wry smile: "Tom, DreamWorks seems to be huge, but it's actually ......" He didn't know how to describe it, so he had to say, "That is, it looks like it's huge." ”

Tom Hanks knew that DreamWorks had a lot of problems, but he couldn't ask directly, so he could only look at Spielberg.

Spielberg picked up the teacup, slowly took a sip of slightly bitter black tea, and said: "This part of DreamWorks under my control is mainly engaged in live-action films, and there have been many successful movies made by DreamWorks in recent years, but they have been missing an extremely important link, and the shareholders are also extremely dissatisfied with this." ”

Tom Hanks, who is also a veteran in the circle, immediately understood what Steven Spielberg was saying.

Spielberg tasted the black tea and continued: "Originally, after 'The Da Vinci Code' entered the North American bestseller list in early December, I considered whether to talk to you about co-shooting, but after careful consideration, I gave up. ”

"Why?" asked Tom Hanks.

"Because we were working together on a film, we still had to find a suitable distributor due to the limited distribution capabilities of DreamWorks. Spielberg's smile seemed to have a hint of bitterness, as if he was completely thinking about his old friend: "Later, it was revealed that Preton Pictures was preparing to cooperate with Relativity Entertainment, and I thought that cooperating with DreamWorks may not be as convenient as relativity cooperation." ”

Tom Hanks could only smile and say, "Steven, there are some things in Preton Pictures that I can't decide alone. ”

Spielberg said, "When it comes to distribution, DreamWorks is nowhere near as good as Relativity Entertainment. ”

Tom Hanks is silent, which is not one of the reasons why he was able to cooperate with Relativity Entertainment.

This is a purely commercial cooperation and nothing else involved.

Tom Hanks believes Spielberg knows this very well.

Spielberg sighed and said: "Over the years, distribution has been the biggest obstacle to the development of DreamWorks, there are almost no overseas distribution channels, and even the North American distribution channels are narrower than in previous years, which makes me worried, I can't sleep many nights, and it is dangerous for DreamWorks to continue." ”

Tom Hanks frowned slightly: "There is also a problem with the North American distribution channel?"

"DreamWorks is poaching other companies' distributors, and other companies are poaching DreamWorks people. Spielberg said simply: "I've always wanted to establish an overseas distribution channel for DreamWorks, and a lot of North American distributors have been sent out, and then they have encountered difficulties overseas that far exceed those in North America. Tom, you should know how difficult it is to open up channels from scratch, overseas is ten times more difficult than North America, most of the people sent overseas by DreamWorks either jump ship and leave, or retreat in the face of difficulties, and there are very few people who can stay overseas......"

Something hard to say, Paramount Pictures has been keeping an eye on DreamWorks lately.

This is said to people outside the industry, and perhaps others will listen to it, but Tom Hanks is well aware that the actual difficulties may be far greater than Spielberg said.

Is it so easy to develop and establish overseas film distribution channels from scratch? In addition to the traditional Big Six, Hollywood now has only a limited number of medium-sized companies such as Summit Entertainment, Greymercy Films, Relativity Entertainment, and Artisan Pictures.

Among them, Summit Entertainment and Greymercy Films do not have strong overseas distribution capabilities, that is, they can be distributed in overseas markets such as developed countries in Europe and Australia.

Like DreamWorks and the emerging Lionsgate, in recent years, they have been committed to developing overseas distribution channels, and the effect is not impossible, but there are few overseas markets except for English-speaking countries that have really established business.

Spielberg's words continued: "The overseas distribution business has not been carried out smoothly, resulting in the loss of a large amount of money and distribution personnel invested by DreamWorks, which is also a reason why DreamWorks is struggling, and it was only last year that I found out that the frequent investment of personnel funds to develop overseas distribution channels has not only affected overseas business, but also dragged down DreamWorks' North American distribution business, and a large number of professionals have been lost, resulting in the weakening of DreamWorks' North American distribution capacity." ”

He sighed: "The people sent out to expand overseas are all elites in the distribution industry, and after they leave, they take away not only the hope of DreamWorks, but also the network of contacts they have accumulated over the years in the distribution industry. ”

Tom Hanks is a little sympathetic to Spielberg, and the person who can be sent overseas to develop a key business is certainly not an ordinary employee.

"It's okay, Steven, everything will be fine. Tom Hanks could only say: "Any company will encounter all kinds of difficulties in the early stages of its development, and as long as DreamWorks survives this difficult period, it will usher in a golden age." ”

Spielberg smiled reluctantly and said, "I hope so." He shook his head, "Look at me, how did I tell you about these things?" ”

Tom Hanks didn't mind at all: "Steven, I can tell you're under a lot of pressure. We've been friends for many years, so you can tell me anything. ”

He was a little worried that the pressure of DreamWorks would take Spielberg, an old friend, down.

"Rest assured, I will persevere, and DreamWorks will usher in development opportunities. Spielberg said with a seemingly relaxed attitude: "Some time ago, someone in the company made a suggestion for DreamWorks to completely abandon the increasingly difficult distribution business, not only to stop developing overseas distribution channels, but also to give up the somewhat incomplete North American distribution business and concentrate on the production industry. ”

In recent times, Paramount Pictures has been aggressive, constantly putting pressure on DreamWorks to get DreamWorks films through Paramount's distribution channels.

This is a prelude to the annexation!

Several other large companies are also waiting to see the show.

Hearing this, Tom Hanks quickly interjected: "Steven, absolutely not. If you give up the distribution business, DreamWorks will always be able to exist as a medium-sized production company. ”

No one knows better than him that the original intention of the old friend was to build DreamWorks into an entertainment group on a par with the big six companies.

A company that does not even have the ability to issue is equivalent to being directly choked by someone, and even the oxygen that breathes and grows must be controlled!

Spielberg nodded and said: "No, I will not give up the distribution business, and I will continue to develop overseas distribution channels, and DreamWorks must develop......"

Tom Hanks advises: "Consider acquiring an overseas distribution business. ”

"It's difficult, every distribution company treats its overseas distribution business as a treasure. Spielberg shook his head: "When PolyGene Group was acquired, there was an opportunity, but unfortunately Polygram's overseas distribution business was taken by Ronan Anderson's Relativity Entertainment, otherwise where would there be the current Embassy Pictures." ”

This past is known to Tom Hanks, and it is also one of the origins of Spielberg's preconceptions about Ronan Anderson.

Spielberg took a big sip of his tea, "Thank you, Tom, I can only say these things to you." ”

"We are friends. Tom Hanks smiled, took the black tea and drank it slowly, and after a while, said, "It's a pity I can't help." ”

Spielberg also laughed: "You are willing to listen to my rambling and relieve my pressure, which is already the best help." "Sometimes, I really admire Ronan Anderson, who is more suitable than me to be a film company owner, and at the moment, far more successful than me." ”

Tom Hanks first chimed in: "From the perspective of a studio owner and producer, it is really remarkable that Ronan Anderson can make such a feat at the age of twenty-five or sixteen. He went on to say, "But this man is greedy and calculating, and it is difficult to deal with. ”

While Tom Hanks was discussing Ronan with Spielberg, Ronan was in the clubhouse in Beverly Hills and met David Fincher, who had just returned to Los Angeles.