"Star Wars Episode 1: The Ghost Man Menace" is officially released in North America and has entered the countdown!

Don knew early on that "Star Wars" was American culture and was loved by it. But the first experience still shocked him.

This feeling...... It's like the college entrance examination he once experienced, nervous, dignified, and in the spotlight.

The New York Times published: "After 16 years, Star Wars is coming back, with a 51-day countdown!"

The Los Angeles Times also made a high-profile statement: "Get your movie tickets ready, Star Wars is waiting for you to watch!"

"Chicago Tribune" is a little tactful: "George Lucas and Done Walker, two generations of ghost directors, carefully create a shocking visual feast for you, on May 19, "Star Wars Episode 1: The Ghost Man Menace" will be released in the United States!"

The New York Post echoed the public's calmness: "The much-anticipated movie is about to be released, and there is still more than a month before the premiere of the movie, and fans are already lining up in front of major movie theaters to buy tickets first." This illustrates the charm of Star Wars from the side, but it also gives the publisher a wake-up call. ”

……

In order to avoid causing a situation of ticket price gouging, Twentieth Century Fox made a request to major movie theaters to open the ticket window only the day before the release of "Star Wars Episode 1: The Ghost Man Menace".

However, this will affect the interests of theater chains, and it is said that major theater chains have jointly reported to the National Theater Association, asking them to communicate with Twentieth Century Fox.

These are the jobs of the distributors, and Donn, along with the entire Star Wars crew, is working on a large-scale pre-release campaign.

In May, Lucasfilm and Twentieth Century Fox confirmed that the premiere of "Star Wars Episode 1: The Ghost Man Menace" would be held in New York.

And the theater side also reported that in the first and second weeks of the release of "Star Wars Episode 1: The Ghost Man Menace", almost all movies adjusted their schedules, and no one liked to be cannon fodder.

Except for two companies with big hearts – DreamWorks and Universal.

Needless to say, DreamWorks is a family member with big nerves, and as for Universal Pictures...... That's when they had faith in "Notting Hill," a romantic movie starring Julia Roberts.

Romance movies are a genre that has been released for a long time, and they don't care too much about the box office results of the first two weeks like commercial blockbusters. And with the precedent of "My Grand Greek Wedding", Universal's distribution strategy is almost a copy of the Donn model.

When Don heard this, he shook his head again and again, expressing deep sympathy.

It's not that the movie "Notting Hill" will hit the streets, but it is actually sympathetic to Universal's plight.

In the early years, Panasonic acquired Universal, but due to the lack of adaptation, it sold Universal Pictures to the Seagram Group, a brewing company from Canada.

In recent years, the Seagram Group has had a huge appetite and has swallowed a number of entertainment companies one after another, covering film, television, music, games, publishing, the Internet and many other aspects.

The Seagram Group has transformed from a brewing company to a media conglomerate!

Recently, Donn's acquisition of Marvel is just a small news story about a commercial merger and acquisition in Hollywood, and the bigger news is the acquisition of music company Polygram by the Seagram Group.

Of course, there is also bigger M&A news, with media giant Viacom officially issuing a takeover offer to CBS, one of the three major over-the-air television networks in the United States, with ...... funding It won't be less than $30 billion!

But......

Seagram is not Viacom!

Viacom has the ability to eat CBS, and Seagram is an industrial company, and if it wants to transform smoothly, it must pay tuition fees first.

It is conceivable that after Seagram acquires Polygram, it is likely to have indigestion......

Donn's mind was opened, and a bold idea popped into his mind, "Maybe after withdrawing from the stock market next year, you can switch to global ......"

Filmmaking was simple for Donn, and the biggest challenge was distribution.

The Big Six have a monopoly on Hollywood not because of how great their films are, but because they have a near monopoly on the distribution market all over the world.

DreamWorks has long opened up the North American distribution market, and even Lionsgate, Miramax, and New Line have independent distribution channels in North America. However, the release of a blockbuster like "Saving Private Ryan" still has to be distributed by a giant company like Paramount.

In the end, the overseas market is too large, the distribution cost and operating cost are too high, there are not enough film sources, and even the salaries of employees cannot be paid.

After more than two years in Hollywood, Donn gradually recognized the development model of Hollywood, and gave up the idea of creating another distribution system on a global scale.

The acquisition became the best way for Don to solve the problem.

The distribution must be in your hands!

And the indigestion of the Seagram Group is likely to be the best way for Donn to get his hands on Universal Pictures and gain access to Universal's distribution channels around the world.

Acquisition of Universal?

Snake swallowing elephant?

It doesn't have to be impossible!

……

Time is approaching day by day, and finally it is time for the premiere of Star Wars Episode 1: The Ghost Man Menace.

Although the premiere was in New York, Natalie was busy with the final exams of her senior year of high school and was unable to attend, and for the first time in her life, Don was missing her female companion.

The premiere was illuminated and made the theatre the heart of a modern cosmopolitan city.

The influence of Star Wars is too great, and there are hundreds of police officers on the scene just to maintain order.

Don quickly passed the red carpet area, and without a female companion, he was in no mood to make small talk with the group of reporters.

"Hey, Donn, it seems like I'm lonely today, do you want me to introduce you to a beautiful girl?"

Don turned around and smiled dumbly, "James, when did you make this kind of joke too?"

James Cameron is a rare decent gentleman in the circle, and in this regard, Don deeply admires.

"It's not a joke, I really want to introduce you to a girl. Cameron had a straight face.

Don raised his eyebrows in surprise and looked at him incredulously.

Cameron said angrily, "Where do you want to go? I mean recommend her to act in your movie!"

"My movie?"

"Spider-Man. ”

Don rolled his eyes angrily, "James, I remember you said that you had the idea of filming Spider-Man. ”

Cameron shrugged, "That's true, but now my mind has changed. ”

In the early 90s, after filming "Terminator 2", Cameron had the idea of filming "X-Men", so he discussed with Carlock Pictures and bought the copyright, but found that the special effects technology at that time was not enough to shoot "X-Men", Cameron wanted to shoot "Spider-Man" instead, so he bought the copyright of Spider-Man.

However, due to differences in script issues, Cameron released the pigeons again and went to shoot "True Lies" instead.

As a result, it directly led to the bankruptcy of Carlock Films, the superhero copyright was lost several times, "X-Men" was obtained by Fox, and "Spider-Man" returned to the arms of Marvel.

It can be said that until today, "X-Men" has not been able to return to Marvel, and it is completely the pot of James Cameron's continuous ticket jumps!

"And what are you going to shoot?" Donn frowned.

Cameron said: "I mentioned to you that I am very interested in the sea rescue project. ”

"Then shoot it!"

Cameron said bitterly: "It's not that you don't know, there is a Hollywood proverb that never touches the sea and animals." This is a maritime film, and the investment is very large, so it is not easy to set up a project. ”

Don En was a little displeased, "This Bill is too petty! Didn't I say it, you can find me if you have difficulties." ”

Cameron looked at him playfully, "At least $150 million in investment, can you come up with it?"

"Ahem......"

Tang En waved his hand and quickly changed the subject, "Then what are you going to do?

Cameron said: "Bill promised me that as long as I help produce a drama called "Black Angel of the Last Days", if it is successful, he will invest in me and set up a project." ”

Tang En was a little disdainful, "Let a super director supervise the TV series, it's a shame that he can come up with it!"

Cameron shook his head, "Bill has its difficulties, the drama at sea...... There are too many accidents, after all, the experience of "Titanic" will be very jealous of everyone. ”

Don waved his hand angrily, "Otherwise, you can shoot "Spider-Man" and to hell with Bill and his "Black Angel of the Last Days"!"

"Bill will be mad when he hears your words!" Cameron smiled and lowered his voice, "especially after you handed over the distribution rights to Wedding Proud to Tom Rothman." ”

Donn was a little embarrassed, which was indeed a bit uncomfortable for Bill McNick, "This is a business negotiation, not a personal relationship. ”

Cameron laughed softly, "Okay, then let's talk about work and personal friendship." ”

"What the hell are you going to say?"

"I said I'd recommend you a girl. ”

Donn was confused, "James, what the hell is going on?"

Cameron smiled: "Although I have no plans to shoot "Spider-Man", I still keep an eye on this film project. I've seen the announcement, doesn't it say that the heroine is a young woman in her twenties?"

Tang En suddenly realized, "You want to recommend an actress to me?"

"Exactly. ”

Don nodded, "No problem, I can't guarantee the heroine, but there will definitely be some scenes." ”

In order to get the support of the Endeavor agency, Donn promised Avery Emmanuel that he would leave the position of the heroine to the Endeavor agency.

Now that Marvel has successfully acquired it, and Avery Emmanuel has contributed so much that Donn has the support of almost all Marvel management, it is only natural that he will have to deliver on his promise.

"Trust my eyes, Donn, she's a great actress with a lot of potential. ”

Cameron said it very solemnly.

Don couldn't help but be a little suspicious of their relationship, and asked tentatively, "James, are you ...... with her?"

"Stop!" Cameron snapped a black line in his head, "Don, don't think I'm like you. ”

Don laughed, Cameron's skipping ticket is a shortcoming, but there is no doubt about his character, "Let's talk about it, which girl is it that fascinates you." ”

Cameron glared at him angrily, "The heroine of "Black Angel of the Last Days" produced by me. ”

"Name?"

"Jessica Alba. ”

"Huh?"

Don was stunned.