"Mulan" is a Disney cartoon that has been a great success. However, to make an adaptation into a live-action film, there is a big risk to take.

Especially after the fiasco of Disney's blockbuster "80 Days of Universal World" this summer, Disney began to shy away from films with foreign cultural themes.

Disney didn't think now was the best time to adapt Mulan, especially when it heard that Don was interested in directing Ann Lee.

Ann Lee's last film, The Chronicles of Narnia 2, was co-financed by Disney and Warner. As a result, the production cost of the film was 210 million US dollars, the publicity cost was 130 million US dollars, and the total investment was 340 million US dollars...... With only $420 million at the box office, it was a failure.

Let Disney trip over a rock two or three times?

In the past few years, Disney's film business has been sluggish, mainly supported by live-action films based on animated films launched in partnership with Rose Pictures.

In other words, New Universal can accept the failure of Mulan, Disney can't!

"Michael, it's just a movie, is it worth it?"

Donn personally called Disney's big boss, Michael Eisner.

Michael Eisner said resolutely: "Don, there is really no way this time, the movie "Mulan" ...... Counting the production costs and publicity expenses, it will cost $250 million to invest at least! Even if the two companies are divided equally, it will be $125 million! Disney is unlikely to agree to make an Asian-themed film at this time, especially a film directed by Ann Lee!"

Don muttered for a moment, "Michael, this is embarrassing me. ”

Michael Eisner couldn't help but laugh, "You're embarrassed? It's me who is embarrassed, right? Donn, you must know the situation of Disney very well, the adaptation of cartoons has become our biggest pillar. This series can't afford to be missed. Even if I agreed, the board would not have approved such a project. ”

Tang En said: "But the order has been issued, let Rose Pictures start preparing for "Mulan", the script is almost completed, and before the end of the year, filming will definitely start." ”

Michael Eisner was speechless.

It's strange to believe you!

Besides, even if the order is given, so what?

This is Hollywood, and if you want to make money, stop loss is the number one priority!

Not to mention that the script has just been prepared, even if the film is launched, if the film company thinks that encountering uncontrollable external factors will greatly increase the risk of failure of the film, it will definitely interrupt the project.

Don's words make no sense.

"Disney really can't shoot it?"

"At least not yet. ”

Michael Eisner paused for a moment and said, "Don, I know, you have your eye on the Chinese market. Indeed, the box office there is growing at a high rate and has a lot of potential. With such a huge population base, perhaps in 20 years, China will surpass North America and become the world's largest ticket base. But even so, it was 20 years later! At that time, Disney would promote the filming of "Mulan", but not now!"

Don was secretly amused.

This Michael Eisner does not know enough about China's national conditions.

An American-style way of working, a business-like look.

The biggest reason why Tang En wants to shoot "Mulan" is to build a network to promote the cooperation of the real estate project in Modu!

China is not a pure market economy society, but a society based on officials and people's feelings.

If you want to promote the real estate project of the magic capital, Disney wants to play the market economy, which is not good!

Build the government's personal connections, give the officials dignity, and give the country dignity, and they will repay the peach with the peach. For foreign friends, China has always opened its arms with the greatest sincerity.

Michael Eisner thinks "Mulan" is too risky, but as everyone knows, Don is passing on the risk through a real estate project that will invest more than $4.5 billion.

Therefore, in the movie "Mulan", Tang Enzhi is bound to win.

Gotta shoot!

"If Disney doesn't want to make ...... Then we'll shoot it ourselves!" Donn's attitude was firm.

"Huh?"

Michael Eisner was slightly stunned.

Tang En said lightly: "I said, I have already issued the order to start the movie." It's just a movie, and if it fails, it fails, but my face is more important, a spit and a nail!"

Michael Eisner almost laughed angrily, he didn't believe it, but he hesitated and asked, "Is it Rose Pictures?"

"Of course!"

"Is it an adaptation of a legend, or is it a ...... Cartoons?"

"Cartoon!"

The story of "Mulan" has no copyright, and any film company can freely adapt it. As long as it doesn't overlap with the cartoon "Mulan", there are movie shots, composition, plot, character design, etc.

However, Donn will inevitably adapt the cartoon.

Ordinary people in the United States are stupid, most of them are eating and waiting to die, it is impossible to know the legends of the East, and if you want to have a big market in the United States, the adaptation of Disney's classic cartoon "Mulan" is indispensable.

"This ......," Michael Eisner hesitated.

Donn smiled, "Michael, you're not going to set a threshold for me in terms of copyright, are you?"

"No, no, hehe. Michael Eisner smiled, "How about a $2 million base fee, plus a 10% dividend on the film's future profits?"

"No problem, deal!"

This little thing is not worth the bargain between the two big bosses of the media group.

Don accepted the other party's proposal neatly.

……

After hanging up the phone, Don couldn't help but smile with satisfaction on his face.

Nailed it!

"Mulan"!

Ha ha!

Not only did it work, but it also successfully kicked Disney out, and New Universal did it himself!

That's great.

If "Mulan" has Disney's participation, it is equivalent to this "face", and half of it will be given to Disney, then it will be meaningless.

In the bidding for the Magic City real estate project, it was New Universal and Disney that were the main competitors.

Without Disney, the "face" belongs to New Universal!

In the office, there are Tosca Musk, assistant to the chairman, and Kathleen Kennedy, CEO of Rose Pictures, who looked at each other with some surprise when they saw Donn's excited look.

"Is it necessary to be so happy, Boss?" said Katherine Kennedy, who was a little puzzled.

Don smiled and said, "It's very happy, of course it's necessary!"

Katherine Kennedy hesitated: "But ...... the movie "Mulan", it is really too risky. Now, John Wu, Ann Leigh, Jack Chen, Jett Lee...... These Chinese filmmakers have collectively encountered a career waterloo. American audiences don't like them anymore, so let's make a movie about traditional Chinese culture at this time, I'm afraid it's ......."

"I know, it's a lot of risk. In fact, I also know that as long as this movie is cast, it is not negotiable at a loss. Don shrugged, looking unconcerned.

"Huh?"

Katherine Kennedy was slightly stunned, a little dumbfounded.

Do you insist on investing even though you know you're losing?

Boss, this is stupid, right?

As the assistant to the chairman, Tosca Musk has a better understanding of Donne's work and ideas, so he smiled and said: "This movie will lose money, but the company can make more money through other aspects." If the movie could really make money, he wouldn't agree to give 10% of the future profits to Disney. ”

Don gave her a thumbs up, "Awesome!"

Katherine Kennedy was just a filmmaker, at the helm of Rose Pictures, and she didn't know anything about the decisions at the top, and she didn't need to know about it, just do what she was told.

"It's just...... Wouldn't the investment in movies be too big? Or maybe 50 percent. Production plus publicity, with a total investment of 100 million US dollars, is enough. ”

Don waved his hand, "There's no need!"

Katherine Kennedy looked embarrassed.

Her base salary is $1.15 million a year, and a bigger source of salary is a 3% dividend of Rose Pictures' net profit each year.

The investment in "Mulan" is so large, once it fails, her dividends will be gone.

The unreasonable demands of the upper echelons are somewhat unfair to let her bear the consequences.

Don also knew what she was thinking, and said with a smile: "Catherine, in terms of funding...... You don't have to worry too much. "Mulan" is a film that promotes Chinese culture, and the Chinese side will definitely be very interested in it. This time...... Let's have a Sino-American co-production!"

。 Nine Heavenly God Emperors