Eric was chatting with everyone when a few more people appeared at the backstage entrance, but they walked straight towards him.

Led by a Japanese man in his fifties, it was Nobuyuki Idei, who was about to take over the position of CEO of Norio Ohga's Sony Group, and Columbia's CEO Peter Cooper and President Jon Peters and other company executives followed each other, but Eric found that Nobuyuki Idei was not following either Peter Cooper and Strong Peters, but another middle-aged white man with a somewhat unfamiliar face.

Eric knew that Sony had been meddling in Colombia for months, but he didn't expect Nobuyuki Idei to suddenly appear here. Before he had time to think about the reason, Nobuyuki Idei had already come to his side, stretched out his hand with a smile and said in proficient English: "Mr. Williams, it's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Nobuyuki Idei." ”

The English pronunciation of Japanese names is very strange, and Eric couldn't tell the difference between the other person's names, so he had to shake his hand with the other party and say with his full name: "Hello, Mr. Nobuyuki Idei, welcome to the premiere of "Mission Impossible". ”

"This should be my honor, Mr. Williams personally selected the movie, it must be very exciting," Nobuyuki Idei complimented, and without waiting for Eric to thank him, he motioned to the white middle-aged man next to him and said to Eric: "This is Mr. Howard Stringer, who has accepted Sony's invitation to become the CEO of Sony's American branch, in charge of all Sony industries in the United States." ”

Eric heard Nobuyuki say the other person's name, and only then did he determine who the middle-aged white man with glasses was. The first non-Japanese CEO of Sony Group after Shin Idei stepped down: "Hello, Mr. Stringer. ”

After introducing Howard Stringer, Nobuyuki Idei didn't mean to introduce Peter Cooper and Strong Peters at all. But half-truths expressed interest in the others present.

Eric had to introduce them one by one, and when it was Amy Pascal's turn, Nobuyuki Idei did not hide the regret in his tone, and said: "Miss Pascal, losing you is really the biggest loss in Colombia, I hope you can carefully consider the matter of returning to Colombia." ”

Amy Pascal was a little surprised by Nobuyuki Idei's blunt invitation, but only responded politely.

A simple conversation between the crowd. The time for the premiere soon arrived, and the staff began to guide the backstage guests to the screening room.

Eric deliberately left behind, waiting for the guests to leave. The female assistant who followed him took the initiative to explain Eric's doubts: "Nobuyuki Idei arrived in Los Angeles a week ago, and we got the news that Nobuyuki Idei personally brought an audit team and is currently checking Colombia's financial information. Other than that. Another purpose of Nobuyuki Idei's visit to Los Angeles is to find the next person at the helm of Columbia. ”

Eric nodded, remembering the middle-aged man with glasses that Nobuyuki Idei had specially introduced for him, and asked, "Do you know Howard Stringer?" ”

"Howard Stringer has been president of CBS for the last few years and just left a few months ago," Kelly said. He started out as a powerful journalist, and when he was head of CBS's news department, CBS Evening News was the most watched of the three major television networks at the time, and it may have been due to CBS's internal instability in recent years. During his tenure as president of CBS, he did not make any outstanding achievements. ”

Eric thought for a moment and asked, "And how does he compare to Robert Egger?" ”

Kelly shook her head: "I only have some basic information about him here." If you need a detailed assessment, I'll have someone do it tomorrow. ”

Eric didn't have a strong interest in Howard Stringer, and he didn't refuse the female assistant to collect more detailed information, and instructed, "By the way, let's collect information about Nobuyuki Idei." ”

Compared with the CEO after Sony's decline, Eric is more interested in Nobuyuki Idei, the head of Sony's single-handedly brought Sony from the peak to the decline.

Since Nobuyuki Idei suddenly appeared, he and Eric were seated together as a matter of course. Eric has watched the new version of "Mission Impossible" several times, but he didn't pay too much attention to the screen, and Nobuyuki Idei's mind was obviously not on the movie, and the two of them tried back and forth a few times during the more than 120-minute movie, and Eric almost understood Nobuyuki Idei's intention, and Nobuyuki Idei obviously understood Eric's attitude.

After the premiere, Nobuyuki Idei took the initiative to invite Eric when he left: "Eric, I'm still going to stay in Los Angeles for a while, I wonder if it's an honor to take the time to chat?" ”

Eric knew that since Nobuyuki Idei appeared in Los Angeles, it was inevitable that the two sides would have a formal meeting: "Of course it's no problem, Idei, just have someone contact my assistant to confirm the time." ”

Nobuyuki Idei smiled and agreed, and after saying goodbye to Eric, he got into the car.

After driving a distance, Nobuyuki Idei's face in the carriage was already gloomy.

In recent days, in the course of reviewing detailed information about Colombia, Nobuyuki Idei has found that the problems in Colombia are much more serious than the headquarters thought. Peter Cooper and Jon Peters have been running Columbia for a few years, and they have not made any decisions that would benefit Columbia Pictures, but have brazenly drained the company's finances, not only taking a large amount of salary bonuses, but also squandering the money that should have been used for the company's development on personal enjoyment, Columbia has spent a total of $170 million on office decorations, private jets and luxury yachts in recent years, and other messy expenditures.

If Peter Cooper and Jon Peters had worked hard to run Colombia, the costs would not have hurt the foundation of the established studio. But the two never put their minds on running Colombia. In the past five years, Colombia's only success has been some film collaborations with Firefly, but these collaborations are also not so simple. Sony has discovered that Colombia's overseas distribution network has been semi-paralyzed because of Firefly's 'collaboration' with Colombia.

Remembering old rivals Panasonic Group and Canada's Seagram Group, they are in final negotiations on a deal for Universal Pictures. Nobu Idei's heart inevitably sprouted some retreat. But with the current situation in Colombia, Sony has no way back, because Columbia's current stall is not even much better than MGM, Sony spent a huge amount of $5.5 billion to acquire Colombia, and if Colombia is forcibly sold now, even if the original purchase price is discounted, no one may be willing to take over. And even if someone is willing to take over, Sony will not dare to 'sell Colombia' at a low price under the strong pressure of all parties.

Case. Sony can only grit its teeth and continue to insist on running Colombia. Although it was ruthlessly cheated by Fireflies in the original cooperation process, at present, the copyrights of several films such as "Men in Black", "Mr. and Mrs. Smith", and "Juman's Game" cooperated with Fireflies, and the distribution rights of "Mission Impossible", "Forrest Gump" and "Wonderful Night at the Museum" with Flower Pictures are undoubtedly the most valuable resources in the hands of Colombia.

Nobu Idei hated these Hollywood profiteers to the extreme. But they also know that they want to maintain Colombia. It is imperative that these resources be fully utilized. In particular, the sequels to "Men in Black" and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith", both of which have grossed more than $500 million worldwide, will surely bring very considerable revenue to Colombia with the word-of-mouth accumulated by the first installment.

Nobuyuki Idei attended the premiere of "Mission Impossible" today, just to test Eric's attitude towards the sequels of the two films, without the cooperation of Firefly, unless legal means are used, it will be difficult to start the sequels of "Men in Black" and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith". But Colombia is now in trouble. Nobuyuki Idei didn't want to cause another lawsuit.

It's just that I remember Eric Williams' ambiguous attitude during the premiere. Nobuyuki Idei couldn't help but rub his temples again.

This matter could not be solved for a while, and Nobuyuki Idei remembered the matter of the next leader of Colombia, and looked up and asked the assistant sitting in the front passenger seat: "Fujita, has there been a reply to Michael Ovitz's invitation?" ”

"Yes, President, Mr. Ovitz has promised to meet with you next Monday."

……

With a brilliant plot and excellent marketing, "Mission Impossible" easily grossed $38.5 million in more than 2,900 theaters in the first three days of the opening weekend, and many media outlets gave Kevin Costner a very positive review of this comeback after the fiasco of "Law Enforcement", and the "Los Angeles Times" praised "Mission: Impossible completely broke through the shackles of the TV drama version, the plot is gripping, the scenes are dazzling and atmospheric, and Kevin Costner vividly portrays the image of a tough agent who survives in a desperate situation".

With excellent word-of-mouth and box office in the first weekend of three days, the evaluation agency has made a North American forecast of $160 million to $180 million for "Mission Impossible".

Because Kevin Costner's other spy film "The Bodyguard" has reached $410 million at the global box office, and "Mission Impossible" is better in terms of quality and marketing efforts, box office evaluation agencies are more optimistic about the global box office forecast of "Mission Impossible", and most institutions have predicted that the global box office of "Mission Impossible" is not less than $500 million.

The production and marketing costs of "Mission Impossible" are controlled within $110 million, of which $40 million in marketing expenses are shared by Flower Pictures and Colombia, although Flower Pictures has invested $90 million in "Mission Impossible", but according to the global average box office forecast of $500 million, just at the box office, Flower Pictures can recover about 130 million shares, and bring $40 million in profits in the case of full return to cost, and "Mission Impossible" Subsequent revenues from videotapes and television broadcasting rights will be even more lucrative.

In the new week, at Universal Studios Burbank, Michael Eisner still sat in his office early, reading the weekend box office report that his assistant had just sent over with a faint envy between his eyebrows.

After reading the content of the report about "Mission Impossible", Michael Eisner continued to look for the box office charts, landing on the "Little One" released by Universal at the same time, which is a project personally operated by Michael Ovitz after becoming the president of Universal, this family comedy with a man pregnancy as a gimmick grossed a total of only $7.68 million in the first three days of the first weekend, although it squeezed into the top five of the box office charts, but it is not even a fraction of the box office of "Mission Impossible".

Of course, Michael Eisner will not expect such a comedy with an investment of only 30 million US dollars to reach the level of "Mission Impossible" at the box office, he just thought of Michael Owitz's idea for this film, Michael Owitz actually wanted to invite Arnold Schwarzenegger as the leading actor, with Arnold Schwarzenegger's value after "True Lies", once Arnold Schwarzenegger is invited, the production and marketing budget level of this film will also be increased at the same time, The production cost alone may reach 60 million US dollars, and when the project of "Little One" was decided, although Michael Eisner was still recovering from heart surgery and needed Michael Ovitz to help him manage the affairs of the world, he still vetoed Michael Ovitz's proposal with a strong attitude, and the two even had a private argument, and the decades-long friendship also cracked at that time.

But now, looking at the box office data in his hand, Michael Eisner does not regret his original decision, but is faintly happy.

The box office of "The Little One" in the first weekend was only 7.68 million, and the agency's total box office forecast for this film is only 30 million. However, although this number is still pitifully inferior to the box office of "Mission Impossible" in the first weekend, "Little One" can definitely bring good revenue to Universal through overseas distribution and peripheral channels such as videotapes.

But if Michael Ovitz's suggestion of a big star production had been adopted, the project would have been a huge loss for the world.

With these things in mind, Michael Eisner couldn't help but count in his mind a series of ideas that Michael Owitz had put forward since he joined the company, and couldn't help but shake his head.

Now the negotiations between Panasonic and the Sigram Group have entered the final stage.

Michael Eisner once again made up his mind to take advantage of this negotiation to kick Michael Ovitz out of the world no matter what, although the golden parachute agreement signed with Michael Owitz under his leadership made Michael Owitz feel like he was cocooned, but thinking of the recent secret contact between Sony and Michael Ovitz and Panasonic's eagerness to get rid of the world, Michael Eisner has become more and more sure of kicking Michael Ovitz out of the globe.

The assistant's knock on the door woke up Michael Eisner, who was pondering: "Mr. Eisner, Mr. Bronfman of Seagram has arrived. (To be continued.) )