"Dennis. Knoll quit his job last week, remember when he personally demonstrated a special effects shot for you, "The two of them are back in the office, Stan. Winston just sat down and said.

Eric recalled, remembering Stan. Winston's name is Dennis. Knorr's special effects artist, a tall, lanky white man, in his early thirties, graduated from Stanford University with a degree in computer science. Winston once introduced himself to the other party's excellent performance in the post-production of "Tornado".

"Someone poached?" Eric asked, if it was a normal departure, Stan. Winston wouldn't go out of his way to talk about it.

Stan. Winston nodded, "Sony Pictures plans to set up its own film and television special effects subsidiary, and invite Dennis to be the director." ”

"We can't stop people from going to high places, but is there something else?"

Stan. Winston took out a form from his desk and handed it to Eric, saying, "Eric, you see, since the release of "Terminator 2", in half a year, 12 of the company's top special effects artists have resigned, including two supervisors. ”

Eric took it and looked at it, not only did it show the time when these people resigned, but also their whereabouts, most of which were poached by other special effects companies, even including the biggest rival in the digital field, Industrial Light and Magic, and a few people set up their own special effects studios.

"You're better here," Eric said, looking up at Stan. Winston laughed, "The situation is even worse on Pixar's side, and John has also submitted a report to me, hoping that restrictive measures such as guò non-compete agreements will prevent this from happening." ”

"You don't seem to be worried at all?" Stan. Winston's worried expression softened a lot in Eric's smile.

Eric put the resignation form down. Look at Stan. Winston said, "Stan. You know it starts with taking over Pixar and the digital space. How much R&D money have I invested in the R&D teams of the two companies? ”

Stan. Winston shook his head, he was more concerned with the technical aspects of special effects than with finances. When Firefly reorganized last year, Eric separated the R&D teams of Pixar and the digital field from the two companies and handed them over to Ed. Carmol operates this aspect of things Stan. Winston is even less likely to be clear.

Eric recalled the number in his mind and explained, "Ed. Camor's fixed technology R&D team has more than 400 people, all of whom are top technical talents in all aspects. The average annual salary per capita is about $100,000, which alone consumes $40 million a year. And Pixar and the digital field of the two companies also currently reach 600 professional and technical personnel, the average annual salary of these people is not much worse than those people, this is another 60 million, in addition, Firefly has also invested in three technology research and development centers at Stanford University, the University of Washington and the University of California, these research and development centers of the industry's top scientists to provide Pixar and the digital field of higher level of technical support, which is another big expenditure. ”

Stan. Winston smacked his tongue, he didn't expect Eric to be so willing to spend money. If you calculate it this way, Eric has invested at least $200 million in recent years. In a situation where the future of CG special effects and 3D animation is completely unclear. It is estimated that Eric is the only one who dares to throw in 200 million dollars in such a big way.

Eric looks at Stan. With a surprised expression, Winston continued: "Now the outside world estimates that Firefly's net profit in 1990 is $400 million, but in fact, because of various expenditures in the research and development of special effects technology, Firefly's profit last year was only a little more than 200 million. ”

Stan. Winston also relaxed at this time, and he completely understood the intention of Eric's words, although it is a pity, the loss of top technical talent is not enough to shake the digital field and Pixar's position in the industry, because in Hollywood, except for Firefly, no company will invest in technology so wildly.

ILM has always maintained its leading position in the special effects industry, but as the focus of film and television special effects shifts from model special effects to computer special effects, Industrial Light & Magic, which previously focused more on model special effects, is destined to lag behind the digital field.

Since the release of "Terminator 2", the digital field has received several projects for the production of special effects films, which in the past were usually just the business of Industrial Light and Magic. With these projects in the digital field, more technologies can be accumulated in the manufacturing project, so that if the virtuous cycle continues, it will be impossible for ILM to catch up with or even surpass the digital field.

Thinking of this, Stan. Winston showed a faint smile and said: "More than 200 million profits are not bad, there are not many of the seven major film companies with annual profits of more than 200 million US dollars, and Disney, MGM and Paramount have all lost money this year, hmm...... In other words, Hollywood is now back to the Big Eight studios. ”

Eric said: "After buying Disney, it will be the Big Seven again. ”

Stan. Winston remembered the newspaper Firefly and Viacom's crazy offer for Disney, and although he was curious, he didn't ask, the multi-billion dollar deal was too far away for him.

"That's right, Eric, Dennis. After Knoll left, he asked if I could buy the rights to use software like Maya from the digital realm, and I remember you mentioned that? ”

Eric did consider monopolizing special effects software, in the original time and space, it was Autodesk that monopolized film and television special effects software, and mainstream special effects software such as Maya and 3DMax were all products of Autodesk, but that was ten years later.

Now the special effects company is still in a kind of 'aristocratic stage', not a dozen or so technicians can be established together in ten years, therefore, now is not the best time to make money through special effects software, the most important task in the digital field is to accumulate technology, to achieve a position that is difficult for any company in the same industry to achieve, once the special effects industry begins to civilian, the digital field with strong technical accumulation can enter the special effects software market at any time.

"Don't do that just yet. At this stage, the most important thing is to stay ahead of the technology in the digital field. Now that they have chosen it immediately. Let's start from scratch," Eric said, a faint smile on the corner of his mouth: "I will let the legal department keep an eye on this area, and once these departing personnel are suspected of technical infringement, I will make them and the financiers behind them pay enough price." ”

"I see," Stan. Winston nodded, looked at his watch, and was already past the end of work: "Eric." Why don't we go for dinner together, there are several good restaurants in Venice. ”

Nothing happened next, and Eric happily agreed.

……

On January 18, two days before the bidding deadline, Fireflies announced to the media in one go four large-scale film plans, including "Jurassic Park" and "Heaven and Earth Collision", and at the same time, the Los Angeles Times published a promotional poster for "Tornado" and said that "Tornado" will play a trailer for 1 minute and 30 seconds at the latest Super Bowl.

And almost at the same time. Viacom also said that if it buys Disney, Viacom will spend $500 million to make six to eight special effects films.

Because I tasted the sweetness of high investment and high return of large-scale zuò movies. In the past two years, the scale of investment in Hollywood films has become larger and larger, and the announcement of similar news can also strengthen the confidence of all parties.

After a week of gambling, January 20 finally arrived.

Despite his 100 percent confidence, Eric woke up before five o'clock and drove to Disney's headquarters in Burbank at eight o'clock.

Seeing Eric's car appear, hundreds of reporters who had been waiting outside the Disney headquarters all night rushed up, directly surrounding Eric's car, and at the same time the flash lights were frantically lit, all kinds of questions outside the car window also messed into Eric's ears.

Eric, who was stuck in the car, pushed the door hard, but couldn't squeeze it open, and could only wait patiently for Disney security personnel to come and maintain order.

After waiting for two or three minutes, the bodyguards in Eric's other car and the security guards at the Disney headquarters broke through the crazy group of reporters to Eric's car door.

"Mr. Williams, will Firefly retain the Disney brand after the acquisition is completed?"

"Will Disneyland be renamed Firefly Land?"

"Will Fireflies put Pixar Studios in Disney?"

"It is said that Disney executives have signed a compensation agreement of up to $500 million for the 'golden parachute', will there be a large-scale replacement of Disney management after the completion of the Firefly acquisition?"

“……”

“……”

These questions will obviously be answered in a press conference after the acquisition is completed, but the reporters around them obviously want to get the latest news.

However, the wall was finally pushed open, but Eric did not dare to pause for a moment to answer any questions, and hurried towards the office building of Disney headquarters.

Two minutes later, Eric finally stepped into the lobby of Disney's headquarters, and a large number of reporters were barred from the door.

Taking a deep breath, Eric followed Disney's guide to a spacious break room.

Just pushed the door in, Eric went to see an old man sitting on the sofa opposite him who was reading a newspaper, the old man was a little rich, but the most striking thing was the scar on his face because of the burns, it was obvious that this old man was the famous Summer. Lei Shidong.

Unexpectedly, the first meeting would be in this situation, Eric glanced at the guide beside him, and the young girl was also a little surprised, and immediately realized that he had brought the wrong room, this was the rest room of the Viacom team.

Although Eric didn't mind withdrawing, in the face of Lei Shidong's undisguised compelling gaze, withdrawing now was undoubtedly tantamount to showing weakness.

Smiling calmly, Eric took the initiative to walk over, came to Lei Shidong's side and politely stretched out his hand and said, "Mr. Lei Shidong, we have finally met." ”

Lei Shidong let out a disdainful snort, glanced at Eric's outstretched hand, and then raised the newspaper again, looking ignorant of Eric.

The female employee who took Eric to the wrong room was even more frightened, in case the two of them clashed, her job would be gone, the female employee looked at Eric worriedly, but saw that Eric didn't seem to care too much, shrugged her shoulders, withdrew her hand and sat down on the sofa next to her, looked at the badge of the girl who brought her, and said, "Miss Gleason, can you make me a cup of coffee, no sugar, add more milk." ”

"Ah, good...... Good. The girl hurriedly ran to develop for Eric.

Eric also picked up a prepared newspaper from the coffee table and flipped through it.

"Young man, it's better not to be too ambitious," Eric was looking at an analysis of the acquisition, when a somewhat old but angry voice suddenly came to his ears.

Eric put down the newspaper, looked at Lei Shidong, and said with a smile: "Mr. Lei Shidong, are you talking to me?" ”

Lei Shidong snorted coldly again: "Your luck is very good, movies made by zuò often achieve good box office, but the acquisition of Disney is not just as simple as luck." ”

Eric wasn't surprised by Lei Shidong's coldness and mockery, and it was good that the hot-tempered tycoon didn't point at his nose and shout at him. After all, Lei Shidong is a person who will scold his son for being a fool in public, and in his memory, Lei Shidong has fought lawsuits with his wife, son, daughter, and nephew, and his bad temper can be seen.

In the face of the old man's aggressiveness, although Eric didn't care too much, he didn't blindly tolerate it, and retorted: "I remember someone said, in fact, luck is also a kind of strength. Moreover, I think that as an old man who is almost 70 years old, you should not fight with us young people for these things, and it is the best choice to live in old age. ”

Lei Shidong glanced at Eric and said with a smile: "Actually, your film company is good, if it goes public, remember to tell me, Viacom is still very interested." ”

Eric shook his head and said, "No, you're wrong, Mr. Lei Shidong, although going public is the choice of the Daben branch, I prefer to control everything in my own hands." However, I'm also very interested in Viacom, for example, MTV. ”

"Heh, it's really self-defeating, this is one of the funniest jokes I've heard recently," Lei Shidong laughed.

"Whether it's a joke or not, we'll know in a few years," Eric took the coffee handed over by the female employee just now, looked at Lei Shidong and continued: "However, since I stepped into Hollywood, many people have been saying that I can't help myself, and then there is no way to watch me continue to be self-conscious, you will also see." (To be continued......)