Eric was killed by Peter. Cooper pestered and talked for nearly an hour, and if it weren't for the important meeting to attend, Eric estimated that he would have been consumed by this guy this morning.

Sent Peter away. Cooper and Eric soon came to the large conference room of the Firefly headquarters, at this time, the managers at the level of the head of the Firefly Pictures department were almost there, and even many executives from overseas branches rushed back, and there were forty or fifty people in total. Because with the advent of summer in June, as a film and television entertainment company, Firefly's various departments will also usher in the busiest period, in order not to delay the work, the management will arrange the operation and financial summary meeting for the first half of the year at the end of May, Firefly is not a listed company, so there is no need to wait for the official financial report for the first half of the year to be released and then in accordance with the requirements of the board of directors to summarize and adjust the business.

In the first half of the year, the North American film market performed well, and only Paramount Pictures' "Peach Deal" released during Easter was lucky to get a box office of more than $100 million. In the first six months of 1993, Firefly released a total of seven low- and medium-budget films, with the best box office performance being a family adventure comedy called "Cat and Dog Game," produced by the Disney label and distributed by Broadwell International, which grossed more than $43 million in North America, while the total box office of the seven films in North America was only $180 million.

This figure may seem a bit inconspicuous, but Firefly's total turnover in the first half of the year in film and video sales, peripheral rights operations, theme parks, Disney stores and other businesses reached $2.2 billion, and the pre-tax profit also exceeded $250 million. In this way, the revenue of the movie box office has only accounted for about 10% of the total turnover of Firefly Pictures. Eric was clear. If such a revenue ratio is really reached. It is the healthiest business composition of a media group with comprehensive development, which can also make a media company's ability to resist risks to the strongest, and it will not fall into the dilemma of bankruptcy because of the failure of one or two films.

However, in fact, Firefly is far from reaching this point, and the reason why it temporarily presents such a revenue ratio is mainly because most of the first half of the year is in the off-season for movies, and the most popular summer and New Year schedules are concentrated in the last six months of the year. The main films of Firefly were also released within the next six months, and the total production cost of the three films "Jurassic Park", "Heaven and Earth" and "Bug Crisis" in the summer file totaled 200 million US dollars, which exceeded the total production and distribution costs of the seven films in the first half of the year.

The whole meeting didn't end until half past four in the afternoon, and although there was still half an hour to go, Eric had already planned to go home early. However, as soon as he packed his things, he was stopped by Katzenberg, who was followed by Patrick, the director of Disneyland Paris. Schneider, because of a major mistake in the management of Disneyland Paris last year, Eric and Katzenberg originally planned to transfer Patrick. Schneider withdrew his headquarters. But then the operation of Disneyland in France was carried out in Patrick. Schneider's management has seen a good turnaround, and Eric has consulted with Katzenberg. It was decided to let Patrick. Schneider remained on duty for the time being.

Today's meeting also touched on the state of Disneyland Paris, which had a total of 6 million visitors in the first two quarters, and that it had reached breakeven in terms of operations, and could even be profitable in the second half of the year. As a project that was seriously out of control in the development process, Eric's requirement for Disneyland Paris was that as long as it could maintain balance and not become a drag on the group, it would be able to achieve profitability, which had made Eric overjoyed. You must know that after the opening of Disneyland Paris in the original time and space, it basically brought hundreds of millions of dollars in losses to the Disney headquarters every year, and there were few profitable years.

"Eric, yes, Louis Brown, the representative of the French investor of Disneyland Paris. Batlló is also in Los Angeles, and the French side is not too happy with the current situation of Disneyland Paris, and they want to take back the management rights of Disneyland Paris. Katzenberg had never been a verbose man, and he wasn't used to beating around the bush, so he told the reason for stopping Eric in a few words.

Eric didn't take the two of them back to his office, but motioned for the two of them to sit down together at the conference table, and asked, "I remember that last year we told them very clearly about the situation at Disneyland Paris, and we have made a lot of changes, but now the situation has been developing for the better, why do they still have this idea?" ”

Patrick sitting on the other side. Schneider knew the most about the inside story, saying: "Mr. Williams, the situation at Disneyland Paris is indeed on the good side, but compared to the profitability of Tokyo Disneyland, the gap is too big. The reason why the French came up with this idea is probably influenced by the fact that Tokyo Disneyland is run by the Japanese themselves. ”

Eric sneered in his heart, the French had a good calculation, but he didn't think about whether he had that strength. The success of Tokyo Disneyland is also largely due to the Japanese people's identification with and admiration for American culture, which does not exist in Europe. He remembered that in the original time and space, because of the huge losses of Disneyland Paris in the early stage, the Disney headquarters was forced to give up control of the park, and as a result, Disneyland Paris has not changed in the hands of the French for more than ten years, but has become more and more a burden on Disney, and on this alone, Eric cannot give up control of Disneyland Paris. After all, Disneyland has a wealth of operational experience, which is why Disneyland Paris quickly adjusted and gradually improved in less than a year after discovering the problem, and if it was handed over to the French, who knows what these people would make the park look like.

"In any case, we will definitely not transfer control of Disneyland Paris," Eric said, looking at the two of them and asking, "Is it Luis. Batlló wants to see me? ”

"He invited us to a drinking party together in the evening, and by the way, we have already agreed, after all, we are guests from afar, just to tell you, by the way, discuss how to deal with it." Katzenberg said. He obviously knows that too. Eric will not attend this so-called drinking party.

"I'm not going." Eric shook his head, thought for a while, and said, "Aren't the French eyeing Tokyo Disneyland, and since they want to take back control, it's not impossible for them to ......"

Before Eric could finish speaking, Katzenberg hurriedly said, "Eric, absolutely not. ”

Eric stopped Katzenberg and smiled, "You wait until I'm done." You know I was killed by Peter some time ago. Cooper is not lightly entangled, and if we refuse, I think that in the future, I will definitely be pestered by the French, so I will put the price out. Since they want to get the same control as the Japanese, it would be better to buy back all the shares of Disneyland Paris in our hands, just like the Japanese, and we can only charge for licensing the patent like Tokyo Disneyland. ”

When Katzenberg heard Eric say this, he was immediately relieved. Schneider also laughed: "It's a good way." If the French are willing to buy our shares, then the headquarters will be able to get rid of this big burden. And we can continue to make profits from Disneyland Paris in times of drought and flood. In the future, even if Disneyland Paris can't survive in the hands of the French, we won't have to take too much responsibility. ”

Although the situation at Disneyland Paris has improved, as the person in charge, Patrick. Schneider didn't have many easy moments in his heart, and most of the time he was worried that the situation of the park would suddenly deteriorate. If he can put aside this burden and return to his headquarters, he really can't ask for it. However, he also knows that this is unlikely. The French are not stupid enough to take all the risks into their own pockets, so Eric's offer of this condition is basically tantamount to cutting off the French from the idea of reclaiming Disneyland Paris.

Katzenberg also said at this time: "In that case, Eric, perhaps you can also come with you at the evening drinking party, and you will personally tell Louis about this condition. Isn't Batlló better, I was a little expecting the look he would look at when he heard this. ”

Eric shook his head: "Forget it, there is no need, besides, Jeffrey, although you have this condition as a shield, but I think with your eloquence you will definitely be able to explain the stakes to him, there is no need for the French to always think about this matter." ”

"Okay, I see," Katzenberg nodded, and after talking about it, the three of them laughed and left the room.

As he walked towards the elevator, Patrick. Schneider suddenly spoke: "Mr. Williams, I heard that the company is planning to open a new art film production section recently, dedicated to the production of award films, right?" ”

Eric nodded and said with a smile: "This department is now in charge of Michael's planning, you don't want to recommend yourself as the person in charge, right?" ”

There are too many people named Michael, but Patrick. Schneider still knows that Michael is in Eric's mouth, and he is the CEO of Firefly. Lynn: "Of course not, Mr. Williams, but I've been staying in France, and I have a good relationship with the French film and television industry, and recently there happened to be a very good young French director who plans to come to Hollywood to develop, although he is only in his early thirties, but he has already been nominated for several César Awards, speaking of which, this guy has been nominated for the César Award for his first film work at the age of twenty-five, which is a rare thing in the French film industry, as we all know, in the conservative film circle in France, It is a hundred times more difficult for young people to get ahead than in Hollywood, and what is even more rare is that the director's work is both commercial and artistic. ”

The three of them walked into the elevator together, and Katzenberg said: "It's not so easy for French directors to get Oscar recognition, unless they develop in Hollywood as soon as they debut." ”

Patrick. Schneider was only asked to mention it to Eric, and he knew that what Katzenberg said was the truth, and he was about to meet it, when he heard Eric ask, "What's the name of this director?" ”

"Luc. Besson, "Patrick. Schneider replied.

Eric said that it was indeed this guy, smiled, and said, "What a coincidence, I just watched his "Nikita", which is not bad. ”

If White Dove Wu's three-board axe in Hollywood is slow motion, character close-ups, and White Dove, then, Eric vs. Luc. Besson's impression of the 'three-plate axe' is to chase, chase, and chase.

That's not to say Luc. Besson's film style is monolithic, just in Luc. Besson's works are full of too many chase plots. From the early "Nikita", to the later "Hurricane Rescue", and the somewhat inexplicable box office success "Super Body", etc., they can't avoid this routine, and the audience is very much buying this simple and crude plot that stimulates adrenaline.

Thinking of this, Eric asked, "Pat, you said Luc. What is it about Besson going to Hollywood? ”

Patrick. Schneider replied, "He's going to make a killer film, and he's going to shoot it in New York, so he's looking for a collaborator on our side." ”

Eric thought that the killer movie shot in New York should definitely be "Killer Leon", "Killer Leon"!

"Well, let someone from the production department contact him, I'll look at the script first, and if I can, Firefly can take care of the investment and production."

Patrick. Schneider didn't expect Eric to make such a decision on the spot, and nodded: "No problem, he has been in Los Angeles recently, I will contact him tonight." ”

After getting out of the elevator, the three of them said goodbye to each other and got into their own cars.

The driver drove the car onto the road, but Eric looked out the window a little distracted, the trajectory of the world has changed so much under his influence, although the director is still the director, and the actor should be the actor, however, I don't know if Lolita is still the Lolita.

The car passed by a movie theater, and Eric caught a glimpse of a huge poster of "Jurassic Park" hanging more than two meters high on the outer wall of the movie theater, and he retracted his thoughts. "Jurassic Park" is about to be released, and now this matter is the most important thing.

The $25 million in publicity and distribution costs invested in the early stage have all been painted, and Eric did not hesitate to open another $25 million, and, with the example of the successful saturation of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith", Eric did not hesitate this time and insisted on raising 3,000 opening screens for "Jurassic Park". There is no doubt that "Jurassic Park" will be the first film in North America to exceed 3,000 screens on its own.

Now, "Jurassic Park" has entered the final warm-up period. (To be continued......)