Strictly speaking, "Captain Hawke" did not fail commercially, and even made a partial profit, but this was achieved under the condition of consuming Spielberg's personal reputation, and it was far lower than the industry's original estimate of $200 million in profits, so "Captain Hawke" can also be said to be an extremely failed work.

Martin. Davis is well aware of all of this, but he doesn't want to be taken elsewhere by Eric using the topic of "Captain Hawke": "Eric, Sony and Panasonic worked with both of them when they bought Columbia and Universal, and in that case, what's not to do with Paramount, it's a win-win thing after all." ”

Eric smiled silently and looked at Martin. "Martin, you should know that the situation is very different now than it was a few years ago," Davis said. ”

When working with Columbia and Universal, Firefly was still quite weak, and could only rely on the distribution channels of the two major film companies to improve its strength. Now the situation is completely different, the strength and status of Firefly have been completely equal to the other six, and when they can't see enough benefits, they only rely on some old grudges with Viacom to cooperate with Paramount, which is tantamount to helping their own competitors.

Martin. Of course, Davis understood this, but he had already thought about the relevant questions and quickly said, "Eric, remember the 'Retort Condor' you worked on with Fox? ”

Eric nodded slightly, vaguely aware of Martin. What Davis wanted to say.

"Paramount also has some film projects in reserve, and we can emulate the collaboration model of 'Rey Condor'. You just need to pick out the next project and participate in the investment, and Paramount will do the rest, what do you think? ”

Most Hollywood films usually have a long incubation period for projects. This stage is generally from the beginning of a book or a script being selected by the producer to the official start of filming, during which it often has to go through a long period of script revision, looking for investors, looking for directors and actors, etc., more than 90% of the projects may be aborted in the project incubation stage, and more than 10% of the projects that can be successfully filmed will not exceed 10%, after all. But compared to the tens of millions of dollars invested, the story on paper is not worth much.

Martin. The project reserve that Davis said is the film project at this stage.

Hear this advice. Eric's expression moved slightly, and he thought about it for a moment before nodding and saying, "It's not that you can't think about it, but Martin." You must know about the sequel to "Toy Condor". If I had cooperated, I would have been unable to agree to that condition last time. ”

"Of course, everything can be discussed," Martin. Davis immediately smiled: "Eric, I've already asked people to prepare the materials, I'll have someone send them to you later." ”

"And one thing, if I don't have a project that satisfies me......" Eric said to Martin. Davis shrugged and made a look you understand. He's just a little curious about Paramount's copyright library, though. The rights to Paramount's most successful "Forrest Gump" and "Mission Impossible" series in the 90s are now with Flower Pictures, so Eric doesn't have much hope for Paramount's rights library.

The crew had a regular meeting in the evening, and after dinner, Eric asked Martin. Davis took his leave and left the restaurant.

Early the next morning, as soon as Eric got up, there was a sharp knock on the door.

"Eric, you take a look at this first," Alan handed over the things in his hand as soon as he entered the door.

Eric took it and looked at it, it was a copy of a newspaper faxed from Los Angeles.

Martin. Davis went to Hawaii to meet Williams, and there was a major cooperation between the two sides.

Underneath the blackened title is also attached Martin. Davis enters the set of "Jurassic Park" and the last photo of him and Eric leaving in a car.

Alan followed Eric into the room, closed the door casually and said: "Yesterday I met the reporter taking pictures outside the set, and I thought it was an ordinary paparazzi who didn't care, but now it seems that it should be Martin. Davis arranged, over there in New York, after the stock market opened today, because of the stimulus of this news, the stock price of Paramount Communications rose by 1.2 percentage points in a short period of time, and I have received a lot of calls asking about this, Mr. Hansen called at four o'clock in the morning," Allen said, handing a page of memo to Eric: "This is the communication record. ”

Eric took the contact list and looked at it, and the executives of the Firefly system were listed, and the other list was longer. Eric raised his hand and looked at his watch, Hawaii local time was just six o'clock in the morning, Los Angeles was three hours ahead of Hawaii, and it was just time to go to work. Fortunately, Eric did not leak the number of his room to too many people, and the few people who knew about him were well aware of his situation, and did not call before dawn, but turned to 'harass' Allen, otherwise he would have been woken up long ago.

Just as he was about to call Jeffrey to explain the situation, the phone in the room finally rang.

"Hello, I'm Eric. Williams...... Good morning, Jeffrey, I was just going to call you......"

After a brief introduction to the situation, Eric hung up the phone, handed the memo to Allen and said, "It's no problem here with the fireflies, you can help me block the others, just say Martin. Davis was on vacation to Hawaii and happened to come across. ”

Alan nodded, and couldn't help but ask, "Eric, are we really going to work with Paramount?" ”

"What do you mean?" Eric didn't answer immediately, but asked rhetorically.

Alan had just heard Eric's explanation to Jeffrey, thought about it, and said: "I don't think it's a good choice to cooperate now, Firefly is now completely on an equal footing with the other six big cakes, and the cake is only so big every year, even if it is in the kind of cooperation model of "Toy Condor", it will definitely bring competition to itself." ”

"You're right, but don't worry, Alan. This matter is not at all eyebrow-raising, and even if it is a cooperation, it must be guaranteed that the fireflies may have enough benefits. ”

Alan raised the fax in his hand: "What about this?" ”

"It's better that there is no such thing. Martin. It wouldn't hurt us for Davis to publicize this, and it should be Lei Shidong or Barry who should be in a hurry. Diller," Eric couldn't help but smile again, "So, maybe there will be some windfall, no matter what." None of us will suffer. ”

……

"Mr. Malone," QVC's CEO's office door saw a middle-aged man in a neat suit looking meticulous walking over. Barry. Diller's assistant stood up and said hello.

John. Marlon hummed with an unchanged face, knocked on the door a few times, and then pushed the door and walked in. The assistant only opened his mouth, but he didn't dare to stop the big boss of QVC's parent company's remote communication.

"Barry. Contact Eric. Williams? ”

Barry sitting behind his desk reading a file. Diller looked at John. Malone. said: "Eric's assistant just called me back and said Martin. Davis was just traveling to Hawaii when the two met by chance. ”

"It just so happened, oh, how could such a coincidence happen," said John. Malone smiled disdainfully, and suddenly remembered Barry again. Diller's words: "So, you didn't talk to Williams on the phone personally? ”

"Nope. My friendship with him has not reached the point where he can call him personally," said Barry. Diller said lightly.

John. Marlon could hear Barry. Diller's tone was a little wistful. I couldn't help but say: "Barry, you should cheer up, the original proposal to acquire Paramount was put forward by you personally, and now it's just a small setback." ”

"Is it really just a minor setback?" Barry. Diller looked at John coldly. Malone glanced at it and said, "You have been to Los Angeles at least four times in the past few months. Davis has even gotten the acquisition proposal that I drafted myself, John, tell me, am I guessing right? ”

When it comes to the end, Barry. There was already a trace of irrepressible anger in Diller's tone, he was not afraid of the enemy, nor was he afraid of setbacks, but he felt a chill at the betrayal of his allies. These months, Barry. Diller's several attempts to try Paramount were blocked, and he acted as if he had dealt with Barry beforehand. Diller's approach is as precautionary.

Realizing the problem, Barry. Diller immediately did the relevant investigation, and then easily discovered the truth of the matter. While Telecommunications, one of the parent companies, has authorized QVC's acquisition of Paramount, John Brown. Marlon started the idea of monopolizing Paramount again, and John. Marlon did not hide his intentions at all, and went to Martin in person many times in a row. Davis's office.

Therefore, Barry. Diller was able to guess the ins and outs of the matter in a short period of time, and only Comcast CEO Brian Brown knew his acquisition plan in detail. Roberts and Telecommunications boss John. Marlon and, of course, Barry. Diller's own team, but he can be sure that his team will not have problems. Malone also did it a little too obviously.

John. Marlon hears Barry. Diller, who made such an obvious accusation, shook his head unchanged: "Barry, I think you must have been mistaken, I went to visit Martin. Davis, too, for the acquisition of things. ”

"It's for Telecom's acquisition of Paramount, not QVC's acquisition of Paramount, right?"

John. Marlon was taken by Barry. Diller's relentless tone made a little angry, and he simply said: "Even if this is true, Barry, I also gave you a chance, but you haven't made any progress in the past few months, have you?" ”

Barry. Diller was so angry by the other party's clever words that he almost laughed out loud, if it wasn't for the betrayal of the other party, revealing his acquisition plan, Barry. Diller can now be sure that QVC will now be able to acquire at least a certain percentage of Paramount shares from the secondary market for the purpose of entering the board of directors.

Although John. Malone always looks like a meticulous gentleman, but Barry. Diller knew that this was just an appearance, and what kind of person the other party was had already revealed from the words of the scoundrel just now.

Buying Paramount, returning to the long-lost office as the owner, is Barry. Diller's long-held desire while Barry. Diller does not have this capital of his own, and he can now only rely on telecommunications and Comcast funds.

The two looked at each other across a desk for a moment, and Barry. Diller still sighed in his heart, and took the lead in compromise: "John, even if Paramount cooperates with Firefly, it won't change anything, Eric. Although Williams is young, he is a person who will never suffer by himself, and the cooperation between the two sides is at most just a little more cost for us. Our real enemy is Martin. Davis and Summer. Lei Shidong, to my vs Martin. Davis understands that he doesn't want to sell Paramount at all, so even if you spend a year in his office, this situation can't change, and the only way to get Paramount is to force a buyout. And in this regard, Summer. Lei Shidong's style is more assertive, as can be seen from the Viacom acquisition in the 80s and the Disney acquisition last year. Lei Shidong is a person who dares to press all the chips. ”

Speaking of which, Barry. Diller paused, looking at John with a somewhat disappointed expression. Malone: "Summer. Lei Shidong is using the financing prepared for the acquisition of Disney last year to seek a controlling stake in the videotape rental giant Blockbuster, and once the other party succeeds, with Blockbuster's huge cash flow, we will not have any advantage in the bidding. Davis is approaching Williams again to seek cooperation in protecting themselves, and they are all working hard for their goals, and look at us, what we are doing," said Barry. Dieller smacked the table with excitement and let out a bang: "And we, but infighting!" ”

"Mr. Diller, what happened?" Hear a muffled noise in the office, Barry. Diller's assistant was worried that the two would fight, so he pushed the door open slightly and asked.

Barry. Diller hasn't opened his mouth yet, John. Ma Long had already turned his head and yelled at the assistant, "Get out, who let you in." ”

The assistant was so frightened that he craned his neck and looked at Barry. Diller, after getting the other party's eyes, retreated with palpitations.

The office was quiet again, John. Malone silently pulled out two cigars and handed them to Barry. Diller, the two men silently lit it, and at the same time took a hard puff.

"Brian. Roberts didn't seem enthusiastic about acquiring Paramount, it was only because of you that they agreed to this acquisition plan, Telecommunications didn't want Comcast to take advantage of this hitchhiker, so I don't think I did anything wrong, and even if Telecommunications acquired Paramount alone, I personally would love you to take the helm. ”

"I've long told a lot of people that I'm not going to sign another employment contract," said Barry. Diller retorted in a deep voice in the smoke that he had a stake in QVC and that he had control of QVC under the agreement signed at the time, and that he was the owner of Paramount in its name. But if the parent company, Telecommunications, buys Paramount, what does that have to do with him? (To be continued......)