Adaptations of novels and comics can be said to be an important part of Hollywood films, in addition to the "Hobbit" and "Elf Diamond" that have long been won, including "Twilight: Twilight", Ryan has been keeping an eye on the adaptation market in the past few years after he became the owner of Walt Disney, and through a series of means and negotiations, he has obtained the film adaptation rights of many works.

Like Greyda? Coville's 2003 novel "How to Tame Your Dragon", such as the comics "King Haibian" and "League of Assassins" from Dingniu Comics, etc.

These works won by Disney will naturally not be adapted into movies in one go, and they must be launched in a planned manner, and Disney cannot put billions of dollars of liquidity on movies every year.

Although he ousted the boards of directors of Google and Blizzard Entertainment in favor of George, Ryan showed up in time for Glendale, a small town north of Los Angeles, at the end of September, where he was there to sit on the board of directors of DreamWorks Animation Studios.

As the largest shareholder of DreamWorks Animation Studios and the person who single-handedly revitalizes DreamWorks Animation, Ryan doesn't come here too often, and unless there is something extremely important, he usually only sends representatives to the board of directors.

When Ryan appeared in the conference room, whether it was an independent director or an executive director, the gaze that looked at him was a little complicated.

Although Walt Disney has never held more than five percent of DreamWorks Animation's shares, and has not officially announced its purchase of DreamWorks Animation Studios, all of those present are people who understand, and Disney has also been in private contact with people who own more shares, and in their opinion, DreamWorks Animation may become a subsidiary of Walt Disney at any time.

Sitting at the conference table, Ryan remained largely silent from start to finish, and it was the usual board meeting where the business and financial issues of DreamWorks Animation Studios were discussed the most.

In fact. DreamWorks Animation Studios is far from what it seems, with a net profit of only $10.65 million in the last quarter......

The reasons for this are complex, and the most critical point is that DreamWorks Animation Studio is only an independent production company, with no distribution capacity and no complete peripheral product derivative industry chain, so it can only achieve extensive revenue.

In addition, the animated feature films it produces are always good and bad, and perhaps those animated films with a global box office of 200 million to 300 million US dollars, operated by Walt Disney or other large media groups, may take advantage of the industry to recover costs and even generate some profits. However, under the extensive operation of DreamWorks Animation, it will incur losses.

Last year, for example, not counting the short films and a handful of animated series, DreamWorks Animation had two animated films, "Madagascar" and "Super Invincible Dog", but the studio's profit for the whole year last year was only $54 million.

Compared to DreamWorks Animation's worldwide reputation, its performance is not very good.

After the board, Ryan didn't leave, but went straight to Jerever? Katzenberg's office.

"Sit, Ryan."

Ensuite in the living room. After the secretary brought the coffee, Jerry Fer? Katzenberg sat on two adjacent couches with Ryan, "I didn't expect you to come here in person today. ”

"Actually...... Ryan doesn't beat around the bush either, "Jerryver." I'm here mainly to talk to you. ”

"Persuade me to lead DreamWorks Animation Studios to Walt Disney?" Jerry Liver? Katzenberg was well aware of Ryan's purpose, "Ryan, I think you should remember. I was kicked out of Disney. ”

"No, no......" Ryan shook his finger at him, "Michael, the one who drove you away?" Eisner. He was our common enemy, and I have driven him to Switzerland. ”

Looking at Katzenberg, the small, thin, stern-looking CEO of DreamWorks Animation Studios was a lean, dedicated Hollywood-style Jewish businessman.

"Animation is a pure imagination, animation is my true love." Ryan continued, "I remember, this was me and Don? When Han first met you, you talked about The Lion King, and you also said that making an animated feature film requires a lot of teamwork and adequate funding. ”

"Jerry Liver, you've always wanted to make DreamWorks Animation Studios a second Disney Animation Department." Ryan wouldn't be stupid enough to talk about relationships in a business situation, "Don't tell me you don't see the problem with DreamWorks Animation Studios." ”

"DreamWorks Animation does have a lot of problems." Jerry Liver? Katzenberg spoke slowly, "But I'm sure it can be solved." ”

"Is that really the case?" Ryan didn't mean to be sarcastic, just telling the basic facts, "DreamWorks Animation Studios has been working alone, it's just a simple content manufacturer, most of its revenue comes from the box office itself, and if it wants to have a stable distribution and spin-off sales channel like Pixar Studios after being acquired by Disney, DreamWorks Animation must seek external support." ”

"Yes, DreamWorks Animation has high-quality content resources, and I also believe that you will create more high-quality content resources in the future." Ryan emphasized, "But DreamWorks Animation also needed a bigger company to make sure it was going forward. ”

"DreamWorks Animation needs a strong distributor, such as Disney, to use high-quality content resources to do the derivative business."

Today, Ryan owns 35 percent of DreamWorks Animation, and David? Geffen has long wanted to get out of the two DreamWorks, Spielberg needs money to take control of DreamWorks Films, Paul? Alan also reached a tacit understanding in private, those small shareholders are not a problem at all, and the most difficult thing is undoubtedly Jerryvor? Katzenberg.

Although Walt Disney can get a controlling stake even if the other party does not agree, no one wants to turn a bona fide merger into a hostile takeover unless it is absolutely necessary.

"DreamWorks Animation can maintain the production of two to three animated feature films per year." Jerry Liver? Katzenberg didn't seem to listen to Ryan's words, "We're much more efficient than Pixar Studios and Disney Animation." ”

"Warner Bros.'s animated feature film, Happy Feet, is about to be released, and Universal Animation will soon be launching its own animated feature film." Ryan wasn't in a hurry, and he didn't have the magic power, so how could he convince the CEO of a film company in a few sentences, "The competition will become more and more fierce in the future, and DreamWorks Animation must develop a long-term strategy to help the company get out of the stagnation of relying solely on the box office." ”

His words are not exaggerated at all, if DreamWorks Animation Studios continues to maintain its current operating model, its future revenue will not grow much, and even a few years later, it will inevitably fall into a very embarrassing situation like in its previous life - the company itself has a relatively simple structure, just like Pixar Studio, which has not been acquired by Disney in its previous life, the animation production itself has a long cycle and high cost, and the company will rely too much on the success or failure of a movie.

Expanding more business to seek a better living environment and expand its own volume is what DreamWorks Animation needs to do.

"Jerry ......"

Ryan knows very well that Katzenberg has a knot in his heart for Disney, and he can't erase it, but there are some things that are enough to make face or something become a floating cloud, "Walt Disney will give you a stake of equal value in exchange for your shares in DreamWorks Animation Studios, and I promise that for the next five years, you will still be the CEO of DreamWorks Animation, and except for some necessary financial and technical creative staff adjustments, DreamWorks Animation will maintain enough independence like Pixar." ”

This can be considered a very lucrative condition, Disney's stock price has been rising steadily, while the share price of DreamWorks Animation Studios has basically stagnated in the last two years.

"I know you've always wanted to expand the reach of DreamWorks Animation to the East." Ryan ignored Katzenberg next to him and said to himself, "Disney will assist you in setting up the Oriental DreamWorks animation studio and indoor amusement projects; DreamWorks Animation wants to prepare an animated series that can be partnered with ABC TV and Disney TV Children's Channel; IF YOU WANT TO NETWORK YOUR VERY TV, YOUTUBE WILL RESERVE A COLUMN FOR YOU......"

What does it take to impress someone?

After so many years of fighting in Hollywood, Ryan naturally has some experience, and while using interests to attract the other party, he also has to meet some of his ambitions and ideals.

What's more, Jerrywood? Katzenberg's ideas are extremely beneficial to the development of DreamWorks Animation, and if Disney swallows DreamWorks Animation Studios, it will definitely go all out to promote the projects that Ryan has mentioned.

Ryan ......

As a decision-maker in a company, Katzenberg couldn't have an immediate answer, "I need time to think about it." ”

"You guess you won't make me wait too long, will you?"

With that, Ryan stood up and prepared to take his leave, "Is that right, Jerevior? ”

"I'll give you a clear answer before the New Year."

Jerry Liver? Katzenberg reached out to this side, and Ryan shook it hard, "Then I'll wait for your good news." ”

Out of Katzenberg's office, Ryan sighed softly, such a result was also expected by him, after all, this was a transaction involving a large amount of money, not a game of lip service, unless Katzenberg was crazy, he would be persuaded to agree happily.

And Ryan also knows that it's not just Walt Disney who is interested in DreamWorks Animation Studios, such as the SoftBank Group from Japan has also been in contact with Jerry Ford? Katzenberg, trying to get a foot in it.

However, Ryan is not too worried, the other party is just an outsider, and Hollywood has investment value, but after the integration in the nineties of the last century and the beginning of this century, its system determines that there are not many opportunities for new entrants. (To be continued......)