"Congratulations Steven! Exceeded 100 million in the first weekend! No. 1 in history! ”

"Thank you Paul! It was a surprise to receive a call from you at this time! ”

"What? Do you think I'm the kind of person who doesn't care about my friends' movements? Oh! Am I usually so cold? ”

“No！ No！ No！ I just think you're supposed to be in Portland right now, keeping an eye on the Trail Blazers. Didn't you pick Zach Randolph this year? Under the tutelage of Sean Kemp, he is sure to grow quickly. I believe that in a few years, Portland will also have its own Shaq O'Neal! ”

"Hahahaha~ Steven, are you optimistic about him too? It seems that we have the same vision! ”

"Of course!"

…………

"Oh! Steven! You're ahead of me again! ”

"Hey! George! What do you mean? Isn't it normal for me to overtake you? ”

"Normal? Normal?! You actually think it's a normal thing to surpass me? Oh, my God! I'm telling you, it's the most abnormal thing that you surpass me! Trust me, you won't be able to hold this record for long! Next year! When "Attack of the Clones" is released next year, your record of 100 million in the first weekend will become the second in history! ”

"Really? Then I'll wait! ”

"Hmph~We'll see~"

…………

"Hi Steven! I've already been to the cinema to see your Harry Potter and it's been fantastic! Especially the scene where Hagrid takes Harry and them to the school, Hogwarts at night is so beautiful! ”

"Oh, thank you! Tom, this kind of CGI made with computers will be more and more in the future. ”

"Huh? What you said makes me want to integrate CGI into "Mission Impossible", and if the audience finds out that Ethan on the screen is fighting aliens and is amazed by it, then I will definitely tell them that this is your suggestion. ”

"Hahaha~ If you're interested in these things, then come to Industrial Light & Magic to take a look, the later stage of "Minority Report" has been almost done, and you can know in advance how cool your Void Operation looks in the movie!"

“Wow？ So fast? ”

"Of course!"

…………

"Steven? Congratulations! ”

"Oh~ Robert, thank you."

"What? I listen to your voice, I feel that you are tired, huh? ”

"Well, of course I'm tired! Since the box office data came out, my phone calls haven't stopped, one Martin calls, one Leo calls in, I think you should know this better than me? ”

"Hahahaha~ yes, I've been playing for a long time, and I've been busy."

"It can't be helped, every time it comes to a time like this, the phone is not our own."

"Okay, since you're tired, I won't bother and rest early."

"Oh! Your words are what I love to hear! Bye~”

“Bye~”

As the phone hung up, Steven Spielberg also quickly disassembled the back panel of the phone.

When the dark lithium battery hit the mahogany tabletop with a snapping sound, the world finally fell silent.

After doing all this, the gray-haired old man looked relaxed, and while he let out a sigh of relief, he also picked up the water glass on the table? If the sound of clattering is the sourness of the nectar during a long drought? So when he pillows his hands and leans back comfortably? The excitement on that tired cheeks? It's the joy of a big win.

Although he has taken this thing many times since the seventies? His box office game with George Lucas has become a nightmare for countless Hollywood directors, but since he left Universal? Are you determined to become capital? With a huge change in mentality, he never touched the highest temple that he once occupied.

The ninety-three years that produced "Jurassic Park" and "Schindler's List" seem to be his last glory, although he launched "Jurassic Park 2" and "Broken Lock Fury" in '97, but the decline of the former's box office and the latter's word-of-mouth box office collapse made him a little disgraced, even if the launch of "Saving Private Ryan" in '98 made him regain praise? But the ensuing silence and the fiasco of this year's "Artificial Intelligence" made him questionable.

In most people's opinion? The super director who monopolized the box office records of the 70s, 80s, and early 90s may officially favor capital and gradually lose his market sense and talent for directing. The achievement of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" in three days is 125 million, and he has announced his status to the world!

What "Planet of the Apes" 68 million in three days?

What "Rush Hour 2" is sixty-seven million in three days?

What X-Men 65 million in three days?

What "Monsters, Inc." 62 million in three days?

All the special codes are all younger brothers, okay!

In the field of film, there is nothing waiting for talents? Each has led the way for hundreds of years!

There will be no situation where the back waves of the Yangtze River push the front waves, and the front waves die on the beach!

Because as long as he makes a move!

That's to break 100 million in three days!

History first!

What the?

James Cameron, you say?

Can that guy who doesn't talk about martial arts be able to count?

The "Spider-Man" trilogy and "Titanic" were both filmed with Roland Allen!

In the case of thousands of crazy fans? Even if James Cameron has two records of breaking 100 million on the same day?

No one is going to count these things on his head!

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is different.

In the case of his biggest in the whole group, all the results? It's all him!

“Yes！ Yes！ Yes！ ”

Thinking of this, Steven Spielberg, who was in the midst of excitement, clenched his fists? Waved twice in the air.

And while he was happy to vent? Knock knock on the door? It also appeared suddenly.

"Come in."

Cleared his throat and gave the command.

But when he saw that it was his wife who came in with a dinner tray containing supper desserts, the jumping posture and the brisk pace of greeting him conveyed the spontaneous happiness to the world.

"Oh, dear, what have you prepared for me?"

Taking the initiative to take the tray, his eyes swept slightly, and the oily bread made him smile.

He casually pinched one and stuffed it into his mouth, and while chewing, he also commented in a vague tone: "Oh my God, this is so much better than a dinner snack after the Oscars!" ”

"If you like it." Listening to her husband's happy voice, Kate Capshaw's face also showed a little joy, and while pushing the other party to sit down again, signaling him to chew slowly, the words of concern were also confided.

"I saw you were on the phone all night and didn't eat much, so I made you some, do you like it?"

"Of course! I'm starving! ”

In addition to the bread, there is also a thick soup and pasta.

Although it was a simple home-cooked snack, the old man still ate happily.

No way, who made him feel good?

Not only that, but while gobbling it up, he also happily shared today's happiness with his wife, "You don't know, in the past four hours, I have answered the phone call for a month, if it wasn't for the battery, I think I'm still here to 'congratulate', 'thank you'!" ”

"Hahahaha~"

When Steven Spielberg pinched his throat and congratulated and thanked Jerry the Mouse and Tom Cat in the same voice, the funny appearance of the weasel greeting the chickens immediately amused Kate Capshaw.

Rubbing her eyes, her hands on her cheeks, looking at her funny husband, even though she knew that the results of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" were very important to her, she still knowingly cooperated: "Is the success of this movie really that exaggerated?" I mean, your previous movies were actually big hits. ”

"Of course!" Steven Spielberg replied without hesitation: "Although 100 million in January and 100 million in a week are both 100 million, the time is different!"

Moreover, if a work can get a lot of box office in a short period of time, it proves that this work and the main creative team of this work are deeply loved by the audience! It is the embodiment of popularity! It is the embodiment of value! When people are willing to spend money on you, then your status will continue to improve with people's love, and this kind of thing cannot be measured by ancient historical data!

The success of "Jaws" can only prove that the audience in the seventies liked me in the seventies!

The success of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" can only prove that the audience in the 80s liked me in the 80s!

The success of "Jurassic Park" can only prove that the audience in the nineties liked me in the nineties!

And now......

The success of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" proves that the audience of the 21st century likes me in the 21st century!

For the past forty years, there have been people in every era who have liked me!

That's the real exaggeration! ”

Since he was talking in front of his wife, the old man didn't hide it.

And when he raised four fingers and kept drawing in front of his wife, the overflowing pride was even more seen by Kate Capshaw, "Exaggerated and exaggerated!" Exaggerated, right? How old are they, and they're still like a child! ”

"There's a problem with what you say, no matter how old I am, I have the right to be happy!" The old man was not convinced.

"Yes, yes, you have, you have ......" Kate Capshaw raised her hand in surrender.

"Huh!" In his wife's perfunctory admission of defeat, this guy, who was about to celebrate his fifty-fifth birthday, was like a general who had won a battle, and he was majestic and high-spirited...... I ate the rest of the noodles.

Looking at the old naughty boy-like guy, Kate Capshaw was also helpless.

Although the old man is normal on weekdays, and he can take care of his family while being busy, when he is really happy, the sand sculpture that tears through the camouflage is still quite a headache.

But......

That's actually pretty good.

If a person who is almost sixty years old indulges like this once in eight years, it is not a big deal.

While watching her husband eat happily, Kate Capshaw, who was bored, asked again: "Steven? ”

"Huh?"

"How much do you think Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone will go at the box office?"

"In the current situation, if it doesn't break a billion, it's a failure."

"Billion? Wow！ In this way, don't you have two movies that break a billion? ”

"yes, what's wrong?"

"So if you continue to make a sequel, you will soon be able to match Roland's record? Although he has four movies that have broken a billion at the box office, when he has stopped filming, you will catch up with him with "Harry Potter", right? ”

As soon as these words came out, Steven Spielberg, who was still happy, suddenly fell silent.

Slowly raised his head, looking directly at his wife, and there was no situation on his unhappy or sad face.

But because he was too calm, Kate Capshaw was a little alert, and when she found out that there was ambiguity in her words that the teacher was chasing the student, she panicked and wanted to explain, and immediately appeared, "Oh, Steven, I mean ......"

However, before she could finish her sentence, the old man put down his fork, shook his head and sighed.

"Honey, I don't really want to think about this today......"

"Huh?" Kate Capshaw, who didn't figure out the situation, asked suspiciously.

The old man, who understood that his wife was unintentional, did not mean to pursue it, but shrugged his shoulders and explained: "Continuing to shoot "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" is indeed a safe decision for me, but ......

Judging by the current situation, I simply can't get the time in time. ”

As soon as the old man said this, Kate Capshaw was a little strange, "Can't make time? No way?

You and Tom's "Minority Report" has been filmed, and Leo's "Cat and Mouse Game" will start filming early next year, and it will be closed in sixty or seventy days at most, and then there will be one and Hanks's "Happiness Terminal" left.

But according to Hanks's schedule, the film has to start shooting at the end of '03 at the earliest, so you can shoot "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" after "Cat and Mouse" is over, and then release it in the summer of '03......"

As a director who refuses to work overtime, his wife, of course, knows her husband's schedule.

But after hearing his wife's detailed analysis, the old man's face was even more occupied by great helplessness.

"It's not as simple as you think."

At this point, the old man paused, as if organizing the language, but more like weighing the pros and cons, and after a while, when he spoke again, the previous happiness was gone, replaced by incomparable snobbery.

"Whether I have time to shoot Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets doesn't really depend on the timing of the filming of "Cat and Mouse" and "Happiness Terminal", as long as I want, then "Cat and Mouse" will start tomorrow, because Leo has already finished filming Martin's "Gangs of New York" and can join my group at any time, and the real headache for me is actually DreamWorks.

With the opportunity to acquire Sony Pictures Entertainment, I intend to grow my company's TV business vigorously.

"Band of Brothers" you know, right?

This is a TV series derived from Saving Private Ryan.

When we were doing this play, it was just me and Hanks who thought it was interesting and wanted to do it, so we did it.

But this year, after the hit of "Band of Brothers", I thought, since DreamWorks TV has been established, what ......

So we did the TV business together.

In order to ensure the normal operation of the TV department and give them a good start, I am ready to keep an eye on them personally and control the output of the next project, and their next project "Hijacking" has an investment of up to 40 million, in this case, where will I have time to shoot "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"?

After all, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" had to be filmed in the UK, and our TV series could only be done in Los Angeles. ”

There is a way to be bold, and how productive the earth is.

In October last year, when Sony Pictures Entertainment was still out of sight and could not be touched, Steven Spielberg, who introduced Microsoft, dared to think of acquiring MGM and becoming the real seven with membership in the Film Association, so this year, when Sony has been carved up by them, it has become a matter of course to continue to lay out the future!

And with Sony Pictures Entertainment 100% in the hands of DreamWorks, what is the future?

Of course, it's the media!

And what is the content that supports the profitability of the media?

Of course it's a TV series!

So, in early October, after attending the spoils conference, Steven Spielberg, who returned home, was full of excitement, and he wanted to make persistent efforts after the hit of "Band of Brothers" to launch a new series to the market.

In this way, I tried to take the lead in launching my own banner in the field of TV dramas!

After DreamWorks acquires Sony Pictures Entertainment, it will be able to seamlessly integrate with their TV drama division!

At that time, intensifying efforts to promote production in an industrialized way can become a winning method for them to occupy the market!

If it's hard to understand, then change the way and everything will suddenly become clear.

That is to make a TV IP first!

When the public accepts TV IP, Sony should also take the blame!

And after Sony finishes taking the blame, after eating their dream factory, they can borrow a complete set of equipment, venues and manpower to carry out large-scale assembly line development of TV series IP, and after entering this stage, the old man can let go!

Of course, even if Kate Capshaw can understand the meaning of her husband's words, in her opinion, her husband's real purpose is not actually the TV drama market, but NBC, "Are you trying to make Microsoft notice your efforts on cable broadcasting networks in this way, and then promote the merger of DreamWorks and NBC?" ”

Such words made Steven Spielberg laugh, "Wow! Wow！ Wow！ You're right! ”

He didn't mean to hide it, and said calmly: "Yes, what I'm thinking about now is NBC."

When we can afford to eat Sony Pictures Entertainment, then swallowing NBC is the best choice.

With Disney having ABC, Time Warner having Turner Broadcasting Network, Fox having FOX, and Paramount's parent company Viacom having MTV, VH1, BET, and CBS, DreamWorks can only win NBC if it wants to grow.

Because the media group is the only way for Hollywood studios to survive! ”

As a guy who has worked hard in Hollywood for 40 years, the old man certainly understands that times have changed.

If before the development of television, Hollywood's big studios could make a lot of money by monopolizing theaters, then now that people's means of entertainment have been expanded, movies are no longer the only one.

In this case, if Hollywood, the mecca of entertainment, is still clinging to movies, then what will be ushered in is naturally elimination.

As a result, when News Corp. invaded Hollywood and Fox freed up the radio and television network, various companies rushed to carve up the domestic market and the international market, in an attempt to expand their competitiveness by buying, buying, buying.

Compared to those big six with a high starting point, DreamWorks, a production company born in the 90s, has no advantage, but it is precisely because there is no advantage that they have to be more aggressive!

Can you buy MGM?

Then do whatever it takes to buy MGM!

Can you swallow Sony Pictures Entertainment?

The shrunk shares of smashing the pot and selling iron shares have to swallow Sony Pictures Entertainment!

And there is only one media company in the market that has not merged with an entertainment production company......

Completing negotiations with GM before another production company, Universal, has become what the old man wants to do the most!

Although DreamWorks, which has a relationship with Microsoft, is closer to NBC than Universal, before the negotiations, the old man still wants to strengthen the core competitiveness of DreamWorks!

If DreamWorks has a big-selling TV IP, who will GM be more inclined to?

The answer to this question is clear at a glance!

Therefore, getting NBC while swallowing Sony Pictures Entertainment is what Steven Spielberg wants to do most at the moment, of course, if DreamWorks, which has obtained the membership of the Film Association, really preempts Vivendi to negotiate a merger with GM's NBC, then it is actually a good thing for the old man.

Because—

"If the merger is successful, the market landscape will be completely rewritten.

Time Warner, Disney, Fox, Paramount, DreamWorks, the five of us have broadcast television networks.

As a result, Universal and MGM, which lack global publicity means, will be completely left behind.

In the case of Universal's parent company Vivendi's poor operation, they who can't get NBC will most likely sell Universal, in this case, our DreamWorks has a chance to eat Universal!

What is the concept of anti-eating world?

The rights I once sold to Universal will be back to me!

And with the dual ownership of Amperin and DreamWorks, I would be a more successful businessman than George!

Because George just didn't release Star Wars, but I sold the rights and bought Universal!

And DreamWorks, which has swallowed Sony Pictures Entertainment, NBC, and Universal in a row, can instantly become the top three in Hollywood!

I'm Steven Spielberg! On an equal footing with Time Warner and Disney! ”

That's right!

This is the real ambition of the old man!

If the success of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" has allowed him to prove once again that he can still do it after eight years, then this kind of happiness that he once had is simply not comparable to the rise of capital!

What continues to shoot the Harry Potter series to have a chance to produce more than Roland Allen in the output of a billion films?

Does this make sense?

Recording this kind of thing can be broken at any time!

But the capital standing behind the record can gain immortality at the same time as the record is refreshed!

The director is a dream-making tool full of fantasy in front of the public, but in front of capital, he is just a tool man who grabs profits!

And in the case of being a tool man enough, he is self-reliant in order to fly high!

In this way, when he discovers that DreamWorks can one day be as big as Time Warner and Disney......

Of course, he will choose the latter between screen dreaming and capital promotion!

After all, the former is his former dream, while the latter is the dream of the present that he produces while realizing his former dream!

It's as simple as that.

Not to mention......

Those movies that were sold to Universal in 93 were actually his children's dreams!

How could he give up when he had the opportunity to get it all back?

And when the old man excitedly told his wife that his ideals were far grander than the four billion-dollar box office movies, Kate Capshaw, who understood, opened her mouth and didn't know what to do.

But after a long silence, she actually found a problem.

"Steven."

"Huh?"

"Your idea is great."

"Thank you."

"But it's hard to execute."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because you can't guarantee that Microsoft will listen to you."

Hearing this, the old man immediately laughed, "Yes, Microsoft really won't listen to me, but I don't need them to listen to me."

Because all I have to do is convince Roland.

Did you just notice? When I said that DreamWorks was able to enter the top three in Hollywood, how many companies were mentioned?

Time Warner, Disney, Fox, Paramount, DreamWorks, MGM.

These six companies are all members of the Film Association.

Not only that, Time Warner and Disney are also partners of Roland.

The former counted on Roland to help them shoot DC movies, while the latter directly lost the live-action film business to Roland.

In addition, Time Warner's major shareholder Ted Turner originally started from the old bushes, and Disney's animated film business was completely taken over by Pixar, in this case, as long as DreamWorks can be promoted to the top three in Hollywood, the top three companies will be directly or indirectly controlled by him!

In this case, do you think he will not accept my offer?

Because even if Warcraft lacks membership in the Film Society, he can refute all the decisions of Fox, Paramount, and MGM in the same way as Time Warner, Disney, and DreamWorks!

And if he's buying MGM, that'......

What movies can and can't be on the North American market, we will talk behind closed doors!

Because of 4V2!

And the most terrifying thing is that the cash in Roland's hand can smash a MGM!

Can you imagine?

A leather bag company with only the chairman's office, the president's office, and the financial office can crush all the first-line companies!

I don't know how he got to this point, but I know he won't miss the temptation! ”