Hollywood starts with a broker

After Aaron Anderson left, Disney CEO Frank Wells came to Michael Eisner's office.

"How was that kid just now?" Frank Wells asked.

"Very slippery, and ambitious, with a strong desire for control, and full of confidence!"

Frank Wells nodded, "That's high praise, mainly because he's still young, and his vision is indeed good."

"Forget it, that kid is getting very close to Sony Entertainment now."

Michael Eisner frowned as he said, "Since the Japanese consortium entered Hollywood, it has had a big impact on us. Columbia Pictures will release more than 40 films this year;"

"If Panasonic also acquires MCA Universal, the competition will be even greater."

"Yes, Columbia Pictures has reached distribution cooperation agreements with many independent film companies and producers;"

"They are generous and give independent film companies more autonomy. Many filmmakers choose to cooperate with them!"

Sony is using a money offensive, which is unavoidable. They have broken the Hollywood salary system;

As old Hollywood film companies, the other companies dislike Sony's barbaric approach, but they can't do anything about it.

Michael Eisner's expression was calm as he asked about another matter, "How are Jeffrey's contract extension negotiations going?"

Frank Wells shook his head, "He is very dissatisfied with his current salary, especially the 2% share of film profits that was previously negotiated;"

"According to Disney's calculations, the film profits should be a loss, so he can't get the bonuses and stock options he should have, but he obviously won't agree!"

Since the year before last, Disney's film sales have increased significantly, especially the revival of the animation department, coupled with the popularity of the videotape market, Disney's film and television profits are the highest in Hollywood.

Especially after Bill McNicoll, who followed Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg from Paramount to Disney, took charge of the international distribution department and the home entertainment market, international business and the home entertainment market developed rapidly;

Bill McNicoll ended Disney's international distribution cooperation with Warner Bros. and formed Disney's own international distribution department—Buena Vista International. In the home entertainment market, Bill McNicoll pioneered the direct sales model of videotape cooperation with large retailers!

The increase in movie box office, the hot sales in the videotape market, coupled with the development of peripherals and toys;

Enabled Disney's CEO Michael Eisner to earn more than $50 million a year through fixed salaries, bonuses, and stock options.

Jeffrey Katzenberg's salary is mainly fixed, so of course he is dissatisfied. Of course, he will not accept Disney's calculation of that 2% film profit.

"He hopes to have 75% of your salary, including fixed salary, bonuses, and stock options together!"

"Impossible," Michael Eisner refused without even thinking about it.

"I will continue to talk to him," Frank Wells also knew that Eisner would not agree, but Katzenberg was not easy to deal with;

That 2% profit contract would be troublesome even if it were taken to court, after all, the other party is not an unknown person, and the contract has been signed.

Persuading Jeffrey Katzenberg to extend the contract and give up that 2% profit is a major event!

Looking at Michael Eisner, Frank Wells didn't know if he could persuade him. The revival of Disney animation is inseparable from Jeffrey Katzenberg;

This year, the other party has also developed Disney's most successful live-action movie, "Pretty Woman".

"The progress of Euro Disney is the group's focus at this stage. It cannot be changed when it opens in two years;"

"Also, we must take seriously the fact that some senior executives within the group are restless!"

As the chairman and CEO of Disney, with the support of major shareholder Sid Bass and Disney family member Roy Disney and other board members;

Plus, Disney President Frank Wells is his right-hand man, Michael Eisner's power in Disney is strong enough to not allow anyone to refute him.

The success of "Pretty Woman" and the failure of "Dick Tracy" made some managers within the group begin to question Michael Eisner's judgment, believing that he was no longer always correct;

This Disney "king" does not allow anyone to challenge his authority!

Aaron Anderson, who left Disney, drove to Jennifer Connelly's residence in the Dale community of Hollywood.

"You came from Disney. Do you have a project to cooperate with them?"

Jennifer Connelly handed the man a glass of water.

Aaron shook his head, "Disney has the idea of ​​recruiting me for a short period of time!"

"What do you think?"

"What do I think? I'm not interested. I definitely want to do my own distribution. Let's wait for the opportunity."

Aaron's main thing is that after having the memories of the future, distribution is the most suitable thing to do with these memories!

Companies like Carolco and Castle Rock are just pure film production companies that do not participate in distribution. They can develop some larger investment works, after all, they can obtain some production funds from distributors;

As an independent film company, investing and distributing together, playing with larger investments, it is easy to kill yourself. Orion's situation is an example.

At this moment, on the other side, CAA headquarters in Beverly Hills.

CAA Chairman Michael Ovitz had just sent away Panasonic President Akio Tanii's representative—Panasonic Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Masahiko Hirata;

Regarding Panasonic's acquisition of MCA, it seems that they have encountered difficulties again.

Last year was the first year of Heisei. Sony acquired Columbia Pictures. In the second year of Heisei, Panasonic also wanted to follow in Sony's footsteps and enter Hollywood, but they could not ignore public opinion in the United States.

CAA President Ronald Meyer knocked on the door and entered the office at this time. Looking at Michael Ovitz leaning back in his chair, he sighed: "Director Barry Levinson's new film "Bugsy", Samsung Pictures is willing to invest, but they must not let Warren Beatty play the leading role!"

Michael Ovitz rubbed his forehead, "Then quickly change to another one. Disney's Eisner is very dissatisfied with Warren Beatty's performance in "Dick Tracy", which also caused Disney to lose a lot this time. He scolded him as an old Hollywood stud pig;"

"I recommended another gangster biopic "Billy Bathgate" to Disney and promised to let Dustin Hoffman play the lead role, which reduced Eisner's anger."

Not only that, CAA also has to arrange for big-name movie stars to make cameos in "Billy Bathgate"!

"As for Warren Beatty, just hand him over to the agents below to take care of. He is not qualified to get these resources."

Ronald Meyer nodded, "Samsung Pictures agreed to support "Bugsy", but in the "Hook" project, Mike Medavoy also wants to use Julia Roberts to play the leading role, and he rejected all the CAA actresses we recommended!"

"Fuck."

Hearing Julia Roberts' name, Michael Ovitz couldn't help but curse.

She would have become another big-name actress at CAA, but because of that idiot Warren Beatty, she became a big client of ICM!