The Best Entertainment Era

A black Mercedes-Benz car parked in front of an office building, Robert Iger glanced out the window, hung up the phone and got off the car, walked into Lionsgate Films, and soon saw the chairman of Lionsgate Films, Frank Gu sta.

Hello, Bob. Frank Gusta warmly shook hands with Robert Iger and said, Welcome to Lionsgate.

Robert Iger still had the usual kind smile on his face: I've wanted to come here a long time ago, but I never had a chance.

Frank Gusta greeted Robert Iger to sit down casually, and said with a smile: A few years ago, I heard that you switched to Relativity Entertainment. How is your development? If it doesn't go well, Lionsgate Pictures welcomes you at any time.

The development is very good, and I am very satisfied with my current job. Robert Iger expressed his position appropriately: Mr. Ronan Anderson is very valued, and he entrusted the entire group company to me.

Frank Gusta asked himself that he could not do this, that it was impossible to hand over the company to an outsider, so he stopped mentioning this topic altogether, and instead said: Relativity Entertainment launched more than a dozen successful film projects last year, right? Sea Entertainment first cooperated with Lionsgate, and our two companies will continue to cooperate.”

Just thinking of Bourne Bourne and Pirates of the Caribbean makes Frank Gusta drool with envy.

Lionsgate's initial development strategy was to focus on lower-risk horror and thriller films, but it's not that it doesn't want to promote top-tier productions, it's just that it lacks strength in this regard.

Frank Gusta is very clear that the gap between Lionsgate Pictures and Relativity Entertainment is all-round. Let alone the key distribution capabilities, just talk about production. Big productions are incomparable. Even Lionsgate Pictures The horror thriller project focused on development in 2008 is also far from Relativity Entertainment.

It is precisely because of this gap that Frank Gusta is determined to compete with Relativity Entertainment for Artisan Pictures. This is the best opportunity for Lionsgate to make up for it since its establishment.

Robert Iger came here this time to discuss cooperation with Lionsgate, but not to discuss cooperation in film projects.

Relativity Entertainment also wants to cooperate with Lionsgate. Robert Iger always seemed very friendly because of his personal style: I came here this time to discuss cooperation with Lionsgate.

Frank Gusta immediately thought of Artisan Pictures, secretly heightened his vigilance, and asked, Bob, does Relativity Entertainment want to cooperate with Lionsgate on a film project?

Robert Iger didn't want to go around in circles, and said directly: Artisan Pictures.

The answer was not what Frank Gusta expected.

Artisan Pictures released the news in the past few days, Lionsgate and Relativity Entertainment are negotiating with Artisan Pictures. It is said that Relativity Entertainment's asking price has reached 340 million US dollars.

But after the price was set, there was no further increase. Frank Gusta guessed that it should have reached the psychological bottom line of Theory of Relativity Entertainment.

Relativity Entertainment has a large scale, its performance is far better than that of Lionsgate, and it also has good financing channels, but the capital needed by large companies is also huge, and it often affects the whole body.

This Robert Iger took the initiative to come to the door, probably because of this.

Frank Gusta put away his smile and looked at Robert Iger: Relativity Entertainment is about to give up Artisan Pictures? If you give up voluntarily, I will come to the door to thank you personally.

Robert Iger said slowly but firmly: Relativity Entertainment will not abandon Artisan Pictures.

In the past two years, Artisan Films has not had much profit from new films, and 80% of its annual profits are supported by its film library.

Frank Gusta simply asked: Bob, what do you mean by cooperation?

Robert Iger said unhurriedly: The negotiations between Relativity Entertainment and Artisan Films have hardly progressed. If I guessed correctly, the same is true for Lionsgate Films. Artisan Films has not seen significant growth in performance for many years. Why? Don’t let go of the high price? It’s precisely because of the competition between Relativity Entertainment and Lionsgate, we give up the competition and cooperate with the acquisition, and the difficulty will be greatly reduced.”

Relativity Entertainment quit voluntarily? Frank Gusta tentatively said, I have no objection to that.

Robert Iger knew that the old fox was sitting across from him, so he had to explain a little bit: What is the greatest value of Artisan Pictures? Fran, you must think the same as I do. There are as many as nearly 7,000 film copyrights and Artisan Pictures. Craftsman's production and distribution business.

This is the simplest truth, Frank Gust can only nod and admit.

For the production business, Relativity Entertainment has Sand Sea Films. For the distribution business, the distribution capabilities of Embassy Pictures are second only to the six major companies. Although Robert Iger always had a kind smile on his face, he spoke confidently. The confidence brought to him by Relativity Entertainment: Relativity Entertainment does not need the production and distribution business of Artisan Pictures at all.

He looked at Frank Gusta: But Lionsgate is different. It is said that you have always wanted to improve distribution channels.

Frank Gusta did not admit or deny it, but instead said: So all Relativity Entertainment wants is Artisan's film library?

Robert Iger said: We cooperated and effectively lowered the purchase price. Lionsgate Pictures got the much-needed distribution channels, and Relativity Entertainment won the artisan film library. It's a win-win situation!

This is indeed a good idea. Frank Gusta nodded first, and then smiled: As far as I know, there are nearly a hundred film copyrights in the film library of Relativity Entertainment, right? What about Lionsgate Films? , there are only a dozen film copyrights, and the last time I talked about package authorization with the TV station, I didn't know how to talk to others.

Robert Iger's smile remains unchanged, and Lionsgate has a big appetite.

Frank Gusta simply pointed out: The distribution and production business of Artisan Films is urgently needed by Lionsgate, and the copyright of the film library is also necessary for Lionsgate.

Speaking of this, Robert Iger is very clear that the plan he envisioned has been shattered.

He is a very good professional manager, said: I took the liberty.

Frank Gusta smiled faintly and said, It's okay.

Robert Iger immediately bid farewell, and quickly walked out of Lionsgate. After getting into the car, he asked the driver to return directly to Relativity Entertainment.

Although the goal was not achieved, Robert Iger did not have much disappointment and frustration. As the actual operator of the group company, he cannot and will never put his hopes for the acquisition on a single plan.

This road is not going to work, and there is another road to go.

Returning to Relativity Entertainment, Robert Iger went directly into Ronan's office and gave a general overview of the Lionsgate situation.

It's normal for Lionsgate to have ambitions. Ronan was not surprised: Not every company will cooperate with us. Their first consideration must be to maximize their own interests.

Robert Iger nodded lightly: Frank Gusta of Lionsgate Films is ambitious. It is said that when Lionsgate Films was established, the goal was the number one Hollywood group.

Ronan is more or less aware of this. The former Lionsgate Films was once known as the seventh largest film company in Hollywood after DreamWorks, and its performance even ranked among the top three in Hollywood.

But today's Lionsgate has a huge gap compared to the former Lionsgate. The emergence of Relativity Entertainment has robbed Lionsgate of a lot of resources. Even Lionsgate's original mainstay business, horror thriller movies is nowhere near as good as Relativity Entertainment.

The development of Lionsgate Films is not as good as expected, Frank Gusta is ambitious, and with a certain amount of funds in hand, it is also a convenient way to use acquisitions to solve the problem.

Robert Iger also said: Talking about cooperation with Lionsgate is also an alternative plan. Now the alternative plan is not feasible. We continue to promote positive acquisitions.

Ronan said: My mental reserve price is $400 million.

Robert Iger is far more conservative than Ronan in this regard: More than 370 million US dollars, we will give up.

Okay. Ronan said: You have always been in charge of this aspect, and you make the decision.

Although the value of the film library of Artisan Films in the hands of Relativity Entertainment is definitely much greater than that of Artisan Films, and even with the platform of Netflix, it is not too much to double the benefits, but any commodity All are cost-effective.

Robert Iger reminded Ronan: What we want is the film library, and other businesses need to be spun off.

Ronan smiled: Don't worry, I already have a plan.

To be precise, if the acquisition of Artisan Films is successful, in addition to soft assets such as film library copyright and script library copyright, Relativity Entertainment does not need other assets of Artisan Films.

Glendale, DreamWorks headquarters.

Spielberg sat in the conference room, listening to his own personnel arguing with the Paramount Pictures, only feeling exhausted.

The distribution conditions offered by Paramount Pictures were very harsh. After several contacts between the two parties, the differences became more and more serious, and quarrels soon became commonplace on the negotiating table.

DreamWorks has also contacted other distribution companies. The conditions offered by the other six major companies are no better than Paramount Pictures, and even more demanding. It seems that DreamWorks' films are off the shelf.

Hearing the increasingly fierce quarrel, Spielberg simply got up and left the meeting room, and came to the corner of the slightly cleaner corridor. He only felt distracted. Looking at the window in front of him, he had the urge to smash the glass.

As a veteran, Spielberg can feel that something is not normal recently, as if everyone is targeting DreamWorks and wants to push DreamWorks into the abyss tacitly.

The distribution ability is insufficient, as if the throat is stuck, and it is almost impossible to breathe.

Paramount Pictures is aggressive, and the other five companies are on the sidelines. Who should distribute the films they invest in?

In North America, although DreamWorks' strength has been damaged, they can always make do with it.

What about overseas?

Spielberg opened the window, and a gust of wind blew over, his gray hair fluttering in the wind.