The Industrial Giant Reborn

"In three days, it will be the first day of the release of "Beauty and the Beast." The feedback from the previous premiere test results has been very good. I think we will know the results soon." Michael Eisner added.

"How many screens will there be on the first day?" Chen Zhiwen asked. The theater chain model in the United States is completely different from that in Hong Kong. In a small city like Hong Kong, all theater chains are monopolized, and because the number of movies is small, as long as it is slightly Movies with a bit of investment or movies with famous actors can basically be released with full coverage. But the United States is obviously different. In such a large place, there are many theater companies. Although due to antitrust laws, film companies and theater companies cannot have the same boss, or even the same major shareholder, but monopoly laws It can only counter the assets on the surface, and cannot control some normal interpersonal relationships. American theater companies also have film companies with good or bad relationships. Another thing depends on whether the money can be in place, because big companies Movie companies always think that their movies will be popular, and they hope to give less to theaters, while ordinary movie companies may pay higher dividends.

As long as it is not a monopoly, over time, there will be a lot of balance between film companies, distribution companies, and theater companies.

"The first day it was 1,300 screens." Michael Eisner said.

"Only 1,300? It seems that the market's expectations for us are not high." Chen Zhiwen said.

In the United States today, the number of movie screens in the United States is about 26,000, or 1,300, which is only 5% of the total number. This number is not bad, but for the eight major film companies, it is a bit worse.

"Maybe it's because Disney's movie data has been very poor in the past ten years. Even if we hadn't changed to a new owner, and "Beauty and the Beast" is also a relatively famous IP, I'm afraid it wouldn't even be able to get 1,000 screens. Here we go,” Michael Eisner said, shaking his head.

Now he finally discovered the advantage of "Beauty and the Beast", that is, it is a famous fairy tale in itself. Who in the United States has not heard of this IP? Whether you like it or not, at least you know that it has a great impact on the promotion of the movie.

This summer, Disney is preparing to release a total of three animated films. Due to internal conflicts, the three films will not be released together. It is best for them to stagger them. The other two animated films are basically not well-known. It's useless to be famous for Disney. Many theater companies simply don't provide many screens. It's the summer season anyway, and they don't lack movies.

"That can only be like this." Chen Zhiwen nodded and said, there is nothing you can do about this kind of thing, just like in your own supermarket, if the sales of biscuits previously launched by a food company are very poor, even if they bring new ones, it will be impossible. I will give you a good position right away, and it would be great if I could consider giving you another chance.

"The follow-up depends on the quality of our films. If the quality is good, it will be added, if the quality is not good, it will be removed. This is also the normal rule of Hollywood. Even Paramount cannot change it." Michael Eisner replied .

"But what you do on the first day can still have a great impact on the rest. Not every movie can have a miracle like "Jaws"." Chen Zhiwen said.

Although "Jaws" is also produced by a large company, the number of screens was not very large in the initial stage. However, the feedback from the audience was so good that everyone introduced their friends to watch it. The results later became better and better, and eventually it was available in almost all theaters. With this movie’s box office of US$400 million in the 1970s, it can be said that less than half of Americans have seen it.

But this is not the case for other movies. The number of screens in the early stage directly determines life and death. Even if the feedback is good, there are other movies with good results, and your turn may not be yours.

In the non-Internet era, most people don't know which movie is better. In the early days, there were many screens and the box office data went straight up, which would attract more attention. Movies are completely controlled by theater companies or distribution companies, with the exception of super hit movies. The excitement of the hit movies themselves can make many people take the initiative to watch them, without the need for publicity, which is a departure. Control of capital.

"Yes, but as long as our movies are successful, Disney's resources can still be used to increase promotion." Michael Eisner said that even if Disney declines, it is not comparable to ordinary companies.

"Okay, then I'll wait and see the box office data." Chen Zhiwen said with a smile. His help to Disney was actually more at the capital level, rather than the movie or operation itself. He didn't remember too much about the movie content. , at most, if Disney really rises in the future, it can participate in some blockbuster movie cooperation with other film companies.

This is a good opportunity, because the risk of investing in a blockbuster movie is too great. If it fails, no one company can bear it. Therefore, cooperation between Hollywood giants is the norm. Use the human resources, market resources, technical resources of both parties to work together to maximize the benefits. Basically, it can be achieved that 1+1 is greater than 2. Especially after the popularity of computer blockbusters, the money burned is calculated in seconds.

Or directly invest in some movies that the director is planning to shoot. In the United States, it is very popular for people who are involved in doing things not to participate in investment. For example, investment banks and hedge funds on Wall Street basically use customers’ money to invest and enjoy the dividends themselves. But Basically, he will not end up on his own, and the same is true in the film industry. Even if a big director is worth hundreds of millions, but if he wants to shoot a movie worth tens of millions, he will find other big companies to invest, and he will only enjoy the dividends.

This model is very suitable for Chen Zhiwen, a prophet.

"OK." Michael Eisner nodded and said: "Boss, no matter what results these three movies can achieve, our film department cannot just stop and wait, so I have prepared several new ones. Take a look at the movie script, and if it’s suitable, we still need to continue investing.”

After saying that, Michael Eisner handed over a folder.

After taking the folder, Chen Zhiwen opened it and saw the names of 12 movies on the front page, most of which Chen Zhiwen had never heard of.

"Of these 12 movies, which ones do you plan to make first?" Chen Zhiwen asked again.

"It hasn't been completely decided yet. Due to current financial considerations, we plan to shoot 3-5 movies. The specifics will depend on the situation of our movies this summer. If the results are good, we can shoot more. These are the stories on the list. Those who are well-known in the fairy tale market, boss, which ones do you think will be better?" Eisner asked, although the boss doesn't care much about the details, he can invest in a movie, ranging from a few million to tens of millions, or even more The important thing is that it still takes up the company's time. This kind of issue still requires the boss's opinion.

"You can do whatever else you want." Chen Zhiwen thought for a while and said, "But I have an idea, how about making an animated movie about African animals. The protagonist is a lion. In Europe and the United States, lions are very famous and have many people who like them."

He is not a professional, so he does not want to interfere too much in professional matters. Not only Disney, but also other companies. Even if it is Midea, he only puts forward some future generations' needs or provides game ideas. As for technical development, , basically no questions asked.

He has never heard of many of these fairy tales, so he will naturally not interfere. Eisner and Disney professionals will be responsible. After all, it is Chen Zhiwen who cooperates with Eisner in Disney's future planning. In the original history, Like Eisner, he successfully brought Disney to a high position. What he needs to do now is to help him with a certain degree of prophetic ability and capital level to bring Disney to a higher position.

But for himself, time is also very important. He also hopes that Disney can rise one day earlier, which is more in line with his interests. For several high-profit movies in Disney's history, it would be best if they came out early.

However, history has changed too much and there are many uncertainties. But a normal company has a lot of uncertainties about its own operations. You still have to try.

"Lion?" Eisner paused and then asked: "Boss, what kind of story is it?"

"The main character is a little lion." Chen Zhiwen actually doesn't remember the plot of The Lion King very well, but he can still briefly describe it. Just like "Slam Dunk", even decades later, he still knows some of the plot.

"Boss, your story is a bit too simple. In this case, I will ask the people in the film department to analyze it again and see if they can add some content." Eisner said.

"Okay, let's focus on your major." Chen Zhiwen nodded and said. A general story is actually very simple for many people to make. For example, in later online articles, a person cultivated immortality from the human world to the immortal world, saying It's easy to come up with, and there aren't many people who can write something like "The Story of a Mortal's Cultivation of Immortality".

If a framework is to be turned into a good movie, a professional team is still needed to conceive each character and each story. Therefore, whether "The Lion King" can be as successful as future generations still depends on these professional talents.

"Okay, when the script comes out, I will give it to the boss for you to read." Eisner didn't care. An animated movie is not expensive to shoot. Since the boss wants to see lions, just make one.

"But I have a personal suggestion. If you want to make a movie, make it well and make it real. So you might as well send people to the African grasslands to carefully observe the living habits of African lions and various animals." Chen Zhiwen said: "You don't have to follow the footsteps of others to make a movie. The reality is exactly the same, but at least it must be reasonable. The fighting postures, walking postures, personalities, etc. of various animals cannot always be made up by our minds. If they exist in reality, we should still follow reality. This is the best way. Reasonable."

One of the advantages of the African grassland is that you can see the head at a glance. Whether it is observing animals or protecting your own safety, it is very convenient and fast. To exaggerate, you can even fly up by helicopter. This is why there are many programs about the world of big cats in later generations. , most of them are about lions, not tigers. Because tigers live in the woods, it is difficult to take pictures. It is also difficult to protect your own safety. It is even difficult to bring shooting equipment into the woods.

"Is the painter going to Africa?" Eisner thought for a while and said: "The cost of doing this in the long run is too high, and many people are unwilling to do so. Why not find some zoos first, and wait until we observe their wild activities? Go to Africa.”

"Okay, you can handle this kind of thing." Chen Zhiwen nodded and said.