Traveling Through the Tokyo Bubble Era

Chapter 731 Colombia's Conditions

Corner location of the event site.

Before Hideki Hanyu talked with Peter Guber, CEO of Sony Columbia Pictures, he specifically called Alan Horn over.

Since we are discussing cooperation with Hollywood, the person in charge of Yunshang Pictures must be present.

After the three of them found a table and sat down, Peter Guber began to speak.

“Since the launch of Working Girl, several of Yunshang Pictures’ films seem to have performed well at the box office.”

"Working Girl", "Die Hard", "A Fish Called Wanda", "The Night of the Dead" series...

Hideki Hanyu went through several hit movies produced by Yunshang Pictures in his mind. They were not many, and none of them had grossed over 100 million yuan in North American box office.

But this result is considered good even among major studios.

What’s more, it is a small studio like Yunshang Pictures which has not been established for a long time.

Thinking of this, Hanyu Hideki was not modest, "Cloud Pictures has indeed achieved some results."

Peter Guber continued, "As far as I know, Cloud Pictures has never built its own distribution channels in North America?"

This time, Hanyu Hideki did not speak. Instead, Alan Horn next to him spoke up, "Cloud Pictures has its own distribution channels."

"Is it De Laurentiis Entertainment Group? It's just a distributor of low-budget independent films. Cloud Pictures' most commercial film collaboration seems to be with 20th Century Fox.

Oh, and Miramax, too.”

Peter Guber acted like I knew a lot about Cloud Pictures.

However, this guy was able to say so much, obviously he had conducted targeted investigations.

"Mr. Peter, if you want to say something, just say it directly. There's no need to beat around the bush.

And I remember that the purpose of your contacting me was to discuss cooperation. I thought you wanted to work together on a project.

Now it seems that Columbia Pictures wants to participate in the distribution of Yunshang Pictures' film projects? "

Hideki Hanyu didn't want to play dumb with this guy, so he hit the ball straight.

Seeing that Hanyu Hideki said this, Peter Guber stopped beating around the bush and stated his purpose directly.

“I do want to work with Cloud Pictures on distribution.”

Hanyu Hideki did not answer after hearing this. He looked at Alan Horn beside him and asked, "What movie are we going to show soon?"

Alan Horn responded cooperatively, "It's Midnight Fright starring Al Pacino."

After answering, Alan Horn did not forget to emphasize, "The film will be released in the middle of next month, and the North American distribution has been handed over to 20th Century Fox."

Hanyu Hideki then made an awkward gesture towards Peter Guber and said, "Mr. Peter, you heard it too. I'm afraid we can't cooperate."

Peter Guber hurriedly said, "Mr. Hanyu, I'm afraid that Cloud Pictures will have more than one commercial film waiting to be released this year."

Hideki Hanyu pretended to be confused and looked at Alan Horn, as if to say, "I know nothing."

Alan Horn immediately said, "Mr. Peter, I'm very sorry. Yunshang Pictures will release more than one movie this year, but the specific release plan is a company secret. We cannot announce it to the public before the promotion period begins."

After Alan Horn's official remarks, Peter Guber knew he had to show some substance.

Although he used Akio Morita's trust and other means to continue to hold power in Columbia Pictures.

But this does not mean that he does not want to make some achievements during his tenure.

Because Columbia Pictures' good performance can not only bring him profits, but also affect his future career prospects.

After all, he didn't think he could stay at Columbia Pictures forever.

Therefore, the more capital he accumulates at Columbia Pictures, the better the salary he will get in his next job.

At least for now, Peter Guber still wants to make a career at Columbia Pictures.

Unfortunately, Columbia Pictures has experienced turmoil due to acquisitions, and its performance is now very unstable. It urgently needs a high-quality partner to reverse the current situation.

Yunshang Pictures, a rising star among Hollywood independent film companies, caught his eye very early on.

But before, he couldn't get involved in the cooperation with Yunshang Pictures.

But now that Columbia Pictures has been acquired by Sony, everything is different.

"Cloud Pictures' parent company and Sony are both Japanese companies. In Hollywood, they should take care of each other. I think the cooperation between Columbia and Cloud Pictures is definitely a win-win situation."

As soon as Peter Guber opened his mouth, he played the relationship card.

But Hideki Hanyu wouldn't fall for it.

He didn't care even when Akio Morita talked to him about relationships just now, let alone a foreigner like Peter Guber.

So he narrowed his eyes and asked, "Is that so?"

Peter Guber confirmed, “Of course, Columbia Pictures and Cloud Pictures are now natural allies.”

When Hanyu Hideki heard this, he chuckled at first, "Haha."

Then he added, "But hasn't Hollywood always believed in the saying that business is business?

Mr. Peter, I think if we want to talk about cooperation, we should not talk about personal relationships. "

As soon as Hideki Hanyu said this, Peter Guber immediately realized that he had to come up with something substantial.

He immediately looked around mysteriously, then lowered his voice and said, "We can reduce the cooperation terms between 20th Century and Miramax by 5%."

Then, Hanyu Hideki didn't speak.

Alan Horn next to him didn't say anything either.

However, the psychological activities of the two people at this time are probably exactly the same.

Five percent, just to feed beggars.

For just this little bit of benefit, it is not worth it for Yunshang Pictures to abandon its tacit partners.

Seeing that Hanyu Hideki and Alan Horn were unmoved, Peter Guber had no choice but to make another offer, "10 percent."

Hideki Hanyu remained silent, and even picked up the wine glass and took a sip, then frowned because of the bitter taste of the dry red wine.

Sure enough, he still prefers the sweetness of noble rot.

Dry red wine or the like should be mixed with Sprite.

Hideki Hanyu was complaining in his mind.

Alan Horn next to him had to speak up.

After all, if no one speaks anymore, the play can't go on.

Alan Horn coughed lightly and explained, "Mr. Peter, this is not a question of price at all.

Considering that Yunshang Pictures has been cooperating with 20th Century Fox for almost two years and has developed a good understanding in the cooperation, changing the distributor easily will only bring us greater losses. "

In the business world of this world, when one party quotes a price and the other party declines and says it is not because of the price, the reason is often because of the price.

This is a truth that even rookies understand, and Peter Guber, the cunning old fox in Hollywood, certainly knows it well.

So he simply stopped bidding and asked directly, "What ideas does Yunshang Pictures have? Why not just say it."

Alan Horn looked at Hideki Hanyu, who made a secret gesture.

Upon seeing this, Alan Horn immediately said, "We feel Mr. Peter's sincerity, but we will indeed take a big risk if we rashly change the issuer.

In order to compensate for our losses, many issuance conditions need to be negotiated in detail.

As for the preferential rate of issuance fees, I think 30% is a very appropriate number. "

At first, Peter Guber was happy and relieved when he saw that Alan Horn had given in. But when Alan Horn made his final condition, his face immediately turned cold and he said with an absurd look.

"Thirty percent? Are you sure you're kidding? If Hollywood's distribution revenue was that high, no one would want to be a producer."

After that, Peter Guber looked at Hanyu Hideki and asked, "Is this what Mr. Hanyu meant?"

Hanyu Hideki said calmly, "I have never interfered with the management of Yunshang Pictures, and I trust Allen's judgment."

"But this ratio is simply impossible."

Peter Guber didn't want to be at odds with Hideki Hanyu, so this is all he could say.

In Peter Guber's view, if this is to cheat non-professional investors, he dares to agree to any proportion, after all, there is too much room for maneuver in the issuance.

But Yunshang Pictures is not an outsider. Even though it has not been established for a long time, its people from top to bottom are all Hollywood veterans. The methods used to cheat outsiders will not work at all in Yunshang Pictures.

“Nothing is impossible in this world.”

Hideki Hanyu still looks calm and composed.

No matter how powerful Peter Guber is in Hollywood, it means nothing to him.

Moreover, the rights of these so-called professional managers are merely given to them by others.

In another time and space, Peter Guber and Mickey Schulhoff built a complex network of power at Sony Columbia Pictures.

But when Sony's famous CEO Shinichi Idei came to power in the mid-1990s, he easily kicked these two guys out of the office.

At this time, Alan Horn jumped out again to smooth things over.

"Mr. Peter said that, which shows that he still doesn't trust the strength of Yunshang Pictures. Let's talk about the cooperation later. Columbia Pictures should also continue to watch our performance."

The performance that Alan Horn was talking about was naturally "Midnight Shock" which will be released next month.

This movie not only has a very good reputation at the screening, but it is also a project personally approved by the big boss Hideki Hanyu. Alan Horn has full confidence in it.

"Okay, let's contact each other later."

Peter Guber agreed, knowing that it was normal that the first cooperation discussion was unsuccessful.

So after agreeing, he stood up and politely said to Hanyu Hideki, "Thank you, Mr. Hanyu, for giving me the opportunity to discuss cooperation."

Hanyu Hideki stood up, straightened his suit, and shook hands with Peter Guber who offered his hand. "Mr. Peter has already said that Columbia Pictures and I are family now. I will not refuse such a small favor."

After that, the two parties said goodbye to each other.

After Peter Guber left, Alan Horn asked Hanyu Hideki doubtfully, "Boss, do you really want to cooperate with Columbia? Isn't it too risky? After all, a sudden change..."

Hanyu Hideki raised his hand to interrupt Alan Horn and said mysteriously, "Cooperation is not for cooperation, but for others to see."

Seeing Alan Horn's puzzled expression, he chuckled and said, "The strengths of several major Hollywood studios are comparable, at least in terms of North American distribution capabilities. Since Columbia Pictures is willing to give us a discount, why should we not make the money?"

"I see."

Although Alan Horn answered this way, he actually didn't know whether he knew it or not.

But he was sure that Hanyu Hideki's first answer was his real purpose.

As for the second answer, I can only say that it was prepared for the press conference.

He could see that his boss Hideki Hanyu was planning something.

But since Hanyu Hideki didn't say anything, he couldn't ask directly.

But he had a hunch that he would know about this matter soon.

At this moment, Hanyu Hideki put down the wine glass in his hand, looked up at the event site and said.

"Now that we've finished talking about the serious stuff, it's time to find something to do. How come there aren't many pretty girls worth looking at at Columbia Pictures' event? It's really a bummer."

Hearing Hanyu Hideki's bored tone, Alan Horn couldn't help but twitch his eyes and said helplessly.

"Boss, this is an official event, not a private pool party. If you're interested, I can introduce you to a few friends who usually have fun."

"Fun, P. Diddy kind of fun party with baby lotion?"

Alan Horn did not understand what Hanyu Hideki said as if he was talking to himself.

Just when Alan Horn wanted to ask, Hanyu Hideki said first, "Forget it, I'm not interested in the party you mentioned."

Hideki Hanyu naturally knows that in Hollywood, a place of fame and fortune, there are all kinds of parties.

When Bill Hart entertained him, he had seen beauties with leashes around their necks, and girls who played the role of loyal dogs, allowing men to do whatever they wanted.

But this is just a small matter at Hollywood parties.

The kind of party where all kinds of beauties, artists, amateurs, and even uninformed people are directly invited, and then the guests knock out whoever they like and take her away, was not first initiated by South Korea's Seungri.

Of course it's illegal to do this, but those scumbags don't care.

Thinking of those people who fell in later generations, what was exposed was just the tip of the iceberg of the dark hell, and Hanyu Hideki suddenly felt bored.

He has no shortage of women, and he doesn't bother to do that kind of thing.

Even with his current wealth and status, there would be no consequences for doing these things.

But he is just a scumbag after all, not a scumbag.

“I’m leaving now, I’ll leave the event to you.

If Peter Guber contacts you again and offers you any new conditions, remember to contact me first."

Hideki Hanyu waved goodbye to Alan Horn
Next, after saying hello to Akio Morita, he left the event directly.

After getting in the car, Hanyu Hideki ordered to go back to Hibiscus Garden.

When he arrived at Hibiscus Garden, he saw that the lights in the house were off, so he thought the mother and daughter must have fallen asleep, so he didn't plan to disturb them.

He entered the house quietly, ready to go to another bedroom on the second floor to rest.

The bedroom was not far from the study. In the past, if he was busy in the study too late, he would rest in this bedroom.

Go in, take off your clothes, and then go into the bathroom to wash up.

When he came out with a bath towel wrapped around him and his muscular upper body naked, he was greeted by an unexpected low cry.

"Ouch~~"

After the low cry, a familiar voice followed, "Brother-in-law, why are you here?"

Hanyu Hideki frowned and looked at Zhou Wenqiong in front of him and said, "I want to ask you this question as well. Isn't this my bedroom? And aren't you in China? When did you come to America?"

Who would have thought that as soon as he asked this question, Zhou Wenqiong's pretty face suddenly blushed. Instead of answering why she came to America, she whispered something to make excuses.

"I didn't know you would come back, and why didn't you go to your sister's place."

Hanyu Hideki immediately replied, "You think I don't want to, but lately... No, I'm afraid of disturbing your sister and Sissi's rest."

"I know. I'll just leave."

After Zhou Wenqiong finished speaking, he turned around and walked out the door.

However, before leaving the house, Hanyu Hideki vaguely heard the girl whispering something strange like "what a great figure" and "you really have eight-pack abs".

Putting Zhou Wenqiong's strangeness behind him, the scumbag turned around and went to the bedroom to rest.

I have a meeting with Peter Peterson, a veteran Wall Street player, tomorrow, so I must conserve my energy and be fully prepared.

Otherwise, if you are not careful, you will be sold out by the other party and even help them count the money.

(End of this chapter)