I’m in Hollywood

"From the current situation, there is no possibility that other buyers will be willing to take over our film company in the short term," Iwai said, shaking his head and vetoing Howard Stringer’s proposal. "Not to mention, do this, Sony. The contradiction with fireflies is completely irreconcilable."

Howard Sterlinger suddenly silenced.

During this time, a series of counterattacks by the Firefly system made Howard Stringer fully aware of the strength of the other side.

It’s not just the media business that has no power in the face of fireflies. In the fundamental electronics industry of the group, although Sony itself has a very strong technical accumulation, it is in the field of portable music players that it urgently needs to consolidate and mobile phones that have been working hard to expand. In the manufacturing field, the companies of the Firefly System have shown a repressive attitude towards Sony.

In addition, although the Firefly Group only released the wind to block the Sony Pictures film in the marketing channel, but the Sony Group's electronic products want to be well promoted in North America, also can not be separated from a large number of advertising. The firefly system has already mastered nearly half of the TV network media resources in North America. This is also the need for Sony to worry and be jealous. After all, no multinational group can ignore the huge market of North America.

I remembered that when I received the call from Eric Williams last time, I felt that the other party was too young and frivolous. Howard Sterlinger was a self-deprecating and regretful heart.

If time can go backwards, he will definitely not offend Eric Williams for a script.

Now, in order to avoid the overall deterioration of the relationship between the two sides, Sony's compromise with fireflies is almost inevitable. After a week of discussions, the Sony board of directors basically made the decision to abandon the film business. But this thing definitely needs someone to take responsibility. Who is this person, there is no doubt at all.

Noticing Howard Stringer’s expression, he sighed out of the well.

Because the two sides have a very good corporate management philosophy, he has always appreciated Howard Stringer and even hopes that the other party will become his successor in the future.

However, it is certainly impossible to talk about this matter now.

After a moment of indulging, I’m still out to the assistants who are waiting to be told: “Tell me, Eric Williams, it’s scheduled for noon on Saturday. I’m asking him to eat in Los Angeles. You’ll be there to prepare in advance.”

......

Time goes into September, the summer file has begun to close, and the fall of the TV series is coming.

At the same time, the major studios have determined that the film at the end of the year has basically been completed during this time period, and will soon start the publicity campaign.

Early on Saturday morning, Eric, Kasenberg and other firefly group executives gathered in a screening room in Firefly Studios to watch the "Teddy Bear" film.

This 3D animation and live-action combination with motion capture technology has been confirmed at the end of the Thanksgiving season, the release time is November 13th, a week ahead of MGM's "Mission Impossible 3".

As a long-established plush toy, teddy bears have appeared more than 100 years ago. In other words, even the top 40 or 50-year-olds present at the scene may have a childhood memory for the teddy bear. Therefore, although the script has already been seen, when everyone sees a fluffy bear through the big screen, it is inevitable that there will be various collapses.

The 90-minute video was finished and the lights were on. The top executives of several companies outside Eric, in the screening room, were all eccentric expressions. They obviously still smiled, but they felt that this occasion was not suitable. Too arrogant.

Eric is very satisfied with the film. Compared with the original version, he made some adjustments to the overly localized details of the script, which makes it seem more friendly to overseas audiences.

Relaxing his legs, Eric looked at the other people in the auditorium and smiled: "So, what do you think?"

Everyone did not speak for a while.

Finally, Robert Thompson, the president of the Firefly Distribution Department, who is in charge of the Bo Wei International Distribution Group, first said: "Eric, this movie, is the scale too big?"

"R shouldn't it be a problem?" Eric smiled and asked, "And, the theme of this film is generally positive."

"I mean," said Robert Thompson. "For the image of the teddy bear, it seems that the damage is too serious and the audience may not accept it. After all, this is a very popular plush toy. ”

Eric said: "Bob, you should want to say that the film may have a negative impact on children, but in fact, the audience of this film is not a child, but an adult. So, as long as it is clearly explained in the propaganda stage. The content and positioning of the film, we do not need to consider this aspect of the issue. As for some of the criticisms that may be faced, in all fairness, this just happens to improve the topic of the film."

On the other hand, Frank Wells nodded slightly, but immediately added: "Eric, we must not let this film and the Disney brand connect."

Eric agreed: "This is for sure."

Everyone discussed it carefully and roughly determined a release plan. Everyone left the auditorium. Today is the weekend. Most people go home and rest directly.

Eric and Kasenberg later left the auditorium, left the office building and walked on the concrete ramp covered by trees in the park.

Feel free to talk about some of the company's recent affairs, Eric said: "Jeffrey, I have already made an appointment with Iwai Nobuyuki for lunch at noon, this time I will probably get the Columbia Film Company. However, my idea is that this The acquisition was funded separately by Firefly Investment, and in the future, Columbia Films will maintain its sole operating strategy."

Kasenberg's expression flashed some loss, but this is actually what he expected. The Firefly Group itself is huge enough. If the Columbia Film Company is integrated into the group's system, it will definitely need to be carried out. Related business integration, this will only lose the strength of the Colombian film company, and even become a dispensable part of the Firefly Group.

Staying alone, Columbia Pictures can continue to maintain its position as one of the top seven Hollywood studios and have the opportunity to re-emerge as MGM.

"This is actually not bad. If we add another Colombia here, we will definitely become bloated. Keeping our operations alone will enable the firefly system to gain more market share."

"You can understand it," Eric nodded with a smile.

Although he relies heavily on Kasenberg, he will not let his executives have too much power, which is not good for both sides.

The two chatted and came to the office park in the digital field. Although it was a weekend, there were still many employees working overtime in the office LOFT in the digital field.

I spent about an hour in the office of the digital field. I checked the progress of some special effects of Iron Man. I watched the time. Eric and Kasenberg said goodbye, left Firefly Studios and drove to Culver City. .

Half an hour later, a high-end restaurant in Culver City was outside.

Although he was very angry, seeing Eric getting off, Howard Stringer barely squeezed his smile and hurried forward: "Eric, good afternoon."

"Hello, Howard," Eric grabbed the other hand politely and looked at Bill Michalnick next to Howard Stringer and greeted him, "Bill, hello."

Bill Michalnik's tone was a bit respectful, reaching out and holding Eric, saying, "Hello, Mr. Williams."

Howard Stringer and so on finished greeting and made a gesture to Eric: "Let's go in, the well is already waiting for you."

Eric also didn't care about the predecessor posture of the well, and as Howard Stringer walked into the restaurant together.

Walking into a private room in the restaurant, it is naturally a polite chill.

Eric originally hoped that Chris could come over today, but Morgan Stanley’s AOL stock distribution plan has reached a critical moment.

Next Monday, Fireflies will be officially started selling sales of 15% of AOL shares distributed by Morgan Stanley. Although the stocks have been basically subscribed before, Chris still has many details this weekend. The work needs to be negotiated with Morgan Stanley, and there is no way to get to Los Angeles.

I ordered lunch and sent away the waiters. There were only four Erics in the box.

Izui Shinji just specifically told the waiters to order some food later, and when the other party left, they opened the door and said: "Eric, Sony is willing to transfer the film company in hand, but the offer you gave is definitely not acceptable, according to Sony Pictures The current market capitalization, fireflies need to pay at least $5 billion, and you must also bear the debt that Sony Pictures has."

Eric smiled and didn't respond to the topic of Yan Jinshen. Instead, he turned his head and said: "If you get the news, Sony should launch a pure digital MD player soon?"

After the well went out, he nodded faithfully. Since Eric said it at this time, there is no need to hide it.

Since the release of the Fireflyer generation, Sony has actually started the development of digital music players, and developed a digital music player with Sony's technical strength, even without half a year.

At this time, Firefly's Fireflyer II player has maintained a steady monthly shipment of more than 2 million units worldwide, and shipments have even exceeded 2.5 million units last month. Although the five major record companies have been trying to curb the proliferation of digital pirated music through various means in recent months, everyone knows that digitalization of music has become an inevitable trend.

Therefore, Sony has decided to release its own digital music player as soon as possible, which is what Eric said about the MD player. The player originally used a mini-disk player. Because it also specializes in the micro-player market, Sony did not intend to enable the new name, but instead let its own digital music player use the same name.

Compared to Firefly's Fireflyer player, Sony's MD will use the unique ATRAC audio format, which has a very strict anti-piracy limit and is exclusive to Sony Pictures.

With the confirmation of the well, Eric’s face still smiles and continues: “Out of the well, you know, Firefly Electronics has applied for a full set of digital music player related patents long ago. Although your MD will use Sony. Unique audio format, which can avoid some of the patents of Firefly Electronics in audio decoding. But other aspects, such as system control chip, micro hard disk storage technology, software operating system, etc., Sony wants to bypass the patent barrier of Firefly Electronics The function that digital music players should have is simply impossible. As long as Firefly Electronics is willing, through patent litigation, we can completely prevent MD from entering North America and even Europe."

There is no opening in the well, and Howard Stringer can't help but say: "Eric, you are a monopoly, it is illegal."

Eric directly ignored Howard Stringer's words, but always stared at the well.

It’s obviously much calmer than Howard Stringer, saying: “Eric, since you mentioned this, does it mean that Firefly is willing to authorize this part of the patent to Sony?”

Eric leaned back against the chair and nodded slightly. "As long as Sony can open enough yards, of course."

Howard Stringer, who had just looked angry, heard Eric’s words, and his face suddenly felt that he had misunderstood the expression. Firefly electronics is willing to transfer the patent of digital music player.

The eyes of Izui’s eyes also began to drift.

Since last year, Firefly Electronics released the Fireflyer player for more than a year. As an electronic product with a low technical content, if it is not because of strict patent technology restrictions, in the face of such a fast-developing MP3 player market, Big electronics manufacturers have long been eager to launch their own products.

However, because the Firefly system firmly holds the full set of technology patents for MP3 players, no other company except Nokia has authorized it, so the Fireflyer player is almost monopolized.

Sony's MD digital player, as Eric said, can't avoid the patent barriers of Firefly Electronics.

Originally, Sony has even prepared for a lawsuit against Firefly Electronics, just like Apple and Samsung on the mobile phone in the original time, although the Samsung mobile phone was barely blocked by the US market, in fact, before Samsung, Earlier HTC Android phones were completely banned outside the US market because of infringement of Apple's smartphone patents.

Therefore, with Firefly Electronics, the possibility of losing Sony is actually very large.

At this point, I heard that I could get a digital music player from Firefly Electronics, and I couldn’t calm down anyway. You know, just 2.5 million monthly shipments of Fireflyer2 can bring more than 800 million US dollars in sales revenue to Firefly Electronics every month. It is conceivable that in the next few years, the annual market size of digital music players will be absolutely It can easily reach tens of billions of dollars, which is a market that any electronics manufacturer will see.