Chapter 56: invest

The establishment of DreamWorks will not be able to see its impact on Hollywood in a short period of time, but almost all Hollywood practitioners know that the seven major film companies will not sit back and watch the rise of DreamWorks.

Of course, these things have nothing to do with Ryan, he just witnessed a historical moment.

He cares more about Blue Sky Animation Studios than DreamWorks.

Blue Sky Studios was founded in 1987. The office is located on the second floor of a dentist's office in Blaircliffe Manor, New York. The founder Chris Wedge and Pixar animation studio veteran and creative director John Lasseter Is a friend for many years.

Surprisingly, the two eventually became rivals.

Like Pixar Animation Studios, Blue Sky Studios is not doing very well. It doesn’t even have the technology to produce 3D animation feature films. At best, it can be regarded as a studio that produces special effects for feature films, TV and other entertainment programs Real animation studio.

It was not until the early 1990s that he began to involve in film visual effects, and participated in many Hollywood films.

The difference between Blue Sky Studios and Pixar Animation Studios is that the operation of the studio is slightly better than that of Pixar Animation Studios.

However, Pixar Animation Studios has a cooperation agreement signed with Disney, and has already started preparations as early as 1991. It wants to produce the first 3D animated feature film in history. It is expected that "Toy Story" will be released in the second half of next year.

But Blue Sky Studio is still a special effects studio.

According to the trajectory of the previous life, it was not until 1998 that it launched the animated short film "Bonnie Rabbit", which won the 71st Oscar Award for Best Animated Short Film.

The short film of about seven minutes is the painstaking effort of Blue Sky Studio for eight years, laying the foundation for the future production of the famous "Ice Age".

However, at this time, Blue Sky Studios was caught in a dilemma. Disney’s hand-drawn animation feature film "The Lion King" was a big hit, which indicated that the prospect of hand-drawn animation feature films had not yet weakened.

Behind it is Pixar Animation Studios, the first 3D animation feature film that has been painstakingly produced for many years, and it will be released soon.

Under such circumstances, Ryan and his team came downstairs to Blue Sky Studio, and they were about to meet the famous founder of Blue Sky Studio, Chris Wedge.

Chris Wedge in his previous life can be said to be a legendary figure.

After getting out of the car, Sophia couldn't help complaining, "I don't know what you want to buy for such a small special effects studio!"

In this regard, everyone has long felt very strange about Ryan's decision. If they buy the copyright of the images of superheroes under Marvel Comics, it is possible to shoot them in the future.

So a small production special effects studio, basically useless.

Not long after, the group finally saw the famous Chris Wedge in the previous life.

"Mr. Chris, it's a great honor to meet you." Ryan's attitude was very low, or he had great expectations for investing in Blue Sky Studios.

It's an investment, not a purchase, and leaving Chris Wedge's Blue Sky Studios would be worthless.

"Mr. Ryan, you are as young as the rumors say."

There was a look of surprise in Chris Wedge's eyes. He didn't expect that this investor not only has a lot of fame in Hollywood, but also looks very young.

"I've seen "Chain Saw" directed by you, it's a great movie."

"However, I have a question, why would you want to invest in a special effects studio?"

Regarding the sudden investment, he was very suspicious, knowing that any Hollywood practitioner would not be optimistic about a small production special effects studio.

What's more, the investment in his mouth will not be a small sum, but a huge sum of tens of millions of dollars.

"It's very simple. I am optimistic about the future prospects of 3D animation. With technology updates, 3D animation will definitely become the mainstream in the future."

"Right now, apart from Pixar Animation Studios and John Lasseter, who have the ability to create 3D animated feature films, only you and Blue Sky Studios have this potential." Ryan said very frankly, nothing more than fancying Blue Sky Studios technical reserves.

"Perhaps you are right."

Chris Wedge showed a look of regret, and said: "But it's a pity that Blue Sky Studio doesn't have the ability to produce a 3D animated feature film. You should invest in Pixar Animation Studios. For the time being, only Pixar has 3D animated feature films." production technology."

Some media once called Chris Wedge "the John Lasseter of the East Coast."

But now the two have gradually distanced themselves, even Chris Wedge himself has to admit this fact.

"So I'm here." Ryan took his words and said: "Once the investment agreement is reached, I will immediately invest 3 million US dollars to make the first experimental short film to explore 3D animation technology."

"Before Christmas next year, I will invest at least 30 million US dollars again to prepare for the production of the first 3D animation feature film, and I will not intervene in the daily management of the studio, including studio creativity and other matters, except for necessary financial supervision. "

To put it bluntly, Ryan just wanted to be an investor, not to be in charge of Blue Sky Studios.

With an investment of up to 33 million U.S. dollars, even Chris Wedge could not remain indifferent. After a long silence, he opened his mouth and said: "Blue Sky Studios is not Pixar. With a budget of 30 million U.S. dollars, I am afraid that the first 3D animation cannot be produced. feature film."

It has to be said that Pixar's animation work is strong.

"As long as it is reasonable, I can continue to add funds." Ryan's tone was very firm.

Continue to add funds!

Helen and the others couldn't help frowning, spending tens of millions of dollars to produce a 3D animation feature film, it was not a wise decision no matter how you looked at it.

"Even with enough funds, with the strength of Blue Sky Studios, it will take at least five years of production time to produce a 3D animated feature film." Chris Wedge's tone seemed to contain a hint of excitement.

With an investment of tens of millions of dollars and a five-year production, if it were another investor, I'm afraid it would have been too long ago to turn around and leave.

Ke Ruien's expression remained unchanged, and he agreed.

"Can."

"However, I want 80% of the shares of Blue Sky Studio. As the founder of the studio, you can get the remaining 10% of the shares, and the remaining 10% of the shares will be reserved for the creative team of the studio. .”

If you want a creative team to work hard, you must allocate some shares.

Allocating 20% ​​of the shares in exchange for the rise of Blue Sky Studio is obviously a very good deal.

"Eighty percent of the shares?"

Chris Wedge is inevitably a little reluctant. UU Reading www.uukanshu.com handed over the studio he founded.

However, facing such favorable conditions and the investment of tens of millions of dollars in preparation for the production of a 3D animation feature film, he simply could not refuse.

"Obviously tens of millions of dollars in investment, I couldn't say no."

In the end, he still agreed, and the following things will naturally be handed over to professionals.

In just three days, the negotiating team reached an investment agreement.

Immediately after the signing of the agreement, Ryan remitted 3 million US dollars to the account of Blue Sky Studio, and immediately began to prepare for the production of the first 3D experimental short film. piece.

It usually takes three to five years to produce a 3D animation feature film, but after all, Blue Sky Studios is the first time to produce an animation feature film, and it is a 3D animation feature film, so the time may be longer.

In the previous life, the first experimental short film of Blue Sky Studios took eight years, mainly because of lack of funds. With the cooperation of 20th Century Fox, "Ice Age" was produced in only three years.

In Port Richmond, California, far away from New York, in Pixar Animation Studios, John Lasseter gently hung up the phone, showing a hint of emotion, "Pixar will face a terrible opponent in the future."

No one knows Chris Wedge's ambitions better than him. As long as he has sufficient funds, he will definitely not hesitate to make a 3D animated feature film.

Fortunately, with the technical reserves of Blue Sky Studios, there will be no competition for Pixar for a long time.

In contrast, Disney's hand-drawn animation and that **** cooperation agreement are the biggest shackles of Pixar Animation Studios.