Chapter 564: Directly at Disney
Walt Disney used to be just a label focusing on the animation industry, but since the end of the last century, they have continued to change to a media conglomerate, and they have basically achieved success.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly reversed, and it became Duke talking and Rupert Murdoch listening, I believe you know very well that Walt Disney is constantly moving towards adulthood on the basis of maintaining the advantages of children's works. The entry into the human market has squeezed a lot of markets that originally belonged to us.”
The rise of any media company will inevitably damage the interests of the inherent forces.
Rupert Murdoch didn't nod or agree, but Duke could see approval from his face.
Have you heard, Rupert. Duke threw a message, Walt Disney has reached a preliminary cooperation intention with Steven Spielberg, if nothing else, Disney Pictures will become the Distributor of DreamWorks live-action studio.
This means that Walt Disney will get the most out of its weakest live-action film program.
Disney's foundation in North America is strong enough. Rupert Murdoch finally said, Even if we snipe it, it will not have too obvious effect.
It's true. Duke agreed with him, but he changed the conversation and said, What if it's an emerging market?
Which emerging market? Murdoch wondered.
Duke's hand pointed westward, prompting, Rupert, across the Pacific, the country you've always wanted to enter.
I believe you know the breadth of that market better than I do. Before Murdoch could answer, Duke continued, I don't know much about other aspects of the media industry, so let's just say that the film industry I am engaged in, film and Its related products are the main pillar of Fox's performance. Today, the film market in most countries such as North America, Europe, South America and even Southeast Asia is basically mature, and even if there is an increase, there will be no explosive growth.
Glancing at the thinking Murdoch, Duke picked up the coffee cup and took a sip. He said, The whole of Hollywood has already reached a consensus on where the film market will finally explode.
Murdoch seemed to want to say something, but Duke raised his hand to stop him, I understand your concern, Rupert. The ratio of movie credits over there is really poor now, but don't forget about the movie And the memorandum of WTO agreement on other cultural products. It will take effect in a few years, the share of Hollywood movies will increase to 25%, and the box office will always be a small part of our movie revenue, as long as the movie can enter That market also means opening up a broad market for other related products.”
Hear what Duke has to say here. Murdoch nodded slowly, What does this have to do with us sniping at Disney?
Because even if the memorandum of the WTO agreement is launched, there is still a certain limit on the number of films imported from the other side. This limit is very small for Hollywood's huge film production.
Come to this time period, as long as it is not too stupid. You can see the potential and expanse of the market on the other side. Although Duke's words have ulterior motives, they are all based on the most basic facts. Otherwise, how could he impress people like Rupert Murdoch.
He said in a statement tone. If there is a distribution company that can win the favor of the other side, it will undoubtedly get more import quotas. Rupert, you have dealt with people there a lot, and you should know the characteristics of that market.
Murdoch sighed softly, It's different from our side, the favor there is more important.
Speaking of which, he also glanced at the woman next to him. Duke noticed his action. After all, there have been rumors in the outside world that Murdoch married the other party because he wanted to use her identity to make a fuss, but the effect was basically equal to zero.
Disney plans to build the largest Disneyland in Asia there, Duke said casually. The investment involved is as high as tens of billions of dollars.
As soon as these words came out, Murdoch immediately understood what Duke meant. Disney's approach is quite clever.
Indeed. Duke looked at him and put on a very serious tone. If Disney can really reach an investment agreement with the other party, it is not difficult to imagine that Disney products will flood into that market.
This is not an imagination, but a fact that has happened once.
What are you going to do? Murdoch asked.
Duke was silent for a few seconds before he said, I've been there too, and I have a brief understanding of their films and related industries. According to my calculations, in eight to ten years at most, they will definitely become the second-largest player in the industry. The North American film market, and I am a major shareholder of Marvel and Warner Bros., and I have also invested in many relatively popular film series...
Harry Potter series, Mission: Impossible series, The Matrix series, even Murdoch is jealous. It is normal for those who own these movie copyrights and will continue to invest in the future to pursue maximum profits.
If Disney takes too much share, the films I invest in and the Fox productions will be squeezed. Duke naturally placed himself on the front of Twentieth Century Fox, Rupert, my idea is , why can't we squeeze out Disney?
You mean to block Disney's plan to invest in Disneyland? Murdoch immediately understood what Duke meant.
Duke said directly, I have reached a consensus with Warner Bros. and Time Warner, and have proposed a plan to build a Warner World. The total investment is only a lot more than Disney.
But we are one step behind Disney after all, and Warner World is far less famous in Asia than Disneyland.
Hearing Duke's words, Murdoch twitched the corner of his mouth slightly and said, So, you want me and News Corp. to join?
Yes, Duke admitted. If it's just the Time Warners, we don't have enough confidence, but with you on board, we have a good chance of squeezing out Disney.
As early as the 1990s, Rupert Murdoch was ambitious to enter the opposite market, although today, the attempts have basically ended in failure, even Phoenix Satellite TV has not been successful, but Murdoch There must have been a wide range of connections there.
Murdoch laughed, but said nothing.
It's something that's good for both of us. Duke understands that if he doesn't see enough benefits, the other party will never be moved. I will be responsible for convincing Warner that as long as the investment plan is successful, News Corp will occupy enough investment, and Warner World can also be called Warner Fox World, and it is more than enough to support a paradise with the works of the two companies and well-known movie roles.
The opposite is a human society. Although this will not eliminate too much wariness, under similar conditions, we will definitely give priority to introducing our products.
Speaking of which, Duke emphasized, These products are not just movies, Rupert, don't you want Phoenix TV to appear anywhere in the country?
In any way, sniping at Disneyland is far more pros than cons for Duke and Murdoch.
But Murdoch remained silent and just looked at Duke.
Duke sighed secretly, realizing that it is almost useless to talk about friendship, and to impress the other party, there are only real interests.
James Cameron has a new plan, but the investment is too high and the risk is too high, and it was rejected by Fox.
Of course, Duke is not a fool. I know that you still have some confidence in James Cameron. The biggest concern is the issue of investment risk. Rupert, I can share the risk brought by this investment with Fox.
This is not over, Duke added, As long as I remain the largest shareholder of Marvel Comics, I will do my best to prevent Marvel from taking back the film rights of X-Men and Fantastic Four.
Rupert Murdoch stood up, apparently ready to end the conversation, I'll take your advice into consideration, Duke.
Duke nodded, stood up too, and walked out with the Murdochs.
He knew very well that even Rupert Murdoch would be cautious about such decisions that might involve future business strategies and the direction of huge capital. If he agreed on the spot, Duke would doubt his sincerity.
The party also ended here. When Duke left, he deliberately walked with James Cameron. Although the two sides could not talk about friendship, they were not enemies, and there was still the possibility of cooperation. The new technology of film can also find some common topics to some extent.
In the past, it was not that Duke did not consider the idea of playing Avatar, but he finally chose to give up.
Not to mention whether James Cameron really had the initial idea of Avatar more than ten or twenty years ago, Duke will face a lot of problems in terms of technology alone.
In order to shoot this sci-fi masterpiece, James Cameron has been preparing for these years, constantly going deep into the sea to shoot 3D documentaries, and cooperated with Sony Electronics and IMAX to improve the shooting and production technology, and has a large number of patents in his hands.
Movies are not as simple as copying and pasting. It's one thing to understand the production process of Avatar, but it's another thing to make it. If you don't have years of preparation like James Cameron, don't want to go. think.
If there are about five years, Duke is also confident to make this movie, but he can't spend so much time and energy on one movie.
To put it bluntly, although he is a director attributed to the technical stream by the outside world, he is not a technical madman like James Cameron.
After the party, Duke handed over related matters to Warner, Tina Fey, Nancy Josephson and others to discuss, and continued to prepare for Iron Man. After more than four months of preparation, it opened in Los Angeles. The prelude to the official shooting. (To be continued ~^~)
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