Hollywood New Century

At the beginning of June, Xinghai Pictures' first animated feature "Despicable Me" was finally released globally.

The first 3D animation feature film produced by its subsidiary Lighting Entertainment in two years, the North American opening score was 56.5 million US dollars. For a 3D animation feature film with a budget of only 70 million US dollars, this must be a big profit.

DreamWorks Animation, Pixar, Sony Animation, Warner Bros. Animation, etc., and now it can be said that Universal Pictures also has its own animation production company.

Who asked Xinghai Entertainment to acquire Universal Pictures, otherwise, how can it be called the Big Six?

Whether it is Los Angeles or New York, the ongoing layoffs of Xinghai Entertainment have caused many people to complain. There are people holding placards to protest in the square in front of Xinghai Entertainment in Burbank, or in front of the current Xinghai Building in Manhattan.

However, Simon is not worried at all. As a capitalist, how can he not have this kind of consciousness? You said that after a single mother does not work, renting a house, it will be difficult for the child to go to school? Or are older workers unable to find new jobs after being laid off? Or is it that the married man has no money to pay all kinds of housing loans after being laid off?

It's none of my business, it's a waste of money to have so many useless employees. After all, he is not the Sony of the year, Panasonic, after the acquisition of Columbia Pictures and Universal Pictures, was asked by the United States not to lay off American employees!

The Legal Department and the Finance Department have jointly calculated compensation for the laid-off employees, and the sum of this money is also an expenditure.

With the current situation of Universal Pictures, there is nothing to be dissatisfied with. Just because your grades are too poor, a large number of layoffs are made. The reason is very good.

NBC TV network, another Simon value after Universal Studios Entertainment, of course, is Universal Studios.

Tom Williams, president of Universal's theme parks and resorts group, has been with Universal for nearly three decades. Managed Universal Studios Los Angeles, Universal Studios Orlando, as well as Universal Studios Osaka and Universal Studios Singapore, which just opened this year.

Orlando, Florida, at the Universal Studios offices.

"Tom, you know? If I bought Universal Studios earlier, I wouldn't let you build Universal Studios in Singapore," Simon said while sitting on the sofa. Simon was originally from New York to Miami, after all, now Los Angeles and New York are too pushy by themselves, and the entertainment and sports circles are in the limelight.

After knowing that Tom Williams also came to Florida, he made a special trip from Miami to Universal Orlando.

"Why is this? Singapore is very developed, and it can radiate the population of the Southwest Pacific region, which is very good for the development of Universal Studios," Tom Williams explained quickly.

Simon shook his head, sighed helplessly, and smiled: "There are now four Universal Studios parks in the world. The ownership and management rights of Universal Studios Hollywood are our own, and the previous half of Universal Studios Orlando's management rights. It was owned by the British Tuknam Group, which later recovered the complete management rights;"

"For Universal Studios in Osaka and Singapore, we only license the brand, and the ownership of the operation is owned by local domestic companies. What kind of licensing fees do we earn every year?"

"Simon, unlike Disney, we don't have so much capital and authorized brand image, etc.," Tom Williams said helplessly. After all, Disney animation is deeply rooted in people's hearts, and the most profitable part of the park is the family and children.

Universal Pictures only has brands in the copyright library, and many popular brands are cooperating. For example, Universal Pictures has cooperated with the great director Steven Spielberg for many years, and the game projects and image licensing such as "Jurassic Park" have to pay Steven Spielberg's Amblin Pictures a lot of licensing fees every year.

In the past two years, JK Rowling and Disney were not satisfied with Disney's conditions when they negotiated the cooperation of the "Harry Potter" series of parks, so they switched to Universal Studios. A very popular item in the studio.

Of course, the licensing fee paid to JK Rowling is also an expense.

Simon nodded, and he also had some understanding of the situation of Universal Studios, but Universal Studios Singapore didn't matter. Anyway, there were not many people there and the area was small.

In the future, because Universal Studios Singapore is not careful about the maintenance of facilities and the projects are not updated very much, it will not help but lower the image of Universal Studios.

"Tom, it's different now. Xinghai Entertainment now has Marvel and Lighting Entertainment. You know what this means." Simon won't say much about this, Tom himself understands.

Simon said seriously: "The performance of Universal Studios Osaka is not very good now, and the advantages of RB are not comparable to that of Singapore. Southeast Asia is probably more uncomfortable?"

"Xinghai Entertainment wants to buy back the ownership of Universal Studios Osaka, if not all of it, at least a majority stake; I remember Goldman Sachs owns 40%, and the rest is in the hands of the Osaka city government and several other companies. Now Universal Studios Osaka’s performance is mediocre, and the update of the studio’s game projects is slow, and investment institutions like Goldman Sachs should be willing to take action!”

"Second, I have been to Shanghai, China before, and I have the idea of ​​building a movie-themed resort, and Disney has always had this idea, so I hope Universal Studios will win the competition with Disney this time. Come down to Shanghai."

"China's future market, you know how big it is. Hong Kong already has a Disneyland, and Shanghai should have a Universal Studios!"

Simon can clearly remember that after Doncaster acquired NBC Universal, and saw the performance of Universal Studios Osaka soaring after the construction of the Harry Potter Park, he strongly repurchased the majority of the shares of Universal Studios Osaka, but now Universal Studios Osaka doesn't have a Harry Potter park yet, so it's the perfect time to acquire it.

As for China's BJ, Disney can't win Shanghai, and it is unknown whether they will communicate with BJ.

After all, in parallel time and space, because Disney and Shanghai cooperated, Universal Studios also accelerated the cooperation with BJ.

"Now that Universal Studios Osaka is also preparing to build the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, it is not difficult to buy back shares. I will do my best to promote the Universal Studios Shanghai plan, but in terms of funding!" Tom Williams said.

"Don't worry about funding. Now the group still has working capital, and many banks and investment funds are also optimistic about us. It is not difficult to get loans," Simon said. After all, Universal Pictures originally had cash. After so many projects were stopped, cash can be used as you like. flower.

Tom Williams was surprised for a moment, then nodded. Universal Studios, like Disney, started talking with China's Ministry of Commerce about building a movie theme park as early as around 2000.

After all, income in China was so low back then that even BJ and Shanghai, the top earners, were not attractive. Otherwise, how could Disney choose Hong Kong? It is all determined by the income of the residents.

Now, it is different. China's development is very fast. After the income increases, it is spiritual enjoyment.

"In the future, I still hope that Universal Studios can adopt a joint venture model, so that we can also ensure that the equipment of Universal Studios around the world is updated and maintained, so as to better attract tourists. This kind of complete brand authorization model will no longer exist! "

This is also the model of Disneyland. Except for the first overseas Disneyland, Tokyo Disney, which is authorized, all the rest are joint ventures. Only in this way can you ensure your right to speak.