Hollywood Starts with Animation

Chapter 12 Acquisition of a Film Company

November 29, 1995.

Today, without a doubt, is a great day for Pixar Animation Studios, because it goes public today.

Inside the Nasdaq trading floor.

"Toy Story is the biggest advancement in animation since Disney made the world's first animated feature "Snow White" 60 years ago, and it's all done by Pixar, Disney just Publisher."

In order to shape and promote the image of Pixar as a new generation of animation film company, Steve Jobs, the big boss of Pixar, spared no effort to fight with many reporters.

"Mr. Jobs, do you mean that the success of Toy Story is entirely due to you and your team?" a reporter asked.

Jobs gave the reporter a dismissive look, as if to say that's it.

"Of course!"

Jobs affirmed.

Well, he is such a person. If it was someone else, I would definitely not speak like this, and I have to take Disney's face into account.

But that's not the case with Jobs.

What is Disney's face? Now is to step on it to the top, otherwise how can the stock price soar to the highest!

Strong, domineering, paranoid, vitriolic, and undeniable, this is the answer of many people.

Of course, it's not exactly the right answer.

Behind the tough and tyrannical man who never admits his mistakes and never bows his head, Steve Jobs also has his sense of current affairs, and there are times when he swallows his voice. For example, when Pixar was down, it signed a series of unequal treaties with Disney, which bought time for Pixar's survival. Including with Bill Gates, he has also compromised many times, cooperated, and of course also had wars.

This kind of advance and retreat is not just an exception in Jobs' business career.

"Jobs is still the familiar taste!"

"arrogant!"

"It's true that he is strong, who makes people succeed again?"

"Damn rich man, I hope he still has time to fall!"

........

In the face of Jobs's rhetoric, everyone around him, whether it is a Hollywood insider or an investor who invests in stocks, is slightly unhappy.

"It's so stupid, I dare to say this face to face, and the people at Disney will probably be embarrassed on the face."

Although Zu Ke said that, he still yearned for it in his heart. He hoped that one day he would have the confidence to show such a tough side.

The truth is as Zucker expected.

Disney chairman Michael Eisner, who got the news, almost flipped the desk in his office!

Soon, the stock market opened.

Pixar animation studio, because of the explosion of "Toy Story", has been sought after by many investment institutions and investors, even if they are slightly unhappy with Jobs.

Who will have trouble with money?

Anyway, Zucker wouldn't know. He contacted an investment company in advance and poured in six million dollars without looking, which was almost all of Zucker's net worth.

"Pixar animation, and Steve Jobs, this is all the money I have!" Zucker prayed frantically.

This time, Zucker didn't use ten times the leverage.

Because Zucker doesn't know whether Pixar's earnings on the opening day are up or down. Even if it is known that it is going up, once leverage is used, it may be harvested by Wall Street bookmakers. Anyway, Zucker only knows that Pixar's market value soared to $1 billion within a month.

......

That night.

Zu Ke was slightly unhappy and gritted his teeth.

"Damn garbage system, can't you provide detailed instructions and information about Pixar's launch? How much money did I lose?"

That's right, Zucker still earns today,

But still unhappy.

Pixar Animation opened at an issue price of $22, and its stock price rose over $45 in half an hour, and then continued to rise to $49, and closed at $39 on the day.

The $6 million that Zucker invested that day increased by 1.7 times, and the equity plus income exceeded $10 million.

Yes, Zucker made a lot of money, but if the highest settlement of the day was $49, the profit would be higher, which is why Zucker was unhappy.

True Zucker Greed Greed Wald!

"Cough cough......"

At this time, former ace negotiator Candy walked into Zu Ke's house and looked at Zu Ke gnashing his teeth, he couldn't help feeling a little sour.

"Okay, you vampire, you've earned enough, don't know what to do." Candy said slowly.

It's not without reason that Candy came to the door this evening.

"Man, all the information you want for the investigation is here, you can see for yourself."

After Candy finished speaking, he got up and left without waiting for Zucker to speak. Sometimes he is such a hot guy because he had an appointment with a beautiful girl tonight.

Zucker watched Candy leave in a stunned manner, and couldn't help but pouted: "It's really personal. It would be better if the fee was lower."

These days, Zucker is busy, so he entrusted Kandy to contact an investigation company to help him investigate some situations.

There are two documents on the table.

【Hughes Film Company】

【Steven Hillenburg Personal Information】

........

Zucker first opened the information on Hughes Films.

Hughes Pictures is a small Hollywood company located in the Burbank area of ​​Los Angeles, which integrates production and distribution. It was established in 1985 and has 49 employees.

This is the investigation company that Kandi contacted. After a month-long investigation and screening, it was the Hollywood company that best met Zucker's requirements.

Although Hughes Films, which mainly produces offline videotape films, has only two theatrically released films, the combined box office is less than $600,000, but it is local in Los Angeles, including throughout California. , or has a complete distribution channel.

Company valuation: $2 million.

Estimated purchase price: $2.5 million to $3 million.

"Hey... It's not bad. It seems that if it wasn't for the owner of Hughes Films, the investment failed in the near future, and the funds needed to be returned, and it is estimated that it would not be sold."

Zucker is half of the entertainment industry and knows a lot of Hollywood's inside story and development trajectory.

Although Hollywood companies such as Hughes Films are the last in Hollywood and have no sense of existence, it is rare to see companies with their own distribution networks. At the very least, these types of companies are also becoming more valuable over time.

In 2016, the Wanda Group of Lao Wang's family spent more than three billion dollars to buy a second-rate legendary film company in Hollywood.

"I bought Hughes Films, and even if it loses money every year, after 20 years, I can sell it for at least 200 million US dollars." Zucker made up his mind and planned to buy it.

......

The second survey data is the personal data of Stephen Hilenberg.

When it comes to Stephen Hilenberg, many people may be unfamiliar, but when it comes to the "SpongeBob SquarePants" cartoon, it is estimated that it is quite influential in the world.

That's right, Stephen Hillenburg is known as the "Father of SpongeBob SquarePants" in the future.

In the beginning, he was not a person in the entertainment industry, but a scientist who studies marine life and a teacher of marine biology at the Oran Institute of Oceanography. His original intention to create the little sponge was just to draw a cartoon introducing the knowledge of marine life for the visiting children at the request of the institute.

But who would have thought that "SpongeBob SquarePants" would be so successful?

Since 1999, it has been broadcast on Nickelodeon children's channel in the United States, and is widely welcomed by children around the world. The work has won two Emmy Awards, 12 Children's Choice Awards, and has also launched 2 movies. As of January 2020, its merchandise has generated more than $13 billion in revenue for the Nickelodeon channel.

$13 billion in peripheral revenue?

"Even if costs and channel expenses are eliminated, SpongeBob's profits are quite impressive!" Zu Ke couldn't help but sigh.

Obviously, because of the information given by the system, Zhu Ke has no doubt dug a gold mine!

"" A new week has begun, please recommend votes, the minister needs everyone's support, thank you!

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