[Chapter 526: Disney Makes Its Move]
The bank certainly did not doubt William White's ability to repay. Although his loans were substantial, his assets were even greater. Not only did he have those already publicly listed companies, but that pile of firms yet to go public was also extremely valuable.
The bankers paid no heed to the experts' comments.
You say the semiconductor industry is failing, that dynamic memory will surely crash.
What happened?
Due to a surge in demand, prices for memory sticks skyrocketed. Forget about losses; that factory in London must be raking in profits beyond imagination.
You all talk about how the automotive industry is struggling, but in this moment, who would dare underestimate Tesla?
What shocked many was that Tesla's various models were equally sought after in Europe and Japan. Ever since they began production, there has not been a day without shortages.
The capital market was focused on when Tesla would go public. Would it be an entire public offering or a spin-off? Due to their arrogance and prejudice, Wall Street had invested little in either project, and now they were left gnashing their teeth with no further ideas.
...
"Michael, this isn't just an animated movie; tell everyone below that this is a major animated film. Thirty million, I'll give you thirty million. Take the script; I want only the best for music and production."
"Sure thing, Mr. White, I'll bring in some seasoned professionals to handle it."
"No, no, no, you've got it wrong. I don't want those old-timers. This isn't about princesses; what I need is youth and vitality. Let me put it this way, this is the animal version of Hamlet. I'm not worried about the cultural depth; I'm worried that they won't know how to incorporate African culture."
Michael Eisner was a bit taken aback. "Mr. White, could you please clarify? Since when did Africa have culture? Mr. White, let me check the script first."
"Alright, do whatever you want; I'll handle some emails."
Within William White's company, computers and emails were already commonplace. Even the receptionists had to be proficient with computers.
Speaking of which, Microsoft's version 3.0 was quite a leap. Despite its many flaws, it wasn't too difficult to use.
Looking at the thick stack of materials in his hands, Michael Eisner felt a bit excited. Well, although the plot was somewhat cliche, who really cared?
"Mr. White, are you planning to send them to Africa?"
"That's why I said it has to be young people. You know, the most dangerous filming locations are in Africa. The most dangerous viruses come from there. By the way, tell them to be careful. If things get tough, they can sort it out themselves. We're in the midst of an epidemic; we can't afford any trouble."
"Got it, Mr. White."
"Hey, I'm not nagging; just go ahead and tell them."
Michael Eisner was truly at a loss with his orders. You're pointing fingers at others, but you seem quite careless yourself.
"Okay, Mr. White, I'll keep an eye on it. Where exactly are they going?"
"The Congo jungle. I believe they'll find everything they need there; there are lions and tribes."
"Mr. White, isn't there a war going on there? Seems like they are facing famine too."
"You don't need to worry about that. The security detail for the area is handled by our security. Unless they kidnap a chief, we can handle the rest."
"Okay, I'll put this plan into action immediately."
Disney's animated movie project had actually been in the pipeline for some time. However, William White was dissatisfied with the prior outputs.
Without an IMAX version, Lion King would always fall short. Hamlet has no sequel, but William White needed one. Therefore, this version would undergo substantial changes. At the very least, you needed to include a few Easter eggs and hints.
...
Back at Disney, Michael Eisner began to feel a headache. He understood what the boss meant; this animated film needed to change. And that IMAX? That was just too expensive, wasn't it?
"Hey, George, it's Michael."
"Ha ha, what's up?"
"Uh, I'd like to ask about the progress on Jurassic Park. I have an animated IMAX film project here; how's that shaping up?"
"How's it shaping up? Trust me, Michael, this is a monumental shift. If I had to compare, it's like the difference between silent films and talkies."
"Is it really that outrageous?"
"Yep, it's that outrageous. Let me tell you, I need to postpone my Star Wars project. Your boss is a madman."
"Is there a problem?"
"Of course there is! The cost -- my God, you have no idea how pricey this is. Spielberg said, 'without a hundred million bucks, don't even think about filming Star Wars.'"
"Fine, fine, I want to see a sample of the effects."
"Asking me is no use; go talk to William White. He strictly oversees this so that those country bumpkins can have a stunning effect."
"Okay, I'll call the Mr. White right now."
Michael Eisner naturally trusted George Lucas's judgment. This guy was different from Spielberg; he wasn't just an excellent director; he was also a savvy businessman.
Disney employees wanted to experience IMAX, and there wasn't any issue with that. This technology seemed mysterious, but it was really just that -- nothing too extraordinary. Hollywood was merely keeping an eye on this new tech.
Your price is simply too steep, and this expense isn't merely for the film itself. The copies are also incredibly costly.
Lucas's dilemma stemmed from this fact. Forget about the shooting costs; without theaters, how could you possibly manage?
If another person had been pushing this project, Lucas would have scoffed at it. It wasn't that impressive, really. This wasn't some new invention by William White; IMAX films debuted back in the '70s. Though the feedback was generally good, no one had made an effort to promote it. The reason was simple: the costs were prohibitively high.
...
"William, I've decided; I'll convert the first Star Wars into an IMAX version."
"Ha ha, George, you should sell it to me in a package. By the way, let me tell you, I plan to set up a hundred screens. Yeah, globally -- about fifty in North America."
"My God, how much would that cost? You've lost your mind."
"Hey, didn't I tell you that we've significantly reduced the costs through our efforts? Alright, it's still very pricey."
"Man, I've figured it out; you're a jerk."
"Buddy, what do you think I bought this company for? To make money on equipment? Give me a break; I'm in it for the content. From now on, I'll be making at least one IMAX film a year."
"Okay, I hope you can change history. Art films are hard to say, but sci-fi films will be very suitable."
"You're wrong, George. There's one more genre of film that's even more fitting."
"What is it, action films?"
"Pfft, that's nothing. Real shoot-'em-up movies can't compare to exciting action from Asia; you know, that immersive experience is just so tangible!"
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