Chapter 286: Vacation
[Chapter 286: The Major Studios Planned to Cripple Him, Yet He Was Vacationing and Chasing Girls -- What a Disrespectful Move]
The acquisition of the animation studio was the result of Link's careful consideration.
Currently, Guess Pictures produced about ten films each year. Acquiring a promising animation studio could boost their output and increase box office revenue.
Moreover, the American film industry was nearing saturation, and the quickest way to grow was to acquire other production companies. Since last year, the big seven studios in Hollywood had not only been buying up independent film companies, but there were also rumors that Disney was preparing to acquire ABC and that Time Warner planned to acquire Turner Broadcasting.
If these acquisitions succeeded, the media conglomerates behind the big seven would tighten their grasp on Hollywood, making it even harder for independent film companies to survive.
To maintain their current edge and capture more box office share, it became increasingly necessary for Guess Pictures to acquire a mature animation production company.
At present, a successful acquisition of Pixar Animation Studios seemed like the best option.
Founded in 1986, Pixar was acquired by Steve Jobs, who left Apple with an investment of $10 million to buy the computer animation division from George Lucas. Over the years, Pixar evolved into an independent studio producing animated films. In the past two years, it had released five animated shorts, garnering extensive acclaim within the industry.
The future boasted immense potential, with anticipated box office hits such as Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc., and Cars, all coming from them.
Given that Jobs could be tough to negotiate with, Link planned to reach out to him for a chat once he wrapped up his current tasks.
...
"I've said what I wanted to say. Does anyone have anything to add?" Link sipped some water before asking.
"Link, recently, recruiters have been trying to poach people from our company, especially in the production department. Many employees have received enticing job offers from other film companies. To prevent attrition, we suggest distributing the year-end bonuses in two installments -- 50% now and the rest by June of next year," Michael Leeson said, sitting up straight.
"Let it be. If someone wants to leave, we'll respect their wishes. The company shouldn't hold anyone against their will. However, to prevent a staffing shortage, HR should prepare to recruit new employees," Link responded.
"Understood!" Michael nodded in agreement.
Seeing no objections from the others, Link adjourned the meeting and asked Lily to stay behind.
The others were aware of their relationship but respected Link's authority, sliding out of the room discreetly, taking their belongings with them.
...
"Next time you need me, call my assistant to set up a meeting. Don't just call me out during the meeting; it might create misunderstandings," Lily said, a hint of blush on her cheeks.
"What misunderstanding? I asked you to stay to discuss work, not for romantic talks," Link laughed, playfully pinching her cheek.
"Keep your hands to yourself!" Lily swatted his hand away, quickly retreating a step with her laptop, putting on her serious face. "Chairman, what work do you need me for?"
Link smiled gently, gesturing for her to walk with him as he spoke.
"The president of the big seven studios held a meeting at the Death Star Building. They talked about how to deal with Guess Pictures. Considering the strength of the media conglomerate behind them, they might use public opinion to attack our films and me personally.
Your PR department needs to be vigilant. Use the tools of public relations and legal means to clarify rumors and counter negative press. Don't hesitate to spend -- ask for as much funding as needed. Our company is not short on funds, and we're not concerned about running into the red.
Also, keep our propaganda strategy sharp during this public relations battle. Our opponents are powerful; we're relatively small. We'll need a solid strategy to win this fight."
Lily listened intently and, after he finished speaking, added, "Rest assured, Chairman. We'll be cautious with the public narrative. However, I have a small suggestion for you; it's up to you whether to take it."
"Go ahead!"
"You mentioned earlier that our competitors might dig up dirt on you. Could you behave yourself at this time and avoid any relationships that could give them material for gossip?"
Lily maintained her composed demeanor as she spoke.
Link chuckled, "Are you talking about me not coming home all night? I could tell during the meeting that you were blaming me by looking at your sullen face."
"Not at all! I don't want to meddle in your personal life; it doesn't interest me. I'm just trying to help with work," she said, batting her eyes innocently.
"I was working late last night too," Link replied.
"Working late requires the whole night?" Lily scoffed. "If you want to meet someone for a night, that's your business. I don't mind. But with so many eyes on you, someone might want to take advantage of the situation. It's not safe to sleep outside. If you're tempted by someone new, just bring her to the villa. Monica and I wouldn't say anything. Sleeping outside isn't good for you; we all care about your safety."
"Got it, I won't do it again." Link put his arm around her shoulder and planted a kiss on her cheek. Lily pushed him away but relaxed once she noticed no one else was around.
---
Once he wrapped up his tasks at the company, it was time for the holidays. Link put his work aside and took everyone to the vacation home in Hawaii for Christmas.
While he was on holiday, news broke that major investment institutions, like Vanguard Capital and J.P. Morgans, had pulled out of the second round of financing for Guess Pictures. This revelation stirred significant buzz in both Hollywood and the business community.
Media outlets began speculating that Guess Pictures' second round of financing had hit a snag due to overpriced offers, with no investment firms willing to take the plunge. This led to fears that the financing might fail entirely.
If financing fell through under the pressure from the big studios, it would be hard for Guess Pictures to survive, and it might quickly fade away as just another fleeting Hollywood company.
Concerning this issue, Total Film magazine published a deep dive into the current challenges and reasons facing Guess Pictures.
In the past three years, they released over twenty films, from the stunning premiere of Buried to the artistic breakthrough of Good Will Hunting. This once-small studio had transformed impressively from an industry newcomer to a major player, capturing the annual box office crown and establishing a legendary status among independent film companies by 1994.
Unfortunately, "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down," and their rapid rise had inevitably threatened traditional industry giants.
This impressive report also foreshadowed potential pitfalls for the company's future.
According to Total Film's analysis, they pinpointed strategic missteps by management as a primary cause of the current situation. As the soul of the company, Link had displayed tendencies toward excessive caution in business strategies, failing to adapt profit-sharing mechanisms in time. This "all for me" approach ultimately invoked collective resistance from his peers.
Particularly noteworthy was the magazine's critique of Link's insistence on a $1.6 billion price tag. The magazine speculated that if Link remained stubborn on the quote, unwilling to share profits with the big studios, Guess Pictures might face an even more severe survival crisis -- perhaps even bankruptcy.
...
"Ha! Great news! I was worried he'd panic at the big seven's plans to come after Guess Pictures and voluntarily hand over shares to pull in capital support. But now, he looks so greedy and blind to the situation, offending several investment firms that he's lost their backing. Let's see how he can fight us now," Michael Ovitz laughed heartily over coffee, feeling quite pleased.
"Link is indeed greedy. Hollywood thrives on entertainment capital, and without investment backing, the industry suffers. Guess Pictures benefits from this growth but refuses to share their success. That's just not wise," Harvey Weinstein chimed in, puffing on his cigar.
"Link's greed is advantageous for us. If he weren't greedy, the big seven wouldn't have allied against him or given up on him this easily. Now I just hope they act decisively to bring Guess Pictures down quickly," Robert Reiner, president of Castle Rock Entertainment, said, feeling a rush of excitement. If Guess Pictures went under, Castle Rock would have a much better chance of surviving.
"Don't worry; several investment firms are on board, supporting the big seven in their bid to crush Guess Pictures. With their backing, defeat is inevitable for Link," Ovitz said, waving his hand and laughing.
"But don't celebrate too soon. Look at this news: Guess Pictures announced it would delay dividends and was preparing $1 billion to tackle the current crisis. If this is true, it won't be easy for the big seven to bring down this stronghold," Ron Meyer pointed out.
"Don't fret; with the big seven and their backing, even a billion won't be able to save Link. Not in Wall Street's eyes," Ovitz replied confidently.
Everyone nodded, knowing Wall Street was the financial hub of the U.S., where the world's wealth was concentrated, primarily controlled by banks and investment firms. Those major investment firms managed hundreds of billions in capital. Even the entertainment capital was in the tens of billions range; trying to counter it with just $1 billion was like an ant trying to stop a truck.
"Ha! To face such a predicament during Christmas, I bet Link must be frantic, probably not even in the mood for holiday parties," Robert Reiner laughed.
Harvey Weinstein paused, his expression shifting as he remarked, "I heard Link took a number of girlfriends to Hawaii for the holidays a few days ago. He doesn't seem too worried, which is strange."
"That can't be! The big seven are out for blood, and he's still thinking of vacation? He must be putting on an act," Ovitz said, his brow furrowing.
Given the onslaught from the big studios, Link should feel frantic, nearly losing sleep, but instead, he was out enjoying Hawaii? Ovitz found it hard to believe. He asked his staff to follow up on Link's whereabouts.
The gossip confirmed it; Link was, in fact, on vacation at a private estate in Hawaii with seven girlfriends and bodyguards in tow. Due to the high security of Moon Bay Villa, they had no chance of slipping in to see what he was up to.
"Damn it!" Ovitz slammed his phone down in frustration.
Link was being utterly disrespectful. With the big seven and Wall Street aiming to crush him, he not only wasn't panicking but was also focused on chasing girls and relaxing?
It was necessary to teach him a lesson; he needed to see how easy it would be to disrupt the peace of his vacation.
*****
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