Chapter 322: Disney's Reaction
[Chapter 322: Disney's Reaction]
While Link and Steve Jobs were enjoying coffee at a cafe, news of their meeting quickly reached Michael Ovitz and the senior executives at the major film studios.
Although it was no secret that Guess Pictures was attempting to acquire Pixar Studios, Jobs had consistently taken a hardline stance, refusing negotiations or even discussions. This made it seem unlikely that Guess Pictures could successfully acquire Pixar.
The executives at the major studios hadn't paid much attention to this matter. However, the sight of Link and Jobs together, seemingly discussing an acquisition, caught them off guard.
"Michael, do you know what they were talking about? Is there any way to find out Jobs's thoughts?" Michael Eisner, the president of Disney, asked urgently over the phone to Ovitz.
Ovitz took a deep drag from his cigarette and replied, "That's tough; we can't just install listening devices in a cafe."
"Then we're in trouble," Eisner sighed, frowning.
...
Pixar's rapid advancements in animation, particularly its breakthroughs in computer-generated imagery, had put it ahead of Disney Animation Studio in many ways. While Disney was still relying on traditional hand-drawn animation for its features, Pixar had already produced multiple animated shorts using computer technology, winning numerous technical Oscars.
Pixar's success had not only showcased the potential of computer animation to the industry but had also put unprecedented pressure on Disney. Until the previous year, the relationship between Disney and Pixar had been cordial, even collaborating on an animated film where Disney provided funding while Pixar handled the animation.
That initial contact had come from Jeffrey Katzenberg, the former chairman of Disney Studio, who had led the production of Disney's major box-office hits like The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. Now that Katzenberg had left Disney, their collaboration had come to a standstill.
Eisner had personally approached Jobs, hoping to revive the project, but Jobs, known for his eccentricities, had refused to engage, showing no willingness to even discuss it. Unfortunately, Jobs simply didn't like him.
Eisner was forced to find someone else to negotiate with Jobs. However, that was when Guess Pictures unexpectedly entered the scene with an acquisition proposal for Pixar. Although Pixar had turned down Guess's offer, they had also suspended cooperation with Disney, seemingly waiting for a better deal.
As a result, Eisner directly called Link to ask if he indeed intended to acquire Pixar. After receiving a positive response, Eisner urged Link to abandon the acquisition, believing it wouldn't be friendly to Disney. After all, Link was also a Disney shareholder, and any setbacks for Disney would hurt his interests as well.
Link explained that acquiring Pixar and entering the animated film sector was a strategic move for Guess Pictures, part of their plans to counteract the pressure from the major studios, and he was not about to easily back down.
However, he mentioned that this wasn't out of the question for discussion. As long as Disney agreed to abandon its attempts to undermine Guess through collaborations with other major studios, they could establish a close partnership. Guess could invest in Disney-produced animated films, and Disney could do the same for Guess's films, creating a win-win situation.
With that assurance, Guess Pictures could consider delaying the acquisition of Pixar. Hearing Link's "rogue" proposal, Eisner felt both angry and helpless. Animated films were Disney's foundation and crucial for their position in Hollywood; how could they possibly share that with another company?
Moreover, the decision to undermine Guess was a unanimous one among the major studio board members, aimed at preserving their dominance in the film industry. As part of this group, Disney had to remain aligned with the other major studios.
Eisner firmly rejected Link's proposal while keeping an eye on the developments regarding Guess's acquisition of Pixar. Upon hearing about Link's meeting with Jobs, he understood he had to take measures against the impending crisis.
...
"Michael, isn't Link a Disney shareholder? Why would he do this?" Ovitz asked, puzzled.
"Hmph! I suspect his purpose in investing in Disney was to manipulate the board to sabotage our decision-making," Eisner said coldly, his tone laced with resentment.
"If Guess manages to acquire Pixar, how significant would that be?"
"Very significant," Eisner replied gravely. "Guess Pictures' abilities in film promotion and distribution rival those of the major studios; the only shortfall is in production capability and technical prowess. If they acquire Pixar, they gain access to their technology and can produce animated films themselves. Their production capabilities would dramatically increase, leading to more film releases and a larger share of the box office market. Over time, this would diminish the major studios' advantages while Guess Pictures would become increasingly powerful, ultimately establishing itself as a true powerhouse in the film industry."
"That damn Link is a real menace," Ovitz lamented.
Eisner nodded, sharing his sentiment. Before Link's emergence, the executives at the major studios had enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle, spending their days sipping coffee and playing golf, occasionally bending the rules with some starlets. However, since Link had established Guess Pictures, their workloads had skyrocketed; overtime had become a norm, and their work-related stress had increased tenfold.
Link was indeed a menace.
...
After airing his frustrations about Link, Eisner called Barry Diller from Fox, Ron Meyer from Universal, and Terry Semel from Warner Bros. to gauge their views on the matter. Hollywood wasn't home to just Disney when it came to animated films; the other major studios released animated projects every year as well.
If Guess Pictures entered the animated film sector, it would undoubtedly have far-reaching effects on the entire industry. Diller and Meyer surprisingly held consistent views: there was no need to worry excessively.
Their reasoning was simple -- Link had no background in animation and no experience in creating animated films. Would someone who saw The Lion King's massive success and then hastily jumped into animation really succeed?
The answer was no!
Even Disney and Warner, with their wealth of animation talent and established distribution channels, sometimes struggled with their animated features; how could a newcomer like Guess Pictures possibly manage?
They believed Link's ambition to create animated films through Pixar, while undoubtedly appealing, was unrealistic and would have a failure rate exceeding ninety percent. Moreover, while the costs of producing computer-animated films were lower than hand-drawn animation, they still required significant investment.
If Guess Pictures poured vast sums of money into animated films, it would inevitably impact the production of their other projects. From this perspective, the major studios not only had no reason to prevent Link from acquiring Pixar but should instead encourage him to dive headfirst into a potentially disastrous venture.
...
Eisner carefully considered their viewpoints and found some merit in them. Disney had been established since the 1920s, producing hundreds of animated films and television shows, creating countless iconic characters. It took decades for Disney to reach its current size and global market share.
What right did a newcomer like Link have to succeed? If he failed, it would be a serious blow to Guess Pictures' growth.
"But what if Link succeeds?" After hanging up the phone, Eisner pondered for a moment, feeling the weight of the situation.
The reason Diller and others weren't particularly concerned was that their main products were not animated films; even if Guess Pictures successfully entered the animation sector, it would hardly impact them. Disney, on the other hand, was different.
Eisner arranged for his team to continue monitoring Guess Pictures' acquisition of Pixar animation and to disrupt their collaboration whenever possible. If they could not stop it, they would have to gamble on Link's ability to fail as a newcomer in the animated film landscape.
----
In an Italian cafe, after over an hour of conversation, Link and Jobs shook hands and parted ways at the entrance.
"Director Link, I saw you chatting with Mr. Jobs for quite a while. What were you discussing?" a middle-aged man with a camera called out just as Link was about to get into his car.
Link paused, smiling as he replied, "I wanted to buy a new model laptop, and I asked Steve for recommendations. He suggested the 1984 Apple Mac."
"Is that all? I heard Guess Pictures is preparing to acquire Pixar Animation Studios. Did you discuss this topic during your conversation?" the man pressed.
"Yes, Link, please talk about this issue," several reporters chimed in.
"This is a business secret," Link replied with a gentle smile, waving his hand as he stepped into his business vehicle.
...
Link called Monica to ask if the group had returned home. Monica replied that they hadn't; they were still out shopping and getting beauty treatments.
Link commended them for their stamina, noting that they could shop for two hours and not tire. It was quite the opposite of when they would complain about dying after just ten minutes of 'exercise.'
Monica teased back, calling him a rascal.
As the car set off, they headed to Rodeo Drive to pick up a few tired women to take back home.
"Link, how did your talk with Mr. Jobs go?" Sofia, dressed in a knee-length skirt, draped her legs over his thigh, claiming her legs ached and asking for a massage.
"Pretty well; Jobs was quite receptive to my ideas." Link managed Sofia's smooth calves.
...
Originally, Link had aimed to use re-establishing Jobs at Apple as a leverage to push for the acquisition, but Jobs refused to merge the two discussions.
Link didn't press further, instead outlining Guess Pictures' plans and strategies for animation, which were similar to what DreamWorks was planning for animated films. Jobs was satisfied and even provided additional input on how to enhance Guess Pictures' animated film strategy.
After hearing Jobs being amenable, Link presented the acquisition plan for Pixar Animation Studios again, offering either $500 million plus 5 percent of Guess Pictures' shares, or $300 million plus 10 percent of Guess Pictures' shares. The former had a value of $610 million, while the latter was worth $520 million. However, with Guess Pictures growing rapidly, the shares were becoming more valuable, making the latter option potentially more lucrative.
He also invited Jobs to serve as the CEO of Guess Pictures, overseeing all company affairs while Link retained the role of chairman. After some consideration, Jobs essentially agreed to the deal but mentioned he needed to discuss it with a few minority shareholders and key creative personnel at Pixar. He promised to get back to Link in a couple of days.
Link felt optimistic about it. Jobs was the largest shareholder of Pixar and held 75% of the shares, giving him decision-making authority; others could not sway his resolution. With Jobs on board for the acquisition, the deal was unlikely to face significant hurdles.
...
"Link, Guess Pictures lacks experience in creating animated films. If they spend so much on acquiring Pixar and then invest in making animated films, what if it fails?" Michelle Pfeiffer asked with concern.
"Don't worry; I have a detailed development plan to ensure it won't fail," Link replied confidently.
...
With the original Pixar team on board, there would be reliable technical support. As long as the studio adhered to the original quality standards for the animated films -- coupled with Link's expertise as a leading writer, director, and producer -- the output was bound to meet high expectations.
Link would also glean directorial experience and skill-building through these animated projects.
Even if the film production didn't pan out, it wouldn't matter much. Without the collaboration of Pixar for animation films, Walt Disney's competitive edge in the box office would diminish significantly. The overall strength of the major studios would also weaken, ultimately benefiting Guess Pictures.
Additionally, acquiring Pixar would strengthen collaboration with Jobs and set the stage for further investments in Apple. Thus, irrespective of the success of Guess Pictures' animated film plans, the investment would be advantageous for Link.
...
"Wow, that feels great! Link, you really know how to massage." Sofia moved her calves, wearing a blissful expression.
"Really? I want to try it too!"
"Link, me too! My legs hurt as well!"
Monica Bellucci, Michelle Pfeiffer, Renee Zellweger, Brooke Shields, and Catherine Zeta-Jones all raised their long legs, eager for him to work out some knots.
Link looked at their outstretched legs and couldn't help but sigh at his fate; with so many long legs, he felt it would take a lifetime to give them all the attention they deserved.
But as a considerate boyfriend, he couldn't ignore the needs of the women in his life. He instructed them to line up and take turns.
On the way back, Monica and the others made a special request, wanting Glimmer Investments to help manage their finances. They didn't want all their earnings spent on shopping; they wanted a long-term strategy.
Link, as he massaged Milla's calves, was taken aback by their suggestion. Although these women were his girlfriends and very much part of his life, they were financially independent, earning and spending on their own terms. Now, they were proactively asking to entrust their finances to his investment company.
This move was akin to handing over the reins of their financial lives to him, creating a deep bond of trust. Link thought to himself that he was doing well in the boyfriend department.
*****
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