Although the transaction contract was signed, it will definitely take one or two months to complete the various cumbersome asset and business delivery between Firefly Investment and Sony Group.

However, through Bill Michanik, Eric quickly completed control of Columbia Films. A week later, Columbia basically resumed normal operations.

After struggling with Japan for so many years, Eric doesn't expect Colombia to have too obvious changes in the short term. As long as a large film company is restored to the production and distribution scale that a large film company should have in the next one or two years. To be fair, as long as it doesn't make any trouble and make movies seriously, it is not too easy for a large film company like Colombia to lose money.

Sony has never been able to sort out the operating rules of Hollywood over the years, and has made a series of stupid decisions. Coupled with the instinctive rejection of local strength, the situation for Sony Pictures has become worse and worse.

In fact, if Sony Pictures can be given a few more years, even if there are no such big-selling works as Spider-Man, the other party can gradually adapt.

Now, naturally, Sony will never have such a chance again.

After completing the acquisition of Sony Pictures, the Firefly system included more than half of Hollywood's major film companies. Although the remaining three major film companies did not show any statements on the surface, their performance on this matter was not calm in private.

The first week of October is also the 11th week of "Midnight Bell".

This horror film that unexpectedly created a phenomenal movie-watching trend has earned $6.74 million in box office this week, and it still maintained a very weak 16.9% weekly decline.

What surprised everyone even more was that while continuing his miraculous box office trend, the total box office of "Midnight Bell" in North America this week also reached US$251 million, successfully breaking through the US$250 million mark, becoming the third-place film in the 1998 box office rankings so far.

Above "Midnight Bell", "Charlie's Angels 3" has also become the only movie in North America that has exceeded the $300 million mark so far, with a total box office of $322 million.

The next "The Day Afternoon" has a box office of 256 million yuan. However, compared with "Midnight Bell" that still maintains a very considerable single-week box office, whether it is "Charlie's Angels 3" or "The Day Afternoon", the single-week box office has entered a final stage of only a few hundred thousand dollars, and the total box office data in North America will basically not change much.

It is not difficult to imagine that perhaps in the next week, the total box office of "Midnight Bell" in North America may surpass "The Day After". Before the release of "Star Wars Prequel" and "Mission Impossible 3" at the end of the year, this horror film will remain second in the box office rankings for a long time.

Judging from the production cost of "Midnight Bell" is only 30 million US dollars, the return on investment of this horror film is even more shocking.

On a good weekend, on a yacht off the coast of Los Angeles, Michael Eisner, Edgar Bronfman, Redstone and Gerald Levin gathered together rarely, casually gathering around a round table on the deck and playing bridge. I don’t know how long it took, Gerald Levin suddenly said: “I heard that Fireflies will hold the second celebration banquet for Midnight Bell tonight.”

Lei Shi Dongxin calculated the cards in his hand and casually replied: "Ha, that's right, if Paramount could make such a movie, I would have to hold ten celebration banquets."

Gerald Levington said, "I just want to say that I can't continue like this."

Edgar Bronfman closed the card in his hand, looked at everyone seriously, and suggested: "Perhaps we can form an alliance, like those four."

Redstone glanced at Edgar Bronfman: "What are the advantages? What are our alliances? What advantages can we bring?"

Gerald Levin shook his head and smiled self-deprecatingly: "We don't have Eric Williams here."

Edgar Bronfman nodded, muttering to himself, whether intentionally or unintentionally: "It would be great if there was no Eric Williams there."

The few people at the poker table suddenly became quiet.

After a moment of cold silence, the longest-year-old Redstone glared at Edgar Bronfman fiercely and warned: "Ed, for the sake of my relationship with your father, I would like to warn you that this is a world of rules, and you must never have such thoughts in the future. If Eric Williams can be without you, or me, everyone can disappear at will, and the world will be in chaos."

Of course Edgar Bronfmann was not a naughty man. He regretted what he said just now and said solemnly: "Thank you, Summer, I remember."

Redstone nodded with satisfaction, looked at Michael Eisner who hadn't spoken, and said, "Michael, you have a few words."

Michael Eisner said: "Seeking Sony Pictures is already the limit of Firefly's expansion. No matter which of our three companies, it is impossible for us to eat, and the federal government will no longer allow Eric to do so. The key is how we should strive for more market share in the next competition."

Redstone realized that Michael Eisner had his own ideas and asked, "Tell me carefully."

Michael Eisner smiled and said, "Actually, this is not difficult at all. Because the template of the Firefly system is there. Since Eric Williams has proved his vision for ten years, then we can follow up quickly what Firefly does. Just like a Japanese horror film like "Midnight Bell", I have already made people look for several scripts during this period."

Gerald Levin said: "If you just keep following the fireflies, you've actually been doing this all these years."

"So, we should follow closely. As long as Firefly starts some projects, we don't have to wait for the results, but follow up as much as possible so that we can't be thrown away." Michael Eisner continued: "In addition, we must also increase our investment in special effects blockbusters. Although the alliance between the three companies does not bring us any advantages. However, if the three of us can combine to build a special effects company similar to the digital field, then we can make up for the special effects technology.

Shortcoming. In recent years, this aspect has been our shortcomings, which has limited the scale of our special effects movies. You should be able to find that the Firefly Group has not yet released special effects movie projects, such as the big-produced "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "Iron Man", "Spider-Man", "Dragon Valley", and the medium-produced "Teddy Bear", "Legend of the Night", "Resident Evil", etc., which add up to more special effects movies than all the three of us."

After hearing Michael Eisner's words, Redstone nodded in agreement and said, "Maybe, we can strengthen our support for Industrial Light and Magic."

Michael Eisner immediately shook his head and said, "Industrial Light Magic cannot be helped. It has been pulled too far from the digital field, and Lucas has no ambitions in film. In the recent "Star Wars Prequel", many CG special effects are entrusted to the digital field. Look at the digital field, it already has three branches in North America, California, and New Zealand. I heard that they may also establish branches in Canada within the next one or two years. So, we'd better start immediately and integrate the resources of the special effects companies in our three hands."

Stimulated by the digital field, although the scale is not large, several major Hollywood film companies have also set up their own special effects film departments.

After a few people briefly discussed and decided on it, Gerald Levin said again: "Well, Firefly's '4200' plan, what do you think? Do we need to follow up?"

After a moment of quiet again, Lei Shidong spoke first: "The investment is too great, the risk is too high."

Michael Eisner said: "I went to Firefly Cinema last time to see the effect of the RealD system, which was very shocking. However, not to mention the initial investment, if you want to promote it, the copy cost of each movie will double in the future. The copy cost of IMAX format is higher, about ten times that of ordinary film copies. According to the blooming scale of 2,000 screens, if a film that originally only costs $4 million for copy costs is released in 3D and 3D-IMAX formats, the copy cost will be increased to $12 million for 2,000 3D screens plus 100 3D-IMAX screens."

Others took a breath. In the film era, the main factor limiting the scale of film distribution of movies by independent film producers is copy cost. Even for the seven major groups, the cost of copying movies is also an expense that cannot be ignored.

The copy cost of a movie of $12 million is equivalent to directly excluding all medium- and low-cost films. Even for large-scale movies, studios need to better consider whether to release the movies in this way.

"Maybe this is why Eric Williams is determined to take over Sony Pictures. After all, it's a big problem to be a film source worthy of 3D and IMAX formats," Edgar Bronfman said, recalling Michael Eisner's suggestion just now and looking at him, "So, Michael, do you think we should follow up?"

"If Firefly allows us to join this plan, I think it is necessary to follow up. The key is that since Eric has invested so much in the early stage, he is unlikely to allow us to enter the market and get a share of the pie."

"It's just that 2,100 3D and IMAX screens in North America, I think that the average monthly source is the most reasonable, at least not less than one per month. Even if the Firefly system has four major film companies, it is impossible to release all movies in this way. The three of us must still have the source of the movies that Firefly needs."

"Let this go for the time being," Redstone said suddenly. "Michael, after you go back, you can discuss with Shirley and Richard from Warner and first integrate the special effects departments in our hands. As for the Firefly's '4200' plan. If they can succeed next year, theaters will definitely automatically increase the number of 3D screens. If they fail, we don't have to worry about it."

When Lei Shidong said this, everyone remembered that the Lei Shidong family started by operating theaters, and no one present was more familiar with the theater business than him.

The facts should indeed be as Lei Shidong said. If Firefly's '4200' plan is successful, theaters will definitely increase the number of 3D screens. At that time, there will definitely be extra resources for the other three films. If it fails, major theaters will definitely avoid Firefly's 3D screening system, and there will be no need to pay attention to this matter at that time.

The only thing that is troublesome after all is IMAX Cinema. Firefly Group has bought the Canadian IMAX Company and plans to build the theater chain itself.

However, this does not seem to be a problem. After all, compared with the theater scale of more than 30,000 screens in North America, 100 IMAX screens will basically not affect the overall situation.

...

At the same time, Firefly Cinema.

Although today is Saturday in the studio of "Georgeous" , Eric still rushed over to solve some small filming problems and worked with Robert Byron and others to study the solution to the problem.

As October begins, the filming of this film is finally coming to an end. According to the current progress, it only takes another ten days, that is, after October 20, the crew can head to Arizona to shoot the only few outdoor scenes, and everyone in the crew can also relax.

When I was busy in the morning, Eric received a call from ICM. Not long after, ICM's gold medal agent Michelle Simmons rushed over with Charlize Theron, which was considered a visit to the set, and also discussed the matter about "The Soul-Escaped Girl".

Walking into this studio that is said to be the most advanced in Hollywood, Michelle Simmons and Charlize Theron looked around curiously, and seeing Eric wave at them, they hurried over.

"Hey, Eric, long time no see," Michelle Simmons hugged Eric enthusiastically, and Charlize stepped forward and hugged Eric.

After saying hello, Michelle looked at the huge robotic arm and complimented: "Eric, maybe you can come up with so many wonderful ideas in the whole Hollywood."

Eric sent a staff member to make coffee for the two girls, smiled and nodded, "Thank you, Michelle, and Charlie, come and sit down."

After leaving the two girls next to a large operating table, Eric sat down and said straight to the point: "So, have you read the script of "The Soul-Moving Girl"?"
Chapter completed!