Chapter 184: Chapter 184
Disney's CEO, Robert Iger, was jogging around his own villa. At 55 years old, Robert Iger's face showed little of the joy that should come from just having acquired Pixar.
"Phew," Robert Iger stopped after half an hour of running, his mind constantly replaying the events of the previous day.
Yesterday was the global release conference for Disney's acquisition of Pixar. An hour before the conference, Steve Jobs called Robert Iger to a small park next to the ABC studio nearby.
"Robert, I've got cancer. The cells have spread to my liver. With chemotherapy, I might live another five or six years," Steve Jobs said without much change in his expression.
Robert Iger was stunned for a moment, "That's the worst news I've ever heard!"
However, as a businessman, Robert Iger wondered why Steve Jobs was telling him this.
Was he having second thoughts about Disney's acquisition of Pixar or was he unhappy with Disney's offer?
"Steve, why are you telling me this?" Robert Iger asked, puzzled.
At 51 years old, Steve Jobs was just four years younger than Robert Iger.
"I consider you a friend. Only my family and close acquaintances know about this. I'm telling you now so you have an hour to decide whether you still want to acquire Pixar," Steve Jobs, who had been sitting next to Robert on a park bench, patted his shoulder as he spoke.
Robert Iger knew Steve Jobs didn't need comfort, so he patted Steve's shoulder in return and smiled, "Trust me, Pixar will continue its brilliant journey at Disney!"
Steve Jobs nodded and smiled before getting up, "Let's go make history."
When Robert Iger returned to the villa after his run, his wife had already prepared breakfast and cheerfully invited him to eat.
Disney's acquisition of Pixar was an enviable deal, and his wife knew that Robert had been preparing for this for a long time.
Now that the acquisition was successful, she was naturally happy for her husband.
"Thank you," Robert Iger smiled as he sat down. Acquiring Pixar was indeed something to be happy about.
As for Steve Jobs having cancer, the impact on Pixar was negligible, though it could affect Apple's future.
What Steve Jobs wanted was for him to keep the matter a secret.
With Pixar joining Disney, the biggest impact on Hollywood would be on DreamWorks Animation. With Pixar's creativity, Disney Animation's resurgence was only a matter of time.
...
Near Burbank, in the western area of Glendale, lay a campus with seven buildings, which was the headquarters of DreamWorks Animation.
Nearby were the Disney Imagineering offices responsible for designing and developing Disney parks, as well as ABC's studio under Disney.
Further west was Capet Entertainment's headquarters located in Burbank, now a large construction site in full swing.
Continuing west was the Disney headquarters and Warner Bros. headquarters.
In the chairman's office of DreamWorks Animation, the bald Jeffrey Katzenberg reclined in his chair. As a notorious Hollywood workaholic, Jeffrey often refused to rest even on weekends.
Jeffrey Katzenberg, the chairman and CEO of DreamWorks Animation, was undoubtedly the most concerned about Disney's acquisition of Pixar.
"Robert Iger, huh, not bad. Who would have thought the first step of the Disney rescue plan would be so successful?" After all, it was Jeffrey Katzenberg who first discovered Pixar's potential when he was in charge of Disney Animation.
It was also Jeffrey who negotiated with Steve Jobs to secure Pixar's notoriously unfavorable contract.
Even though Jeffrey Katzenberg had parted ways with Michael Eisner before Pixar released its first feature-length animation, Toy Story, no one could deny his contributions to Disney Animation.
Pixar had been DreamWorks Animation's biggest competitor for the past decade. Now, with Pixar part of Disney, Disney Animation's revamp was bound to start immediately.
With Disney's funds and distribution channels combined with Pixar's creativity, Jeffrey Katzenberg felt significant pressure.
Before long, his old friend Steven Spielberg called.
"Hey, buddy, I knew you'd be holed up in the DreamWorks Animation office," Spielberg quipped, though it was unclear if he meant to comfort or chat.
"I always believed people don't need too much downtime," Jeffrey Katzenberg laughed.
"So, why did you call?" he asked.
"I heard you met with Tom Freston from Viacom, and you guys sealed the deal for distributing animated features, right?" Spielberg inquired.
Tom Freston, CEO of Viacom, Paramount's parent company.
"Not just Tom Freston. Paramount's chairman, Brad Grey, was there too. The terms didn't change much; DreamWorks Animation will produce two animated features a year, which Paramount will distribute, taking an 8% distribution fee per film," Jeffrey shared openly.
"The contract runs until 2012, but we haven't reached an agreement on DreamWorks Animation's merchandising and related development," he added.
"Jeffrey, I know you've always wanted to develop a children's theme park through DreamWorks Animation, but that requires massive funding. Paramount sold off its managed theme parks like King's Island over the past couple of years," Spielberg pointed out.
"And besides, DreamWorks doesn't have enough IP in both live-action films and animated features to support a theme park right now. Currently, all we can do is some IP licensing. Maybe you should consider teaming up with an experienced theme park operator."
Jeffrey Katzenberg was well aware of this, but Michael Eisner had turned Disney Animation's legacy into the world's number one theme park.
Jeffrey Katzenberg never considered himself less capable than Michael Eisner. Why couldn't DreamWorks Animation become the next Disney?
"Don't worry, buddy. My focus remains on developing animated features," Jeffrey assured. If DreamWorks Animation needed funding, it would rely on its performance.
"That's good to hear!"
Then Jeffrey Katzenberg hung up the phone and fell deep into thought again.
*****
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