章 395: Chapter 396: Why
[Chapter 396: Why]
Michael Eisner sat in a posh cafe in Beverly Hills, glancing at his watch once more. There were still five minutes before their scheduled meeting, yet an impatient look had already crossed his face.
He had been feeling anxious lately. Following a series of film flops last summer, Disney suffered losses of over a hundred million dollars, and none of the films released by the end of the year had achieved particularly impressive results. If it weren't for the profits from Disneyland and branded merchandise sales, Disney would have likely faced its first loss since Eisner took over as CEO in 1984.
Despite managing to keep the balance sheets somewhat stable, shareholders had begun to criticize him for consolidating power within Disney and for his heavy-handed approach in dealing with Eric Williams, which effectively ended the good relationship Disney had with Firefly Films.
Michael Eisner certainly would not admit to anyone the regret he felt. Had he foreseen such consequences, he wouldn't have been so quick to publicize the split. But discussing these matters now would prove futile. After he attempted to express reconciliation with Eric through Ghost, all he managed was to prevent Firefly from publicly opposing Disney. However, any collaboration between the two was now completely off the table.
Although he had effectively controlled Disney's board of directors, Michael Eisner understood that his absolute authority depended on his ability to generate sufficient profits for Disney's shareholders.
As long as Disney continued delivering consistent returns, there would be no unified front among shareholders opposing him within a company that had such scattered ownership. Occasionally, a particular shareholder might voice complaints, but they wouldn't faze him, not even the Disney family. That was why he found himself sitting here today, having arrived earlier than usual.
Before he knew it, five minutes had passed. A waiter finally led Robert Shea to the table. Michael Eisner put on a warm smile as he shook hands with Robert, and the two men took their seats across from each other.
"Sorry, Michael, I ran into some issues and got here a bit late," Robert Shea said after ordering a coffee.
"No problem, Robert. You're not late at all," Michael Eisner replied, still smiling.
After a few casual exchanges, the waiter brought their coffees. Robert leisurely added several sugar cubes, appearing relaxed and in no rush to address business matters. His demeanor suggested he was trying to establish the upper hand.
Things had been going well for him lately. After the initial frustration of being cast out from Firefly, Robert found himself in a better position with the script for Cutthroat Island, which he had snatched from Eric. He was even enjoying more clout than when he had served as CEO of Firefly, with the major film studios lowering their tones, eager to collaborate with him on the Cutthroat Island project.
Robert Shea certainly contemplated producing Cutthroat Island independently, but for a film with such a hefty budget, distribution was far from straightforward. Without New Line to back him up, the connections he currently had were insufficient to carry something of that scale. Unless he could patiently build networks over the next few years, tapping into the distribution channels of the major studios was unavoidable.
However, driven by his anger at being ousted from Firefly, Robert was eager to make a comeback, with a side motivation to stick it to Eric. Thus, he had resolved to collaborate with the major studios, actively networking among the executives to secure the best deal he could for himself.
Michael Eisner observed the posturing Robert Shea was adopting with a brief, scornful smile and remarked, "I heard that kid went to New York again."
Robert Shea knew precisely whom Michael referred to and his expression darkened. "It's likely due to the recent fluctuations in oil prices. He might've made a bit of money last time so he's looking to cash in again. Young folks just don't know their limits. Not only did he turn down the HFPA's invitation to be a presenter, but he didn't even attend this year's Golden Globe Awards. He's likely offended them to no end. Getting awards for Firefly's films will not be an easy feat in the future."
Michael Eisner wasn't particularly invested in the Golden Globes or the Oscars. MGM boasted over 150 Oscars, the highest count of any studio, yet it wasn't thriving. Only smaller studios fussed over the profit potential of the awards. This showed how limited Robert Shea's perspective remained. Michael Eisner couldn't help but reflect that Eric's decision to boot Robert from Firefly had been a correct one.
"That kid will face consequences sooner or later, Robert. Now, let's talk about Cutthroat Island," Michael Eisner said directly.
Robert Shea put down his coffee, shaking off his earlier demeanor. "Let's hear Disney's terms first, Michael. I'm still leaning toward collaborating with Disney, but you'll need to present an enticing offer."
Michael Eisner responded, "A 60/40 split, covering both investment and distribution costs. You get 40%, Disney takes 60%, and, of course, you also get to enjoy that revenue share."
Robert Shea felt a sense of disbelief and, looking at Michael Eisner's serious expression, let out a scoff. "Are you joking, Michael? I'd never agree to a 60/40 split -- let alone that, I wouldn't even accept a 50/50 split. I think it's best I take my leave now, everyone's time is valuable."
"Why the rush, Robert? Why not hear me out?" Michael Eisner said with a knowing smirk, waving him back.
Noticing something in Michael Eisner's demeanor, Robert Shea hesitated for a moment but eventually sat back down.
Michael Eisner continued, "Let's revisit Ghost. Eric Williams once claimed that aside from him, the chances of that script succeeding in someone else's hands were slim. I initially doubted him, but after Ghost released, I realized he was right. Had it not been for that moving score of Unchained Melody, the film wouldn't have achieved the same quality and would've likely fallen flat at the box office. No other director or composer could have linked that classic from decades prior with Ghost, not even close."
"Does that relate to what we're discussing today?" Robert Shea asked impatiently.
Michael Eisner nodded, his gaze sharp on Robert Shea. "Of course. Do you know why I haven't rushed to contact you like other studios?"
Robert felt a sense of trepidation, sensing something was off. He stammered, "Wha... Why?"
*****
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