In the Pixar Studios' rest area like a playground, Steve Jobs and John Lasseter, who were in a significantly improved physical condition, were sitting at a small table, looking through a newspaper.

"The Monster Shrek 2 won the box office championship again, and the painting of "Troy" was not as expected!"

Steve Jobs pushed the disc glasses and looked at the box office figures, the former was $72.3 million, while the latter was $46.85 million.

"Do you know the production cost of "Troy"?" asked Steve Jobs.

"Warner Bros. released data is $175 million," John Lasseter said.

Steve Jobs continued to read newspapers. Due to Pixar Studios, he had some understanding of Hollywood. Judging from the input-output ratio, "Troy" seems to be not as good as "Van Helsing", which fired a squinting shot in the first weekend of the summer season.

"This summer season is a bit special," Jobs said slowly: "Neither big live-action movie is a success."

John Lasseter smiled and said, "It would be nice to recover the cost of these two films within two years."

Steve Jobs' words were very jumping: "The publisher of "Shrek 2" is Embassy Pictures, right?"

"It's Embassy Pictures," John Lasseter reminded: "Ronan Anderson's Embassy Pictures."

Steve Jobs put down the newspaper: "John, talk about the distribution of the Embassy Pictures."

John Lasseter knew why his boss had this question and immediately said: "Embassy Pictures has a very strong theater distribution capability. At the beginning of this year, Paramount Pictures used exclusive screening strategies to target Embassy Pictures, but the hit "The Crucifix" released by Embassy Pictures easily defeated Paramount. The animated feature film we care about most is "Monster Shrek 2" in North America. Embassy Pictures won more than 4,200 theaters, and the number increased to nearly 4,400 on the second weekend. Even if "Monster Shrek 2" is handed over to six major companies, it would be the case."

Steve Jobs continued to ask: "Where are overseas?"

"There are currently more than 100 overseas markets that have been confirmed to be released." John Lasseter was somewhat impressed: "The overseas channels of Embassy Pictures are very complete."

He glanced at Steve Jobs and said, "The Embassy Pictures in offline channels is not bad, and it is indeed not as good as Disney, but Disney was an animation producer before. With years of accumulation, it is normal for Embassy Pictures to not compare with them. However, compared with other companies, Embassy Pictures' offline channel performance in releasing two "Monster Shrek" is not bad at all."

Steve Jobs suddenly laughed: "John, are you optimistic about Embassy Pictures?"

Although they are facing a genius with a weird personality, the two have been partners for more than a decade. John Lasseter did not hide his thoughts: "If we want to solve the pressure from Disney and Michael Eisner, the best way is to introduce a new distribution partner."

"Embassy Films is right?" Steve Jobs seemed to be asking John Lasseter, more like asking himself.

John Rust lowered his voice: "We have contacted other members of the six major companies, and Ed is still negotiating with Warner Bros. The conditions they offer are not much better than Disney. Faced with producers like Pixar Studios, which are located downstream of the industrial chain, the six majors are not only arrogant, but also very greedy."

Steve Jobs did not respond, but instead signaled John Lasseter to continue.

John Lasseter said: "I talked to Ronan Anderson of Embassy Films. Ronan Anderson is a gentle person, which can be confirmed by the Robert Iger he uses. In addition, this person is well-known in the circle for making credibility and commitments. As long as we negotiate with him, we don't have to worry too much about him reneging on his own and instead work with Disney."

Seeing that Steve Jobs still had no intention of speaking, John Lasseter continued: "Embassy Pictures is not a major six companies, but an emerging distribution company. If you want to attract Pixar Studios to cooperate, you will have to offer conditions that are far higher than Disney."

Since talking to Ronan Anderson, John Lasseter has focused on learning about the Embassy Films and found that this may be a suitable partner for Pixar to get rid of Disney.

John Lasseter was also fed up with Walt Disney's insatiable greed and continued: "The Embassy Films and Ronan Anderson's Relativity Entertainment Group have encountered many troubles recently, all related to the six major companies. They are naturally different from the six major companies, and even stand on the opposite side of the six majors, which is consistent with Pixar Studios' position."

Steve Jobs said: "Pixar Studio has never stood opposite to the six major companies." He suddenly said: "When Ronan Anderson went to Apple to change its equity registration, I met Ronan Anderson and had a deep conversation with him. At that time, Ronan Anderson vaguely expressed his intention to cooperate with Pixar Studio."

John Lasseter asked, "That was two years ago?"

Steve Jobs did not answer, but said: "I know Embassy Pictures, and I also know a little about it and Ronan Anderson. Do you know why I have not been in contact with Embassy Pictures? Even Ronan Anderson wants to see me several times, but I turned it down."

John Lasseter wondered: "Why?"

Steve Jobs said slowly: "I can't easily let Pixar Studio stand opposite to the six major companies. The development of relativity entertainment will inevitably attract suppression from the six major companies, just like they treat DreamWorks. If we become partners with relativity entertainment, we will inevitably be implicated."

"You make sense, Steve." Pixar CEO Edwin Camt came to the neighborhood of the two: "But one thing you overlooked, Relativity Entertainment is now in a steady state, and the troubles created by the six major companies have not dragged them down."

As the actual head of Pixar animation production business, John Rust really endured enough Disney, saying: "We watched Disney take away most of the revenue from Pixar's works, but we can't do anything about it. How long will it take? Pixar Studios is known as Hollywood's number one animation studio, but Steve, Ed, we all know how fragile the cash flow of Pixar Studios is!"

Edwin Camtra pulled up the chair and sat down: "Michael Eisner will not give Pixar a chance to turn around, Pixar is just Disney's sweatshop."

The cooperation agreement signed with Walt Disney in the 1990s was the root cause of all this because Pixar Studio and Steve Jobs had no money and resources.

The agreement stipulates that Walt Disney provides part of its investment for Pixar Studios, which handed over the next seven animated feature films (excluding sequels) to Disney Pictures for distribution.

These all seem normal, but the abnormal ones are almost harsh share regulations.

According to the agreement, both parties evenly distribute the box office of animated feature films, TV copyright income and DVD video tape income, but Disney enjoys the final copyright of the film and all other offline income. In addition, Disney has the final say in planning the sequels of the animation film.

Pixar Studio can only watch the big head peripheral products that are earned by animation movies!

Steve Jobs thought about it for a long time, first looked at John Lasseter, then Edwin Camt, and said, "John, you keep in touch with Ronan Anderson, I won't contact him for the time being. Ed, you stare at the Relativity Entertainment Group and Embassy Films, and see them between them and the Six Major..."

He emphasized: "Pixar Studio is our hard work. Even though I hate Michael Eisner so much, I am still enduring Disney exploitation. I just don't want to waste our hard work because of rashness. I made many impulsive decisions when I was young, but with my age and physical condition, I have no time to come back."

Thinking of Steve Jobs' condition and physical condition, John Lasseter and Edwin Camt looked dim.

"Don't worry, Steve," said Edwin Camt. "We will definitely let Pixar Studios continue to grow and become the top in the industry!"

In Burbank, Los Angeles, the relocation of Relativity Entertainment entered its final stage. Ronan was also packing his office. All the important documents were specially sealed in safes. For example, the notebook he recorded his ideas was brought back to the Future World Manor and stored in a huge underground vault.

In this regard, Ronan is careful and will never allow accidents to occur.

After leaving the underground vault, he took the towel sent by the butler Nikia and wiped his hands. Ronan received a call from John Lasseter, a Pixar studio.

John Lasseter said that he conveyed Ronan's greetings to Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs was very happy because his condition did not allow his physical condition, so he specifically asked him to convey his apology that he could not meet immediately.

It is not a secret that Steve Jobs has pancreatic cancer, and Ronan can only accept this apology generously.

After the formulaic chat, both parties ended the call.

Ronan knew very well that there was still a long way to go between Relativity Entertainment and Pixar Studio.

Don’t be anxious! Don’t be anxious! Ronan is also telling himself that if he is more stable, the plan is moving forward step by step.

Steve Jobs is not that easy to deal with. Although Steve Jobs is not as rich as his fame, he must not be underestimated.

Putting down his phone, Ronan was about to go upstairs, and Nikia suddenly said: "In recent times, several security personnel have reported that they have discovered that there are more people moving near the manor through surveillance in hidden places."

"Hmm?" Ronan was curious. Although Beverly Hills was quiet, it was not lacking in popularity. Future World Manor was close to Mulholland Road and Beverly Park, and people often moved nearby.
Chapter completed!