I’m in Hollywood - Chapter 680
[Chapter 674 I will tie myself to the desk]
Chapter 674
On the global issue, both Panasonic and Seagram have a very urgent tendency to trade. In a few months, the two sides have reached a preliminary agreement. It only needs to sort out the final debt information and personnel differences. The last deal.
☆→三☆→江☆→Ge☆→小☆→ Said that, for
the past few months, Michael Eisner has been lobbying Seagram’s helm Edgar Bronfman to help him put Michael Ovey Tsz kicked out of Universal, for which he did not hesitate to exaggerate the various inappropriate behaviors of Michael Ovitz during his tenure as Universal President.
Michael Ovitz has been accustomed to using CAA accounts to meet his extravagant personal expenses when he was in CAA. CAA is a private partnership and does not need to pay attention to financial reporting issues like public companies. Michael Ovitz As the founder of CAA, he also has a very unique position in this brokerage company, so no one dares to question his reckless behavior.
But after serving as president of Universal, Michael Ovitz did not change from a private company to an executive of a large public company. Instead, he continued to maintain the way of life when he was in CAA, almost for granted. The expenses of Hollywood celebrities giving expensive gifts should be reimbursed by Universal.
This also created the first point of conflict between him and Michael Eisner, who strongly disagreed with Michael Ovitz’s somewhat freewheeling personal way of doing things.
At the same time, Michael Ovitz’s strong desire for control in CAA also conflicted with Michael Eisner’s strong character, which is also the source of the conflict between the two.
In the final analysis, the contradiction between the two still confirms the old saying that one mountain cannot tolerate two tigers.
As Seagram’s helm, it’s certainly impossible for Edgar Bronfman not to realize this, listening to the example of Michael Eisner starting to hold the little one not long after his own arrival Not to blame Michael Ovitz, Edgar Bronfman also made up his mind to kick Michael Ovitz out of the Globe ahead of the deal.
Of course, there is the result of Michael Eisner’s lobbying, but as the head of a large consortium, Edgar Bronfman thinks more, or the stability of the company after Seagram’s acquisition of Universal.
He didn’t want to buy a film company with conflicting top management.
Although a Hollywood outsider, Edgar Bronfman also knows that no matter what line of business, a company wants to grow.
Stability of internal management is a must.
After Eisner finished speaking, Edgar Bronfman said: “Michael, I just want to know one thing, how much would it cost to let Ovitz leave Universal?”
Michael Eisner blushed.
Embarrassedly, he coughed twice.
If it wasn’t for the golden parachute agreement he personally pushed,
it would have been easy to kick Michael Ovitz out. In the final analysis, it was his mistake, but Michael Eisner certainly wouldn’t He admits this, not to mention that he made this decision out of frustration. He finally managed to fully control Universal in his hands. It is not like having Panasonic intervene in Universal’s management changes because of heart surgery.
“According to the original agreement, if Ovitz is asked to leave without a major decision-making error, Universal will need to compensate him with $50 million in cash and another $50 million in stock options.” Michael Eisner said, Glancing at Bronfman’s face, he immediately added: “However, if Ovitz voluntarily resigns, Universal will have to pay a much smaller price. I heard that Sony is currently in contact with Ovitz, and I hope he As a Colombian, he should probably leave voluntarily. Of course, even if Ovitz is unwilling to leave voluntarily, we can take advantage of this transaction opportunity. Add Ovitz’s resignation to the transaction contract and let the Japanese assume him After
listening to Michael Eisner, Edgar Bronfman knocked on the armrest of the seat and pondered for a moment, then said: “This way. You organize the information about Ovitz that you said during this period of time. In the afternoon, I will submit those materials to Panasonic’s negotiating team as evidence that Ovitz is no longer suitable to serve as global president, and formally include the terms of Ovitz’s departure in the negotiation conditions.”
Michael Eisner said on his face With a flash of joy, he nodded and said, “I’ll prepare now.”
…
At the end of 1994, Hollywood was once again unsettled, Columbia’s internal management began to shake, and Universal Pictures was once again facing a change of ownership.
The already eye-catching Huahua Pictures “lived up to expectations” with the “Mission Impossible” hit a figure, just like another firefly that started to shine.
Michael Ovitz put down the “Hollywood Reporter” in his hand, went through all the major Hollywood events in the recent period, and was disappointed to find that all this had nothing to do with him.
This reminded him of a few years ago, when he was still the head of CAA. He not only turned around among several major film companies, but also led Sony’s acquisition of Columbia and Panasonic’s acquisition of Universal. A multi-billion dollar deal.
But now, although he is very reluctant to admit it, Michael Ovitz still finds that, leaving CAA, he seems to have suddenly been reduced from a Hollywood trader to a pawn.
Operating CAA for 20 years, Michael Ovitz has accumulated a fortune of billions, but for someone like him who has been at the top of Hollywood for a long time, losing power is definitely a hundred times more painful than losing money.
Michael Ovitz knew it was impossible to get back into the brokerage business the moment he sold his entire stake in CAA.
After his friendship with Michael Eisner broke down, staying at Universal had no meaning, and Michael Ovitz had to start thinking about his next step. Fortunately, the turmoil in Colombia gave him a chance to make a comeback.
The driver entered the Columbia Studios in Culver City. As soon as Michael Ovitz got out of the car, Nobuyuki Idei came up with a few entourages.
When Sony acquired Columbia a few years ago, Michael Ovitz had already dealt with Nobuyuki Idei. Although he felt that Nobuyuki Idei was full of exhaustion and anxiety that could not be concealed, Michael Ovitz still He hugged each other warmly.
There are obviously many more oriental faces coming in and out in the administration building of Columbia Studios, and Nobuyuki Idei even brought Michael Ovitz into Peter Cooper’s former luxurious office, but Peter Cooper and John Neither Peters showed up.
Sitting down in the office, after a simple greeting, Nobuyuki Idei said bluntly: “Mr. Ovitz, you must already know that Colombia is in a very bad situation. Sony desperately needs a management that can reverse the current decline. ”
In Hollywood, any studio has its ups and downs, Columbia has decades of heritage and a big group like Sony behind it. It’s definitely only a matter of time before it gets better,” Michael Ovitz He said eloquently: “Of course, the premise of all this is that this film company needs a qualified manager.”
Nobuyuki Idei nodded in agreement and said, “Then. Mr. Ovitz, since you have accepted the next step today. You must be very interested in this location in Columbia, can you talk about how you plan to manage this company?”
Michael Ovitz thought for a moment, then said: “With all due respect, Mr. Idei, as a film Company, there is only one thing for its survival, that is to be able to produce excellent blockbuster films, I have successfully sold dozens of film projects to Hollywood studios every year during CAA. I believe that the entire Hollywood, the experience in the operation of film projects is better than I have few richer people.”
Although the three-legged situation of Hollywood brokerage companies has greatly weakened the dominance of the CAA family, Michael Ovitz’s achievements in CAA are still obvious to all. The reason why Nobuyuki Idei I liked Michael Ovitz mainly because of his achievements in CAA. After listening to Michael Ovitz, Nobuyuki Idei nodded slightly and said, “Mr. Ovitz, in that case, Sony welcomes it very much. You come to take control of Colombia. I wonder what your requirements are in terms of annual salary and treatment?”
“I don’t have high requirements for annual salary, as long as…” After a pause, Michael Ovitz realized that Nobuyuki Idei definitely didn’t want to hear it. Peter Cooper’s name, so he changed his words: “As long as it is the same as the previous one. But I need to get the bonus and dividends I deserve after the company’s business conditions improve.”
Nobuyuki Idei’s conditions for Michael Ovitz Very satisfied, he nodded again and again: “Of course, as long as Colombia’s business conditions can improve, you will definitely get the compensation you deserve, then. Is there anything else?”
Michael Ovitz said: “Yes, and most importantly, I don’t want to be hampered by external factors in the process of running the company, so I need to have absolute autonomy in Columbia.
” ‘ When these few words, Idei Nobuyuki’s body was obviously trembling.
If it weren’t for the two bastards, Peter Cooper and Jon Peters, who gave autonomy to the two bastards, Columbia wouldn’t have been reduced to where it is now.
With the deepening of Colombia’s financial audit, Idei Nobuyuki has not had a good night’s sleep in recent days.
After five years of profligacy and destruction by Peter Cooper and Jon Peters, Colombia’s internal operations and financial situation have rotted to an alarming level. In order to reduce losses and reduce tax burdens as much as possible, Sony will have to take write-downs on Colombia’s assets. According to statistics from this period, the amount of asset write-downs that Sony will face may reach $2.1 billion, which will also mean that Sony’s annual financial report will appear a sum of $2.1 billion. Huge losses in dollars.
$2.1 billion!
In the half century since its establishment, Sony has not experienced such a large-scale loss.
Nobuyuki Idei has not yet dared to send this bad news back to Sony headquarters. Chairman Akio Morita had just experienced a stroke a few years ago. Nobuyuki Idei was worried that he would hear this bad news suddenly, would Akio Morita do anything wrong? .
Now, hearing the term ‘self-management right’ from Michael Ovitz once again, Nobuyuki Idei even had a shuddering feeling, shook his head and said, “Mr. Ovitz, we can negotiate other conditions. , but please don’t mention the issue of self-management rights. You can also see that Sony has suffered enough in terms of self-management rights, and we will definitely not let Colombia go to a manager again.”
Michael Ovitz said: “Mr. Idei, you should understand that I’m different from Peter Cooper. Seriously, I still don’t understand why Sony hired such two incompetent guys in the first place. I have enough I have the confidence to run Columbia well, but I need enough power and trust. If Sony loses full confidence in Columbia’s successor because of Peter Cooper, I’m sure Columbia will have a hard time recovering. Hollywood Unlike other industries, Hollywood studios need a paternalistic management style, not a so-called modern corporate management model. If you look at the management structure of the seven major studios, you will know that I am not lying. There is nothing wrong with Cooper’s devolution attitude, the biggest mistake is that you chose the wrong person.”
Nobuyuki Idei’s face showed a hesitant look, he knew that Michael Ovitz’s point of view was not wrong, but Sony had just been rejected by two The ‘Poisonous Snake’ took a bite, and it was impossible not to be afraid of the well rope.
“Well, it’s already dinner time, why don’t you…” Nobuyuki Idei was about to invite Michael Ovitz for dinner and continued to talk in detail when an assistant knocked on the open door and turned to the two who were discussing things. People came over.
“President, I think you need to take a look at this,” the assistant said, looking at Michael Ovitz strangely, and handing a fax document to Nobuyuki Idei.
Nobuyuki Idei opened the folder curiously. He knew that the assistant would not barge into this meeting for no reason. The file must contain extremely important information.
After hurriedly reading a few pages, Nobuyuki Idei raised his head and asked the waiting assistant: “Where did the document come from, and is this information… accurate?”
“This document after the deal negotiation between Panasonic and Seagram today. It’s spread, and now…” The assistant glanced at Michael Ovitz again, and there seemed to be a little gloating in his eyes: “Now… the whole Hollywood is spreading it.”
Nobuyuki Idei nodded lightly, waved his assistant to go out, and carefully read the document in his hand, frowning more and more tightly, then sighed softly, and handed the document to Michael O. Ovitz: “Mr. Ovitz, let’s talk about the cooperation between us later, I think you should deal with this matter now.”
Michael Ovitz took over the document, just turned a few pages and his face turned pale After a big change, he stood up abruptly, and said to Nobuyuki Idei: “Mr. Idei, I’m sorry, I think I need to leave.”
Hurrying out of the office, Michael Ovitz got into his car trembling slightly. , open the file again.
He looked more and more angry, and the document in his hand listed a lot of ‘evidence’ that he was unfit to be the president of Universal.
But in Michael Ovitz’s view, the document was all about ruining his Hollywood career.
Just because of the accusation of spending $2 million to renovate the office, Michael Ovitz feels that his hopes of working with Sony have become very slim.
UU reading www.sonicmtl.com But Michael Ovitz feels that he has the strength to enjoy these treatments.
Afterwards, poaching from other record companies to expand Universal’s music business, increasing investment in the TV department, and inviting first-line superstars to cooperate with Universal, all the suggestions he once put forward have become his ‘good luck’ to those who concocted these materials. evidence of.
Although the friendship has broken down, Michael Ovitz still did not expect that in order to squeeze himself out of the world, Michael Eisner would take such violent measures against him.
I have already planned to leave voluntarily, why are you still doing this to me?
Why do this!
The more he thought about it, the more angry he became, Michael Ovitz picked up the mobile phone beside him and dialed Michael Eisner’s phone tremblingly.
As soon as the connection was connected, Michael Ovitz gritted his teeth and shouted: “Okay, your goal has been achieved, I tell you, Michael, you can’t drive me out of the world, I will use an iron chain to hold me firmly. I tied myself to my desk at Universal.” (To be continued.) SJGSF0916 Baidu search “” to read the latest and most complete novel!
[End of this Chapter]
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