Chapter 319: Don't Resist

Why did Disney hold a press conference with great fanfare, and even CEO Robert Iger personally supported the press conference?

Its purpose is to announce to the outside world: don't look at Disney's live-action films being a bit lagging compared to animated films before, but this time Disney is prepared to show its skills in the field of live-action films.

This is also the difference between Robert Iger and the previous CEO Michael Eisner.

Robert Iger's development strategy for Disney is dual-line development.

In terms of animated films, after acquiring Pixar, Disney is now almost dominant in Hollywood, and there is no company that can truly pose a threat to Disney's animated films.

Live-action film is Disney's weak point, which is an undeniable fact.

Robert Iger's plan is to use Disney's existing resources to try amusement project adaptation and animation adaptation, walking a path unique to Disney.

This is also the reason why he decided to give Cao Yang maximum support and authority in *New Pirates of the Caribbean*, just wanting to do his best to create a "template."

Robert Iger is a decision-maker with great foresight and courage.

This is also why, in the next few years, after discovering that animation adaptation and amusement project adaptation wouldn't work, he decisively changed his strategy, just like acquiring Pixar Animation, and decisively acquired Marvel.

Relying on Marvel's comic-adapted films, that is, the Marvel superhero series, Disney became the existence that left the rest of the six majors far behind in Hollywood in one fell swoop.

After the press conference, at the subsequent cocktail party, Robert Iger found Cao Yang and didn't exchange pleasantries, but went straight to the point.

"Cao, I found that your *District 9* and *Inception* both have the participation of Chinese funds. Is this called a co-production in China?"

Cao Yang was a bit confused. Currently, Hollywood welcomes funds from the outside world, but that is funds that can be "controlled."

That is to say, whether these outside investments can make money depends on Hollywood's mood.

Even if a film explodes globally, for example, an investment of 100 million USD, and the result is a global box office of 600 million USD, any investor would definitely think they made a big profit and just wait to share the money.

But the result is that Hollywood's production studio might tell him that this film actually lost money, and they will very intimately show him the bill.

Of course, the bill definitely shows a loss. Hollywood is professional in this regard.

Other investments absorbed by a Hollywood film are funds that share risks when the film flops; they are part of the film's more "profits" when the film sells well.

However, there is a kind of money that Hollywood also dares not easily "pit"—this belongs to uncontrollable funds.

For uncontrollable funds, Hollywood has always stayed away—there are so many fools in this world that can't be pitted, why go to accept those uncontrollable funds and finally have to share profits with them?

In the eyes of most film companies in Hollywood, China Film Group's funds are the most uncontrollable funds.

The reason is actually very simple: China Film Group has the right to import films, mastering the power of life and death for imported Hollywood blockbusters to enter the Chinese market.

Unless you completely abandon the Chinese market, otherwise, because of a little bit of immediate interest, you pitted China Film Group's funds—do you still want the Chinese market? Do you still want your company's films to enter the Chinese market?

Therefore, except for companies like Columbia that have invested in many films in China and have cooperated with China all year round, other Hollywood companies are generally not very willing to accept China Film Group's investment.

Cao Yang knows very clearly that Robert Iger must know that the Chinese funds for *District 9* and *Inception* are investments from China Film Group and the Youth Film Studio.

The Youth Film Studio is a strange existence.

I believe Robert Iger can also investigate clearly that the Youth Film Studio is endorsed by Cao Yang, and the Youth Film Studio's investment share is very small.

Generally, Hollywood film companies that cooperate with Cao Yang won't easily pit the Youth Film Studio and offend Cao Yang.

Cao Yang didn't know Robert Iger's plan, so he just said: "Yes, Robert, *District 9* and *Inception* both have small investments from China Film Group and the Youth Film Studio. This cooperation method is called a co-production in China. Of course, co-productions have conditions and classifications."

Robert Iger nodded, picked up his wine glass and clinked it with Cao Yang, and said: "Cao, I have a proposal. Why not make *New Pirates of the Caribbean* a co-production?"

"You want to make *New Pirates of the Caribbean* a co-production?"

Cao Yang asked with some confusion.

"Why not?"

Robert Iger took a sip of wine and said with a smile.

Cao Yang fell into deep thought.

It really is the sun rising from the west. Disney wants to make *New Pirates of the Caribbean* a co-production, which is to say, wants to introduce China Film Group's investment.

Even if Disney is mainly animated films, as a large company like Disney, it is impossible to abandon the Chinese market, so it is basically impossible to pit China Film Group.

Furthermore, Disney has a warning from the past.

Back then, when Harvey Weinstein was still at Miramax, he played tricks to buy the copyright of Old Mouzi's *Hero*, but didn't intend to pay.

Miramax is a subsidiary acquired by Disney, so Disney encountered trouble. Their Disney park in Hong Kong was held by the throat.

It wasn't until Disney gave Harvey a warning that Harvey pinched his nose and paid according to the contract price.

This is also one of the few times Harvey Weinstein suffered a loss.

That was Old Mouzi. If it were China Film Group... um, if it were China Film Group, Harvey Weinstein wouldn't have the guts to pit them either.

Thinking of this, Cao Yang suddenly understood Robert Iger's plan a bit.

Is Robert Iger showing favor to China?

Cao Yang remembered that the Shanghai Disney park was built in 2010, which is to say, the date of their negotiation should be earlier.

Letting China Film Group invest is simply killing three birds with one stone. It can not only let China Film Group share the risk but also make friends with China Film Group, and tell the Chinese government that their Disney is friendly to China.

Sure enough, Robert Iger is not simple. One film can maximize the benefits.

"Robert, I will help you ask about China Film Group's meaning."

Cao Yang said directly.

Robert Iger laughed heartily. He looked very cheerful. If you didn't know, you would think he was a person without much city government.

"Cao, we are friends. Don't worry. Making it a co-production will only have more benefits for you. You will have the greatest power. I won't let anyone intervene in the production of the film. You can rest assured and boldly do it according to your own ideas. I will be your strongest backing."

Not long after the cocktail party ended, Cao Yang had just returned to the Arcadia house when he received a call from Depp.

"Johnny, haven't you slept so late?"

Cao Yang asked with a smile. He was almost certain of the purpose of Johnny Depp's call.

Johnny Depp twisted a bit and said directly: "Director, I just heard about Disney's press conference. Do you intend to cooperate with Disney to re-shoot *Pirates of the Caribbean*?"

"Yes, Johnny. Aren't you on vacation? Why are you still so concerned about Hollywood's affairs?"

After *Inception* was released, Depp, under Columbia's arrangement, could be said to have become a frequent flyer, not only promoting the film in North America but also running to Europe, Australia, and some countries in South America.

He was indeed exhausted some time ago.

So after he didn't need to promote, Depp took his girlfriend Vanessa Paradis on vacation.

"Vacation? No, no, no, vacation is simply boring to death. I think it's more interesting to follow you to shoot films."

Depp said to the phone with a smile.

His girlfriend Vanessa Paradis curled her lips. Depp, such a shy big boy, also learned to lie.

You didn't say that before. You said this is heaven on earth, and vacation is the real life.

"Haha, fine. If you don't want to vacation, then throw yourself into new work. I left you the most important role. I think you will like it."

Cao Yang said to the phone.

Depp revealed a smile.

Afterward, he called his agent Tracy Jacobs at his agency UTA and asked her to sign the contract.

At first, Tracy Jacobs was happy to hear that Depp took the initiative to work, but then she knew why this guy was so active.

"How about this time? How much remuneration and share do you need me to fight for?"

Tracy Jacobs asked an extra question.

"Why fight for it?"

Depp asked strangely: "The director told me that this time he has the decision-making power over the actors. You just go find him. Whatever conditions he gives, you sign whatever contract. Do you remember?"

Tracy Jacobs wanted to smash her phone instantly.

Damn, I thought your personality would change after getting two Oscar Best Actor awards. It was me who thought too much. You are still that son-of-a-bitch weirdo!

Listen, what is called "whatever conditions he gives, you sign whatever contract"?

What the fuck do I need this agent for? You just fire me and handle it yourself!

Damn, I've brought quite a few big names, but I've never seen a product like you.

Who the fuck has seen an artist specifically telling their agent not to negotiate conditions?

Who the fuck has seen an artist specifically telling their agent not to negotiate conditions?

Heh, I really learned something.

Oh, forgot, I'm not the first time I've been forced to learn something.

"Okay, I understand."

Tracy Jacobs swallowed her anger, and her speech had to be careful. No way, Depp is a two-time Oscar Best Actor and one of the highest-quality artists in Hollywood.

Sigh, two Oscar Best Actor awards, two little golden men following him, it's a waste.

Cao Yang didn't call Boss Han immediately, but flipped through the information Disney gave him.

The preparation work for *New Pirates of the Caribbean* seemed to be much easier than imagined.

When shooting *Pirates of the Caribbean* back then, they might have thought about shooting sequels, or wanted to put some props into the amusement park, so many props shot back then were preserved.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 320 =====

When filming "Pirates of the Caribbean" back then, they might have already been thinking about filming sequels, or wanted to put some props into the theme park, so many of the props used during the original filming were kept.

(End of chapter)