Extracting skills from movies

Du Sheng watched her retreating figure, his heart filled with emotion.

This is the benefit of status and position; no wonder so many people strive to climb up the ladder.

However, this girl has a good figure and temperament. If the other party is really interested, it wouldn't hurt to have another one.

He turned around and saw the four members of Girls' Generation coming off the stage after rehearsing and waving at him.

Du Sheng will also be performing the opening song tonight, "The Ordinary Road," and she needs to go to rehearse.

His rehearsals were very simple: he would go through the process once, sing the song once, and then finish once he confirmed that the lighting and positioning were correct.

Back offstage, he saw four girls waiting for him from afar, with a pretty and cute girl standing next to them.

With a round face, big eyes, and a sweet smile, she looks like the girl next door.

Seeing Du Sheng approach, she blushed with excitement and stammered as she spoke:

"Sheng-ge, hello! I've been a fan of yours for three years!!"

It was none other than Zhang Shaohan, a Taiwanese actress who became a sensation in mainland China.

You could tell she was really excited; her forehead was sweating, and her eyes were sparkling.

Du Sheng had a good impression of her. Last year, her song "Invisible Wings" swept across Asia, making her a very popular and talented singer.

He responded with a smile:
"Hello, I've also listened to your album 'Pandora,' and it truly lives up to its name."

When Zhang Shaohan heard that her idol was following her, she almost jumped up!

In her eyes, Du Sheng's words were even cooler than receiving an award on stage later.

She was so excited, like a fangirl, that she stood there speechless, her breathing even a little erratic.

Du Sheng chatted with her for a few minutes, then took Girls' Generation back to the dressing room to prepare for the next performance.

I had only been sitting down for a short while when there was a gentle knock on the door of the dressing room.

Du Sheng casually replied.

As soon as the door opened, a woman walked in with her assistant.

She looked to be around thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old, wearing a well-tailored suit dress, with exquisite makeup, a capable demeanor, and a confident stride.

He looks like the kind of person who dominates the business world.

Du Sheng was all too familiar with this aura; it was comparable to Zhong Zhen's from before.

This elegant yet sharp-witted lady introduced herself with a smile:

"Hello, Mr. Du. I am Dong Yanxia, ​​the Deputy General Manager of the Eastern Region of Disney Group. It is a great honor to meet you here today."

Disney needs no introduction; it's one of the world's seven major film giants, and last year it acquired Pixar for $74 billion, a truly momentous move.

It owns not only Marvel and Lucasfilm, but also well-known brands such as ABC television and ESPN sports.

In China, besides the well-known Disney theme park and trade business, there is also a subsidiary called INC Investment, which is responsible for film and television planning, entertainment promotion, music creation and other areas.

Dong Yanxia is in charge of the investment and operation of this area.

Du Sheng stood up, shook hands with her, and said with a smile:
"President Dong, I've heard about your achievements before."

I even had a drink with Mr. Zhang at Phoenix TV's anniversary celebration last time.

Dong Yanxia's husband, Zhang Zhizong, is a director of Disney Greater China, and the two are quite well-known in the domestic business community.

Dong Yanxia smiled and said sincerely:
"Knowing you would be attending the China Song Awards Ceremony, I did my homework in advance."

I wanted to come and see it as soon as I arrived, so I apologize for the intrusion.

Du Sheng waved his hand:
"There's no question of disturbing you. We're just ordinary people, and it's fate that we met."

At this moment, the four girls from Girls' Generation also came over, politely greeted Dong Yanxia, ​​and briefly introduced themselves.

After everyone sat down again and exchanged a few pleasantries, Dong Yanxia got down to business:

"Mr. Du, our Disney Oriental branch, including myself, has a considerable number of advertising clients."

We very much hope to develop a deep partnership with your company and achieve precise matching in advertising placement.

That hits the nail on the head.

She was targeting companies like Interstellar Media, TVING, and Miracle Motors, which needed to expand their resources.

Du Sheng nodded and said with a smile:
"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Dong. I will have the platform manager contact you later."

Seeing that his attitude was good, Dong Yanxia went along with it and proceeded:
"Actually, I've always wanted to find an opportunity to visit your company. I think there's a lot of room for cooperation between us."

For example, if Girls' Generation is about to hold a concert, INC Investment would be the most suitable planner.

Every year, we organize more than a dozen large-scale award ceremonies for various artists, and we have also organized tours for top singers such as Jay Chou, Wang Lihong, and Stefanie Sun.

Compared to some event companies in mainland China, our stage design, lighting, sound, and band setup are all of international standard.

Moreover, we have media and entertainment resources behind us, a professional photography team that can record the entire process, and we can also produce DVDs for release. The copyright revenue can also bring additional income to the artists..."

Dong Yanxia spoke clearly and logically, and was obviously well prepared.

However, after listening, Du Sheng also offered his own opinion:
“Your advantages are obvious, especially in overseas cities like Seoul, Beijing, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, but it seems that you haven’t covered second- and third-tier cities in mainland China much yet.”

After all, Girls' Generation's tour plans certainly won't just stop at major cities at home and abroad.

Especially since Girls' Generation's concerts last year didn't take them to second- or third-tier cities much, this time it has to be included in the itinerary.

Dong Yanxia smiled slightly, as if she had expected him to bring this up:

"Indeed, our layout in inland cities is not yet mature enough, but that is not a problem."

No venue would refuse an invitation from Girls' Generation to perform.

If we are in charge of planning this tour, we will fully cooperate with Miracle Records and use online ticketing for all tickets, selling them through the QuickPay platform..."

Upon hearing this, Du Sheng nodded slightly in agreement.

After two years of development, QuickPay has become one of the main payment channels.

When used in conjunction with it, it can both promote one's own platform and effectively combat scalping.

Moreover, Girls' Generation's fans are mainly teenagers, who are highly accepting of these ideas.

Dong Yanxia's words hit the nail on the head regarding his needs.

Du Sheng nodded and said with a smile:

"It seems that Mr. Dong has really done his homework; his thinking is very clear."

Dong Yanxia also smiled:

"In doing business, the key is to think from the other party's perspective and solve problems before you can talk about cooperation."

After a conversation, the atmosphere between the two parties was harmonious, and the initial signs of cooperation began to emerge.

Du Sheng didn't beat around the bush and nodded directly, saying:
"This matter can be discussed. You can handle the specific details with Wang Jinhua."

Last year's event planning company raised its prices arbitrarily; it's not a bad idea to switch to another one.

With the first matter settled, Dong Yanxia immediately perked up and continued:

"Mr. Du, I heard that your animated film 'How to Train Your Dragon' is scheduled for release during the Spring Festival, but the overseas distribution has not been finalized yet?"

We at Pixar are very interested in the overseas distribution channels for this film.

If given the opportunity, we'd even like to invest in Miracle Animation!

Pixar is an impressive animation company. Founded in 1979, it was originally the computer animation division of Lucasfilm.

It started with 3D animation technology and became an instant hit with works such as "Toy Story", "Finding Nemo" and "Coco", enjoying a very high reputation worldwide.

China's film market and animation industry are growing rapidly, and box office revenue exceeding 300 million yuan has become the norm.

Industry insiders predict that next year's blockbuster films could reach 500 million yuan, and the total box office for the entire film market could exceed 5 billion yuan, with the year after next expected to reach 8 billion yuan...

With such a huge opportunity, Disney couldn't possibly resist.

So this time, they've set their sights on Miracle Animation, a highly sought-after company.

Du Sheng didn't rush to respond, but instead planned to first gauge Pixar's true intentions.

Seeing that he remained silent, Dong Yanxia continued to press the issue:
"Mr. Du, from my personal perspective, your collaboration with Disney is a win-win situation. In the short term, it will indeed take away some profits, but in the long run, there are many benefits."

First, by leveraging Disney's resources, Marvel Animation can receive orders from Hollywood.

Making one "How to Train Your Dragon" movie can support a group of people, but what about the rest?

Only with a continuous stream of projects can animation talent in the East truly grow.

The second point is the distribution channels.

We specialize in animation; Sony and Warner Bros. can't compare in this area.

With Disney's help, the release and promotion of "How to Train Your Dragon" in Europe and America will be much smoother..."

After she finished speaking, Du Sheng said noncommittally:

"If you want to invest in Miracle Animation, let's put aside the specific valuation for now. How many shares does Disney intend to take?"

Recently, many companies at home and abroad have set their sights on Miracle Animation, which has quietly achieved remarkable results. Disney is just one of the more well-known companies.

Du Sheng could understand this, after all, Chinese animated films have not yet been fully developed and have a bright future.

Moreover, Miracle Animation also acquired Fantawild Animation, the company behind "Boonie Bears," a scale that many people are eyeing.

Dong Yanxia then revealed her true intentions:
"Is Miracle Animation willing to accept investment or acquisition from Disney?"
We can offer you a price that satisfies you.

Du Sheng smiled, his tone relaxed yet sharp:
"Then I can also ask if Marvel Studios and Pixar Animation would be willing to be acquired by Miracle Pictures?"
I can also give you a satisfactory quote.

Upon hearing this, Dong Yanxia was slightly taken aback.

Du Sheng wasn't joking.

With his current financial resources, as long as he makes reasonable use of capital leverage, it's not impossible for him to make an acquisition.

Seeing this, Dong Yanxia changed her words:
"What about those who invest more than 35% of the shares?"

Upon hearing this, Du Sheng understood completely: Disney's goal was very clear.

They either acquire Miracle Animation or gradually gain control of the company through equity investment.

If you can't achieve it all at once, then gradually penetrate it.

Once Pixar acquires more than 35% of the shares, a few more steps will allow them to achieve true control.

However, Du Sheng doesn't actually need Disney's investment and distribution channels.

He asked these questions simply to find out what the other party had to offer.

So he said decisively:

"Miracle Animation currently has four animation projects in production, which are self-sufficient, and we are not considering external investment for the time being."

As for distribution, "How to Train Your Dragon" has already been signed with Sony and there will be no change of mind.

If there are any new projects later, we can talk about it again.

After hearing these words, Dong Yanxia said nothing more.

She wasn't in charge of the animation project; she was just scouting ahead.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, seeing Wang Jinhua enter, she tactfully exchanged contact information and got up to leave.

As soon as she left, Liu Shishi couldn't help but say:

"With so many people eyeing 'How to Train Your Dragon,' it seems that refusing investment was the right decision."
Moreover, we have the support of Miracle Pictures in the United States, which has very strong resources.

It already has a data effects team, an animation production department, a TV series shooting team, and a dedicated film and television investment team. It also has a considerable reserve of IPs and has laid a solid foundation.

If it develops well, it may very well challenge Disney's position in the future.

After listening to Liu Shishi's words, Du Sheng nodded, a relieved smile appearing on his face:
"Not bad, you're quick-witted."

"That's right, Shi Shi is a top student!"

Before Liu Shishi could speak, Liu Yifei, who was standing next to her, pouted smugly.

Du Sheng smiled and joked with the girls, but in his mind he had already figured out Disney's little tricks.

Since the other party has set their sights on Miracle Animation, they certainly won't let go easily.

Given the style of the Seven Bullies, they weren't here to discuss cooperation, but rather to "recruit" them.

There are essentially two tactics going forward: one is to suppress the animation market, such as "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Painting Rivers and Lakes," making you feel that you can't survive without accepting the acquisition.

Another option is to continue supporting several animation companies domestically to compete with Miracle Animation.

In its past life, it destroyed many Chinese animation companies in this way.

However, Du Sheng was not worried.

There's a saying that things are different now than they used to be.

The other side wants to conquer and seize territory in China?

He could also make some moves in the US, and then we'll see who can't take it first.

……

At 6:30 p.m., Du Sheng changed into a well-tailored suit and appeared smiling at the entrance to the red carpet.

Because he was a special guest at the opening ceremony, he was seated first.

The organizers even specially placed Girls' Generation at the very end, which was quite a show of respect.

Just as he stepped onto the red carpet, Chen Shu, who was presenting an award, also arrived.

"Boss, do you mind if I rub against you for a bit?"

Du Sheng was too lazy to argue with her ambiguity, and the two walked onto the red carpet side by side, one after the other.

The fans had been waiting on both sides for a long time, and when they saw them appear, they went wild.

Screaming, cheering, taking photos, holding up light boards...

The atmosphere at the scene was as lively as setting off firecrackers during the Chinese New Year.

Chen Shu waved and sighed:
"I thought the Four Little Heavenly Kings represented the pinnacle of idol culture, but now that I've compared them, it's truly unprecedented!"

Tonight, not only were the red carpets packed with people, but the plaza outside the sports center was also teeming with fans.

At first, everyone was screaming individually, but then someone started it, and the whole audience spontaneously began chanting in unison:

"Du Sheng! Du Sheng! Du Sheng!!"

The sound was deafening, as if the entire venue was trembling.

Even the organizers were taken aback.

This isn't an awards ceremony, it's practically a personal concert!
It's no wonder so many people came to support us.

First, the venue is large and can accommodate more spectators;

Secondly, Du Sheng rarely sings publicly now, but the legend of his "god-like performance" has always circulated in the entertainment industry.

Upon hearing that he would be performing live, fans naturally flocked to the venue.

As Du Sheng walked, he smiled at Chen Shu and said:

"Just think of these people as coming to see you, and experience what it means to be treated like a 'top star'."

Chen Shu gave him a reproachful look:
"Top-tier? I'd be ashamed to call myself second-tier."

"You call this shyness?"

Du Sheng looked down at the arm that was being held tightly by her:

"A reporter took a close-up photo of your face. Aren't you worried about not being able to get married if you keep trying to get attention like this?"

"Let them take the picture, you won't miss this scandal anyway."

Chen Shu looked completely indifferent.

Du Sheng was speechless for a moment:
"……you win."

…(End of this chapter)