Li Jie looked at Michael as if he was an idiot, but he quickly hid it. After all, this was a business negotiation. Even if he didn't like this arrogant middle-aged man. But that didn't mean he wouldn't be polite.
Li Jie smiled and didn't answer Michael's unreasonable question. Instead, he changed the topic and asked, "Mr. Eisner, coffee or tea?"
"Coffee, double strong, no sugar and no milk." He didn't like that Li Jie messed up his rhythm. It would affect his initiative in the upcoming negotiation. However, Mirk still answered Li Jie out of politeness.
"Mr. Li, let's go back to …" Michael was interrupted again before he could finish his sentence.
"It's three in the afternoon. Don't rush. Mr. Eisner, it's tea time. If you don't mind, why don't we sit down in the garden behind the villa, have a cup of coffee and a piece of cake, and then we can talk slowly, "Li Jie said with a smile.
"Huh?" Michael didn't like it. His rhythm had been messed up.
When Li Jie rented the headquarters of Marvel, he didn't rent the expensive office building. At first, it was because of money problems and he didn't expect the company to develop so fast. Therefore, the current headquarters of Marvel was still located in a large villa near Flushing in Queens.
It had a garden of nearly 300 square meters and a swimming pool the size of a standard pool. Because comics and story editing were both creative works, Li Jie wanted his artists and editors to be in a relaxed state. That was the only way to produce a good enough comic story.
So in the small garden at the back, Li Jie had people carefully take care of it and planted some shrubs and flowers that New York City allowed in the garden. (New York City had strict rules about what could be planted in one's garden and lawn.)
Of course, it was a place for everyone to relax. A few outdoor chairs made of pear wood were scattered in the small garden.
Li Jie invited Michael to sit across from a pear wood table and asked his assistant to bring two cups of coffee and some snacks.
"Doughnuts, cheese bread and chocolate chip cookies." Li Jie passed the plate the helper brought to Michael and said to him, "We usually provide snacks in the afternoon."
Mike gave Li Jie a complicated look. "What you're doing makes me feel like I'm not in New York, but in Paris. I think only the French can be so leisurely at work. "
Li Jie waved his hand. "No, no. In Paris, the desserts for afternoon tea are much more elaborate, such as Napoleon cakes, macarons, cream squares, and French layer pastry. "
"These are just rough desserts, rich American flavor. Look at our coffee mugs, mugs with cartoon characters on them. The Frenchman would definitely look down on it and would only say, "Rude Yankee."
"But if an Asian, such as a Chinese or an East Asian, saw it, they would say, 'American time' (referring to slacking off during working hours, or slacking off)."
Li Jie took a sip of the coffee and casually handed a chocolate doughnut to Michael. "Look, Mr. Eisner, no need to be so serious."
Michael took the doughnut from Li Jie and took a bite. Eh? He seemed to have been tricked. He had been led into Li Jie's rhythm. He hadn't realized it before, but now he came back to his senses.
He quickly chewed the chocolate doughnut and swallowed it. In the end, he couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Li? Did you really just graduate from high school? "
"If my school didn't lie to me, I think the diploma I got a while ago is real," Li Jie said nonchalantly.
"Well, Mr. Michael, isn't it more relaxing sitting in the garden than in the office? At least our conversation won't be so tense and restrained."
Michael looked at Li Jie and nodded. "That makes sense."
"Okay, then I can tell you the answer to your question without worrying that you'll be too angry or think that I don't know my place." Li Jie changed the topic so quickly that Michael almost couldn't keep up with Li Jie's train of thought.
Michael: "What?" "I refuse. I won't sell Marvel under any conditions, any conditions!" Any conditions! "Li Jie emphasized.
Michael felt that Li Jie's words were magical, just like what he had just said. If Li Jie had said this in the office just now, he would have felt uncomfortable. And he would have thought that this young man didn't know his place, because the person talking to him was Michael Eisner, the CEO of Disney!
However, because of Li Jie's actions, he didn't flick his sleeves and leave, nor did he do anything bad. Instead, he asked with interest, "Why? You don't even know what conditions I can offer. "
"That's not important, right? It's like if Tony Stark says he's willing to spend a sum of money that you can squander for the rest of your life on the condition that you give him the position of CEO of Disney. Do you agree? "Li Jie looked at Michael.
"No, never." Michael was obsessed with the position of CEO of Disney. In the 1980s, he single-handedly saved Disney, which was on the verge of becoming a second-tier company.
It took him 20 years to turn Disney from an average Hollywood blockbuster to one of the top six Hollywood blockbusters, the world's top entertainment empire.
Power to let go? Kill him!
With Li Jie's question, Michael knew that he couldn't buy Marvel Studios from Li Jie. There was no reason for him to refuse to sell. Just like how he couldn't give up his position, not because he didn't have the conditions, but because he didn't want to.
However, business negotiations would never end just because one condition didn't work out. Just like in China's college entrance examination, there were always first and second choices.
"I didn't become CEO just for money, Jason." Michael called Li Jie by his name.
"Then it looks like we're all the same, Michael." Li Jie also called his name.
Without the surname, the conversation was much more relaxed.
Michael showed his EQ as the head of the world's top entertainment group. He said consciously, "Then I think we all have the same dream, to do something that others can't do. For example, to spread the influence of Marvel all over the world and let everyone know the name. "
Li Jie wouldn't tell a businessman like Michael about his true ideals. That would be too stupid, so he followed Michael's words and nodded. "Yes."
"But, Jason. There was a very real problem. Even if you had an extraordinary IP in your hands, you couldn't turn this content into something more widely distributed. Compared to comics or games, these aren't the most mainstream and influential projects in the world, "Michael said deliberately.
"For example, movies. You should know the situation of another established comic company, DG. They're older than you. Although comics and animations had been produced for decades. But it's the movies that spread the brand of DG all over the world! "Michael said seriously.
"Nightingale: The Mystery of Nightingale's Shadow, Nightingale: Nightingale of the Night, and Nightingale: Nightingale: Dawn of Nightingale have earned more than a billion US dollars at the box office worldwide. Coupled with the influence of its expansion, the games and peripheral products brought about by it have really helped DG out of its financial difficulties."
"They've also made countless movies in the past few decades. Other than the earliest 'Herberlon 1', 'Herberlon 2', and 'Night Owl 1989', they've basically lost money. Even though these movies had dragged the company into a huge crisis, they still had no intention of stopping filming! Why is that? Because they know what's the best way to please the audience! "Michael showed off his lobbying skills.
"It wasn't until the 'Night Owl' trilogy in the 21st century that they were brought out of their predicament! After that, they also filmed 'Herberlon: Body of Iron' and 'Night Owl vs Herberlon' (also known as' Their Mother Is Martha '). Although we don't care if the latter movie is good or bad, the former ones were all successful, weren't they? "
"And the new movie that was released recently, 'Beautiful Superwoman', had a Rotten Tomatoes score of over 88%, sweeping the global box office. The female lead was in the limelight for a while, gaining countless fans. DG has also made a lot of money, "Michael continued, staring into Li Jie's eyes.
"Now the box office of this movie is approaching 600 million US dollars, and it's expected to reach 750 million worldwide! It's not just money, Jason! It's influence! DG's next movie is ready, 'The Alliance of Hope'! "
"Jason, listen to me, their stories aren't as good as your company's, old and outdated, and most of them aren't suitable for the whole family, but they still have countless fans around the world. Believe me, only by filming movies can Marvel's influence spread all over the world! "Michael's real fox tail was revealed.
"If Marvel wants to build their own entertainment empire like DG, then movies are indispensable. And I'm the CEO of Disney, you should know the influence of Disney in the global movie market! "
"So, what do you want?" Li Jie asked, squinting his eyes as he drank his coffee and ate a chocolate chip cookie.
"The rights to adapt the heroes! I can put them all on the big screen, and let the whole world see the stories of the world's true heroes! "Michael stared into Li Jie's eyes.
Li Jie asked casually, "Whose?"
"Of course, I'm most looking forward to Captain Rogers, but I believe you won't sell the rights to adapt the movie easily. I think Spider-man is also good, he can be Marvel's first shot! "Michael used a small negotiation technique.
But Li Jie didn't really care about Michael's technique, because he had his own plans. Selling the rights to adapt the movie would be detrimental to his subsequent plans.
He looked at Michael and said, "If I remember correctly, the filming company for DG's movies are all Warner Bros. To be honest, Michael, Disney isn't doing too well in the movie market now? "
"How many big-name IPs does Disney have now? There was' Pirates of the Caribbean 5 'released a while ago, but the box office was crushed by Warner's' Superwoman '. "Li Jie's words weren't polite at all.
"George Lucas's' Star Wars' series? Although 'Rogue One', which was released before, hired Chinese actors to fight for the China market, the box office was a flop. China's Star Wars culture isn't that deep. Even for the new generation of Americans, such as my friend Harry Osborn, he can't understand 'Rogue One'. You guys made the story too grand, and I'm afraid the 'Star Wars' IP will be ruined if it isn't handled properly. "
Li Jie spoke with fervor and assurance. Michael felt that although he kept raising his estimation of Li Jie, he still underestimated him.
Li Jie continued, "Warner Bros. finished the 'Harry Potter' series, which became the world's best-selling IP. Now it's rising strongly with the help of the DG movie series. There are a lot of comic book heroes under DG. As long as the movie series doesn't collapse too much, it shouldn't be a problem to make 17 or 18 movies, which is enough for them to support for the next ten years. Disney can't possibly make the fifteenth 'Pirates of the Caribbean' series, right? "
Li Jie looked at Michael and said with a smile, "So, compared to Marvel needing Disney, Disney needs Marvel more!"
Li Jie's words made Michael sweat a little. "But Marvel won't make its own movies. That's very complicated."
Li Jie shrugged and didn't deny what Michael said. "I don't deny what you said, Michael. Hollywood isn't so easy to do. Even if Harry and Tony are willing to invest in me, I can't just spend hundreds of millions of dollars to make some crappy movies. "
Li Jie held up a finger. "But selling the copyright? That's impossible. We should change the way we cooperate, Michael. "
Li Jie's words made Michael Eisner somewhat dissatisfied. Li Jie had negated one of his most important needs.
Li Jie could see Michael's dissatisfaction. He smiled and said, "Michael, you only know that I have the copyright of the hero? But what kind of contract did I sign with them? "
Without letting Michael guess, Li Jie announced it himself. "It's full authority! I can even persuade those superheroes to fight in front of the camera! Even if it's just a few appearances, I think you should understand the value of it! "
Li Jie touched his chin. Well, at least a certain agent named Wade Wilson, S.H.E.L.D., could be persuaded.
"So, we should change the way we cooperate. Let Marvel's movies be released worldwide. It's a win-win situation for both of us!" Li Jie looked at Michael, waiting for him to make the right decision.
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