noveldepot Chapter 136: Negotiations for $22 Billion
Chapter 136: Negotiations for $22 Billion
Chapter 136: Negotiations for $22 Billion
Jiang Yu put on an eye mask, trying to fall asleep, but all he could think about was Liu Yifei's face.
"Boss, would you like some warm milk?" Assistant Wang Wei said softly, handing over a cup. "You didn't eat much tonight."
Jiang Yu took the cup and removed his blindfold.
Most of the passengers in the cabin were already asleep, with only a few reading lights still on.
He checked his watch; it was 1 a.m. Los Angeles time, which was 1 p.m. in Hong Kong.
He took out his phone and opened the photo album.
The latest photo was taken last night. Liu Yifei is lying on his suitcase, pouting and saying, "Don't go."
She was without makeup in the photo, and her hair was messy.
Jiang Yu couldn't help but laugh and set this photo as his phone wallpaper.
"The boss and Miss Yifei have such a good relationship," Wang Wei said softly from the side.
"Yes," Jiang Yu put away his phone, "so we need to finish things quickly and go home as soon as possible."
He took a sip of milk and put his blindfold back on.
He fell asleep quickly this time, and in his dream he was still in Hong Kong, still in that night market, with Liu Yifei feeding him egg waffles, smiling so hard his eyes disappeared.
After a thirteen-hour flight, the plane began its descent.
The flight attendant gently reminded us to fasten our seatbelts, and the Los Angeles horizon gradually became clear outside the porthole.
At 5:20 p.m., the Boeing 777 landed smoothly at Los Angeles International Airport.
Jiang Yu has adjusted his mindset. From now on, he is the founder of Light Chaser Holdings, the helmsman of Light Chaser Pictures, and a player who will soon be competing with giants like Disney and Warner Bros.
"Boss, the arrival gate is over there." Wang Wei had already composed herself and was pushing two suitcases.
Today she wore a well-fitting gray suit skirt, her hair was tied in a neat ponytail, and she wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses on her nose, the standard image of an elite assistant.
Two bodyguards followed behind him, Ah Long and Ah Hu, both retired special forces soldiers in their early thirties, and highly skilled.
The two were dressed casually today, in black polo shirts and casual pants, but the bulges at their waists still revealed their professional status.
As soon as the four of them stepped out of customs, they heard an exaggerated cheer.
"Boss! Hey! Over here!"
At the arrival gate, a tall man wearing a Hawaiian floral shirt and fluorescent green beach shorts was jumping up and down waving.
What's even more amazing is that he was holding up a sign with the words "Welcome Boss Jiang to Los Angeles!" written in crooked Chinese characters, next to which was a smiley face and a dollar sign.
Those around who were there to pick up passengers were trying to suppress their laughter and frequently glancing sideways.
Jiang Yu paused, then sighed and rubbed his forehead.
David is exceptionally capable and has a unique sense of style, especially when it comes to clothing, where he always pushes the boundaries of human imagination.
"How's it going, boss? Surprised?" David rushed over, opening his arms for a hug. "I wanted to give you the warmest California welcome!"
Jiang Yu quickly took a half step back, blocking him with her hand: "Surprise, what a surprise! But David, can you tell me, what is this outfit...?"
"Limited edition!" David spun around, beaming with pride. "A special bespoke piece by a Hawaiian designer, only ten pieces in the entire US! I pulled three strings to get my hands on one!"
Wang Wei was trying hard to suppress her laughter from behind, her shoulders shrugging.
Ah Long and Ah Hu exchanged a glance, their eyes saying, "Is this foreigner out of his mind?"
"And look," David lifted a corner of his shirt, "this fabric is 100% silk! This print is hand-dyed! These buttons are natural seashells!"
Jiang Yu was both amused and exasperated: "So you came to the airport to pick me up wearing an expensive silk beach outfit?"
"Yeah, that's more like it!" David said matter-of-factly, taking a suitcase from Wang Wei's hand. "Come on, come on, the car's outside. Boss, are you hungry? Thirsty? I've got champagne, cigars, and foie gras from a Michelin-starred restaurant in the car..."
"Water's fine," Jiang Yu said, following behind him, feeling like a circus parade leader. "And next time you see me, could you dress like a normal person?"
"Normally, life is so boring!" David turned around and winked. "Besides, boss, this outfit of mine is really popular on Santa Monica Beach. Last week, two models even asked me for their phone numbers."
"That's because they've never seen the world."
As the group walked through the airport terminal, they attracted countless stares.
David didn't care at all; in fact, he seemed to enjoy being the center of attention.
He held his head high, his floral shirt fluttering gently in the air conditioning breeze, like a flamboyant flag.
Upon reaching the parking lot and seeing David's car, Jiang Yu fell silent again.
That was a stretched Lincoln, which is normal.
What's unusual is that the car is covered with posters for movies from Light Chaser Pictures, such as "Taken," "Twilight," and "2012," in a colorful and dense array of colors, turning a luxury car into a mobile license plate.
"This..." Jiang Yu pointed to the car.
"It's for publicity!" David opened the back door. "Boss, look, I've even prepared a projector inside. We can show our latest trailer. The road from the airport to Beverly Hills goes through at least five congested sections. Every time there's a traffic jam, it's free exposure..."
Jiang Yu resignedly got into the car.
The interior space is indeed spacious, with genuine leather seats, real wood trim, a small refrigerator, and an audio-visual system.
Even more outrageous, the roof of the car has been modified into a starry sky roof, and with the push of a switch, specks of "starlight" fall down.
"Isn't it romantic?" David said proudly. "I think next time you and Miss Liu come, you can take this car for a ride."
""
"You'll scare her away." Jiang Yu fastened his seatbelt. "Let's drive, we'll talk business on the road."
The car drove out of the airport and merged into the evening traffic in Los Angeles.
David finally became more serious and turned around from the passenger seat to report on his work.
"Let's start with Inception," he said, flipping open his tablet. "Director Nolan is a complete madman, I mean a genius madman. For the scene in the rotating corridor in Paris, he insisted on building a real rotating corridor on set. We and Warner Bros. found German engineers, and it took us three weeks to get it done."
Jiang Yu nodded. He had suggested the design, but he hadn't expected Nolan to be so insistent on practical effects.
"The effect is amazing!" David's eyes lit up. "I saw the sample footage. That sense of weightlessness and dizziness is something CGI could never replicate. Nolan said he absolutely had to thank you at the premiere, saying your idea saved the whole movie."
"I only suggested a direction," Jiang Yu said modestly.
"That's even more impressive!" David gave a thumbs up. "Boss, you have no idea how many people in Hollywood are asking about you right now. A Chinese investor who not only understands money but also understands creation—that's incredibly rare."
The car drove onto Highway 405, the setting sun turning the road surface gold, and David continued his report.
"As for '2012,' that old man Roland Emmerich went over budget again," David said, scoffing. "This time it's 10%, and Universal is going crazy. After seeing the rough cut, they shut up again; the scenes are too shocking, floods submerging the Himalayas, volcanic eruptions covering the entire Los Angeles... I dare say this will be the most visually impactful movie in two years."
"As long as it makes money, that's fine." Jiang Yu was concerned about the return.
"Absolutely!" David said confidently. "Disaster movies will always have a market, especially a global film like '2012.' With a 40% investment, we can at least double our money."
Next up is "Insidious 2," a prime example of low cost and high return.
"James Wan is a genius," David exclaimed. "A $1000 million budget, and he produced the effect of a $6500 million film. Lionsgate has already decided to make a third installment and asked if we wanted to continue investing. I said of course! Only a fool wouldn't go for a sure-fire way to make money."
Jiang Yu smiled. Indeed, horror films are one of Hollywood's most stable cash cows.
How is Twilight 2 progressing?
"Post-production is almost finished," David turned to the next page. "It's a bit of a shame Catherine isn't directing anymore, and the new director, Chris Weitz, has some great ideas. We're setting the release date for November 20th, to avoid the release window of *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*. We'll have 60% of the budget this time."
Summit Entertainment predicts the global box office will exceed $700 million.
700 million.
Jiang Yu did the math in his head: with a 60% share, after deducting various commissions, the net profit would be at least $1.5 million.
This only includes box office revenue, not DVD and streaming revenue.
Then comes the main event, Avatar.
"Cameron is finally, finally, finally satisfied." David used three "finally"s in a row. "Do you know how crazy the boss is? He can adjust the color of a single shot to the 87 version! The 87 version! Our special effects team is almost driven crazy by him."
"The result is good, isn't it?" Jiang Yu asked.
"It's more than just good!" David exclaimed, waving his arms excitedly. "It's revolutionary! 3D effects, motion capture, virtual filming... Avatar will change film history! Fox has made a huge bet, adding another $50 million to the marketing budget, bringing it to $150 million, for a simultaneous global release. We have a 30% stake, which could be Light Chaser's most successful investment since its inception."
Jiang Yu nodded. He knew better than anyone the power of Avatar; it grossed $27.8 billion worldwide in his previous life, and it would only be more in this one.
"What about Despicable Me?" he asked, referring to the animation project.
"Universal and Disney are fighting tooth and nail for it," David said smugly. "The test screenings were fantastic; those little yellow capsule characters are so cute. Universal wants to integrate them into their animated universe; Disney sees the potential in the family market. Both have offered great deals, but I haven't agreed yet. I'm waiting for you, boss, to decide."
"No rush," Jiang Yu waved his hand, "Good things should be sold slowly."
The last topic is "Pacific Rim".
“Warner Bros., Universal, and Disney all want it,” David said, his expression turning serious. “But their conditions are very demanding. Warner Bros. wants global distribution rights plus a 40% share of the copyright; Universal wants 40% of the merchandise revenue; Disney is the most greedy, wanting 50% of the copyright and 50% of the merchandise revenue, plus priority rights to a sequel.”
Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow: "Are they dreaming?"
"I said the same thing!" David slapped his thigh. "The concept of Pacific Rim is so cool—giant mechs fighting monsters! The toys alone would sell like hotcakes. I told them Light Chaser could do it themselves, handle the distribution, but they didn't believe we had the capability..."
""
"Then let's show them," Jiang Yu said calmly. "We did a good job with the overseas distribution of 'Twilight' with Top Peak, using our connections. This time we can be even bolder."
David's eyes lit up: "Boss, you mean...?"
"We'll discuss this in detail at the meeting tomorrow." Jiang Yu looked out the window; the iconic palm trees of Beverly Hills were already in sight. "Rest first, adjust to the time difference."
The car drove into Beverly Hills and stopped in front of a Mediterranean-style villa.
White exterior walls, red tiled roof, arched doors and windows—a typical California mansion.
"Boss, take a good rest," David said, helping with the luggage. "Just call anytime if you need anything. I can arrange a restaurant, a massage therapist, or a personal trainer."
"No need," Jiang Yu waved his hand, "I'll take a shower and go to sleep. Pick me up at ten tomorrow."
"Yes, sir!" David gave an awkward military salute and drove off in his "mobile GG" car.
Jiang Yu walked into the villa, which he only stayed in a few days a year, but it was well maintained.
The fresh flowers in the living room were newly replaced, the refrigerator was full of food, and all the furniture was spotless.
He went up to the master bedroom on the second floor and pushed open the balcony door.
Beverly Hills at dusk is like a dream: white houses, green lawns, a blue swimming pool, and a golden sunset.
The "HOLLYWOOD" sign in the distant Hollywood Hills was clearly visible in the twilight.
Jiang Yu took out his phone and dialed Liu Yifei's number.
I answered after two rings, and her soft voice came through: "You've arrived?"
"We're here," Jiang Yu said, leaning against the railing. "At the house in Beverly Hills. And you? What are you doing?"
"Just finished work," Liu Yifei sounded a little tired. "Today we filmed a crying scene, and it took seven takes to get it right. Director Lü Ke said my emotions weren't nuanced enough, and he wants me to reshoot it tomorrow..."
"Don't put too much pressure on yourself," Jiang Yu said softly. "Acting is something you hone slowly; you can't rush it."
"I know," Liu Yifei sighed, "I just feel like I'm not good enough. Liang Jiahui nailed it in one take, but I have to film seven more..."
"Teacher Liang has been acting for thirty years, and you've only been doing it for a few years," Jiang Yu comforted her. "You're already amazing. It's normal for Luc Besson to have high standards. The fact that he chose you shows that you have potential."
These words made Liu Yifei feel a little better: "Really?"
"Of course." Jiang Yu paused. "Did Teacher Liang tease you again today?"
"Yes!" Liu Yifei immediately complained, "Today he was holding a newspaper and loudly reading aloud the news about our night market date on set, and everyone laughed at me!"
Jiang Yu could picture that scene and couldn't help but laugh: "So how did you respond?"
"I said... I said next time I'll have his wife come visit the set too, so she can see how he pursued her back in the day." Liu Yifei laughed after saying that, "Teacher Liang's face turned green, saying the little girl has gone astray."
The two chatted for twenty minutes, mostly Liu Yifei talking about interesting things that happened on set, while Jiang Yu listened quietly.
Occasionally, chime in with a few words, ask her about the details, and make her feel valued.
"Oh, right," Liu Yifei suddenly remembered, "a Hong Kong reporter came to visit the set today and asked me if you really are worth billions. I said I didn't know and told him to ask you."
"You can answer however you want," Jiang Yu said. "It's not important."
"How can it not be important?" Liu Yifei whispered. "They wrote it so exaggeratedly, saying things like 'heiress of a wealthy family,' 'married into a wealthy family'...it's like I'm with you because of money."
Jiang Yu's heart softened: "So what do you think?"
"I..." Liu Yifei paused, "I like you, not your money. Even if you had no money, I would still like you."
These words were spoken softly and quickly, and Jiang Yu heard them clearly. He felt a warm feeling in his heart.
"Me too," he said earnestly, "I like you, Liu Yifei, not the celebrity Liu Yifei, but just you."
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by a sniffling sound.
"You...you shouldn't be so sentimental," Liu Yifei said, her voice nasal. "My makeup is all ruined..."
"Then go remove your makeup and get some rest." Jiang Yu glanced at the time. "We have filming tomorrow."
77
"You too, jet lag must be tough." Liu Yifei paused, "Goodnight, Jiang Yu."
Goodnight, Sisi.
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yu took a hot shower and went straight to sleep.
Jiang Yu woke up naturally at nine o'clock the next morning.
His long-term international flights have taught him the secret to quickly adjusting to time differences: once he arrives at his destination, he stays up until 10 p.m. local time to go to sleep.
I slept soundly until dawn.
When he came downstairs, Wang Wei was already preparing breakfast in the kitchen: fried eggs, bacon, toast, and a large cup of black coffee.
"Good morning, boss," Wang Wei said, placing the tray on the terrace table. "David will arrive at ten. Wu Na always says she'll be waiting for you at the company at ten-thirty."
Jiang Yu nodded and sat down to eat.
California sunlight filters through the palm leaves, the pool water is crystal clear, and occasionally a bird skims across the surface, creating ripples.
At 9:50, the doorbell rang.
Wang Wei went to open the door, and David rushed in.
"Good morning, boss!" He was dressed more normally today, in a light blue polo shirt, beige khaki pants, and brown loafers.
Although he still has the air of a playboy, at least he looks like a company executive now.
"You look good today," Jiang Yu said, looking him up and down. "Keep it up."
"That's right!" David straightened his collar proudly. "You need to be formal when meeting the boss, and even more formal when meeting Disney. I've already prepared three suits, guaranteed to make Iger's eyes light up."
"Just make sure he doesn't suddenly go black." Jiang Yu took a sip of coffee. "Let's go to the company."
Santa Monica is not far from Beverly Hills; it's a 20-minute drive along the Pacific Coast Highway.
Light Chaser Studios' North American headquarters is housed in a modern six-story glass building with a deep blue glass curtain wall and a striking "LIGHTCHASER" logo on the roof that sparkles in the sunlight.
As the car entered the underground parking garage, Jiang Yu noticed that there were many more luxury cars in the parking lot.
A Porsche 911, a Maserati Quattroporte, and even a silver-grey Lamborghini Aventador, a limited edition with only 500 units produced worldwide.
"Has the company recently hired a lot of nouveau riche?" Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow.
"They're all from the special effects department," David explained. "Wu Na poached a lot of top talents from Industrial Light & Magic and Weta Digital. These people earn starting salaries of millions of dollars a year, so driving luxury cars is perfectly normal for them. Last week, one guy even drove a Bugatti Veyron to work, which stunned the security guards."
Jiang Yu smiled; this was exactly what he wanted to see: attracting the best talent with the highest salaries and building a world-class special effects team.
The elevator went straight to the sixth-floor CEO's office, where someone was already waiting in the corridor; Wu Na, CEO of Light & Shadow Digital North America.
Today she wore a well-tailored black suit skirt, a white silk shirt, pearl earrings, and her short hair was neat, with exquisite makeup.
"President Jiang, welcome back." Wu Na stepped forward to shake hands.
"Ms. Wu, you've worked hard," Jiang Yu said, feeling the warmth of her hand. "I heard you've been sleeping at the company five days a week lately?"
"We have many important projects, so we can't afford to slack off." Wu Na spoke directly, without the habit of small talk. "President Jiang, shall we talk in the conference room? All the materials are ready."
"it is good."
The three of them entered the conference room.
This is a room that can accommodate twenty people. The floor-to-ceiling windows overlook Santa Monica Beach, with its azure sea, blue sky, and white sails dotting the water—a truly stunning view.
The projector was already on, and the screen displayed "Light & Shadow Digital North America Business Report".
"Let me start with the projects that have been completed." Wu Na manipulated the remote control, flipping to the first page of the PPT, "The special effects for Avatar have all been delivered and were approved by Fox last week."
She switched pages and saw a screenshot of an email from James Cameron.
The email was simple: "To the Light & Shadow Digital Team: The special effects of Avatar exceeded my wildest imagination. You have redefined the possibilities of cinema. Thank you sincerely. —James"
The autograph was written in a flamboyant style, and below it was a photo of Cameron and the special effects team, everyone in the photo with dark circles under their eyes, smiling happily.
"Cameron rarely praises people," Wu Na said. "I've already printed out this email and framed it at the entrance of the special effects department."
.
Jiang Yu nodded: "Of course. This is an honor for the team."
"The special effects for Iron Man 2 are already in production," Wu Na continued. "Marvel has very high requirements, especially for the armor upgrades and battle scenes. We can handle it; in fact, our motion capture technology is a generation more advanced than Industrial Light & Magic's."
She played a ten-second test clip: Robert Downey Jr. wearing a motion capture suit, performing in front of a green screen.
In the real-time rendered footage, the Mark VI armor is already wrapped around him, complete with metallic luster, reflections, and wear details.
"Real-time rendering?" Jiang Yu asked.
"Yes," Wu Na's eyes lit up, "This is the latest technological breakthrough we've achieved with BJ. Traditional special effects take hours or even days to run on the render farm, but now we can see 80% of the final effect in real time, greatly improving production efficiency."
"What about the cost?"
"The initial investment is large, but in the long run it can save 30% of time and 20% of costs." Wu Na pulled up a data chart. "More importantly, the director and actors can see the results in real time, making it easier to adjust the performance."
Jiang Yu was very satisfied. This was the technological barrier, the foundation upon which Light and Shadow Digital could establish itself in Hollywood.
Next up is Inception, Nolan's mind-bending masterpiece.
"Nolan prefers practical effects, but there are a few scenes that have to be done with CG," Wu Na showed the concept art, "like this one, the folded city."
In the footage, the streets of Paris are lifted up like a carpet, and buildings are bent and folded, defying all the laws of physics.
The visual effects are stunning, yet they possess an eerie sense of realism.
"The challenge of this shot lies in the consistency of lighting," Wu Na explained. "During the folding process, the lighting of each building had to be adjusted in real time as the angle changed. We wrote a new algorithm, which took us three months to complete."
"Impressive," Jiang Yu commented.
"Nolan said the same thing," Wu Na said with a rare smile. "He said this scene would be a memorable moment in the movie."
The special effects in Twilight 2 are relatively simple, mainly focusing on vampire effects and atmosphere.
Wu Na quickly moved on to the key project.
"The Dark Knight Rises, Nolan's final chapter," she said, her tone becoming serious. "Warner Bros. gave us a huge budget and demanded more than the previous two films. We were responsible for the design and special effects of all the Batmobiles and Batwings."
Several design sketches appeared on the screen. The Batmobile was a streamlined armored vehicle, more futuristic than the previous two games; the Batwing resembled a giant mechanical bat with an amazing wingspan and exquisite details down to every single rivet.
"Technically, there aren't any problems," Wu Na said. "The difficulty lies in Nolan's requirements; he wants realism. In other words, these devices have to look like they could actually be built, actually run, and actually fly."
"So you guys..."
"So we hired Boeing engineers as consultants," Wu Na switched pages to a photo of several elderly men in work clothes and young special effects artists. "These gentlemen looked at our design and gave us 87 suggestions for improvement, ranging from aerodynamics to materials mechanics. We revised it for three months and finally got them to agree."
Jiang Yu smiled. This is Nolan: a fanatic, a perfectionist, but it is precisely this fanaticism that creates classics.
Then comes the main event, Pacific Rim.
Wu Na took a deep breath and opened the video file.
A 30-second test clip begins to play:
Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, on a stormy night.
A giant red and blue painted mech, "Gipsy Danger," stands 79 meters tall and weighs 1980 kilograms in waist-deep water.
ton.
Opposite it was an equally enormous monster called "Bladehead," resembling a dinosaur with three tails and horns capable of emitting electromagnetic pulses.
The battle begins. The mechs throw punches, their fists accompanied by the hissing of hydraulic systems; the monsters whip their tails, creating towering waves.
Sparks from clashing metal, smoke from leaking hydraulic oil, splattering blue blood from a monster... every detail is so realistic it takes your breath away.
The slow-motion footage showcases the mecha's structure: layers upon layers of armor plates, robust hydraulic rods, intricate pipelines, and a dense array of screws.
A perfect blend of mechanical beauty and violent aesthetics.
After the clip ended, the meeting room was silent for a few seconds.
"How is it?" Wu Na asked, her tone unusually tense.
Jiang Yu was silent for a moment, then uttered two words: "Awesome."
Wu Na breathed a sigh of relief and smiled brightly.
"The biggest technical challenge right now is fluid simulation," she explained. "Seawater, rainwater, blood; the physical effects of these fluids are very difficult to make realistic. We've dedicated thirty engineers to this research, and we've recently made a breakthrough."
She played another test: a drop of blue monster blood was dropped into seawater, slowly spreading and mixing with the seawater, the color changing from blue to purple and then fading until it completely dissolved.
The entire process was natural and smooth, with no trace of CG.
"How much computation did this take?" Jiang Yu asked.
"This drop of blood took 72 hours to render," Wu Na confessed. "We have optimized the algorithm so that the final cut can be completed within an acceptable timeframe."
"No rush," Jiang Yu said. "This project needs to be polished slowly. What I want is a benchmark, a work that will still be relevant ten years from now."
"Understood." Wu Na nodded solemnly.
The last project is The Hunger Games, Light Chaser Animation's next teen IP sci-fi film.
"The amount of special effects is not large, but we need to have a stylized aesthetic," Wu Na showed several concept images. "We are trying a new color processing technique to make the picture look like an oil painting, or an old film."
The image is indeed unique, with low saturation, strong graininess, and rich details, possessing a cruel yet poetic beauty.
The report lasted an hour and a half.
Jiang Yu asked very detailed questions, from technical details to staffing, from budget control to timelines.
Wu Na answered fluently, remembering every single piece of data clearly.
"Thank you for your hard work," Jiang Yu said sincerely after the report. "You deserve a lot of credit for Guangying Digital's success today."
Wu Na shook her head: "It was General Manager Jiang who provided the platform and resources. At Industrial Light & Magic, many ideas couldn't be realized; there were budget constraints, conservative technology, and too many layers of management. Here, as long as the technology is feasible, the budget is not a problem; as long as the direction is correct, the management will fully support us. This is the greatest happiness for technical personnel."
She paused, then said with rare sentimentality, "The kids under my tutelage are all geniuses recruited from all over the world. The reason they're willing to come isn't because of the high salaries, although they are indeed high; it's because here, they can truly create things that change the industry."
Jiang Yu nodded. This was the corporate culture he wanted: respect for technology, respect for talent, and letting dreams and strength speak for themselves.
"Are you going to participate in the Disney negotiations this afternoon?" he asked.
“I’ll attend,” Wu Na said immediately. “I need to explain the technical valuation part. Also, I want to tell Iger in person what Light and Shadow Digital can bring to Disney if we cooperate.”
"You're confident," Jiang Yu praised. "Then let's go together."
We had a simple lunch at the company cafeteria.
The restaurant has a cool design with an industrial style, and includes a buffet area and a coffee bar.
When the employees saw Jiang Yu, they all nodded politely in greeting, and a few of the bolder ones even came over to say hello.
"Mr. Jiang, this is Li from the Jaeger Team of Pacific Rim," a young Chinese engineer wearing glasses said excitedly. "Thank you for supporting our project! We will definitely do our best!"
"Keep it up," Jiang Yu patted his shoulder. "I believe in you guys."
After finishing his meal, Jiang Yu returned to his office and took a half-hour nap.
At 2 PM, David knocked on the door and came in: "Boss, it's time to go. We're meeting at Disney at 3 PM, and it takes 40 minutes to get there from here."
Jiang Yu opened his eyes, his gaze already sharp.
"Let's go."
Disney's headquarters are located in Burbank, covering 110 acres, resembling a small city.
As the car drove in, Jiang Yu saw the familiar Mickey Mouse logo and heard cheerful music coming from the park.
Employees and tourists dressed in cartoon costumes are everywhere, and the air is filled with the sweet aroma of popcorn and cotton candy.
“Every time I come here, it feels like I’ve entered a fairy tale world,” David said quietly. “Then during negotiations, I discover that there’s a big bad wolf in fairy tales too.”
Jiang Yu smiled.
Indeed, Disney may appear childlike on the surface, but it is a commercial behemoth at heart.
They were greeted by an assistant to Disney President Robert Iger, a woman in her forties.
Her smile was perfect, her demeanor elegant; every detail reflected Disney's culture of "perfection."
"Mr. Jiang, Mr. Aiger is already waiting for you." She smiled and guided him, "This way, please."
The meeting room is next to the president's office; it's not large, but it's exquisitely decorated.
The walls are covered with manuscripts from classic Disney animations, such as Snow White, Bambi, and The Lion King, arranged chronologically like a history of animation.
In the corner, there was also a small display case for the Oscar trophy, gleaming with gold.
Robert Iger was already waiting in the conference room.
The fifty-something Disney executive was dressed in a light gray tailored suit, white shirt, and dark blue tie, with his hair neatly combed.
His smile was gentle, but his blue eyes were sharp as an eagle's, able to see through any disguise.
"Jiang, welcome to Disney." Iger stood up and shook hands, the handshake lasting exactly three seconds. "It's been a while. The last time was at the Twilight wrap party."
"Robert, you look great," Jiang Yu replied with a smile. "Disney's stock has gone up again recently, congratulations."
"You all deserve credit for chasing the light," Iger said, gesturing for everyone to sit down.
Both sides took their positions.
On Disney's side: Iger is in the center, and to his left is CFO Tom Sturgess.
A bald, serious-looking man with thick glasses; to his right is General Counsel Sarah Miller, in her early forties, blond, with a stern expression; next to her is Mark Jensen, Head of Strategic Investments, in his thirties, a Harvard MBA, a typical elite.
On this side of the spotlight: Jiang Yu is in the center, David is on the left, and Wu Na is on the right.
Wang Wei sat in the back row taking notes.
"Shall we get started?" Iger gestured to his assistant to close the conference room door, shutting out the fairytale music from outside.
"Okay." Jiang Yu nodded.
The first topic: Disney's investment in a digital visual effects company.
Disney CFO Tom Staggs spoke first, his voice flat and monotone, sounding like he was reading a financial statement: "Based on Deloitte's third-party assessment and our internal calculations, we value Light & Shadow Digital North America at $15 billion. Disney hopes to acquire a 40% stake in the company through a cash-and-stock swap."
He adjusted his glasses: "The specific plan is: Disney will pay $5 million in cash, plus $1.5 million worth of Disney stock, totaling $7.5 million, in exchange for a 40% stake. The remaining valuation will be reflected in goodwill and technology premiums."
Wu Na immediately frowned, and David kicked Jiang Yu under the table, meaning, "This price is too steep."
Jiang Yu asked calmly, "What standards is this valuation based on?"
"Industry benchmarking," Tom pulled up the PowerPoint presentation, "Industrial Light & Magic was valued at about 25 billion last year, and Weta Digital at about 14 billion. Although Light & Shadow Digital has advanced technology, it has a short history, a weak customer base, and low brand awareness. Giving it 15 billion US dollars already reflects the technology premium."
"Weak client base?" Wu Na couldn't help but ask, her tone calm but sharp. "Mr. Stargus, you may not be aware of the situation. Light & Shadow Digital has currently handled projects such as *Avatar*, *Inception*, and *Iron Man 2*."
Industrial Light & Magic and Weta Digital have handled the special effects for eight A-list productions this year, including *2012* and *Pacific Rim*.
Tom choked for a moment and looked at his assistant.
The assistant whispered a number, his expression not looking too good.
"In terms of technology," Wu Na continued, pulling up her tablet, "we've been leading the industry by at least 18 months in four areas: 3D visual effects, motion capture, virtual production, and fluid simulation. This is an evaluation report from the MIT Media Lab. Should I read it?"
She pushed the tablet to the center of the table. On the screen was a fifty-page technical assessment, with the conclusion page marked "Industry Leading" in red.
A moment of silence fell over the conference room.
Disney's General Counsel Sarah began, "Technological leadership is a fact, but commercial value depends on sustainability. The special effects industry is constantly evolving; today's lead may be surpassed tomorrow."
"That's why we continue to invest in research and development," Wu Na said firmly. "Light and Shadow Digital's R&D investment accounts for 25% of its revenue, while the Hollywood average is 15%. That's why we can maintain our leading position."
Jiang Yu chimed in at the opportune moment: "Robert, let me state my bottom line directly: a valuation of $25 billion. Disney wants to invest, fine, but it must be a cash acquisition, not a stock swap."
"25 billion?" Tom nearly stood up. "That's absurd! That's over 60% overpayment!"
"I have evidence." Jiang Yu took out two documents from his briefcase. "The first one is a valuation report of Guangying Digital by three top Silicon Valley venture capital firms: Sequoia Capital, KPCB, and Accel. The lowest valuation is 20 billion, and the highest is 28 billion. They all wanted to invest, but I didn't let them."
He pushed the report over, and the Disney executives passed it around, their expressions growing increasingly grave.
"The second document," Jiang Yu said, pulling out another one, "is our revenue forecast and order backlog for the next five years. It includes the *Now You See Me* trilogy, the *Pacific Rim* trilogy, the *Hunger Games* tetralogy, and Netflix, which we're currently in contact with."
Five-year framework agreements with three streaming platforms—Amazon, Apple, and Amazon—guarantee revenue of at least $18 billion over the next three years.
Iger picked up the document and examined it carefully.
Five minutes later, he looked up: "Some of these orders haven't been signed yet."
"But the agreement has already been reached, and besides, these are all projects that we're pursuing ourselves," Jiang Yu said confidently. "We can make Pacific Rim entirely on our own; streaming platforms are in a hurry for content, and visual effects companies are a scarce resource. Robert, you know better than me what Hollywood lacks most right now; it's not creativity, it's not stars, it's the technical teams that can bring creative ideas to life."
That hits the nail on the head. Disney is preparing for a handcrafted Marvel Cinematic Universe and urgently needs top-notch special effects support.
Iger pondered for a moment: "20 billion. A cash acquisition of 45% of the shares. That's our maximum."
"22 billion," Jiang Yu said without backing down, "and I want an additional condition: after Disney acquires Marvel, all special effects for Marvel movies must be handled by Light & Shadow Digital, at 85% of the market price."
"80%." Tom bargained.
"85%," Jiang Yu insisted, "and that only applies to the first six films. The price for the rest will be renegotiated."
"Why six departments?"
"Because six films are enough to prove our value," Jiang Yu smiled. "If Disney still thinks we're not good enough after six films, they can replace us; if they think we're good enough, then raising prices is reasonable."
This logic is fair, and Iger and his men discussed it in hushed tones for a few minutes.
"Deal," Iger finally decided. "22 billion, cash acquisition of 45% of the shares. The first six Marvel special effects films will be valued at 85% of the market price, with subsequent deals to be renegotiated."
The first topic has ended, and Jiang Yu's side has won a small round.
The second topic: Disney's acquisition of the Marvel shares held by Light Chaser Animation.
Mark, Disney's head of strategic investments, stated: "We understand that Light Chaser Pictures holds a 20% stake in the Iron Man franchise."
We will acquire a stake in the company and a 10% royalty. After Disney acquired Marvel, it wanted to consolidate all its copyrights. We are willing to acquire this stake for $3 million.
David almost burst out laughing. Jiang Yu also shook his head: "Not enough. The first Iron Man movie grossed $5.8 million worldwide, with DVD and streaming revenue of about $3 million and merchandise licensing revenue of about $5 million. And that's just one movie. I want $5 million."
"5 million?" Tom's voice shrill. "Mr. Jiang, this is robbery!"
"This is a reasonable valuation," Jiang Yu said calmly. "I had someone calculate it, and the present value of the Iron Man series' cash flow over the next ten years is between 5 million and 7 million. I'm only asking for 5 million, which is already very kind of me."
"But if Disney doesn't buy, you'll have no choice but to hold onto it," Sarah, the lawyer, began. "And if Disney acquires Marvel, it can adjust its strategy and lower the priority of the Iron Man series..."
"Then Disney's acquisition was a loss," Jiang Yu interrupted her. "Everyone knows that Iron Man was Marvel's comeback."
"It's their trump card. If Disney suppresses this franchise, what will the shareholders think? What will the market think?"
He paused, looking at Iger: "Robert, let's be frank. Disney acquired Marvel because they valued core IPs like Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor. If one of their most important IPs is held by a third party with significant stakes, the integration process will be very difficult for you."
Aiger remained silent. Jiang Yu had hit the nail on the head.
"3 million," Iger began, "plus the global distribution rights for Pacific Rim, Disney only takes a 10% distribution fee (usually 15-20%)."
Jiang Yu quickly calculated in his mind that the conditions were good, but he still wanted to try to get more.
"4 million," he said. "Add to that the conditions I just mentioned for Pacific Rim, plus one more thing: Disney has to commit to investing in at least three medium-budget films controlled by Light Chaser and distributed globally over the next five years."
"Three movies are too many," Mark said. "One at most."
"Two films," Jiang Yu bargained, "with a budget between 3000 million and 8000 million. We'll decide on the subject matter."
Iger thought for a moment: "Okay. Disney should have the right to review the script and the right to final cut."
"Script review is fine, but the final editing rights need to be negotiated," Jiang Yu said. "If it's a project we're in charge of, we need to retain creative control."
Another round of confrontation.
The final agreement was reached: Disney acquired a stake in Marvel for $3.8 million; 10% of the distribution fee for "Pacific Rim"; Disney would invest in two Light Chaser films over the next five years, with a budget cap of $1 million; Light Chaser would retain creative control; and Disney would have advisory rights.
The second issue concluded with both sides expressing general satisfaction.
The third topic: In-depth cooperation with Pacific Rim.
Disney has now provided a detailed plan.
Mark presented his PowerPoint presentation: "Disney wants the exclusive global distribution rights to Pacific Rim for ten years; the rights to develop merchandise and a 50/50 split of profits. In addition, Disney is demanding priority investment rights for sequels and spin-offs."
"What about the copyright?" Jiang Yu asked.
"The copyright belongs to Disney, of course..." Mark was interrupted by Iger raising his hand halfway through his sentence.
"Copyright is negotiable," Aiger said, looking at Jiang Yu. "What do you want?"
"The copyright must belong entirely to Light Chaser Animation," Jiang Yu stated clearly. "Disney only has the distribution rights and the right to develop related merchandise, not ownership. Light Chaser Animation has the final say on sequels and spin-offs."
Tom was about to speak again when Iger raised his hand once more.
"Jiang," Iger leaned forward, "Pacific Rim has great potential. If Disney invests in global distribution resources, they need to guarantee long-term returns. If the rights aren't in our hands, we won't have enough motivation."
"You all know how much potential Pacific Rim has," Jiang Yu said, looking directly at Iger. "The Transformers series has sold over $15 billion worth of merchandise so far. If Disney does a good job, Pacific Rim merchandise alone could earn them a billion dollars. A 10% distribution fee plus 50% of the merchandise revenue is already astronomical."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "And Robert, have you thought about this? If Pacific Rim is successful, it will become a new IP universe. Mechs, monsters, global defense organizations... how many stories can be derived from this? If Disney owns the copyrights to these stories and related merchandise, then Disney will have a treasure trove comparable to a mini-Marvel."
These words resonated with Iger. Marvel's success had given Disney a taste of the benefits of an IP universe, and now a new universe was before them...
"The copyright can belong to you," Iger finally conceded, "but Disney wants permanent exclusive distribution rights and the rights to develop related merchandise. The revenue sharing ratio is as you say, and Disney has the primary investment right for the sequel."
"Okay," Jiang Yu nodded, "The investment ratio needs to be negotiated. Chasing Light must retain at least 51% of the share."
40%.
""
50%.
""
"make a deal."
The third topic has concluded.
The meeting had been going on for three and a half hours, and everyone was a little tired and highly stressed; because the most important topic was about to be discussed.
The fourth topic: Disney's long-term strategic partnership with Light and Shadow Digital.
Iger spoke up personally: "Jiang, Disney is about to complete its acquisition of Marvel. Over the next ten years, we will release at least ten Marvel movies, forming a complete universe. These movies will require top-notch special effects support."
He looked at Wu Na: "President Wu, is Light and Shadow Digital capable of handling such a large project?"
"Yes," Wu Na said without hesitation, "but we need to expand our workforce. We currently have 300 visual effects artists, but to handle the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we need at least 500. We also need to set up branches in London, Vancouver, and Sydney to coordinate with global filming."
"Where's the funding?"
"If Disney's investment is finalized, our two parties will each contribute an additional $1 million proportionally, which, combined with our existing revenue," Wu Na calculated quickly, "will be enough to support our global expansion for the next three years."
Iger nodded and dropped a bombshell: "Besides Marvel, we have another plan: to reboot the Star Wars series."
The meeting room fell silent for a second, and even David sat up straight.
"A new trilogy, plus the spin-off film, will make at least five films in the next ten years," Iger said slowly. "We need a visual effects partner who can handle at least 50% of the workload. Industrial Light & Magic is a subsidiary of Lucasfilm, so of course they will participate, but we need another top-notch team to ensure both production capacity and quality."
He looked at Jiang Yu: "Are you interested in Light and Shadow Digital?"
Jiang Yu's heart skipped a beat, but he remained outwardly calm: "The special effects for Star Wars are massive, so the price won't be low."
"At 9% of the market price," Iger said, "quality must be guaranteed. We want top-notch results; no, we want better. Because this is a reboot, and we want to give a new generation of viewers a fresh visual experience."
Jiang Yu looked at Wu Na, who nodded with a determined look in her eyes.
"Technically, there's no problem," she said. "We need to reach out to the Lucasfilm team to understand the visual tradition of Star Wars. It's not just a technical job; there's also an artistic legacy involved."
"It can be arranged," Iger said, quite satisfied with the answer. "Next month, I'll take you to Skywalker Ranch to meet George Lucas."
With the negotiations at this point, the overall situation was settled, and the remaining details were left to the subordinates to work out.
Iger glanced at his watch: "It's 5:30. Jiang, would you like to have dinner at Disneyland? I know a good restaurant with a view of the fireworks show."
"It would be my honor," Jiang Yu said with a smile.
The top executives from both sides stood up and shook hands.
After four and a half hours of negotiations, everyone was exhausted, but their eyes were shining because they had struck a major deal that would shape the future of Hollywood.
As they left the conference room, Aiger patted Jiang Yu on the shoulder: "Jiang, you are one of the most difficult negotiating opponents I've ever met. And also one of the most visionary."
"Likewise," Jiang Yu said sincerely. "It's an honor for Light Chaser Animation to collaborate with Disney."
"No," Iger shook his head, "Disney needs you. Hollywood is changing; the technology-driven era has arrived."
You go ahead.
Dinner was arranged at "21 Royal" restaurant, a members-only upscale restaurant that requires reservations months in advance.
Iger is the king of Disney; he can get things done with just one phone call.
The restaurant is decorated in a retro style, like a private club from the 1930s.
Dark wood walls, leather sofa, crystal chandelier.
Disneyland is right outside the window. As night falls, Sleeping Beauty Castle lights up, creating an unreal beauty.
"The steaks here are the best in all of California," Iger recommended. "Also, you must try their chocolate lava cake, Walt Disney's favorite."
After ordering, the atmosphere became much more relaxed.
The two sides stopped talking about business and started discussing movies.
"I've seen the Avatar preview," Iger said, cutting his steak. "Cameron is indeed a genius. But what I'm more curious about is, Ginger, how did you know three years ago that 3D movies would take off? Even Cameron himself wasn't sure back then."
Jiang Yu smiled and said, "I didn't know 3D would rise to prominence; I knew that a good story combined with new technology will always have a market. The essence of film hasn't changed; what has changed is the way it's told."
"Brilliant." Iger raised his glass. "A toast to the essence of cinema."
"Cheers."
Halfway through dinner, music suddenly started playing outside the window.
The nightly fireworks show at Disneyland has begun, and everyone has moved to the terrace to watch the dazzling fireworks bloom in the night sky.
“I’m always amazed when I see it,” Iger said softly. “Walt Disney said: As long as there is imagination in the world, Disney will never be finished.”
Fireworks spelled out the shape of Mickey Mouse in the sky above the castle, and children cheered below.
Jiang Yu suddenly thought of Liu Yifei; she would probably like it here.
Next time I bring her, we must see this fireworks display.
He took out his phone, recorded a video, and sent it to her: "I'll bring you to see the Disney fireworks next time."
Almost immediately, I received a reply: "So beautiful! You have to keep your word!"
Jiang Yu smiled and replied, "Definitely."
The fireworks show ended, and dinner was drawing to a close.
When Aige dropped Jiang Yu off at the parking lot, she suddenly said, "Jiang, there's something I want to tell you privately."
The two walked aside. Iger lowered his voice: "The acquisition of Marvel will be officially announced in September. After that, Kevin Feige will be in full charge of Marvel Studios. He's a genius, but also a control freak. There might be some... friction when you work together."
"Thank you for reminding me." Jiang Yu understood that it was a well-intentioned gesture.
"I believe you can handle this," Iger smiled, "because you're both people who want to do things to the extreme. Collaboration between people like that is either explosive or historic."
"I hope it's the latter." Jiang Yu extended his hand.
"Me too." Egger grasped his hand. "It's a pleasure working with you, Jiang."
"It's a pleasure working with you, Robert."
On the way back, David slumped in his seat: "My God, five hours... I feel like I've run a marathon."
"It's a business marathon after all." Jiang Yu loosened his tie. "Mr. Wu, what do you think?"
Although exhausted, Wu Na was excited: "If we can secure the special effects for Star Wars, our digital effects will truly place us among the top tier of Hollywood. We are confident in our technical skills, but the key is talent; we need to recruit at least three hundred more people."
"Hire," Jiang Yu said without hesitation. "Recruit from all over the world, and pay them well. I want a world-class team."
"clear."
"Boss," David suddenly sat up straight, "22 billion US dollars... We only invested 20 million US dollars to expand Light & Shadow Digital North America. Three years, 100 times return... That's faster than robbing a bank."
Jiang Yu looked out the window; the Los Angeles skyline was dazzling like a galaxy. "Disney's investment is not the end, but the beginning. With this money and Disney's distribution channels, we can do so much more."
He had already started planning in his mind: expand the special effects team, establish a global branch, invest in more movies, develop his own IP... and also, he wanted to have a good celebration with Liu Yifei when he got back.
It was already 10 p.m. when the car entered Beverly Hills.
When Jiang Yu returned to the villa, the first thing he did was call Liu Yifei.
The phone rang for a long time before being answered, and her groggy voice came through: "Feed... Jiang Yu?"
"Did I wake you up?" Jiang Yu said softly.
"No... I just fell asleep..." Liu Yifei yawned. "Are you finished talking?"
"The talks went smoothly." Jiang Yu walked to the balcony, the night breeze dispelling his fatigue. "Disney has invested in our special effects company and will also be collaborating on Star Wars."
"Star Wars?" Liu Yifei regained her composure. "That really cool sci-fi movie?"
"Yes. From now on, all the special effects for the Marvel and Star Wars movies you watch will likely be done by our company."
"Wow..." Liu Yifei exclaimed, "Does that mean you'll be even busier?"
"I'll be busy for a while, but I'll finish up and go back as soon as possible," Jiang Yu said softly. "How was your filming today?"
"It's alright..." Liu Yifei's voice lowered, "I just miss you a little..."
'
"I miss you too." Jiang Yu looked at the night sky. "Soon, I promise."