Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 394 The Brilliant Decision

As the CEO of Disney, Robert Iger has a lot to deal with every day.

He joined ABC shortly after graduation and spent more than 20 years rising through the ranks within the company before finally becoming the CEO of Disney.

To be honest, it was unexpected for most people that he, a "local" figure, could become the CEO of Disney.

Large companies like Disney typically hire well-known professional managers in the industry for their CEOs, rather than promoting them from within the company.

Robert Iger's predecessor, Michael Eisner, was the president of Paramount before becoming CEO of Disney.

Simply put, Robert Iger would not have become the CEO of Disney without Michael Eisner's "support".

Michael Eisner is a very capable person. Before Disney poached him from Paramount, the company was facing a huge crisis. It was after he came to Disney that he brought the company back to life and helped it grow stronger.

It was also he who promoted Robert Iger, gradually making Robert Iger the number two person at Disney.

But Michael Eisner is a very strong-willed person. He forced out Jeffrey Katzenberg, Disney's original number two, who then turned around and founded DreamWorks with Steven Spielberg and David Geffen.

DreamWorks Animation has become Disney's biggest competitor in the animated film industry.

Next, he forced out Michael Ovitz, the Disney president hired by the board, and also ousted Disney's nephew, Roy Disney, from the board.

He promoted Robert Iger, who had followed him for more than a decade, to the position of president of Disney.

Logically speaking, Robert Iger should be grateful to him.

However, Michael Eisner declared at the board meeting that Robert Iger was a good "executor," capable of being an executor well, but lacked the courage and absolutely could not become the CEO of Disney.

Shortly thereafter, Michael Eisner was ousted from Disney by the board, while Robert Iger, whom Eisner didn't think highly of, "snags" the opportunity and gained the support of some board members to become the new CEO of Disney.

The first thing Robert Iger did as CEO of Disney was to create an honorary board seat for Roy Disney, Disney's nephew who had been ousted from the board by Michael Eisner.

They arranged an office for him and promised him a seat on the board for every major Disney decision…

This suggests that Robert Iger has most likely joined forces with the Disney family.

It's full of palace intrigue.

Although Michael Eisner was ousted from Disney, he served as Disney's CEO for over two decades, and many members of the board were his people.

It's estimated that if the Disney family hadn't secretly exerted their influence, he wouldn't have been ousted, and Robert Iger wouldn't have become the new CEO.

Therefore, Robert Iger, who has only been CEO for a little over a year, faces a lot of opposition from the board, especially from the directors who support Michael Eisner. They hate Robert Iger even more for being a "traitor."

The reboot of "Pirates of the Caribbean" was Robert Iger's decision. If this reboot flops, coupled with the uncertainty surrounding ABC's Oscar broadcast due to the writers' strike, his CEO position will be in serious jeopardy.

This is also why the renowned producer Jerry Bruckheimer said those things in his office, thinking that unless he was stupid, he would transfer the resources of "Pirates of the Caribbean" to "National Treasure: The Lost Tomb".

But Jerry Bruckheimer had no idea about Robert Iger's situation at Disney.

If it weren't for the writers' strike and the uncertainty surrounding the Oscar broadcast, "Pirates of the Caribbean 2" would have been a huge success for Robert Iger, but even if it had failed, it wouldn't have threatened his position as CEO.

But in the current situation, the success or failure of "Pirates of the Caribbean" is now related to whether Robert Iger can retain his position as CEO of Disney.

This is why, despite the success of "National Treasure: The Lost Tomb" and the phenomenal success of its competitor "I Am Legend," he allocated an additional 1000 million to the promotion of "Pirates of the Caribbean."

Robert Iger wanted "Pirates of the Caribbean" to be a success more than anyone else, even more than Cao Yang.

As long as "Pirates of the Caribbean" doesn't lose money at the box office, it's considered a success and makes money.

Even if the Oscars don't happen and ABC loses a lot of money due to broadcasting issues, Robert Iger will be able to handle it more easily.

For Robert Iger, the $3460 million gross on the opening day of "Pirates of the Caribbean" in North America is more than just a matter of the success of the film he decided to reboot.

Based on this opening day performance, as long as the film's reputation doesn't collapse, it should gross at least $3 million in North America and at least $6 million worldwide, maybe even $7 million, or even $8 million as Cao Yang mentioned, which is not impossible.

The fact that a reboot movie can achieve such a high box office is secondary; the most important thing is that, reflected in the stock market, and with plans for a sequel, it will definitely see a surge.

And how does this manifest in Robert Iger, the Disney CEO?
Steady!

His position as CEO is definitely secure for the next few years.

If, after all these years, he still can't firmly establish himself as CEO, then it can only mean that Robert Iger is truly incompetent, and he deserved to be ousted.

Robert Iger sat in his office, beaming as he looked at the stack of newspapers his secretary had brought him. He didn't bother to read the online news and reviews about "The New Pirates of the Caribbean," feeling they were somewhat unreliable.

These newspapers, with their black and white print and the smell of ink, were more tangible, allowing him to truly feel the influence of "Pirates of the Caribbean."

As a major entertainment industry newspaper in Hollywood, The Hollywood Reporter not only provides detailed reviews of films, but also covers information on film production, release, and box office performance.

Its film critics usually have extensive industry experience, and their evaluations are relatively objective and insightful.

Robert Iger first looked through the newspaper.

There are several articles about "Pirates of the Caribbean" and film reviews inside. Robert Iger found an article written by a very famous film critic, Royce.

"...Those who know Depp should know that before he met director Cao Yang, most of his works featured Gothic, dark, and crazy characters. Gloomy, bizarre, and neurotic seemed to have become his labels."

However, his most successful performances and works were the series of collaborations he made with director Cao Yang after meeting him.

The sinister and perverted politician in "The Dirty Milk", the ordinary and despicable little man in "District 9", and the shrewd and highly intelligent dream master in "Inception".

This time, director Cao Yang once again surprised everyone by portraying Depp as a pirate who is full of lies, humorous, brave and resourceful, and morally ambiguous.

He is always incredibly resilient. Put him in a desperate situation, and he will always come back alive, turning all danger into humorous banter and showcasing his eccentric personality in an exceptionally brilliant way!

Director Cao Yang has always been known for his ability to create compelling characters, and in this rebooted film, we see his skill once again, proving it once more.

A successful character can make a movie more complete and leave a lasting impression on the audience.

The main characters in "Pirates of the Caribbean" are all unique.

An honest, brave, and skilled young blacksmith; the governor's daughter, who displays independence, wit, and courage; and a pirate captain determined to break free from the curse...

I believe this is also the key factor that allowed "Pirates of the Caribbean" to stand out and achieve success in the highly competitive Christmas season.

This article discusses film characters without resorting to jargon, a characteristic of film critic Royce, whose reviews almost exclusively focus on character development.

Robert Iger smiled; he knew that critic Royce would definitely praise Cao Yang and the characters in the film, after all, the characters in this movie were all outstanding.

In fact, anyone who knows Royce knows that he is a die-hard, acerbic critic. Despite his high praise for "Pirates of the Caribbean," most of his film reviews are sharp criticisms of the director, calling him a piece of crap, and the actors' performances as utter garbage. For example, two weeks ago, when "National Treasure: The Secret Life of a Mastermind" was released, he criticized Nicolas Cage in the newspaper, saying that after achieving fame and success, his acting became increasingly perfunctory and distracting.

He also bluntly stated that if things continue like this, Cage will eventually ruin himself and become the king of bad movies that everyone hates.

Robert Iger looked back again and couldn't help but let out a "Huh?"

Royce not only wrote a review of "Pirates of the Caribbean," but also a review of another film starring Depp, "Sweeney Todd," which was released on the same day.

"...Compared to director Cao Yang's successful portrayal of Depp's pirate in a different light, Tim pales in comparison."

I must admit that in "Sweeney Todd," Depp, with his gloomy face, anxious emotions, and sharp language, portrayed Todd's inner hatred and determination for revenge.

Through song, dance, and performance, he vividly portrayed the image of this avenger, allowing the audience to deeply feel the character's darkness and twisted nature, and successfully creating a vivid character.

However, if we look back at the films Depp has worked with director Tim Burton, whether it's "Edward Scissorhands," "Ed Wood," or this "Sweeney Todd," his role has hardly changed.

All of them are gloomy, dark, neurotic, and gothic. It's no exaggeration to say that in several of his films, he is repeating himself, deliberately playing roles that have almost no variation.

Johnny Depp, in the four films he collaborated with Cao Yang, portrayed four completely different personalities, and each character was memorable and appeared so natural.

I admit that Depp is a good actor, one of the best in Hollywood in terms of acting skills.

But if he hadn't met director Cao Yang, he might have won an Oscar for Best Actor, but certainly not working with Tim Burton, and certainly not today, tomorrow, or the day after; perhaps that day is in the distant future.

"Ha ha……"

Robert Iger put down his newspaper and laughed unrestrainedly.

He now feels that rebooting "Pirates of the Caribbean" might have been a mistake; otherwise, renowned producer Jerry Bruckheimer, as the producer of the previous failed film, wouldn't have given up on becoming the producer of the reboot.

However, Robert Iger felt that his wise decision to collaborate with Cao Yang was the right one, which allowed the film to be revived.

"From today onwards, Cao Yang is my best friend and brother. Anyone who dares to mess with him again is going against me and is my biggest enemy, especially those idiots in the Film Producers Alliance!"

Robert Iger murmured to himself.

He then picked up the Los Angeles Times and saw that another film critic with a column had written:
"...There are many movies with the theme of treasure hunting and adventure, such as the currently showing 'National Treasure: The Secret of the Treasure Hunt,' the first 'National Treasure,' and 'Pirates of the Caribbean.'"

The "Pirates of the Caribbean" I'm referring to isn't Cao Yang's "New Pirates of the Caribbean," but rather the "Pirates of the Caribbean" produced by renowned producer Jerry Bruckheimer, the old pirate treasure hunt movie that failed at the box office.

Incidentally, apart from Cao Yang's "New Pirates of the Caribbean," the producer of all three of the above films is Jerry Bruckheimer.

Anyone who has seen Jerry's version of "Pirates of the Caribbean" should know very well that this movie is a traditional adventure treasure hunt film, the same type as the two "National Treasure" movies.

However, in "National Treasure," the director added some humorous elements and chose a more approachable style, which made the film a success.

Pirates of the Caribbean, on the other hand, opted for an adventure featuring handsome men and beautiful women, which seemed more appealing. However, the theme was outdated and lacked innovation, making its failure inevitable.

In contrast, Cao Yang's "New Pirates of the Caribbean" incorporates fantasy elements and gives the protagonist an unconventional character design, making the story more captivating.

The success of this rebooted film is inseparable from director Cao Yang's novel ideas.

It must be said that Robert Iger of Disney is very decisive; he always manages to make the right choices…

Robert Iger blinked, looking at the column's name again with some confusion: Jeff, that's right.

Isn't this guy hard to win over? He's a notorious "die-hard" type.

He remembered that the film critic hadn't been dismissed.

What's going on? Why did I suddenly start praising myself?
I felt quite embarrassed.

Robert Iger's smile was practically reaching his ears. Sometimes, being praised by such a hard-to-win "die-hard" critic can indeed provide emotional value that other film critics can't offer.

Actually, it's not that they can't get film critics with columns like this, but rather that it would require a huge expense, so much so that they couldn't refuse, which wouldn't be worth it.

Film critics with such great fame need to maintain their "highbrow" image. As long as they maintain this image, it's relatively easy for them to make money, so they look down on the "small change" offered by film companies.

Robert Iger was once again relieved that inviting Cao Yang was the right decision.

He made up his mind that he must maintain his good relationship with Cao Yang, as this was the best way to maximize his benefits.

On Saturday, the second day of its release, "Pirates of the Caribbean" grossed another $3860 million, making Robert Iger unable to suppress his smile.

On the third day, which was the last day of the week, the box office of "Pirates of the Caribbean" dropped slightly compared to Saturday, but still grossed $3580 million.

This slight drop is normal. Generally, over a three-day weekend, Friday's box office is the lowest, followed by Sunday, and Saturday's box office is the highest.

Pirates of the Caribbean grossed over $1.09 million in its opening weekend in North America, taking the top spot at the weekend box office.

Second place went to Will Smith's "I Am Legend," which grossed $3200 million in its second week of release.

The film grossed 7600 million in its opening weekend, but this week it has dropped significantly, by more than 50%, likely due to the impact of "Pirates of the Caribbean".

"I Am Legend" grossed $7600 million in its opening weekend, plus $3200 million this weekend, and $2700 million over the four weekdays this week, bringing its total box office to $1.35 million in ten days.

"National Treasure: The Secret Life of the Treasure Hunter," which was released two weeks earlier, grossed $1860 million over the weekend, a drop of more than 30% compared to last week, which is still relatively stable.

Family-friendly films are definitely the perfect choice for the Christmas season.

However, although the drop in box office revenue for "National Treasure: The Secret Life of a Master" was not significant, the film's base was not high and its potential was limited. It would be difficult for it to surpass $200 million at the North American box office.

Although he was mentally prepared, Robert Iger was still thrilled by the fact that "Pirates of the Caribbean" grossed over $100 million in its opening weekend in North America.

Even during the board meeting, the few directors who had previously opposed the reboot of "Pirates of the Caribbean" and those idiots who had been sarcastic towards him all gave him a warm round of applause after he released a series of reports on "New Pirates of the Caribbean".

Robert Iger particularly enjoys the applause from his opponents; he likes the awkward feeling of those who dislike him but have no choice but to applaud.

He decided that next week's meeting would definitely include more data on "Pirates of the Caribbean," because he loved the applause of those idiots.

Of course, he won't relax just because "Pirates of the Caribbean" is a huge hit. He will make sure to supervise the use of the necessary resources and prevent them from being wasted by people with ulterior motives.

As for Cao Yang, he now calls him almost every morning to talk about yesterday's box office and every evening to talk about today's audience numbers and the current buzz.

In short, there's only one purpose and goal: My dear brother, look how popular "New Pirates of the Caribbean" is now, shouldn't we start planning a sequel?

Robert Iger couldn't help but get excited when he thought about Cao Yang's four-film plan for "New Pirates of the Caribbean," a feeling he felt was no less intense than those few peak seconds.

(End of this chapter)