Norio Ohga personally welcomed Ronald's visit at the door of the CEO's office at Sony's headquarters.
"Dahe Sang, please don't be too polite between us. Is there anything I can do for you?" Ronald bowed slightly, then walked into the office and sat on the luxurious sofa.
"Did Ronald-san come alone? Do you want me to make arrangements?" Dahe began to make some detours and personally brought a cup of black tea and placed it in front of Ronald.
"Ah? I came alone. Helen has to go to the Great Wall to shoot, and Diane is resting at home. Arrangements are too much. I just came to attend Dahe Sang's appointment. You are my best Japanese friend."
Ronald didn't know what Dahe was thinking. Why was this Sony CEO with a Western mindset so hesitant today?
"Oga-Sang, we are old friends. If there is anything that I can tell you directly, as long as it is within my ability, I am obligated." Seeing that Oga-Sang still seemed unable to speak, Ronald had no choice but to express his stance.
"Hey, I can't say anything about this, but I still have to ask Ronald-san...please think about how I can compensate you..." Norio Ohga said, bowed slightly to Ronald, and then
spoke his mind.
It turned out that he really wasn't asking Ronald to do something, but he was asking Ronald not to do something.
When it comes to Sony's acquisition of Columbia Records and Columbia Pictures' two ground-breaking acquisitions, the ones who were most shocked were not a group of entrepreneurs in America, but those in Japan.
Especially the bosses of the companies that were established before the war, those people still have resentment towards the rice beasts, mixed emotions of gratitude and awe, which is completely different from the mentality of Sony Corporation, which was established just after the war.
Sony, which has been adhering to internationalization from the beginning, acquired Columbia Pictures. At most, it was the joy of commercial success. However, for those old companies that were bombed into a mess in the late war and then recovered through orders from the US military after the war,
Said, this simply touched the most sensitive part of their hearts.
Being able to be the boss of an American film and television and record company, and then arrogantly direct white people to do things, is... something that is unimaginable. It was actually accomplished by an alternative in a Japanese company like Sony.
Therefore, in the New Year of 1990, various Japanese companies began to get ready to take action, thinking "I think I can also acquire one". In the electronic consumer goods manufacturing industry, two companies that actively participated in the consumer electronics manufacturing industry immediately appeared.
of responders.
One is Pioneer, a company that once established a joint venture with Warner Bros. Records. This company started by manufacturing speakers, and later focused on manufacturing LD, karaoke and CD players. The joint venture was canceled by Warner Bros., and from now on it can only
Limited to the Japanese music market.
After taking a sum of money, they wanted to find a medium-sized company in Hollywood to re-enter the American market. They began to look for suitable agents and hunted for prey in Hollywood.
The other company is one of Sony's biggest competitors, Panasonic.
The consumer electronics manufacturing company founded by Konosuke Matsushita, the so-called business god, cannot be compared to companies like Pioneer. What they are aiming at is Sony, which swallows up American record and film and television production and distribution companies, and also creates a media company.
The group wants to compete with Sony.
Norio Ohga wanted Ronald to promise that he could not help Panasonic in the acquisition case like he helped Sony.
"But Ohga-san, America is a country of free competition. If I don't help, won't Panasonic be able to find people?" Ronald felt that Ohga-san had some ideas behind his back.
"Ahem, you are right, I am a little selfish. Even if they succeed, I don't want them to win the beauty."
As Ronald said, if a company of Panasonic's size wants to acquire studios and record companies, it will not be able to find suitable people to operate it. However, someone who can cooperate with the current leader like Ronald
It is not easy to build connections, then pass the review of Congress and committees without any danger, and successfully complete the acquisition at a relatively reasonable price.
Konosuke Matsushita just passed away last year, and his son-in-law Masaharu Matsushita has just taken over the power of the company. If such a person allows him to handle a beautiful acquisition, Norio Ohga will be under great pressure.
After all, above Norio Ohga, there is also Akio Morita's office exerting some influence. Although theoretically speaking, it is more difficult for Ohga, who was the first to take advantage of the situation, to operate the acquisition case than for the later imitators.
But if Panasonic's acquisition price is better than his, then he will have a harder time working at Sony with its complex power structure than Masaharu Matsushita, who keeps his word.
"Ah, this..." Ronald thought to himself, I didn't want to transform into a broker. But he also thought about it. It is estimated that some thoughtful people in the industry and political circles have already figured out that he helped Sony's public relations.
If Panasonic really makes up its mind to acquire and enter the market, it should not be difficult to find him. However, there is absolutely no need for me to help Panasonic. I have never dealt with him. Can they still pay 100 million to hire me?
"I'm not a professional broker. If I helped Da He Sang, it was out of loyalty as a friend..." Ronald just said a few nice words, and it didn't cost money anyway.
"Ronald-san is indeed a first-class American friend!" Norio Ohga was waiting for this sentence, "Hahaha, if anything happens in the future, don't forget that you still have a close friend in Sony."
"Speaking of which, I have one thing. I wonder if it's convenient for Ohga-san to help?" Ronald thought that the atmosphere had reached this point, so he took out the fact that Cameron's Spider-Man script was rejected and asked
Can Dahe intervene?
"Hey, I can promise you everything else, but when it comes to Columbia Pictures' Gubersang, I..." Dahe's face turned cloudy. This matter is really uncomfortable.
Warner Bros. originally signed a five-year distribution contract with Guber and Peters' film company. In order to lure them over, Morita Akio even bought out their production company.
However, Warner Bros. used the excuse that Guber and Peters had not fulfilled the terms of the contract, so they sued Sony-Columbia Pictures, demanding $1 billion in damages. Sony immediately countersued, but the lawyer team told Norio Ohga that there was little hope of winning the lawsuit.
In order not to suffer a shameful failure just after acquiring Columbia Pictures, which also affected the image of the company's representative figure, retired former CEO Akio Morita, Ohga reluctantly let his lawyer lead the settlement.
The price of the settlement was very high. Sony not only packaged Columbia Pictures' basic cable broadcast rights, including movies and TV series, to Warner Bros., but also allocated a lucrative mail-order record club from another subsidiary of CBS Records.
50% of the shares.
In addition, Columbia Pictures will also pay for a 35% stake in its Burbank studio and the rights to 50 Guber-Peters film projects currently in development, including the rights to the sequel to "Batman"...
…This comic book adaptation movie is a box office winner, having grossed US$450 million at the global box office…
After paying so much, Columbia received only Culver City, which Warner now owns, and many former MGM filming locations.
Some Wall Street analysts estimate that these asset projects may cost Columbia US$300-600 million in long-term revenue (a large part of which is the rights to film Batman sequels).
If this was true, it would be a laughing stock for Sony. Norio Ohga had no choice but to pretend to be fat and let the vice chairman of Columbia Records, Michael P. Schulhoff, speak out. Schulhoff was the first
Norio Ohga recommended Columbia Pictures. He replaced Guber, who was inconvenient to speak, to explain that this was a win-win result. Analysts' valuation of the assets that Sony needs to pay to reach a settlement is completely inaccurate...
And everyone benefits from this transaction, which is a win-win result. Columbia Pictures no longer has to compete with Warner Bros. for the joint venture Burbank Studio, and has its own fully owned studio in Culver City.
…
The advisory office system established by former chairman Akio Morita is disgusting. You don’t need to be responsible for the results of decisions when making decisions. If Gubel does well, he knows people with a keen eye. If he doesn’t do well, then I will just mention it.
As for general direction suggestions, it’s not up to you to decide on specific matters?
On the one hand, there was the interference of Akio Morita, and on the other hand, during the acquisition, Oga made a promise to the review committee not to interfere with the operations of professional managers. It was still inconvenient for him to directly intervene to help Ronald.
Maybe it was because he had just told everyone that he could not repay Ronald. Dahe felt that he had lost face in front of his friends, so he immediately compensated him.
First, he promised Ronald's TV station to obtain the TV broadcast rights of old movies owned by Columbia Pictures for ten years at the lowest price.
Then, he promised to give Jim Cameron, Ronald's old friend, corresponding compensation for losing face. For this sequel to "Terminator", Sony can sign a global distribution contract with the most favorable terms.
Of course, in order to save the face of Akio Morita and Guber, the distribution contract was placed with TriStar Pictures under the management of Ronald's old friend, Frank Price, instead of being placed directly with Columbia Pictures.
Then, Ronald also received a promise from Sony that he could get priority for the distribution rights of the next three movies. As long as he is willing, Sony's Samsung or Columbia will unconditionally distribute his movies, but if in turn,
Ronald has a better partner, Sony has no priority.
Finally, Ronald also received a high-rise property in Tokyo worth nearly 100 million yen transferred to him by Dahe personally. It is relatively close to the US military base and the price is not lower than that in popular areas in Tokyo. It is a full-service apartment.
.According to Dahe, coming to Tokyo from now on will be like going home, and there will be no need to stay in a hotel.
"By the way, are you interested in setting up a joint venture in Shanghai?" Ronald exchanged a promise for a lot of benefits, and thought of sharing the inside information he just got.
"There are still many conditions for them to have absolute control..." Of course, Sony has long coveted the market of one billion people, but the conditions are so harsh that they are unable to enter.
"I tell you, they will announce a new national development zone next month at the latest..."
Norio Ohga immediately paid attention and pressed the button to call the secretary to record the processing. Then he took out two things from the drawer:
"What about that? I still have two tickets for a heavyweight boxing match in the VIP area. The most powerful boxing champion from America is competing in Tokyo. Do you want me to find an actress to accompany you?"
Norio Ohga took out two tickets for a popular boxing match to be held at the Tokyo Dome, smiled and put them in Ronald's hand. He was originally prepared to entertain Ronald and his girlfriend.
"Hey, I'm actually not a boxing fan..." Ronald was still not used to Japan's straightforward arrangement.
"Go, you America has many celebrities coming to watch the game..."
…
The next day, 42,000 people filled the Tokyo Dome Stadium, and many Japanese entertainment stars also came to watch the defending match of WBC, WBA, and IBF champion Michael Tyson.
"Hey, do you know who I am? Look at me, do I look like Tyson? We are both from the same ethnic group, African-Americans, why don't you let me pass?"
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! When entering the venue, a thin black man was arguing with a security guard at the entrance.
"Scanning, you used the ticket in the back row, you can't enter from here..." The security guard explained to the black man with a smile in English with a Japanese accent. The Japanese service staff are of high quality and speak with smiles, but
They just wouldn't let him in with a cheap ticket.
"Spike? Is that you? Why are you here?" Ronald took a closer look, and it turned out to be Spike Lee, a black director and alumnus of NYU.
"Hey, man, why are you here?" Spike Lee jumped up happily and high-fived Ronald, "Are you also coming to watch Tyson's match? Let me tell you, it's great. Last time he defeated his opponent by just
It took ninety seconds!”
"He is with me..." Ronald took out two tickets and signaled to the security guard. In the end, he did not accept the offer of arranging a female star. This game must be broadcast live on HBO. If the director of the broadcast recognized it,
He, given a close-up, is in unnecessary trouble.
"Sir, please..."
"Watt? Why can he get in? You Japanese people also have racial discrimination..." As soon as Spike Lee saw that Ronald could get in, he immediately shouted in dissatisfaction.
But most people here don't speak English and don't know what he's talking about, so they just think he's a clown making a fool of himself.
"What a mess, mine is a VIP ticket in the front row." Ronald was so angry that he pulled the embarrassing Spike Lee away.
"Why did you come here specifically to watch boxing?" Ronald asked looking at the unhappy Spike.
"I just have this idea to speak out for black people. You see, there is boxing champion Tyson on one side and Douglas, a black man on the other side, but most of the people watching the show in the front row are white people like you. I just want to let people in front of the TV
Black children watching TV understand that black people can also sit in the front row and watch the game, and they don’t have to go up to play..."
"Hey, your dream has come true, Spike..." Ronald's ticket is the best seat, and he will definitely appear on the HBO live broadcast.
"Hi, Bobby..." Spike and Ronald arrived in the front row and saw a black man sitting there, wearing bright red clothes, wearing sunglasses, his face was invisible, and he dressed like a singer.
"Hey, Spike..." The man knew Spike Lee, had a fistfight with him, and then whispered in his ear, "You kid bought a scalper ticket, hahaha..."
"What the hell, this is my friend, look who it is? The youngest and most promising director in Hollywood, Ronald Lee. He is my alumnus in college and also my cousin. Look, we both have the last name of Lee.
…”
"Come on, Ronald, I know you. Sit down..." The singer was the black musician Bobby Brown. He spoke to Ronald familiarly when he came up, "Do you want to buy some? Hmm... hmm?"
I advise you to buy some for fun, Douglas’s odds are 42:1..."
"Oh? I don't understand boxing, so I didn't buy it..." Ronald also found a seat and sat down.
"Buy one and you can place bets over the phone. It's very convenient. Hey, hey, come over here. I want to place bets here."
"Ronald..." Spike Lee wanted to come over and stop him.
"Don't move..." Bobby Brown hugged Spike. He just wanted to see a white man like Ronald make a fool of himself.
"Hello, Mr. Li, do you need to place a bet?" The broker held a mobile phone in his hand. Japanese betting has strict regulations and cannot place bets on boxing matches on the spot. Therefore, the Mirage Hotel, which organized the betting for this match,
There are many brokers coming to the front court to facilitate the punters of these boxing matches.
"I...", Ronald was about to say, he didn't understand anything unless he bet.
"Aren't you afraid, hahaha... Do you want to place a bet on Michael? He knocked down the challenger in ninety seconds last time. I think it won't take ninety seconds this time..." Bobby Brown began to laugh at Luo
Nader, "White boy, which one should I buy? Douglas, who pays 42 to 1, or Tyson, who has won every battle but has no odds of making any profit?"
"Bobby..." Spike Lee pulled Brown, who probably didn't know Ronald's power in Hollywood.
"Don't be afraid, I think he will still choose Tyson. You are a good boy and you don't dare to take risks. Let me tell you, Tyson and I called 12 Japanese girls last night... but Tyson still knocked him down...
"
"Huh?" When Ronald heard this exaggerated figure, he turned back to the broker and said, "Forty-two to one, right? I'll buy..." As he said that, he took out the checkbook and wrote something down.
Write him a check for two thousand dollars and let him place the bet.
"Oh hahahaha, I'm laughing so hard, you actually made a bet, hahaha, Spike, your friend is very talented..."
"I like the proportions..." Ronald said with a smile.
"Hey, if you lose, don't blame me..." Bobby Brown smiled and made a few uppercuts, "The tuition you paid is worth it. Tyson will personally teach you what his signature uppercut is..."
"Dangdangdangdang..."
The game then started, and unlike what Ronald and Bobby Brown had imagined, Tyson did not knock Douglas down in the first round, and Douglas did not successfully counterattack.
Tyson's signature combination punches and peek-a-boo close combat were not used, and the game seemed very dull.
Until the eighth round...
Tyson hit Douglas with a solid uppercut.
Douglas fell to the ground, and the referee on the scene started counting, "One...two...three..."
After counting to nine, Douglas stood up straight.
"Huh..." Ronald let out a long breath. Losing the bet was a small matter, and he felt uncomfortable being laughed at by people like Bobby Brown.
"Your count has timed out, silly..." Bobby Brown didn't want to give up this opportunity and shouted loudly. In his opinion, Douglas should be knocked down with this punch.
Tyson's manager Don King was also there to protest with the referee, but the referee still insisted on the original decision and signaled the game to continue.
"Dangdangdangdang..."
The bell rang in the tenth round. Douglas had recovered from the previous knockdown, but Tyson seemed to have really overindulged, his steps were sloppy, and his movements had lost speed and power.
At the 35th second, Douglas worked from left to right and hit Tyson with a flat uppercut. Tyson fell unconscious and fell to the ground.
This time the referee did not delay and immediately went over and counted "one...two...three..."
Tyson fell on the floor next to Ronald. His eyes were blank, and he tried desperately to stand up. Then he groped with his left and right hands on the ground, and finally got a denture, which he shook and tried to put into his mouth.
, but he had been beaten to the point of confusion and his vision was no longer focused.
I finally put the dentures into my mouth, stood up slowly, and stumbled twice.
The referee over there had already started waving his hands to signal that the game was over.
"Ah..." Ronald stood up like Spike Lee. He didn't expect that Douglas actually knocked down Tyson and ended the game.
"Ah..." Bobby Brown couldn't accept it, and he started to shout again, "You're counting too fast, it's obviously only nine..."
Ronald ignored him and only pulled Spike Lee, "Let's go, get the bonus, and I'll take you to eat the best sushi in Tokyo..."