Back to 1995

The caller was Ted Sarando, the president of Western Films and the most powerful man in Hollywood in recent years.

Even as opponents, Reed Hastings and Mark Randolph have to admit this. Ted Sarando's ability is definitely not weak, and his vision for choosing movies is even better.

The situation of IMDb is related to Ted Sarando, but he cannot be blamed. Ted Sarando is really too busy. The person in charge of the giant company also owns DC Comics, Marvel, Hasbro, Weta Special Effects Studio, IMDb and other departments.

It is impossible for Ted Sarando to put all his thoughts on one department of IMDb, that would be putting the cart before the horse.

Now receiving a call from Ted Sarando, Hastings and Mark Randolph also have some doubts. They don't know what the other party suddenly asked them to meet.

"We need the past, no matter what Ted Sarando wants to do!"

Mark Randolph said that the other party is an absolute big shot in Hollywood. Even if the two parties are fighting openly and secretly, they can't directly slap each other in the face, otherwise Netflix will not be easy to hang out in Hollywood in the future.

Reed Hastings nodded, and rushed towards the Western Films headquarters with Mark Randolph.

After driving about ten kilometers to the Hollywood border in the northwest suburbs of Los Angeles, I saw the signboard of Western Films in the distance. It was hard not to see it, because it had become a large construction site.

The scale of Western Films is already the largest studio in Hollywood at present. In the past, major Hollywood companies have kept closing large indoor studios due to the cost of expenses, but Western Films has done the opposite. Constantly expanding the studio.

The expansion scale of the new studio exceeds 15 square meters, covering an area of ​​less than 200 acres. Putting it in Hollywood, this can already be counted as a movie town.

This new studio, Western Films is planning to build it into a new film and TV drama production center in Hollywood, including studios, office space, special effects studios, lounges for office staff, hotels, restaurants and other facilities. To meet the shooting needs of Western Films, it is also to provide services for Warner Pictures and Universal Pictures. After all, the three Hollywood companies are the same big sponsor.

In addition, after the completion of this movie town, it is said that it will provide office space and studios to other film and TV drama studios. Of course, there will be a fee. Owned by Western Films.

Once the film town of Western Films is completed and started, in addition to providing jobs for Hollywood actors, screenwriters, directors, and producers, it will also increase the number of workers in electricians, lighting, gas, construction workers, gardeners, and security. Work, it is estimated that the number of new jobs will be at least more than [-]!

In addition to film income and taxation, if income from tourism, catering and other aspects are included, the film town of Western Film Industry will bring economic growth of more than US$95 billion to Los Angeles every year in the future. It is not to blame the Los Angeles municipal department, or even California. The states are now touting Western Films, offering it massive loans, tax breaks, etc.

Most of Western Films’ film town costs are borrowed, and a considerable part of the cost is the cost of the Los Angeles municipal subsidy. In addition to the construction of this movie town, from the start to the completion of the project, Western Films’ films They are all tax-exempted by the Los Angeles municipal government, so Western Films is definitely not losing money. After all, who would do something that is not beneficial!

If Los Angeles does not give Western Films preferential treatment, there are places in the Federation that are willing to give Western Films subsidies and tax breaks, such as Atlanta, which has been competing with Los Angeles for Hollywood companies, and directly provides film companies that film in Atlanta. More than 20% tax incentives, as well as overseas New Zealand and other places, are desperately giving tax incentives, even providing US dollar subsidies, to grab the business in Los Angeles, which puts Los Angeles under a lot of pressure.

Looking at the huge movie town in front of him, Hastings, who was sitting in the car, was full of envy. This movie town, especially the rendering before entering the gate of the western film industry, was almost like a dream in his dream. film production base.

If Netflix wants to have such a movie town, it can mass-produce movies like an assembly line, 365 hours a day, 24 days a year without a break. It will definitely provide American and global film and television users with a large amount of movies. It doesn't matter, as long as there are enough shots, there will always be a few blockbuster movies when you gossip and run into dead mice, right? !

When they came to the office building of Western Films, the two parked their cars, and when they entered the office building, they saw a few members of the Blackwater security guard drinking coffee at the door, but their eyes kept examining the people entering the office building.

When entering, although there were no security personnel to check, they had to go through a security machine. Although Hastings and Mark Randolph criticized Western Films for making so many fancy things, they didn't think much about it.

After reporting their home, the two of Hastings were brought to Ted Sarando's office.

When the two of Hastings entered, they saw Ted Sarando was processing documents with his head down, and sending emails through the computer mailbox from time to time. When he saw the two, he just waved his hand and let the two sit down. , but without any intention of speaking.

Even if Mark Randolph wanted to speak, he could only hold back, sitting with Hastings in Ted Sarando's office and waiting.

After watching for about ten minutes, Sarando didn't have any intention to speak. Mark Randolph finally couldn't bear it. When he was about to speak, Sarando spoke first, "The people who want to see you today are not only I, your waiting, is definitely worth it, if you leave now, you will definitely regret it for the rest of your life!"

Listening to Ted Sarando's mysterious words, Mark Randolph could only sit down again, while Hastings remained silent, carefully thinking about what Sarando said just now, but in his mind was A thought popped up suddenly, but before he had time to think about it, the door of the office was pushed open.

Seeing this person, Mark Randolph couldn't help being taken aback. No matter what, he never expected to see this man here, and Ted Sarando, who was sitting behind his desk, would never face Hess again. The arrogance of Tings when they were two, he quickly got up and shouted, "Director Bruno!"

Mark Randolph's complexion changed drastically. Hastings had already guessed it just now, but seeing Song Yang really made his heart sink.

Netflix is ​​competing with IMDb, but it is limited to IMDb. If this competition attracts Song Yang's attention, what will happen? Western Films, not only Western Films, but also ICQ, Alcatel Mobile, PayPal and many other companies are competing. What is waiting for Netflix is ​​just the countdown to bankruptcy!
"Reed?!"

When Song Yang faced Hastings and Mark Randolph, his attitude was very kind, as if seeing old friends.

"I remember back then, when I first founded the Double-Click Company, you were already a big name in the American technology industry at that time, "America Today" newspaper, right, I remember you were on the cover!"

Song Yang said to Reed Hastings, but the latter shook his head after hearing this, "Those are all in the past, and now the technology industry has forgotten about me!"

Speaking of this, Hastings can't help but feel a little depressed. He was really famous back then, but after so many years, he almost disappeared from the American technology industry, but Song Yang is still in full swing. To say that there is no gap in my heart, it is absolutely bullshit.

"Someday America will hear the name Reed Hastings again and can't live without the product he built, I promise!"

When Mark Randolph heard this, he looked at Song Yang in surprise. He felt that this didn't seem like a scene that should be met when confronting each other. It also didn't match the image of Song Yang in the media rumors. There is no aggressive scene here. Nai Fei's group of investors are not as optimistic about Hastings as Song Yang.

Hearing the affirmation of his opponent's big money maker, Reed Hastings felt a little unsure whether to be happy or helpless.

"So, today, why did you come here with us?!" Hastings looked at Song Yang and Ted Sarando, and couldn't help asking directly.

Song Yang glanced at Ted Sarando, and Sarando spoke first, "We all see the competition between IMDb and Netflix.

Reed, don't you think that IMDb will be a company like Blockbuster that was overthrown by Netflix? ! "

Hastings and Mark Randolph's hearts suddenly sank. The last thing they wanted to see happened. Netflix was really targeted!
"The mistakes made by Blockbuster and Barnes & Noble will not happen to IMDb, I promise it will never happen!"

Ted Sarando stared at the two people in front of him and said, "However, Director Bruno and I don't want to, IMDb and Netflix are engaged in this meaningless, meaningless war. Since last year, Netflix and IMDb have competed for Hollywood. The film and television copyright has increased the film and television copyright fee by more than 26%, if it continues, the copyright fee will become the largest expenditure in the Internet online video industry, and it will not do us any good!"

"Netflix has no way out!"

Reed Hastings also breathed a sigh of relief, and said directly, "IMDb wants to monopolize the copyright of the online video industry, and Netflix wants to survive, so it can only continue to acquire copyrights, otherwise the only thing waiting for Netflix is ​​bankruptcy!"

Ted Sarando looked at Song Yang, and after a while, Song Yang said, "So this Hollywood film and television copyright war should end!"

"Netflix had no choice in the past, but now there is an opportunity for Netflix to complete the merger between IMDb and Netflix!"

(End of this chapter)