Chapter 419: Celebration Party

"Steve, just tell me what's on your mind."

Inside the RV heading toward the theater, Duke looked at Steve Jobs sitting opposite him. The man was a business prodigy and a classic businessman. People like him put profit above all else, but they also preferred their conversations direct and effective.

Although Duke couldn't guess his motive, Jobs had deliberately waited for him at the intersection and hopped right into his vehicle. Duke knew perfectly well that the man hadn't come to chat about the future of Apple. The reason was simple: as a minor Apple shareholder, Duke simply wasn't qualified.

Duke always knew his own limits. When it came to movies, he could leave Steve Jobs twenty blocks behind, but in IT-related matters, Jobs would leave him fifty blocks in the dust.

Even with his unique experiences, what did he amount to in such a highly specialized field against a prodigy like Steve Jobs?

Sure enough, Jobs didn't bring up Apple's business either.

"Duke, are you interested in collaborating in the film industry?"

"Movies?"

Duke pinched his chin and looked at him. 'Does this madman want to shoot a Steve Jobs biopic already?' he wondered.

"I want Pixar Studio to end its collaboration with Disney."

"I've had enough of Disney and Michael Eisner," Jobs said directly. "I want to find a new distributor for Pixar Studio, and I think Warner Brothers is a very good choice. You carry massive weight at Warner. If you support a collaboration with Pixar, I believe Warner Brothers will definitely give it serious consideration."

"I recall your contract with Disney hasn't expired yet, right?" Duke asked.

"There are still two animated feature films left," Steve Jobs said. "I've already rejected contract renewal negotiations with Disney. Their terms lacked any sincerity. Although Disney holds a massive advantage in animation promotion, I would rather Pixar collaborate with another company."

Duke nodded. "Steve, Pixar Studio is now the benchmark and leader of the animated film market. Everyone wants to collaborate with Pixar."

According to market rumors, Steve Jobs held nearly seventy percent of Pixar Studio's shares. If he wanted to push for a collaboration between Pixar Studio and Warner Brothers, absolutely no one could stop him.

But as Duke chatted with him about movies, he simultaneously pondered Steve Jobs's true objective.

If Steve Jobs really just wanted to use his support to bring Pixar Studio into the Warner Brothers system, Duke wouldn't believe his goal was that simple even if his life depended on it.

Everyone in Hollywood knew that Disney held an unparalleled advantage in promoting animated films and their merchandise. Unless it was an absolute last resort, Steve Jobs would definitely not give up on the massive tree that was Disney so easily. Pulling Duke and Warner Brothers into the mix was likely just a way to put pressure on Disney and increase his own bargaining chips in negotiations.

However, while Warner Brothers' distribution channels couldn't compare to Walt Disney's, they still spanned the globe. For a major shareholder like Duke, bringing Pixar Studio to Warner Brothers wouldn't be a bad thing.

Of course, this would be quite difficult. Steve Jobs talked a good game, but his heart was inevitably leaning toward Disney.

"Steve..."

As they neared the theater, Duke probed with a question, "I wonder if Pixar Studio has any plans to issue more shares?"

"You want to invest?" Steve Jobs's expression remained calm, but a flash of vigilance crossed his eyes. "If Pixar Studio ever runs into funding issues, I'll give you a call."

Just like how he had weakened the influence of various shareholders within Apple, Steve Jobs clearly wanted to maintain his absolute dominance over Pixar Studio.

Upon stepping out of the car in front of the Shrine Auditorium, Steve Jobs gave Duke a profound look. He would rather accept capital injections into Pixar from those Wall Street vampires than let a top Hollywood director into the company.

Steve Jobs stayed right by Duke's side, grandly walking onto the red carpet for the North American premiere of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Duke shot him an equally guarded glance. None of these legendary figures were simple characters. Just having Jobs walk the red carpet with him—even if he said and did nothing—would exert pressure on Disney.

Unfortunately, Pixar Studio was an exceptionally delicious cake. Even though Duke knew it would be extremely difficult to get a slice, he still clung to a sliver of hope and fantasy, unwilling to reject Steve Jobs outright.

As a result, under the watchful eyes of countless media outlets and spectators, he finished walking the red carpet alongside Steve Jobs.

After entering the VIP lounge, the wariness in Duke's eyes as he looked at Jobs grew even deeper. However, he was good at hiding it, so others couldn't tell at all. The legendary figure's grasp of human nature and psychology truly commanded admiration.

Even though he was highly cautious of Jobs now, Duke still wanted to find an opportunity to get a piece of Pixar.

The taste of this cake was simply too incredible.

He didn't know how many people Jobs had seduced with this cake, but he knew that very few could refuse it directly.

Inside the VIP lounge, Duke maintained an enthusiastic attitude, greeting the people who came over while his mind raced non-stop. But he hadn't expected to run into one of Steve Jobs's lifelong nemeses here.

Not Bill Gates, of course, but Walt Disney's chairman and CEO, Michael Eisner.

"Duke, it's been a long time."

Shaking the hand Michael Eisner extended, Duke smiled faintly. "It's only been a few years, Michael, and you've already turned Disney into a behemoth."

Michael Eisner sighed. "Unfortunately, movies are still Disney's weak point."

He seemed to bring it up intentionally. "Even Disney's traditional strong suit is having some problems now. The decline of 2D animation is inevitable; the future belongs to the era of 3D animation."

Duke nodded in agreement. "I believe so as well."

"Therefore," Michael Eisner said, staring at Duke, "Pixar Studio is extremely important to Disney."

These words were just as domineering as Michael Eisner's personality and style, faintly carrying a hint of warning.

"There's nothing between me and Pixar Studio." Duke seemed to be actively conceding, but his next sentence sharply changed direction. "I just spoke with Steve. The two of us share a lot of common ground when it comes to movies."

Having reached his current status, Duke wouldn't be arrogant, but he wouldn't belittle himself either.

If someone ran over, tossed out a few warnings, and he just voluntarily backed down and ran far away, that would truly be a joke.

If word of that spread, people looking for trouble would show up one after another, endlessly.

The delicious cake he carried had already turned the countless hungry wolves around him green with envy.

"Steve?" Michael Eisner shook his head. "Duke, you must know very well that while his investment was indeed crucial for Pixar Studio's success, when it comes to his eye for movies, he isn't much better than that idiot Martin Bob."

Duke, however, laughed. "Movies are about more than just production."

In this day and age, commercial operations held an increasingly heavy weight in successful film projects; calling them a critical factor wouldn't be an overstatement. Jobs certainly didn't understand film production, but he was a master of commercial operations.

Jobs was using him and Warner, that much was true, but Duke was also utilizing the man's initiative to reach out to create more problems for the negotiations between Pixar and Disney. If talks between Pixar and Disney didn't break down, he and Warner wouldn't have any chance at all.

Duke was simply increasing Jobs's bargaining chips in order to fight for the sole possibility for his own side.

Even if Steve Jobs ultimately reached an agreement with Disney, the one losing profits would be Disney, not him or Warner, where he held shares.

Michael Eisner wasn't stupid; he could roughly guess some of Duke's thoughts. Turning his eyes toward the area where the Harry Potter crew was gathered, he aimed his gaze at the figure of a blonde woman and suddenly changed the subject. "Duke, I heard the test screenings for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone got a great response? You and Warner are going to have another blockbuster franchise under your belts."

"It's only a possibility." Duke smiled and offered a humble reply. "Before the first-week box office comes out, anything can happen."

"With the marketing you've done, the chance of any accidents is very small."

Just like with The Fellowship of the Ring, the promotion for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was an overwhelming barrage of saturation publicity. For the first film, which tied into the success or failure of the entire franchise, Harry Potter Studio had set a $100 million marketing budget.

Without waiting for Duke to say anything, Michael Eisner continued, "I heard you only signed a contract for the first three books with Joanne Rowling? Disney has always been skilled at operating family-friendly films. I just had a brief chat with Ms. Rowling a moment ago."

"Oh, did Jo agree to collaborate with Disney?" Duke asked, looking entirely unconcerned.

Michael Eisner was brimming with confidence. "Who can say for sure how things will develop in the future? Duke, to use your own words: anything can happen."

"It's true, anything can happen." Duke switched to a surprised expression. "I heard that Roy Disney has united the power of the Disney family and is currently colluding with Disney's shareholders to force you out of power? Michael, you should be careful."

"I will be."

Michael Eisner nodded at Duke. "We'll chat again when there's a chance. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Michael."

The two parted ways, walking in different directions, but the moment they turned their backs, both of their expressions underwent slight changes.

Duke gave Tina Fey a pointed look. The female assistant immediately walked over. After waiting for him to whisper a few instructions, she stepped out of the lounge and dialed Doug Walter's number.

On the other side, a layer of subtle anger settled on Michael Eisner's face. The fact that Duke genuinely had no intention of backing down had already caused this tyrant of Disney to feel dissatisfied.

Then there was the internal Disney conflict Duke had mentioned. Just thinking about the tactless Roy Disney was enough to make his anger surge uncontrollably.

However, now was not the time to resolve these issues. The priority was still to see whether Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone could succeed.