Chapter 277: Japanese Market

"Arthur, are you also planning to go to Cannes?" Catherine Zeta-Jones tightly embraced the man pressing against her and asked.

"Yeah," Arthur sighed, felt somewhat weak, and rested on the lady, smiling. "Do you want to go too?"

Catherine Zeta-Jones panted heavily, "Can you take me with you?"

"Ah, not this time. Next time," Arthur said while stroking the woman's soft hair. "This time it's mainly for work, not leisure. I've already commissioned a luxury yacht. It will be delivered at the end of the year. Then I'll take you on a vacation to the Caribbean!"

"Really?" Catherine Zeta-Jones's lips curved up in a smile, and she kissed Arthur proactively, murmuring, "I love you..."

Even though the Cannes Film Festival had started, Arthur didn't immediately go. After all, the ten-day event was long enough.

In the office of Galaxy, Arthur was browsing the newspapers for news about the acquisition of Paramount.

Barry Diller met with Comcast's chairman, Brian Roberts.

Sumner Redstone visited the Blockbuster board!

Currently, Comcast was only the fourth largest cable TV operator in the US. Brian Roberts had taken over the chairman position from his father, Ralph Roberts, two years ago.

After all, Comcast was built by Ralph Roberts, and previously, Barry Diller couldn't have smoothly controlled the TV shopping network QVC without the Roberts family's help. Now, it's normal for the Roberts family to continue supporting him in acquiring Paramount.

As for Blockbuster, it's even more impressive. It was the world's largest VHS rental chain and held a substantial cash flow.

CDs, laser discs, cassettes, and VHS tapes found their largest sales outlet at Blockbuster.

After all, before DVDs hit the market, Walmart and other chain convenience stores didn't have a high proportion of these sales!

"It seems Sumner Redstone really plans to have Viacom acquire Blockbuster first, and then leverage Blockbuster's capital to acquire Paramount," Arthur leaned on the sofa, feeling sorry for Barry Diller. Their starting points and resources were worlds apart.

Barry Diller had too few cards to play. Even if he managed to acquire Paramount, he would still be a high-level employee unless his backers fully supported him.

Of course, Barry Diller surely aspired to be like Disney's Michael Eisner, holding full power!

"Such a pity," Arthur shook his head.

Barry Diller's strength lay in TV operations, but now Hollywood's global framework had already been established.

The interests of the upstream and downstream supply chain resulting from movies and the derivatives market were too significant. The locomotive effect of movies shouldn't be overlooked, which is why Barry Diller couldn't become Michael Eisner.

Although Disney was currently embroiled in internal strife, Jeffrey Katzenberg never dared to claim he could replace Michael Eisner. Instead, he aspired to become the practical president of the Walt Disney Company, sharing his power.

Even though Michael Eisner's film business was average, his powerful capability in developing movie derivatives was sufficient to keep him firmly seated as Disney's chairman.

As for Jeffrey Katzenberg, although he was stronger in film and television production, his resources in Disneyland and consumer products markets were far inferior.

Soon, Anna Walker, the assistant, entered Arthur's office and reported on the matters of Galaxy Studios and Carmike Cinemas.

Because of Arthur's development of multiplex cinemas, chain theaters had been significantly impacted, and Galaxy Studios' controlling Carmike's market value had skyrocketed!

"What's happening? Warner Bros is building a studio in Japan," Arthur saw in his hands news about Warner Bros. Japan partnering with MYCAL, a commercial giant in the Kansai region, to create Japan's first multiplex cinema, Warner MYCAL Cinemas.

"Boss, have you forgotten? Currently, Time Warner's shareholders are Toshiba and Itochu Corporation. Plus, the future of multiplex cinemas looks promising," Anna explained.

Arthur shook his head, "I'm not concerned about those things but more about the competition in the Japanese movie market.

Over half of Japan's movie market is now foreign films. Japan is also Hollywood's most crucial international distribution market. Last year, we at Galaxy just set up Galaxy Japan. But, in terms of resources, we are no match for Sony Columbia and MCA Universal!"

Arthur was contemplating if he should follow in Warner Bros' footsteps and establish a joint venture chain cinema in Japan.

The competition in the Japanese market was fierce. They not only had to compete with domestic films but also other foreign movies.

"Boss, Galaxy Japan is currently focusing on distributing our movies in Japan; the actual distribution work is still entrusted to local Japanese film companies," Anna said. "The marketing strategies in Japan differ from Hollywood. To them, Galaxy is a new foreign entrant, and we still need to adapt!"

Listening to Anna Walker, Arthur nodded, "Indeed, Japan's economy is in decline. Investing in Japanese cinemas might not be wise. Make arrangements. After Cannes, I need to visit Japan. Japan's game, anime, and consumer product markets have always been strong. I should go for a survey!"

"Understood."

In the evening, a car drove straight from USC to an apartment garage in Culver City.

"Mmm," Arthur embraced and passionately kissed Yu Feihong in the car. Arthur went to Culver City because Yu Feihong was about to start her summer break, and he had come to ask her plans.

"I heard you're going to Cannes?" Yu Feihong sat on Arthur's lap, unbuttoning her shirt and revealing her sexy body.

"Yeah, are you going back home or staying here for an internship during the summer?" Arthur responded while unhooking her bra and kissing her.

"I'll intern on the Rumble in the Bronx set. If time permits, I might go back home for a few days," Yu Feihong said, her voice rushed as she brushed her long hair back.

Rumble in the Bronx was a co-production. There would be no problem with Yu Feihong interning!

Arthur lifted his head, kissed her neck, and smiled, "Since that's the case, come with me to Cannes in a couple of days. Take a look around, and you can meet some filmmakers."

"Sure," Yu Feihong snapped, holding Arthur's head and stammering, "Cannes International Film Festival, right? I haven't been there..."

*****

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