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January 24.

Lux Animation won over Warner for reasons that seem unknown and somewhat redundant, but the loss they faced was a complete blow to the face. A fine of 675 million dollars was imposed, payable immediately, which they were not in a position to accept.

It was the entire budget they had allocated for animation, and if they doubled that budget as planned, the interests of some parties could be compromised. It was a profit-sharing arrangement that made payments cumbersome. However, these were the considerations of Gerald Levin, but for Bob Daly, the situation was different.

They would pay, no matter what. The fact that they used this approach to steal their children's series meant something, especially with an animated movie featuring Michael Jordan about to be released. Losing the Looney Tunes series was something they couldn't afford. For now, they would extend negotiations to see what the purchase price would be.

Terry Semel was expecting to meet with Billy Carson but instead found Jim Gianopulos, along with Anna Washington. Both had much and little to discuss, but for Terry, the key point was extending the payment by thirty days. Losing the Yu Yu Hakusho contract, which would now be serialized by Lux Toons, and re-commercialized by them, had cost him 500,000 dollars, appraised at 800,000 dollars—another heavy blow to his animation channel.

--If I'm not mistaken, you're Mr. Terry Semel, - Jim Gianopulos remarked, seated at a nearby table. The matter didn't require many words, just money, and they were clear about what to do with the upcoming franchises.

-And you're Jim Gianopulos, Director of Entertainment at Lux Animation, a franchise that only seems to grow day by day, - Semel muttered, somewhat unfocused. Much had been said about Jim, but now he was facing a different man. Running a company as a director made one different, but Semel knew it was thanks to this man that Billy had regulated his distribution company for many films due to his ability and work at Fox.

-You're right. There's no time like the present. I have a few issues we need to resolve before we get into the details of the conversation. If you'd like, we can grab something to eat and exchange ideas, - Jim suggested diplomatically.

-Sure, sure, we can do that. Let me recommend a restaurant, one of the best in the city, - Terry Semel responded.

-That being the case, we have two offers and proposals that I believe should be addressed and heard by your team, - Jim Gianopulos remarked. He had investigated the matter with Anna, and Billy's perspective was less obvious than one might think. Of the 689 million, they only needed 400 million. 189 million for Tom and Jerry, and Scooby-Doo seemed a fair price.

-We have an idea of what and how to conduct a study on the value of your series. Of course, this could lead to changes or new developments, but I believe we can use these figures as a reference point for negotiations. -

The folder contained the reference prices, though slightly lower. It was a well-considered estimate, developed by Steve Parks. They presented a price that seemed fair at first glance, though a deeper study could alter the purchase decision. The acquisitions of two series were presented, with adjustments made as prices rose for various reasons.

The most expensive were The Flintstones, Ghostbusters, The Smurfs, Looney Tunes, and Yogi Bear. Each of these series was valued at approximately 100 million dollars, which raised Terry Semel's eyebrows, as he hadn't considered the value of such properties. That was the first trap.

Following were Tom and Jerry at 72 million, Scooby-Doo at 65 million, and Johnny Quest at 25 million—properties Lux Animation was interested in acquiring. Upon reviewing, Terry Semel determined that the price was within his expectations—neither too high nor too low—with an interesting He-Man Forgotten, valued at 55 million.

-Our proposal is brief: from these series, we want Yogi Bear and The Smurfs... we might also be interested in Scooby-Doo, - Jim Gianopulos concluded while Terry Semel scrutinized the list.

It wasn't the most transparent way of doing business, but it was clear what they had in mind.

The two engaged in a debate over prices. Once Semel made his move, he raised the prices of Yogi Bear to 200 million, along with The Smurfs, providing various explanations backed by a 'thick-skinned' attitude. Jim, however, expressed that if that were the case, they should conduct a study and present the data before February 2, as that was the last day they were willing to negotiate. The two men discussed other matters, and Terry sent the documents by fax to his experts. They ended their meeting with a signal that they would move forward, as the two directors sat down to lunch.

***

The filming didn't take long, due to scheduling issues. However, it finished earlier than expected. They participated in an interview to promote Jerry Maguire, with his companion by his side. They both took the opportunity, followed by working on a commercial for BMW, in which Billy already estimated an investment.

Alongside Renée Zellweger, they discussed what Jerry Maguire meant to them. Even Jamie Foxx had auditioned for the role of Rod Tidwell, but his approach hadn't convinced the director, although it brought many great stories.

--When I found the script, I just thought it was brilliant. I approached Gracie Films and thought, -- I have to have this role. -- Director Cameron Crowe had originally offered the part to Tom Hanks, and Gracie Films was willing to invest if the big star joined, but unfortunately, Hanks declined due to scheduling conflicts. So, using my own money, I decided not to hesitate and invest in the film. The rest is history, -- Billy commented.

--You put 50 million into a promising script? That would bankrupt any studio, -- the journalist questioned.

-Not just the script, but the team behind it. Cameron knew exactly what needed to be done, and what shouldn't be done. Producer James L. Brooks was excited, so Gracie Films handled the project. As an investor, I don't like getting too involved in the director's creative process, especially when the idea comes from them, -- Billy replied.

It was Renée's turn. She spoke about how this role boosted her career and how fantastic it was to be part of such an ambitious project.

-I have no idea why they chose me... Cameron may have mentioned that he needed someone completely unknown, someone without much exposure to play the part—someone from a different world than Jerry, two contrasting parts... I guess it was luck, - Renée commented.

...