Disney's End-of-Year Party

"An invitation?"

"And it's an invitation to Disney's end-of-year party?"

Sitting in his office, Zucker looked at the gold-embossed invitation in his hand and couldn't help asking Victor about it.

"Boss, we received the invitation this morning. Disney is one of the Big Six Hollywood Studios, after all, so I contacted you right away," Victor said.

Zucker nodded. "It doesn't seem like we have much of a connection with Disney. Why would they invite us? And as far as I know, the people invited to their end-of-year party are usually well-known figures in Hollywood, including people who've worked with them for a long time. Why would they invite us?"

An invitation from Disney was something Zucker couldn't take lightly.

They were one of the Big Six Hollywood Studios!

"Boss, actually, it was an accident," Victor said.

An accident?

How could that be an accident?

Victor continued, "Boss, I was surprised at first, too. But after I got a phone call, I understood. The person who called me was my former boss from my days in Hollywood, William Barnett. He now works in Disney's animation department. When he learned I was CEO of Wald Pictures, he arranged for the invitation to be sent."

At that, Zucker understood.

So he'd been reading too much into it!

Disney wasn't interested in Zucker's Wald Pictures at all.

They'd sent the invitation because of William Barnett. He was Victor's former boss, and the two had a good relationship. Inviting Victor was simply William's way of helping him out and expanding his network.

Victor asked, "Boss, should we go?"

"Of course we should!"

Zucker answered without hesitation. "This is a great chance to expand our network. We can't let it pass us by."

At Disney's end-of-year party, they were bound to meet plenty of Hollywood big shots, including famous directors, producers, actors, and other prominent industry figures.

Wald Pictures was still a small company, but Zucker was confident he could build it into something great.

To achieve that, he would inevitably have to attend similar parties in the future. For now, Wald Pictures could only make low-budget films, but as Zucker's capital continued to grow, they would surely move on to big-budget blockbusters. To maximize their profits, they would need to work with well-known Hollywood actors, directors, and other figures.

Disney's party was a great opportunity to meet them!

Three days later.

At six in the evening.

The party was still nearly an hour away from officially beginning.

But Zucker and Victor had arrived early. The event was being held at a five-star hotel in Burbank.

Zucker and Victor had come to expand their network, and plenty of others had the same goal.

So even though it was early, the venue was already crowded, with well over a hundred people in attendance.

"Hey, Victor, my old friend!"

As soon as they entered, a man in his fifties came over and embraced Victor with heartfelt enthusiasm.

It was none other than Victor's former boss in Hollywood!

He now worked as a manager in Disney's animation department: William Barnett.

William said excitedly, "Victor, I always told you that you belonged in Hollywood. Seeing you back again makes me so happy for you."

"I feel the same way, sir," Victor replied, just as pleased. "Ever since I got your call a few days ago, I've been looking forward to seeing you again."

After a pause, Victor continued, "Oh, right, sir. Let me introduce you. This is my current boss at Wald Pictures, Mr. Zucker Wald."

"Very pleased to meet you, Mr. Barnett."

Zucker greeted the older man humbly, without putting on airs.

Anyone could see how close William and Victor were. And William had truly helped Wald Pictures by arranging the invitation. How could Zucker not show respect to someone like him?

"Likewise. And I've heard of you, too. Your company's recent release, Wrong Turn, has made quite a name for itself."

After that, William enthusiastically introduced Zucker and Victor to some of the people he knew in the Hollywood industry.

Somero Downs;

Cruise Enbit Wise;

J. Jort Lacister;

Class James;

And so on. They might not be household names, but in Hollywood animation, every one of them was a bona fide legend. They had created animated films like The Lion King, Snow White, and Mulan. Which of those movies wasn't famous around the world?

After chatting for a while, Zucker and Victor found a corner and sat down.

"Boss, have you noticed? These veteran members of Disney Animation aren't doing too well at Disney right now!"

In talking with them, the perceptive Victor had noticed the worry in their expressions.

"You're right," Zucker said with a nod. "As far as I know, after the triumph of The Lion King in 1994 and 1995, things got rough for Disney Animation. And the recent release of Aladdin and the King of Thieves in September was a box-office disaster, making life even harder for these veteran Disney animators."

Aladdin and the King of Thieves had cost Disney $65 million to make, plus another $15 million in marketing, bringing the total to $80 million.

But it earned just $6 million on its opening day.

After more than a month in theaters, its cumulative North American box office had only just passed $20 million. It was a major box-office failure!

Worse still, the reviews were terrible!

Victor sighed. "Disney's animated films used to be children's favorites all over the world, but times have changed. Disney's hand-drawn animation is no longer popular, while the 3D computer animation pioneered by Pixar is gradually becoming the mainstream."

After a pause, he added, "And Disney distributes Pixar's films, too. How do you think the veterans of Disney Animation feel, watching an adopted child from outside beat their own flesh and blood?"

Zucker agreed!

That was the truth.

The future belonged to the 3D computer animation pioneered by Pixar!

In the years to come, Disney's princess films would languish and hit rock bottom. It wouldn't be until 2014, when they relied on Frozen, that they returned to the top of Hollywood animation!

"Huh?"

"Zucker, my old friend, and Victor—what are you doing here?"

A surprised voice reached Zucker's ears.

He looked up. It really was someone he knew.

John Lasseter, the head of the Pixar Five Tigers;

And that cocky old man, Jobs.

END