Everything at Disney originated from a mouse, but it was the success of "Snow White" that helped the company prosper and reach its first career peak. Therefore, it was the seven dwarfs who held up the Disney company.

It was not the cute Mickey Mouse standing at the company gate to warmly welcome guests as tourists had imagined before.

Of course, today, Robert Egger, known as "Smiling Mickey Mouse", stands in front of the gate, satisfying Yang Cheng's tourist heart.

"Good morning Robert, it's a nice weather, isn't it?" Yang Cheng handed the car to the bodyguard, got out of the car and stretched out his hand from a distance.

Iger also came up and shook hands with Yang Cheng. Because it was a private invitation, Iger didn't put on a big show. He didn't even bring his secretary. Like Yang Cheng, he was alone, wearing comfortable jeans and a casual suit.

, looks gentle and elegant, but I really don’t expect that this is the captain who controls the Disney ship.

"Yeah, it's such a beautiful weather, I love Burbank." Robert Iger showed a warm smile like Mickey Mouse, looked at the sky and shouted, let alone, he really has a bit of a middle-class temperament.

"Speaking of which, this is my first time to Disney Headquarters. I have been to Disneyland quite a lot." Yang Cheng looked up and looked at the fairy tale palace and couldn't help but sigh.

Egg turned aside and said, "Let's go and show you around. In fact, this place is far less interesting than the paradise."

The two of them walked around in front of the Fountain Square with their hands behind their backs, and then entered the Roman palace.

As they walked, the two chatted about the current status of the entertainment industry, and Iger recalled what Disney was most proud of. "To be honest, I am pessimistic about the development of Hollywood today. Everyone is rushing to develop sequels for quick success."

, it is almost rare to see the emergence of original IP, let alone success.”

Yang Cheng believed this, but he said very realistically, "However, we all need to be responsible for the board of directors and shareholders. If we cannot produce stable profits, everything else will be in vain."

Iger nodded, "Yes, that's why I want to resign. Now at Disney, I can no longer find the joy of struggle. If it weren't for the efforts of the board of directors, management, and shareholders to retain me, I'm afraid I would have long ago

I chose to retire.”

Yang Cheng said sincerely, "Disney cannot do without you, and you have done well over the years. The success of "Pirates of the Caribbean" is enough to keep Disney standing for decades, which is already great."

But Iger shook his head, "I haven't done enough. Starting from the founder Walt Disney, we have always emphasized the originality and innovation of entertainment content. "Snow White" is an example.

A hundred years ago, cartoons were used as sideshows before movie screenings. No matter how popular they were, they were always supporting roles in theater programs. However, Mr. Walt Disney went against the norm and wanted to make an animated feature film that was as long as an ordinary movie.

, finally based on "Snow White".

This is innovation in the true sense, and it is also an epoch-making innovation, and it is worth remembering. I am just stepping on the shoulders of giants, and I am far from being great in the true sense."

Yang Cheng knew this piece of history, and it was a classic case that had been included in business textbooks.

At that time, the production of the world's first animated feature film did not go smoothly. The initial budget of US$250,000 quickly exceeded the standard. From the beginning of production in 1934 to the end of 1936, a total of US$750,000 was spent. For a time, everyone outside the world regarded "Snow White" as "Snow White".

The filming of "Princess" was called "Disney's folly", and the bankers who provided the loan were restless and insisted on seeing how the film turned out.

At that time, Walt Disney reluctantly showed clips of "Snow White" to representatives of banks including Bank of America. The most touching thing now is that in some gaps in the plot, Walt himself sang and dubbed to create effects.

However, just before he got into the car and left after watching the film, the bank representative suddenly turned around and said to Walt, "This thing will bring you a lot of money."

Facts have proved this sentence. On December 21, 1937, a day recorded in history, Disney's world's first animated feature film "Snow White", which took three years and cost nearly US$2 million to produce, premiered in Los Angeles.

After the 84-minute screening of the film ended, the audience burst into thunderous applause. "Snow White" helped the company pay off all its debts in the first six months of its release, and it earned a total of US$8 million in revenue from its first release. You know,

At that time, each movie ticket sold for only $0.27, and children's tickets sold for only 10 cents.

Not only that, "Snow White" also won the Oscar for Best Picture that year, which was the first time an animated film won this award.

In recognition of Disney's creative contributions in the field of animated films, the organizers specially prepared an Oscar trophy with a big gold medal and seven small gold medals.

Today, 70 years later, because of Robert Iger, Disney has rediscovered its persistence and innovation in original content, which is also the foundation and source that keeps Disney alive and prosperous.

The movie "Pirates of the Caribbean" achieved miraculous success around the world, and the third film "At World's End" followed with a global box office of US$1 billion, becoming one of the highest-grossing movies in history. This also marked Disney's official entry into the "Robert Iger" era.

" era, he brought a new vitality and look to Disney, which in Yang Cheng's view is enough to be called 'great'.

Putting aside other factors, Yang Cheng is full of admiration for Robert Iger.

While visiting the team disney building, Iger introduced to Yang Cheng Richard Cook, the chairman of the film production department who was behind "Pirates of the Caribbean". He was fully responsible for the investment and production of the film in 2003 and 2004.

Yang Cheng became interested and stood in the office area to chat with Richard Cook, "Did you ever think that Captain Jack Sparrow would achieve such a huge success?"

Richard Cook has answered this question thousands of times, and answered without hesitation, "There is no prophet in this world. I must admit that at the time, no one, including me, expected that "Pirates of the Caribbean" would be

To achieve such a huge success, we just let the creative team maintain their original passion during the production process, insisting on meticulous seriousness in every link, all in order to tell high-quality, original and wonderful stories.

In a way, film production is sometimes a lot like venture capital, where we try our best to grasp the content, team, and execution, and then go with the flow.

Of course, I must thank Iger for his strong support. He told us: High-risk and high-return content creation forms the basis of Disney’s business. Only with wonderful content can the success of parks, consumer goods, publications and other derivative products be achieved.

Only then can Disney prosper.
Chapter completed!