-What Steven means is that your entrepreneurial development as a has demonstrated that it's possible to create things without being answerable to the big pahat domihe market. For a long time, the animation world hasn't seen the kind of shake-up you've brought about. Your movies, brimming with animated characters, have caught the attention of many. If you were to offer your pany tomorrow, any corporation wouldn't hesitate to pay the price for it. Of course, it's logical. Success attracts success, - said David Geffen.

  -It's fttering. You t on my assistahough my financial support alone isn't enough to cover ambitious iments. However, I i a few million if you decide to create an animation studio, - said Billy, knowing two relevant things about these two individuals: they are people to be feared, and their likely alliance could bring about some headaches, as it did wheiating with Warner. However, Spielberg's golden figure could blind, once was enough to learn from his mistakes.

  -Animation? - asked Steven.

  -Yes, animation. From the Pixar studio, we have some ideas that don't fit Pixar's profile. They could be used from different angles or by another 3D animation pany. Also, I sell you my animation teology at an affordable price. The iment will speak for itself. With Autodesk and Pixar, we believe that software development deliver better animations. We've set up a lise for three years with a wide range of capabilities, such as 3D animation studio and 2D animation studio, - said Billy.

  -Ohhh, quite the capitalist d, - Spielberg chuckled.

  -Business waits for no one, gentlemen. My products speak for themselves. We i year after year, money and effort in improving our animation equipment. Average animation houses i money in their software. But is that what they want? Sometimes it's only achieved through y. But if there's a pany that fulfill the service, - said Billy.

  The subscription, one of the first services created by Pixar, was eng an application for the pany's animation services, as well as the most important aspect: security. Three million for three years, the list of potential ts, seven uies, with CalArts being profiled among them. The subscription allowed the use of 20 pieces of equipment; for more thay pieces of equipment, the price rose siderably to 12 million for the three years. A product of Autodesk and Pixar. For uies, a 60% dist was offered, sidered an educational bonus, bringing more animators to Pixar and f alliances. However, these uies didn't request more than 20 equipment.

  -An iing idea, which we'll keep for when it's necessary. Although my team isn't ied in animation, we could potentially make a movie perhaps every five years, - said Steven Spielberg, who already had an animated film from Amblin, not rushed; it was a testing of the animated market, which had been thriving sihe 90s with the wonderful movies both Disney and in 1993 Lux Animation had developed.

  -It's a pity, - said Billy.

  -We're still going through all the procedures; the pany is in its infancy. We want to pn our development as a pany and strike when the iron is hot. That's why I ask you again: Are you with us or not? - asked Steven Spielberg.

  -You t on me; our alliance is tentative, - said Billy.

  -Well, that's iing. As a gesture of goodwill to a future partner, Sony bia, who has a tentative alliah your pany—emphasiziive—has been sounding out your animation studio. Perhaps they want a business deal, a purchase. They've delicately probed your pany, - said Steven Spielberg.

  -Like all pahanks for the information, - said Billy. The versation was settled, not far away, Steven and Geffen resumed their versation. Not far away, Michael Orvitz had a friendly versation with Michael Eisner, while Billy approached the ballroom, a dance floor that now only fostered a cssic Viennese waltz, much simpler and aodating to the dedicated style.

  Billy was interrupted by a greeting from an old acquaintaerry Semel. A man who had hovered ihoughts of many at Lux Animation for his analogous ability to separate Billy from Warner, a mistake, but from the board, the growth of Lux Nation as a threat was seen, that if space was left to grow, it would annex Warner without any remorse.

  -Billy Carson, I didn't expect to see you here, d, - said Terry Semel.

  -Again, it's a pleasure to see you, Mr. Semel. I heard you were promoted. gratutions! - said Billy.

  -Unfortunately, it's only altered my way of w. I haven't rested properly since I romoted. Among my many ideas, Warner tio grow and expand as a pany, - said Terry Semel, who has been president and CEO of Warner Bros. sihe beginning of the year.

  -I see, your work sounds bitter. You've done a good job, - said Billy.

  -Very bitter, d. But, as you e from heaven. Warner will tio fight in the courts. Now I see it's a futile struggle. Your resources are deeper than we expected, and the busierrain will be open to you soon. However, you have a defi the project reception area. I would reend having a development executive to evaluate movie or television show ideas and an acquisitions executive, a small group that will make you money, - said Terry Semel.

  -We're growing slowly, but the position has been sidered. For now, I serve as a development executive, and I have many activities in mind, - said Billy.

  -Certainly, we'll send a settlement offer. Don't expect a better one, - said Terry Semel.

  -Indeed, Mr. Semel, I'll review your offer carefully, - said Billy.

  The idea of a settlement wasn't something Billy would expect from Warner Brothers, which was, curiously, run by two people who had been hitting Lux Animation. Even Billy was irritated by exging words that sounded more like an awkward chat than a versation. He didn't expect a good offer, just another ploy to squeeze more money out of the pany, or time, maybe they ime.

  Although Terry Semel's words sounded like a temptation, there was something deep and hateful in his thoughts, as a director of development and tent acquisitions. The only problems, opportuo some creatives from the Academy of Arts, and some impressive resumes that addressed ma.

  He saw Julie Delpy in an aromativersation with two other women; Gwyh articipating, and Winona was settling in a more distant er, sipping a gss of wine or champagne.

  -You seem upset, - said Billy, taking a seat beside Winona.

  -I'm not, - Winona replied.

  -Well, you seem to be. I am too. I just feel like going to a real party. If I stay a sed longer in this room, I think I'll have to faother four businessmen eager to discuss some particurs I don't feel like dealing with, - said Billy.

  -Sounds han the simple music we have here, but the paparazzi would catch us the momeep into the club. It's not usually the case, but Johnny told me it's the manager of the establishment who usually calls them, you know, whehey mention the pce, - said the girl with a sigh.

  -Unfortunately, - said Billy.

  -Was everything okay? - Winona asked.

  -It's nothing, just busialks, - replied Billy.

  -I didn't expect you to be in the Hollywood business. Gwyh asked her godmother if you were James Cameron's nephew. You have a certain style. I don't see the e, - said the girl, smiling, her cheeks chubby.

  -James? My uncle, not at all, -- the boy enced, surprised. -- It's just a good retionship. Oh, James threw me to the wolves, acc to Jim, my agent. He expins clearly that Hollywood is a whirlwind of social retionships, and I should always maintain posure when dealing with the industry. I go with the flow most of the time and operate on my intuition, - said Billy.

  -Good advice. You men have it easier sometimes. Sometimes, going with the flow feels like I'd go crazy. Sometimes we're nothing more than odities in the eyes of ema. You'd be surprised how many times I've been asked to undress, - Winona said in a delicate whisper, uandihat the thought was dangerous and degrading, depending on whose ears heard her thoughts.

  -Why don't you leave it? For a while maybe, a vacation to relieve your stress. You've been making movies vigorously since a young age. Mental health is as necessary as physical health, - Billy asked.

  -It's not that simple, - Winona said.

  ...