Dunn's words struck a chord with everyone in the room, making Michael Eisner realize just how determined he was.
For a moment, Eisner saw a glimpse of his younger self in Dunn.
It wasn't until now that he truly understood Dunn on a deeper, more genuine level.
It was clear: unless Disney made the first move to back down, there was no way this feud with Dunn Pictures could be resolved peacefully. Dunn's stance was just too strong.
Even after Eisner extended an olive branch, Dunn didn't budge an inch.
"Going up against Disney isn't a smart move, Dunn," Eisner said, his tone softening, almost persuading
Dunn shook his head calmly. "I never wanted to make an enemy of Disney. You can look into it—Disney's the one who kept picking fights."
Last year, when Wedding Crashers and The Sixth Sense hit theaters at the same time, Disney's production team got Bruce Willis to badmouth Wedding Crashers. That was the spark that started this whole mess.
But to Eisner, those were just typical big-studio moves to squash smaller players. Knowing the full context, he didn't think it was a big deal.
"Dunn Pictures makes quality films, no doubt," Eisner said, eyeing him closely. "But one person's energy is limited. You can't guarantee every movie from your studio will be a box office hit."
Dunn chuckled. "Of course not. I never expected that. But outgrossing Disney's films? That's not a problem."
Eisner bristled. Dunn sure knew how to hit where it hurt.
Disney's movie slate was, frankly, a sore spot. If they'd had even one breakout hit, Eisner wouldn't be in such an awkward position now.
"You've got big ambitions, don't you? Dunn Pictures won't stop at just movies," Eisner said, his tone carrying a deeper implication.
Dunn nodded casually, owning it without hesitation. "Of course. As movies grow more influential, studios need more channels to maximize their potential."
"You get it," Eisner said with a faint, almost mocking smile.
Dunn laughed and shook his head. "Mr. Eisner, you don't need to drop hints. I know Disney's a global media giant. Even if your film division's struggling, you're a powerhouse elsewhere. But if you think that'll make me back off, you're mistaken."
Eisner nodded slowly. "You're awfully confident."
"Not at all," Dunn said, shaking his head with a sigh, a hint of self-deprecation in his voice. "I'm just fighting like my life depends on it."
Eisner's expression shifted, clearly moved.
Dunn's success at such a young age, and his ability to stand toe-to-toe with Disney, wasn't a fluke. That one word—"fighting"—summed up the key to his success.
Back when Eisner took over Disney, the company was worth less than $2 billion. Through relentless hustle and high-stakes moves, he transformed it into a media titan valued at over $50 billion today.
But as Disney grew, so did its shareholder base and their demands for profit. The bold, risky tactics Eisner once used were no longer an option. With Disney's muscle, he could crush Dunn Pictures if he went all out. But even hinting at such a move would trigger pushback from the board and shareholders, potentially costing him his job.
Meanwhile, Dunn was like the young Eisner—fearless and scrappy. For a small company like his, fighting was the only way to survive.
Small companies had their strengths; big ones had their burdens.
Eisner might still have his edge, but Disney's scale forced him to play it safe. Stock prices and brand value were all that mattered. His personal pride? To the shareholders, it was worthless.
"Guess I picked the wrong day to show up," Eisner said, surprisingly calm, his usual sharpness dulled by too many setbacks.
Dunn smiled. "At least now you know where I stand."
Eisner gave a wry smirk, sighed, and said, "Alright, I won't keep you. I've got things to handle tomorrow, so I'll head out."
Every word of their exchange reached Ron Meyer's ears, and he was struck by Dunn Pictures' collective performance. As Eisner walked away, looking a bit defeated, Ron's expression was complex. He raised his glass to Dunn.
Catching the gesture, Dunn smiled, dismissed the crowd, and joined Ron in a quiet corner, clinking glasses.
"Dunn, that was reckless," Ron said sincerely, though his eyes betrayed admiration.
To handle Michael Eisner so decisively at such a young age? That was impressive.
Dunn shook his head. "No risk, no reward."
"That's Disney we're talking about!"
"So what?" Dunn grinned, then shifted gears. "By the way, I hear Vivendi's gutted most of Universal's assets?"
Ron's face darkened, clearly annoyed.
Vivendi had gone too far. Universal's publishing, gaming, TV, and music divisions had been carved up, leaving it a hollow shell.
"Old friend, remember what I told you?" Dunn lowered his voice. "Rally Universal's execs. The film division is Universal's core. As long as it holds strong, Universal's still Universal."
Ron studied him closely. "You're getting at something."
Dunn smiled slyly. "You know what I mean. Universal's my biggest partner. I don't want Vivendi's bad calls at headquarters dragging you down. Sure, Vivendi's a media giant, but it's not Hollywood."
Ron mulled over Dunn's words. "You think Vivendi's strategy is off?"
"You think it's on?" Dunn shot back, winking.
Ron's mind raced. When a mega-corporation like Vivendi screws up, the losses aren't just billions—they're catastrophic. Look at AOL and Time Warner: six months after their merger, they'd already lost over $40 billion.
It's easy to see that in the coming years, AOL Time Warner would likely sell off assets to cover the shortfall.
What about Vivendi?
If they tanked, who would they sell?
Ron locked eyes with Dunn, finally grasping his angle.
Dunn wasn't done with Universal—he still had his sights set on it.
Meeting Ron's gaze, Dunn smiled. "Ron, nobody can predict the future. But right now, I hope you see that Dunn Pictures has the strength and the guts. Even against Disney, I'm not backing down."
"Fighting a losing battle?" Ron asked, a hint of mockery in his tone.
Ron was a Hollywood veteran, still the head of Universal, a true heavyweight. Unlike Bill Mechanic, who'd been ousted by Fox, Ron wouldn't easily bend to Dunn.
Dunn shook his head, unwavering. "No. Fighting to win."
Ron scoffed. "Today was just a war of words."
"Just wait," Dunn said, clapping Ron's shoulder. "I'll prove it to you." He straightened up, standing tall and confident.
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