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The mirror for princes, Kalila wa Dimna, has often adapted into various forms of children's entertainment, like picture books and TV shows. We decided to write our story with that same model in mind.
Once upon a time, there was a man named Bob Iger. He was always a man with strong opinions and an even stronger thirst for money.
Once upon a time, there was a man named Bob Iger. He was always a man with strong opinions and an even stronger thirst for money.
Because of these traits, Bob was able to climb all the way to the top of a big company called Disney and became its CEO.
Because of these traits, Bob was able to climb all the way to the top of a big company called Disney and became its CEO.
He was always faced with tough decisions while doing his job; the company’s future rested upon him. The fans trusted him to run a company that would continue to listen to them and make the kind of movies that inspired them as children.
He was always faced with tough decisions while doing his job; the company’s future rested upon him. The fans trusted him to run a company that would continue to listen to them and make the kind of movies that inspired them as children.
When it came time for Disney to renew the contract, which gave them the right to use the character of Spiderman, with Sony, Bob was left with a predicament.
When it came time for Disney to renew the contract, which gave them the right to use the character of Spiderman, with Sony, Bob was left with a predicament.
Since 1999, Sony, a rival company, had owned the rights to Spiderman. Up until then, Disney had a deal with Sony that let them borrow the character for their movies in exchange for the stand-alone Spiderman movies’ profits.
Since 1999, Sony, a rival company, had owned the rights to Spiderman. Up until then, Disney had a deal with Sony that let them borrow the character for their movies in exchange for the stand-alone Spiderman movies’ profits.
Bob, wanting to increase profits to keep Disney’s investors happy, had the idea of pressuring Sony into doing a 50/50 deal with Disney. Disney would have to pay for half of the movies’ budgets, but they would also get to keep half of the movies’ profits. Nothing, he thought, could possibly go wrong.
Bob, wanting to increase profits to keep Disney’s investors happy, had the idea of pressuring Sony into doing a 50/50 deal with Disney. Disney would have to pay for half of the movies’ budgets, but they would also get to keep half of the movies’ profits. Nothing, he thought, could possibly go wrong.
Not everyone agreed with his plan, however. One of his company’s top advisors, PR Department head Zenia Mucha, was concerned about the studio’s fans and the outrage that might occur if the two companies could not reach an agreement.
Not everyone agreed with his plan, however. One of his company’s top advisors, PR Department head Zenia Mucha, was concerned about the studio’s fans and the outrage that might occur if the two companies could not reach an agreement.
The actor for the current incarnation of Spiderman, Tom Holland, was much beloved by employees and fans of the company alike. If he were to be caught up in the cross-fire and lose his place in the MCU, the backlash from the fans could destroy the company's image and threaten Bob’s job as CEO.
The actor for the current incarnation of Spiderman, Tom Holland, was much beloved by employees and fans of the company alike. If he were to be caught up in the cross-fire and lose his place in the MCU, the backlash from the fans could destroy the company's image and threaten Bob’s job as CEO.
So she scheduled an appoint with the CEO in order to offer a bit of advice.
So she scheduled an appoint with the CEO in order to offer a bit of advice.
“Listen Bob,” she said, “you need to think about this a bit more. If you keep pushing the deal and grabbing for more, eventually you’ll lose everything. The fans love Tom Holland and Spider-Man. We have to give the people what they want. If we don’t tread carefully we might lose their loyalty and they could turn on us.”
“Listen Bob,” she said, “you need to think about this a bit more. If you keep pushing the deal and grabbing for more, eventually you’ll lose everything. The fans love Tom Holland and Spider-Man. We have to give the people what they want. If we don’t tread carefully we might lose their loyalty and they could turn on us.”
“Zenia, I know what I’m doing. I’ve been doing this job for years. What’s the worst that could happen? Even if we let go of Tom Holland, it’s not us that will lose—it’s Sony.”
“Zenia, I know what I’m doing. I’ve been doing this job for years. What’s the worst that could happen? Even if we let go of Tom Holland, it’s not us that will lose—it’s Sony.”
“Okay,” Mucha sighs, “how about I put this in movie terms so you can understand?”
“Okay,” Mucha sighs, “how about I put this in movie terms so you can understand?”
She began her story, detailing the consequences of greed, in hopes of steering her superior, Bob, back in the right direction.
She began her story, detailing the consequences of greed, in hopes of steering her superior, Bob, back in the right direction.
“There once was a lion named Scab. He was extremely jealous of his older brother Musafa’s power as king, so he was always seeking any opportunity he could get to increase his power.
“There once was a lion named Scab. He was extremely jealous of his older brother Musafa’s power as king, so he was always seeking any opportunity he could get to increase his power.
By making promises to fulfill the wishes of other animal tribes throughout the savannah, he gained loyal followers and got to a higher position. Eventually, through his own hard work, his brother allowed him to rule over a part of the Pride Lands.
By making promises to fulfill the wishes of other animal tribes throughout the savannah, he gained loyal followers and got to a higher position. Eventually, through his own hard work, his brother allowed him to rule over a part of the Pride Lands.
However, he still was not satisfied and wanted more.
However, he still was not satisfied and wanted more.
“Hey, hold up,” Iger interjects. “This is just The Lion King with wrong names.”
“Hey, hold up,” Iger interjects. “This is just The Lion King with wrong names.”
“Exactly, Bob. If you know that much, you should know how the story ends.”
“Exactly, Bob. If you know that much, you should know how the story ends.”
“Yeah, Simba takes his rightful place as the king, and everyone loves him. Thanks, Zenia. I’ll follow your advice and just do what I want since everyone loves Disney anyway and will support us no matter what we do.
“Yeah, Simba takes his rightful place as the king, and everyone loves him. Thanks, Zenia. I’ll follow your advice and just do what I want since everyone loves Disney anyway and will support us no matter what we do.
“No, that’s not the ending I’m getting at. I’m saying that Scar betrays the hyenas, and they tear him to pieces. Just like the fans will do to you if you ignore what they want.”
“No, that’s not the ending I’m getting at. I’m saying that Scar betrays the hyenas, and they tear him to pieces. Just like the fans will do to you if you ignore what they want.”
“Gory much? This is Disney, we have to keep it PG. Anyway, I like my interpretation better--it’s happier. I’m going to call Sony right now and tell them that it’s all-or-nothing: they either give us 50% of the movie profits or Spidey’s out of the MCU.”
“Gory much? This is Disney, we have to keep it PG. Anyway, I like my interpretation better--it’s happier. I’m going to call Sony right now and tell them that it’s all-or-nothing: they either give us 50% of the movie profits or Spidey’s out of the MCU.”
“But the fans-”
“But the fans-”
“The fans are our dogs. It doesn’t matter how we treat them, they’ll always support us. Look how much we raised the price of Disney Land tickets. They might complain, but they always come back.”
“The fans are our dogs. It doesn’t matter how we treat them, they’ll always support us. Look how much we raised the price of Disney Land tickets. They might complain, but they always come back.”
3 days later….
3 days later….
Bob Iger looks through Twitter and sees how the fans are reacting. Most of them are upset with Sony and calling them greedy for not agreeing to give Disney a larger share in the Spider-Man franchise. Smugly, he reaches for the office phone and calls for Zenia Mucha to come to his office. She walks in looking defeated.
Bob Iger looks through Twitter and sees how the fans are reacting. Most of them are upset with Sony and calling them greedy for not agreeing to give Disney a larger share in the Spider-Man franchise. Smugly, he reaches for the office phone and calls for Zenia Mucha to come to his office. She walks in looking defeated.
Bob says, “Hey, what did I tell you? The fans still love us, and it looks like Sony better agree to the deal or their fans will tear THEM to pieces.”
Bob says, “Hey, what did I tell you? The fans still love us, and it looks like Sony better agree to the deal or their fans will tear THEM to pieces.”
And Bob Iger and Disney lived happily ever after.
And Bob Iger and Disney lived happily ever after.
THE END
THE END
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