Hollywood Art: System of sunnys

81. Saban Enterteiment.



In his quest to earn money for the near future, enough to survive in the market, Billy sought a way to address the current problems he faced due to his lack of connections. Therefore, he focused on strengthening his industry through Jim Waitt, who had a reputable status and managed to secure contacts with Saban Entertainment, a television production company responsible for creating content for various entities, mostly in collaboration with Fox.

The Power Rangers hold a special place in the memories of many children. They ignited a certain warmth in people's hearts, a franchise that generated a successful series year after year, leaving a lasting impression.

The structures that make up the Power Rangers are fantastic due to their practical approach to creating the series. However, this practicality could sometimes lead to issues in terms of visual aesthetics, storytelling, and brand coherence. Billy aimed to somewhat limit the number of seasons while still aspiring to bring them back to television.

Television channels were dominated by numerous significant shows in another era. Undoubtedly, the Power Rangers stood as one of the champions among Americans during the '90s. As Billy's goal was to bring the Power Rangers to a deeper channel, breaking away from being confined to repetitive, loosely connected stories year after year, it's undeniable that there were great series throughout the years, but all of them could benefit from some refinement.

The process was good, but it could have been better.

-Thanks, Jim, for joining me in this endeavor, - Billy said.

-Well, you're about to negotiate with Saban Entertainment. It's only fair that your agent offers you some support. If I'm going to be involved in this negotiation, I can leverage my agent activities to gain some influence, - Jim Waitt replied.

-Well, having a backup is always good for me, - Billy acknowledged.

Hollywood companies had a flashy way of making themselves noticed, Billy thought as he gazed at the entrance of Saban. A prominent logo adorned the front, accompanied by beautiful designs and the glass façade of the Saban building.

While it might be assumed that these production companies operate with large teams comprising thousands of people, the reality often involves small, focused teams. Cost savings are achieved by having a core team that can accomplish as much as possible, utilizing prefabricated sets and green screens to achieve cohesiveness.

With animation studios already established, the collaborative working environment was fantastic.

-This way, gentlemen, - a rather attractive blonde guide said.

Billy had grown accustomed to navigating different negotiations and found himself lost in observing his surroundings.

Saban Haim. A successful producer who had been in the business for a long time. He was an Israeli-American, renowned for his role as a music producer. His first venture was a music studio named Saban Records.

In 1988, he co-founded Saban Entertainment, specializing in dubbing and importing anime and programs for a young audience. He was also the creator of the Power Rangers franchise, which generated substantial revenue for everyone involved, estimated at around 6 billion dollars. Over 20 years, they created 20 Power Rangers series. Simultaneously, he secured agreements to produce and distribute series such as X-Men and Spider-Man in partnership with News Corporation. In 1996, they joined forces to create Fox Family Worldwide, and the rest is history.

What's intriguing about Saban is his passionate nature, intertwined with his capitalist mindset. He champions causes he likes, turning what he enjoys into entertainment. This perhaps is one of his standout abilities – a kind of x-ray vision when it comes to discerning what to do or not do to achieve success.

The man, likely in his early 40s, with thick black hair combed back to highlight his broad forehead, greeted Billy and Jim Waitt with a firm handshake as they entered his office.

-Pleasure to meet you, Billy Carson. Jim Wait, we've already crossed paths over the phone. Let me say, you're quite persistent something I admire in people, - Saban Haim said, chuckling.

-It's also a pleasure to meet someone with your attributes, - Jim replied.

-Please, have a seat. I've got the lunch hour, gentlemen, so let's get straight to the point, - Saban Haim said, adjusting his well-fitted suit.

-Of course, sir! We just need you to look at this, -Billy said, handing over the comic that would be published with Lux Comics. Despite the different storyline from the original, it included designs from the first "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" series. The comic reading experience comprised a total of 19 series, each with 35 to 50 volumes. It began in 2016 when Boom Studios acquired the rights for comic releases and continued until Hasbro and Bandai bought the Power Rangers in 2019. The comic publication ran until 2036 when Paramount acquired the franchise and concluded the comic releases.

Saban Haim quickly read through the book and raised an eyebrow at Billy. It was a good story, but it didn't quite capture his full attention. When it came to animated productions, he preferred to focus on well-established brands like DC or Warner.

-It's interesting, but it doesn't quite grab me, - Saban Haim said.

Billy, anticipating such responses, handed him a script related to the Power Rangers franchise along with another document containing an outline for the first season of the most remembered Power Rangers series.

The first season's outline narrated the story of two beings from another planet: Zordon from the planet Eltar, trapped in the space-time continuum, and the five young warriors he chose to defend Earth against Rita. The Red Ranger and the legendary Green Ranger, Tommy Oliver, played pivotal roles. Spanning three legendary seasons, these early seasons were considered iconic.

The script detailed ways to reimagine the Power Rangers series as a live-action edition. It explained various aspects, from the relatively uncomplicated costume designs to the catchy music, battle choreography, and formal storytelling. It proposed transforming the Power Rangers to give them darker forms, featuring captivating explosions and intense zord battles against villains.

Billy aims to extrapolate all the seasons and create an extensive lore of ideas to support an expanding franchise. He envisions building a strong foundation over about 15 years, with the support of talented fans and his efforts. He plans to capitalize on the freshness of the franchise and the growing strength of its fan base, gradually transitioning to more elaborately worked seasons with high-quality animation.

Billy explains the various ways to generate revenue from the franchise, including action figures, costumes, accessories, and all sorts of merchandise.

-I must say, this is the most innovative way someone has pitched an idea to me in years. I see that you adhere to the belief that actions speak louder than words, - Saban Haim commented.

-I believe that if we focus on making this franchise successful, everything will fall into place for us down the line, - Billy stated.

-I'll need to discuss this with my partner, Shuky Levi. He has a knack for developing creative ideas like this. You've got a fantastic idea here, young man. I don't quite understand why you came to Saban with it, but I appreciate it, - Saban Haim said.

-Well, you and your team have shown great enthusiasm for this industry. I have some insight into your endeavors to bring various franchises to television. I'm a strong advocate for producing stories in all the diverse ways that you're striving for, - Billy replied.

-I'll have your agent follow up on the proposal. Well, I have to rush off to a lunch appointment. I made it just in time. Thank you for bringing me this news. I hope to see you again. When you're around Los Angeles, feel free to give me a call, and we'll set up a lunch meeting, - Saban said, handing over his phone number.

-I believe I would enjoy a lunch meeting with you, Mr. Saban, - Billy replied.

The proposal for creating the Power Rangers series was still a work in progress, but the seed had been planted. Live-action series were well-liked in the industry due to their relatively straightforward production process. However, the sustained success of such series hinged on their gradual development, which is why they are so highly sought after. A well-executed live-action series can often generate higher ratings than animated ones, without sacrificing engagement.

Only the most competitive animated series can truly rival well-executed live-action shows.

1. The purchase of Power Rangers in late 2018 by Hasbro came with a price tag of $522 million. Before that, the franchise had been owned by the Walt Disney Company since 2010, but Disney struggled to effectively branch out the series during their nearly 8-year ownership.

2. The Power Rangers comics are indeed intriguing. I've read some of them, although they can be hard to come by. They are divided into three main franchises: "Go Go Power Rangers," "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers," and "Pink Ranger," which is a spin-off series focused on specific characters from the franchise. Other comics mix various timelines and events, but these are considered among the best.

3. Billy's system allows him to catch a glimpse of a series he was familiar with before his passing, but it doesn't extend to series created after his death.

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