Andy Rogers took a deep sip of coffee, the bitterness of it, unsweetened, caused a slight shudder to course through him. He glanced at the sugar canister resting on the edge of the table, then down at his portly beer belly. Well, perhaps adding a cube of sugar wouldn't hurt; it could even be considered a step toward losing weight.
Flipping through the newspapers and magazines strewn across the tabletop, the front page of Entertainment Weekly caught his attention with a startling headline: "Breaking, "Fast 5" Delayed Indefinitely? Universal Pictures Considering Schedule Adjustment, Release in 2012!" Beneath the bold red font, a row of black text formed the subheading, "Negotiations with Dwayne Johnson Officially Collapse!"
Andy's expression showed no hint of surprise. The news surrounding the "Fast 5" production had been ceaseless lately, with leaks and revelations coming every so often. The physical edition of Entertainment Weekly was published weekly, so this headline was somewhat outdated, more like a summary of the past week's news.
However, Entertainment Weekly was not the only media outlet paying close attention to the progress of "Fast 5".
"Production of "Fast 5" in Turmoil, Three-Week Shutdown, Losses Could Reach Five Million Dollars!"
"Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson Clash? Diesel's Statement: 'It's Him or Me!'"
"Casting Stuck in Quagmire, Pre-Production Tests Encounter Mishaps, Rio de Janeiro Municipality Rejects Production Schedule Request, Rocky Start for "Fast 5"."
"Dwayne Johnson: Eager to Join the Family, But Negotiations Still Underway."
"The Crew of "Fast 5" Announces Additional Two-Week Shutdown, Restart Date Uncertain, Universal Pictures Remains Silent."
...
These were the latest headlines of the day. It was evident that the production of "Fast 5" had reached a stalemate. The tactic of using blue ribbon to divert attention had lost its intended impact. After seeing through the production team's strategy, Dwayne Johnson had begun pressuring them and Universal Pictures through the media. Meanwhile, troubles brewed within the production team itself, leaving Neal H. Moritz in a dilemma.
Universal Pictures had never excelled at producing sequels, especially those that were lucrative, among the big six film companies. Currently, the "Fast & Furious" series was their sole trump card, naturally drawing widespread attention. Now, the attitude of Ron Meyer was paramount.
If Ron was willing to stand firm with Neal, then the replacement of Dwayne was inevitable. After such a prolonged showdown between Dwayne and Neal, the latter was undoubtedly harboring a simmering resentment, unlikely to concede easily. However, if Ron made a statement, granting Dwayne the green light, Neal would cease his persistence. Most likely within three days at the slowest, and as soon as twenty-four hours at the fastest, "Fast 5" could resume filming.
Out of habit, Andy placed the Los Angeles Times at the bottom. For those on the East Coast, the New York Times held the most significant place in their lives. Correspondingly, the Los Angeles Times held an elevated status on the West Coast.
Today's front page of the Los Angeles Times featured the outgoing California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The governor was set to leave office in January of the coming year. Everyone's attention was currently on the upcoming gubernatorial election and on Schwarzenegger's seven-year tenure. The Los Angeles Times had secured an interview with this tough-guy actor turned governor, delivering a comprehensive report on the matter.
Moreover, occupying the lower portion of the front page was news of a drought warning in California. Following last year, the state was likely to face a second consecutive year of drought challenges. This had garnered the attention of the entire California populace; naturally, the Los Angeles Times was at the forefront, issuing a caution to the local residents.
Turning to the entertainment section, Andy intended to scan the headlines of various segments briefly. However, his gaze was arrested by the headline in the prime position, and he froze, "Next New Member of "Fast 5" Production Team: Jason Statham?"
Andy carefully combed through his memory. He hadn't received any information about Jason's contact with the production team. This was somewhat unexpected. Jason, who had entered the realm of action actors through the "Transporter" series, hadn't made significant strides in Hollywood. He was even five years older than Dwayne, but his background as an athlete, his agility, and rugged style had left a strong impression.
If Jason were to replace Dwayne...
Pausing to think, Andy pressed the intercom button on his phone, "Nancy, can you help me find out who Jason Statham's agent is?"
After hanging up, Andy's mind began to race. He had carefully maneuvered this chess game to its current position; he wouldn't take it lightly, nor would he surrender. He wouldn't release the duck in his hand until the final moment.
Over the past week, he hadn't received any news about Jason. This was strange considering he had been keeping an eye on the key figures in the "Fast 5" production. He was entirely cut off from the information, either because it wasn't worth noticing, or because there was something more beneath the surface. But the report was from the Los Angeles Times, making it all the more intriguing.
"Andy, Jason is one of our agency's clients." Roughly three minutes later, Andy received a reply from his assistant, Nancy Kinsley. It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, and Andy chuckled softly, his tightly wound emotions relaxing slightly, "Who's responsible for him now?"
Within the CAA, there was no strict categorization of artists, nor strict differentiation of resources. In other words, Andy could obtain all of Jason's work-related information without any hindrance. It was first-hand insider information; similarly, the acting opportunities in "Fast 5" were open to all actors within the agency...
So, what happened when their own clients became competitors? The solution was simple: whoever had more potential, whoever was more valuable, whoever better fit the criteria, would be chosen. This ensured the most efficient utilization of resources.
Taking "Fast 5" as an example, between Renly and Jason, who was the better fit? The CAA would choose the more suitable one. If both Renly and Jason were passed over, Andy would recommend another actor to the production team. Unless the team directly signed with Dwayne Johnson, they would persist until the CAA secured the role.
Of course, this plan applied only to newcomers like Renly and Jason, those without established roots. The situation would be different for those A-list actors.
After making a few phone calls, Andy settled down.
Neal did contact Jason, but it was just a smokescreen. In reality, Jason had already signed with the "Expendables" production team. He was about to star in this ensemble action blockbuster. Furthermore, negotiations were underway for two other projects. There was no need to worry about scheduling conflicts.
This alerted Andy to something unusual. Neal's actions were accelerating; it seemed they had decided to let go of Dwayne.
Selecting someone like Jason Statham as a smokescreen was a signal to Dwayne: they would rather opt for someone with a similar style but slightly lower profile, Jason Statham, than choose the best option, Dwayne Johnson.
This was bound to set Dwayne's team into rapid motion. Either Dwayne would make a decisive move, lower his fee, bow his head in compromise, or Neal would not wait any longer. He would proceed systematically with his signing plan, refusing to continue dragging things out. It seemed that Ron was aligning with Neal.
The question was, whom had Neal chosen as the replacement?
Renly was now getting closer and closer to the "Fast 5" production team, almost within arm's reach, but this position was the most uncomfortable. At the last moment, if Dwayne's side made a resolute decision, Renly might end up falling short of the finish line. Within reach, yet slipping through his grasp—this feeling was the most unsettling.
"Ring, ring," the phone interrupted Andy's thoughts. He answered, and Nancy's voice came through once again, "Andy, Neal H. Moritz is on line three."
Ask and you shall receive.
Andy's gaze subtly focused, "Put him through." Then Neal's voice, with a polite chuckle, came from the other end of the line, "A brand-new day. How's your mood today? I thought I might see you at Barry Meyer's private party this weekend. It seems you have better plans."
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" was about to be released in this year's Halloween season, marking the culmination of the Harry Potter series spanning a decade. As Warner Bros.' CEO, Barry naturally held high hopes for the series' perfect finale. That's why he hosted a private party, inviting luminaries from all sides, starting the commercial operation process with a show of strength.
"The threshold for the party is quite high. Not just anyone can get in. It's a pity I didn't receive an invitation. Apparently, I missed out on some big scenes," Andy responded with an equally courteous smile, half-jokingly.
In reality, he had attended another party over the weekend. Scott Rudin's private party for promoting "True Grit" hadn't kicked off the award season yet, but the prelude parties had begun.
Neal naturally didn't take it seriously and continued joking, "Don't worry, besides Charlie Sheen getting drunk again and taking off his pants, you didn't miss anything." After those pleasantries, Neal got to the point, "How's that young lad of yours doing lately?"
Andy had a good number of actors under his management, but there was only Renly as a young actor.
"Like countless young people, he's waiting for his chance," Andy offered a way out for Neal.
But both Andy and Neal knew full well that Renly was currently immersed in the filming of "Like Crazy". Andy hadn't deliberately concealed this news; it's just that people hadn't paid attention. Anyone with an interest could find out the relevant details.
Pretending not to know, Neal laughed lightly, "That's great then. I think he's the actor our production has been desperately searching for. Paul told me yesterday he's itching to collaborate with him."
"Wow, that's fantastic news," even though it couldn't be clearer, Andy acted surprised as if he had just heard it, "Renly would be thrilled to hear that. But I wonder, does the production team have any plans regarding his fee?"