Inside the 20th Century Fox office, Roland sat with a few individuals. Among them were two executives from the Fox production department, one from the legal department, and another from Lions Gate Entertainment.
As for why someone from Lions Gate Entertainment managed to join the meeting, it was because this film was a collaboration between the two studios. In other words, Roland's studio first signed a contract with Lionsgate, then sought 20th Century Fox's help with distribution.
At this moment, Lionsgate was financially strong and aimed to expand its presence in Hollywood. They understood that relying solely on finances might not be enough to break into the industry. Therefore, they wanted to woo 20th Century Fox and secure distribution through its channels as a safeguard.
Regarding profits, of course, Lionsgate would take the lion's share, while 20th Century Fox played a smaller role. When the time was right, they would gradually become independent, a strategy similar to Lyman's.
After exchanging greetings, one of the Fox executives got straight to the point. "We estimate that the filming for this movie will take around three months. The role of Laura Chapman has over a third of the screen time, and she is essentially the female lead of the film. After auditioning Eva Green, we think she's a good fit. However, the initial investment for this project has been substantial, especially with various special effects scenes, and the budget is somewhat limited. We may not be able to offer a high salary."
After explaining their considerations in a methodical manner, he produced a contract and mentioned a figure, "$200,000, paid in full upfront."
In Hollywood, female actors were generally paid less than male actors of equivalent status. This was a long-standing industry practice, regardless of the role or the amount of screen time. After all, in this industry, most of the positions with real power were occupied by men – directors, producers, cinematographers, and even the production crew were mostly male. Consequently, the status of women in the industry was naturally lower.
Furthermore, Eva, as a newcomer with only two years of experience and not too many roles under her belt, had been earning a steady income of around $100,000. However, her role in "The Day After Tomorrow" was more significant, so offering her $200,000 was a bit on the low side.
"$1M, paid in two installments. Gentlemen, you may not be aware, but Eva had a role in Lyman's upcoming film "Effervescent", and her salary for that was $450,000. Her role was significant, almost a female lead. So, $200,000 is truly too low."
The people present didn't know about Eva's role in "Effervescent" because it was still in the confidential stage. Post-production was complete, but they hadn't decided on a release date, so promotion hadn't started yet.
Learning this, they were actually pleased. Why? Because having an actor with buzz was a good thing for the film.
After a brief discussion, one of the 20th Century Fox executives spoke up, "$1M is definitely too much; it exceeds our budget. The most we can offer is $500,000."
"$700,000?"
"Agreed." After all, Eva's conditions were right there on the table, and with a new movie on the horizon, they wanted to jump on board, so they had to offer something.
After some negotiation, the 20th Century Fox executives had their legal department draft the actor's contract. John then called Eva back into the room, and after both parties agreed without discrepancies, they each signed their names and sealed the documents. Two copies were made, one for each party.
...
In the car, John steered steadily.
Eva sat in the back, chatting incessantly with Lyman. She looked very happy.
Before, she had actually contemplated saying goodbye to the entertainment industry if Lyman had agreed. She would have settled down, never to act again.
But now that the role was confirmed, she felt relieved. She also knew that Lyman had no intention of stopping her. In fact, he had taken the initiative, which made her even happier.
As for whether or not she cared about the salary, she didn't really mind. After all, she had initially started with three to four thousand. Now it had increased to $700,000; what was there to be unsatisfied about?
"Hey, do you know who I saw when I was auditioning just now?"
"Who?" Lyman asked, showing interest.
"Jake Gyllenhaal, the one I acted opposite in the audition. We haven't seen each other since "Effervescent". I never expected to meet him again in the audition room for "The Day After Tomorrow". After reading the script, I realized that his character in the movie has quite a bit in common with mine. I wonder if he got the role."
"Well, he'll definitely get it."
"How do you know?"
"Fate, perhaps."
Heh, Jake was a second-generation actor in the industry, and he had proven his talent. When it came to salaries compared to actors of the same level, they were on the lower side. Roland, the director who valued special effects, was also quite savvy in utilizing various resources. How could he not choose Jake?
Of course, there was no need to analyze this with Eva.
She kept talking about the role.
Lyman turned his head to look at her and felt that she was radiating with a newfound brilliance. It was a stark contrast to her humble appearance a few days ago.
She was willing to make sacrifices, while he was unwilling.
In the current state of things, it was just perfect, wasn't it?
As he thought about it, he also began to feel happy.
Lyman ruffled her hair and said with a smile, "This opportunity is rare. You must perform well. Even when I'm not with you, you should be confident and proud."
"I understand, but this role doesn't have many lines, and I have to wear a thick coat and a hat. Can I convey emotion like that?" She pursed her lips and asked Lyman.
"Don't overthink it. While the character's lines and appearance play a significant role in conveying emotions, they are not the only factors. If you can portray that essence, no one will question it. Think about it; Laura Chapman sees New York surrounded by floodwaters, the world entering a mini Ice Age, and constant natural disasters. She must be terrified, but deep down, she's a strong person. So, even if she's afraid, she can't show too much fear. Do you understand?"
"Fear and strength, finding the right balance, right?"
"Yes, in your performance, you can add some small movements to convey her fear, but in her expression, you should try to convey calmness and composure. It's about portraying the contradiction in her emotions and demeanor."
Honestly, Lyman felt that this role suited Eva quite well.
Both of them had that tomboyish quality deep within them.
Moreover, "The Day After Tomorrow" was a disaster film draped in a simple plot with pure special effects. It didn't require deep or touching acting skills. The plot was full of clichés – flooding, sudden drops in temperature, all Americans needing to evacuate to Mexico, the protagonist group getting stuck in New York due to delayed evacuation, and their journey to save others. In short, it was an over-the-top and eye-catching disaster movie with a budget as high as $130M. Young audiences would definitely love it.
As for the acting skills of the actors, they weren't that crucial. That's why "The Day After Tomorrow" was a top-tier project with a budget of $130M. There was no need to find a top star to boost the box office or engage in excessive hype. Eva's addition was a real gem, perfectly fitting in all aspects. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that she surpassed the original actress in every way.