Change agents?
An agent?
Michael Ovitz!
Roy's alcohol-induced haze instantly cleared. He remembered who was sitting in front of him now – Michael Ovitz. He was the man behind creating the largest talent agency in Hollywood, CAA (Creative Artists Agency), and was known as a Hollywood super-dealmaker. Stars like Sylvester Stallone, Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, Tom Hanks, and many more were represented by his agency.
This man had once been one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood, often referred to as the puppet master of the industry. However, he later left his own creation, the miracle of CAA, to become the president of Disney.
Unfortunately, his transition didn't go as smoothly as planned, and in 1997, he was ousted from Disney. He then faced a series of lawsuits. Undeterred, he started over again by establishing AMG (Artists Management Group) in an attempt to regain his former glory.
Roy knew that Ovitz wasn't here because he had a deep understanding of Hollywood history but rather because of his friends at other talent agencies. They occasionally mentioned in conversations that certain talents had been poached by Ovitz, which is how Roy became aware of him.
"Are you trying to recruit me?" Roy asked knowingly.
"That's right. I see potential in you, and you need a reputable agent to help plan your career properly," Ovitz replied confidently.
Roy couldn't deny that Ovitz was a very charismatic individual. His voice and demeanor exuded confidence, making it hard not to believe in what he was saying.
However, Roy found the situation amusing. "Don't you know about my relationship with Laila?" The whole world knows she's the one who catapulted me into Hollywood. How confident are you that you can poach me away from her? And as for our romantic relationship, do you really think people in the entertainment industry would believe it, let alone trust it? Maybe only regular folks would.
"I'm well aware of your situation, and it's precisely because I know that I've come to talk to you," Ovitz replied. "Do you want to keep being just a pawn in this game?"
Roy chuckled self-deprecatingly. Indeed, he couldn't fool anyone in the entertainment industry about his relationship with Laila.
"I sign with you, isn't that being a pawn as well?" Roy didn't believe that these people were doing charity work and offering him their advice and strategies without any cost.
But Laila was different. Despite constantly joking about squeezing every last drop of profit out of him, she had never actually done it. She had always stood in his place, considering his well-being. She brought him to Hollywood, secured roles for him in films, and even helped Abel move to the United States. She always did so much for him, yet she unwittingly placed a barrier between them, preventing him from getting closer.
Ovitz had come here not on a whim but because he had noticed Roy a long time ago. He believed Roy was an extraordinarily talented individual with incredible potential. Ovitz saw a shining diamond that, though still mostly hidden, had the potential to become perfect, and he was confident in his ability to shape it into one.
He was about to give up, but recent events had reignited a spark in him. Why had he been drawn into such a ridiculous situation? Why had he become a laughingstock? Such a perfect gemstone shouldn't have encountered such bizarre and unexplainable setbacks. If he had been managing a star signed to him, he would never have allowed things to become so ludicrous.
So, Ovitz had come, just as he had said, to save his future. He believed that with his abilities, he could do so effortlessly.
"When people are born into this world, their paths are predetermined by fate. You, me, and anyone else aren't we all just pawns of destiny? But does that mean we should blindly follow the paths laid out for us by others?" Ovitz continued, pulling out a contract from his briefcase. "If you join our agency, I guarantee that you'll have control over your own life. The roles you want, we'll get them for you. The things you desire, we'll bring them to you. You won't have to be manipulated by others in your life anymore."
"What about the girl I like?" Roy chuckled and took another sip of his drink. "Can you help me win her heart?"
Ovitz hadn't expected this question, and an awkward expression briefly flashed across his face. If possible, he hoped that his talents wouldn't have real emotions, that they would only occasionally generate some rumors. Playing with genuine emotions would only get in the way of his career and bring trouble to his family. How could that be acceptable?
However, he couldn't say that.
"In fact, it's quite simple," Ovitz replied, spreading his hands. "What kind of men do girls like the most? When you stand at the pinnacle of Hollywood, when you become a true man when your charm can captivate people all over the world, do you think there will be any girls who won't be enamored by you?"
Roy shook his head with a wry smile. Perhaps Ovitz was right about ordinary girls. But Laila, such a terrifyingly rational woman, could he really expect her to have feelings for him?
Ovitz had become the most influential figure in Hollywood by representing his clients as an agent, but he was also a shrewd and experienced individual. From Roy's expression, he knew that Roy wasn't joking about rejecting his offer; he genuinely believed that there was a woman who wouldn't be swayed by fame and fortune.
He couldn't deny that there was nothing money couldn't accomplish. Some even said that loyalty was just a matter of not offering enough. Even if it was a woman, as long as you offered her enough money, she would do anything. Unless the money offered wasn't enough.
Ovitz didn't care how others saw him; he believed there was nothing that couldn't be achieved with money. However, judging from Roy's expression, it was clear that he didn't believe Ovitz could make a woman like him by becoming famous and wealthy.