Jonathan Friedman trudged back to his office.
Pushing the door open, seeing Simon get up and turn to him, he nodded his head at the other party, turned back to his desk and sat down, only then did he look at the boy opposite to him again.
Simon sensed the strong slump in his agent's body and the guilt in his eyes and gave up his original plan to question the other party, and his tone was still concerned: "Joe, what happened?"
Jonathan's lips moved, Feeling Simon's bright eyes, he hesitated before saying: "Simon, it's like this, Matthew doesn't want to cooperate with you very much, so Mr. Broca hopes that you can completely withdraw from the "Butterfly Effect" project in the future.
When Simon heard the words, his expression did not change much, and he asked calmly: "So, Joe, what do you mean?"
Jonathan dodged Simon's gaze slightly and said in a slow tone: "Simon, this time, I I hope you can agree. However, I promise you that I will compensate you as much as possible when there is a chance in the future. By the way, aren't you planning to make an experimental film? If you need anything, you can tell me later. If If the money is not enough, I can lend you some personally."
Listening to the agent's words, Simon's tense body gradually relaxed, and he put the contract that he had just been holding on the desk in front of him with a serious expression. Looking at the agent, he said, "Joe, you should know how bad this contract is. So, can you tell me what happened?"
Jonathan looked at the contract that Simon pushed a little bit toward him. , after all, still did not reach out to take it.
After a moment of silence, Jonathan said, "Simon, did I tell you before? I hope to make this movie a packaged project."
Simon nodded but did not speak.
Jonathan paused for a moment, glanced at Simon, and then said: "From the contacts during this period, I think you are clear about many things in Hollywood now. CAA's operation strategy through project packaging has threatened our company Status in Hollywood. Some time ago, many top stars of WMA jumped to CAA because of this. Therefore, to avoid being so passive, WMA also intends to follow the business model of CAA Your "Butterfly Effect" happened to be launched by us. The first packaging project."
Simon quickly weaved everything he had just experienced and many clues these days in his mind, and continued with a wry smile: "Very unsuccessful, right?"
Although he didn't want to admit it, Jonathan nodded. , said: "CAA's packaging strategy not only leads to higher and higher budget costs for studios but also deprives a large part of the power that originally belonged to film and television production companies. The scale of WMA is still several times larger than that of CAA. If the same start With the implementation of the packaged operation model, the studio's right to speak in front of the brokerage company will become lower and lower. Therefore, several major film companies are connected in this and want to stir up problems for this project together."
Simon looked at the draft contract share of Fox that was still in front of him. but did not ask what happened.
Although several major Hollywood studios often agree on certain things because of some common interests, they are still competitors after all. What's more, considering the content of the contract, Simon didn't think Fox was very generous in agreeing to take over the WMA package.
His thoughts were running fast, thinking of Norman Broca who had just appeared, Simon raised his head, looked at the opposite agent again, and tentatively said with a certain degree of certainty: "Joe, I suddenly feel that Mr. Broca didn't want this hope this project to be successful, right?"
With WMA still far surpassing CAA's solid background, if the company is determined to forcibly promote this project, several major Hollywood film companies will be the compromising party in the end.
After all, CAA has successfully promoted the packaging model. Even if the major studios are very reluctant, they are not so difficult to accept under the forcible pressure of WMA.
However, judging from the content of the stingy contract just now, WMA is obviously the party that made a compromise, and it was a compromise at the expense of the interests of its customers.
Jonathan was stunned when he heard Simon's words. He didn't expect Simon's intuition to be so sharp.
However, after a while, a bitter smile appeared on Jonathan's face, and he finally nodded slightly. Of course, he didn't explain anything to Simon either. The power struggle within the company was seen through by a young man who had just turned eighteen years old. After all, it was not a glorious thing.
Simon saw that Jonathan had acquiesced in this matter, remembered the depressed mood that had been pervading the agent since the meeting today, though for a while, and said: "Joe, since everyone does not want to see this project succeed, then, do you think it's okay? Is it necessary to continue? Judging from the contract in front of me, Brian and the others should be paid very harshly."
"Simon, you don't understand," Jonathan shook his head, he had completely stopped unknowingly.
Taking Simon as a teenager who just turned eighteen years old, he explained patiently: "I just said that "Butterfly Effect" happened to be the first packaged project of WMA, and many people in Hollywood are watching. Therefore, if the first attempt fails, it will become more difficult for WMA to promote this operational strategy again. So, even if it is not successful, they will not allow this project to fail. Otherwise..."
Jonathan said Here but did not continue. After pausing for a moment, looking at the energetic young man on the opposite side, he suddenly changed the conversation again, with a bit of vicissitude in his tone, and said, "Simon, do you know? I joined WMA at the age of 19, and I am 46 years old this year. 27 years old. , only to get to where I am now. This process is not easy."
What Jonathan has not said is that although he has been promoted to vice president, he has not yet received any authority. The WMA board of directors has been discussing this thing for a while now.
He came up with the idea of making "The Butterfly Effect" a packaged project, also to give himself some leverage in the process of power allocation.
However, what he did not expect is that now this project has completely put him in a dilemma.
It is completely impossible to do well.
But if it messes up, even if the vice president position he just won is not removed, it is likely to be left directly on the sidelines, leaving only an empty title. Even, he is not sure if the old men in the company who are very good at power struggle will directly kick him out of WMA.
Therefore, from yesterday afternoon to the present, Jonathan had the urge to give up this project completed more than once. But he finally endured and even had to deliberately accommodate the various demands of his immediate boss, Norman Broca.
Simon felt the desire for understanding in Jonathan's eyes, nodded very sincerely, and said, "Joe, I understand."
Simon can understand Jonathan's difficulty.
As the oldest brokerage company in Hollywood, WMA has been operating for nearly a century. The internal system has long been very rigid, and the change of power is completely based on seniority, and it is very slow.
In the first half of the year, the three helms of WMA who passed away one after another were seventy or eighty-year-old old men. These people are just like the ancient emperors, who are not willing to completely let go of the power in their hands until old age and death.
In such a company, even if there is no lack of personal strength and network support, it is extremely difficult for a person to ascend to a high position.
It is precise because of this that people such as Michael Ovitz who could not see the upward channel at that time would choose to leave the WMA and become independent.
Not everyone has the courage of Michael Ovitz and others, though.
What's more, if it wasn't fortunate that a more advanced packaging operation model was created, the former CAA might have disappeared into obscurity like many other brokerage companies trying to challenge the authority of WMA in this century.
Simon in his previous life also stepped into the director's position from the bottom step by step.
Therefore, he can deeply appreciate the weakness and helplessness of a single individual in a highly competitive company or industry facing the constraints of rules.
Bystanders always wonder why the people in the game do not resist the injustice, why do they compromise? Even if you can't do this, why not just jump out of this circle?
Innocent, they don't know what kind of doom a person will fall into if they don't have enough strength to challenge the rules.
Feeling Simon's understanding eyes, Jonathan's inner frustration dissipated a little.
However, looking at the contract on the table, Jonathan sighed again in his heart, but he still had to continue: "So, Simon, about this contract?"
Simon weighed for a moment, and did not answer Jonathan's question directly, but Looking at the agent's tone, he asked seriously, "Joe, if you don't consider other factors, do you still want this project to continue?
"I would rather not have the idea of turning this script into a packaged project at all."
"Then, this matter is solved very easily," Simon leaned back in the chair behind him shaking his head, In a firm tone, he said word by word: "So, I disagree."
Jonathan immediately understood Simon's intention.
The "Butterfly Effect" script still belongs to Simon after all. If the boy doesn't accept the contract in front of him, the whole project can't continue anyway.
Moreover, Simon rejected the contract with great fanfare, causing the project to abort. Then, as long as he handles it properly, although some twists and turns are inevitable after all, he can largely blame for the failure of the project Simon.
Jonathan even came up with some rhetoric in a split second.
What can I do for a stunned young man who can't get enough oil and salt?
However, Simon did this, and he was destined to face a lot of pressure in the future. After all, it is completely easy for Hollywood's largest talent agency to clean up a fledgling screenwriter.
However, for this talented young man, Jonathan also instinctively did not want him to fall into this situation.
Thinking so, Jonathan had already stood up from the leather chair and looked at the teenager in front of him and urged eagerly: "Simon, you'd better Don't do it. Even if it's for your own sake."
Simon shook his head firmly again, got up and said, "Joe, I know it's not easy for you to get here, but I also have my persistence. You have to know that a person cannot live without his perseverance. So, that's all I can help you with. Tell those people that I don't agree. Then, it's over."
Simon finished, again Nodding to Jonathan, he turned and walked towards the office door.
Opening the door, Simon stopped again, turned his head to look at the agent who was still standing there, and said, "Also, Joe, if possible, I hope to terminate the agency contract with you in the next few days, Of course, if it doesn't work, I will think of other ways."
Watching Simon leave, Jonathan stood silently for a long time, repeating what Simon just said in his mind.
A person cannot live without his perseverance.
these years.
so many years.
How much persistence is left of the young man who was also full of longing for the future?
Is it worth persevering?
Sitting down again, Jonathan supported the table with both hands, feeling a long-lost tremor in his limbs, mixed with fear of the future and fearlessness. These emotions are like a burning flame, dispelling all the frustration and depression that he had accumulated from yesterday afternoon to the present.
Finally, taking a deep breath, Jonathan Friedman picked up the microphone, pressed the landline in Norman Broca's office, and said directly after dialling: "Norman, I thought about it, "The Butterfly Effect" "This project ends here, I can't treat my client like that."
After saying this, Jonathan hung up the phone before Norman Broca could respond.
Ignoring the ringing of the landline that had rung again in the blink of an eye, Jonathan opened the safe at his feet and packed the address book, memos and other documents that were very important to an agent and stuffed them into his briefcase. Leaving WMA headquarters.
Jonathan made this move, not intending to leave the WMA directly.
In any case, as long as he can stay, he will still choose to stay. After all, this company has all kinds of relationships and connections that it has been running for more than two decades.
However, since the call just now had been made, Jonathan had also prepared for the worst.
Although the decision to remove his position requires the board of directors, Jonathan does not dare to take the risk that Norman Broca will not forcibly turn his face.
However, as long as these things in the briefcase are taken out of the company and a complete backup is made, even if he faces the worst situation of being kicked out of the company, he can pull a lot of people to change jobs together.
With the client resources accumulated over the years, neither CAA nor ICM will reject him, and even if he set up his own brokerage company alone, there is no problem.