In the lobby of the WMA headquarters in Century City, Beverly Hills, many partners, including Whitesell and Jim Witt, had gathered to await the day's central figure, the company's most important actor, Martin Davis.
On one side of the hall, Thomas personally inspected Martin's attire and remarked, "Perfect."
A subtle melancholic air surrounded Martin, as if he carried a burden of concern.
Thomas took a step back and suggested, "I think it's a bit too serious."
Martin's brow relaxed slightly, and the stern expression on his face eased as he asked, "How about this?"
"Perfect!" Thomas gestured, adding, "Just right."
He turned to Bruce and inquired, "Bruce, what do you think?"
Bruce observed carefully and replied, "It's the right choice for the current moment."
Martin made his way to the door, stating, "It's already 2008, and I need to prepare for the promotion of 'The Dark Knight.'"
Thomas knew his clients were top-tier stars, and he took the initiative to help the crew draw attention.
Meanwhile, Martin waited inside the lounge.
On the temporary stage in the hall, Ari Emanuel approached the microphone and began, "At the start of 2008, WMA faced a critical moment, reaching an agreement with our most vital client to continue our collaboration."
He raised his voice with enthusiasm, "We have a star who has transcended from a fledgling actor to a leading figure in just four years. His salary skyrocketed from $100,000 to $15 million. Be it industry insiders or critics, he's recognized as the epitome of the younger generation of actors! With an Oscar nomination and artistic growth, he has headlined four films with over $100 million box office in North America in succession. His charisma is unmatched among the rising stars!" Ali pointed towards the lounge door, saying, "Please welcome Martin Davis!"
The audience erupted in warm applause.
Martin emerged from the lounge, waved to the crowd, and stepped onto the stage.
He took hold of the microphone and humbly said, "Thank you, Ari, for your kind words. It's quite an exaggeration."
After securing the necessary benefits in the contract, Martin didn't mind expressing his emotions, "I never contemplated leaving WMA. WMA was the first agency I signed with, and Thomas Lane was the first agent I ever had. He's been with me from the beginning, and I look forward to achieving even greater success with WMA."
Thomas stood at the edge of the stage, illuminated by the spotlight, beaming with pride.
Hearing Martin's last words, he stepped forward slightly. The weight of the agent's responsibility crossed his mind: If Martin were to leave WMA, it would be due to his agent's interference, straining the relationship between Martin and the agency. It wouldn't be Martin's doing.
CAA had reached out to Thomas, using their influence to pressure the company into offering Martin a superlative deal.
In the eyes of the company and Ari Emanuel, Thomas was deemed a traitor to WMA during the negotiation process.
But Thomas paid no heed.
As long as Martin continued to work with him, he remained a top-tier agent in the industry.
On stage, in the presence of representatives from the Screen Actors Guild, Martin signed a new three-year agency contract with WMA.
After the contracts were exchanged, Martin and Ari shared a firm handshake. Following the handshake, Ari embraced Martin warmly.
With genuine concern, Ari asked, "Are you in good spirits?"
Martin nodded and replied, "I faced some mental hurdles, but it's nothing major."
"Don't underestimate it," Ari cautioned, "Consider seeing a therapist in a timely manner."
The signing ceremony, bolstering company morale, concluded with a celebratory luncheon.
Martin descended from the stage, and his eyes met Thomas's nearly reflective forehead. They bumped fists, and Martin congratulated him, saying, "Congratulations, partner!" Seizing the opportunity to renew Martin's contract had brought Thomas tangible benefits, making him an official partner at WMA.
Thomas couldn't help but break into laughter when he tried to smile. The practical gains were so substantial that he found it hard to contain his joy.
However, Thomas remained level-headed, and he knew the source of all this. He declared, "Whatever the future holds, even if you ask me to do something as extreme as taking out an enemy like Brad Pitt, just give me the word!"
Martin chuckled and shook his head, saying, "We're all law-abiding citizens; we wouldn't engage in such deeds."
Thomas clarified, "It's just a metaphor."
Martin suggested, "Let's head to the hotel together."
Just outside WMA, Ari Emmanuel accepted an interview with reporters, announcing Martin's contract extension. In this new agency contract, Martin's salary included online revenue sharing, and the agency's commission was reduced to 5%.
Regarding the distribution of offline income, WMA would no longer follow the labor union-mandated split. During the one-year window of the film's offline market, Martin's brokerage share of offline income would be 4%. Afterward, it would decrease by one percent annually until it reached zero.
These terms were reserved for superstars.
WMA agreed to such conditions due to the significant pressure exerted by CAA through Thomas's frequent contacts. The management, led by Ali, was determined not to let CAA lure away valuable clients they had cultivated, especially those on the verge of super-stardom.
Furthermore, Martin's individual appeal was strong enough.
"The Reader," which began screening in November, initially showed in a single theater and later expanded to major metropolitan areas like Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago.
On its first weekend in North America, "The Reader" raked in $39,000 at a single theater, thanks to the ample seats in independent cinemas.
As the screenings expanded, the film's commercial aspects might not have been the strongest, but Martin's large fanbase ensured that the majority of seats in theaters were filled, often with fans sporting red Coca-Cola shirts.
Crucially, the film wasn't overly dull. Seeing Martin in action alongside the nearly bald Winslet, except for the vital areas, made the price of admission worthwhile.
"The Reader" garnered a sterling reputation, especially among Martin's fan base.
Many female admirers went wild after witnessing the marble-sculpture-like physique, posting glowing reviews and high ratings on movie websites.
For critics, films with such themes naturally earned an extra star in their ratings.
To this day, after 12 weeks of screenings, the film's reputation among audiences and media remained exceptionally high. MTC Media gave it an average rating of 85 points, and IMDB general audiences rated it 8.4.
The film's acclaim was the result of meticulous work by the crew and Warner Bros., in line with market expectations and mainstream media.
In 2008, "The Reader" expanded its North American screening presence to 1,566 theaters, accumulating a North American box office of $55.89 million.
During the awards season, it proved to be a trophy magnet.
Kate earned eight Best Actress awards across various categories, and even Martin, who rarely lobbied for votes in person, secured five Best Actor trophies, including the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award.
He came second only to Daniel Day-Lewis, who had nine.
Meanwhile, Martin found himself on the five-person shortlist for Best Actor at the Screen Actors Guild and Producers Guild awards.
He also received a nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series at the upcoming Golden Globe Awards in January.
Had Daniel Day-Lewis not been such an obstacle, and Martin was well aware of the Academy's unwavering admiration for Lewis, he would have already initiated his campaign for the Best Actor statuette.
After the noon cocktail party, Martin made an appearance at The Reader's latest celebration gathering in the afternoon.
These so-called celebration parties were more about formality and inviting numerous industry celebrities to boost public relations rather than actual revelry.
After engaging in all manner of socializing, even someone as poised as Martin felt mentally drained. He finally seized an opportunity to have a conversation with Kate Winslet, who was trying to stay upbeat.
"Once I returned, I had meetings with Nicholson and Warren Beatty first. I didn't hold any expectations of winning. A nomination would suffice for me," Martin had a long-term perspective, and he wasn't in a rush. However, Kate was different. He reminded her, "Cate Blanchett has been snubbed by various major awards. She didn't even receive a Screen Actors Guild nomination. There shouldn't be any significant competition. This year is your best chance."
"Thank you for helping me secure Cate Blanchett in advance," Kate expressed her gratitude towards Martin, believing that Martin had collaborated with Nicholson to secure Cate Blanchett's nomination just for her.
Martin had no reason to be secretive about it and openly stated, "I have no illusions about winning an award. The only chance for a significant win lies with you. If you win the Best Actress category, it will boost the film's sales. I've signed a profit-sharing agreement, so my earnings are directly tied to your victory."
"You're putting more pressure on me," Kate furrowed her brows and responded, "What will you do if I don't win?"
Martin playfully retorted, "I'll sell you off to Africa, and I'll calculate the price by the pound!"
Puzzled, Kate asked, "Why by the pound?"
Amused by his remark, Kate decided not to indulge him any further.
Martin effortlessly piqued her curiosity, saying, "Even though Cate Blanchett is no longer in the running, you should remain cautious, especially when it comes to the French."
Kate inquired, "You mean Marion Cotillard from 'La Vie en Rose'?"
Martin confirmed, "Yes, that's her. Keep an eye on her." In Martin's eyes and based on the information he had received from Warren Beatty, Kate surpassed Marion Cotillard in terms of qualifications, roles, performances, reputation, and publicity. However, he recalled that this French actress had won an Oscar before.
Kate nodded and assured, "I'll keep an eye on her."
It wasn't unprecedented for important Oscar awards to witness unexpected upsets.
Martin continued, "Don't get disheartened, or else no one will sympathize with you. They'll only mock you. Besides, the French may launch a new wave of daily ridicule."
Martin, with his provocative teasing, sought to ignite Kate's fighting spirit in order to secure a larger share of the profits.