Negotiation is a skill that producers must master, and negotiating with actors or their agents is a task that is frequently encountered.
As a commercial negotiation, it not only needs to comply with commercial regulations but also to operate within the framework set by industry standards.
This is where Ronan's study of the "Entertainment Act" and industry regulations comes into play.
Although he has hired professional entertainment lawyers to assist in negotiations, if he himself does not even understand the basics, it would be a complete shot in the dark.
Fortunately, "The Human Eradication Plan" has not signed with any union, making it a non-union project, so there's no need to bother with the tedious regulations of the unions.
The unions here are not just for show; they can be quite troublesome when they decide to cause trouble.
In fact, many people in the crew are union members, and strictly speaking, the union restricts them from taking non-union projects, but for such small projects, the union couldn't care less.
The independent film industry itself is quite chaotic.
Woody Allen, for example, has not joined any Hollywood union and still collaborates with members of various unions.
"Mr. Anderson, fifty thousand dollars is not unreasonable."
In the office, a middle-aged blonde woman who bears a slight resemblance to Amanda Sevfeld sat on the sofa, smiling and saying, "Amanda is not a newcomer to the industry; she's worth that price."
Facing the sky-high asking price, Ronan remained calm and said slowly, "Mrs. Sevfeld, this price is too high."
Mrs. Sevfeld, remembering the admiring look the other party gave her daughter during the audition yesterday, said, "The crew plans to shoot for two months, so let's calculate based on sixty days. It's just a little higher than the minimum wage set by the actors' union."
Ronan didn't directly refute but instead said, "Miss Sevfeld, as far as I know, Miss Amanda Sevfeld is not a member of the three major actors' unions. "The Human Eradication Plan" is her first actual involvement in film and television."
Mrs. Sevfeld continued, "The crew must comply with the rules of the union."
Ronan smiled, "The Human Eradication Plan" hasn't signed with the actors' union. Regarding salary, there's no need to follow the union's regulations. Mrs. Sevfeld, are you an agent?"
The union also stipulates that members must obtain work through agents.
Mrs. Sevfeld insisted, "I am Amanda's manager!" Strictly speaking, managers cannot obtain work for clients, so she quickly changed the subject, "Amanda has been a child model since she was 11 and has shot many children's advertisements, very popular. Mr. Anderson, I have seen all the child actors who auditioned."
She invoked the trump card of her observations, "Is there anyone cuter or more likable than Amanda?"
Ronan didn't care about the distinction between a manager and an agent but waited for her to continue.
Mrs. Sevfeld answered her own question, "No!"
This was obvious, and Ronan didn't refute, nodding, "You have a point."
"Forty thousand dollars!" Mrs. Sevfeld's face was serious, but inwardly, she was laughing. She knew this guy admired her daughter during the audition yesterday, and it showed. She emphasized, "With Amanda's conditions, she deserves a corresponding fee."
Amanda Sevfeld's appearance is indeed good, but Ronan wasn't foolish. He said, "Miss Sevfeld should indeed receive a fee that matches her."
Mrs. Sevfeld breathed a sigh of relief; it was done!
Young people, just twenty years old, lack experience. When they see something or someone they like, they tend to be biased.
Ronan looked at Mrs. Sevfeld, recalling the information Robert Lee had provided. He remained exceptionally calm.
Why would someone let children as young as ten or even younger enter the entertainment industry? For what?
If they come from an entertainment family, there's not much to say; they already have resources and connections, making it a relatively easy path in the entertainment industry.
But for ordinary people, ninety-nine percent do it for one thing—money!
Comparatively, Mrs. Sevfeld was more responsible. Parents like Macaulay Culkin's...
Child stars encountering such parents are more than just unfortunate.
Ronan still wore a smile on his face, not directly refuting but slowly stating facts, "Amanda Sevfeld has only appeared in advertisements, and the longest one lasted only two months. Moreover, she has never been a brand spokesperson."
Hearing this, Mrs. Sevfeld's relaxed face immediately tensed up.
Ronan continued, "She has never appeared in any TV or film, so her fame is non-existent."
Mrs. Sevfeld was subconsciously trying to refute but didn't know what to say because everything the other party said was true.
Ronan took out a form that had just been fabricated this morning from the drawer and handed it to Mrs. Sevfeld, starting to mix truths with lies, "After the audition yesterday, I sent someone to do a sampling survey at five crowded places in Los Angeles. A total of 457 people participated, and without exception, none of them recognized Amanda Sevfeld."
He said calmly, "In other words, Amanda Sevfeld has no fame and currently does not have the ability to attract audiences to the film."
Mrs. Sevfeld looked through the survey form, her face changing constantly.
"For the film industry, Amanda Sevfeld is a complete newcomer." Ronan calmly recounted the facts, "She doesn't even have the resume of a temporary actor."
Mrs. Sevfeld was speechless for a moment; this young man was not like he was yesterday.
Then, she took a sharp breath. While Ronan didn't directly refute, through his indirect arguments, he dismantled all the so-called advantages she had mentioned, leaving her speechless.
This wasn't a twenty-year-old young man; he was clearly an old fox who was proficient in negotiation!
With the negotiation firmly under Ronan's control, Mrs. Sevfeld couldn't help but ask, "How much do you plan to pay Amanda?"
Ronan replied directly, "Six thousand dollars." He smiled, "Based on a sixty-day shoot, that's a hundred dollars a day."
Mrs. Sevfeld immediately said, "That's too low. Amanda is one of the main actors. Shouldn't she participate in promotion when the film is released?"
In most cases, the production company pays actors a fixed fee, which includes not only the salary for performing services but also compensation for all related promotional activities, such as attending press conferences, interviews, photo shoots, producing promotional videos and trailers, and conducting publicity in new and old media.
"If you don't want to participate, I won't force it." Ronan's smile was friendly, but he hit the other party's sore spot directly, "This is an R-rated film, and Amanda Sevfeld's age is not suitable for participating in promotional marketing."
When this was said, Mrs. Sevfeld became a little anxious, "The crew can't exclude Amanda from the promotional plan!"
Promotion helps increase visibility, which is directly linked to future rewards.
When Ronan needed to be straightforward, he wouldn't beat around the bush. He raised a finger and said, "Ten thousand dollars! This is the final offer. If we can't reach an agreement, I can only say it's a pity."
The project's real budget is limited, so they can only try to compress the actor's expenses.
He added, "I guarantee that Miss Sevfeld will not shoot for more than six hours a day. The crew will specially hire a home tutor for her and prevent her from participating in any dangerous or potentially harmful activities."
When negotiations are urgent and relaxed, unexpected results often occur. "Madam, as the legal guardian, you can accompany the entire shoot, and you will receive the treatment of a normal crew member. All of this can be written into the contract."
This means all expenses for food, lodging, and travel won't come out of her pocket? Mrs. Sevfeld finally showed a smile, "Alright."
The fee was settled, but for the most troublesome actor treatment within the crew, this negotiation had just begun.