Brandon stepped out of the recording booth, his eyes adjusting to the brighter light of the control room. He ran a hand through his silver-grey hair, slightly damp with sweat from the intensity of his performance.
As he looked up, he found himself face-to-face with E.L.
The director's eyes were wide open, his jaw slack, staring at Brandon as if he'd just witnessed a miracle.
The intensity of his gaze made Brandon feel like he was being undressed.
A chill ran down Brandon's spine.
He'd seen that look before—usually on the faces of lovestruck fans or infatuated groupies. But seeing it on the face of an old man was... unsettling.
E.L. suddenly lurched forward, grabbing both of Brandon's hands in his own.
"My boy," he breathed, his voice trembling with emotion.
"That was... that was pure genius! The way you captured the essence of my film, the raw emotion, the vulnerability... it's perfect! Absolutely perfect!"
Brandon felt his cheeks flush. He gently tried to extricate his hands from the director's grip, but E.L. held on tight, his eyes never leaving Brandon's face.
"Mr. Leclerc, I—" Brandon began, but the director cut him off.
"No, no! You don't understand. This is exactly what I've been searching for. The depth, the passion... you've given voice to my vision!"
Brandon managed to pull one hand free, using it to pat E.L.'s shoulder awkwardly. "I'm glad you like it," he said, trying to maintain his composure.
"But the song's not done yet. I still need to run it through post-production. This was just a rough cut to give you an idea."
E.L. finally released Brandon's other hand, but his eyes remained fixed on the young musician's face.
"An idea? My boy, you've given me more than an idea. You've given me perfection!"
Brandon took a deep breath, composing himself.
"Mr. Leclerc, why don't we take a seat and discuss the details of this arrangement?"
E.L. nodded as he waved a hand, "I told you, call me E.L…"
His eyes still gleaming with excitement as they moved to the plush leather couch in the corner of the studio.
"Now," Brandon began, his voice steady and professional,
"I'm thrilled you're so pleased with the song. Let's talk about how we can make this work for both of us."
E.L. leaned forward, his hands clasped together.
"My boy, I want to buy out the song and all its rights. I'm prepared to offer you five million dollars."
Brandon's eyebrows shot up, but he quickly schooled his expression. He shook his head slowly.
"I appreciate the generous offer, E.L., but I can't sell out the song completely. I can give you commercial rights to use it for your film, but BMG needs to retain ownership."
E.L.'s brow furrowed.
"But why? Surely five million is more than fair?"
"It's not about the money,"
Brandon explained, choosing his words carefully.
"BMG is in a period of rebuilding, and every song is crucial to our strategy. We have big plans, and this track is part of that."
Brandon paused, considering his next move.
"How about this? We'll license it to you for a million dollars."
E.L. stroked his chin, his eyes narrowing.
"Alright, I can work with that. But I have a counter-proposal. I'll still give you the five million, but in return, I want you to perform live during the film's showcase."
Brandon's mind raced, weighing the pros and cons.
On one hand, the exposure from a high-profile film showcase could be invaluable for their new streaming platform. It would put him in front of industry bigwigs and potentially open doors for BMG. Plus, the extra four million would be a nice boost for the company's coffers.
On the other hand, associating himself too closely with Leclerc's controversial film could be risky. What if this wasn't exactly the 50 Shades of Grey he knew of from Earth and it flops?
'Earned it was definitely a big hit, I don't remember how 50 Shades of Grey did in the box office though…'
E.L. continued, interrupting Brandon's thoughts.
"I've never filmed a music video before, but for this song, I'd like to. It could serve as a trailer for the movie as well."
Brandon's eyes widened slightly.
A music video directed by a legendary Hollywood director?
That could be a game-changer and more important… extra press.
Brandon leaned back, his mind racing with calculations and possibilities.
He took a deep breath, then met E.L.'s eager gaze.
"I have a counter-proposal," he said, his voice steady.
"How about we settle on 3 million instead of 5? I'll take 2 million as payment for creating the music video, but I'd like to maintain the rights to it. Of course, you're free to use it to advertise your film as you see fit."
He paused, watching E.L.'s reaction carefully.
"I apologize if I sound unreasonable. I'm not sure if you've heard about my pledge—"
E.L. held up a hand, interrupting Brandon with a gleam in his eye.
"My boy, there's no need to explain. I've heard all about your ambitious plans to revolutionize the entire industry. And let me tell you, I have faith that you'll succeed."
Brandon nodded, a mix of relief and determination washing over him.
"Thank you for understanding. We have great plans, and having full control of the new wave of music we're creating is absolutely essential."
E.L. stared at Brandon, his brow furrowed in thought.
The silence stretched between them, tension building in the air.
Then, slowly, a smile spread across the director's face. He nodded, the excitement in his eyes unmistakable.
"I agree to your terms," E.L. said, his voice filled with admiration.
"I'm honored to be a part of your movement. This is the beginning of something truly extraordinary, I can feel it."
E.L. reached into his pocket, pulling out a sleek smartphone. His fingers danced across the screen, tapping away with surprising dexterity for a man his age.
Brandon watched, curiosity piqued, as the director's face lit up with a mischievous grin.
"My boy," E.L. said, his voice brimming with excitement, "I believe this calls for a celebration. And what better way to celebrate than by sharing our good news with the world?"
He turned the phone towards Brandon, revealing a Twitter post on the screen. Brandon leaned in, his eyes scanning the text:
[ @ELLeclerc
Thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership with @BMG's 13 for the official soundtrack of my upcoming film masterpiece. Get ready for a cinematic and musical experience like no other! #BMG #13 #ComingSoon ]
Brandon's eyebrows shot up, a mix of surprise and admiration crossing his face. The old director had moved fast, sealing their deal with a public announcement before the ink was even dry.
"Well," Brandon said, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips,
"I guess there's no backing out now, is there?"
E.L. chuckled, his eyes twinkling with delight.
"My dear boy, in this industry, you must strike while the iron is hot. And right now, you're the hottest thing in town."