"Look! It's Ben Stiller!"
An actor auditioning for a minor role suddenly whispered, and the entire waiting area quickly became restless.
After all, it was *Ben Stiller*!
In 1998, his lead role in *There's Something About Mary* grossed $369 million globally, and his movie *Meet the Parents* this year raked in another $300 million worldwide.
That says enough.
More importantly, Ben Stiller wasn't just a top Hollywood actor; he was also a mid-tier screenwriter and second-tier director.
His directorial debut *The Cable Guy* came out in 1996 and earned $100 million globally.
Although much of the credit goes to Jim Carrey's immense popularity, the fact that Stiller directed a movie starring Carrey says a lot about his abilities.
A typical A-list actor might not warrant this much attention, but a second-tier director is a different story.
Directors usually have a significant say in casting decisions.
Among the group, only Naomi and a few others remained calm.
They didn't understand Wayne's system, so from their perspective, Hemerra Productions had independently financed and produced several medium- and large-budget films in just a few months. Though it was still a mid-sized production company in terms of scale, the sheer number of films it produced far surpassed typical companies of its size.
Usually, mid-tier production companies make about two or three films with decent budgets a year.
But Hemerra Productions had made four films in just four months, with *Resident Evil 1* and *2* about to start filming. This clearly demonstrated Hemerra's deep financial resources, rivaling even DreamWorks, which was just behind the "Big Seven" studios.
DreamWorks certainly wouldn't be able to independently finance *The Bourne Identity* with a $55 million budget while also funding *Resident Evil 1 & 2* with $65 million.
So, Naomi and the others firmly believed that as long as they stuck close to Wayne, they'd never be short on acting opportunities.
While other actors eagerly tried to approach Ben Stiller for an autograph or to make an impression, Naomi and her group stayed put, unfazed.
At most, they were just curious about how much Ben Stiller was getting paid.
"From what I know, isn't Ben Stiller currently filming his new movie *Zoolander*? I heard he's writing, directing, and starring in it. How does he have time to appear in *Resident Evil*?" Naomi turned to Mike, a bit curious.
"Isn't it because Wayne offered too much?" Mike shrugged. "I heard that *Zoolander* has a production budget of around $15 million. Stiller is writing, directing, and acting, and he's only getting $5 million plus 10% of the box office."
"Even if the film grosses $300 million globally like *Meet the Parents*, his total earnings would only be $20 million."
"And hitting $300 million globally is no easy feat."
"Meanwhile, playing the male lead in *Resident Evil 1* not only gives him less screen time but also nets him $14 million. Of course, he wouldn't turn it down."
"So even if it delays post-production on *Zoolander* a bit, it's totally worth it, right?"
Naomi, along with Anne and the others who had been quietly listening in, gasped in shock.
"$14 million?! That's way too much!" Megan exclaimed.
It was understandable, though.
Take Zhang Ziyi, for example. Despite her success as the second female lead in *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon* and her connection with Wayne, she only earned $1 million for her role as Ada Wong in *Resident Evil 1*.
Naomi, despite her starring role in *Gifted*, was only being offered $1 million for her audition as the third female lead in *Resident Evil 2*.
As for newcomer Eva Green, even though she was playing the second female lead in *Resident Evil 2*, she was only getting $150,000, which was already the maximum allowed by the system.
Megan didn't even have the confidence to compete with Naomi and Anne.
In comparison, Ben Stiller's $14 million fee was more than what they could earn from a dozen films combined.
"Well, he's a huge star. So, ladies, work hard! Stick with Wayne, and you'll earn that much one day too!" Mike tried to motivate them.
Unfortunately, it didn't have much effect.
They knew enough about the industry to realize that female stars in Hollywood earning $14 million for a role was exceedingly rare. Even those who made $10 million were few and far between.
Even with Wayne's help, there was no guarantee they'd ever reach that level.
Fame requires more than just resources and opportunities; it often takes luck.
Just then, Mike noticed a change in the atmosphere. All of the women suddenly perked up and turned toward the entrance.
Even the actors who had been surrounding Ben Stiller quieted down and turned to look.
Curious, Mike followed their gaze and realized why: Charlize Theron had arrived.
No wonder.
Even Anne, known for her vanity, had to admit that Charlize Theron was just as beautiful as she was. Theron was one of the few top-tier beauties in all of Hollywood.
At 177 cm, with a body and presence that rivaled top models, Theron stood out even among the crowd of beautiful women.
Although she wasn't as famous as Ben Stiller, Theron was still a well-known second-tier Hollywood actress.
Despite her relatively young age, she had already played leading roles in several big-budget films and worked with stars like Tom Hanks, Keanu Reeves, and Will Smith.
Her experience was on par with Ben Stiller, who was ten years her senior.
The only thing holding her back was the lack of a breakthrough role to prove she could carry a film on her own, which is why she wasn't as well-known as Kate Winslet or Julia Roberts.
But now, she had landed the lead role in *Resident Evil*!
The fact that *Resident Evil* was set to have five to seven sequels wasn't exactly a secret. Anyone in the industry could find out with a bit of digging.
Being the lead in a major franchise would significantly boost her popularity and status.
(End of the chapter)