Hollywood Hunter

After leaving Paramount headquarters, Jonathan Friedman dismissed the idea of ​​visiting several other studios, and instead decided to rush back to WMA to discuss countermeasures with the company's senior management.

To curb the continued development and growth of C+, it is imperative for WMA to follow the other party's implementation of the project packaging model.

Now that several major Hollywood film companies have connected in series to prevent WMA from doing so, then WMA should be strong enough to push the matter forward. However, to do this, company management must first reach an agreement and work together.

Although it is very clear from the bottom of my heart, it is not easy for WMA, which is lined with mountains, to do this. Jonathan Friedman still conceived some rhetoric in detail when he returned to the company.

However, just after returning to the company headquarters on Camino Street, Jonathan Friedman was stopped by Norman Broca's assistant and led him to the WMA president's office.

When he came to Norman Broca's office, before the old man sitting behind his desk was flipping through a document, Jonathan Friedman couldn't wait to say: "Norman, things have changed."

Norman Broca raised his hand and made a gesture of peace and tranquility, motioning Jonathan to sit first, and then said: "I already know that the studios are passing through each other and want to resist the "Butterfly Effect." But. , The matter has been resolved."

Jonathan Friedman looked puzzled: "Resolved?"

Norman Broca nodded, picked a document from his hand, and handed it to Jonathan Friedman, who sat down opposite him, and said: "I have dinner with Ronald Goldberg at noon, he told Mine. Also, Fox is very interested in this film. They don't mind the package agreement. So, we roughly agreed on a cooperation plan at noon. You can take a look first."

"Butterfly Effect" is a project promoted by himself. Hearing that Norman Broca reached an agreement with Fox without discussing with him at all, Jonathan Friedman was a little unhappy, but he took the document and opened it.

Looking at the cooperation plan page by page, Jonathan Friedman's brows frowned.

WMA originally planned a very complete production team, from the core creators such as producers, directors, and leading actors and actresses to peripheral staff such as photographers and lighting engineers. This is also the result of the coordination of Jonathan Friedman's busy weeks.

In the plan, the budgeted cost of the entire packaged project is 15 million U.S. dollars, and WMA uniformly draws 10% of the budget as a commission.

Now, this obviously compressed project plan only has a budget of 12 million US dollars. The WMA package is not only left with a few core creators, but the salary of most customers has also been reduced.

Two clients under his own name, Brian de Palma’s director’s remuneration was reduced to 1.5 million US dollars, and Simon’s script remuneration was still US$100,000 to buy out two scripts. In addition, WMA no longer collects commissions from the entire project, but settles separately with individual customers according to the usual practice.

Moreover, what makes Jonathan Friedman most uncomfortable is that as the star in the hands of Norman Broka, Matthew Broderick's salary is still $5 million.

He threw the unfinished cooperation plan to Norman Broca's desk. Jonathan Friedman suppressed the dissatisfaction in his heart and said: "Norman, is such a cooperation plan still a package contract? "

Norman Broca put down the pen in his hand and said, "Of course, you have to know that the original packaging contract signed by C+ with the studio is far inferior to yours."

Jonathan Friedman took a deep breath in silence, not knowing whether he wanted to cry or laugh.

Even now, the scale of WMA is still far beyond C+.

But the person in front of him, the president of the world's largest talent agency giant, compares his own company with the C+ that was a small workshop many years ago.

Norman Broca looked at Jonathan Friedman and saw that his expression changed, his tone of voice could not help but be a bit more earnest, and said: "Joe, I know what you think, but many things need to be done slowly. . And, you have to understand that the company’s current situation is very bad, so I hope you can take care of the overall situation."

Jonathan Friedman's right hand on his knee could not help but clenched a fist.

Take care of the overall situation?

Ah.

If it is not for the overall situation, the entire project should be on its own.

Just to take care of the overall situation, I only retained the director and screenwriter and gave up all the other quotas.

right now.

How can I take care of the overall situation?

Thinking bitterly in his heart, Jonathan Friedman said coldly: "Norman, even so, why is the salary of other people reduced, but Matthew's salary is still so high? In any case, I can't tell my own Customer account."

Facing Jonathan’s straightforward question, Norman Broca’s expression did not change at all, and he patiently said: "Joe, I think you know the situation of Brian better than anyone, so I will pay him 1.5 million dollars. There is nothing wrong with that. As for that, um, that screenwriter, didn’t you say that he was only eighteen years old? For an eighteen-year-old boy, 100,000 US dollars is already very generous. Now you have this news. Tell him, I guess that little guy will definitely jump up happily."

Jonathan Friedman recalled his contact with Simon during this period, and he was quite sure that the young man could not jump up after hearing the news. Even if he did jump up, it would definitely not be because of happiness.

Norman Broca saw that Jonathan didn’t speak, he thought about it and said again: “Well, Joe, this is a good start after all. So, as long as this project is successful, I will approve an extra bonus to you at the end of the year. how about it?"

Jonathan Friedman remained silent. After a while, he got up and said, "Norman, I need to think about it."

Norman Broca also got up, walked around the desk, patted Jonathan Friedman on the shoulder, and said: "Fox wants to sign as soon as possible, so you will give me an answer tomorrow. Right."

Jonathan Friedman nodded mechanically, turned and left Norman Broca's office.

When the office door was closed, the pleasant color on Norman Broca's face immediately disappeared. For Jonathan, who was promoted to the vice president relying on the relationship of WMA chairman Lu Weis, he actually looked down upon him very much.

Among the eight vice presidents of WMA, Jonathan Friedman is basically ranked last.

For the packaging plan proposed by Jonathan Friedman, not only the major Hollywood studios are afraid, Norman Broca also does not want the project to be too successful. If Jonathan Friedman becomes the forerunner of the company's internal reforms because of the "Butterfly Effect" packaging project, the other party's prestige and status in WMA will definitely increase significantly, and even threaten its own status.

Jonathan Friedman did not immediately agree, and Norman Broca also roughly understood what the opponent would do after they left.

After arriving at the desk and sitting down, Norman Broca immediately picked up the phone, pressed the call button and said to the secretary to the outside: "Give me Stevens."

Jonathan Friedman returned to his office, leaning back in a leather chair somewhat depressed.

I don’t know how long it took, Jonathan Friedman was trying to cheer up and call the WMA chairman Lu Weis, who is far away from the East Coast New York headquarters, hoping to promote himself from the old boss. With some support, the phone on his desk rang first.

When the call was connected, it was unexpectedly that Lou Weis called.

The two talked for more than ten minutes, and Jonathan Friedman put down the microphone in his hand, and his expression became a little more frustrated.

As WMA's first packaging attempt, Jonathan Friedman had just thought about this idea for a short time, and he had actually talked with Lou Weiss on the phone. Although he is on the east coast, Lou Weis is also very concerned about this project.

However, Lou Weis did not mean to support Jonathan Friedman just now. Instead, he hoped that he could complete the "Butterfly Effect" project as soon as possible, and not to have extra troubles. In the end, he also said that WMA's internal turmoil is not going to start, and he still hopes that he can take care of the overall situation.

Faced with this situation, Jonathan Friedman also understood.

Norman Broca must have communicated with several other senior executives and even the board of directors in advance. And, after all, after working at WMA for so many years, Jonathan Friedman even faintly realized that Norman Broca didn't want to see "Butterfly Effect" as a package project that was too successful.

Now, perhaps the company's chairman Lu Weis, CEO Lee Stevens, and even the WMA board members have reached a unified opinion on this matter.

In the face of a large group of conservatives who have not much self-motivated, if you want to force this matter to go on, it may only be counterproductive, and you may even lose the position of vice president you just won.

Suddenly I was a little envious of C+, there was only Michael Ovitz.

In this case.

Then take care of the overall situation.

With a somewhat self-deprecating smile, Jonathan Friedman pressed the landline call button again and told his assistant to call Simon to leave a message and ask him to come to WMA tomorrow. Then he dialed Brian de Palma's phone personally.

The 7-11 convenience store is open 24 hours a day. During this time, Simon has already started shifts.

It happened to be the night shift on Tuesday.

Work from 11 o'clock in the evening until 7 o'clock the next morning.

After the shift in the morning, after having breakfast, Simon rode back to the hotel. Hearing the message on the phone from WMA, he took a short break for an hour before hurried to Beverly Hills.

Coming to the outside of Jonathan's office familiarly, a few minutes before 10 o'clock, I had to chat with Irving Wright outside, and Jonathan's office door was opened.

Simon stopped talking with Owen Wright, turned and looked at him, and he happened to look at the young man who came out first, but it was Matthew Broderick.

Jonathan also walked out and saw Simon, he immediately smiled mildly and said, "Simon, you came right in time. Now, this is Matthew Broderick. He will be the actor of "Butterfly Effect" right away. You all They are young people, and there will definitely be many common languages ​​in the future."

Simon hasn’t responded yet. Matthew Broderick, who had a suspicious expression on his face, has understood at this time, but he has not given any face to Jonathan Friedman. He said with a cold face: "Joe, I am not with this person. What common language will there be."

After that, Matthew Broderick glanced at Simon again, turned around, and walked out into the corridor.