Chapter 018

Jonathan Friedman walked heavily back to his office.

Pushing the door open, Simon got up and turned to himself, nodded to each other, turned back to his desk and sat down. Then he looked at the opposite boy again.

Simon noticed the strong dispirited breath of the agent and the guilt in his eyes. He gave up the intention of questioning the other party. His tone was still concerned: "Joe, what happened?"

Jonathan moved his lips, felt Simon's bright eyes, hesitated, and then said, "Simon, it's like this, Matthew. He doesn't want to cooperate with you very much, so Mr. Broca hopes that you can completely quit the butterfly effect next."

Simon's face didn't change much when he heard the words. He asked quietly, "well, Joe, what do you mean?"

Jonathan dodged Simon's eyes slightly, slowed down and said, "Simon, this time, I hope you'll agree. However, I can assure you that I will try my best to make it up to you when I have a chance. By the way, aren't you going to make an experimental movie? If you need anything, please let me know. If I don't have enough money, I can lend you some. "

Listening to the agent's words, Simon's tense body gradually relaxed, put the script he had just held in his hand on the desk in front of him, looked at the agent seriously and said, "Joe, you should know how bad this contract is. So, can you tell me what happened? "

Jonathan watched Simon push his contract, but he didn't reach for it.

After a moment's silence, Jonathan said, "Simon, did I tell you before? I want to make this film a packaged project. "

Simon nodded, but did not speak.

Jonathan pauses, takes a look at Simon, and then says, "I think you know a lot of things about Hollywood right now. CAA has threatened our company's position in Hollywood through the operation strategy of project packaging. Some time ago, many of wma's top stars left for CAA. So, in order to avoid being so passive all the time, wma also plans to follow the business model of CAA. Your "Butterfly Effect" is just the first packaging project we launched

Simon quickly weaves up everything he has just experienced and many clues about these days in his mind. He grins bitterly and says, "it's not successful, right?"

Although he didn't want to admit it, Jonathan nodded and said: "CAA's packaging strategy not only leads to higher and higher budget costs for studios, but also deprives a large part of the power originally belonging to film and television production companies. The scale of wma is still several times larger than that of CAA. If the packaging operation mode is also implemented, the studio's voice in front of the brokerage company will be lower and lower. Therefore, several major film companies have joined together to try to stir up the project

Simon looked at the draft contract with Fox, but didn't ask what happened.

Although the major Hollywood film companies often reach an agreement on certain matters because of some common interests, in the final analysis, they are still competitors. What's more, considering the content of the contract, Simon doesn't think fox is generous in agreeing to take over wma's packaging project.

Thinking of Norman Broca, Simon looked up, looked at the opposite agent again, and said with some certainty: "Joe, I suddenly feel that Mr. Broca doesn't want this project to be too successful, do you?"

Wma is still far more than CAA's solid foundation. If the company is determined to push forward the project, several major Hollywood film companies will definitely be the compromise party in the end.

After all, CAA has successfully promoted the packaging model. Even if major studios are very reluctant, it is not so difficult to accept it under the pressure of wma.

However, judging from the stingy contract just now, wma is obviously the one who has made a compromise, and it has made a compromise at the expense of its customers.

Jonathan was obviously stunned when he heard Simon's words. He didn't expect Simon's intuition to be so sharp.

But a moment later, Jonathan had a bitter smile on his face and finally nodded slightly. Of course, he didn't explain anything to Simon. The power struggle inside the company is seen through by a young man who has just reached the age of 18. After all, it is not a glorious thing.

Simon saw Jonathan acquiesce to this matter. He thought of the depression that had permeated his agent since he met today. He thought about it and said, "Joe, since everyone doesn't want to see this project succeed, do you think it's necessary to continue? From the contract in front of me, Brian, their salary should also be very harsh. "

"Simon, you don't understand," Jonathan shook his head. He had unconsciously stopped treating Simon as an 18-year-old and patiently explained, "I just said that the butterfly effect happened to be the first packaging project of wma, and many people in Hollywood were watching. Therefore, if the first attempt fails, wma will have more difficulties in promoting this operation strategy again. So, even if it's not a success, Norman and they won't allow the project to fail completely. Otherwise... "Jonathan said that, but he didn't go on. After a pause, looking at the vigorous young man across the street, he suddenly changed the subject again, with a bit of vicissitudes in his tone, and said: "Simon, do you know? I joined wma when I was 19, and I'm 46. It took 27 years to reach the present position. It's not an easy process. "

In fact, what Jonathan has not said is that although he has been promoted to vice president, he has not been given any responsibilities at present. The board of directors of wma has been discussing this matter all this time.

He gave birth to the idea of making "Butterfly Effect" into a package project, which is also to increase his chips in the process of power allocation.

However, what he didn't expect is that the current project has completely put him in a dilemma.

It's impossible to do well.

But if he messes up, even if the vice president he just won won won't be removed, it is likely that he will be left with only a short title. Even he is not sure that the old men who are very good at power struggle in the company will kick him out of wma directly.

Therefore, from yesterday afternoon to now, Jonathan had the impulse to give up the project completely more than once. But he was patient after all, and even had to deliberately accommodate the demands of his boss Norman Broca.

Simon felt the understanding look in Jonathan's eyes, nodded very sincerely and said, "Joe, I understand."

Simon was really able to understand Jonathan's difficulties.

As the oldest brokerage company in Hollywood, wma has been operating for nearly a century. Its internal system has long been very rigid, and the change of power is completely seniority oriented and very slow.

In the first half of the year, the three masters of wma who died one after another were actually old men in their 70s and 80s. Just like the ancient emperors, these people didn't give up their power until they died of old age.

In such an enterprise, even if there is no lack of personal strength and network support, it is extremely difficult for a person to reach a high position.

It is because of this that Michael owitz and others, who could not see the rising channel at that time, chose to leave wma and stand on their own.

However, not everyone has the courage of Michael owitz and others.

What's more, if we are not lucky enough to create a more advanced packaging operation mode, the former CAA may disappear in obscurity, just like many other brokerage companies trying to challenge the authority of wma in this century.

Simon in his previous life also stepped up the position of director step by step from the bottom.

Therefore, he can deeply understand the weakness and helplessness of individual in a highly competitive company or industry, facing the constraints of rules.

Onlookers always wonder why the players in the game do not resist injustice and why they will compromise? Even if we can't do this, why don't we just jump out of this circle?

Naive they do not know, not enough strength to challenge the rules, will let a person into what kind of doom.

Feeling Simon's understanding eyes, Jonathan's frustration dissipated.

However, looking at the contract on the table, Jonathan sighed again, but still had to continue: "so, Simon, about this contract?"

Simon weighed for a moment, did not answer Jonathan's question directly, but looked at the agent and asked seriously, "Joe, if you don't consider other factors, do you still want this project to continue?"

Jonathan's eyes flashed, he realized something, hesitated a little, and finally said, "no, actually, now I'd rather not have the idea of making this play a package project at all."

"Well, it's actually a good solution," Simon said, leaning back in his chair, shaking his head and saying firmly, "so, I don't agree."

Jonathan immediately understood Simon's intention.

"Butterfly Effect" script ultimately belongs to Simon, if the boy does not accept the contract in front of him, the whole project can not continue in any case.

What's more, Simon's blatant rejection of the contract led to the abortion of the project. Well, as long as he deals with it properly, although some twists and turns are inevitable, he can largely blame Simon for the failure of the project.

Jonathan even conceived a few words in a flash.

An oil and salt does not enter the lengtouqing, what method can oneself have?

However, Simon is doomed to face a lot of pressure. After all, it's easy for Hollywood's biggest talent agency to pick up a young screenwriter.

However, for this talented young man, Jonathan instinctively didn't want to put him in such a situation.

thinking so, Jonathan stood up from the leather chair, looked at the young man in front of him, and eagerly advised: "Simon, you'd better not do this. Really, even for your own sake. "Simon shook his head firmly again and got up again. He said, "Joe, I know it's not easy for you to get here, but I have my own persistence. You have to know that a person can not do without their own persistence. So that's all I can do for you. Tell those people, I don't agree. And then it's over. "

Simon nodded to Jonathan again, turned and walked toward the office door.

When he opened the door, Simon stopped again, turned to the agent who was still standing on the spot, and said: "also, Joe, if I can, I hope to terminate the agency contract with you in the next few days. I don't think you will care about the penalty, will you? Of course, if not, I'll think of other ways. "

As he watched Simon leave, Jonathan stood in silence for a long time, repeating what Simon had just said in his mind.

One can't do without one's own persistence.

Over the years.

All these years.

At the beginning, the young man who was also full of vision for the future, how much persistence was left.

Is it worth insisting on?

As he sat down again, Jonathan held his hands on the table, feeling a kind of long lost shudder in his limbs, mixed with fear of the future and fearlessness. These emotions, like a burning flame, dispelled all the frustrations and frustrations he had accumulated since yesterday afternoon.

Finally, with a deep breath, Jonathan Friedman picked up the phone, pressed Norman Broca's office phone, dialed it and said, "Norman, I've thought about it. The butterfly effect is over. I can't treat my customers like that."

With that, Jonathan hung up without waiting for Norman Broca to respond.

Ignoring the ringing of the landline, Jonathan opened the safe at his feet, packed his briefcase with the address book, memos and other documents that are very important to a broker, and left wma headquarters in a hurry.

Jonathan's move is not intended to leave wma directly.

In any case, as long as he can stay, he will still choose to stay. After all, the company has all kinds of relationships and connections that it has been running for more than 20 years.

It's just that since he's made that call, Jonathan is prepared for the worst.

Although his job removal needs to be decided by the board of directors, Jonathan does not dare to take the risk that Norman Broca will not be forced to turn over.

However, as long as these things in the briefcase are taken out of the company and well backed up, even if he has to face the worst situation of being kicked out of the company, he can also lead many people to change jobs together.

With the customer resources accumulated over the years, neither CAA nor ICM will refuse themselves, even if they set up their own brokerage company alone.