579 Understanding the underlying principles

Tonight, Renly had a subtle difference about him, but it was hard to put a finger on what it was exactly. The three people in front of him didn't overthink it, taking it as an outing between Renly and Paul, enjoying some quality time as friends, and thus, their moods were particularly pleasant. Since Renly had said, "It's nothing," it should indeed be nothing.

Roy noticed Renly's inquiring gaze and shook his head. "I don't know what's going on either. Andy called and said I must be present, but he didn't go into details. We've been waiting for you since we met."

Andy took the opportunity to speak, nodding in agreement, but before he could continue, the sound of gunfire echoed from outside the window once again. The room fell into a momentary silence, but it wasn't panic. After waiting for a while, once the noise had dissipated, Andy continued, "Yes, I specifically asked Roy to come."

"Now that Roy is your manager, any issues, whether professional or personal, will be directed through Roy. Of course, for important matters, I'll inform you first. However, to avoid situations where you're either on set or traveling..." Andy explained briefly and saw Renly nod in understanding, prompting him to stop before going further.

The allocation of responsibilities between managers and agents wasn't strictly defined, and it had to be gradually worked out through collaboration. In Hollywood, situations where managers would compromise the interests of their artists or artists and managers would clash over profits were common. Even close friendships or sibling relationships couldn't escape such disputes.

There were even cases where an agent would submit a project they believed was perfect for their artist to the manager, but the manager would secretly withhold it and then sell it to another artist, making a handsome profit. Once that was done, they'd cut ties with their own artist and move on.

Ultimately, it was up to the artist to measure and manage how well they utilized their manager and agent, how they handled their own career, and how they achieved greater success. It was an art in itself. Andy didn't elaborate further because he believed Renly had a clear understanding of this. There was no need to overexplain.

"Anyway, in the future, we need to cooperate closely, so I thought we should formally meet and discuss. Today's matter could have been discussed over the phone, but I need to visit Warner Bros. tomorrow. I saw it as a good opportunity to come in person," Andy explained the whole story in a few words. "Renly, it won't affect your filming tomorrow, will it?"

The "50/50" period was still fresh in Andy's memory, so he couldn't help but be cautious.

Renly pursed his lips, glanced at his watch, and calmly said, "You still have twenty-eight minutes." His teasing remark actually calmed Andy down, and the Maitreya-like smile on his face became even brighter.

"In that case, let's get to the point," Andy immediately cut to the chase. "Universal Pictures is currently considering a sequel to "Fast & Furious", but I don't think they've shown enough sincerity and respect towards Renly. Plus, Vin played an important role." Andy didn't plan to go into too much detail about Universal Pictures' behind-the-scenes maneuvers; it was something he needed to handle, and Renly didn't need to know.

Roy raised an eyebrow and bluntly said, "Are you afraid of Vin Diesel?"

"Heh," Andy laughed heartily. "He's the least important piece of the puzzle. I only mentioned him in passing to illustrate how Ron Meyer feels." His nonchalant tone oozed with disdain.

To outsiders, it might seem like a clash between an agent and a superstar would inevitably result in the actor having the upper hand. However, that wasn't always the case. Except for actors like Tom Hanks or Tom Cruise, whose influence on movie studios was substantial, even the rest of the actors couldn't escape the label of being mere "pawns" unless they were actively benefiting the industry.

In simple terms, it all came down to interests. If there were interests at stake, everything went smoothly; without interests, there was no value to be exploited.

Take Tom Cruise as an example. His significance lay not only in his box office draw but in the brand he had built over nearly three decades. He could negotiate first-dollar deals for unknown directors, elevate unheard-of actors, swiftly assemble an entire cast with the help of his network of producers, exert influence over award-season films through his friendships, and more.

Behind that one name lay an extensive network, forming a pyramid structure that encompassed everyone from top-tier producers to lowly production assistants, from leading film critics to amateur paparazzi. This network constituted a crucial aspect of the entire Hollywood ecosystem. It didn't mean they could control everything, as Tom Cruise's failure to secure an Oscar after years of hard work demonstrated, but it showed how their interests extended throughout the film industry.

Only when an actor reached the heights of Tom Cruise could they begin to break free from the "pawn" label.

As for Vin Diesel, although he was a high-profile producer of the "Fast and Furious" series, his influence beyond that franchise was negligible. If the "Fast and Furious" box office collapsed, he would be left with nothing.

So, if Andy wanted to truly suppress Vin, he didn't need to confront him directly. He only needed to elevate other actors to the top of the backup lists for all action movies. There were plenty of actors vying for those positions, including Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Paul Walker, Matt Damon, Hugh Jackman, Jeremy Renner, and many others. While action films might not enjoy the same glory as before, there was still a plethora of male actors vying for the top spots, not to mention newcomers who had never had a chance.

Not only Andy but other actors' agents would also strive to compete. Andy only needed to play a supportive role behind the scenes, and Vin Diesel would find himself in a tough spot, unable to voice his grievances.

In Hollywood, there were countless ways to teach someone a lesson, and even more ways to do so while leaving them speechless. Andy was a capable agent, and behind him stood the even more capable CAA. A figure like Vin Diesel was never a concern, and his threatening impact was even less than that of Chris Hemsworth.

Strategically, they might have disregarded the opponent, but tactically, they had to take them seriously. In this collaborative sequel of "Fast & Furious", Vin was indeed an unavoidable obstacle. This was precisely why Andy had personally visited today and even why he planned to go to Warner Bros. tomorrow.

However, what truly mattered was not Vin but Renly's attitude.

If Renly was willing to participate in the sequel of "Fast & Furious", then planning how to skillfully navigate the situation, intimidate Vin, make Universal Pictures compromise, and secure more benefits for Renly while ensuring his invincibility during the sequel's filming was a task that required careful consideration.

Now, the situation was different from during the production of the fifth installment. The filming responsibilities were not pressing, and Renly's importance needed to be gradually elevated. The art was in the balance of strategies. They could teach Vin a lesson, but the means of doing so had to be thought through carefully. After all, Vin was still the hands-on executive producer of the franchise. Whether it was a conspiracy or a straightforward plan, it depended on everyone's individual skills.

However, if Renly wasn't planning to participate in the sequel of "Fast & Furious", the situation would be entirely different.

To avoid influencing Renly's decision, Andy had omitted all these considerations. He got straight to the point. "Regarding the sequel, what are your thoughts? Universal Pictures' current plan is to film two sequels together, like the second and third "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies, and then create a separate spin-off centered around Hobbs, with Hobbs as the absolute protagonist. The spin-off will be filmed first, followed by the sequels."

Such an ambitious plan made Renly raise an eyebrow. Yet, upon closer reflection, in the previous life, although Dwayne Johnson's character was popular, there had been no spin-off. So, had history been altered because of his presence, or had the idea of a spin-off been put on the table but never materialized?

Regardless, Renly was genuinely impressed by Universal Pictures' determination and decisiveness. At the very least, within the "Fast & Furious" franchise, Universal Pictures had showcased the grandeur of the six major movie companies.

"And there's the matter of your salary," Andy continued without missing a beat. "I know you don't care about it, but I must. Universal Pictures offered $3.5M per film, with a package deal for three films at the same price. In my personal opinion, this is a highly disrespectful figure, almost an insult."

Roy couldn't help but furrow his brows and asked in astonishment, "What's wrong with Universal Pictures?"

Leaving aside where Renly's current salary might ultimately settle, perhaps after a tug-of-war it might still end up at three and a half million. However, Universal Pictures' display of such a haughty attitude was undoubtedly a sign of disrespect towards Renly.

Andy smiled without speaking, and Roy quickly realized. He then playfully looked at Renly and teased, "Did you cuckold Vin, or something? I thought your taste in women would be different from Vin's."

Renly shrugged and responded, "Who knows? Maybe it's because of love and hatred." Such a bold quip momentarily stunned everyone, but they soon broke into muted laughter. "Since you're so dissatisfied, let's forget about it."

It was so straightforward and decisive that neither Roy nor Nathan reacted immediately. Andy, on the other hand, was familiar with Renly's style. He seemed to have anticipated this outcome but still inquired, "I thought you'd want to continue. Aside from Vin, you get along well with the rest of the cast and crew, right? Plus, there's Paul."