Orion

Before attending USC's celebration party for "Wrong Turn", Jodie Foster had a premonition that she would receive some script invitations. She couldn't help but wonder, "Is this a Hollywood film industry boot camp for aspiring talents?"

This university was teeming with young dreamers aspiring to make it in the movies. Among them were those whose ambitions reached for the stars, aiming to ascend with a compelling script. Why should that be surprising?

If someone were to approach her with a script, hoping that Jodie's production company, "Egg," would invest in it, she'd be open to considering it. However, if the intent was to cast her in the film...

"The naive chicks always have to weather a few storms and setbacks," she mused.

Even in her current position, securing movie roles was far from a cakewalk. Often, her agent preferred she not accept roles rather than indiscriminately picking projects.

The climb to her current status may have taken a long time, but the fall could be swift, perhaps requiring just two failed movies. Hollywood offered second chances but was rarely generous enough for a third.

Every step had to be taken with caution.

Still, no matter how cautious she tried to be, after reading the script that Christian handed over, Jodie was left astonished.

Unconventional as it was, the story had a certain allure. What puzzled her, though, was why Christian had given her the script in the first place.

She was confident in her judgment. If others had read the script and planned to develop it, Christian wouldn't be the sole messenger.

Had no one else considered this script? It seemed unlikely.

In Jodie's view, a script of this caliber, close to the mid-range budget limit, should garner interest from major companies, even if not the Big Seven like Fox.

Jodie didn't expect her own "Egg" company to be the first choice for directors and screenwriters, especially when representatives from Fox and Newline were at the party. Celeb-founded production companies like "Egg" typically followed behind larger ones, grabbing the crumbs once the big players had finalized scripts and directors and started securing funding.

They were the underdogs, bearing the banner of the opposing party. They could tag along, but the chance of becoming a leader was slim.

"The script is really good, but would Westwood be interested in it?" Jodie asked, observing the producer from New Line chatting with fellow alumni.

In her opinion, Christian and Mr. Westwood had a harmonious working relationship on "Wrong Turn". Unless there was a significant reason, Christian wouldn't have sidestepped him to approach her.

Christian's explanation, while not entirely clear, wasn't deceitful. Personal issues, whether retirement or departure, did indeed count as personal reasons, making it a factor in withholding the new script from Mr. Westwood.

However, there was something more significant at play.

"We hope you can help us introduce Orion for production preparations," Christian stated her purpose directly.

Orion, much like Newline, was a mid-sized Hollywood film and television company, a member of the second tier behind the Big Seven.

Unlike Newline, which gained fame with "The Lord of the Rings," Orion had experienced a decline after its '90s heyday and eventually faded away. In 1994, though, Orion remained a robust production company, on par with Newline.

"Orion? My relationship with them is excellent", Jodie Foster replied.

Indeed, at this juncture, her relationship with Orion was strong. The Oscar-winning film "The Silence of the Lambs," in which she starred, had been produced and released by Orion.

"However, if you're suggesting an introduction, does it imply that Newline will also be involved in the project?"

This woman is quite challenging to handle.

Christian couldn't help but give a wry smile in response to that observation.

His plan for a cinematic shake-up had its share of intricate details with notable loopholes. The most glaring one was the challenge of involving two medium-to-large companies, including Newline, in the same project simultaneously.

Just as formidable creatures hold their territories and rarely engage directly, a certain unspoken understanding exists between the seven major Hollywood studios and select powerful mid-sized film companies. They tend to avoid simultaneous investment in the same film project to prevent disputes over dominance.

It's not a formal rule, nor a hidden agreement, but rather a tactic to minimize unnecessary conflicts among the major players. In practice, when competing for promising projects, multiple companies may enter the fray. However, once the battle is won or lost, the defeated side often pulls its investment, leaving it to smaller investors like Jodie Foster's "Egg" production company.

This isn't about pride but rather a pragmatic approach to conserve funds and maximize profits. The same resources can be redirected toward projects they can lead, yielding more substantial returns for medium and large companies.

Consequently, only a handful of film projects see participation from both major studios and medium-sized companies, typically due to tight capital constraints and shared optimism about the project.

Fortunately, as per the latest information Christian gathered, Newline was experiencing financial constraints, which provided an opening for their unconventional plan of delaying their share.

"You intend to use Orion's influence to counterbalance Newline" Jodie Foster's tone left no room for doubt, displaying the shrewdness of a seasoned businessperson.

"Can you explain why?"

When it comes to film investments, actors tend to exercise extra caution. Jodie still felt uneasy without a clear understanding of the situation.

Christian contemplated the query and realized he could be forthcoming. After all, the truth would surface eventually, and Newline's history of payment delays was neither a well-kept secret nor a recent development.

"We plan to convert the shares from past movies into investments for new ones, then cash out."

"So, Newline is set to default on its movie shares once more?" Jodie finally grasped the situation.

She also recognized why Christian had shared the script for the new movie in the first place. It wasn't just a request for assistance; it was a reward for lending a hand.

If Jodie accepted Christian's invitation, as the project's trailblazer, her "Egg" company would gain greater profits and influence. This was the condition for bringing Orion into the picture.

Without Orion's support, who had a strong rapport with her, Jodie, even as the project's leading advocate, would struggle to assert control against the established players and Newline.

So, if she aimed to secure the reward that Christian had in mind, Jodie needed to bring Orion on board. This aligns perfectly with Christian's original intentions.

"This is bait too tempting to resist!"

Acknowledging that accepting the script would entail future complications, Jodie realized that agreeing was the key to rapid growth for her "Egg" production company and the realization of her independent production aspirations.