Chapter 537: Opportunity arises

In the bustling heart of Chula Vista, near the sun-drenched Mexican border, the vibrant San Diego mall had just hosted a grand commercial event. As the crowd dispersed, Anna Frank emerged from the backstage area. She was weary, her energy sapped by the day's exertions. Slipping on a heavy backpack, she trudged towards the exit.

Her agent, a figure of sharp suits and sharper business practices, was waiting for her. His tone was tinged with disapproval. "Anna, these kinds of events are beneath you. They're a waste of your time and talent."

Anna halted, turning to face him. Frustration and fatigue lined her face. "I need the money," she replied, her voice a mix of defiance and desperation. "How else can I pay off my car loan, cover my rent? What has your agency done to actually help me?"

The agent, unfazed, retorted, "We got you a spot in 'Inglourious Basterds', didn't we? Introduced you to Harvey Weinstein, a titan in the industry!"

Anna's thoughts darkened at the mention of that name. A bitter laugh escaped her. "Oh, you mean the meeting that turned into a degrading nightmare? You call that an opportunity?"

Her agent's response was cold, clinical. "That's how the industry works. Every actress makes sacrifices. What else do you have to offer if not your... assets?"

Fury and contempt blazed in Anna's eyes. "I did everything he asked," she spat, "and what did I get? Empty promises. No roles, no opportunities. Just empty words."

The agent could only offer a feeble, "Wait. Just wait."

Anna's sneer was scathing. "You told me patience would pay off, dissuaded me from going to the police. And where has that left me? On the brink of bankruptcy!"

Before her agent could reply, Anna cut him off. "Find me work that pays. I'm done chasing stardom. I just need to survive."

With that, she strode into the parking lot, her silhouette a lone figure against the sprawling concrete. Approaching her modest Hyundai, she noticed a stranger gesturing to her.

Confusion crossed Anna's features. She didn't recognize him.

The man hurried over. "Miss Anna Frank," he greeted, extending a business card. "I'm a reporter from TMZ."

Anna, familiar with the notorious website, eyed him warily. "What do you want?"

Ivan, the reporter, had been in San Diego for two days, quietly gathering information on Anna. "I've got a proposition for you. TMZ pays well for exclusive stories."

Interest flickered in Anna's eyes, though suspicion lingered. "Let's talk somewhere private."

They settled in a nearby café. Ivan was blunt. "We've heard rumors about you and Weinstein..."

Anna's voice was cautious. "You think you can take on someone like him?"

Ivan, confident in his employer's reputation, assured her. "TMZ has brought down bigger names. If you have evidence, we have the resources."

Anna's resolve hardened. "What if I had a video? A video of Weinstein... crossing a line?"

Ivan leaned in, sensing the gravity of the moment. "How much would such a video be worth to you?"

Anna's eyes held a glimmer of hope, a desperate plan forming in her mind.

Ivan offered confidently, "One hundred thousand dollars."

Anna scoffed, her expression a blend of disbelief and amusement. "That's Harvey Weinstein we're talking about! I won't settle for less than half a million."

Ivan had already discussed the matter with Bruce, prepared for the high stakes involved. "Alright, $500,000 it is. But we'll need you to publicly confront Harvey when the time comes."

Anna hesitated, her confidence wavering at the prospect. "In person? Against someone like him?"

Ivan, perceptive of her trepidation, reminded her, "Remember the victims of Brad Pitt and Ben Affleck? You're not just fighting for money. This is about your rights, and you could be entitled to much more in legal compensation."

Anna's mind raced, recalling news stories. "Many direct victims received millions, didn't they?"

"You have a chance at that, but only if you take action and work with us," Ivan urged.

Anna considered the gravity of the situation, the power money wielded. Finally, she acquiesced, "Okay. Give me a $200,000 advance, and the video is yours."

Ivan promptly wrote a check and slid it across the table. "Deal. I've seen the video. We'll proceed as planned."

Anna quickly secured the check and motioned for Ivan to follow. Together, they left the Chula Vista mall, heading to her apartment in San Diego.

...

Meanwhile, at Los Angeles International Airport, Martin and Bruce disembarked from their flight, hastily retrieving their luggage. Thomas, waiting at the terminal exit, quickly assisted Martin with his baggage before they all climbed into a sleek business car.

Martin dove straight into business. "Update me on 'The Hobbit' movie project. What's the latest?"

Thomas, who had been diligently researching the project, explained, "The copyright situation is as complex as it was with the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy. Peter Jackson initially planned to start 'The Hobbit' last year, but had to delay due to these issues and moved on to 'The Lovely Bones' instead."

He added, "Saoirse Ronan, your student, is the lead in 'The Lovely Bones'."

Martin inquired further, "Doesn't Warner hold the complete copyright?"

Thomas elaborated, "Originally, MGM owned the entire Lord of the Rings series' copyright, which then passed to Sony Columbia and others, causing a fragmented adaptation rights situation. Weinstein holds the rights for both 'The Hobbit' and the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy."

Martin, well-versed in the industry's intricacies, added, "Harvey was the first to back 'The Lord of the Rings', but he restricted Peter Jackson to just one film with a meager budget. It was Jackson's partnership with Warner's New Line Cinema that led to the trilogy. The profit-sharing dispute from this deal soured Harvey's relations with Warner."

Thomas continued, "The rights to 'The Hobbit' are equally tangled. Warner and New Line thought they had adaptation priority, but Harvey produced a complete copyright authorization. Warner countered, claiming Harvey's authorization had expired and that they held the adaptation rights."

Bruce, sipping water in the driver's seat, interjected, "The stakes are incredibly high with this series. No one's backing down."

Martin reflected on the potential. "The 'Lord of the Rings' series had massive commercial impact. A 'Hobbit' trilogy could gross over $2.5 billion at the box office!"

Bruce agreed, "That kind of money breeds conflict."

Thomas detailed further, "The recent years have seen escalating conflicts between Harvey and Warner, with multiple confrontations. Warner's grown weary of the complex interests entwined in the 'Lord of the Rings' series. Rumor has it that Peter Jackson's planning a new trilogy, and Warner, in alliance with Tolkien's copyright agency, is looking to exclude Harvey entirely."

In the luxurious confines of a Beverly Hills mansion, Martin, Thomas, and Bruce were engrossed in a deep discussion about the complex web of Hollywood politics and economics.

Martin, with a tone of certainty, said, "Warner is planning to take legal action. They want to offer Harvey a nominal copyright compensation through Tolkien's agency, then take full control. Harvey's demanding half the proceeds from the adapted movies!"

Reflecting, Martin added, "In Hollywood's top commercial films, box office revenues often represent only a third of a film's total income."

Thomas, ever the meticulous one, specified, "For the Lord of the Rings trilogy, box office takings were just 26% of the total revenue."

Bruce, overwhelmed by the figures, exclaimed, "Billions of dollars... with such a sum, one could hire an army in Africa and become a country's leader!"

Sensing where Martin was heading with this, yet still apprehensive, Thomas asked, "Are you sure you want to proceed with this plan?"

Martin, his voice tinged with a mix of resolve and reluctance, replied, "It's not a matter of want, but of necessity. Harvey is a tyrant. We've had our run-ins before, and now, with the Cannes Film Festival incident this year, it's come to a head."

Bruce interjected, sharing his thoughts, "There's so much at stake. I sometimes wonder if the incidents in Los Angeles, even the Moroccan kidnapping case, might somehow be tied to Harvey, though we lack concrete evidence."

Thomas voiced his concern, "If we don't handle this carefully, we might find ourselves in the crossfire."

Martin, with a strategic glint in his eye, declared, "I've been waiting for the right moment. Now, with Warner and Harvey at loggerheads over 'The Hobbit', and Harvey clinging to the copyright, Warner might be more eager than ever to see him gone."

Thomas, considering the potential, acknowledged, "The financial benefits are enormous. This could indeed be the opportunity we've been waiting for."

As they arrived at Martin's Beverly Hills villa, Bruce received a call from Ivan. After a brief conversation, he relayed the news to Martin. "Ivan secured the video from Anna Frank for $500,000. He confirmed it's exactly what we need. Plus, Anna agreed to publicly confront Harvey for financial compensation."

Martin, satisfied, noted, "Léa Seydoux's information was spot on. Make sure to meet Ivan personally and get a copy. Ivan will proceed as planned."

Bruce, grabbing the car keys, said, "I'll head over right away."

On his way out, Martin pondered, "Remember the News of the World team that's been tailing Harvey? Check if they're still on it. If they are, Ivan could try making contact."

Bruce, recalling his previous interest in the investigative team, replied confidently, "I'll find them. It shouldn't be difficult."