Chapter 016 - Overall situation

Leaving Paramount headquarters, Jonathan Friedman dismissed the idea of the other studios. Instead, he decided to rush back to WMA to discuss countermeasures with the company's senior management.

In order to curb the continuous development and growth of CAA, it is imperative for WMA to follow the other party's implementation of the project packaging model.

Now that the major Hollywood studios have linked up to prevent WMA from doing so, then WMA should be strong enough to push this matter forward. However, in order to do this, the company's management must first agree and work together.

Although at the bottom of his heart he is very clear that it is not easy for WMA to do this. while returning to the company Jonathan Friedman conceived some details and rhetoric to get everyone working together.

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

When he came to Norman Brokaw's office, Jonathan Friedman couldn't wait and said to the old man who was reading a document at his desk: " Norman, things have changed a little."

Norman Brokaw raised his hand and made a gesture to shush Jonathan and Instructed him to sit down first, and then said: "I already know, the studios Want to resist the "The Butterfly Effect" however, the matter has been resolved."

Jonathan Friedman looked confused: "Solved?"

Norman nodded and picked a document and handed it to Jonathan Friedman, sitting opposite him, saying: "I have dinner with Ronald Goldberg at noon, he told me that Fox is very interested in this film. They don't mind the package agreement. So, we roughly agreed on a cooperation plan, you can take a look first."

"The Butterfly Effect" was a project that he promoted. and hearing that Norman had reached an agreement with Fox without discussing with him at all, Jonathan felt a little unhappy, but he still took the file and opened it.

Looking at the cooperation program page by page, Jonathan Friedman 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 several weeks of the coordination effort by Jonathan.

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

Now, this 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 almost all customers has also been reduced.

His two clients, Brian de Palma's director's pay was reduced to $1.5 million, and Simon's script remuneration is still $100,000 to buy out two scripts. In addition, WMA no longer collects commissions from the entire project. Instead, they will settle separately with individual customers in accordance with the usual practice.

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

Casually throwing the unfinished cooperation plan on the desk of Norman Brokaw, Jonathan Friedman said while suppressing the dissatisfaction in his heart: "Norman, is such a cooperation plan still a package contract?"

Norman Brokaw put down his pen and said: "Of course, you have to know that the original packaging contract originally signed by CAA with the studio is far inferior to yours."

Jonathan Friedman took a deep breath in silence, wondering if he should cry or laugh.

Even now, WMA's scale still far exceeds CAA.

But the person in front of him, the president of the world's largest talent agency, compares his company with CAA when it was just a small workshop company many years ago.

Seeing Jonathan's expression change, his tone couldn't help but become more serious and earnest, saying: "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 couldn't help but clench his hands.

Take care of the overall situation?

Ah.

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

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

And he still asks him to take care of the overall situation?

Thinking bitterly in his heart, Jonathan said coldly: "Norman, even so, why are everyone else's salaries lowered, but Matthew's salary is still so high?"

Facing Jonathan's blunt question, Norman Broca's expression remained unchanged and patiently said: "Joe, I think you know Brian's situation better than anyone else, therefore, there is nothing wrong with giving him 1.5 million in salary. 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 is already very generous. Tell him the news now, I guess that little guy will definitely jump up in happiness."

Recalling his contact with Simon at that time, Jonathan was quite sure that the young man wouldn't jump up happily after hearing the news. Even if he did jump up, it would not be because of happiness.

Norman Brokaw 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 additional bonus to you at the end of the year, how about it?"

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

Norman Brokaw also stood up, walked around the desk and patted on Jonathan Friedman's shoulder, and said: "Fox wants to sign the contract as soon as possible, so you will have to give me a reply tomorrow."

nodding mechanically, Jonathan turned around and left Norman Broca's office.

When the office door was closed, the pleasant colour on Norman Broca's face immediately disappeared. For Jonathan, who was promoted to the vice president relying on his relationship with WMA chairman Morris Stoller, Norman looked down upon him very much.

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

It's not just Hollywood studios who are jealous of the packaging plan proposed by Jonathan, Norman Broca also did not want this 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 prestige and status of Jonathan in WMA will be greatly improved, he may even threaten his status.

Jonathan didn't immediately agree because he roughly understood what Norman wanted to do.

Going back to his desk Normansat down and picked up his phone, and called his secretary: "Fetch me, Stevens."

After returning to his office, Jonathan leaned back in his leather chair somewhat dejectedly.

I don't know how long it took, Jonathan decided to call Morris Stoller the chairman of WMA's New York headquarters on the east coast, hoping he can get some support from the old boss who has promoted me. Butt the phone on his desk rang first.

When the phone was connected, unexpectedly it was his old boss Morris.

After talking for more than ten minutes, Jonathan put down the phone with a frustrated expression on his face.

As the first packaging attempt of WMA, Jonathan had been brewing this idea for a long time. He had already talked to Morris about this project, and although he is on the east coast, Morris is also very concerned about this project.

However, in this call, he did not support him. Instead, Morris hopes that he can complete the "The Butterfly Effect" project as soon as possible, without letting any problems happen. In the end, he also said not to let WMA's internal turmoil escalate, and that he still hopes he can take care of the overall situation.

Faced with this situation, Jonathan Friedman also understood.

Norman Brokaw must have communicated with several other high-level executives and maybe even the board of directors in advance. Moreover, after working for many years at WMA, Jonathan faintly realized that Norman Brokaw doesn't want to see this project too successful.

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

In the face of a large group of unmotivated conservatives, if he wants to force this matter on, it may only be counterproductive, and may even lead to him losing the vice president position he just got.

Suddenly he was a little envious of CAA, there is only one voice, the voice of 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 and ask him to come to WMA tomorrow. Then he dialled Brian de Palma's phone.

The 7-11 convenience store is open 24 hours. During this time, Simon has already started his shift.

It happened to be the night shift on Tuesday.

From 11 p.m. until 7 o'clock the next morning.

After finishing his shift in the morning, Simon rode back to the hotel. When He heard the message on His phone from WMA, Simon took a short break then hurried to Beverly Hills.

A few minutes before 10 o'clock, Simon arrived outside Jonathan's office and after having a brief chat with Jonathan's assistant, the door to the office opened.

Turning around and looking over, Simon happened to meet the gaze of a Matthew Broderick who came out of Jonathan's office first.

After Matthew was Jonathan who immediately smiled and said: "Simon, you came right in time...

This is Matthew Broderick, he will be the lead actor of "The Butterfly Effect". You are both young people, and there will be many common things to talk about in the future."

Simon hasn't responded yet, when Matthew Broderick who had a suspicious expression on his face, said coldly without giving Jonathan Friedman any face: "Joe, this person and I don't have anything to talk about."

After that, Matthew Broderick gave one last glance at Simon, then turned and walked outside the corridor.