Chapter 36: The Best Actor

"More votes! Give me more votes!"

"Mr. Stanton, I hope you keep your promises during filming."

In an office of the Screen Actors Guild in Hollywood, the Mulligans sat on a slightly worn-out sofa, closed the actor's contract in their hands, and looked at Murphy with a warning tone. "My agent will be keeping a close eye on you."

Beside the Mulligans, Carey Mulligan remained silent, but the pride of a victor was evident in her eyes as she looked at Murphy.

"Rest assured," Murphy said confidently. "Stanton Studios may be newly established, but it is a reputable company, and I personally uphold integrity as a fundamental principle."

In previous meetings, the Mulligans had significant issues with the script of "Hard Candy," and Murphy had agreed to make changes. He even produced a revised script at the fastest speed. Additionally, with Kara Faith, the news director of Channel Six, willing to endorse the project, the Mulligans finally agreed.

Reputation and status, though intangible, have substantial effects. Without Kara Faith's help, Murphy might have had to find a new lead actress.

Signing contracts for underage actors is never a trivial matter. Besides Murphy, Carey Mulligan, and her parents, present were Robert, the legal advisor for "Hard Candy"; Bill Rossis, the agent of Julian Fellowes and the new agent for Carey Mulligan; representatives from the Children's Association and the Screen Actors Guild; and Julian Fellowes himself.

Reviewing the contract, negotiating, and haggling over some disputed clauses took over two hours before both parties officially signed Carey Mulligan's actor contract.

Due to the involvement of a minor, who is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild and under the supervision of the Children's Association, the contract was stringent. It specified Carey Mulligan's daily working hours and the hiring of a tutor. Under Hollywood's relatively comprehensive and strict protection system, Carey Mulligan's rights within the crew would be maximized.

Although the terms were somewhat daunting, Murphy knew he was participating in a legal game, and to survive in this game, one must at least comply with the rules on the surface.

Moreover, any underage actor would inevitably sign such a strict contract.

However, there was a silver lining for Murphy. Carey Mulligan had never appeared in any film or television work before, making it impossible for her to demand a high salary. Her pay was only five thousand dollars.

As for the contractual stipulations on work hours and study time, representatives from the Children's Association and the Screen Actors Guild wouldn't be monitoring the set constantly. They might send someone occasionally to check, leaving some room for flexibility.

The content changes Murphy promised in the script were another matter. The initial draft shown to the Mulligans had significant content that could potentially make it an NC-17 film, which he certainly couldn't shoot.

Although he didn't know how Carey Mulligan persuaded her parents to compromise, their willingness to negotiate indicated a willingness to cooperate. Murphy initially presented a slightly more provocative script and then gradually retreated, demonstrating the crew's sincerity.

This is a common psychological tactic in negotiations.

Moreover, once the Mulligans signed the contract, they would return to London to continue their work, leaving Carey Mulligan in the care of Julian Fellowes and Bill Rossis. Although they were challenging, compared to the rigid Mulligans, these Hollywood insiders had a broader understanding of film content.

More importantly, Carey Mulligan saw him as trustworthy. As long as she didn't cause trouble, there would be fewer issues.

With the formal contract signed and filed with the Screen Actors Guild and the Children's Association, the lead actress for "Hard Candy" was officially confirmed.

"Murphy..."

Outside the Screen Actors Guild, as Murphy was about to open his car door, he heard a clear voice behind him. He turned to see Carey Mulligan running up, waving at him. "Wait, I have something to say to you."

Murphy turned around, glancing at the Mulligans watching from a distance. He smiled politely at them before looking at Carey Mulligan. "What's up?"

Carey Mulligan stopped about five feet away, put her hands behind her back, swayed slightly, and lowered her voice. "I'm here specifically to thank you."

"Thank me?" Murphy pointed at himself as if he didn't understand. "For what?"

"You made me see my goal clearly," Carey Mulligan's voice was low but firm. "You also taught me that I must strive with all my might for what I want."

"No, no, no, Carey, this has nothing to do with me," Murphy knew how to handle this girl. "Everything now just shows that you're a good girl with ambition."

"Really?" Carey Mulligan blinked her eyes and asked.

Murphy nodded without hesitation. "Of course it's true. When have I ever lied to you?"

Carey Mulligan took a small step forward and lowered her voice even more. "You're the best, Murphy."

Hearing this, Murphy glanced up slightly. It seemed like a crow had cawed overhead, but he soon smiled. "You're the best too, Carey. I believe you will become the best actress."

"Mm!" Carey Mulligan nodded her sharp chin without any humility.

"It's getting late..." Murphy gestured towards the Mulligans with his eyes. "Your parents must be getting anxious."

"They..." Carey Mulligan snorted a few times before saying, "If I hadn't forced them into a position with no other choice, would they have given me the freedom to choose?"

Even though she had achieved her wish, her resentment towards her parents hadn't dissipated.

Murphy was somewhat curious and lowered his voice. "Dear, what did you do?"

"Guess..." Carey Mulligan showed a sly smile. "That's my secret. I won't tell you."

"Well... alright then," Murphy gestured as if making a phone call. "Wait for my call. And don't forget to study the script."

Watching Carey Mulligan leave, Murphy still felt a bit curious about what she had done to make the Mulligans compromise in the end.

However, once he got into the car, he understood. From his previous interactions, he saw that the Mulligans did care for Carey Mulligan, but their rigid personalities and busy work schedules prevented them from being good communicators. A girl about to become an adult had many ways to make her loving parents compromise.

What method Carey Mulligan used didn't matter; she was now the lead actress in "Hard Candy."

She might not be the best choice in all of Hollywood, but among the actresses Murphy could access, Carey Mulligan was the most suitable.

After securing Carey Mulligan, Murphy returned to Milton Cafe to continue his preparation work. He, along with the set designer, lighting technician, and prop master, visited San Fernando Valley again, exchanging many opinions about the intended scenes.

Frankly, the progress was far from Murphy's expectations. He had little experience, and the people he hired, being at the bottom tier of Hollywood, were not entirely there due to lack of opportunity; their abilities were also not particularly impressive.

Fortunately, Murphy was prepared for this. He understood the difficulty of starting. A group of people without sufficient experience and ability couldn't complete a film project in a short time, even if most of the movie had only one setting and two actors.

After returning from scouting locations in San Fernando Valley, Murphy specifically arranged to meet James Franco.

"Take a look at this." At Milton Cafe, Murphy placed a stack of contract copies on the coffee table and pushed them in front of James Franco. "This is especially prepared for you."

"Without my agent present, I can't sign any contracts." James Franco thought the contract was specially prepared for him. He opened it and, upon seeing Carey's costume photos, his eyes lit up. "Oh... Oh... Ah... Uh... this... this..."

He made a series of inarticulate sounds, took a deep breath, closed the contract copy, and slapped it on the table. "You're not fooling me?"

James Franco wasn't stupid. Although Murphy said Carey Mulligan joined the crew, the prolonged negotiations had made him skeptical.

Murphy looked at him. "Do I need to bring out the original contract and have Mr. Julian Fellowes, the Mulligans' agent in Los Angeles, come over?"

Seeing James Franco open the contract again, staring at Carey Mulligan's Little Red Riding Hood-like costume photo like a wolf, Murphy said lightly, "If you find it difficult, I can look for another actor."

"No, no..." James Franco raised his hand as if to stop Murphy. "Absolutely not! Murphy, I'm very, very interested in the role, but your pay is too low. My agent strongly opposes it, and I've been trying to convince him. This takes time."

The former Murphy had learned from the media that James Franco was known for his eccentricity. Now, it seemed he was even more eccentric than reported.

"Jim, my time is tight. Other aspects of the preparation are almost done, and I need to leave time for rehearsals between the lead actors before filming..." He deliberately emphasized 'rehearsals'. "This project only has two main actors, so you'll have more time to rehearse together."

James Franco seemed to make up his mind and slapped the table hard. "I'll go talk to my agent right now."