Chapter 113: Junior Director

At the Fox Searchlight Pictures, as Tony Guzman escorted Murphy and Bill Ross out of the meeting room, Gordon Clyde turned to Riley Fields beside him and asked, "What do you think?"

Riley Fields appeared cautious, "Although we couldn't find out the actual bids from other companies, from what I know, the internal screenings at their studios for 'Saw' have received high praise."

With the company's poor performance, as head of market research, Fields also felt immense pressure, "I believe this film has a clear target audience and accurate market positioning. At the very least, it's a very clever piece of work with operational value."

Clyde got up and paced around, "Get the market department to prepare an estimation report."

"I'll get it done as soon as possible," Fields replied, also rising from his seat.

Outside, under the bright sunlight, Murphy shielded his eyes with his hand as he followed behind Bill Ross, walking towards the Ford sedan parked in front.

Just as they got into the car, Bill Ross received a phone call, which he quickly ended after a few sentences. Then, he turned to Murphy and said, "We've got feedback from our sources. Fox Searchlight's first-quarter performance is dismal, and 20th Century Fox is quite displeased. They applied pressure on them two weeks ago."

After learning about the information through Cara Fess, Murphy informed Bill Ross. Though he was just an ordinary agent at CAA, he could leverage the company's resources and channels appropriately. Now, it was confirmed that Fox Searchlight was indeed facing some favorable situations.

"Keep in touch with Fox Searchlight," Murphy started the car. The current situation required not only his efforts but also the right opportunities. "Don't cut ties with other studios besides Lionsgate."

Even facing Harvey Weinstein, there was still some room for negotiation. Milton Johnson's tough attitude caught him off guard. Originally, he had a good relationship with this executive from Lionsgate, but when it came to business, Johnson showed no sentiment.

Whether it was the sincerity of the negotiations or the price offered, Lionsgate could only be the last resort.

After dropping off Bill Ross near CAA's office building, Murphy checked the time, sent a text message, and then drove to the valley area of Santa Monica. He parked in front of a three-story building surrounded by green trees and saw people coming out in small groups from an open iron gate.

This was a common acting school in the Los Angeles area, but the one Bill Ross contacted had an excellent reputation, albeit at a high price. Nearly all of the income from kerry's two films went towards the five-month course.

"Aren't you coming, Kerry?" Two girls walked out of a building, one with long golden hair, asking the other who was adjusting her short hair.

"I told you I don't have time," Kerry replied, her eyes frequently glancing towards the iron gate, and her pace unconsciously quickening. "Murphy is coming to pick me up."

"Is it that director you always talk about?" Some girls passing by overheard kerry's words and a brunette turned to look at her. "The one you've been praising to the skies?"

Her tone was clearly mocking.

Kerry turned her head, her gaze sharp as a knife. If looks could kill, that brunette would have several invisible holes by now.

"What do you mean?" Kerry's tone was rather unfriendly.

Since arriving at the acting class, the two had been at odds. They were similar in age, and neither knew the reason behind their mutual dislike.

Carrie's remark changed the atmosphere instantly. Apart from the brunette who spoke first, the others also stared at them menacingly.

The brunette flicked her wavy hair and her face became even more mocking. "Such a big director, yet the production cost of the film reached..."

Her voice was sharp and high, as if she was afraid no one would hear, "Three hundred thousand dollars!"

The other girls covered their mouths and laughed, as if such a thing were shameful.

Though they were both from England, kerry and the other girl didn't like each other. Their antagonism wasn't something that had started today.

Otherwise, the brunette wouldn't have heard her words and mocked her like this.

Kerry continued walking, turning to say, "Three hundred thousand dollars may not be much, but it brought in one point four eight million dollars at the North American box office, with a return on investment as high as five to one."

At this moment, a group of people walked out of the gate, and Murphy, who was waiting in the car, immediately saw them. He approached them quickly.

"A film with less than two hundred cinema screens," the brunette continued, "and you dare call it a proper feature film?"

Carrie was about to say something when the blonde woman came out to defuse the situation. "Carrie, say a little less. Stop targeting kerry all the time."

She then turned to kerry, "Carrie just has a straightforward personality. Don't mind her too much."

"Liz," Kerry seemed to have a good relationship with her, "don't you think she's too much?"

Murphy approached them just as they reached the gate, seeing kerry's obviously angry face. He asked, concerned, "What's wrong, kerry?"

Kerry glared at carrie, clearly not feeling good, but knowing that Murphy had been very busy lately, she didn't want to bother him with such trivial matters. She forced a smile, "It's nothing, everything's fine."

Following kerry's gaze, Murphy noticed a group of four girls standing together a few feet away, seemingly gossiping. The one in the center, with strong facial features, looked familiar.

"Hello," the blonde woman looked at Murphy with interest, "are you Mr. Murphy?"

Kerry hugged Murphy's arm, answering first, "Yes liz, this is Murphy."

"Nice to meet you," Murphy said politely, smiling, and introducing himself, "I'm Murphy Stanton."

The blonde woman nodded, "Elizabeth Banks. I'm kerry's classmate at the acting school. You can call me Liz."

Carrie scratched her blonde hair, lightly shaking her head, full of doubts.

What's going on with this girl? Murphy frowned slightly, even though kerryand she had conflicts, there was no need for her to be so relentless, right?

He knew that many conflicts between women often had no reason, but targeting kerry like this was indeed too much.

There were quite a few bystanders around now, and apart from the original group of girls, others were coming over, murmuring something like "It'skerry and varrie again." They probably understood that carrie had been targeting kerry for a long time.

Elizabeth Banks tugged carrie's arm, about to say something to ease the tension, when suddenly she saw Murphy whispering something to kerry. Kerry's eyebrows lifted.

"I'm just a small actress, so what?" Carrie hugged Murphy's arm tightly. "The roles I play belong to me. Unlike some people, who are just extras in a nine-hundred-million-dollar blockbuster. You don't really think you're Queen Amidala, do you? You're just Natalie Portman's stand-in"

Her other hand gestured to the people around, "Everyone will remember, me..."

Her voice slowly rose, "You're just Natalie Portman's stand-in! Even twenty years from now, that won't change!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Murphy pulled kerry away. This kind of thing was enough to let kerry vent, there was no need to let others continue watching the show.

They didn't even glance at carrie, just walked straight to the Ford car.

Carrie's face turned pale, her teeth biting tightly together, unable to say a word, as if kerry's words had struck a nerve.

She took two deep breaths, glaring at Murphy and kerry's backs with hatred.

It wasn't until the Ford car started and left that she finally let out the breath she had been holding in her mouth, "Damn junior director!"

Clearly, the words that the Kerry and Carrie, who were always at odds, couldn't think of were said. Otherwise, they would have said it during their first argument, not waiting until today. It was clearly the result of that junior director whispering in Carrie's ear.

Murphy was about to say something, when his phone rang. After listening for a moment, his face changed instantly, "What? Bill, is this true?"