Chapter 38: A Deal

In Mike Medavoy's office, Arthur was still unaware that he had been described as Jennifer Connelly's good friend.

At this moment, Mike Medavoy, after reading the script and finishing his phone call, was in the middle of a conversation.

"You are certainly young," Mike Medavoy's first impression of Arthur was his youth. He lifted the script in his hand, "This thriller involves marriage and domestic violence, it's very gripping. I understand your situation. Orion Pictures is interested in your script and is willing to pay $250,000 to acquire it!"

Arthur glanced at Mike Medavoy but didn't respond directly. Instead, he brought up something else, "Recently, I read Thomas Harris's novels The Silence of the Lambs and Red Dragon. I really like them. It seems Orion Pictures is planning to develop The Silence of the Lambs?"

Mike Medavoy nodded, "I do have that idea, but others in the company are not very supportive of my decision. For The Silence of the Lambs, I found a new screenwriter and a new director. The leading roles haven't been confirmed yet, and other partners in the company are not optimistic about this project at all. Can you attract investment? I don't mind letting newcomers lead this work."

Arthur frowned. It turned out The Silence of the Lambs had already passed through three different ownerships before coming into Orion Pictures' hands.

"I'm not sure," Arthur couldn't guarantee he could secure investment. After all, he hadn't even seen the complete script.

"The Silence of the Lambs is a thriller crime film, similar to your Sleeping with the Enemy. Sleeping with the Enemy is a psychological thriller and doesn't have the blood and horror elements of The Silence of the Lambs. Orion Pictures would be very willing to shoot your Sleeping with the Enemy. If you are willing to sell this script, I will make you one of the producers for The Silence of the Lambs."

Mike Medavoy knew these people well, just like how he brought in Jonathan Demme and Ted Tally for the current The Silence of the Lambs project.

They were both obsessed with the novel, summoned by Mike Medavoy to prepare it. Jonathan Demme, an unknown director who had only made a few low-budget comedies, and Ted Tally, a first-time adapter, were brought on as the screenwriter. Adding a twenty-year-old as a producer wouldn't be much of an issue!

Arthur pondered for a while, "So, how much is Orion willing to invest in The Silence of the Lambs?"

Mike Medavoy shrugged, "I think right now, Orion is more willing to proceed with Sleeping with the Enemy. As for The Silence of the Lambs project, it still needs discussion. We previously made a budget proposal for The Silence of the Lambs, around $20 million. You know, that's not a small budget!"

Of course, Mike Medavoy didn't mention that the budget for Sleeping with the Enemy would certainly be less.

In terms of characters and scenes, Sleeping with the Enemy was a low-budget drama film, while The Silence of the Lambs was the maximum budget Mike Medavoy could fight for, and the project hadn't been approved yet.

Arthur thought for a moment and then spoke, "If I exchange Sleeping with the Enemy for the script of The Silence of the Lambs, is it possible? I want to develop The Silence of the Lambs. Orion just needs to provide $5 million for shooting, and I will raise the rest."

Mike Medavoy felt a shock in his heart hearing this. Just before Arthur Smith came in, he had called producer Gary Foster at Columbia TriStar.

Gary Foster was very optimistic about this young man, expressing satisfaction with his work on Sleepless in Seattle.

"Arthur, are you confident?" Mike Medavoy asked with interest.

Arthur nodded, "I am confident I can convince investors. I am confident The Silence of the Lambs will be completed by next year!

"Arthur, The Silence of the Lambs is a famous novel, and you are just a newcomer," Mike Medavoy was tempted as it wouldn't require much Orion Pictures' funding.

However, the adaptation rights for a bestseller aren't easy to obtain, even though the Sleeping with the Enemy script is good, but it's not enough.

Arthur held up three fingers, "Sleeping with the Enemy plus $150,000 in cash, in exchange for the three-year rights to The Silence of the Lambs script. If I fail to develop the work within three years, the rights automatically revert to Orion Pictures, and you retain exclusive North American distribution rights. Mr. Medavoy, that is my bottom line. I do love this novel, but I am not worried Sleeping with the Enemy will lack suitors."

Arthur remembered the high box office of The Silence of the Lambs and its sweeping victory at the Oscars.

However, if Orion Pictures overreached, that would be unacceptable!

Mike Medavoy stood up, "Forget about the $150,000. I want you to be the executive producer of Sleeping with the Enemy. If you can guarantee Sleeping with the Enemy is released by the end of next year, I can trade your script for the three-year rights to The Silence of the Lambs.

Of course, if you don't complete Sleeping with the Enemy by next year, we will consider having purchased the script from you for $250,000, and you won't own The Silence of the Lambs script.

How about it, Arthur? All of this needs to be written into a contract. You can go back and discuss it with your agent," Mike Medavoy said with a smile.

He was interested in Sleeping with the Enemy and wanted to develop it quickly. Orion Pictures needed new films to recover.

Scripts like The Hot Spot couldn't compare with Sleeping with the Enemy. According to Gary Foster, Arthur Smith was largely responsible for producing Sleepless in Seattle, with Foster just providing needed support.

Letting Arthur handle Sleeping with the Enemy would be worth it, and they didn't need to rush The Silence of the Lambs. After all, they retained the North American distribution rights.

Arthur closed his eyes and thought, "For Sleeping with the Enemy, I need a budget of $15 million and sufficient authority. If you can meet my needs, I can sign the contract, ensuring Sleeping with the Enemy is in theaters by next year!"

Mike Medavoy also thought, "$15 million isn't too much, and we will ensure your authority over the crew."

Arthur's eyelid twitched. Just earlier, someone mentioned the $20 million The Silence of the Lambs budget being substantial. Now, $15 million for Sleeping with the Enemy wasn't much?

"Then I will have my agent discuss it with Orion Pictures. Specific matters can be addressed after Sleepless in Seattle wraps up. By the end of January, I can start on Sleeping with the Enemy."

Mike Medavoy nodded, "I will also hold an internal meeting to discuss Sleeping with the Enemy. Get ready to sign a contract."

Mike Medavoy was confident he could convince the other partners about The Silence of the Lambs, even though it would take time.

Now that there was a promising Sleeping with the Enemy, Mike Medavoy was sure he could get the company's approval!

"Oh, I heard you were here for an audition for The Hot Spot today. Did you pass?" Mike Medavoy suddenly remembered something and asked with a smile.

Arthur shook his head, "I didn't fit the character, and" he glanced at Mike Medavoy with some meaning, smiling, "I only came for the salary. If I had other work, I definitely wouldn't participate in such a film."

Mike Medavoy sighed, "Arthur, does that mean you don't think much of our script?"

Arthur gave Mike Medavoy a helpless look, pointing to the Sleeping with the Enemy script on the table, "This is my third script completed this year. The Hot Spot to me, is just slightly better than working as a waiter in a restaurant."

"Young people are really full of confidence," Mike Medavoy shook his head with a smile, "Go and think about the plan for Sleeping with the Enemy as soon as possible..."

*****

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