Negotiating terms

As the approaching dusk cast its shadow, a Mercedes-Benz came to a stop at the foot of the ranch's hill.

A middle-aged Caucasian man dressed in formal attire stepped out of the car. It was none other than Mason Roberts, the agent who had traveled from afar to represent Jake Gyllenhaal.

He had set off from Los Angeles early in the morning, and although the journey had been taxing, he still appeared in good spirits. After all, his client had caught the attention of Lyman Ratze's radar. If the film truly had the potential to explode in popularity, it would be excellent news for him as well.

But all of this was contingent on a successful negotiation, and that was precisely why he was here.

Standing outside the car, he immediately dialed Jake's phone.

"Yes, I've arrived."

Before long, Jake descended from the hill.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two followed an address to reach a guesthouse, where they knocked on the door repeatedly.

Lyman opened the door and quickly grasped the situation. He smiled and said, "Gentlemen, please come in."

Once inside, Mason Roberts took the initiative to introduce himself, saying, "Mr. Lyman, greetings. I am Jake's agent. You can call me Mason."

Indeed, Mason was affiliated with the established agency William Morris, and there were some connections between his agency and CAA, where Lyman worked.

To be more precise, the founder of CAA had once broken away from William Morris to establish their own agency.

"Jake's appearance and demeanor are well-suited for a role in my film. As his agent, what is your intention?" Lyman didn't waste time with pleasantries and got straight to the point.

Flattery, who wouldn't appreciate it? Although Jake had heard such words throughout his life, their impact depended on the speaker. At this moment, hearing Lyman say that he was a good fit for the role filled him with excitement. His gaze shifted expectantly toward his agent, hoping for a quick positive response.

However, Mason disregarded Jake's glance and stated, "We are certainly interested in appearing in a film directed by Mr. Lyman. We are also sincere about making this collaboration happen."

It was a countermove in this delicate negotiation dance.

Seeing this professionalism, Lyman didn't waste words either. He directly presented a set of documents he had prepared beforehand: a contract, a budget plan sent by Ryan, a tentative shooting schedule, and location rental agreements for outdoor scenes. He placed them all in front of Mason and said, "Since everyone is eager to collaborate, let's discuss the terms."

"This?"

Sensing the other party's confusion, Lyman explained, "I am the director and producer of this project, which gives me the authority to determine the actor's performance contract."

In fact, he had taken on both roles during the filming of "Miscreant". However, he had only recently begun to exercise the producer's role. Previously, with Ryan's assistance or George handling negotiations, he didn't need to worry.

But now, with one caught up in on-set matters and the other traversing the world to negotiate overseas box office splits and related offline copyright operations of "Miscreant", he had to take matters into his own hands.

Mason understood this and refrained from speaking further.

He meticulously examined each document, considering everything and relying on his judgment to determine the level of effort required and the favorable conditions to be negotiated next.

A competent agent should always strive for the best possible contract for their client.

He still held onto this professional code of conduct.

Slowly reading through, he meticulously organized the documents. When he looked up again, his face was adorned with a smile.

"It seems that this project has been prepared quite thoroughly. We are also very willing to take part," Mason organized his words, "And Jake's schedule is completely accommodating, there won't be any issues. However..." He furrowed his brow, not immediately continuing. Instead, he turned to Jake at his side and said, "Jake, could you step out for a moment?"

Jake understood that the specifics of the salary negotiation were up next. As the involved party, his presence here would only complicate matters. Nodding, he politely bid Lyman a farewell, "Director Lyman, I'll take my leave now. You can continue your discussion."

Lyman waved his hand in acknowledgment, "Sure."

Once they had left, Mason dropped the formalities as well. He smiled and pointed at the contract, saying, "During my journey here, I pondered the relevant matters. I believe that $2M, paid in one lump sum, would be quite fitting."

By opening with such a figure, he increased Jake's value. Lyman wasn't irritated by the bluff; instead, he calmly countered, "He's just a supporting actor. This price is inflated."

"The production's plan is to shoot for a month, right? Considering that, we'll calculate it based on thirty days. It's less than $70,000 per day. In light of Jake's current accomplishments, I find this reasonable."

Lyman was amused by this exchange. Although he didn't dislike actors negotiating for fair compensation, he had never intended to strictly adhere to conventional norms. True, he was involved in the project's investment, but he wasn't the sole financier. Whether Jake's salary was high or low wasn't his concern. Perhaps EuropaCorp and Paramount cared more about that.

However, the film's production budget was only $10M, and he had roughly allocated $6M for salaries. If Jake were to claim $2M, what about the fees and expenses for other cast and crew members? What would happen if the production costs exceeded the limit?

It was incredibly troublesome to add more investment when the production costs fell short. It would mean renegotiating distribution terms with the two distribution companies he had previously signed with. If it came to that, what if the production ran out of funds? Would he, as the director, investor, and producer, have to dig into his own pocket to cover the shortfall?

Thinking about it, that was unlikely. He wasn't a saint; it was clear that he was being taken advantage of.

"Mason, as far as I know, Jake didn't earn this much for "Brokeback Mountain", and besides, his role in this film is less substantial."

"That's different, Director Lyman. Isn't his participation in this project a kind of qualification? As long as the response is good, an increase in his salary should be a given. What do you think?"

"Of course, that's an industry norm followed in Hollywood. But who knows when this film will be released? Maybe my film will be out sooner," Lyman replied with a smile.

Ang Lee was known for slow filming, and editing was even slower. Taking one or two years was considered normal.

Mason didn't give up and continued to argue, "He started acting at the age of 11 and has been in many successful films. He's beloved by audiences and fans. Director Lyman, Jake is an exceptional actor. Is there anyone better suited for this role than him?"

Hearing this, Lyman no longer wanted to maintain his pleasant demeanor.

Sometimes, certain people needed a bit of intimidation to get the message across.

Or perhaps, it was time to cut off their "mile-long demand".