Chapter 296: Unpaid Wages

After attending the wedding of Robert Downey Jr., Murphy temporarily halted his ongoing work, shifting his focus to negotiations, aiming to swiftly secure the adaptation rights for "A Song of Ice and Fire." He and Paul Wilson had done extensive preparation for this, even drafting a television series adaptation plan for "Game of Thrones" in record time.

Bill Rossi also met frequently with the publishing house of Bantam Books and George R.R. Martin's agent, confirming their genuine interest.

Adapting the novel into a more widely disseminated film and television work would undoubtedly be hugely profitable for both the publishers and the author.

With a basis for negotiations already in place, Murphy, assisted by Bill Rossi and accompanied by Paul Wilson and the lawyer Robert, began protracted negotiations with Bantam Books and George R.R. Martin's team.

As Murphy had anticipated, Hollywood's heavy reliance on adaptations meant that securing the rights to outstanding literary works often came at a steep cost, even for titles that weren't bestsellers.

"A Song of Ice and Fire," while not a blockbuster, had considerable sales and influence, making it impossible to acquire at a bargain price.

This era was somewhat more forgiving; as the original film and television works declined, the costs Hollywood would pay for rights would only increase. Murphy vaguely remembered Universal Studios once spent over $100 million just for the rights to "Fifty Shades of Grey," a novel that began as "Twilight" fan fiction.

In a few years, it might be even more challenging for Stan's studio to secure the rights to "A Song of Ice and Fire," potentially costing much more than now.

Therefore, Murphy did not want the negotiations to drag on, aiming to sign a formal agreement with Bantam Books and George R.R. Martin as quickly as possible, within a range that Stan's studio could afford.

The negotiations were tough. Bantam Books and George R.R. Martin initially asked for a $10 million base fee for adapting "Game of Thrones" plus a 20% share of future revenues, a sky-high demand.

This was a common tactic in negotiations, aiming for a high starting point to then negotiate down.

Murphy could not accept these terms, especially since this was just for the first book, "Game of Thrones." What about the subsequent books?

The negotiations were more difficult than anticipated. It was impossible to keep such negotiations completely secret. To maximize their benefits, Bantam Books and George R.R. Martin were likely to leak news of the talks to attract potential buyers and pressure Stan's studio.

Indeed, others were drawn in. The American Classic Film Channel also made contact with George R.R. Martin's team, proposing a joint adaptation of the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series.

Murphy encountered more difficulties in the negotiations with George R.R. Martin but did not give up; the discussions continued to saw back and forth.

Such complex negotiations, involving many aspects, were not easily resolved by Murphy's desire alone.

The negotiations continued with the team centered around Murphy and Bill Rossi, not going smoothly but gradually moving in a positive direction. Meanwhile, Murphy faced some trouble with "Sin City" and Miramax.

The film had long been removed from global markets. According to the agreement with Miramax, the final payment due to Murphy, nearly three million dollars, was supposed to be settled by the end of July. However, Miramax had not paid by the end of August. After Bill Rossi contacted Harvey and Bob Weinstein, Murphy realized retrieving the payment would be troublesome.

"It's not that the Weinstein brothers want to default."

In CAA's office, Bill Rossi was also worried, telling Murphy, "Their credibility in this regard is still secure, and all previous payments were made on time. Now, they want to pay but lack the sufficient authority."

Murphy guessed the issue, "Has Walt Disney and Michael Eisner sidelined the Weinstein brothers?"

"Exactly," Bill Rossi nodded. "The Weinstein brothers are no match for Michael Eisner; they've been sidelined by Disney's management, especially in financial matters."

Murphy was not surprised. In his position, controlling financial power would be the first step to sidelining the Weinstein brothers.

The Weinstein brothers were powerful, especially Harvey Weinstein, whose reputation was significant due to the Oscars. But against a behemoth like Disney and a figure like Michael Eisner, they were like Beverly Hills trying to compete in height with the Rocky Mountains.

They had many strategies, such as hollowing out Miramax and transferring the rights of projects they favored, but ultimately, they were no match for Disney.

"Miramax is in chaos now," Bill Rossi continued. "Many projects are on hold, and many people's salaries have been stopped."

His voice grew somber, "And Walt Disney is re-examining a series of contracts and agreements signed by the Weinstein brothers before, including yours with 'Sin City.' Until the review is complete, the payment will not be made."

"What should we do now?" Murphy asked.

In such matters, CAA and agents had more experience and had likely faced similar situations before.

"Wait," Bill Rossi advised. "For now, we wait and see what Disney does next."

Murphy considered this and nodded slightly. Miramax was in chaos, and the delay in payment was likely collateral damage. Once the dispute between Michael Eisner and the Weinstein brothers settled, the issue might resolve itself.

Setting this issue aside, Murphy continued negotiations with Bantam Books and George R.R. Martin, even attending a premiere in between.

Kara Faith had vigorously promoted Fox's monster movie "Alien vs. Predator," which had also been released.

"Paul, Milla, this is Murphy Stanton."

In the foyer of the Hollywood Chief Stone Theater, Kara Faith made the introductions, "Murphy, this is the director, Paul W.S. Anderson, and this is the leading actress, Milla Jovovich."

Murphy shook hands with the two, acknowledging, "Paul, Milla, I'm a fan of yours."

Paul W.S. Anderson and Milla Jovovich were surprised by Murphy's remark, showing a bit of confusion.

"I'm a big fan of 'Resident Evil,'" Murphy immediately clarified, "I'm a loyal fan of the movie."

"I also like your 'Saw' and 'Deadpool,'" Paul W.S. Anderson commented.

Milla Jovovich smiled at him, "I like your style and have always wanted to work with you."

Murphy showed a surprised expression, "There will definitely be an opportunity."

Though he had never played the "Resident Evil" games and the series had declined in quality over time, the first two movies had left a strong impression on Murphy, especially the protagonist Alice. Like Optimus Prime from "Transformers," as long as she remained the main character, there would never be a lack of supporters.

Unfortunately, due to various issues, he hadn't seen the series' finale.

"When is the second part, 'Resident Evil: Apocalypse,' coming out?" Murphy remembered seeing a trailer recently.

"In September," Paul W.S. Anderson, though not the director, was a producer and, seeing Murphy's genuine interest in the series, tentatively asked, "Can I invite you to the premiere then?"

Milla Jovovich added, "You can come with Kara."

"It would be an honor," Murphy responded politely. "As long as the timing works, I'll definitely attend."

Time was still far off, and he couldn't

 give a definite answer right now.

As more people came to greet Paul W.S. Anderson and Milla Jovovich, Murphy and Kara Faith simply left for the screening hall.

Once seated, Kara Faith inquired, "Any progress with the negotiations?"

"Some," Murphy knew she was asking about "A Song of Ice and Fire," "But their asking price is still too high. Bill is still talking to them."

Kara Faith curiously asked, "When did you become so interested in producing TV series? Fantasy series, unlike fantasy movies, are usually a niche in viewership."

"There will always be works that change the situation," Murphy confidently stated, "Weren't superhero movies also a niche in Hollywood films in the past?"

"If you manage to secure it," Kara Faith seemed very interested, "when do you plan to start production?"

"Let's wait a while," Murphy pondered, "The series is vast, and my investment is limited. The first 'Game of Thrones' can't exceed ten episodes; I'll start with a pilot episode."

Turning to Kara Faith, Murphy requested, "When the time comes, help me get in touch with Fox Cable Networks."

Such mature-themed TV series couldn't be broadcast on public television; cable was the necessary choice. Fox Cable Networks, a subsidiary of 20th Century Fox, specialized in pushing the boundaries of program censorship to attract viewers dissatisfied with terrestrial television, especially younger audiences. Due to its bold content, Fox Cable Networks' series were favorites among young viewers and advertisers.

After chatting for a bit, Murphy turned to the upcoming movie, "I remember from the script you showed me, the protagonist was a black woman. How did it change to Milla Jovovich?"

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