Mutually agreeable

Joseph Benjamin was relatively young, at the age of 39, which was prime for showcasing his talents.

However, he appeared a bit older than his age, and had it not been for the birth records dug up by the headhunting agency, which stated he was in his forties, approaching fifty, no one would have doubted it.

He was tall, lean, and had a refined appearance, but his face shape wasn't quite flattering, somewhat disrupting the overall impression.

To be more precise, he was an older man with a round face that didn't match his age and appearance. His hair had already turned somewhat gray, and his receding hairline was cause for concern, making him look like he was contemplating a retreat to the Mediterranean.

The meeting was scheduled at a Hollywood restaurant.

He wore a black suit and a pair of glasses.

As Lyman carefully observed Joseph, Joseph was also assessing him.

In Hollywood, many people perhaps hadn't paid much attention to Firefly Films. After all, compared to Lyman, a director who had displayed remarkable talent in filmmaking, a small company founded by him didn't seem noteworthy.

Joseph hadn't paid much attention initially either. However, when the headhunting agency contacted him, he took the time to investigate the company. Its predecessor, Rodrian Entertainment, had been established for five or six years and had developed slowly, even bordering on mismanagement.

But it was precisely such a basic, small company that had flourished in Lyman's hands. In just half a year, their performance had been surprisingly good, especially with franchises like "Saw" in development, which raised many questions.

At the very least, Lyman, as a director, not only had excellent directing skills but also excelled in selecting film projects.

He had entered the industry in the early 1990s, working for a television station, and had spent nearly 13 years in the entertainment industry, accumulating vast experience. Yet, directors with such discerning eyes were indeed rare. Lyman's model was somewhat akin to figures like George Lucas and Steven Spielberg.

However, Lyman had achieved success at a faster pace, and he was younger.

The two locked eyes upon meeting, and Joseph extended his hand, saying, "Hello, Mr. Lattes."

"Just Lyman. Hello," Lyman replied with a smile, nodding in greeting.

This man's resume was indeed impressive and precisely the kind of managerial talent that Firefly Films needed.

Moreover, he was currently in the job market, which was perfect timing.

John, as the introducer from the headhunting agency, tried to liven up the atmosphere, saying, "Let's all take a seat."

After everyone had settled in, Lyman handed the menu to Joseph and said, "Why don't you go ahead and order?"

Joseph didn't hesitate and casually selected a couple of dishes before passing the menu back to Lyman.

Then, the conversation began.

Both sides were subtly probing each other.

Joseph remarked, "Lyman, your company has been developing rapidly."

Lyman smiled and replied, "It's been decent so far. The success of "Saw" and "Effervescent" has stabilized the company to some extent."

He continued, "Actually, my expertise lies more in filmmaking, and managing the company day-to-day is quite challenging. I need someone to assist me."

There it was; the probing had gradually shifted to the main topic.

Joseph had been contemplating finding a job, and with his qualifications, it wasn't a difficult task in this regard. Agreeing to this meeting was also a form of reconnaissance.

So he inquired, "Lyman, do you have any plans for the future of Firefly Films?"

"I can't say for sure how the future will be," Lyman was quite practical. "But I just want to expand and strengthen the company."

"Simply producing films?" Joseph inquired.

"No, no, no," Lyman clarified, "Distribution has become the company's next focus. We've been working on it."

"That sounds promising."

"Of course, Mr. Joseph, I sincerely invite you to join Firefly Films. If you decide to come on board, you'll be the Executive President of the administrative department at Firefly Films."

Upon hearing the job title, Joseph showed no immediate reaction. His industry standing during his time at MGM far exceeded that of a new-generation small company like Firefly Films. His intentions weren't easily swayed by a simple job title.

"Furthermore, if you decide to join us, you'll have a base salary of $400,000 plus a performance-based bonus of 5% for the department."

This was a practical offer. Compensation was always a critical factor.

Previously, Joseph's annual salary at MGM was only $200,000, and with various related bonuses, his after-tax annual income was similar to that of middle-tier management in larger companies, roughly around $400,000.

Lyman also understood that to entice a seasoned managerial professional, they had to offer an attractive salary. He had no intention of being stingy; he had already put forth a very satisfactory base salary. Additionally, the performance bonus could be substantial, potentially doubling his income compared to his time at MGM.

"Could you tell me more about the administrative department at the company? What about the staff?" Joseph's attitude seemed to have shifted significantly.

He didn't have a particularly favorable impression of Firefly Films. He thought their potential was good, but he wasn't in a rush to join. After all, he had several similar job offers, so why not choose a company with greater growth potential?

Therefore, only the compensation package had the potential to truly sway him.

Joseph was indeed very satisfied with the possible annual salary.

"I won't hide it from you; all the departments in the company are currently short-staffed, and the administrative department is no exception. If you take the position, you might have to handle many tasks on your own. But we've been actively recruiting," Lyman added.

"How many people are there currently?" Joseph asked, feeling a bit troubled. This reminded him of the situation at the UK subsidiary during his time there, where the entire company was severely understaffed. Moreover, the headquarters didn't have high expectations for these subsidiary companies, only requiring them to cooperate with the main office for film distribution.

It was during that period that he had been busy every day but found it increasingly meaningless, leading to his resignation.

Thinking of this, he wanted to get up and leave. However, the thought of the $400,000 base salary and the fact that Firefly Films was still in its early stages with a shortage of staff made him grit his teeth and nod. "Thank you for your trust, Lyman. I'm willing to join Firefly Films and do my job well."

Lyman smiled and said, "Welcome aboard. If possible, please complete the onboarding process as soon as you can. Also, regarding the department's recruitment, you can handle it yourself. Additionally, there's an urgent task, perhaps the most critical one right now. It involves recompiling the data of all company employees and defining suitable career advancement paths."

Ah, finally, some relief.

Lyman watched Joseph's departing figure and felt a sense of delight. With someone as experienced as Joseph, who also seemed quite pragmatic, handling the day-to-day management of the entire company could free him from the various trivial matters.