Chapter 20: A New Direction

The headline article in "The Hollywood Reporter" detailed the WMA packaging project saga with such precision that it included many specific intricacies. The report chronicled everything from Jonathan Friedman's initiation of the project to the collective resistance from major Hollywood studios wary of WMA's shift towards a packaging strategy, culminating in Jonathan's dissatisfaction with Norman Broca's compromises and the uneven distribution of project benefits, leading to a full-blown fallout with his superior.

Clearly, such a detailed account could only have originated from an insider.

WMA's faction-ridden internal structure was well-known. Leaking this internal strife, while damaging to WMA, could benefit many if it led to the downfall of President Norman Broca and Vice President Jonathan Friedman. With seven other vice presidents waiting in the wings and countless agents within WMA aspiring for upward mobility, any of them had sufficient motive to disclose these details.

Confronted with the sudden exposé by "The Hollywood Reporter," WMA's management was too overwhelmed to investigate who had leaked the information, as they had to manage the flood of media inquiries.

On the morning the article was published, WMA Chairman Lou Weiss, in an interview with "The Los Angeles Times," firmly denied all the claims made by "The Hollywood Reporter." He also revealed that WMA had reached a preliminary agreement with Fox Studios, asserting that the first packaging project was not a failure and thus, there was no internal strife.

However, when the media sought confirmation from Fox Studios, President Ronald Goldberg gave a non-committal response, neither confirming nor denying the details, only stating that discussions with WMA were ongoing and that it was inappropriate to disclose any specifics.

This was the result of an emergency consultation between WMA and the higher echelons of Fox. Although Fox's covert attempt to secure "The Butterfly Effect" had embarrassed them amongst their peers once exposed, Ronald Goldberg understood that outright denying the situation could make WMA retaliate against Fox.

Besides getting Fox to play along, WMA's upper management also privately contacted Taki Cassell, the major shareholder behind "The Hollywood Reporter." After some back-and-forth, they secured a promise that no further unsettling news would be published hastily.

After a day of maneuvers, WMA thought they had managed to bring the situation back under control.

However, another leak was published the next day.

The whistleblower had done their homework, as the piece appeared in "Daily Variety," bypassing "The Hollywood Reporter," which WMA had managed to influence. "Daily Variety," a daily newspaper under the umbrella of Variety Media, complemented the weekly "Variety" magazine as part of Variety's media platforms. In fact, "The Hollywood Reporter" also had both a daily and a weekly edition but did not differentiate their names like Variety.

"Daily Variety" provided an even more detailed account, focusing particularly on the "compromised" packaging arrangement Norman Broca had agreed to after negotiating with Fox. It highlighted Matthew Broderick's $5 million contract and the miserly buyout deal for the screenwriter of "The Butterfly Effect," pinpointing these contracts as the spark for the conflict between Norman and Jonathan.

With "Daily Variety's" renewed exposé, daily newspapers including "The Los Angeles Times" began to take an interest in the saga, hinting at a potential escalation of the situation.

Faced with this, WMA and Fox had no choice but to staunchly deny many details being reported in the media.

However, everyone knew that to prevent greater fallout, taking decisive action to swiftly and thoroughly resolve the crisis was imperative.

That urgency carried over to July 21st, a Monday.

After a chaotic weekend, WMA Chairman Lou Weiss and CEO Lee Stevens followed Norman Broca back to Los Angeles to stabilize the situation on the West Coast.

At 9 a.m., in the spacious conference room at WMA's Camino Street headquarters, only four people were seated—two executives from the East Coast and the two central figures of the ongoing controversy.

"Yesterday in New York, I personally spoke with Mr. Rupert Murdoch, Chairman of News Corporation," Lou Weiss, at 75 years old and showing signs of fatigue yet still with a sharp gaze, began. He looked over his notes then met the eyes of his subordinates, saying, "Mr. Murdoch has agreed that Fox will cooperate fully with us to complete 'The Butterfly Effect.' However, adjustments must be made. And let me be clear, what I'm about to say is final. You two will not oppose but merely execute. If you can't handle it, you're out."

Weiss continued, "Since we've already denied many of the media leaks, we need to adjust the original plan. First, we need a new lead actor, not Matthew. Also, Norman, I've agreed with Fox that Matthew will star in another of their films, 'Project X,' which they say was already sent to you, right?"

Norman Broca nodded, then inquired, "What about Matthew's salary?"

Lou Weiss fixed his gaze on Norman, stating firmly, "Three million dollars."

Hearing the figure, Norman stood up abruptly, protesting, "That's too low!"

"Only three million dollars," Lou Weiss reiterated with finality in his voice, "Or you can leave."

Norman's mouth twitched, but he eventually nodded and reluctantly sat back down.

While Jonathan Friedman could potentially jump ship from WMA, Norman Broca could not afford such a move. As the president of the largest talent agency in North America and potentially the globe, switching companies was not feasible unless he ventured out on his own. However, even if he could take a group of top-tier stars with him, Norman would never wield the same level of power as he did now.

Satisfied with Norman's compliance, Lou Weiss turned to Jonathan Friedman. "And for you, Jonathan, you need to oversee the smooth transition of 'The Butterfly Effect' to the new terms we have set with Fox. We need this project to succeed without further issues. Is that clear?"

Jonathan nodded, understanding the weight of the task at hand. This project was no longer just about his career; it was a litmus test for his ability to manage high-stakes negotiations under intense scrutiny.

"Good," Lou Weiss concluded, "I expect both of you to work towards stabilizing our operations. This project has drawn enough attention. Let's get it back on track and close it successfully. I don't want to hear about any more infighting or leaks. If this situation doesn't improve, it will reflect poorly on all of us, and further actions will be considered."

With the meeting adjourned, Jonathan and Norman left the room with a lot on their minds. Although there was a superficial truce, the undercurrents of rivalry and ambition still simmered. Each knew that the coming weeks would be crucial not only for the success of 'The Butterfly Effect' but potentially for their future at WMA.

The media storm surrounding WMA had calmed somewhat with strategic denials and the announcement of continued cooperation with Fox. However, the internal challenges within WMA were far from over. The article in "Daily Variety" had stirred up significant public and industry interest, and now all eyes were on how WMA would handle the project's turnaround.

In a twist of fate, this public scrutiny brought unexpected attention to 'The Butterfly Effect,' piquing the curiosity of moviegoers and industry insiders alike. The project, initially just another business move, had now become a highly anticipated release, its success or failure poised to resonate far beyond the executive offices of WMA.

Jonathan, aware of the heightened stakes, prepared diligently for his role in this pivotal phase. His actions in the coming days would not only determine the fate of 'The Butterfly Effect' but could also redefine his career trajectory. The pressure was immense, but so were the opportunities for redemption and advancement. With careful navigation, this crisis might just turn into his most significant professional victory.