Hollywood Drawing

After a busy week of filming, Wayne had to put down his work and took advantage of the crew's vacation to walk into CAA in Burbank with Jimmy.

He is still signing an internship contract with this agency. This time he is planning to switch to a normal director-client agency contract. He had promised Jimmy a long time ago, but the sudden scandal interrupted the signing.

When the scandal about Wayne first broke out, CAA urgently stopped the contract signing. But a week after the crew had started filming normally, the partners of the agency asked Jimmy to start negotiations with him.

This kind of thing is normal. No company would want to have a racist client. Wayne didn't care at all. Jimmy did everything he could do. He is a qualified agent.

In the CAA partner's office, a secretary brought two cups of coffee. After thanking him politely, Wayne did not touch the coffee. Instead, he looked across at Jimmy's immediate boss, CAA partner Wright Lauder.

Wright-Lord was also sizing up Wayne. This director was younger than he expected. Although there were also young people with amazing talents among his clients, they were all actors, and they were completely different concepts from directors.

How many years has it been since Hollywood has produced a director at such a young age whose films have grossed over 100 million?

If it wasn't the other person's first film that created such a terrifying return on investment ratio, and he was carrying a trainee agent contract, he wouldn't worry about the other person being poached.

This scandal was an opportunity for the young director to come to CAA directly before being tempted by other agencies.

"Director Greenberg." Wright-Lord also didn't go to see the coffee. "CAA sincerely welcomes you to join us."

There is absolutely no need to be secretive about this kind of thing. He is just here to discuss contract issues with the other party.

Jimmy turned to look at Wayne. He had been hiding in the studio to work, so he didn't know that since the racial discrimination incident reversed, he, a young director, had become a hot commodity among agencies.

That's why Wright Lauder repeatedly asked Jimmy to sign an agency contract as soon as possible when Wayne Greenberg had time to be careful of being poached by other companies. There were too many companies wanting to pay for this internship contract. .

Wayne smiled politely and said calmly: "Thank you and caa for your kindness. I am very happy to cooperate with Jimmy now. We can change the contract as soon as possible."

"No problem!" Wright-Lord raised his hand and motioned to the secretary to bring over the printed contract. "In the past, CAA didn't give you much help. In the future, we will add two to three more service providers and use all company resources to help you plan your career."

After hearing what he said, Wayne did not speak, but just looked down at the document in his hand. He was very satisfied with his cooperation with Jimmy, but he didn't have any good impressions of other agents. He just looked down at the conditions stated in the contract.

He was trying to impress a smart guy with empty talk, but Wright-Lord was not so naive and knew that Wayne was carefully watching the terms he offered.

"This contract offered by CAA is very sincere." He said in a sincere tone: "The agent will take a 10% commission. Later, we will form a mature film production team around you."

What Wright-Lord offered was a salary that only a famous director could have.

He continued: "CAA will fully operate your subsequent projects, and as long as you need it, the company can try its best to persuade its big-name clients to participate in your subsequent projects."

He didn't finish what he said. There should be another sentence after that. Wayne himself added it in his heart, that is, your project must be able to impress those star customers.

"I have no objection to all the conditions." Wayne put down the contract in his hand and looked into the partner's eyes. “Only the broker’s share is this, and I ask that it be changed to eight percent.”

Wright-Lord considered the conditions he proposed, eight percent, which could only be obtained by large customers, and Wayne was obviously not at that level.

"Okay, we are willing to change the share ratio." After thinking for a while, he said without hesitation: "CAA believes in the potential of director Wayne Greenberg and is willing to give you this share treatment in advance."

"Oh?" He didn't expect the other party to agree so easily. "Okay, we can sign the contract at any time."

Without any hesitation, Wright-Lord asked his secretary to reprint the contract. This is Hollywood. Directors with successful experience are completely different from newcomers. Even if the newcomer is really a genius, he still needs to be tested by the market.

In any case, the conditions they gave were very sincere. "Happy Death Day", which has a global box office of over 100 million, completely changed the situation faced by Wayne.

Then they moved the signing venue to a conference room in CAA. Wayne sat behind a long conference table, turned to the last page of the contract, and signed his name under Jimmy's guidance.

Two copies of the contract were signed, and Wayne and Wright Lauder, who represented CAA, exchanged contracts. The photographer waiting here pressed the camera shutter and recorded the moment.

"I'm very happy that we can renew this agency contract!" Wright Lauder, standing with him, was smiling. "CAA welcomes young talents like you!"

Wayne shook his hand. "It is an honor to join CAA."

He knew exactly what to say in this situation.

After signing the new contract, Wayne could clearly see that Jimmy and the partner were relieved. Then he declined Wright-Lord's invitation to celebrate and walked out of the agency with Jimmy.

Wayne spread his hands and looked at his agent. "I didn't expect that I would be so popular now."

Jimmy exhaled and said with complicated eyes: "From now on, I won't be the only agent for you."

"Can't we prevent them from cross-managing me?" Wayne understood what he meant and had some understanding of caa's corporate strategy.

"It's not management!" Jimmy still paid great attention to the feelings expressed in words and quickly corrected him. "It's service, we will serve you together!"

"You've done a good job, is this really necessary?" Wayne frowned, and he also felt that this was more troublesome.

According to his previous anecdotal understanding, the purpose of the brokerage company was to prevent brokers from taking their clients from job-hopping to other brokerage companies.

Although there was reluctance on Jimmy's face, he also understood that Wayne's future was getting brighter and brighter, and his future would also get better and better. "Actually, it's good for you. Such cross-service services can relieve you of worries. Each agent has his or her own specialty and will also be responsible for a piece of business."

Sergey opened the car door and the two of them sat in the back seat. Jimmy continued: "For example, I will only be responsible for your film business in the future, but in addition to the core film production business, you will also have other worries. , there will also be an agent responsible for helping you solve the problem..."

"Including life issues?" Wayne was a little surprised. "Wouldn't that mean you become a life assistant? A nanny-style agent?"

"All the problems you can think of can be solved by your agent." Jimmy gave him an affirmative answer.

After listening to Jimmy explain to him for a long time in the car, Wayne finally understood that the reason why CAA was able to attract so many big-name directors and stars to join it turned out to be more than just business ability.

They now also offer services that none of their competitors do - services outside of their core business.

They pay attention to their customers' concerns outside of work. They will provide appropriate auxiliary services in family residences, hospitals, children's schools, and even food, clothing, housing and transportation.

Therefore, CAA's partner management will assign such special tasks to some agents, which can be regarded as making the best use of resources. Not all agents are as good at handling film business as Jimmy.

Afterwards, CAA's condominium agents, in addition to Jimmy who helps Wayne handle film production-related business, there will also be one responsible for media communication and living assistance, one responsible for literature-related writing, and one responsible for special opportunities.

In fact, actors and directors change agents very frequently, and it is very normal. Many people find the right one after changing several times.

It is really hard for a brokerage company to offend people when it provides such a full range of services. On the contrary, it makes customers feel that the brokerage company is very humane and makes them feel convenient and comfortable at any time when they stay here.

"Okay, I think it's pretty good in that case." Wayne felt very good after hearing this. "You are responsible for communicating with other agents. If they are not suitable, I have the right to replace them, right?"

"That's right." Jimmy was very happy to hear this. This was Wayne's absolute trust in him. "You have the right to replace them at any time."

The car drove not far away and stopped under the Warner Building. Wayne walked into the building with his agent. Warner's distribution department asked him to discuss the film's publicity issues. They wanted to take advantage of this wave of popularity and make some news in advance.

On the eighth floor of the building, in the office of the director of the publicity and development department, Wayne politely shook hands with director Paul Charles, and several people sat in the rest area.

"Director Greenberg, we have a publicity plan." Paul Charles considered his words. "I need your personal cooperation and I need to listen to your opinions."

"Do you mind?" He saw the ashtray on the table, took out his cigarette case and lit a cigarette out of habit. "Just tell me, it's okay, what do you need me to do?"

"Our employees in the distribution department have conducted a survey in the past few days. Because of the Halle Berry incident, the public is particularly curious about the content of your new film. They are curious about what kind of character caused such a farce."

Paul Charles looked at him and asked an irrelevant question: "Director Greenberg, you don't have an official girlfriend, do you?"

Wayne was stunned for a moment and said, "No."

"Your film has a deep reflection on racial issues. This is a big selling point. Good publicity will bring many African Americans into the theater. So, we hope you can get a girlfriend, an African American girl." friend."