After leaving Paramount headquarters, Jonathan Friedman gave up the idea of visiting several other studios, and instead decided to rush back to WMA to discuss countermeasures with the company's senior management.
In order to curb the continued development and growth of CAA, it is imperative for WMA to imitate its opponent and implement the project packaging model.
Since several major Hollywood film companies have joined forces to prevent WMA from doing this, WMA should be strong enough to push this matter forward. However, in order to achieve this, the company's management must first reach an agreement and work together.
Although he knew very well in his heart that it would not be easy for WMA to achieve this in the internal mountains and hills, Jonathan Friedman still conceived of his rhetoric in detail when he returned to the company.
However, as soon as he returned to the company's headquarters on Camino Street, Jonathan Friedman was stopped by Norman Broca's assistant and led him to the WMA president's office.
Arriving at Norman Broca's office, Jonathan Friedman couldn't wait to speak before the old man sitting behind the desk, who was flipping through a document, said impatiently: "Norman, something has changed."
Norman Brocka raised his hand and made a calming gesture, motioning for Jonathan to sit down first, and then said: "I already know that the studio is trying to resist each other and wants to boycott "The Butterfly Effect". However, , the matter has been resolved."
Jonathan Friedman looked puzzled: "Solved?"
Norman Brocka nodded, picked a document from his hand, handed it to Jonathan Friedman, who sat opposite him, and said: "I had lunch with Ronald Goldberg, and he told Mine. Moreover, Fox is very interested in this film, and they don’t mind a package deal. So, we roughly agreed on the cooperation plan at noon, and you can take a look first.”
"The Butterfly Effect" was a project he promoted. When he heard that Norman Broca had reached an agreement with Fox without consulting him at all, Jonathan Friedman was a little unhappy, but he still took the file and opened it.
As he looked at the cooperation plan page by page, Jonathan Friedman’s brows became more and more frowning.
WMA originally planned to have a very complete production team, from core creatives such as producers, directors, male and female protagonists, to peripheral staff such as photographers and lighting engineers. It was the result of weeks of hard work by Jonathan Friedman.
In the plan, the budget cost of the entire packaging project is US$15 million, and WMA will draw 10% of the budget as a commission.
Now, this obviously compressed project plan only has a budget of US$12 million. Not only are WMA's packaging targets reduced to a few core creators, but the salaries of most clients have also been reduced.
Two clients under his name, Brian De Palma's director's salary was reduced to $1.5 million, while Simon's script remuneration was still $100,000 to buy out two scripts. In addition, WMA no longer collects commissions from the entire project uniformly, but settles them separately with individual clients in accordance with common practice.
Moreover, what makes Jonathan Friedman feel most uncomfortable is that as the star in Norman Brocka's hands, Matthew Broderick's salary is still $5 million.
Casually throwing the unfinished cooperation plan on Norman Brocka's desk, Jonathan Friedman suppressed his dissatisfaction and said: "Norman, is this cooperation plan still considered a packaged contract? "
Norman Broca put down the pen in his hand and said: "Of course, you have to know that the packaging contract that CAA originally signed with the studio is far inferior to the one you have in hand."
Jonathan Friedman took a deep breath silently, not knowing whether he wanted to cry or laugh.
Even now, the WMA is still far larger than the CAA.
But the man in front of me, the president of the largest talent agency giant in the world, actually compared his company to CAA, which was still a small workshop many years ago.
Norman Brocka looked at Jonathan Friedman, and seeing his expression change, his tone couldn't help but become a little more earnest, and said: "Qiao, I know what you think, but many things need to be done slowly. . Moreover, you have to understand that the current situation of the company is very bad, so I hope you can take the overall situation into consideration."
Jonathan Friedman’s right hand on his knee clenched into a fist.
Taking the overall situation into consideration
Ah.
If it weren't for the overall situation, the entire project should be my own.
Just to take the overall situation into consideration, I only retained the director and screenwriter, and gave up all other positions.
Now.
How can I take care of the overall situation
Thinking with some bitterness in his heart, Jonathan Friedman said coldly: "Norman, even so, why is Matthew's salary still so high when other people's salaries have been reduced? In any case, I can't express my gratitude to my own. Customer instructions.”
Faced with Jonathan's direct question, Norman Brocka's expression did not change at all, and he said patiently: "Joe, I think you know Brian's situation better than anyone else, so give him a salary of 1.5 million U.S. dollars and not There's nothing wrong with that. As for that, um, that screenwriter, didn't you say he was only eighteen years old? For an eighteen-year-old boy, $100,000 is already very generous. Now you tell this news Tell him and I'm sure the little guy will jump with joy."
Jonathan Friedman recalled his contact with Simon during this period and was very sure that it was impossible for the young man to jump up when he heard the news. Even if he did jump up, it would definitely not be because of happiness.
Seeing that Jonathan was silent, Norman Broca thought for a while and said: "Well, Joe, this is a good start after all. So, as long as this project is successful, I will approve an additional bonus for you at the end of the year. How about it?"
Jonathan Friedman remained silent. After a moment, he stood up and said, "Norman, I need to think about it."
Norman Broca also stood up, walked around the desk, patted Jonathan Friedman on the shoulder, and said: "Fox wants to sign the contract as soon as possible, so you have to give me an answer tomorrow. Bar."
Jonathan Friedman nodded mechanically, turned around and left Norman Brocka's office.
When the office door closed, the original pleasant look on Norman Brocka's face immediately disappeared. He actually looked down upon Jonathan, a vice president who was promoted through his relationship with WMA Chairman Lou Weiss.
Among the eight WMA vice presidents, Jonathan Friedman is basically ranked at the bottom.
Not only are major Hollywood studios wary of the packaging plan proposed by Jonathan Friedman, but Norman Broca also doesn't want this project to be too successful. If Jonathan Friedman becomes a pioneer in internal reform of the company due to the "Butterfly Effect" packaging project, the other party's prestige and status in WMA will definitely increase significantly, and even threaten his own status.
Jonathan Friedman did not agree immediately, and Norman Brocka also roughly understood what the other party would probably do after leaving.
After arriving at the desk and sitting down, Norman Brocka immediately picked up the phone, pressed the call button and said to the secretary in the outside room: "Put Stevens on."
Jonathan Friedman returned to his office and leaned back in his leather chair with some slump.
I don’t know how long it took, but Jonathan Friedman was trying to cheer up and made a call to WMA Chairman Lou Weiss at the New York headquarters on the East Coast, hoping to get some advice from his old boss who had single-handedly promoted him. Getting some support, the phone on his desk rang first.
When I answered the phone, unexpectedly it was Lou Weiss calling.
The two talked for more than ten minutes, and Jonathan Friedman put down the microphone in his hand, his expression once again a little frustrated.
As WMA's first packaging attempt, it wasn't long before Jonathan Friedman came up with the idea that he had actually already talked with Lou Weiss on the phone. Although he was based on the East Coast, Lou Weiss was also very concerned about this project.
However, after just calling, Lou Weiss had no intention of supporting Jonathan Friedman. Instead, he hoped that he could complete the "Butterfly Effect" project as soon as possible without causing unnecessary complications. Finally, he also said that the WMA cannot withstand the turmoil now, and he still hoped that he could take the overall situation into consideration.
Faced with this situation, Jonathan Friedman also understood.
Norman Broca must have communicated with several other senior executives of the company and even the board of directors in advance. Moreover, after all, after working at WMA for so many years, Jonathan Friedman was even vaguely aware of Norman Broca's intention to not see the "Butterfly Effect" package project be too successful.
Now, perhaps company chairman Lou Weiss, CEO Lee Stevens, and even WMA board members have reached a unified opinion on this matter.
Facing a large group of conservatives who no longer have much ambition, if I try to push this matter forward, it may only be counterproductive, and I may even lose the vice president position I just got.
Suddenly I feel envious of CAA, where there is only one voice, Michael Ovitz.
In this case.
Then just take the overall situation into consideration.
Smiling somewhat self-deprecatingly, Jonathan Friedman pressed the call button on the landline again and asked his assistant to call Simon and leave a message asking him to come to WMA tomorrow. Then he personally called Brian De Palma.
Griffin Supermarket is open 24 hours a day, and Simon has already started his shift during this time.
Tuesday happened to be the night shift.
I worked from 11 o'clock in the evening to 7 o'clock in the morning the next day.
After his shift in the morning, after breakfast, Simon rode back to the hotel. When I heard the message on my phone from WMA, I took a short break for an hour and then hurried back to Beverly Hills.
I arrived outside Jonathan's office by a familiar route. It was a few minutes before 10 o'clock. I was supposed to have a few words with Owen Wright outside, but someone opened the door of Jonathan's office.
Simon stopped talking to Owen Wright, turned around and looked over, and happened to meet the eyes of a young man who came out first, but it was Matthew Broderick.
Jonathan then came out and when he saw Simon, he immediately showed a gentle smile and said: "Simon, you came just in time. Now, this is Matthew Broderick, he will soon be the leading actor of "The Butterfly Effect", you all We are young people, and we will definitely have a lot of things in common in the future.”
Simon hadn't responded yet. Matthew Broderick, who had originally looked suspicious, had understood at this time, but he didn't give Jonathan Friedman any face. He said with a cold face: "Qiao, this person and I have nothing to do with each other." What common language will there be?”
After saying that, Matthew Broderick glanced at Simon again, turned around and walked towards the corridor outside.