In the headline article of the "Hollywood Reporter", the media's account of the WMA packaging project even went into many specific details.
The entire report started with Jonathan Friedman initiating the packaging project, including how several major Hollywood studios tried to resist WMA out of fear of WMA's shift to a packaging operation strategy, until finally Jonathan Friedman was dissatisfied with the promise. Man Broca's compromise, uneven distribution of project benefits, complete falling out with his immediate boss, and other causes and consequences were as if he had experienced the whole thing in person.
In fact, it is clear that this article could not have come from any other source than internal disclosures.
The factions within the WMA are almost universally known.
Although the infighting scandal will have an immeasurable negative impact on the WMA, at the same time, if President Norman Brocka and Vice President Jonathan Friedman are unlucky, many people can benefit from it. beneficial.
After all, even between Norman Brocka and Jonathan Friedman, there are still seven vice presidents waiting to take the next step. There are countless other WMA agents who are still struggling to climb up the ranks.
Any one of these people would have had enough reason to do this.
Faced with the sudden explosive article by "The Hollywood Reporter", there was no time to investigate who leaked the dispute, so WMA management had to deal with the influx of media inquiries.
On the morning of the publication of the "Hollywood Reporter" article, in an interview with the "Los Angeles Times" reporter in New York, WMA Chairman Lou Weiss firmly denied everything in the "Hollywood Reporter" report, and also revealed WMA has reached a preliminary agreement with Fox Pictures. The company's first packaging project has not failed, and there will naturally be no infighting among senior executives.
However, when the media turned to Fox Pictures for verification, Fox Pictures President Ronald Goldberg gave an ambiguous response, neither admitting nor denying it. He only told reporters that the company was still in contact with WMA and could not disclose it. Details.
This is actually the result of emergency negotiations between WMA and Fox executives.
Fox Pictures violated the tacit agreement reached with several other major film companies and privately tried to win "The Butterfly Effect." After this matter was raised, Fox management looked very embarrassed in front of their peers. But Ronald Goldberg understands better that if WMA cannot step down by completely denying the whole thing at this time, WMA will not make it easy for Fox in the future.
In addition to persuading Foxx to cooperate with him in performing a double act, WMA executives also privately contacted Taiki Cassel, the majority shareholder behind "The Hollywood Reporter". After a lot of back and forth, we finally got the idea that the other party would not make rash announcements again and catch WMA off guard. The promise of news.
After struggling for a whole day, WMA originally thought it had successfully dragged the whole matter back to a place where it could be changed.
The next day, another piece of news was published again.
The person who broke the news had obviously done enough homework, because the article actually moved its position, bypassing the "Hollywood Reporter" that had been censored by WMA, and published it in another Hollywood newspaper, "Daily Variety."
"Daily Variety Show" is a daily newspaper owned by Variety Show Company. Together with the weekly "Variety Show" magazine, it constitutes Variety Show Company's two major paper media platforms. In fact, "The Hollywood Reporter" also distinguishes between a daily newspaper and a weekly magazine, but it does not have a separate name like Variety Show.
"Daily Variety" broke the news in more detail, even involving the contents of the package plan after WMA president Norman Brocka's "compromise" with Fox.
Among them, Matthew Broderick's salary contract of up to 5 million US dollars and the stingy buyout agreement received by the screenwriter of the project script "The Butterfly Effect" were highlighted, and it was pointed out that these two agreements were the reasons for Norman's death. The source of conflict between Broca and Jonathan Friedman.
As "Daily Variety" broke the news again, many daily newspapers and media, including the "Los Angeles Times", also began to pay attention to this matter, and the situation has a vague tendency to continue to expand.
Faced with this situation, WMA and Fox had to bite the bullet and continue to deny many news in the media.
However, everyone also knows that in order to avoid greater twists and turns, it is urgent to take strong measures to quickly and completely resolve this crisis.
This continues until July 21st.
on Monday.
After a busy weekend, WMA Chairman Lou Weiss and CEO Lee Stevens also came to the West Coast, following Norman Broca, who returned to Los Angeles early to stabilize the situation.
At nine o'clock in the morning, there were only four people sitting in the spacious conference room of the WMA headquarters on Camino Street. They were the two big guys who came from the East Coast and the two parties involved in the whole matter.
"Yesterday in New York, I have personally communicated with Mr. Murdoch, the chairman of News Corporation," said 75-year-old Lou Weiss, who was sitting at the head of the conference table with a slightly tired expression, but his eyes were still scanning sharply. He glanced at the three subordinates around him and said: "Mr. Murdoch has agreed that Fox will try its best to cooperate with us in completing the "Butterfly Effect" project. However, some adjustments must be made in this matter. Moreover, I declare in advance that I What comes next is the final decision. You two can’t object, you just need to implement it. If it can’t be completed, you can pack up and leave.”
With that said, Lou Weiss lowered his head and looked at his memo, then raised his head again, glanced at Norman Brocka and Jonathan Friedman, and said: "Since we have denied a lot of things in the media, Breaking the news, so the original plan must be adjusted. First of all, the male lead needs to be replaced, and it can no longer be Matthew. And, Norman, I have agreed with Fox that Matthew will star in one of their movies called " "Plan X". They said they had already sent the script to you before, right?"
Norman Brocka nodded, but then asked: "Lou, where is Matthew's salary?"
Lou Weiss stared at Norman Brocka and said, "$3 million."
After hearing the number reported by Lou Weiss, Norman Brocka immediately stood up and said: "This is too low!"
"Only 3 million U.S. dollars," Lou Weiss said with an unquestionable tone, "Or you can leave."
The corner of Norman Brocka's mouth moved, but he finally nodded and sat down again with an expression of reluctance.
Jonathan Friedman can choose to change jobs from WMA as a last resort, but Norman Brocka cannot do this. He is the president of the largest talent agency in North America and even the world. After changing jobs, unless he sets up his own business, It's simply impossible to find yourself in any other brokerage.
But if he chooses to start his own business, even if he can pull away a group of top stars, Norman Brocka will never have the power at this time in the future.
Lou Weiss saw Norman Brocka sitting down, nodded with satisfaction, and then looked at Jonathan Friedman.