Kapoor Sheed agreed, and the two sides began to discuss the acquisition plan. In Eric's view, the most valuable of the Sheed Brokerage Company is Kapoor Sheed himself.
Although Kapoor is not one of the five founding members of CAA, his ability is not much worse than them. The remaining seven or eight agents and more than 20 low-level actors in the company are basically worthless, at least they were worthless before Eric bought them.
It's not that Sid's agency has had first-class actors, but because of Michael Ovitz, several well-known actors had to choose to leave after persisting for a period of time. The ones who stayed in the end were really because they couldn't find a better way out. After all, Kapoor is still very capable. Or get a role in a TV series.
"Eric, one million dollars, it's hard for me to accept..." Kapoor was a little dissatisfied with Eric's asking price. When he was in caa, his annual salary was more than one million dollars.
Eric said unhurriedly: "Kapoor, what your agency is worth is only the agency contracts of more than 20 actors, which don't mean much to me. If I want, I can buy actors of that level at any time. You can find hundreds of them."
Kapoor retorted: "Eric, they are all very good actors. I have been an agent for so many years. My vision is definitely not bad. They just lack opportunities."
"All the actors who are struggling at the bottom of Hollywood just lack opportunities, Kapoor, it can be said that I gave you the one million, and I also left you 10% of the equity. I believe you will find out in a few years I have taken advantage of it, and as for them, what I can give is the opportunity they dream of."
Knowing that Eric was telling the truth, Kapoor sighed and nodded slightly.
Now that it has been negotiated, the two parties quickly signed the contract. The brokerage company changed its owner, and the name must be changed. Eric used the name "United Elite Brokerage Company" unscrupulously, abbreviated as uta, which means previous life and caa, It is one of the top five Hollywood agency companies that are juxtaposed with wma and other giants, but UTA in the previous life was only established in 1991.
After finishing these things, it was already noon, and after lunch, Eric followed Kapoor Sheed to the office of Sheed Brokerage Company in Burbank, where Kapoor Sheed only rented a few offices. It looks very shabby.
However, the office was full of people at this time, and they also knew that today was a special day for this brokerage company.
Seeing these expectant agents and actors, Eric suddenly thought of a question, just nodded to everyone, then pulled Jeffrey and Kapoor into a separate office, and asked: "Kapoor , How much is your brokerage company's commission now?"
"Six percent."
"So little?" Eric was a little surprised: "Isn't it ten percent?"
Jeffrey interjected, "Eric, you're talking about a long time ago."
Kapoor also explained: "Since...caa broke this practice for competition, the commission of brokerage companies has been getting lower and lower. Especially for our small brokerage companies, it is impossible to collect 10% of the share. Now there are Only CAA and WMA were able to charge 10% of the commission. After the rise of CAA, apart from the lower commission for the big-name stars, the 10% commission was restored for the second- and third-rate stars. "
Eric thought for a moment, and said: "Revise the agreement and increase the commission to 10%."
"Eric, isn't this inappropriate?" Jeffrey couldn't help objecting before Kapoor could answer.
Eric explained: "If you don't modify it now, it will have a greater impact after the brokerage company develops, so... who will announce it?"
Jeffrey and Kapoor looked at each other, and turned their eyes to Eric at the same time.
"Um, well, I'll be the bad guy."
…
"I don't need to introduce, everyone must know who I am. Now I officially announce that I am the new owner of this agency, and the company is renamed uta. My next film will start after the new year. As long as you have a suitable image and pass the audition, The roles in the film will be given priority. As we all know in "Home Alone", people like Stuart Runkle and Matthew Perry, who were originally unknown, have now become hot stars. The supporting roles in the TV series also entered the big screen smoothly because of their participation in "Home Alone."
Seeing the undisguised joy on the faces of the people in front of him, Eric knew that the foreshadowing was enough, and then changed the subject, saying: "However, I am a capitalist, not a philanthropist. I will give you opportunities that were difficult to obtain in the past, and at the same time It needs to be rewarded. Therefore, the contract of the original company's actors needs to be revised, and the commission is increased to 10%. If someone finds it difficult to accept, they can choose to terminate the contract and leave."
After Eric finished speaking, he turned around and returned to the office again, giving everyone some time to think about it. He believed that as long as these people had normal IQs, they would not choose to leave at this time.
In the office, Jeffrey and Kapoor were already discussing the preparations for "Pretty Woman".
"Eric, Jeffrey said you want to invite Sophie Marceau as the heroine?" Kapoor asked.
Eric nodded: "Yeah, is there a problem?"
Kapoor said: "If you want to start filming after the New Year, I advise you to change people. Because I was going to Europe to develop, I am paying attention to the news there. Sophie Marceau is filming Ender. Ree Zolasky's new film, with Andre's filming progress, even if your "Pretty Woman" is released, he may not be able to complete it."
Eric recalled it. Based on the time, Sophie was probably filming the movie "My Night Is More Beautiful Than Your Day" which some viewers jokingly called an alien movie. The name is beautiful, but the content is somewhat incomprehensible, but it is indeed Zolaski's usual style.
"Then use Julia Roberts, Kapoor, I hope you can act as Julia's manager yourself."
Jeffrey persuaded again: "Eric, you should know that your movie cannot fail. Now many people are waiting to see your jokes, so it's still..."
"Jeffrey, I know what you mean, but," Eric smiled, and said, "Didn't you read what those newspapers said? With my reputation accumulated in the first two films, even if the new film is made into one Shit, you can make money. So, as long as the quality of the movie is good, it's hard to fail, so why don't we take this opportunity to get our own actress?"
"What if that Julia Roberts doesn't play well?"
There was a strange ambiguity in Eric's smile: "Don't worry, I will train her myself."
…
As Eric expected, none of the actors in the brokerage company chose to leave, and they all accepted Eric's new contract proposal.
After dealing with these things, Eric was about to drive home, when Jeffrey came up and sat on the co-pilot: "Eric, my car has been sent for maintenance, can you give me a ride?"
"no problem."
Driving on the road, Jeffrey asked with concern: "Eric, what happened to you and... Drew, I read in the newspaper today that she went to look for you again yesterday, it seems that her mother Ediko also went Are you at home?"
Eric didn't hide anything from Jeffrey, and told what happened yesterday in detail.
"That's okay, Drew is a talented actor, but, do you want her to live in your house all the time? You don't have any blood relationship with her. If Lu's mother doesn't bother you, the Children's Protection Association will come forward, after all, Drew is only thirteen years old."
"Don't worry, I know this too. I'm already planning to send Drew to boarding school."
"That's good," Jeffrey nodded: "Eric, you don't really have... a Lolita complex, do you?"
The car that was moving steadily slowed down suddenly, and a Chevrolet behind was already a little closer. Eric paused and the other party almost rear-ended him. Regardless of the traffic on the road, the fat white man in the Chevrolet stuck his head out of the car window. He started to yell.
Eric steered the steering wheel with a steady mind to get rid of the Chevrolet behind him: "Jeffrey, do you think Drew looks like Lolita except for his age?"
That is obviously a goblin, a little fox who has cultivated for at least five hundred years.
"In short, you have to pay attention to your own proportions." Jeffrey seemed to have identified Eric's Lolita tendency.