Made in Hollywood

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The melodious and soothing piano sound echoed in the cafe, which made it even more quiet. Duke sat by the window, slowly put down the coffee cup in his hand, and calmly looked at Lovett across from him.

Duke didn't expect that the former agent would be so persistent. He just declined his proposal on the phone yesterday, and today he went to New York, and he was full of sincerity. I have no future in Hollywood.

Duke doesn't show it on his face, despite the smugness in his heart, and he's watching Lovett, and Lovett is watching him.

For Lovett, he really couldn't understand the man sitting across from him. They had worked together for five years. Duke Rosenberg was a rookie with no potential in any way. As for the so-called directorial talent , He has seen two experimental films made by Duke, and they are all messed up and don't know what they are called.

This is not his own idea. There is a strict review process in CAA's voluntary abandonment of a client. It can be said that the abandonment of Duke Rosenberg is the will of the entire CAA, but the result is obviously that the entire CAA has lost sight of it.

And CAA made mistakes, but now he needs to make up for it.

Although coming to New York was related to Michael Ovitz's coercive order, Lovett was also willing.

Three days have passed since the working day this week. Last weekend, "Speed ​​of Life", which was still hovering at the box office of more than 66 million US dollars, after these three days of accumulation, the North American box office will soon reach 80 million US dollars!

This is the third week of the film's large-scale release. Even if the fiercely competitive summer season kicks off, "Life and Death" will definitely stay in theaters for a while, and the North American box office may hit $100 million. mark...

Only 22 years old, the first official feature film box office of more than 100 million US dollars of cutting-edge director?

Just thinking about this, Lovett is enough to throw away all the face, even if he slaps himself, he must re-sign Duke back to his own.

"Duke, I urge you to seriously consider my proposal."

On that professional face, the shrewdness and indifference that belonged to the agent all disappeared, and it was full of sincerity. Even Lovett's gaze on Duke could be described as fiery, "CAA is the biggest in Hollywood. The brokerage company occupies half of the actor market, we can plan the future for you, and the resources in my hand will definitely give priority to you..."

These conditions are indeed very touching, and Lovett then took out CAA's killer tool, "The most important point, CAA can provide packaging services for your works, you only need to focus on your own director career, other aspects CAA can completely work for you."

"It doesn't seem to be the director, but a puppet of CAA, right?" Duke suddenly interjected.

"Uh..." Lovett was stunned for a while, he had never thought about this issue, and suddenly thought that it was indeed a bit similar.

"Lovett, I'm just a little director."

Holding up the coffee cup, Duke took another sip, and then said in Lovett's earnest eyes, "I've just hit the road..."

"Then you should join CAA!"

Hearing what the other party said, Duke slowly shook his head, "What CAA does best is what I dislike the most."

"Packaging service?" Lovett responded immediately.

"Yes." Duke nodded and said in a calm tone, "As the No. 1 entertainment agency, CAA takes control of everything, and controls its actors, directors, producers and even their works, but I I am also a very controlling person, and I will not give my work to others to manipulate.”

He really wanted to hug CAA's thighs before, but the purpose was very clear. CAA is a tool and a step for him to realize his dream of being a director. As long as he has the capital, he will definitely kick CAA. As a director, he doesn't like the packaging of CAA very, very much. Serve.

Spielberg, who is relatively mild-mannered, can be cast under the CAA banner, while the studio tyrant James Cameron has never been a CAA, and he is extremely resistant to their packaging services, although Duke's temperament is still His achievements are far from being comparable to that of a truck driver, but he has also taken a crucial first step. He does not want his crew to be a plaything controlled by CAA in the future.

It can be said that all directors with a strong desire to control are born with a conflict with CAA.

"Duke, please think about it carefully."

Package service is the most basic strategy of CAA, Lovett will definitely not give Duke any commitment in this regard, and Duke's current status is not worth so much effort by CAA, "Joining CAA will only benefit your future development. "

"Don't think about it." Duke gave the answer directly, "CAA will not change for me, so I refuse."

Having said that, there is no need to continue. Lovett said a few beautiful words and left the cafe first.

After drinking the coffee from the cup, Duke left the cafe and walked down the crowded streets of Brooklyn toward the hotel.

He is not worried about what CAA will do. There are many people in Hollywood who have voted for CAA, and there are also many people who refuse to join CAA. If they do things because the other party refuses to join CAA, then they do not need to carry out normal business.

When he came to the door of the hotel, Duke realized that there were a lot of people around here. They held up the posters of "Speed ​​of Life and Death", and from time to time they would call out Keanu Reeves or Uma Thurman's name. The director walked into the hotel from under their eyelids, but no one could recognize it.

The director of this era, especially the director with only one work like him, really lacks attention. Duke wouldn't be out of balance over such a small thing, and he didn't care.

Just in the lounge of the hotel lobby, Naomi Watts is sitting here with Nancy Josephson, her blue-green eyes, through the glass door of the hotel, fell on the crowd crowded at the door There is a slight envy and jealousy on her body. She is also an actor who starred in "Speed ​​of Life and Death". The treatment between her and the male and female protagonists can only be described by a world of difference.

Fame is the desire and dream of everyone who comes to Hollywood as an actor, and she is no exception, otherwise she would not have stayed in Los Angeles to work hard.

"He's back." His eyes caught the tall figure, and Naomi Watts immediately stood up and walked over, beckoning, "Duke."

Hearing a somewhat familiar voice, Duke turned his head, "Hello, Nami."

"Do you have time?"

Seeing Duke's puzzled eyes, she said directly, "My agent Nancy, you've seen it before, she wants to talk to you."

"broker?"

As soon as this thought swirled in his mind, Duke guessed the possible purpose of the other party. Hollywood is indeed a place that only chases successful people.

Five minutes later, Duke and Nancy Josephson sat in the booth of the cafe on the second floor of the hotel. As for Naomi Watts, she was just an introducer and had been dismissed by her agent.

"You want to be my agent?" Duke looked at Nancy Josephson seriously.

The matter was just as he had guessed, and the other party showed his intention when he came up.

"ICM can provide you with the best service, and I am the future successor of ICM..."

Before Nancy Josephson could finish her sentence, Duke raised his hand and interrupted her, "I know something about ICM and its place in the industry. Frankly, Nancy, I just met CAA. people."

"It is undeniable that CAA has more resources in its hands." Nancy Josephson is obviously well prepared, "but don't forget that they have more well-known directors and actors in their hands. Join CAA, even if you are internally, you There will also be very intense competition.”

"Indeed!"

This is a recognized fact, and Duke does not deny it. He thought about it for a while and said slowly, "I also have a few conditions. These are the prerequisites for me to cooperate with any economic person. Otherwise, I would rather not have an agent."

Nancy Josephson gestured to speak.

"First, I don't like the package service of the agency very much, and I don't like the agency behind me interfering with my film crew. Second, the agency must not interfere with my private life, and I have no interest in marionettes. Third, I may sometimes Will do things that brokerage companies can't understand. Fourth..."

As Duke listed one by one, Nancy Josephson's face became darker and darker. According to Duke, the brokerage company could only be in the position of the most basic service provider.

Many of Duke's conditions are just to say that negotiating with a brokerage company requires a huge price to pay back on the spot. Of course, just like with CAA, he will not let the brokerage company interfere too much in his work and life. To clarify their respective status, he is not a star who has been cultivated by the economic company through hard work. He pays the agency commission, and they only provide him with necessary services.

He really doesn't have much capital now. If the other party doesn't want to talk about conditions, he can turn around and leave. Anyway, he won't compete with other directors for the script or the director position of other crews. What he needs is a suitable negotiating agent. .

"I need to think about it..." Nancy Josephson said after thinking for a while.

"I also need to consider..." Duke didn't hide his thoughts, "I need to know more about ICM and yourself."

No matter it is the agent or the target they are eager to sign, no one will rush to sign a brokerage contract after listening to a series of bad checks from the other party, just like a film company will strictly review each film to be approved. Again, this all requires a process of investigation.

Duke would not consider the CAA, ICM's Nancy Josephson can be used as an alternative, after returning to the room, he hung up the phone with Robin Grande and learned something about the other party.

And one of them confirms from the side that this is a very capable agent. Nancy Josephson is packing and preparing a sitcom for Warner, and the name of the sitcom is tentatively set as "Six People"!

Duke took Nancy Josephson a little more seriously.

However, under those outrageous conditions, it is still unknown whether the other party will be interested in him. Duke just thinks that she can indeed be classified as a more capable agent.

(Tomorrow’s birthday, my friends have an appointment to have dinner together in the afternoon to celebrate the upcoming fourth year, the second chapter is a bit late, and there is another chapter after 12 o’clock, everyone, please support! Recommend, more favorites!)