Chapter 26: Chasing success

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The melodious and soothing piano sound echoed in the cafe, setting off the quieter place. Duke sat next to the window, slowly put down the coffee cup in his hand, and calmly looked at Lovett opposite.
Duke did not expect that this former agent would be so persistent. He declined his proposal on the phone yesterday. Today, he chased after New York, and he was full of sincerity. It was hard to see that he had asserted a year ago. I have no future in Hollywood.
Although he couldn't help feeling a little proud, Duke would not show it on his face, and he was observing Lovett, and Lovett was also observing him.
For Lovett, he really can’t understand the person sitting across from him. They have worked together for five years. No matter how they look at it, Duke Rosenberg is a rookie with no potential. As for the so-called directorship. , He has seen two experimental films made by Duke, and they are all messy things.
This is not his own idea. Caa takes the initiative to abandon a customer with strict review procedures. It can be said that the abandonment of Duke Rosenberg is the will of the entire Caa, but the result is obvious.
But the mistakes made by Caa now need him to make up.
Although ◇↙ came to New York, it was related to the order of Michael Ovitz, but Lovett was also willing.
Three days have passed since the working day of this week. Last weekend, "Life and Death Speed" 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 is about to reach 80 million US dollars!
This is the third week of the film’s large-scale release. Even if the fiercely competitive summer file opens the curtain, "Life and Death" will definitely stay in theaters for a while, and the North American box office can hit 100 million US dollars if not sure. Mark...
At only 22 years old, the first official feature film with a box office of over 100 million dollars?
Just thinking of this, Lovett is enough to throw away all his face, even if he slaps himself, he must re-sign Duke back to his own banner.
"Duke, I urge you to seriously consider my proposal."
On that professional face, the shrewdness and indifferentness of the agent have all disappeared, revealing full sincerity, and even Lovett’s gaze staring at Duke can be described as fiercely,
Caa is the biggest in Hollywood The brokerage company occupies half of the actor market. We can plan for you in the future, and the resources in my hands will definitely be preferred to you..."
These conditions are indeed very moving. Lovett then took out Caa’s killer feature, "The most important point is that Caa can provide packaging services for your work. You only need to focus on your own director career. Caa can do everything else. Do it for you."
"This doesn't seem to be the director, but Caa's puppet, right?" Duke suddenly interjected.
"Uh..." Lovett was stunned. He had never considered this issue before, and suddenly realized that it was a bit like it.
"Lovett, I'm just a little director."
Picking up the coffee cup, Duke took another sip, and then in Lovett's straightforward earnest gaze, he said, "I've just been on the road..."
"Then you should join caa!"
Hearing what the other party said, Duke slowly shook his head, "What Caa is best at is what I dislike the most."
"Package service?" Lovett reacted immediately.
"Yes." Duke nodded and said in a calm tone, "As the number one entertainment agency, caa naturally controls everything, controlling its actors, directors, producers and even their works, but I I am also a person with a strong desire for control, and I will not give my work to others to manipulate."
He did want to hug Caa’s thigh before, but the purpose is very clear. Caa is the tool and step for him to realize the dream of a director. As long as he has the capital, he will definitely kick Caa off. As a director, he does not like the packaging of Caa very much. service.
Spielberg, who has a relatively mild personality, can be cast under the Caa banner, and the set tyrant James Cameron has never been a caa, no matter in the past, now or in the future, and he is extremely resistant to their packaging services, although Duke's temperament is still Achievements are far from being comparable to the 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 who have a strong desire for control are born with caa.
"Duke, please consider it carefully."
Packaging services is the most basic strategy of Caa. Lovett will definitely not make any promises to Duke in this regard, and Duke’s current status is not worth so much from Caa.
Joining Caa will only benefit your future development. "
"Don't think about it." Duke gave the answer directly, "caa won't change for me, so I refuse."
At this point, there was no need to continue. Lovett said a few beautiful words and left the cafe first.
After drinking the coffee in his cup, Duke left the cafe and walked along the crowded streets of Brooklyn towards the hotel.
He is not worried about what caa will do. Many people in Hollywood vote for caa, and there are also many people who refuse to join caa. If the other party refuses to join caa, they don’t need to conduct 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 poster of "Speed ​​of Life and Death", and from time to time they called out the names of Keanu Reeves or Uma Thurman, and he The director walked into the hotel from under their eyelids, but no one could recognize it.
The directors of this era, especially those who have only one work like him, really lack attention. Duke will not be psychologically imbalanced because of such trivial matters, and he does not care.
In the hotel lobby lounge, 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 With a slight envy and jealousy in her body, she is also an actor who starred in "Life and Death". The treatment of her and the heroes and heroines can only be described by the difference between them.
Fame is the longing and dream of everyone who comes to Hollywood to be an actor, and she is no exception, otherwise she would not stay in Los Angeles and work hard.
"He's back." Naomi Watts immediately stood up and walked over and said, "Duke."
Hearing a familiar voice, Duke turned his head, "Hello, Nami."
"Do you have time?"
Seeing Duke's puzzled eyes, she said directly, "My agent Nancy, you met, she wants to talk to you."
"broker?"
As soon as this idea turned in his mind, Duke guessed the other party's possible purpose. Hollywood is really a place where only winners can be pursued.
Five minutes later, Duke and Nancy Josephson were sitting in the café on the second floor of the hotel. As for Naomi Watts, she was just a referrer and was sent away by her agent.
"You want to be my agent?" Duke looked at Nancy Josephson seriously.
Things were just as he had guessed, and the other party came up to show his intentions.
"Icm company can provide you with the best quality service, and I am the future successor of icm..."
Before Nancy Josephson had finished speaking, Duke raised his hand to interrupt her, "I know something about icm and its position in the industry. Frankly speaking, Nancy, I just met caa People."
"It is undeniable that caa has more resources in its hands." Nancy Josephson has obviously made sufficient preparations, "but don't forget that they have more well-known directors and actors in their hands. Join caa, even if internally, you It will also face very fierce competition."
"Indeed!"
This is a recognized fact, and Duke does not deny it. He thought about it for a while and slowly said, "I also have a few conditions. These are the prerequisites for me to cooperate with any economic man, otherwise I would rather not have an agent."
Nancy Josephson made a gesture to please speak.
"First, I don’t like the package service of the brokerage company very much. I don’t like the brokerage company behind me interfering with my crew. Second, the brokerage company must not interfere with my private life. I am not interested in marionettes. Third, I may sometimes Will do something that the brokerage company cannot understand. Fourth..."
Following Duke’s list of articles, Nancy Josephson’s face became darker and darker. According to Duke, the brokerage company can only be the most basic service provider.
Many of Duke’s conditions are just talking about the need to repay the money on the spot like negotiating with a brokerage company. Of course, just like caa, he will not let the brokerage company interfere too much in his work and life. To be clear about their respective status, he is not a star trained by economic companies, he pays commissions to brokerage companies, and they only provide him with necessary services.
He really doesn't have much capital right now. If the other party doesn't want to make terms, he can turn around and leave. Anyway, he will not compete with other directors for the position of the director of the script or other crews. What he needs is more a suitable negotiation agent. .
"I need to think about it..." Nancy Josephson said after thinking for a while.
"I also need to consider..." Duke did not hide his thoughts, "I also need to know more about icm and yourself."
Regardless of whether it is the agent or the goal they are eager to sign, no one will eagerly sign a brokerage contract after hearing a series of bad checks from the other party, just like a film company will strictly censor every film to be approved. Similarly, this requires a process of investigation.
On the caa side, Duke would not consider it. Nancy Josephson of icm could be an alternative. After returning to the room, he hung up on Robin Grande and learned about the other party.
And one of them proves from the side that this is a very capable agent. Nancy Josephson is preparing a melodrama for Warner, and the name of the melodrama is tentatively set as "Six People"!
Duke paid more attention to Nancy Josephson.
However, under those outrageous conditions, it is still unknown whether the other party will be interested in him, and Duke only thinks that she can indeed be classified as a more capable agent.
(Tomorrow’s birthday, in the afternoon, friends have an appointment to have dinner together to celebrate the upcoming fourth chapter, the second chapter is a bit late, there is a chapter after 12 o’clock, everyone supports a lot! Recommend, collect more!