Hollywood What If

Chapter 78

[Author's note: Regarding the CAA partnership, I only read about it twice in the Hollywood novels I read. I can't find an article to prove this point, but I decided to add it anyway].

"Kazir... This is Rafael and Stetson. Rafael will now handle your negotiations with the movie companies, while Stetson will take care of your writing team."

Just as Kazir had expected, he now had two other agents to do his work for him. 

CAA had a policy of having more than one agent to make sure that the agent could not keep the client alone. 

This kind of policy only happened when the client was talented, successful, and had strong prospects. Kazir checked all the conditions. 

This kind of situation was very common, even Steven Spielberg had many agents. 

Even Tom Cruise had many agents, although Pat Kingsley was still his main agent. She was the one who controlled Tom Cruise's PR. 

"Nice to meet you both."

Kazir greeted them and shook their hands. The two men before him looked distinguished and well-mannered. 

"Rafael graduated from college with a degree in business administration. He has been with CAA for more than 8 years. He has six clients under him."

Salvatore introduced. He was not that bitter. After all, when Kazir was successful with Napoleon Dynamite, he already expected this situation. 

"Nice to meet you, Director Grey."

"Well, this is Stetson. He is a screenwriter and novelist. He can help your team make the script more compact. He has five actors under him."

Salvatore introduced the two. Both Rafael and Stetson had experience in their respective fields. 

"I see..."

Kazir kept his smile. Then he approached Salvatore after the two agents had left. 

"I'm surprised you're taking it so well. You are not at all disappointed."

"About that, they said that if you make another successful movie, they will invite me to the board of directors." Salvatore grinned. 

"I fucking knew it."

CAA was a partnership of agents. Every agent was equal and could become part of the board of directors. 

If Salvatore was successful in getting on the board, he would have a stronger voice in the company.

"I'm surprised Huvane promised you that."

"We even signed a contract... I really had no choice but to agree. I don't want to lose a big piece of the pie, so I might as well get a better deal. But it all depends on you."

"I will try my best to get you the position. About the commission?"

"The contract will not change, 3% percent commission. Rafael and Stetson will each get 0.7%, while the 1.6% is mine. This kind of partnership is good for the client and the company, but bad for the agents. The company is afraid that I will start my own agency and take you with me, so they make this change immediately."

"You don't have any plans to start one?"

"For now? No... But if my clients have better careers, I might have to. Maybe they will try this bullshit again when Enzo becomes successful."

"Don't worry, they usually don't care about second-rate actors."

"Hey, if Enzo hears you, he might get heartbroken."

"I'm just kidding."

The two laughed. Fortunately, this incident didn't have a strong effect on them. Now that their career paths were becoming clearer, the ways to make money were also becoming clearer. 

"By the way, Kazir, why don't you hire an assistant? I feel like you're treating me like one."

"I don't know about that. I can't trust people."

"Not even me?"

"Yes, not even you."

"Still, I think it would be better for you to have an assistant."

"Do you have any suggestions?"

"I don't know, why don't you go to the post office or something?"

"I'll think about it."

Money was no problem for Kazir. He could hire someone to make his work easier. 

"Rafael is already waiting downstairs, we have to face Tom Rothman this time." 

Salvatore reminded Kazir of the important meeting.

"Yes, the meeting with Brad Grey didn't end well. Paramount is interested in Teddy Bear instead. Maybe they know a company that will let them use the trademark for a teddy bear."

"Then they have to give better terms."

The real title of the script was still not in circulation, even the script was not polished. Only Kazir had the perfect script, he would give it to the movie company that bought the script. 

Never show your best card to the public, they might steal it.

The two went downstairs and found Rafael Foster and Terrence Downey. 

"Let's go to 20th Century Fox."

20th Century Fox. A film company that was famous all over the world. It produced so many masterpieces and people would never forget the legendary logo. Even the intro music of 20th Century Fox was iconic.

The home of Titanic, Avatar, X-Men, Star Wars (the first six films were distributed by Fox), Independence Day and Deadpool. There were many movies that 20th Century Fox produced, but these were the most recognizable. 

A few minutes drive brought them to the 20th Century Fox headquarters. 

'I have one regret. I regret that 20th Century Fox was bought by Walt Disney.'

Hollywood was a movie factory with perfect procedures. But Walt Disney took it to another level. So much so that their movies lost any artistic value, and even Marvel superhero movies became repetitive and boring. In his old age, Kazir was disgusted by Disney's greed.

Disney will never hesitate to swab the water to make it dirty. One thing is clear, I don't want my children to learn that twerking is empowering. So fuck you, Disney, for the next three decades.

Seriously, who the fuck were the writers at Disney? Your movies lately have been ass, ugly as shit.