Jonathan Friedman walked back to his office with heavy steps.

Pushing open the door, Simon got up and turned to himself, nodded to the other party, turned back to his desk and sat down, and then looked at the boy across from him again.

Simon noticed the strong dejected aura on the agent's body and the apology in his eyes when he looked at him, and gave up his original intention to question the other party, and his tone was still concerned: "Joe, has something happened?"

Jonathan's lips moved, feeling Simon's bright eyes, and he hesitated before saying, "Simon, that's the case, Matthew doesn't really want to work with you, so Mr. Broca hopes that you can completely withdraw from the "Butterfly Effect" project in the future." ”

When Simon heard this, his expression didn't change much, and he asked quietly, "So, Joe, what do you mean?"

Jonathan dodged Simon's gaze slightly, and said in a slow tone: "Simon, this time, I hope you can agree." However, I promise you that I will make it up to you if I have the opportunity in the future. By the way, aren't you planning to make an experimental film? If you don't have enough money, I can lend you some personally. ”

Listening to the agent's words, Simon's originally tense body gradually relaxed, put the script that he had just held in his hand on the desk in front of him, looked at the agent with a serious expression, and said, "Joe, you should know how bad this contract is. So, can you tell me, what's going on?"

Jonathan watched Simon push some of the contract towards him, but he still didn't reach for it.

There was a moment of silence before Jonathan spoke, "Simon, I told you before, right? I want to make this film a package project." ”

Simon nodded, but didn't speak.

Jonathan paused slightly, glanced at Simon, and said, "Judging from the contact during this time, I think you are well aware of a lot of things in Hollywood right now. CAA's operational strategy of project packaging has threatened our company's position in Hollywood. Some time ago, there were many top stars of WMA who jumped ship to CAA. So, in order to avoid being so passive all the time, WMA also intends to follow CAA's business model, and your "Butterfly Effect" happens to be the first package project we launched. ”

Simon quickly weaved together everything he had just experienced and the many clues of these days in his mind, and continued with a wry smile: "Very unsuccessful, right?"

Although he didn't want to admit it, Jonathan nodded and said, "CAA's packaging strategy not only led to the studio's budget becoming more and more expensive, but also deprived a large part of the power that originally belonged to the film and television production company. WMA is still several times larger than CAA, and if the package operation model is also implemented, the studio's voice in front of the agency will be lower and lower. Therefore, several major film companies have joined forces to stir up this project together. ”

Simon looked at the draft contract with Fox that was still in front of him, but didn't ask what was going on.

Hollywood's biggest studios often agree on certain things because of common interests, but at the end of the day, they are still competitors. What's more, considering the content of this contract, Simon doesn't think Fox has been so generous in agreeing to take over the WMA's package project.

His thoughts were racing quickly, thinking of Norman Broca, who had just appeared, Simon looked up at the agent opposite, and said tentatively with some determination: "Joe, I suddenly feel that Mr. Broca shouldn't want this project to be too successful, right?"

With WMA's strong background that still far exceeds that of CAA, if the company is determined to force the project, the major Hollywood studios will definitely be on the side of compromise in the end.

After all, CAA has successfully promoted the packaging model, and even if the major studios are very reluctant, it is not so difficult to accept it under the forced pressure of the WMA.

However, judging from the content of the contract that can be called stingy just now, it is clear that WMA is the one who made the compromise, and it is a compromise at the expense of the interests of its own customers.

Jonathan was obviously stunned when he heard Simon's words, he didn't expect Simon's intuition to be so sharp.

However, after a moment, Jonathan had a slightly bitter smile on his face, and finally nodded slightly. Of course, he didn't explain anything to Simon either. The power struggle within the company was seen through by a young man who had just turned eighteen, and it was not a glorious thing after all.

Seeing that Jonathan acquiesced to this matter, Simon remembered the frustration that had been permeating the agent since the meeting today, thought for a while, and said, "Joe, since everyone doesn't want to see this project succeed, do you think it is necessary to continue? Judging from the contract in front of me, Brian's salary should also be very harsh." ”

"Simon, you don't understand," Jonathan shook his head, he had unconsciously completely stopped thinking of Simon as a teenager who had just turned eighteen, and patiently explained: "I just said that 'The Butterfly Effect' happened to be the first package project of the WMA, and a lot of people in Hollywood are staring at it. Therefore, if the first attempt fails, it will become more difficult for the WMA to roll out this operational strategy again. So, even if it wasn't a success, Norman and they wouldn't allow the project to fail completely. Otherwise......"

Jonathan said this, but did not continue. After a pause for a moment, looking at the energetic young man opposite, he suddenly changed his words again, with a bit of vicissitudes in his tone, and said: "Simon, do you know? I joined the WMA at the age of 19 and am 46 years old this year. It took 27 years to get to where it is now. The process is not easy. ”

In fact, what Jonathan has not said is that although he has been promoted to vice president, he has not yet been given any line of responsibility, and the WMA board of directors has been discussing this matter all this time.

He had the idea of making "Butterfly Effect" a package project, also to add some bargaining chips to himself in the process of power allocation.

It's just that what he didn't expect was that now this project has completely put him in a dilemma.

It's completely impossible to do it well.

But if he messes up, even if the vice president position he just got is not removed, it is likely that he will be directly left to the side, leaving only an empty title entirely. Even, he was not sure that the old men in the company who were very good at power struggles would directly kick him out of the WMA.

Therefore, since yesterday afternoon, Jonathan has actually had the urge to abandon the project altogether more than once. But he endured it in the end, and even had to deliberately accommodate the demands of his immediate boss, Norman Broca.

Simon felt the look of understanding in Jonathan's eyes, nodded very sincerely, and said, "Joe, I actually understand. ”

Simon can really understand Jonathan's difficulty.

As the oldest agency in Hollywood, WMA, which has been in operation for nearly a century, has long had a very rigid internal system, and the change of power is completely seniority and very slow.

The three leaders of WMA who died one after another in the first half of the year were actually old men in their seventies and eighties. These people are like the emperors of ancient times, who were not willing to completely relinquish their power until they died of old age.

In such a company, even if there is no lack of personal strength and network support, it is extremely difficult for a person to reach a high position.

It is precisely because of this that Michael Ovitz and others, who could not see the upward channel at all, chose to break away from the WMA and stand on their own.

Not everyone has the courage of the likes of Michael Ovitz, though.

What's more, if it weren't for the luck of creating a more advanced packaging operating model, the former CAA may have disappeared in obscurity, like many other brokerage firms that have tried to challenge the authority of the WMA over the past century.

Simon in his previous life also stepped into the position of director step by step from the bottom.

Therefore, he can deeply understand the weakness and helplessness of a single individual in a highly competitive company or industry, facing the constraints of rules.

Onlookers always wonder why people in the bureau don't resist injustice, why do they make compromises, and even if they can't do this, why don't they simply jump out of the circle?

Naively, they don't know what kind of catastrophe a person will fall into if they don't have enough strength to challenge the rules.

Feeling Simon's understanding eyes, Jonathan's frustration dissipated a little.

However, looking at the contract on the table, Jonathan sighed again in his heart, but still had to continue: "So, Simon, about this contract?"

Simon weighed for a moment, and instead of answering Jonathan's question head-on, he looked at his agent and asked in a serious tone, "Joe, if you don't consider other factors, do you still want this project to continue?"

Jonathan's eyes flashed, he realized something, hesitated slightly, and finally said: "No, actually, I'd rather never have the idea of making this script into a packaging project at the beginning." ”

"Well, then, this matter is actually well settled," Simon leaned back in the chair behind him relaxedly, shook his head, and said word by word in a firm tone, "So, I don't agree." ”

Jonathan immediately understood Simon's intentions.

After all, the script of "The Butterfly Effect" still belongs to Simon, and if the boy does not accept the contract in front of him, the whole project will not be able to continue anyway.

Moreover, Simon rejected the contract with great fanfare, which led to the abortion of the project. Then, as long as he copes with it properly, although some twists and turns will inevitably occur, he can put the blame for the failure of the project on Simon to a large extent.

Jonathan even came up with some words in a split second.

A stunned young man who doesn't eat oil and salt, what can he do?

However, Simon's doing so is also destined for him to face a lot of pressure next. After all, Hollywood's No. 1 talent agency wants to clean up a fledgling screenwriter, which is completely easy.

It's just that, for this talented young man, Jonathan also instinctively didn't want him to fall into this situation

Thinking so, Jonathan had already stood up from the leather chair, looked at the young man in front of him and eagerly persuaded, "Simon, you'd better not do this." Really, even if it's for yourself. ”

Simon shook his head firmly again, got up in the same way, and said, "Joe, I know it's not easy for you to get to where you are now, but I also have my own insistence. You must know that a person cannot do without his own persistence. So, that's all I can do to help you. Tell those people that I don't agree. Then, the matter was over. ”

After Simon finished speaking, he nodded to Jonathan again, turned around and walked towards the office door.

Pulling open the door, Simon stopped again, turned his head to look at the agent who was still standing on the spot, and said, "Also, Joe, if I can, I hope to terminate the agency contract with you in the next few days, I don't think you will care about that little liquidated damages, right?" ”

Watching Simon leave, Jonathan stood silently for a long time, repeating what Simon had just said in his mind.

One cannot do without one's own persistence.

all these years.

So many years.

The young man who was also full of hope for the future at the beginning, how much persistence is left.

Is this insistence worth persevering for?

Sitting back down, Jonathan propped his hands on the table, feeling a long-lost shiver in his limbs, mixed with fear of the future, and fearlessness. These emotions were like a burning flame, dispelling away all the frustration and depression that had been accumulated since yesterday afternoon.

Finally, with a deep exhalation, Jonathan Friedman picked up the microphone, pressed the landline in Norman Broca's office, dialed it and said directly: "Norman, I've thought about it, the Butterfly Effect project is over, I can't treat my clients like that." ”

After saying this, without waiting for Norman Broca to respond, Jonathan hung up the phone directly.

Ignoring the ringing of the landline that had re-rang in the blink of an eye, Jonathan opened the safe at his feet, sorted out the address book, memos, and other documents that were important to an agent and stuffed them into his briefcase, and hurried out of the WMA headquarters.

Jonathan made this move with no intention of leaving the WMA directly.

In any case, as long as he can stay, he will still choose to stay. After all, this company has all kinds of relationships and connections that it has been operating for more than two decades.

It's just that since the call just made has been made, Jonathan is also prepared for the worst.

While the board of directors would need to decide on his removal, Jonathan didn't dare to take the risk that Norman Broca wouldn't force a turnaround.

However, as long as he takes these things out of the company and makes a perfect backup, even if he has to face the worst situation of being kicked out of the company, he can pull many people to jump ship together.

With the customer resources accumulated over the years, neither CAA nor ICM will refuse themselves, and even if they set up their own brokerage company, it is no problem.