"If it were to be reversed, I would tell you first, I have a few very good actors on my hands, and I think they deserve at least one audition to win the role of 'Murder with a Knife.'" Cole was still speaking in an orderly manner, apparently well prepared before he set off.

But what is even more admirable is that he has known Lance for more than a year, and he knows Lance well enough, so his speaking rhythm and conversation entry point are very in line with Lance's habits, and he easily grabbed Lance's attention. One minute on stage, ten years off stage. This sentence is applicable in all walks of life.

"Then, I'll tell you that I'm friends with Wade Russell, and I know Tom's demands, and my actors meet the tough ones, and I have a way of convincing Wade to make the casting process for the film go smoothly. Provided, of course, that you're happy with these actors. Cole's words were subdued, and those sky-blue eyes were focused and serious, with irrefutable persistence, "If you nod and agree, and then I will tell you, I am a very good agent, and you need an agent to manage the business now, believe me, I will be a better choice than Wade Russell, compared to Terrance Cox." ”

It has to be said that Cole was well prepared and not only completed a detailed investigation, but also took all aspects into account. Lance knew that it was he who was in charge of the decision at this time, but it was Cole who controlled the pace of the conversation - a trick that Lance himself often used, and no matter what he said at this time, Cole was bound to have a way to take it and shake his own thoughts.

So, Lance leaned back slightly in his chair and squinted at Cole's eyes, as if he could peek into Cole's brain.

Cole could clearly see that Lance's blue pupils narrowed into a line like a lazy Persian cat, and the vast and turbulent love was converging in his eyes like a beam of light.

At this time, Lance was filled with a casual and casual atmosphere, and his black hair was shining with sweat, and there was a stream of brilliance under the sun, which drooped uninhibitedly; The open collar can faintly see the delicacy and proportionality of the sweat sliding down the skin, and the looming sexuality/sensuality outlines the fatal attraction; Rolled-up shirt sleeves, dark red polka-dot stockings under suit pants, delicate bee cufflinks on the cuffs...... It's as if all one qiē is so casual. This is very different from the usual Lance, as if the gentleman's mask in front of the public has been removed, and the usual true face has been restored.

However, Cole's heart was full of alarm bells. It seems that he is not facing a fledgling rookie director, but an old fox who has been in the industry for 20 years. Cole memorized Lance's resume, knowing full well that if Lance was really that wise, Diorama Pictures would not have changed hands. But at this time, Lance overturned all his judgments, as if all his homework for the past year or so had been invalidated in an instant, making him feel absolutely dangerous.

For three seconds, Lance only paused for three seconds, but the silence in the office was enough to suffocate him, and then he suddenly opened his mouth to break the deadlock, "So, you have been preparing for this trade for more than a year?" ”

Cole was a bit caught off guard, he's been an agent for a decade. Boasting of his seniority, he didn't expect him to be so wolf today. So, Cole simply didn't hide his panic, and laughed directly, "Yes, I have always been preparing for this cooperation. ”

Collaborate, not trade. Cole's diction is subtle.

In Vanity Fair, even love and affection can be bargaining chips – just look at the Kardashians, let alone friendship. So, Cole didn't deny it. Because he knew that even if he denied it, Lance already had the answer in his heart. As for the value of their friendship, Lance also has his own ideas. His justification only appears more wolfish.

Lance pursed the corners of his mouth slightly and tapped his chin slightly, "Okay, you can give it a try." ”

Lance didn't say which thing to talk about first, but left the decision to Cole. Cole took a serious look at Lance's expression. But he found that he had gained nothing, so Cole thought about it for a while and said, "Working with a big-name actor like Tom is definitely not an easy task. In addition to the most basic remuneration and box office dividends, there are many details to pay attention to. ”

Cole chose an unexpected entry point, not directly talking about Lance's brokerage contract, nor directly talking about the casting of "killing people with a knife", but first talked about Tom Cruise, everything has been decided, which really aroused Lance's curiosity.

"Of course, we all know that profit is the most important thing, and everything can be boiled down to profit, but I don't think Tom starred in 'Killing with a Knife' for the sake of pay." "But outside of the benefits, a top actor like Tom can ask for a lot of things, and he's sure to ask for something — that's the rule." For example, Tom will ask for the 'right of approval', which is reasonable recognition. In the promotion of the film, all work needs to be agreed by him in advance, and if he meets the host he hates during the promotion process, he can refuse to participate in the event; Similarly, this decision can also be used in the publication of stills, stuntmen, co-actors, etc. ”

Lance knew about this, and it was also the biggest trouble that the casting of the "Murder with a Knife" actor would encounter, he chose the actor well, but as long as Tom vetoed it, Paramount would definitely not agree. The same is true of the subsequent propaganda trips, for example, Dennis Quaid refuses to travel to China to promote the event, but as a result, he compromises with Reims because Dennis does not have the "right to approve". However, Tom is not Dennis.

In addition, Tom is also very strict about the authorship, not only does he require the name to appear in the 'separate subtitles', but he also requires the same size, the same position, and the same font as the director's name. In addition, there are countless requirements for equal access rights, changing facilities, and on-set configuration. This qiē made his selection of co-actors and co-directors so strict that it was outrageous. Cole's explanation sent waves through Lance's mind.

In fact, these terms are not a secret in the circle, but the details and control of the terms and proportions are always in the hands of the brokerage company, which is also the skill they rely on to survive.

Previously, at Diorama Films, they were the production company, and the agent was the actor who negotiated the details of these terms on their behalf. However, in the past, they have distributed and produced independent films, and they have never involved such trivial, profound, and high-level details, and the biggest actor is the huge cast during "Ocean's Eleven", but the actor contracts for "Ocean's Eleven" are all completed by Warner Bros.

Therefore, "Killing with a Knife" can be said to be the first time that Lance has worked with a real top actor. That's when Lance realized how tricky things were. At the beginning, Lance and Tom met only a rough request, Tom must follow his direction in terms of acting, but now it seems that this requirement is not only too one-sided, but also too thin, and when he actually enters the crew, things will only get more and more troublesome.

Cole didn't notice Lance's psychological changes, which made him a little anxious, because he needed Lance to react, but Cole still suppressed his inner anxiety and continued, "The most important thing is that Tom has the right to confirm, and there are only a handful of actors in Hollywood who can meet this standard, which is the so-called 'A-list', and Tom is one of them." For example, Tom has the right to confirm the substantive change of his character, and he can also claim the right to confirm the current script. Relatively speaking, the right to confirm makeup and clothing can only be regarded as a trivial matter. ”

Lance's pupils shrank suddenly. In fact, Lance had only heard of the right of confirmation before, but he didn't know how powerful it was, so Lance thought about it and opened his mouth to ask, "How specific is the right of the right of confirmation." Even if he loses the initiative to face Cole, Lance must understand, because this will be a guarantee that Tom's performance will live up to expectations during the filming of "Kill with a Knife".

During the filming of "The Day After Tomorrow", the contest between Lance and Twentieth Century Fox was already a headache, and Dennis also raised a lot of objections during the filming. However, Tom and Dennis are not at the same level at all, and considering Wade's ability, this also means that during the filming of "Kill with a Knife", Lance will face more difficult problems.

Super difficult scripts, super difficult shooting, plus the heavy burden of wearing multiple hats, and at the same time facing Tom's pickiness and challenges? Lance found that he was still too rusty, and thought that if he persuaded Tom, things would go smoothly, but now it seemed that the trouble had just begun.

Lance is sure that Tom will take issue with the way he directs acting, because what Lance needs is for Tom to strip away his old acting model, which means breaking up Tom's habits and getting him out of his comfort zone. Not to mention Tom, anyone would be extremely resistant to facing such a situation.

So, how does Lance fight Tom? For Paramount, the entire "Borrowed Knife Killing" crew is no match for a Tom.

Lance has a headache now, and he is also defeated by Xiao He.

"In all aspects, believe me, Wade will never compromise lightly, if necessary, they can even ask you to change your lines, change your character, and revise the script on the spot." Cole was only a little more relaxed at this time, and his desperate gamble was indeed correct, "Lance, you need to sue me what you want Tom to cooperate with, and then I will sue you how you should negotiate with Wade." As your agent, I can get you all the details of the actor's contract; At the same time, I was able to work with the company's legal counsel on the actor's contract with Tom. The premise is that you sue me what the ultimate constraint you wish to achieve. ”

Things came full circle and eventually came back to Lance's brokerage contract, and Cole made a brilliant move. Lance raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "I thought it would be if I hired you as my agent. (To be continued.) )

PS: Today's second update, I implore all book friends to support genuine subscriptions, thank you!