Hugo couldn't help but be stunned, why did Shirley Lansing call him at this time? Now that "Truman's World" has chosen Jim Carrey, which means that the dust has settled, then, Shirley called...... It is to apologize and look forward to the next cooperation; Or to show friendship and provide another opportunity to perform; Or is it ...... There are so many possibilities, but Hugo doesn't have a context at all.

Hugo took Joseph's mobile phone suspiciously, and was about to pick up the phone, but remembered Jack and others who were waiting in the room, he pointed to the room, Joseph said he could handle it, and then Hugo picked up the phone, "Hello, this is Hugo talking." ”

"Hey, Hugo, I can see that you're busy tonight, and I've called you a few times, but I haven't gotten through." Shirley's chuckling voice seemed laid-back and casual.

Hugo rubbed his brows and chuckled, "Today is an important day for the crew, and I'm in a meeting with Jack and them, so my phone is off all the time, sorry." Hugo also dealt with it half-truthfully, but he was now on the passive side, not only could he not figure out Shirley's calculations, but also the impact just now had not fully recovered, so Hugo's voice was still inevitably tired.

Fortunately, Hugo was already tired all day today, so Shirley didn't feel strange, "Yes, I have already seen relevant reports on the evening news, and this work has made many people look forward to it." Mark's wishes always come true. ”

Listening to Shirley's polite greetings, Hugo could feel a wave of irritability, he didn't like such hypocritical conversations in the first place, even if it was a necessary means of negotiation, Hugo didn't like it. What's more, this is not what Hugo is best at, and his mood is indeed a little complicated today, and the bitterness on the tip of his tongue can never dissipate, so Hugo decided to solve the problem in the way he is most familiar with.

Not beat around the bush.

Hugo took a deep breath and took the initiative to speak, "So, you called me at this time, you definitely didn't want to congratulate me, right?" Shirley asked "Why not", which made Hugo chuckle, "Shirley, I'm not stupid. ”

"I can hear the sarcasm in your words." Shirley still had a shallow smile in her voice, but her words were very soft, hardly sharp. "Actually, though, I do want to congratulate you on Mark's courage that not everyone can have, even if I believe that 'Perfection' is a good script."

Shirley also half-concealed the truth, which is a good start. Hugo smiled, "So, can I understand that you want to be conservative lately and refuse to make too many bold changes?" Hugo said this, pausing slightly, and he could hear Shirley's voice of confusion on the other end of the phone, "I mean, you chose a comedian to star in comedy, not a serial murderer." ”

Hugo is talking about "Truman's world".

Shirley originally hoped to be able to take the initiative herself, but she didn't expect Hugo to break the balance and take the initiative to bring up this topic, but this is not surprising, people in the circle are more or less aware of Hugo's habits. Shirley chuckled, "I don't think it's conservative, I'd say it's a 'strategic choice.'" ”

"Well, I believe you made the wrong choice." Hugo's words were an understatement, but they burst with unprecedented self-confidence. Hugo is always modest and measured, but at this moment, Hugo's words shine with a light that people dare not look at directly, truly showing the demeanor of his current top superstar.

Shirley couldn't help but be amazed by Hugo, she had never seen Hugo like this, "Tell me, what is your confidence?" ”

"Because I'm Hugo Lancaster." This sentence flashed through Hugo's mind, but he didn't say it, because he realized how dramatic and arrogant this sentence was, which made Hugo chuckle out loud, and the smile on the corner of his mouth was completely outlined, "Because I am a wonderful actor, I can give more to the role of Truman, and I believe that Peter can dig more color in me." ”

Shirley has no way to refute it, this is Hugo's profession and Hugo's self-confidence, even in the whole of Hollywood, no one can refute it. "So, if you were to star in 'Truman's World,' what would you ask for?"

Shirley's words made Hugo pause, and his brows furrowed slightly, "I thought you had signed a contract with Kerry." There was just a chuckle on the other end of the line, and Shirley didn't speak. Hugo chewed slowly, but he didn't stop talking, but continued, "So...... Fifteen million dollars in salary, 10% box office dividends, and the identity of the producer. ”

This was not Hugo's own idea, but the bottom line that Rick had previously told Hugo. The part of negotiating pay has always been Rick's job, and Hugo hardly interferes - as long as Rick doesn't go out of line, and he never goes out of line. Hugo knows that when Rick was negotiating with "Truman's World" before, he had actually been fighting for him to take the initiative: it was more convincing to still be the producer's position than the salary.

Rick wants Hugo to become a producer and then get a 15 percent box office dividend — the bottom line is $60 million; If it doesn't work, settle for the next best, then it is a salary of 20 million US dollars and 8% of the box office dividends, and there is no bottom line at the box office; The final bottom line is that it is not Hugo's offer just now, but a salary of 15 million US dollars, a 5% box office dividend, and the producer's right to speak.

Rick is willing to back down because he is well aware of the importance of "Truman's world" to Hugo. Rick has been fighting for the position of producer, which is a guarantee for Hugo and Endeavor Elite Agency, which is also a very important part.

Hearing Hugo's offer, Shirley chuckled, "Hugo, you know, you have always been an actor who focuses on your work, and this has never changed, and I think it still hasn't changed." Otherwise, you won't give up starring in 'Perfect'. ”

Hugo, however, lifted his chin slightly, and he sketched out too much from the many details of Shirley's phone call. Obviously, "Truman's World" did not sign with Jim Carrey, and Hugo even suspected that the news that Rick got was false - everyone in the circle knew the importance of this inside information, and the information that the circle could get with great difficulty was basically true, because the agent himself had the ability to identify the source. But this time, Shirley took advantage of their initiative and succeeded in deceiving Rick.

Objective? In fact, Shirley just wants to skip Rick and negotiate directly with Hugo, interests are naturally the core focus, Shirley knows Hugo's desire for "Truman's world", and she wants to use this sword to force Hugo to compromise.

Although Hugo was not quite sure how far away from the truth of his speculation, he knew that Shirley must have come prepared to skip Rick and negotiate directly with him. And the fact is that Hugo does have a great desire for "Truman's world", and under Shirley's deliberate creation, this excitement of losing and regaining it almost makes Hugo unable to help himself.

"Shirley, you're a smart person, why do you keep going around in circles with me?" Hugo almost wanted to nod his head and agree, even though he knew that all this was most likely Shirley's conspiracy, but he still didn't want to miss "Truman's world". But the remnants of reason are telling Hugo that if he lets Shirley lead the way, then even if he successfully stars in "Truman's World", the next collaboration will be difficult to go smoothly.

Hugo's bluntness made Shirley chuckle again, and she didn't answer directly, "Hugo, there's no need to light the fire. We all know it's just a deal. ”

"That's just for you." Hugo's words were completely beyond Shirley's expectations, and she could even clearly feel that Hugo's boiling blood was gradually cooling. Shirley is a smart person, extremely smart, otherwise she, as a woman, would never have climbed to the position of CEO of Paramount in Hollywood, where competition is so crazy. At this moment, Shirley smelled danger.

Shirley inexplicably remembered Hugo's previous anecdotes, Kevin Pence, Tim Robbins and others have relied on Hugo's emphasis on friendship to achieve cooperation, Hugo's emphasis on works and love is an existence that no top Hollywood boss can ignore. Hugo can nod and agree to cooperate on a project for the sake of friendship; In the same way, Hugo can refuse to cooperate on a project in order to deceive.

"Fifteen million dollars in salary, five percent box office dividends." Shirley finally didn't go around in circles this time, and directly showed her hole cards.

Although Shirley is said to represent Paramount, and uses a series of schemes to trick Rick around, and even messes up Hugo's persecution. But Shirley ignored one point, in the face of absolute discourse, the more urgent person is the winner. Hugo's desire for "Truman's world" is far less than Shirley's desire for Hugo.

For the same $20 million salary, Hugo is worth almost double or even double that of Jim Carrey; And Kim is willing to only take a salary of 10 million US dollars to play in "Truman's World", in the face of Hugo's salary of 15 million US dollars, the competitiveness is still insufficient, the only advantage is Kim's comedy skills, but Peter Weir said: He believes in Hugo - in fact, how many people in Hollywood do not believe in Hugo?

So, in the end, Shirley still showed her hole cards. Everything became clear in an instant, and like Barry Meyer, Shirley was still thinking about controlling the entire crew, and Barry handed over the producer position of "L.A. Confidential" to Hugo, but still made a lot of money from it; And Shirley simply hopes to hold the production rights of "Truman's World" in her own hands to maximize profits.

That's the core focus of Shirley and Rick's clashes.

Hugo didn't answer immediately, which made Shirley start to feel a little uneasy, the uncertainty made her sit on pins and needles, and after about three seconds, it seemed like three centuries, Hugo's voice came, "You can talk to Rick about the details of the contract." ”