American winner takes all

Chapter 31 Managers

In the traditional Hollywood production system, AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) may have the highest status.

Because he represents the producer and plays the role of "employer".Every year, major Hollywood associations approach AMPTP for template contract negotiations to negotiate issues such as minimum salary.Ethan's Time Travel had previously negotiated the actors' rights to use AI, which led to a new round of strikes by the Actors Guild.

Corresponding unions such as SAG (Screen Actors Guild), WGA (Writers Guild), DGA (Directors Guild), American Stage Association (representing studio workers, makeup artists, lighting technicians, etc.) are "employed parties" and are relatively weak. Some.Those with box office appeal alone will be counted separately.

As a link between the employer and the employee, the ATA (Agent Association) is a pure "broker" and is relatively weak.

Artist managers are supervised by almost all guilds. After decades of negotiations, the length of the contract and the upper limit of the commission have all been fixed.In addition, there are many constraints imposed by the legal supervision of California’s Talent Agency Act.

This is not consistent with the actual status of the agent. Schultz has been the most powerful person in Hollywood for four consecutive years, bar none.

Agents who have become famous will always find ways to bypass restrictions in order to make more money.

For example, CAA's platter method is simply a bundled sale of talents.The package price is charged based on a certain percentage of the production budget, essentially bypassing the commission cap.

For another example, Lisa would "friendly" serve as a co-producer of certain movies in order to obtain a certain share of the later stage. This had always been a gray area until 2001 when negotiations between ATA and SAG completely broke down and they divorced.

Another example is the "manager" she mentioned at the moment.

Managers do not need to obtain a license and are not subject to the supervision of the Talent Agency Act and major associations. They can sign long-term contracts with artists. The most important thing is that there is no upper limit on the share of profits.It can be said that it is a role that transcends the three worlds and five elements of Hollywood.

The only restriction is that you cannot seek work for artists. The job content is only to provide artists with "development plans, actor career guidance and advice."If exposed, the earnings from the one-year contract will be forfeited.

Managers became popular in Hollywood in the early 21st century, replacing agents to a certain extent.It's still a new thing at the moment.

Lisa had always had the idea of ​​trying this before, but she was in a high position and had many eyes staring at her, making it difficult to take action.

But if there is someone who can act as the "manager" on his behalf and cooperate with him, all restrictions will be bypassed perfectly.

This candidate must have nothing to do with him and be trustworthy... Under the current circumstances, Ethan would be a good choice.

The most important thing is that he is young and has a lot of room for trial and error.He should give it a try, both emotionally and rationally.

"Are you interested? Don't you want to make money? This is an opportunity for you to practice your skills. Try her and gain experience. It's up to you how to play with it." Lisa said with a smile.

If it goes well, when the time is right, I will have more tasks for Ethan.

As for this young girl who cannot be called an actress at all, to put it exaggeratedly, as long as she doesn't kill anyone and affects her work, she will turn a blind eye to everything else.

She doesn't expect Ethan to be loyal to her. This is simply nonsense.On the contrary, if the people around Ethan are arranged by himself, then of course he will be the most stable. This is another way of maintaining relationships.

"We can negotiate any amount of the share, and it won't be against the rules if you can let her sign into the 22nd century." Lisa was persuasive, but of course it was a bit exaggerated.

"But will she agree?" Ethan asked.

"Then it depends on your ability." Lisa's eyes were full of expectation.

The road has been paved, it depends on whether Ethan can walk on it.

Lisa gave the goal and made it clear what Ethan needed to do.

From Ethan's perspective, standing outside the office at this moment, Charlize's future acting career has become his own "piggy bank". It is a long-term investment that far exceeds any investment project in the world in terms of rate of return. .

And this is just a practice, a try, and it doesn't interfere too much with your original life.

The problem is that it is pure nonsense to only talk about the rate of return without talking about the return time.How she really makes money has to be in the 21st century, right?It's not a good deal to hang a drag bottle on yourself during this period.

unless……

"How about her expenses before generating income?" Ethan asked.

Lisa thought about it, and it was obviously impossible for Ethan to bear the cost now.

"Full reimbursement, only the part with receipts." Lisa said.

In business discussions, some support given to Ethan in private is a private part, and the two must be distinguished carefully.

"In addition, before she generates any income, she will give you a basic salary of fifteen hundred dollars per month." Lisa continued.

If it were anyone else, Ethan might have to bargain a bit, but this is Lisa, which is an extra $1500 per month.

"Deal." Ethan nodded and looked at Lisa's outfit today.

She was completely different from the first time we met. She was wearing a business suit, a knee-length straight skirt, and black 34D nylon stockings. She looked very "office girl".

"I have something to do in the afternoon, and I made an appointment with Al Pacino. He has just completed the filming of "City Hall" in New York. I am going to match him with Robert De Niro to star in a police film." Lisa said suddenly, implying that now inconvenient.

"Oh." Ethan nodded and stood up as if ready to leave.

But just locked the door.

"He will agree. It won't be a big deal if he is a little late." Ethan knew that the movie she was talking about was the future classic two-hero police and gangster movie "The Wire."

Let’s talk about future movies later.

"I will also be a manager from now on, so I have to celebrate." Ethan stepped forward.

Lisa fell onto the desk, covering her mouth tightly and whimpering.

The pen holder on the table tipped over, the screen of the IBM Aptiva computer was knocked over by Lisa herself, and the coffee in the cup spilled out, soaking the renewal contract on the table.The contract contains the handwritten signature of "Leonardo DiCaprio" in the Party A column.

At the last moment, Lisa shook her head repeatedly, and Ethan went his own way as if he didn't see it.

Rice is dead, and it's time for Lisa to start practicing trumpet again.

I just don’t know that at this age, I have no chance to become a mother again. "F**k you!" Lisa hammered Ethan and then started to button up.

She tapped the tip of Ethan's nose and revealed the script before leaving. She was already helping to contact the producer.

When Lisa opened the door again, she found Charlize standing at the door, obviously eavesdropping.

"If you have any questions, talk to Ethan in detail." She tidied her hair. She had just been replenished by Ethan's magic points. She looked radiant at the moment and was full of confidence in the upcoming business negotiations. Then she called her secretary and left. office.

"Come in." Ethan, still standing in the office, said at this time.

"Oh." Charlize nodded.

Only now did she realize that Ethan was by no means an ordinary actor, and his relationship with Lisa was extraordinary. She had clearly heard some subtle noises at the door just now.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing for myself?

She was a little excited and a little nervous.

After Charlize closed the door, Ethan began to say: "She didn't like you, your foundation is really bad."

"I'm extremely sorry, do you think I still have a chance?" she summoned the courage to say.

"Hmm..." Ethan pretended to think more.

At this time, Charlize stood up and began to take the initiative to clean up the messy table. Of course, during the whole process, he intentionally or unintentionally got close to Ethan.

After wasting these few months in Hollywood, she also vaguely realized that she might not be an actor.This was her only chance. If she couldn't seize it, she would really have no choice but to go back to the farm in South Africa to look after the cows.

Ethan was thinking about how to get her to agree to the conditions he would propose later.

At this time, Charlize was close to her. Her body was a little stiff due to nervousness. She closed her eyes tightly, and her body even trembled a little.

Then he felt that Ethan had distanced himself from him.

"Listen, Charlize, your shortcomings and weaknesses are obvious. If you can't make up for your weaknesses, it's useless for anyone to help you. In the same way, even if you use some method to obtain this contract, the result will be the same. So the initiative does not lie with me, but with you." Ethan spoke slowly, speaking like an elder brother.

Charlize opened her eyes at this time and saw Ethan's clear and untainted eyes.

"I will try my best, sir." Her eyes turned red as she spoke.

All the glares, reprimands, harassment, and grievances I suffered in Los Angeles in the past few months came out.

Just when he thought everyone was the same, this young man appeared.

When I first came into contact with him, I saw his smooth tone, and now I feel that he is many times more reliable than those so-called agents.

I had used the bad luck of the past few months, and even the bad luck of the past few years, to finally wait for him to appear.

Only such people are worthy of trust, respect, and...entrustment.

"I haven't asked your name yet." Charlize rubbed her eyes and forced a smile.

"Ethan, Ethan O'Connor, I'm actually a football player."

Still a rugby player?He is also one of the best among his peers, no one knows how many times better than himself.

very nice.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" Charlize asked suddenly.

"From now on, your accommodation, meals, including accent tutors, and actor training expenses will all be borne by me." Ethan turned to another topic and said as much as possible. The more he borne, the more he would be reimbursed. , the greater the potential oil and water.

Of course, this is also the responsibility of "managers".

"No, no, I don't have that many requirements. I can watch TV shows to correct my accent, as long as I have a place to live..." Charlize said immediately.

Even if they live together... it's not impossible.

Ethan nodded, looking at Charlize's attitude, he was confident.

Ethan didn't mention too much about the conditions for signing the contract. The signing took several days, and Richards actually had more than half a month until the house was due.

The only thing he mentioned so far was where he would live in the future.

"A motel again?" Charlize said subconsciously.

"Yes, the conditions should be better than yours, right here in Compton." Ethan said.

Why he lets her live with him is naturally because he knows his boss. He borrowed the Kaouzi suit from him before. He can issue high-value bills and make a small amount of money every month. .

The only trouble is Catherine. It's not that he's afraid of the two meeting, it's just that Catherine will definitely know the connection between Lisa and him outside of the script.

Thinking in the long run, as she and Lisa progress, Catherine will have to know sooner or later.Also includes Mia, Rice...

The two of them have to have a reason that goes beyond a simple business relationship, a reason that everyone can accept, and a reason that is acceptable on the surface...

Ethan asked Charlize to go back first, and then used the landline in Lisa's office to call Lisa's mobile phone.

"The next game is the day after tomorrow. You'd better be there in person. By the way..." Ethan made a very special arrangement.

　Yesterday's chapter wanted to pursue "reality" so much that I wrote it strictly based on what happened in the real world.This causes the protagonist's perspective to become awkward, logic and motivation to fail, attempts to fail, and overturning.It can be regarded as a mistake done with good intentions, and it will be used in the future.There is no need for web articles to be all kinds of things.

　　I completed a complete restart at 2:05 pm yesterday. If you have watched it before this time, you can watch it again. (Today’s update is in advance, and it will be updated in the morning tomorrow)

　　
　
(End of this chapter)