Hollywood Director 1992.

Chapter 28: It's also a world of martial arts
"Haha, Link, are you planning to move? Why don't you hire a moving company?"

Sam Haskell walked into the living room and asked in a very familiar manner.

"It's just a few boxes. I can drive away."

Link made two cups of tea and placed them on the low table for Sam Haskell.

"The news reports said that you went through a lot of hardships to make the movie. Seeing where you live, it is indeed true. But the result is good. You have become the creator of a box office miracle and a dazzling and talented director. You deserve all this."

"Thank you! I just made a relatively successful movie. I can't be called a genius director."

Link said modestly.

"It can be said that in the past few decades, directors who created low-cost box office miracles when they were young have all developed well later, such as Spielberg, David Lynch, and James Cameron.

Link, the difference between you and them is that you became famous at a younger age. I believe that your future development in the entertainment industry will not be inferior to theirs."

Sam Haskell paused, then raised his head. His brown-black pupils shone slightly in the refraction of the sunlight outside the window.

"But being famous at a young age brings a lot of troubles. You will be envied and targeted by many people, just like Robert Downey Jr. publicly accused you and did not apologize afterwards. Later, the media exposed a lot of negative news about you. These are all open and hidden attacks.

If you are a client of our agency, after these things happen, we will help you deal with them as soon as possible and avoid causing damage to your public image.

I know you want to be a pure film director and make movies quietly, but this is Hollywood, the arena of fame and fortune, where no one can be immune and no one can gain honor as a bystander.

Link, do you understand what I mean?"

"Yes, I understand and agree with what you said. But I have heard that agencies like to interfere in the work of their clients, causing them to miss out on many good projects or receive many bad scripts, or even worse things. These things are the reason for my hesitation."

Link spread his hands and said.

Sam Haskell took a sip from the water cup, but he smelled a faint smell of alcohol. He didn't care, put down the water cup and said with a smile: "Link, this is not only the reason for your hesitation, but also the thought of many people before joining the agency. Everyone hopes to have a pleasant cooperation experience with the agency, rather than full of contradictions and disputes.

As a brokerage company, if it wants to make a profit and grow stronger, it will not target its clients without reason. Doing so will not only damage the relationship between the client and the company, but will also affect the company's reputation and weaken its influence.

No company would easily try something that is not beneficial to the company's development.

Our William Morris Agency is the oldest agency in Hollywood. Since 1898, we have represented tens of thousands of stars. Among all the agencies in Hollywood, William Morris is not the most profitable, but it has the best reputation.

You can check that there have been very, very few scandals in the past nearly a hundred years.

Although CAA is powerful, it often interferes with the work of its clients and causes the most conflicts, while ICM agency focuses more on singers.

Link, as long as you agree to join WMA, we can write it down in the contract that we will not interfere with your personal film projects. For example, you decide what movie to shoot, what script to accept, and which actors to use. It's all up to you. Not only will we not interfere, we won't take any commissions from it either.

We will only take commissions from projects in which the company is involved, including scripts that the company helps to receive, crews that the company helps to form, and advertising endorsements that the company obtains.

That is to say, the company will only take a commission based on the work it does, and it will never get something for nothing if it does not participate in the work. This can be written in the contract.”

"Oh, don't interfere with my personal film projects, and don't take this part of the commission. If the movies I shoot in the next few years are all personal film projects, WMA can't get any benefits from me, then what's the point of signing me?"

Link asked.

"Haha, there are many benefits. First of all, you can shoot multiple movies in a row without relying on the company's help, which shows that you are very good at directing. Signing a client like you is undoubtedly an invisible asset.

Secondly, you are from WMA, so when you want to shoot a movie, we can get information in advance and recommend suitable actors to you. Of course, it is just a recommendation, and it depends on you whether you use them or not. This is also a resource.

Finally, this is Hollywood, an arena of fame and fortune. No one can work alone forever. The benefits gained by working alone are definitely not as great as those gained by working in a group. Now that you have not worked with the company, you may doubt this. After you have worked with the company, you will definitely believe it. I believe you understand this too. "

At this point, Sam Haskell paused, winked and smiled, "You are a director with great potential. It is better to be signed by us than by a rival company."

The last two points are the key points.

According to Sam Haskell, as long as Link is in Hollywood, he will not be able to work alone forever.

The reason is that it is impossible for Link to guarantee that every movie will be profitable, nor can he guarantee that the work will go smoothly.

If the next movie, or the next one after that, loses money or the box office is lower than expected, Link will take the initiative to ask the company for help.

Or if Link wants to go further in his directing career, shoot blockbusters, get higher director's pay, win film awards, etc., he cannot do without the help of an agency.

Finally, signing Link was also necessary for the development of the agency.

Before 1975, WMA was the most powerful agency in Hollywood and the sole overlord of the agency industry.

In 1975, five frustrated agents under WMA, including Michael Ovitz, Ron Meyer, Martin Baum, William Hubble and Roland Perkins, angrily quit WMA and founded CAA because they were dissatisfied with the seniority-based promotion rules within WMA.

After more than ten years of development, CAA has become the most powerful agency in the world, with countless artists under its umbrella.

Especially after the death of its old boss in 1986, WMA was completely crushed by CAA and suffered serious customer loss.

The company also needs to add some potential new customers to enhance its strength and influence.

Link, a twenty-year-old director who created box office miracles, is a good target.

When the company was interested in signing Link, Sam Haskell took the initiative to take the job and came to sign Link.

At first he thought it was a simple job. When faced with the recruitment of a large agency like WMA, many people would regard it as an honor and excitedly and quickly agree to it.

Considering that Link is only twenty years old, comes from a very ordinary family, and has few connections in the circle, this job should be easier.

But in the end, Link refused.

Faced with WMA's recruitment, Link was not as excited as expected. During the conversation, he showed a steadiness and rationality beyond his age.

Sam Haskell had to take this matter seriously.

After discussing with the company, he found Link again and proposed more sincere cooperation terms, using this method to sign Link and prevent him from being snatched away by competitors.

In view of Link's relatively stable and stubborn character, Sam Haskell decided to impress him with sincerity.

"Link, joining an agency will definitely bring more benefits than not joining. Even if you don't join WMA, I still think so. I hope you can reconsider WMA and let the WMA agency team protect your career."

Sam Haskell stared at Link with his dark brown eyes, his expression sincere.

"Mr. Haskell, what you said is very good. Please let me think about it and give you an answer within three days."

"Okay, Link, I'll wait for your good news."

After seeing Sam Haskell off, Link continued to pack up and move.

(End of this chapter)