Hollywood starts with an agent

Chapter 7 I Want This Script
The next day, Aaron asked someone to find a two-story detached apartment near Plummer Park in West Hollywood and moved out of Koreatown. After all, he was a wealthy man with a huge sum of $10, so he wanted to live in peace!

Aaron was quite satisfied with the house, which had two bedrooms, two living rooms, a study, and three bathrooms.

At the end of the month, Steven Soderbergh came to CAA to sign the contract. Aaron was of course his chief agent, and he also specially asked Jack Wells to participate.

"It feels like a dream," said Steven Soderbergh in the office with a look of surprise. He never expected that "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" could be sold for a high price of 120 million US dollars.

Aaron leans back in his chair as Steven Soderbergh himself signs with an agency for the first time, under the California Talent Agency Act:
When an agent signs a contract with an artist, the first contract is valid for one year, and the subsequent renewal period is up to three years!

They are all newcomers, and basically they will choose to renew their contracts for the first time. After that, most of the renewals are for two-year terms.

Aaron played with the giant mobile phone in his hand and looked at Steven Soderbergh. "Miramax called and needs your advice on the re-editing of the movie."

"Next, we have to cooperate with Miramax's Cannes exhibition!"

Steven Soderbergh nodded. "That's no problem. I just don't know when Miramax will release the film."

"Don't worry, Harvey spent $120 million to buy this film, which means he is very optimistic about it. Don't worry;"

“We’ll know the results after the Cannes Film Festival in May!”

Aaron stretched as he spoke, "Any new plans next?"

"How can it be so fast? The first feature film hasn't even been released yet?"

"Yeah, you can go on vacation. Just call me if you have any problems." Aaron will not serve anyone like a nanny, not even Sylvester Stallone or Tom Cruise.

In the afternoon, several angry shouts were heard from the office of CAA President Ronald Meyer.

Michael Ovitz frowned in his office and asked his assistant, "Why is Ronald so angry?"

"After Judy Hofflen and David Greenblatt left CAA, they founded ITA (United Talent Agency)!" explained office assistant Susan Miller.

Michael Ovitz nodded. Judy Hofflen and David Greenblatt were both former assistants to Ronald Mayer, and it was indeed infuriating that they had now betrayed CAA.
CAA has always been the one poaching other people's talent, but this time someone left CAA and took away several young agents and their clients.

"Mr. Ronald Meyer organized a group of people to specifically target the ITA!"

How to target them? Defame and suppress their companies, poach ITA's clients and engage in unfair competition.

Michael Ovitz nodded and agreed with his old friend's approach. It would be even better if his old friend was not a gambler!

In the division of CAA shares, Michael Ovitz is the majority shareholder with 55%, while Ronald Mayer owns 22.5%, and the rest belongs to others.

In the evening, in West Hollywood, Aaron sat in a chair in his study, and on his desk were two of CAA's current blockbuster films:
One is "Dick Tracy," a large-scale detective movie of the same name, directed and starred by Warren Beatty and adapted from the best-selling American comic book;
Another one is "Goodfellas", a movie directed by Martin Scorsese and adapted from the legendary American gangster Henry Hill!
CAA's packaging of movies is definitely a star-studded move, and it is obvious that these two movies are full of big names.

Dick Tracy is a production of Touchstone Pictures under Disney, while Goodfellas is a production of Warner Bros., both are gangster films;

Nowadays, gangster films and action films have a high status in Hollywood.

Then, Aaron took out a four-five-page script outline of "Ghost" adapted by screenwriter Bruce Joy Robin!
After searching for such a long time, Aaron finally found an amazing script, but unfortunately no one is interested in it even though it is on CAA?
Michael Ovitz had no idea about the script, a ghost love story, and simply scoffed at it!
"Become an agent?" Aaron laughed. How much can an agent earn? Currently, Aaron Anderson only regards his job at CAA as a platform to expand his network.

At the same time, Aaron Anderson also needs to increase his fame as soon as possible!

Because it is award season, especially the Oscars which are held in late March, Los Angeles seems unusually lively;
Countless celebrity parties and movie receptions are held in various hotels in Hollywood.

"Ghost" was not taken seriously by CAA, but Aaron regarded it as a treasure and directly contacted the original screenwriter Bruce Robin!

A cafe on Hollywood Boulevard.

"What? You want to buy this script?" Bruce Robin was surprised. "I know you, the agent who helped Steven Soderbergh sell 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape'."

Aaron Anderson just wanted to get the script in his hands, so he said directly, "Although CAA doesn't value this script, I like it very much. Ghost is an original script. I will buy it from you for $15."

"Also, within three years, I will definitely develop this script!"

Bruce Robin nodded. "The price is quite reasonable. So, do you want to purchase the three-year copyright first?"

"Great, $4 deposit. If I can't develop the script after the due date, you can take the script back!"

Bruce Robin laughed. "You seem very confident that you can develop it within three years, but you don't seem to have many clients right now?"

Aaron took a sip of coffee and said, "I don't have much time to serve those customers!"

"It seems that you are thinking about becoming a producer," Bruce Robin believed that the other party wanted to develop this movie at CAA but did not get support, so he came up with this idea.

"How about it, do you agree?" Aaron was determined to own the script. As soon as he got the chance, he would leave CAA and develop it on his own.

"Of course, but I also have the corresponding conditions. I will also participate in the development of the script," Bruce Robin explained.

Aaron nodded. "Of course, you're the original screenwriter, so you'll definitely be indispensable when the adaptation comes!"

In this way, the two found a law firm and signed a purchase contract. Aaron Anderson paid $15 to acquire the script of "Ghost".
The term is three years, with a deposit of US$4. Once the time is up, both parties can negotiate to extend the term, or the other party can take back the script and not refund the deposit.

"How about I introduce you to an agent?"

After signing the contract, Aaron suddenly proposed to Bruce Robin beside him.

There's no way. Bruce Robin is also a new screenwriter. How can he have an agent?
"Um, you don't want to be my agent?"

Aaron shrugged. "Do you think I'd be suitable?"

"Well, you are indeed not suitable..."

Antitrust laws prevent agents from participating in the film production business. Aaron’s career as an agent has been on the countdown since the very beginning!
(End of this chapter)