America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 426 Head-on Collision

In a small office building on a quiet street in Long Island City, New York, Chuck Hogan's creative studio consists of only a small suite of offices.

The woman who works as his office assistant is also Chuck Hogan's current girlfriend.

Many writers or playwrights who are in a period of dormancy are not financially well-off.

When Chuck Hogan arrived in the morning, he turned on his computer to write a weekly column for The New Yorker, but after sitting for three hours, he wrote less than three sentences.

I'm so restless that I can't write.

He called out to the outside, "Elisa, hasn't Martin Davis called yet?"

The suite door opened from the outside, and an ordinary-looking girl came in carrying coffee. She comforted him, saying, "Darling, you've been too anxious these past few days. You've submitted your novels to Hollywood so many times before—Paramount, Warner Bros., The Weinstein Company, and so on—you've submitted them all, and haven't heard back for years."

Chuck Hogan took a sip of hot coffee, calming himself slightly: "This time is different. Graham specifically recommended Martin Davis, and Martin values ​​it very much..."

Alyssa continued to reassure him, "Martin is filming in New York. According to news reports, he seems to still have some psychological issues. It won't be that quick."

Chuck Hogan said, "I was too hasty."

The phone rang, and Alyssa answered quickly: "Hello, this is Chuck Hogan Studio. Who is this? Martin Davis? Yes, he's available this morning. You can come anytime."

After she hung up, Chuck asked, "Was that Martin Davis?"

"Yes, it was Martin Davis calling," Alyssa said directly. "Martin wants to visit you in person to discuss the adaptation of 'Prince of Thieves.' He's on his way from the Brooklyn studio."

Chuck clenched his fist. "Great! I've finally got this day!" He ordered Alyssa, "Quick, get the Blue Mountain coffee Graham gave me and tidy up the studio."

Elisa got busy.

Chuck went to the full-length mirror and carefully tidied his clothes.

The person Graham King introduced was indeed very reliable; Martin Davis personally came to him to discuss the matter, so he couldn't afford to be indifferent.

Chuck knew very well that as long as he successfully took the first step, it would be a sure thing for his other works in Hollywood, and he wouldn't have to worry about sales.

Preparations here are progressing quickly because Martin is coming from Brooklyn and it won't take long.

…………

Outside the office building, a Volvo SUV was parked in a roadside parking space, and brothers Ben Affleck and Casey Affleck got out of the car one after the other.

Ben looked up at the office building sign and asked, "Are you sure this is the right place?"

Cassie glanced at the printed address in her hand and said, "That's right, this is it. The idiots at Weinstein Company jotted down the address but forgot the phone number."

Ben Affleck pulled out a Chuck Hogan novel from the car, the one he'd sent to the Weinstein Company: "Let's go up."

Cassie followed behind and asked, "Is this book really suitable for adaptation? Are you sure you can handle it?"

"Of course, crime dramas are something I'm very good at." Ben Affleck was quite confident: "Idiot, let me tell you a secret to being a director: if you can adapt something, choose to adapt it; never do original work. Adaptations have an existing audience base, and the author has already planned the plot, saving you time and effort."

He added, "It's also easier to get investment from film companies, but Harvey's side can't fully support the adaptation of the novel. The Weinstein Company has limited financial resources, and its resources are concentrated on Quentin's projects."

Cassie shrugged: "I can only act, I don't know how to direct."

The two went up to the third floor, found Chuck Hogan's studio, and knocked on the door.

Alyssa opened the door, paused for a moment upon seeing Ben Affleck, then realized what she was doing and asked, "You are... Ben Affleck?"

A smile forced across Ben's long face. "Yes, I am Ben." He asked, "Is Chuck Hogan, the author of *Prince of Thieves*, here?"

"Yes, it's here." Alyssa turned around and called out to the suite, "Chuck, the Hollywood guys are here!"

Chuck Hogan opened the door and came out, only to find that it wasn't Martin, but Ben Affleck, which surprised him.

But he quickly composed himself and said, "Please come in, both of you."

Ben and Cassie went into the office suite and sat on the sofa.

Chuck asked Alyssa to bring him coffee.

Ben Hodges up and pulls out "Prince of Thieves," which he acquired from The Weinstein Company, saying, "Mr. Hogan, I've come here to ask if you still hold the film and television adaptation rights to this book?"

Chuck told the truth: "Yes, I've tried to sell it many times over the years, but I haven't been able to sell it..."

At this point, he suddenly remembered that Martin was coming over later to discuss the copyright of the novel with him.

Ben noticed Chuck's strange expression but didn't think much of it. In his eyes, Chuck was just an ordinary writer eagerly awaiting a Hollywood adaptation. He said directly, "I'm interested in buying the adaptation rights to the novel and turning 'Prince of Thieves' into a movie."

There was a reason why he noticed this novel in the Weinstein Company's vast database: "Chuck, I grew up in the Boston area and know the situation there very well, making me the perfect person to adapt this novel."

Chuck has friends like Graham and Scorsese, and has a basic understanding of the film industry; Ben Affleck in front of him seems very sincere.

But he had his doubts. After Pearl Harbor, Ben Affleck's career had declined, and every film he starred in seemed to flop.

If Prince of Thieves has no other options, Chuck will definitely consider it seriously.

The problem is that there are other people who are also paying attention.

…………

Martin brought not only Bruce with him this time, but also Thomas.

When it really comes to negotiating copyrights, Thomas needs to step in.

Although this shouldn't be the agent's job, Thomas didn't shirk his responsibility at all. He even stayed up all night to learn about the novel and its author, Chuck Hogan, in order to finalize the relevant copyrights as soon as possible.

The three found the office building, parked the Escalade next to a Volvo, and went straight up to the third floor.

Bruce glanced at the company's location map, then went to the door of Hogan Studio and knocked.

Elisa opened the door, glanced at Bruce, and didn't recognize him.

But then she saw Martin coming from behind and raised her voice, "Mr. Davis, you've arrived."

Martin had seen Alyssa at the party a few days ago, and smiled and nodded slightly: "Hello, we meet again."

Alyssa called out from the suite, "Chuck, Martin's here."

The suite door opened, and Chuck strode out. He reached the door, shook hands with Martin warmly, and invited him, "I've been looking forward to your visit these past few days; I haven't been able to concentrate on work."

Because of Graham, the two were quite familiar with each other. Martin joked, "Because your novel is so wonderful, I was so immersed in the plot that I almost forgot about you."

Chuck laughed heartily and invited Martin and the other two in.

Elisa closed the studio door.

The suite door creaked open again.

Bruce instinctively blocked Martin's path, and upon seeing who came out, he gave Martin a wink.

Martin discovered that the people who came out were Ben Affleck and Casey Affleck.

Thomas had heard Martin mention what happened at the Oscars, and looked at the Affleck brothers with surprise, then at Chuck.

In some situations, agents have to be ahead of their clients.

Thomas didn't speak, but his dissatisfaction was evident on his face.

Chuck explained in a low voice, "They showed up at the door without warning."

Martin turned around and greeted him, "Hi, Ben, I didn't expect to run into you here."

"I didn't expect this either," Ben said, walking over with a meaningful tone. "It's such a coincidence."

He picked up the novel in his hand: "You're not here for the copyright of this novel either, are you?"

Martin smiled. "Chuck and I are friends. We met through Graham, and I came here specifically to visit him."

Ben Affleck knew Graham, Scorsese's producer, and based on what he knew, he guessed that Martin had probably gotten involved with Graham through the "The Departed" crew.

This reminded Ben Affleck of his good friend Matt Damon.

Martin ignored Ben and glanced at Thomas.

The latter immediately said, "Chuck, shall we talk about serious matters?"

Chuck, thinking of Graham and Scorsese's relationship with Martin, replied, "Okay."

Casey Affleck, indignant and dejected, said, "Hey, you..."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Affleck," Chuck interrupted them, "I have something to attend to right now and I'm afraid I can't receive you."

Ben's face was quite ugly; his long face was as long as a donkey's.

Casey, unlike Ben, didn't think as much. He said, "Ben and I represent not only ourselves, but also The Weinstein Company. You should know The Weinstein Company, right?"

Chuck's heart skipped a beat; he was familiar with the name Harvey Weinstein.

Thomas couldn't help but laugh: "Martin represents not only himself, but also Warner Bros."

Ben stopped Cassie from continuing, placing his business card on the desk beside him: "If you've made up your mind, feel free to contact me anytime."

Chuck gradually realized that Martin and Ben Affleck seemed to have a conflict.

He didn't reply, and told Elisa to see the person out.

After everyone left, Chuck explained, "Martin, I've been preparing ever since I got your call, and then they showed up at the door. I wasn't prepared at all."

Martin was very magnanimous: "It's okay, ignore them, let's continue our conversation."

Chuck invited them into his suite office and then asked Alyssa, who had returned, to make coffee. He said, "I've heard about the Weinstein Company's bad reputation. It's all over the New York writers' circle. Even many people who have worked with him are wary of their future..."

Thomas said, "You don't need to worry, The Weinstein Company is no threat to us."

Martin specifically stated, "Graham has been strongly recommending you to me, so I read 'Prince of Thieves' carefully and have some ideas for the adaptation."

The two sides then discussed adaptation and copyright.

(End of this chapter)