Hollywood Road

Ask for a monthly pass! Ask for a recommendation ticket!

In a luxurious reception room on the top floor of the Death Star Building in Century City, Murphy sat behind a long conference table and turned to the last page of the contract. After the lawyer Robert next to him pointed to the place where a signature was required, he swiped The pen signed his name on it.

Duplicate contracts were signed, and Murphy exchanged contracts with Bill Rossis and Brian Lauder, representing CAA.

The photographer who had been waiting here for a long time pressed the shutter of the camera and recorded this moment.

"We are very pleased that we can renew this agency contract." Brian Lauder, who is in charge of the film business, smiled all over his face, "caa welcomes young talents like you!"

Murphy shook his hand and said, "It's an honor to join CAA."

There is no harm in saying some nice words on this occasion.

The photographer was invited out, Robert left, and only Brian Lauder, Bill Rossis, and three other agents were left in the reception room.

Bill Rossis offered the introduction.

"This is Grace Collinder, responsible for media communications and your daily life services."

"This is Gabi Ramos, in charge of your literature."

"This is Lingard Waterwood, in charge of exceptional opportunities."

Murphy shook hands with the three people and nodded slightly. They were agents selected by CAA with reference to Bill Rossis' opinion. He didn't know much about them. Whether they need to be replaced in the future requires time and work. test.

This point is noted in the brokerage contract signed by the two parties. When it is necessary to exercise this right, Murphy will not hesitate.

Brad Lauder is an important partner of CAA. He has a lot of work to do. He appeared at the signing ceremony to show that he attaches great importance to Murphy, a new director who is rising rapidly. Now the work has been completed and the gesture is well expressed. , After explaining a few words on the scene, he left.

The other three people also have work to do. Apart from Grace, who is in charge of media public relations and daily life, the other two people also walked out of the conference room one after another.

"Murphy," Grace had already entered the working state, "Is there anything I need to do recently?"

"Yes, I have.

"Now that a new brokerage contract has been signed, Murphy is not polite, "I need an independent house. "

Living in the Stanton studio was limited by economic conditions before. Now that the economic situation has improved, and there is Carey Mulligan, it must not be convenient to continue living there.

Grace immediately took out his pen and notebook, "Do you have any specific requirements?"

Murphy thought for a while, "It's best to be in Santa Monica, not too far from Stanton's studio, the valley area or the beach area are fine."

He pondered for a while, "It doesn't need to be too big, let's rent it."

After the last two million dollars in the account, excluding Rose's bail of 300,000 dollars, he also paid Bill Rosses and other crew members who have not yet settled the remuneration. The remaining money is not too much. Next time It will take some time to divide.

Before going on vacation in Australia, Ross sent someone a message that his account was still being watched by the police and that the money would be returned to him after it was unfrozen, but Murphy refused.

Although he helped Ross regardless of Bill Rosses' dissuasion, Murphy was not stupid and knew that he should not have too much economic contact with Ross.

"I will follow up on this matter." Grace put away the notebook, "I will contact you if there is a suitable one."

She stood up, "If there is nothing else, I will take my leave first."

"Goodbye." Murphy stood up, shook hands with her, and watched her leave politely.

There was no one else in the reception room, and Murphy felt a little more relaxed. He turned around the conference table and sofa chairs, walked to the bright floor-to-ceiling windows, and looked outside. This place is located in Beverly Hills and the top floor of the Death Star Building. , condescending, overlooking the entire Los Angeles.

"CAA chose this building," Murphy said to Bill Rossis behind him, "There must be some deep meaning behind it?"

Bill Rosses also came over, shook his head and said, "I'm not sure."

"This is the Death Star Building!" Murphy guessed wildly, "The office building is named after the invincible Death Star in Star Wars, and caa bought the tallest eight floors, not to stand on the tallest in this circle with an invincible posture." layer?"

Bill Rosses laughed. "Ask the person who proposed to buy the building."

Murphy changed the subject, "Shall we go to your office?"

"Let's go." Bill Rosses led the way, from the safe passage to the next floor, came to the position near the far left, and opened the door of an office.

This office is not too big, and the decoration can only be said to be average. Murphy just took a brief look, and sat on the opposite side of the desk. He has an independent office, and it is still on a relatively upper floor. This is a symbol of his status in CAA .

In publicity, CAA claims that all its brokers are partners. Of course, this situation means that CAA is no longer the CAA when Michael Ovitz was founded. It is indeed a partnership system. , but the one with the most shares is no longer the broker within CAA.

Just like most entrepreneurs encounter financial difficulties in their development and accept foreign investment, CAA also has foreign investors. TPG, one of the largest private equity institutions in the world, is the largest shareholder of CAA , holds as high as 53% of caa shares in his hand!

The rest of the shares are scattered among partners within caa.

These partners constitute the management and superstructure of caa, and are also the highest-ranking brokers within the company. Other brokers want to squeeze into this circle, and the conditions are not complicated, as long as they have super heavyweight customers in their hands, such as Pai Jinsili, Tom Cruise's agent, is very likely to become a partner of CAA.

In other words, the quality of clients in hand directly determines the status of a broker in the industry.

Therefore, what Bill Rossis is most concerned about now is Murphy's new plan. A director must ultimately rely on his works to speak.

"Fox Searchlight's Godin Clyde called me several times." He sat across from Murphy, "I want to confirm the start time of the sequel of "Chain Saw"."

"The sequel to "Saw"?" Murphy didn't remember mentioning the sequel.

Bill Rossis asked strangely, "Isn't your new film a sequel to "Saw?"

Murphy shook his head directly, "No."

Bill Rosses wanted to speak again, but Murphy raised his hand to stop him, and said, "This series does have a sequel, and many stories and character backgrounds have not been explained clearly, but it is not suitable now."

He reminded, "Don't forget, the impact of 9/11 will last for a long time."

Although the public is gradually recovering, such a film will still be affected by the aftermath, and it is best to start the sequel plan next year.

The "911 Incident" had a huge impact on the political and economic life of Americans, and the entertainment industry is naturally inevitable. Hollywood, which is in the leading position in world film and entertainment, will be more popular with relatively relaxing movies, and the public is more than ever before. In need of light entertainment, any film that can be related to 911 or is too cruel, in the recent period, the chances of hitting the street will increase exponentially.

It's not that there is no market for films like "Chain Saw", but the market situation is not clear in a short period of time.

Murphy certainly wouldn't know that there was an iron wall in front of him and bump into it.

The best choice for the next step is superhero movies. The occurrence of 9/11 increased the public’s demand for omnipotent superheroes, and there will be more market for individual heroism movies.

The other is a typical American-made film with a relaxed atmosphere.

As we all know, the North American film and television market is basically an insulator. North American audiences have never been very interested in non-North American productions. After this incident, this market will become more closed, and it will be more difficult for foreign products to succeed. And consumers' choices will be more inclined to "Made in America".

In the past, some European films that were popular all over the world were received coldly in North America, and this situation will become more serious in the future.

Murphy had thought about it carefully before.

He does not reject superhero movies that are pure market and popcorn. The problem is that no one will ask him to make this type of movie. Even if he has this idea, copyright is a big problem.

"X-Men" has been released, and Marvel Comics has realized the power of its superheroes. Except for those that have been authorized, it has begun to become self-respecting, and it is easy to no longer authorize externally. Moreover, the ones that can be put on the big screen are all the most famous ones. For superheroes, the producers basically invite first-line or quasi-first-line directors.

He is far from meeting that standard.

The so-called traditional American production is his best bet.

Due to the similar style of the first two films, he has accumulated enough experience in film noir, which must be the choice of the new project. Murphy is very clear that even now his ability cannot be said to be outstanding, so he chooses the most familiar type to start with. In order to reduce the probability of failure.

The problem is that most film noirs are brutal, which is contrary to the current social situation.

Therefore, he intends to appropriately add comedy and absurd elements to the new project, so as to avoid the audience's disgust because the film is too bloody.

Murphy told Bill Rossis about these ideas, but the agent frowned, "Fox Searchlight wants to continue the sequel of "Saw", I am afraid it will be difficult to pass such a project."

"Look for another company." Murphy would never hang himself on a tree. "We just signed a new agency contract. CAA won't kick me aside so quickly, will it?"

Bill Rossis immediately came to his senses, "Are you going to hand over the new project to the company?"

Murphy said strangely, "Isn't this the most time-saving and labor-saving way?"

"Are you not going to continue to invest in your own films?" Bill Rossis pressed.

Murphy shook his head and said directly, "I have no money." (To be continued.)