Chapter 52: I’ll Be the Villain
Chapter 52: I’ll Be the Villain
Kapoor Sid agreed, and both sides began discussing the acquisition plan. In Eric’s view, the most valuable part of Sid Agency was Kapoor Sid himself.
Although Kapoor was not… under CAA’s shadow, it was difficult for him to stand out, but he could still always secure roles in some independent films or television dramas.
“Eric, one million dollars is very hard for me to accept…” Kapoor was somewhat dissatisfied with Eric’s offer. Among Hollywood’s five major talent agencies, alongside giants such as CAA and WMA, UTA was one of them, but in Eric’s previous life, UTA was only established in 1991.
By the time these matters were finished, it was already noon. After lunch, Eric followed Kapoor Sid to Sid Agency’s office location in Burbank. Kapoor Sid only rented a few offices there, so it looked rather shabby.
However, the office was packed with people at the moment. They also knew that today was a special day for this talent agency.
Seeing the expectant agents and actors before him, Eric suddenly thought of a question. He merely nodded to everyone, then pulled Jeffrey and Kapoor into a separate office and asked, “Kapoor, what is your agency’s current commission rate?”
“Six percent.”
“So low?” Eric was a little surprised. “Isn’t it ten percent?”
Jeffrey cut in, “Eric, what you’re talking about was a long time ago.”
Kapoor also explained, “Ever since… CAA and WMA… after CAA rose to prominence, aside from the lower commissions charged to big-name stars, the commission for second- and third-rate minor celebrities returned to ten percent.”
After thinking for a moment, Eric said, “Revise the agreement. Raise the commission to ten percent.”
“Eric, isn’t that a little inappropriate?” Kapoor had not answered yet, but Jeffrey could not help objecting.
Eric explained, “If we don’t revise it now, once the agency develops, raising the commission will have an even greater impact. So… which of you will announce it?”
Jeffrey and Kapoor exchanged a glance, then both turned their eyes toward Eric at the same time.
“Uh, all right. I’ll be the villain.”
…
“I don’t need to introduce myself. I’m sure everyone already knows who I am. I now officially announce that I have become the new owner of this talent agency. The company will be renamed UTA. My next film will begin production after New Year’s. As long as your image is suitable and you pass the audition, you will receive priority consideration for roles in the film. Everyone knows Home Alone. Stuart Runkel and Matthew Perry, who were originally unknown, have now become hot, sought-after stars. Several other supporting actors who could originally only appear in television dramas also successfully entered the big screen because they participated in Home Alone.”
Seeing the unconcealed delight on everyone’s faces, Eric knew the groundwork was enough. Then his tone changed. “However, I am a capitalist, not a philanthropist. I am giving you opportunities that were very difficult for you to obtain in the past, and at the same time, I need returns. Therefore, the original contracts of the company’s actors need to be revised. The commission will be raised to ten percent. If anyone finds this difficult to accept, you may choose to terminate your contract and leave.”
After saying this, Eric turned and returned to the office, giving everyone some time to consider. He believed that as long as these people had normal intelligence, none of them would choose to leave at this moment.
Inside the office, Jeffrey and Kapoor were already discussing preparations for Pretty Woman.
“Eric, Jeffrey said you want to invite Sophie Marceau to play the female lead?” Kapoor asked.
Eric nodded. “Yes. Is there a problem?”
Kapoor said, “If you want to start filming after New Year’s, I advise you to choose someone else. Since I originally planned to develop my career in Europe, I’ve been paying close attention to news over there recently. Sophie Marceau is currently filming Andrzej Żuławski’s new movie. With Andrzej’s filming pace, even after your Pretty Woman is released, he may not necessarily have wrapped production.”
Eric recalled it for a moment. Judging by the timeline, Sophie was probably filming My Nights Are More Beautiful Than Your Days, a film that some viewers jokingly called an alien movie. The title was beautiful, but the content was somewhat incomprehensible. Still, that was indeed Żuławski’s usual style.
“Then use Julia Roberts. Kapoor, I hope you can personally act as Julia’s agent.”
Jeffrey advised him again, “Eric, you should know that this film of yours cannot fail. Right now, many people are waiting to laugh at you, so it would be better to…”
“Jeffrey, I know what you mean. But,” Eric smiled and said, “didn’t you see what those newspapers said? With the fame I accumulated from my first two films, even if my new movie turns into a pile of shit, it can still make money. So as long as the film’s quality has no problem, it’ll be hard to fail even if we want it to. In that case, why don’t we take this opportunity to promote our own actress?”
“What if that Julia Roberts can’t act well?”
Eric’s smile carried a strange ambiguity. “Don’t worry. I’ll personally train her.”
…
Just as Eric expected, none of the actors in the agency chose to leave. They all accepted the new contract plan Eric proposed.
After handling these matters, Eric was about to drive home when Jeffrey came over and sat in the passenger seat. “Eric, my car was sent for maintenance. Give me a ride?”
“No problem.”
As they drove onto the road, Jeffrey asked with concern, “Eric, what exactly is going on between you and… Drew? I saw in the newspaper today that she went to look for you again yesterday. It seems her mother, Jaid, also went to your house?”
Eric did not hide anything from Jeffrey and carefully explained everything that happened the day before.
“That’s… fine too. Drew is a fairly talented actress. It’s just, are you planning to let her keep living in your house? You have no blood relation to her. If this continues, and with the media stirring up public opinion, even if Drew’s mother doesn’t cause trouble for you, the Child Protection Association will step in. Drew is only thirteen, after all.”
“Don’t worry, I’m clear on that too. I already plan to send Drew to boarding school.”
“That’s good.” Jeffrey nodded. “Eric, you don’t really have… a Lolita complex, do you?”
The car, which had been moving steadily, suddenly slowed down. A Chevrolet behind them was already following a little too closely, and with Eric’s pause, it almost rear-ended them. Ignoring the traffic around them, the fat white man inside the Chevrolet stuck his head out the window and immediately began cursing.
Eric steadied himself, controlled the steering wheel, and shook off the Chevrolet behind them. “Jeffrey, aside from her age, what part of Drew looks like a Lolita to you?”
She was clearly a little enchantress, at least a little fox spirit who had cultivated for five hundred years.
“In any case, you need to watch your boundaries,” Jeffrey said, as though he had already concluded that Eric had Lolita tendencies.