WebNovels

Chapter 939 - Chapter 940: Rules

"Kendrick is just a regular producer under Sony, mainly working on B-movies. He doesn't even have his own studio—a total nobody. Jet, I need to remind you that since Black Mask has taken off, a lot of people are bound to reach out directly to you. But whatever you do, don't commit to anything without consulting me first," Jeremy Zhao said, driving Jet Li toward Danelys Studios in Malibu. Jet sat in the passenger seat, listening.

Jet, having navigated the industry for years and learned his lessons along the way, was generally cautious. Still, he commented, "I think Kendrick sounded sincere; he promised to pay half the fee upfront if I agreed."

"Jet, don't be so naive. Do you think they'll really pay you that money?"

"Isn't Hollywood big on contracts? If we sign, I'll make sure it's included in the contract."

Jeremy accelerated to pass a Ford in front of them, shaking his head. "Contracts, rules—sure, those are the things people fresh to the U.S. often expect here. But Hollywood is a different game. It's packed with trickery and deceit. Take that guy you met—Kendrick. Sure, if everything goes smoothly, you'd get paid, no problem. But if anything goes wrong, even with a signed contract, he wouldn't pay you."

"Then I'd sue."

"Of course, but there's the issue. You'd probably win in court, but it would still take months, maybe even a year or more, tangled in a lawsuit. All that time, you wouldn't be able to take on other projects, and you'd end up with a hefty legal bill. Can you afford that?"

Jet fell silent, reflecting on past experiences.

Jeremy glanced at him before adding, "Even the biggest stars in Hollywood face unpaid salaries or broken promises from time to time. Most issues get settled privately because no one wants the long haul, and few are willing to burn bridges completely."

After a pause, Jet finally spoke. "So… there are no real rules here?"

"There are rules, Jet. But in Hollywood, the rule is simple: as long as you can prove your worth and keep proving it, then you become the rule. Just look at the top directors and stars—Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Robert De Niro, Tom Hanks. They're sought after by every major studio. But the moment they lose their value, they'll have to follow someone else's rules."

"That's… very practical."

"Exactly, Jet. That's what has made Hollywood thrive. Which is why I hope you'll be cautious with this opportunity. You know, Jackie worked hard to break into Hollywood, and it wasn't until Rush Hour earlier this year that he made it into the mainstream—a success greater than Bruce Lee's. For the Asian community, it's a miracle." Jeremy, usually focused on the road, now glanced meaningfully at Jet. "I hope you can be the next miracle."

Jet, who had sometimes struggled with Jeremy's accented Cantonese, was suddenly moved by the sincerity in his agent's eyes. Feeling a swell of motivation, he reached out a hand. "Jeremy, I'll do my best to live up to your expectations."

The middle-aged agent took Jet's hand briefly, then said, "Honestly, Jet, if you want to make strides in Hollywood, Danelys Entertainment is key. Rush Hour, which elevated Jackie, was a concept Simon Westero himself came up with. Westero's talent for film is unmatched. I'm sure Black Mask must have also involved him somehow. If I'm right, this probably isn't the last Black Mask."

Jet nodded, adding, "Actually, I was wondering about Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Shouldn't we try again for that role?"

Jeremy shook his head. "Jet, that project really isn't a fit for you. I've reviewed all of Lee's films and looked into the specifics of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Lee is essentially an arthouse director, and even though this project is martial arts, it'll have a strong artistic element. It requires high-level acting skills, and your strengths lie in action. Anyway, we're meeting with Danny Morris at New World Pictures soon. If Simon Westero is serious about you, we'll likely get an answer today."

Jet felt a bit disappointed but understood Jeremy's reasoning, so he dropped the subject and remembered something else. "Jeremy, I just got a call from Hong Kong. The producers of Black Mask asked if Danelys would be interested in a sequel."

"I heard about the low box office numbers there. They're in deep trouble?"

Jet, who was more up-to-date on the Hong Kong box office, nodded. "The opening week brought in only 3.79 million HKD; they're looking at a 30 million HKD loss."

Jeremy, aware of the dire impact a 30 million HKD loss could have on a small film company, said, "I doubt Danelys would be interested in a sequel."

"Why not?"

Jeremy countered with a question, "Jet, honestly, do you think Black Mask is a good movie?"

After a slight pause, Jet shook his head.

"Exactly. The film's success is partly due to American audiences' interest in your martial arts, but mostly thanks to Danelys Entertainment's powerful distribution network. For a film with a lukewarm reception and a $25 million box office, there's no real reason to make a sequel."

Jet hesitated before admitting, "But I owe a favor to the producer in Hong Kong. I don't feel right just turning them down."

"Would they need Danelys's permission to make a sequel?"

"I'm not clear on the contract specifics."

Jeremy thought for a moment. "If I were in their shoes, and Danelys wasn't interested in the sequel, I'd pitch it to another Hollywood company. With Black Mask's performance, they could likely find a partner. And this time, it'd be wise to sell off the sequel rights to cover their losses from the first movie."

Jeremy's suggestion struck Jet as a practical solution to help the Hong Kong producers without harming his own position.

After further thought, Jet decided to gauge Danelys's interest in a sequel. If they weren't interested, he'd relay that to Hong Kong and suggest selling the sequel rights.

Jeremy noticed Jet's understanding and added, "Also, Jet, I advise you not to participate in the sequel. If you feel you owe them, perhaps you can repay the favor another way. But joining a sequel might actually harm your rising popularity."

Jet hesitated.

Noticing his indecision, Jeremy suggested, "You could always delay your response. If we secure an agreement with Danelys, you'll have an excuse. With a substantial loss on their hands, Hong Kong can't afford to wait—they'll probably cast another actor."

This approach appealed to Jet. With his future in mind, he felt it was worth the risk to move forward.

The two finally arrived at Danelys Studios in Malibu, just three minutes before their scheduled meeting. Jeremy's fast driving had ensured they weren't late.

A courteous secretary greeted them outside Danny Morris's office. After a short wait, the door opened, and they saw Morris escorting out two Asian individuals, a man and a woman, just as Jet and Jeremy entered the lounge area.

The four exchanged brief, polite nods, though the atmosphere was somewhat tense. The man and woman worked in the same circles as Jet. The man was an executive from Golden Harvest, and the woman, with the last name Dong, was producing Jackie Chan's upcoming Police Story 4. Due to past disagreements, Jet had little fondness for Golden Harvest.

After the two left, Danny Morris invited Jet and Jeremy into his office.

Once seated in the meeting area, with coffee served by a secretary, Morris smiled, "Jet, I imagine quite a few offers have come your way recently?"

Jet responded with a polite smile. "I should be thanking you, Mr. Morris, for New World Pictures' support in distributing Black Mask."

Morris took a sip of his coffee, then looked at them with a grin. "Well, let's get to the point. Simon personally asked me to meet with you to discuss a long-term collaboration."

At the words "long-term collaboration," Jeremy's eyebrows shot up—not out of excitement, but because he immediately thought of Jim Carrey's contract with Danelys.

Hollywood's long-term contracts weren't necessarily traps, but it was rare to see a deal as lucrative as the DC Universe contracts. Still, Jeremy knew not to rush things. Before Jet could reply, he quickly asked, "Danny, could you give us some specifics?"

Danny turned to Jeremy, "Jeremy, I understand your concerns, but we recognize Jet's stature in the Asian film industry, and this won't be a rookie contract. As I mentioned, Simon wants to help Jet avoid any missteps in Hollywood."

"Missteps?"

"Absolutely," Morris nodded. "With Black Mask's success, I assume other studios have reached out, mostly with mid-to-low-budget B-movie offers. For Jet, that would be a setback, risking years—or even an entire Hollywood career—typecast in low-budget action roles. That's what happened to actors like Dolph Lundgren and Jean-Claude Van Damme; though successful in their niche, they struggled to break into the mainstream like Schwarzenegger or Stallone."

Jet and Jeremy understood the implications.

Remaining composed, Jeremy asked, "Danny, since this was arranged by Simon himself, could you tell us about any current projects for Jet?"

Morris shook his head. "Not at the moment. I asked Simon the same, and he said he's

 still considering it. You have to understand that with his current standing, he doesn't personally handle many projects. Rush Hour was one of his rare creative ideas. He's been very busy, so it'll take time."

Jet and Jeremy exchanged a look, both eager but holding back. Jeremy then asked, "Danny, regarding the specifics of this contract?"

Morris explained, "Three-picture deal, starting at $2.5 million, with potential raises to $5 million and $7.5 million."

Jeremy shook his head. "Danny, I know a bit about Jackie's pay scale. Jet and Jackie are peers in Asia. Jet shouldn't be earning half of what Jackie does."

"It's different," Morris replied. "This is Jet's first North American film with traction, while Jackie's been working toward this for years. Asian credentials, unfortunately, don't count here."

Jeremy and Jet exchanged another glance. Jeremy then pressed, "We'll need revenue-sharing clauses on top of the base pay."

Morris declined, "I raised this with Simon, and he didn't agree. You should recognize that this is already a very generous offer. The studios approaching you now are probably offering a similar rate. If Jet manages to reach the $10 million-per-film threshold after these three movies, you'd be the ones benefiting. Many dream of that status in Hollywood, and at 33, Jet is nine years younger than Jackie. With the right moves, he could enjoy a long prime."

Jet and Jeremy considered this, both realizing the advantage, though they chose not to agree immediately. Jeremy said, "Danny, we'll need some time to think it over."

"Of course. But please get back to me by tomorrow morning."

With that, the conversation shifted. Jet inquired about Black Mask.

As expected, Danelys had no interest in a sequel and sympathized with the losses suffered by the Hong Kong producers. Danny Morris readily stated that they could handle any sequel themselves, as Danelys would not be involved.

_________________________

[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!] 

[w w w . p a t r e o n .com / INNIT]

[+50 PowerStones = +1 Chapter] [+5 Reviews = +1 Chapter] 

More Chapters