Behind The Spotlight Chapter 291
For a trilogy deal, that was a terrible contract. It meant Murray would be locked into a role that could take a decade to complete in exchange for $14 million.
Arnold had discussed the terms of the trilogy contract with Murray, and the actor had agreed. For him, landing a starring role in a major film was already an incredible victory, it was the launchpad he needed to propel his career into genuine stardom.
Besides, $450,000 wasn't pocket change, it was a massive sum of money for a complete newcomer... It was just the nature of the industry that talent agents pushed for more. That was their job, after all.
Once Murray expressed his approval, they signed the contract.
"The initial offer was only a threefold salary increase, so I'm already pleased Arnold managed to negotiate it up to a fivefold increase," Collin remarked, sharing his perspective.
Collin understood that Justice Guy was merely the starting point for Murray's career. Once the movie succeeded, Murray's fame would skyrocket, creating the ideal leverage to command much higher payouts down the road. Once that happened, securing leading roles in other major projects wouldn't be a problem.
Arnold likely harbored the exact same strategy, meaning he wouldn't stay frustrated over the initial salary for long. Collin's primary responsibility was helping Murray look for exceptional projects to work on, leaving the day-to-day management to his agent.
"Also... our expenses this month are in the red," Lila brought up the most pressing issue.
"Yes, I'm well aware." Collin maintained his gentle smile.
Golden Spotlight Group was still a fledgling agency and lacked the roster depth to generate substantial profits right out of the gate.
So far, GSG employed over 50 staff members, bringing their monthly payroll to a staggering $270,000, and that equation didn't even factor in senior executives like Arnold and Lila, who pulled in over $100,000 a month apiece.
The company had only been operational for four months, yet Collin had already poured over $3 million into it, including the steep annual lease for two entire floors.
Meanwhile, their cumulative commission earnings hadn't even cracked the $1 million mark. The company was operating at a clear deficit, a reality that weighed heavily on Lila's mind.
She stared at Collin, silently waiting for his reaction, but he remained entirely serene. The man kept his comforting smile and laced his fingers through hers.
"Babe, you don't need to worry. I'm confident GSG will be profitable within a year or two. Our investments will return double, maybe even triple."
"All of that money came straight from you. You didn't even let me invest a cent." Lila was still slightly resentful about that fact. She held a clean 25% stake in the company without spending a dime, while Collin shouldered all the financial risk.
"Why did you even do it?"
"Because you're worth every penny. Putting aside how gorgeous and kind you are, your capabilities as President of Talent Management and Representation far surpass anyone else's. You've even helped me secure scripts from major studios effortlessly."
Collin's individual influence wasn't always enough to sway studio heads, but Lila commanded that kind of weight naturally. Having met with major studio executives countless times and successfully closed business with them over the years, she could pull strings without breaking a sweat.
"..."
Lila flushed crimson at Collin's sincere praise. Throughout her life, only her mother had ever praised her with such genuine warmth. Even Elijah Edward had never offered her unreserved validation, despite all the billions she generated for ANT.
Yet a simple compliment from Collin made her heart skip a beat. She squeezed his hand tightly and rested her head on his shoulder.
Just then, the opening tip-off between the Lakers Los Angeles and the Miami Hots officially commenced.
The Lakers' starting five took the court. James was still benched.
As the second quarter went down, the scoreboard read 49-37 in favor of Miami.
Halftime arrived, granting both teams a fifteen-minute rest. Head Coach Moore addressed his players. They were down by 12 points, but he wasn't particularly bothered by the deficit, nor were the starters. This was merely a pre-season match where wins and losses had zero bearing on the regular season standings.
"Good effort, everyone. Go ahead and rest," Coach Moore instructed.
He then turned his gaze toward the bench unit. While a few veterans looked composed, the younger players wore expressions of intense excitement and raw nerves. They were starving for an opportunity to prove their worth to the coaching staff.
Especially James Michael Kobe. The D-League season would start next month, and James desperately hoped to elevate his status before then. Naturally, he wanted a shot at the official NBA roster rather than spending his developmental months down in the minor league.
Pre-season schedules spanned just six to eight games before opening night arrived. James had to prove himself to the Lakers' management before those games dried up, otherwise, he risked getting buried in the D-League rotation, which could stall his professional basketball career.
Coach Moore ultimately decided to deploy his rookies for the start of the second half. He wanted to evaluate their live-game capabilities and determine if they offered immediate value to the squad. The Lakers signed three rookies this season: two draft picks and one wildcard signing brought in via a shareholder's recommendation.
As the players emerged from the locker room, James received confirmation that he would be playing in the second half, sending a jolt of anxiety straight through his chest. He could literally hear his own heartbeat hammering in his ears.
Stepping out onto the court, he caught sight of his talent agent, Amelia Nova, standing near the sideline.
"Remember, being nervous isn't a bad thing!" she shouted loud enough to draw curious stares from everyone nearby.
"..." James felt a wave of secondhand embarrassment wash over him. It was already bad enough that his family was sitting somewhere, but now his agent was screaming at him in front of the entire arena.
Mrs. Kobe had deemed courtside tickets too expensive, so she bought standard lower-bowl seats instead.
James offered Amelia a quick nod. In that exact instant, the lingering nervousness evaporated, leaving him completely locked into the flow of the game.
And true to form, his explosive play propelled them to a comeback victory. He finished the game with an incredible stat line of 26 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds. Even Head Coach Moore personally commended him for his performance afterward, a gesture that meant the world to the young rookie.
The Lakers played out their remaining pre-season matches, giving James meaningful minutes in every game. He averaged an astonishing 24 points, 10 assists, and 12 rebounds across the pre-season...
For an undrafted rookie to post consistent triple-doubles over seven straight games was undeniable proof of elite potential.
Though James was technically signed to a two-way contract carrying mandatory D-League assignments, Head Coach Moore bypassed the standard protocol to speak directly with upper management. He wanted James promoted straight to the active NBA roster.
[Thank you for reading this novel.]