Leaving Paramount headquarters, Jonathan Freedman dismissed the idea of visiting other studios and decided to rush back to WMA to discuss countermeasures with the company's senior management.
To curb CAA's continued growth, WMA's adoption of the project packaging model, following CAA's success, was imperative.
Since the major Hollywood film companies had already colluded to stop CAA, WMA should be strong enough to push this matter forward. However, to achieve this, the company's management must first reach a consensus and work together.
Although he knew very well that it would not be easy to achieve this in WMA, with its numerous internal factions, Jonathan Freedman still meticulously planned his arguments on his way back to the company.
However, as soon as he returned to the company's headquarters on Camino Street, Jonathan Freedman was stopped by Norman Brokaw's assistant, who led him to WMA's president's office.
Upon arriving at Norman Brokaw's office, before the old man, who was sitting behind his desk reviewing a document, could speak, Jonathan Freedman eagerly said, "Norman, something has changed".
Norman Brokaw raised a hand, gesturing for him to calm down, and motioned for Jonathan to sit down. Then he said, "I already know. The studios have communicated with each other and want to boycott 'The Butterfly Effect'. However, the matter has already been resolved".
Jonathan Freedman looked puzzled: "Resolved?"
Norman Brokaw nodded, picked a document from his side, and handed it to Jonathan Freedman, who had sat down opposite him, saying, "I had lunch with Ronald Goldberg, and he told me. Moreover, Fox is very interested in this film, and they don't mind the packaging deal. So, we roughly agreed on a cooperation plan at noon. Take a look first".
'The Butterfly Effect' was a project he had personally spearheaded. Hearing that Norman Brokaw had reached an agreement with Fox without consulting him at all, Jonathan Freedman was somewhat displeased but still took the document and opened it.
As he flipped through the cooperation plan page by page, Jonathan Freedman's brows furrowed more and more.
WMA had originally planned a complete production team, from core creatives such as producers, directors, and lead actors to peripheral staff like cinematographers and lighting technicians. This was the result of Jonathan Freedman's weeks of painstaking coordination.
In the plan, the total budget for the entire packaged project was $15 million, with WMA uniformly taking 10% from the budget as commission.
Now, this obviously compressed project plan had only a $12 million budget, and WMA's packaging target was reduced to only a few core creatives, with most clients' salaries also being lowered.
Among his two clients, Brian De Palma's directing fee was reduced to $1.5 million, and Simon's script fee remained $100,000 for the buyout of two scripts. Furthermore, WMA would no longer uniformly deduct commission from the entire project, but instead settle separately with individual clients as per usual practice.
Moreover, what made Jonathan Freedman most uncomfortable was that Matthew Broderick's salary, as a star under Norman Brokaw, remained $5 million.
He casually tossed the unfinished cooperation plan onto Norman Brokaw's desk, suppressing his displeasure, and said, "Norman, with such a cooperation plan, can it still be considered a packaging deal?"
Norman Brokaw put down his pen and said, "Of course. You should know that CAA's initial packaging deals with studios were far less comprehensive than the one you have in your hand".
Jonathan Freedman took a deep breath, not knowing whether to cry or laugh.
Even now, WMA's scale still far surpassed CAA's.
But the man in front of him, the president of the world's largest talent agency giant, was actually comparing his own company to CAA, which was like a small workshop many years ago.
Norman Brokaw looked at Jonathan Freedman, seeing his changing expression, and his tone became a little more earnest, saying, "Jon, I know what you're thinking, but many things need to be done slowly. Moreover, you need to understand that the company's current situation is not good, so I hope you can consider the bigger picture".
Jonathan Freedman's right hand, resting on his knee, involuntarily clenched into a fist.
Consider the bigger picture?
Ha.
If it weren't for the bigger picture, the entire project should have been his alone.
It was precisely for the bigger picture that he only retained the director and screenwriter, giving up all other slots.
Now.
How else could he consider the bigger picture?
Thinking with some bitterness, Jonathan Freedman said coldly, "Norman, even so, why were everyone else's salaries reduced, but Matthew's salary is still so high? No matter what, I can't explain this to my clients".
Facing Jonathan's direct questioning, Norman Brokaw's didn't react much, and he put on a patient expression as though it was for Jonathon's own good "Jon, I think you know Brian's situation better than anyone, so giving him a 1.5 million dollar salary is perfectly fine. As for that, uh, that screenwriter, didn't you say he was only eighteen? For an eighteen-year-old kid, $100,000 is already very generous. If you tell him this news now, I bet that kid will absolutely jump for joy".
Jonathan Freedman recalled his interactions with Simon during this period and was very certain that the young man would not jump for joy upon hearing this news; and if he did jump, it would definitely not be out of happiness.
Norman Brokaw saw Jonathan remain silent, thought for a moment, and then said, "How about this, Jon, this is a very good start after all. So, as long as this project is successful, I will approve an additional bonus for you at the end of the year, what do you say?"
Jonathan Freedman remained silent. After a moment, he stood up and said, "Norman, I need to think about it."
Norman Brokaw also stood up, walked around the desk, and patted Jonathan Freedman on the shoulder paternally, saying, "Fox wants to sign the contract as soon as possible, so please give me an answer tomorrow".
Jonathan Freedman nodded mechanically, turned, and left Norman Brokaw's office.
As the office door closed, the pleasant expression on Norman Brokaw's face immediately vanished. He actually held Jonathan, a vice president promoted solely through his connection with WMA Chairman Lou Weiss, in great contempt.
Among WMA's eight vice presidents, Jonathan Freedman's ranking was basically the last.
Jonathan Freedman's packaging proposal not only caused apprehension among the major Hollywood studios, but Norman Brokaw also did not want the project to be too successful. If Jonathan Freedman became a pioneer of internal company reform due to 'The Butterfly Effect' packaging project, his prestige and position at WMA would certainly increase significantly, possibly even threatening his own position.
Jonathan Freedman hadn't immediately agreed, and Norman Brokaw roughly understood what he would likely do after leaving.
Sitting back down at his desk, Norman Brokaw immediately picked up the phone and pressed the call button, telling his secretary outside, "Get me Stevens".
Jonathan Freedman returned to his office, leaning back in his leather chair with a sense of dejection.
After an unknown amount of time, Jonathan Freedman was about to gather his spirits and call Lou Weiss, the chairman of WMA at the New York headquarters on the East Coast, hoping to get some support from the old boss who had promoted him. However, his desk phone rang first.
He answered the phone, and unexpectedly, it was Lou Weiss calling.
The two spoke for over ten minutes. Jonathan Freedman hung up the phone, a renewed sense of defeat in his expression.
As WMA's first packaging attempt, Jonathan Freedman had actually discussed the idea with Lou Weiss over the phone shortly after it began to form. Although he was on the East Coast, Lou Weiss was also very concerned about this project.
However, when Lou Weiss called just now, he did not support Jonathan Freedman's intentions. Instead, he hoped that Jonathan would complete 'The Butterfly Effect' project as soon as possible and not create any further complications. He also stated that WMA's internal situation could not withstand turmoil, implying that he hoped Jonathan would consider the bigger picture.
Facing this situation, Jonathan Freedman understood.
Norman Brokaw had certainly already communicated with the other senior executives and even the board of directors. Moreover, having worked at WMA for so many years, Jonathan Freedman even came to realize Norman Brokaw's intention of not wanting the 'The Butterfly Effect' packaging project to be too successful.
Now, perhaps the company's chairman Lou Weiss, CEO Lee Stevens, and even the members of WMA's board of directors had already reached a consensus on this matter.
Facing a large group of conservatives who had little ambition left, if he were to forcefully push this matter forward, it might only backfire, and he might even lose his newly acquired vice president position.
He suddenly felt a little envious of CAA, where there was only one voice: Michael Ovitz.
In that case.
Then, let's consider the bigger picture.
With a self-deprecating smile, Jonathan Freedman pressed the desk phone's call button again, instructing his assistant to leave a message for Simon, asking him to come to WMA tomorrow. He then personally dialled Brian De Palma's number.
7-Eleven convenience stores operate 24 hours a day, and Simon had already started working shifts during this period.
Tuesday happened to be his night shift.
He worked from 11 PM until 7 AM the next morning.
After completing his shift in the morning, Simon ate breakfast and cycled back to the hotel. Hearing WMA's phone message for him, he only rested for an hour before rushing to Beverly Hills again.
He arrived at Jonathan's office with familiarity. There were still a few minutes before 10 o'clock, and he was about to chat with Owen Wright outside when Jonathan's office door was pulled open.
Simon stopped talking to Owen Wright, turned to look, and met the gaze of a young man who walked out first, it was Matthew Broderick.
Jonathan also walked out shortly after, and upon seeing Simon, immediately showed a gentle smile, saying, "Simon, you've come at just the right time. This is Matthew Broderick, he's about to be the male lead in 'The Butterfly Effect.' You're both young, so you'll definitely have a lot in common in the future."
Simon hadn't yet responded when Matthew Broderick, whose expression had been one of suspicion, now understood. He showed no regard for Jonathan Freedman, and said coldly, "Jon, I won't be working on anything with this guy".
After saying this, Matthew Broderick glanced at Simon again, then turned and walked out into the corridor.