Jonathan Friedman had already explained all the interconnected issues involved in the entire project to Simon very clearly. After rejecting that contract, Simon could foresee that he would have a tough road ahead.
Having messed up WMA's first attempt at transformation, how could the largest talent agency in Hollywood let him off the hook? With WMA's terrifying century-long foundation in Hollywood, they could probably make it impossible for him, a rookie screenwriter, to get by in Hollywood with just one phone call.
However, Simon had no regrets about the decision he made.
He had experienced too much in his previous life, and Simon didn't want this new life of his to begin with him having to make such a large compromise.
Back in Santa Monica, Simon continued his life rhythm as usual.
These days, Simon had already started trying to plan the specific filming details for 'Run Lola Run', and he didn't change his plans because of the morning's unpleasant events.
Throughout the afternoon, Simon visited several film equipment rental companies in Santa Monica, consulted in detail about the rental prices of various types of filming equipment needed for 'Run Lola Run', and diligently took notes.
At 5 PM, Simon returned to the motel, ate, showered, and went to bed. At 10:50 PM, he arrived at the Supermarket on time to begin his all-night shift.
The next morning, Simon called Jonathan's office again, hoping to schedule their next meeting.
To Simon's surprise, the call went unanswered.
After several unsuccessful attempts, Simon was about to go to WMA again when Jonathan's assistant, Owen Wright, personally drove over.
A hurried Owen Wright informed Simon that Jonathan had completely given up on the 'Butterfly Effect' packaging project and had flown to WMA headquarters in New York yesterday afternoon. He also hoped Simon could wait patiently for a few days, as Jonathan still wished to continue being his agent.
Owen Wright, who clearly had other clients to visit, chatted briefly with Simon before leaving. Although Simon felt pleasantly surprised at the unexpected turn of events, he wasn't too shocked by Jonathan's decision, having felt the man was being pushed too far.
The agent, who had been in an extremely dejected state yesterday, was clearly like a spring pushed to its limit. Simon didn't know how much Jonathan's rebound was related to him, but as long as the agent hadn't completely lost his 'resilience,' an outburst was almost inevitable.
WMA was originally founded in New York and later expanded to Los Angeles.
Since the 1950s, with the rapid rise of the American television industry and Hollywood cinema's more than two decades of dormancy, WMA's focus had always been on the East Coast. Even now, although the Hollywood film industry has begun to recover and the centre of the American media industry has once again shifted westward, WMA's core executives still remained entrenched in New York.
In Manhattan, within a building on 25th Street, adjacent to Madison Square Garden, WMA's headquarters is located.
When Simon met Owen Wright, it was already approaching noon in New York on the East Coast.
At this time, in a conference room at WMA headquarters, the argument that had lasted all morning was still ongoing.
After Jonathan Friedman made up his mind yesterday, he prepared his fallback option and then quickly flew to New York. No matter what, he ultimately didn't want to give up everything he had accumulated at WMA over more than twenty years of struggle, so he decided to pre-emptively seek the support of WMA's senior management.
Norman Brokaw's various biased behaviours during the handling of the 'Butterfly Effect' project also gave him sufficient reason to do so.
Upon suddenly hearing that Jonathan Friedman intended to completely abandon 'The Butterfly Effect', Norman Brokaw was utterly furious. WMA's entire management had already reached a tacit understanding on this matter, and Jonathan couldn't possibly be unaware of the consequences this failed packaging attempt would have for WMA, yet he still dared to do it!
After his calls went unanswered, Norman Brokaw personally rushed to Jonathan's office, only to learn that he had already left the company.
Furious, Norman Brokaw simply had security seal off Jonathan's office and even expelled Owen Wright from the company.
Since he walked away like that, then don't come back!
It wasn't until evening that Norman Brokaw, his anger still unabated, suddenly received a call from New York, learning that Jonathan Friedman had flown to the East Coast. Quickly realizing what the other party intended to do, Norman Brokaw didn't hesitate and immediately followed him to New York overnight.
By the time he arrived in Manhattan, it was already 2 AM on the East Coast.
With two senior executives from the West Coast headquarters openly clashing so dramatically, the entire WMA management was naturally quickly alerted.
Thus, this morning, WMA's chairman, Lou Weiss, company CEO Lee Stevens, and several other board members all rushed to the company headquarters.
Thus began an entire morning of arguments.
While Jonathan Friedman always appeared gentle and refined when dealing with clients, he also possessed a strong and assertive side.
Facing the company's bigwigs, Jonathan mercilessly criticized Norman Brokaw's weak behaviour of compromising after only slight pressure from the production studios, and also attacked him for his selfish approach of only considering his own interests in the subsequent cooperation details.
Norman Brokaw naturally fought back, claiming that quickly implementing the company's first packaging project was truly in WMA's best interest.
As for favouring his own clients in the contract, Norman Broca did not feel there was anything inappropriate about his decision.
Including 'WarGames', which ranked fifth in the North American box office in 1983, and 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off', which is also expected to achieve over $70 million at the box office this year and enter the annual chart, Matthew Broderick has already had two films in the top ten of the North American box office charts in just four years since his debut.
For such a rising movie star with the potential to become the next Tom Cruise, any allocation of company resources towards him is not wrong.
Norman Brokaw entered the company at the age of 15 with the help of his uncle, who was a WMA vice president. After decades of networking, most of the company's board members were almost all on his side.
However, Jonathan Friedman's backer happened to be WMA's chairman, Lou Weiss, whose influence was equally not to be underestimated.
Although he was quite displeased with Jonathan's proactive escalation of the conflict, with things having developed to this point, Lou Weiss had no choice but to firmly stand by his direct subordinate. Otherwise, if Jonathan Friedman were suppressed, Lou Weiss himself could also be implicated.
They were allowed to argue for an entire morning. At lunchtime, Lou Weiss finally stepped in to mediate and discuss solutions with the other board members.
Jonathan had not yet publicly announced his decision to abandon the 'Butterfly Effect' packaging project, which still left room to manoeuvre.
After lunch, the other board members all left, and Lou Weiss announced the preliminary discussed resolution to the two of them.
No matter what, the 'Butterfly Effect' packaging project must continue. However, Lou Weiss himself will personally take over the project and re-discuss the cooperation plan with the film company. In addition, both Norman Brokaw and Jonathan Friedman need to completely let go and no longer inquire about this matter. All subsequent arrangements for the project will be directly decided by the headquarters.
With things having progressed to this point, Norman Brokaw knew that continuing to make a fuss would not benefit him. Jonathan Friedman also successfully rid himself of the hot potato while keeping his position.
Therefore, although they both outwardly appeared very unwilling, they both agreed.
However, there are always too many unexpected changes in this world.
Early the next morning, before Norman Brokaw and Jonathan Friedman could even return to Los Angeles, they almost simultaneously saw a piece of news in the latest issue of 'The Hollywood Reporter' that caught everyone off guard.
'The Hollywood Reporter', having somehow gotten wind of the news, suddenly exposed the entire recent incident.
"Failed Packaging Project Leads to Company Infighting, Veteran Agency Giant Faces Transformation Woes"
The continuous turmoil of the first half of the year had not yet completely dissipated, and the sudden revelation by "The Hollywood Reporter" immediately plunged WMA back into chaos.