Not every director in Hollywood is solely focused on filmmaking and unbothered by everything else. If Ryan ran into a difficult director, the way things had already gotten complicated with The Purge crew, it would drive him crazy. That was also part of why he had interviewed so many people and was slow to make a decision.
By signing the agreement first and locking in James Wong's project, James Wong would turn a blind eye even if he noticed certain things along the way.
On top of that, this project genuinely had a lot of profit potential.
Ryan had seen every film in the series in his previous life, from Final Destination 1 all the way through Final Destination 5.
James Wong had directed the first film in the series, and the Glen Morgan he mentioned was the main screenwriter.
"The copyright is jointly owned by you and your friend, right?" Ryan asked. "Can you speak for him?"
James Wong answered without hesitation. "Yes. Bringing this story to the big screen is Glen's and my biggest wish."
Ryan brought up one more thing. "Your agent..."
Agents were generally smooth operators who rarely made things confrontational, but if Edward strongly opposed everything they had just discussed, there could be complications.
"I'll handle Edward," James Wong cut in right away. "Glen and I are the copyright holders."
He had finally found someone willing to invest and let him direct. That kind of opportunity didn't come around twice.
Giving something up now is just clearing the way for something better later.
Ryan kept his expression calm, even a little reluctant, as if committing to invest in James Wong's project was going to cost him something real.
He shook James Wong's hand. "I hope we can get to a formal agreement." Then he steered the conversation. "The Purge needs a director as soon as possible."
James Wong gripped his hand firmly. "We'll get there."
If he hadn't seen that Starlight Entertainment urgently needed a director and was clearly keen on him, why would he have proposed a package deal at all?
Ryan wasn't too worried about the agent situation. James Wong's drive to direct his own script was so strong he had practically tied himself to it. Anyone who got in the way would simply get pushed aside.
Starlight Entertainment didn't have a problem negotiating without an agent present either.
Hollywood's industry guilds and agent guilds had an agreement that guild members had to have an agent handle their employment negotiations. Of course, regulations were one thing and reality was another.
Under entertainment law, agents had to pass an assessment and hold a license to operate. But a growing class of people called managers had been quietly stepping in to negotiate jobs for clients without ever bothering to get licensed.
Ryan had a general read on the situation. Edward and James Wong were working off a first-time signing. The legally valid contract period was one year. The penalty for dropping an agent in Hollywood wasn't steep, and there was no real scenario where an agency could blacklist a client for walking away.
The law capped agent contracts at three years, and if an agent failed to bring a client enough work for three consecutive months, the client had the right to walk away automatically.
It was the complete opposite of how things worked across the Pacific.
Agents were always the ones in service. The cost for a client to break away was relatively low.
Ryan walked James Wong out of the office, moving alongside him and Edward. Before they reached the entrance, an Arab man in a suit stepped through the door.
"Hi, Ryan," the man said, lifting a hand.
Ryan smiled. "Good morning, Saleh."
The man who had just walked in was Saleh Al-Zayed, a card-carrying member of the real money side of this operation.
Seeing that distinctly Arab face, James Wong gave a small nod to himself. With a Middle Eastern oil tycoon behind Starlight Entertainment, funding was clearly not going to be a problem.
"Saleh, let me introduce you to some people."
When Saleh came over, Ryan said, "This is James Wong, who is basically confirmed to direct The Purge for us."
Hearing "The Purge for us," Saleh broke into a good mood immediately and reached out to shake James Wong's hand.
Ryan continued, "And this is Mr. Edward, Director Wong's agent."
Then, turning to James Wong and Edward, he said, "This is Prince Saleh Al-Zayed from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi."
After James Wong and Edward said their hellos, the two of them exchanged a quick glance. This Ryan Anderson was not a simple man.
The backing of an oil-rich prince meant funding was genuinely not an issue.
After a brief round of pleasantries, James Wong and Edward said their goodbyes and headed out.
Ryan brought Saleh into the office.
"Is the prep going well?" Saleh asked, sounding pleased. "You've even confirmed the director."
Ryan grabbed a clean cup, poured him some water, and said, "It's still just a verbal agreement. We still have to negotiate the details."
"Getting a movie ready is more complicated than I thought," Saleh said.
"And this is just the beginning," Ryan told him straight. "Robert is out scouting locations right now. Equipment rentals and actor auditions haven't started yet. Once the director is officially on board, all of that picks up speed."
Saleh nodded. "Professionals doing professional work. I've learned a lot." Then he asked, "Is Director Wong a minority as well?"
"Chinese-American," Ryan said smoothly, keeping a straight face. "I thought it through carefully. For a film like this, a white director isn't the right fit. A minority director is the better choice. He can connect with the characters' situation and capture what we're going for."
Saleh gave a thumbs up, genuinely impressed. "Ryan, you're absolutely right. There are very few people in Hollywood who think the way you do."
Ryan smiled, slipping into a comfortable white-liberal tone. "Every ethnicity, every group, is equal."
"Exactly," Saleh said, nodding a few times. "I've said it before, let professionals handle professional things. But there are some idiots back in Abu Dhabi who want to stick their hands into the projects the Investment Authority is funding."
Ryan's eye twitched, just barely. "I can't work with people who have no background in film."
He had picked up during his last trip to Abu Dhabi that while the exhibition side of the industry there was fairly developed, actual film production was still in its early stages.
Saleh had been in close contact with Ryan and said right away, "I'm being transferred back to Abu Dhabi next week. I'll shut those idiots up."
Ryan felt the tension ease out of his shoulders. Every bit of effort he had put into building this relationship with Saleh had been worth it.
"Sounds like a promotion," he said. "Congratulations."
Saleh smiled, clearly in high spirits, and said with sincerity, "Honestly, I came by today to say thank you. Without your trip to Abu Dhabi, I wouldn't have moved up this fast."
Ryan kept his usual humble and easy manner. "Don't say that, Saleh. You're the one who helped me."
Saleh knew the truth of it. Someone like Ryan, who actually put in the work, was hard to find.
Ryan checked the time. "Let me take you to lunch. A proper send-off."
Saleh nodded. "Alright." He added, "Who knows when we'll see each other again. I really want to see The Purge when it's done."
Ryan smiled. "Once it's finished, you'll get the first copy."
"Perfect!" Saleh was delighted. "It's settled then."
He added, "Ryan, if you ever need anything, call me or come find me in Abu Dhabi."
Ryan didn't stand on ceremony. "I will."
Saleh took a sip of water. "Especially when you need financing for a film. Don't forget me. That counts as an achievement on my end too."
Ryan walked over and gave Saleh's arm a pat. "I could forget anyone but you."
On Thirteenth Street, where Starlight Entertainment was located, a car had just pulled out of the parking lot.
"Ryan Anderson agreed to invest in your script?" Edward pressed harder on the gas. "You're not joking, right?"
James Wong nodded. "It's true."
Edward muttered under his breath. "Is this guy out of his mind?"
James Wong shot him a look, and Edward closed his mouth. The whole thing was too unexpected.
He had originally locked in the Scary Movie directing job for James Wong, but then this guy had to go and pull a package deal, and just like that, the sure thing slipped away.
It had been hard enough to get a meeting with Ryan Anderson. Then James Wong played the bundling card again.
If it weren't for the one-year contract coming up on its end date, and having no real success stories under him besides James Wong and Glen Morgan, he wouldn't have put up with it.
But fine. The fanatic found a generous fool. Good for them.
Would that project even make money? He had read the script. The whole concept was rooted in Eastern ideas. Could Eastern-style horror actually sell to American audiences?
Ryan Anderson must have been desperate to find the right director.
He was well known in the industry for throwing money around carelessly.
Edward suddenly thought about the Arab man. Ryan Anderson had oil money behind him? He probably didn't think much of what the Arabs were putting in.
An unreliable script, a somewhat obsessive director, and a reckless investor. That project was going to be a disaster, wasn't it?
Then again, no point thinking too far ahead. Getting James Wong and Glen Morgan signed and collecting a solid commission was what actually mattered.