Bab 217: New Proyects
Jim Waitt had been reevaluating his life from the moment his client entered his life. He had several conversations with close acquaintances whom he knew would offer wise advice on what to do and what not to do. First, his father responded that it was a very risky bet, 50-50, success or failure, which could be reduced by various factors. However, if he was a good agent, the odds decreased to 70-30. An agent achieves things for their clients, guides them along a path, and advises from the heart, as success casts a shadow, and being part of that success is the agent's gain.
He bet on the scrawny kid who had impressed two major companies. Billy had no idea how many favors, calls, back-and-forths, meetings, and dirty work were involved in Jim's efforts, from meeting with producers to smiling at people he frankly detested, but at times, had to admire and present himself as a supporter.
Swallowing his pride, playing the politician, the friend, and the player. It didn't have many benefits, even the acclaimed James Cameron left him last year for Jon Landau, a film producer who managed to seduce the only director left on his roster. The newcomers he chose didn't take off; some fell behind, others got into relationships, family matters, or simply drifted away from Hollywood life. Now he had two muscleheads, a kid, a photographer, and an older woman; his roster was poor, but Michael Orvizt's oppressive yoke only allowed him the leftovers, and it was very likely that his two muscleheads would leave him due to pressures they had confided in Jim, but he had already invested too much in his career to abandon Billy. What made him stick with the kid? Talent, was the plain and elaborate talent for creating movies, scripts, series, and productions, and now he had another one for acting. It was very likely that Billy would venture forth. With the pace young Billy was going, in less than ten years, he could be a recognized actor on American screens.
-Billy, lad, - said Jim Waitt, shaking hands with Billy.
-Jim, it's a pleasure seeing you. It's been just over three months since we last caught up, - said Billy.
-Our duties keep us busy, - said Jim, wheeling in a large black suitcase, which he unceremoniously placed on the table in the café where they were meeting.
-First and foremost, given that your obligations have been growing, you need an assistant. I know you'll resist, but an assistant can handle the finer aspects of the profession and be more available to you than I am, - said Jim Waitt.
-I suppose you already have a promising young man under your wing, - said Billy.
-My nephew just graduated from college with an economics degree and took the company representation course, and I trust him to be the most prudent in standing by your side and supporting you. At the same time, he needs experience, and both he and I fully endorse your work, - said Jim Waitt.
-Very well, but I want him to prove himself first as your assistant, and then he can be mine, - said Billy.
-No problem, I'll draw up a contract and send it to your father, - said Jim Waitt, opening his suitcase filled with scripts of all sizes, some movies, some highlighted in blue, and others in green, some with notes.
-These scripts are from studios we're not at odds with that are still in the air, and those with yellow highlights are from related studios like New Line Cinema, Miramax, and others. I hope you'll take a look at the ones I've highlighted. In particular, I like some that could be perfect for you. Firstly, because of your dubbing expertise, you have a lot of experience in dubbing and don't charge much, but your salary can increase, and the dubbing time is minimal. It's easy money, - said Jim Waitt.
The two productions are Balto, Casper, and Babe, and highlighted in yellow, the movie Bug's Life. The attached yellow agenda note addressed the issue of unpaid salaries and the idea that appearing in many works of the same company wasn't healthy. Especially when you were the boss.
-What does being the boss have to do with it? I can take on a supporting role, - said Billy.
-Go ahead, it's just advice, kid. I like this script, and even though you reject the idea of a romantic movie, the script is excellent. Columbia itself sent me the script, and I believe it's a good option to audition for. The shooting starts in August, and it's intended for presentation at the Berlin Film Festival, - said Jim.
He showed him the script for Before Sunrise, a romantic script. Here goes another drama, but he couldn't be picky. In reviewing all the scripts, many of them didn't interest him, many seemed silly, and some stood out.
From Clueless, Crazy Love, Sense and Sensibility, Band on the Run, and many others, all carefully selected.
-The script was supposed to start on July 14, but there was a delay, a short delay, and now shooting is expected to start immediately in August, without fail. The actress has already been chosen, a young French-American. The budget is tight, but it's just a script, pure acting, only acting, and this is the script you need, - said Jim.
-How much is the budget? - said Billy, who was reviewing the scripts and focusing on two that piqued his curiosity, both of which were known to him.
-Two million, and frankly, the salary is poor, but it will help you grow as an actor. The script focuses on characters, one by one, in a long conversation, with no relevant supporting characters, it's the work of two people, - said Jim.
-I'll do it, I'll do it, I don't mind, - said Billy, approaching the Before Sunrise script. It was a different script that expressed love from the heart and the humanity of people, not from laughter, pleasure, or other vein thoughts, it was more about a regular guy standing in front of a charming blonde, who, for some reason, paid attention to his comments.
-Why couldn't it be filmed a month ago? - Billy asked.
-Well, they chose a young man who seemed to have all the right qualities, but due to some entanglements, he ended up being chosen for another role, it seems. And he hadn't given his approval to the studio. They tried casting, but they haven't found a young person with sufficient acting skills to play the role, - Jim explained.
Ethan Hank switched his role from a romantic comedy, an independent film, to a role in a mega-production that, in turn, stole Jim Carrey's role for the movie Batman Returns. Produced by Warner and directed by Joel Schumacher. The invitation is odd, and Jim can't quite figure out why, perhaps it has to do with salary and Ethan's stellar performances, or some other reason he can't see.
-I'll take it. Although I hope the next role isn't another one like this, - Billy said.
-Can you make a quick trip? The studio is in Burbank, California, very close to your home. You can take care of some paperwork and participate in the audition, you might even start filming earlier according to the schedule, but the process will be particularly difficult, - Jim suggested.
-We'll do it, I assume you've already booked the tickets, - Billy said.
Jim Waitt chuckled at Billy's astute analysis. He pulled out two tickets bound for Los Angeles. The unpredictable turns of life were bringing him home again. This time, the independent film studio wasn't purchased by Warner, as they had advanced the entertainment specialization law in the Los Angeles area, and Burbank, close to west Hollywood, was a bit far from San Francisco. Castle Rock Studios, for now, had some financial freedom, unlike when Turner Broadcasting bought it.
-Alright, before we go, I want to pitch a television show. This option is my sincerest way of saying I want to make money, I need it, and I've thought about many ways I could make money, and this is one of the most special ways I've come up with, - Billy said.
-Go ahead, lad, tell me about it, - Jim said, intrigued. Billy liked money, but he didn't often say that he did something just to make money.
-The show will be titled Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? The idea revolves around regular people calling in to participate in a general knowledge quiz show with four multiple-choice options to choose from. All questions have different aids, from the audience to a phone call to a friend, to removing two options. The prize starts at $100 for a correct answer, then $200, $300, $500, $1000, $2000, $4000, $8000, $16,000, $32,000, $64,000, $125,000, $250,000, $500,000, and $1,000,000. The allure of becoming rich is always intriguing.- Billy explained.
-How do you plan to make the idea a reality? - Jim asked.
-Easy, we just have to register all the rights, from the established script of a few pages I've created, with all the set designs and some drawings in the American Writers Guild, register it as an original work with the Copyright Commission, with the specific ideas from the text, register the logo I've already made, along with other logos. We won't just exploit it from a television standpoint; we'll create a computer program for people to play at home, functioning with internet assistance. For now, the idea is to create at least a million questions, with different complexities. The first ones will be the easiest but will cover all topics from all possible subjects. We'll present the idea and produce it with another company, sell the local license for some profit with commercials, the issue lies in the profits we could make licensing to other countries, and of course, with the video game we'll create, - Billy detailed.
-A very radical idea. Do you have the script? - Jim asked Billy, who pulled out a small stack of papers, 30 to be exact. There were clear drawings, especially of how he hoped the set would look, and a logo, all unusually detailed. Billy was considered one of America's best draftsmen, but Jim didn't realize how magnificent his skills were.
-I'll take care of that, -Jim said, with a sense of condolence.
-Don't worry, Jim, I'll give you an initial commission of $300,000. It turns out I have the money from my last two acting gigs in my bank account. The next one will be of the same value, and by the time the show airs, you'll have another $300,000, -Billy assured him.
-But... - Jim began.
-No 'buts,' just promote the idea and find a good television network to work with us. Negotiate the terms; I have enough money to provide capital. The show isn't expensive, and I'll hire some people to develop the computer program, which will allow us to upload our questions, - Billy stated.
-Very well, if that's the case, I'll take care of all this. Now, we have a trip to make. My nephew, your future assistant, will schedule another trip to New York for July 29, which marks the beginning of Fashion Week, - Jim Waitt said.
-Consider it done. By the way, I'd like to be involved in the dubbing of Casper, if possible, but as the villain, in a supporting role. Also, there's another script that still catches my attention, and it's this one, - Billy said, handing Jim Waitt the script for Seven, along with the one for Casper.
....
Another week coming to an end, I've tried to double the post so you don't have to wait for more reading, I know how annoying it is to wait a day or two for another chapter.
My Patreon is there, you can come and check my stories, for now I'm on chapter 255, but I have written up to 256 or so.
You can go to my other story Superstar: he sings for everyone, he is from Hollywood only from musical angles.
Finally, I've been thinking, I think I'll edit when the second arc ends, at least I'll edit the first chapters until 30, and I'll start correcting mistakes that I'm aware of that I've made. He doesn't want to shock people but he started taking an advanced English course, to edit better. I even learn English by writing, what a joke.
As you know, I am happy that you have given your opinion, criticism has never bothered me, I receive it with affection, why? simply because I understand that I need to improve, even creating stories, even writing.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
rollo1019to
rollo1019to Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone