Capítulo 62: **Chapter 62: Interested?**
"Mom, you were really over the top just now! What if they find out everything you said was a lie? What then?"
"Don't worry, they won't. He's an American, a Hollywood star, how would he even know about the entertainment industry in China? And even if he did find out, what's the big deal? Didn't you notice how interested he is in you?"
"Uh..."
Liu Tianxian's face instantly turned red, leaving her speechless.
She had been studying in America for several years and had seen how American guys act. How could she not tell that Wayne was "interested" in her?
Before she could say anything more, Liu Xiaoli, looking at the business card and note in her hand, suddenly made a decision.
"Let's go! Grab your bag, we're leaving!"
"But our plane hasn't even started boarding yet," Liu Tianxian looked at her, confused.
"We're rescheduling. First, we're going to find Mike Jones to sign your management contract," Liu Xiaoli explained.
"That way, when we return to China and people ask, you can say you're an artist under WMA, with the same manager as Wayne Anderson and Jessica Alba. Doesn't that sound impressive? Then, we'll ask your godfather for help to shoot a few ads and low-budget TV series. When we go back to Hollywood, we won't even be lying."
"..."
Liu Tianxian was dumbfounded and didn't know how to respond.
But the thought of becoming a big star and living in the spotlight filled her with excitement. She picked up her bag and followed Liu Xiaoli's lead.
Meanwhile, Jessica and Mia, who were already seated with their luggage stored, couldn't help but start chatting with Wayne about them again.
It was mainly what Liu Xiaoli had mentioned: in China, agents didn't need specific qualifications, which surprised them.
"That's nothing," Wayne chuckled and explained, "I learned about it during school. The environment over there is different from ours. Their entertainment industry is still in a stage of rapid, unregulated growth. Any company can handle production, distribution, management, and even run movie theaters all at once."
"My God, that's the whole supply chain!" Mia exclaimed.
"Exactly," Wayne nodded. "So, even though the celebrities over there seem glamorous, they're really just tools of capital. They hold a very low status and get exploited brutally. Forget about their pay; just the revenue split between artists and management companies can be as bad as 90-10. And it's the management company taking 90."
"My God, so all the money they make from filming just goes to the management company? That's so shady!" Jessica was equally shocked.
"But that's how it is. Unless you open your own company, even the biggest stars can't get away from at least a 30% cut by their agency."
"But Jessie and I, our management company only takes 3% or 6%," Jessica said, looking stunned.
Wayne laughed and continued, "That's actually not bad. In Japan and Korea, the situation is even worse. They take a bigger cut, pay actors less, and unless you're a second-tier star or higher, your earnings might not even match a regular office worker's."
"That's terrifying!"
Wayne shrugged. "That's why so many of their stars are desperate to make it to Hollywood. With high pay, low cut rates, and unions protecting your rights, Hollywood offers far more than other entertainment industries."
Unlike many other places where unions either don't exist or are just for show, Hollywood's unions are powerful. Once you pay your dues, they really do fight for your rights. After all, they get a cut of any compensation you win.
Think of the massive settlement payouts here in the U.S., and you can imagine how eager they are to help you out.
They might not care about you, but they sure care about the money.
"So, if we opened a company over there, we'd make a lot of money, right?" Mia suddenly asked.
Being able to manage production, distribution, management, and even theaters without any unions getting in the way sounded like a goldmine.
Wayne couldn't help but laugh and shake his head. "You're oversimplifying things. Any foreign capital trying to break into a new market faces massive challenges, and over there, it's even more complicated than here in Hollywood."
"Remember how Hollywood outsmarted Wall Street? Unless our Hemera Pictures becomes as big and influential as the Big Seven studios, it's better not to get involved over there."
Wayne's past experience gave him deep insight into the Chinese entertainment industry, making him cautious about getting involved.
After all, if you're going to make money, Hollywood's easier and more profitable. Why wade into the murky waters of Chinese entertainment?
"Got it!" Mia quickly abandoned her idea.
She then picked up various travel magazines she had prepared and, along with Jessica and Hannah, started planning where to go during their breaks from filming.
Meanwhile, on Liu Xiaoli's end, she couldn't even wait until they left the airport. She eagerly pulled out her phone and dialed the number Mike had written on the note.
"Hello, is this agent Mike Jones?"
"Yes, that's me. Who's calling?"
In WMA's office, Mike, who was busy casting additional roles for the "Gifted" production, answered the phone, holding it between his shoulder and neck as he continued working. Despite being swamped, his tone remained as polite and courteous as ever—a small but notable quality Wayne had always appreciated.
"Hi, I'm Liu Xiaoli, a dancer. Of course, I'm calling about my daughter. Wayne Anderson recommended you, saying you're an excellent agent, and we'd like to sign her with you..."
Mike's hands paused, a hint of surprise appearing on his face, followed by a smile of delight and anticipation.
Anyone Wayne recommended, no matter how ordinary, would be more valuable than other newcomers. After all, Wayne could give them opportunities that others couldn't dream of. And in Hollywood, opportunities were everything.
"Where are you? I'll come pick you up," Mike asked enthusiastically.
"No need, we're just about to catch a ride to your office. We trust Mr. Anderson's recommendation," Liu Xiaoli said, deliberately making it sound like she knew Wayne well, which only made Mike even more excited.
(End of Chapter)
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