Chapter 286: 286
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"Mike, of course we'd like to work with Barry, but his new play is really lacking in selling points. And we can't possibly accept a budget of $25 million. "
"I know what you're thinking. Sid and paramount are looking forward to getting one or two projects from Denise Entertainment's 10 movies, but do you think it's possible for him to cooperate with you because you stole rocket expert and Firebird from Simon westero by disgraceful means?"
"Mike, it's because we know our situation very well that we have this meeting today. I guess other studios are not willing to discuss this project with you anymore?"
“……”
Paramount Studios, Hollywood.
Paramount Pictures president Sidney Ganis and Michael owitz are discussing Barry Levinson's new play Avalon. Avalon is the "land of bliss" in European mythology and legend. The story tells the struggle story of the crichinsky family, an Eastern European immigrant, who immigrated to the United States at the beginning of this century.
Although Dustin Hoffman got his second Oscar for the Rain Man project, which saved some face, in fact, Barry Levinson and other leading creators were in a mess.
Barry Levinson has been focusing on his new play Avalon in the first half of the year, hoping to make a clean break with this project. At the beginning of July, Levinson finally finished the script of Avalon. Several Hollywood studios also expressed their interest in Avalon, and the parties began to approach each other.
However, with Denise Entertainment's sudden announcement of 10 foreign film plans, things began to take a turn for the worse.
Disney, Columbia and Warner Brothers, which were originally interested in Avalon, have firmly refused, leaving paramount with nothing to say.
These days, Michael owitz more than once secretly regrets why he didn't stop Barry Levinson and others from trying to shirk their responsibility. Now, the whole CAA has been included in the blacklist of danielis entertainment.
After a moment's silence, Michael owitz said, "SID, let's be frank and talk about Paramount's terms."
"Barry's new play is supposed to hit the Oscars. It has little box office potential. Therefore, paramount can only give a budget of 12 million dollars at most, of which 2 million dollars is Barry's remuneration. Of course, we can add a 10% net profit sharing clause
Michael owitz was a little angry: "West Germany, two million dollars, do you think that's possible?"
Barry Levinson became a first-line screenwriter and director soon after his debut in the 1970s. Even if he didn't count "Rain Man" and "Good Morning Vietnam" and other blockbuster films, he was able to become a first-line director with a pay of $5 million.
What's more, no one can deny Barry Levinson's contribution to rain man.
Now, after two successive Good Morning Vietnam and rain man, paramount is only willing to offer $2 million for a new film that Barry Levinson wrote and directed. It's an insult.
Sidney Ganis ignored Michael owitz's sarcastic question, raised his wrist, looked at his watch and said, "I have a meeting soon. Mike, you can go back and think about it and call me after you decide."
As he left paramount in a gloomy mood, Michael owitz pondered how to talk to his clients about it all the way.
Paramount is obviously taking advantage of the fire, but Barry Levinson doesn't have much choice.
Or.
For the time being, let Barry drop the project and start shooting a better looking commercial film.
The idea was soon dismissed by owitz.
Matthew Brodrick, who had an affair with Simon westero, has been completely abandoned. Now, although danelis entertainment has not made any public comments, there are not many film companies in Hollywood that dare to take the risk to continue to cooperate with Barry Levinson.
Even within CAA, many stars are deliberately avoiding Barry Levinson.
Back at the CAA headquarters in Century City, just after sitting down at his desk, Richard Lovett, an agent of the company, came to report that Kurt Russell and Gotty Han were going to leave the CAA.
Michael owitz frowned.
This is another more serious problem facing CAA.
When Jonathan Friedman became president of wma, he was ambitious to recapture the customers he had lost from wma. Kurt Russell and Gotty Han are first-line stars who were dug up by CAA when Stan Carmen, the former president of wma, died three years ago. This time, it is obvious that wma is fighting back.
Pick up the phone on the desk and make a few calls. Michael owitz quickly gets in touch with Kurt Russell. However, the invitation to make an appointment for dinner was directly rejected. Kurt Russell said that although he was very polite, he said that the couple's lawyers would be responsible for the follow-up matters.Obviously, there is no room for any change in this matter.
Moreover, the Russells are not the first stars to leave recently. Michael owitz knows very well that it's not just wma. Recently, other talent agencies in Hollywood are waving hoes at CAA.
Michael Ovitz once aspiring to dig up the essence of all the other talents of Hollywood agency, relying on CAA's unique packaging mechanism to win more and more rewards for stars, this thing was very smooth. However, in the last two years after Simon westrow appeared, Michael owitz found that everything was not going well. Many of the customers who once wanted to join CAA, such as Robert De Niro, Kevin Costner, Brian De Palma and so on, all failed.
Now, with Denise's entertainment momentum growing, CAA even began to be reversed.
CAA's packaging strategy is not outdated, but more popular. However, owitz also understands why this happens.
In the final analysis, it is still the problem of resource competition in Hollywood.
A few years ago, CAA successfully launched a large number of box office packaging projects such as "my fair lady" and "out of Africa". It not only successfully attracted a large number of first-line stars to join, but also obtained resources from the studio for projects involving CAA.
However, the rise of danilisi entertainment quickly made CAA lose these advantages.
Because many non CAA customers who rely on a series of blockbuster films of danielis entertainment have attracted more attention from Hollywood studios. With the popularity of more blockbuster films, stars such as Robert De Niro, Kevin Costner and Sandra Bullock can also ask for better resources from the studios.
In contrast, the commercial performance of its stars is obviously not as good as that of danilisi entertainment films, and CAA has gradually become inferior in this aspect.
Now, once the CAA stars are excluded from the 10 film plans of danielis entertainment, the gap will undoubtedly be widened. After all, these 10 films will surely occupy the best quality schedule, the most generous publicity and the richest number of screens in the next two years.
At the same time, no one will doubt that there will be a group of stars' coffee seats will be greatly improved.
With the increase and decrease, some first-line stars of CAA are likely to be squeezed into the second line in one or two years.
Michael owitz can't help but think of Sony's recent acquisition of Colombia. As the agent of this acquisition, Sony has also shown his intention to be the head of Sony's entertainment business. Now, the merger is basically settled, but Sony doesn't mention it any more.
Talent agency company has no fixed assets, so it is doomed to be difficult to become big.
Seeing Simon westero, Michael Eisner, Barry Diller and others rise to fame and fortune in the production industry, owitz certainly has a similar idea.
As a result, it's Simon westero.
After weighing and pondering for a long time, Michael owitz picked up the phone again and skillfully dialed a number without consulting the address book.
The phone was connected, and westrow was not in the company.
Michael owitz and there talked a few words, the other side only said that will convey, but did not help him transfer the phone.
Put down the phone, owitz was thinking about what to do with it, and the fax machine in his office rang.
Take out a page from the fax machine. There are only four names on it: Barry Levinson, Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise and Meg Ryan.
There is also a handwritten "W" sign in the lower right corner of the page.
W. Westeros.
A little stupefied, owitz immediately understood that Simon westero meant that the CAA must draw a clear line with the four people in order to resolve their disputes.
Simon westwello obviously completely ignored Matthew Broderick, who had been transferred to CAA before and now completely abandoned.
To draw a clear line must be to break the contract with these four people.
It's just that.
Can CAA do that?
Not to mention that these four people are all top tier celebrities in Hollywood, what will CAA's other customers think if they terminate their contracts with these four stars in order to protect themselves?
However, after a brief period of anger, owitz suddenly realized that perhaps other customers of the company didn't mind him doing it, or even expected him to do it.
After all, when Barry Levinson left CAA, it was obvious that other large talent agencies would not accept him easily, and the small agencies probably did not dare to provoke danielis entertainment. They had to work alone.
Hollywood stars are not without them.
Jack Nicholson has been away from several major talent agency companies in recent years, and he is still in trouble. Before joining wma, Robert De Niro had been working alone.
However, if these four people, who have been suppressed by danielis entertainment, work alone and lose the support of resources and contacts of such a large talent agency as CAA, and Hollywood studios dare not easily cooperate with it, the result can only be described as uncertain.People are selfish.
The fall of these four first-line filmmakers actually means opportunities for others.
What's more.
Michael owitz also has to admit that this is undoubtedly the best way to deal with CAA.
However, owitz is hard to persuade himself to give in to Simon westero.
When he was in a bad mood, the assistant outside knocked on the door. Owitz looked up and saw a screenwriter client of CAA appear at the door.
This is Joe ezerthaas. Because of the success of movies such as "dance of lightning" and "the edge of blood net", ezerthaas is currently one of the most valuable screenwriters under CAA, and the highest transaction price of his previous scripts is as high as 1.25 million US dollars.
Remembering that this was a confirmed meeting in the afternoon, owitz temporarily put away his anger and got up with a smile. He went up to shake hands with ezerthaas and said, "Joe, come in and sit down."
Joe ezerthaas, with a somewhat unnatural expression, sat down with owitz in the reception area. After a little chat and a sip of the coffee the Secretary had just brought in, ezerthaas said, "Mike, that's it. My former agent, guy mcelwyne, do you remember?"
Owitz nodded and said, "didn't he go to Columbia to be a producer? It's been a long time."
"You know," ezerthaas continued, "Sony is going to buy Colombia soon. Guy finds that he is not suitable to be a producer. He wants to go back to the agency industry."
Owitz recalled the information of guy mcelwyne and said, "guy is very capable in this aspect. In this case, let him come back directly. Let's make an appointment to talk about it."
"No, it's not like that," said ezerthaas, shaking his head and looking a little more embarrassed. "Guy is sure to go to ICM. This time, actually, you know, my relationship with guy is very good. I want to continue to let him be my agent."
Owitz shrunk his expression: "Joe, do you want to leave CAA?"
Joe ezerthaas nodded, "yes, Mike, I hope you understand."
Today, a series of events have made Michael owitz's mood extremely bad. Hearing that CAA's clients who have been sparing no effort to support over the years want to leave, his bad mood suddenly broke through a certain critical point. Without hesitation, he shook his head and said in a cold voice, "Joe, I won't let you leave."
Joe ezerthaas didn't expect owitz's tone to be so stiff and resolute. He was stunned and said, "Mike, I can pay the penalty."
"No way," owitz shook his head again. "Joe, you are CAA's most valuable asset. I won't allow you to leave."
"I'm not an asset of CAA, I'm a person," says Joe ezerthaas
"Well, you're alone. Anyway, you can't leave. At least, you don't want to leave CAA until your contract ends."
"Mike, I just heard that Kurt Russell and Gordy Han have left. Why do you embarrass me?"
"Why, Joe, do you know how much resources CAA has invested in you over the years? Do you know how much thought I have put into you. All in all, it's impossible for you to terminate your contract ahead of time. "
Feeling owitz's unreasonable and resolute tone, Joe ezerthaas became angry.
Their voices grew louder and louder, and soon turned into a quarrel. Owitz's roar spread to the corridor.
“…… Don't forget, CAA gave you 1.25 million dollars Without CAA, you are nothing Don't even think about it. I'll bombard you with lawsuits, so that you can't get close to the typewriter, so that you're completely useless I want you to eat shit, you have to eat shit See those people outside? You want to run away. CAA infantry soldiers will find you from anywhere and smash your head I don't care what the outside world thinks. All those guys want is to write a script for Robert Redford... "
The quarrel between the two became more and more intense, and it was not until several assistants of owitz felt that something was wrong and rushed into the office that they stopped a physical conflict in time.
However, it is not over.
The next day, Joe ezerthaas announced the details of the meeting in the form of an open letter in the Hollywood Reporter, accusing owitz of abusive acts of personal threat to him.
Michael owitz's image in Hollywood has always been low-key, mysterious and omnipotent. In recent years, both Hollywood studio executives and first-line stars are in awe of him. As soon as Joe ezerthaas's open letter was published, there was an uproar both inside and outside Hollywood.
The personal image created by Michael owitz over the years fell into collapse. Under the deliberate or unintentional suppression of danilisi entertainment, the situation of CAA became even worse.
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"Mike, of course we'd like to work with Barry, but his new play is really lacking in selling points. And we can't possibly accept a budget of $25 million. "
"I know what you're thinking. Sid and paramount are looking forward to getting one or two projects from Denise Entertainment's 10 movies, but do you think it's possible for him to cooperate with you because you stole rocket expert and Firebird from Simon westero by disgraceful means?"
"Mike, it's because we know our situation very well that we have this meeting today. I guess other studios are not willing to discuss this project with you anymore?"
“……”
Paramount Studios, Hollywood.
Paramount Pictures president Sidney Ganis and Michael owitz are discussing Barry Levinson's new play Avalon. Avalon is the "land of bliss" in European mythology and legend. The story tells the struggle story of the crichinsky family, an Eastern European immigrant, who immigrated to the United States at the beginning of this century.
Although Dustin Hoffman got his second Oscar for the Rain Man project, which saved some face, in fact, Barry Levinson and other leading creators were in a mess.
Barry Levinson has been focusing on his new play Avalon in the first half of the year, hoping to make a clean break with this project. At the beginning of July, Levinson finally finished the script of Avalon. Several Hollywood studios also expressed their interest in Avalon, and the parties began to approach each other.
However, with Denise Entertainment's sudden announcement of 10 foreign film plans, things began to take a turn for the worse.
Disney, Columbia and Warner Brothers, which were originally interested in Avalon, have firmly refused, leaving paramount with nothing to say.
These days, Michael owitz more than once secretly regrets why he didn't stop Barry Levinson and others from trying to shirk their responsibility. Now, the whole CAA has been included in the blacklist of danielis entertainment.
After a moment's silence, Michael owitz said, "SID, let's be frank and talk about Paramount's terms."
"Barry's new play is supposed to hit the Oscars. It has little box office potential. Therefore, paramount can only give a budget of 12 million dollars at most, of which 2 million dollars is Barry's remuneration. Of course, we can add a 10% net profit sharing clause
Michael owitz was a little angry: "West Germany, two million dollars, do you think that's possible?"
Barry Levinson became a first-line screenwriter and director soon after his debut in the 1970s. Even if he didn't count "Rain Man" and "Good Morning Vietnam" and other blockbuster films, he was able to become a first-line director with a pay of $5 million.
What's more, no one can deny Barry Levinson's contribution to rain man.
Now, after two successive Good Morning Vietnam and rain man, paramount is only willing to offer $2 million for a new film that Barry Levinson wrote and directed. It's an insult.
Sidney Ganis ignored Michael owitz's sarcastic question, raised his wrist, looked at his watch and said, "I have a meeting soon. Mike, you can go back and think about it and call me after you decide."
As he left paramount in a gloomy mood, Michael owitz pondered how to talk to his clients about it all the way.
Paramount is obviously taking advantage of the fire, but Barry Levinson doesn't have much choice.
Or.
For the time being, let Barry drop the project and start shooting a better looking commercial film.
The idea was soon dismissed by owitz.
Matthew Brodrick, who had an affair with Simon westero, has been completely abandoned. Now, although danelis entertainment has not made any public comments, there are not many film companies in Hollywood that dare to take the risk to continue to cooperate with Barry Levinson.
Even within CAA, many stars are deliberately avoiding Barry Levinson.
Back at the CAA headquarters in Century City, just after sitting down at his desk, Richard Lovett, an agent of the company, came to report that Kurt Russell and Gotty Han were going to leave the CAA.
Michael owitz frowned.
This is another more serious problem facing CAA.
When Jonathan Friedman became president of wma, he was ambitious to recapture the customers he had lost from wma. Kurt Russell and Gotty Han are first-line stars who were dug up by CAA when Stan Carmen, the former president of wma, died three years ago. This time, it is obvious that wma is fighting back.
Pick up the phone on the desk and make a few calls. Michael owitz quickly gets in touch with Kurt Russell. However, the invitation to make an appointment for dinner was directly rejected. Kurt Russell said that although he was very polite, he said that the couple's lawyers would be responsible for the follow-up matters.Obviously, there is no room for any change in this matter.
Moreover, the Russells are not the first stars to leave recently. Michael owitz knows very well that it's not just wma. Recently, other talent agencies in Hollywood are waving hoes at CAA.
Michael Ovitz once aspiring to dig up the essence of all the other talents of Hollywood agency, relying on CAA's unique packaging mechanism to win more and more rewards for stars, this thing was very smooth. However, in the last two years after Simon westrow appeared, Michael owitz found that everything was not going well. Many of the customers who once wanted to join CAA, such as Robert De Niro, Kevin Costner, Brian De Palma and so on, all failed.
Now, with Denise's entertainment momentum growing, CAA even began to be reversed.
CAA's packaging strategy is not outdated, but more popular. However, owitz also understands why this happens.
In the final analysis, it is still the problem of resource competition in Hollywood.
A few years ago, CAA successfully launched a large number of box office packaging projects such as "my fair lady" and "out of Africa". It not only successfully attracted a large number of first-line stars to join, but also obtained resources from the studio for projects involving CAA.
However, the rise of danilisi entertainment quickly made CAA lose these advantages.
Because many non CAA customers who rely on a series of blockbuster films of danielis entertainment have attracted more attention from Hollywood studios. With the popularity of more blockbuster films, stars such as Robert De Niro, Kevin Costner and Sandra Bullock can also ask for better resources from the studios.
In contrast, the commercial performance of its stars is obviously not as good as that of danilisi entertainment films, and CAA has gradually become inferior in this aspect.
Now, once the CAA stars are excluded from the 10 film plans of danielis entertainment, the gap will undoubtedly be widened. After all, these 10 films will surely occupy the best quality schedule, the most generous publicity and the richest number of screens in the next two years.
At the same time, no one will doubt that there will be a group of stars' coffee seats will be greatly improved.
With the increase and decrease, some first-line stars of CAA are likely to be squeezed into the second line in one or two years.
Michael owitz can't help but think of Sony's recent acquisition of Colombia. As the agent of this acquisition, Sony has also shown his intention to be the head of Sony's entertainment business. Now, the merger is basically settled, but Sony doesn't mention it any more.
Talent agency company has no fixed assets, so it is doomed to be difficult to become big.
Seeing Simon westero, Michael Eisner, Barry Diller and others rise to fame and fortune in the production industry, owitz certainly has a similar idea.
As a result, it's Simon westero.
After weighing and pondering for a long time, Michael owitz picked up the phone again and skillfully dialed a number without consulting the address book.
The phone was connected, and westrow was not in the company.
Michael owitz and there talked a few words, the other side only said that will convey, but did not help him transfer the phone.
Put down the phone, owitz was thinking about what to do with it, and the fax machine in his office rang.
Take out a page from the fax machine. There are only four names on it: Barry Levinson, Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise and Meg Ryan.
There is also a handwritten "W" sign in the lower right corner of the page.
W. Westeros.
A little stupefied, owitz immediately understood that Simon westero meant that the CAA must draw a clear line with the four people in order to resolve their disputes.
Simon westwello obviously completely ignored Matthew Broderick, who had been transferred to CAA before and now completely abandoned.
To draw a clear line must be to break the contract with these four people.
It's just that.
Can CAA do that?
Not to mention that these four people are all top tier celebrities in Hollywood, what will CAA's other customers think if they terminate their contracts with these four stars in order to protect themselves?
However, after a brief period of anger, owitz suddenly realized that perhaps other customers of the company didn't mind him doing it, or even expected him to do it.
After all, when Barry Levinson left CAA, it was obvious that other large talent agencies would not accept him easily, and the small agencies probably did not dare to provoke danielis entertainment. They had to work alone.
Hollywood stars are not without them.
Jack Nicholson has been away from several major talent agency companies in recent years, and he is still in trouble. Before joining wma, Robert De Niro had been working alone.
However, if these four people, who have been suppressed by danielis entertainment, work alone and lose the support of resources and contacts of such a large talent agency as CAA, and Hollywood studios dare not easily cooperate with it, the result can only be described as uncertain.People are selfish.
The fall of these four first-line filmmakers actually means opportunities for others.
What's more.
Michael owitz also has to admit that this is undoubtedly the best way to deal with CAA.
However, owitz is hard to persuade himself to give in to Simon westero.
When he was in a bad mood, the assistant outside knocked on the door. Owitz looked up and saw a screenwriter client of CAA appear at the door.
This is Joe ezerthaas. Because of the success of movies such as "dance of lightning" and "the edge of blood net", ezerthaas is currently one of the most valuable screenwriters under CAA, and the highest transaction price of his previous scripts is as high as 1.25 million US dollars.
Remembering that this was a confirmed meeting in the afternoon, owitz temporarily put away his anger and got up with a smile. He went up to shake hands with ezerthaas and said, "Joe, come in and sit down."
Joe ezerthaas, with a somewhat unnatural expression, sat down with owitz in the reception area. After a little chat and a sip of the coffee the Secretary had just brought in, ezerthaas said, "Mike, that's it. My former agent, guy mcelwyne, do you remember?"
Owitz nodded and said, "didn't he go to Columbia to be a producer? It's been a long time."
"You know," ezerthaas continued, "Sony is going to buy Colombia soon. Guy finds that he is not suitable to be a producer. He wants to go back to the agency industry."
Owitz recalled the information of guy mcelwyne and said, "guy is very capable in this aspect. In this case, let him come back directly. Let's make an appointment to talk about it."
"No, it's not like that," said ezerthaas, shaking his head and looking a little more embarrassed. "Guy is sure to go to ICM. This time, actually, you know, my relationship with guy is very good. I want to continue to let him be my agent."
Owitz shrunk his expression: "Joe, do you want to leave CAA?"
Joe ezerthaas nodded, "yes, Mike, I hope you understand."
Today, a series of events have made Michael owitz's mood extremely bad. Hearing that CAA's clients who have been sparing no effort to support over the years want to leave, his bad mood suddenly broke through a certain critical point. Without hesitation, he shook his head and said in a cold voice, "Joe, I won't let you leave."
Joe ezerthaas didn't expect owitz's tone to be so stiff and resolute. He was stunned and said, "Mike, I can pay the penalty."
"No way," owitz shook his head again. "Joe, you are CAA's most valuable asset. I won't allow you to leave."
"I'm not an asset of CAA, I'm a person," says Joe ezerthaas
"Well, you're alone. Anyway, you can't leave. At least, you don't want to leave CAA until your contract ends."
"Mike, I just heard that Kurt Russell and Gordy Han have left. Why do you embarrass me?"
"Why, Joe, do you know how much resources CAA has invested in you over the years? Do you know how much thought I have put into you. All in all, it's impossible for you to terminate your contract ahead of time. "
Feeling owitz's unreasonable and resolute tone, Joe ezerthaas became angry.
Their voices grew louder and louder, and soon turned into a quarrel. Owitz's roar spread to the corridor.
“…… Don't forget, CAA gave you 1.25 million dollars Without CAA, you are nothing Don't even think about it. I'll bombard you with lawsuits, so that you can't get close to the typewriter, so that you're completely useless I want you to eat shit, you have to eat shit See those people outside? You want to run away. CAA infantry soldiers will find you from anywhere and smash your head I don't care what the outside world thinks. All those guys want is to write a script for Robert Redford... "
The quarrel between the two became more and more intense, and it was not until several assistants of owitz felt that something was wrong and rushed into the office that they stopped a physical conflict in time.
However, it is not over.
The next day, Joe ezerthaas announced the details of the meeting in the form of an open letter in the Hollywood Reporter, accusing owitz of abusive acts of personal threat to him.
Michael owitz's image in Hollywood has always been low-key, mysterious and omnipotent. In recent years, both Hollywood studio executives and first-line stars are in awe of him. As soon as Joe ezerthaas's open letter was published, there was an uproar both inside and outside Hollywood.
The personal image created by Michael owitz over the years fell into collapse. Under the deliberate or unintentional suppression of danilisi entertainment, the situation of CAA became even worse.
"Mike, of course we'd like to work with Barry, but his new play is really lacking in selling points. And we can't possibly accept a budget of $25 million. " "I know what you're thinking. Sid and paramount are looking forward to getting one or two projects from Denise Entertainment's 10 movies, but do you think it's possible for him to cooperate with you because you stole rocket expert and Firebird from Simon westero by disgraceful means?" "Mike, it's because we know our situation very well that we have this meeting today. I guess other studios are not willing to discuss this project with you anymore?" Paramount Studios, Hollywood. Paramount Pictures president Sidney Ganis and Michael owitz are discussing Barry Levinson's new play Avalon. Avalon is the "land of bliss" in European mythology and legend. The story tells the struggle story of the crichinsky family, an Eastern European immigrant, who immigrated to the United States at the beginning of this century. Although Dustin Hoffman got his second Oscar for the Rain Man project, which saved some face, in fact, Barry Levinson and other leading creators were in a mess. Barry Levinson has been focusing on his new play Avalon in the first half of the year, hoping to make a clean break with this project. At the beginning of July, Levinson finally finished the script of Avalon. Several Hollywood studios also expressed their interest in Avalon, and the parties began to approach each other. However, with Denise Entertainment's sudden announcement of 10 foreign film plans, things began to take a turn for the worse. Disney, Columbia and Warner Brothers, which were originally interested in Avalon, have firmly refused, leaving paramount with nothing to say. These days, Michael owitz more than once secretly regrets why he didn't stop Barry Levinson and others from trying to shirk their responsibility. Now, the whole CAA has been included in the blacklist of danielis entertainment. After a moment's silence, Michael owitz said, "SID, let's be frank and talk about Paramount's terms." "Barry's new play is supposed to hit the Oscars. It has little box office potential. Therefore, paramount can only give a budget of 12 million dollars at most, of which 2 million dollars is Barry's remuneration. Of course, we can add a 10% net profit sharing clause Michael owitz was a little angry: "West Germany, two million dollars, do you think that's possible?" Barry Levinson became a first-line screenwriter and director soon after his debut in the 1970s. Even if he didn't count "Rain Man" and "Good Morning Vietnam" and other blockbuster films, he was able to become a first-line director with a pay of $5 million. What's more, no one can deny Barry Levinson's contribution to rain man. Now, after two successive Good Morning Vietnam and rain man, paramount is only willing to offer $2 million for a new film that Barry Levinson wrote and directed. It's an insult. Sidney Ganis ignored Michael owitz's sarcastic question, raised his wrist, looked at his watch and said, "I have a meeting soon. Mike, you can go back and think about it and call me after you decide." As he left paramount in a gloomy mood, Michael owitz pondered how to talk to his clients about it all the way. Paramount is obviously taking advantage of the fire, but Barry Levinson doesn't have much choice. Or. For the time being, let Barry drop the project and start shooting a better looking commercial film. The idea was soon dismissed by owitz. Matthew Brodrick, who had an affair with Simon westero, has been completely abandoned. Now, although danelis entertainment has not made any public comments, there are not many film companies in Hollywood that dare to take the risk to continue to cooperate with Barry Levinson. Even within CAA, many stars are deliberately avoiding Barry Levinson. Back at the CAA headquarters in Century City, just after sitting down at his desk, Richard Lovett, an agent of the company, came to report that Kurt Russell and Gotty Han were going to leave the CAA. Michael owitz frowned. This is another more serious problem facing CAA. When Jonathan Friedman became president of wma, he was ambitious to recapture the customers he had lost from wma. Kurt Russell and Gotty Han are first-line stars who were dug up by CAA when Stan Carmen, the former president of wma, died three years ago. This time, it is obvious that wma is fighting back. Pick up the phone on the desk and make a few calls. Michael owitz quickly gets in touch with Kurt Russell. However, the invitation to make an appointment for dinner was directly rejected. Kurt Russell said that although he was very polite, he said that the couple's lawyers would be responsible for the follow-up matters.Obviously, there is no room for any change in this matter. Moreover, the Russells are not the first stars to leave recently. Michael owitz knows very well that it's not just wma. Recently, other talent agencies in Hollywood are waving hoes at CAA. Michael Ovitz once aspiring to dig up the essence of all the other talents of Hollywood agency, relying on CAA's unique packaging mechanism to win more and more rewards for stars, this thing was very smooth. However, in the last two years after Simon westrow appeared, Michael owitz found that everything was not going well. Many of the customers who once wanted to join CAA, such as Robert De Niro, Kevin Costner, Brian De Palma and so on, all failed. Now, with Denise's entertainment momentum growing, CAA even began to be reversed. CAA's packaging strategy is not outdated, but more popular. However, owitz also understands why this happens. In the final analysis, it is still the problem of resource competition in Hollywood. A few years ago, CAA successfully launched a large number of box office packaging projects such as "my fair lady" and "out of Africa". It not only successfully attracted a large number of first-line stars to join, but also obtained resources from the studio for projects involving CAA. However, the rise of danilisi entertainment quickly made CAA lose these advantages. Because many non CAA customers who rely on a series of blockbuster films of danielis entertainment have attracted more attention from Hollywood studios. With the popularity of more blockbuster films, stars such as Robert De Niro, Kevin Costner and Sandra Bullock can also ask for better resources from the studios. In contrast, the commercial performance of its stars is obviously not as good as that of danilisi entertainment films, and CAA has gradually become inferior in this aspect. Now, once the CAA stars are excluded from the 10 film plans of danielis entertainment, the gap will undoubtedly be widened. After all, these 10 films will surely occupy the best quality schedule, the most generous publicity and the richest number of screens in the next two years. At the same time, no one will doubt that there will be a group of stars' coffee seats will be greatly improved. With the increase and decrease, some first-line stars of CAA are likely to be squeezed into the second line in one or two years. Michael owitz can't help but think of Sony's recent acquisition of Colombia. As the agent of this acquisition, Sony has also shown his intention to be the head of Sony's entertainment business. Now, the merger is basically settled, but Sony doesn't mention it any more. Talent agency company has no fixed assets, so it is doomed to be difficult to become big. Seeing Simon westero, Michael Eisner, Barry Diller and others rise to fame and fortune in the production industry, owitz certainly has a similar idea. As a result, it's Simon westero. After weighing and pondering for a long time, Michael owitz picked up the phone again and skillfully dialed a number without consulting the address book. The phone was connected, and westrow was not in the company. Michael owitz and there talked a few words, the other side only said that will convey, but did not help him transfer the phone. Put down the phone, owitz was thinking about what to do with it, and the fax machine in his office rang. Take out a page from the fax machine. There are only four names on it: Barry Levinson, Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise and Meg Ryan. There is also a handwritten "W" sign in the lower right corner of the page. W. Westeros. A little stupefied, owitz immediately understood that Simon westero meant that the CAA must draw a clear line with the four people in order to resolve their disputes. Simon westwello obviously completely ignored Matthew Broderick, who had been transferred to CAA before and now completely abandoned. To draw a clear line must be to break the contract with these four people. It's just that. Can CAA do that? Not to mention that these four people are all top tier celebrities in Hollywood, what will CAA's other customers think if they terminate their contracts with these four stars in order to protect themselves? However, after a brief period of anger, owitz suddenly realized that perhaps other customers of the company didn't mind him doing it, or even expected him to do it. After all, when Barry Levinson left CAA, it was obvious that other large talent agencies would not accept him easily, and the small agencies probably did not dare to provoke danielis entertainment. They had to work alone. Hollywood stars are not without them. Jack Nicholson has been away from several major talent agency companies in recent years, and he is still in trouble. Before joining wma, Robert De Niro had been working alone. However, if these four people, who have been suppressed by danielis entertainment, work alone and lose the support of resources and contacts of such a large talent agency as CAA, and Hollywood studios dare not easily cooperate with it, the result can only be described as uncertain.People are selfish. The fall of these four first-line filmmakers actually means opportunities for others. What's more. Michael owitz also has to admit that this is undoubtedly the best way to deal with CAA. However, owitz is hard to persuade himself to give in to Simon westero. When he was in a bad mood, the assistant outside knocked on the door. Owitz looked up and saw a screenwriter client of CAA appear at the door. This is Joe ezerthaas. Because of the success of movies such as "dance of lightning" and "the edge of blood net", ezerthaas is currently one of the most valuable screenwriters under CAA, and the highest transaction price of his previous scripts is as high as 1.25 million US dollars. Remembering that this was a confirmed meeting in the afternoon, owitz temporarily put away his anger and got up with a smile. He went up to shake hands with ezerthaas and said, "Joe, come in and sit down." Joe ezerthaas, with a somewhat unnatural expression, sat down with owitz in the reception area. After a little chat and a sip of the coffee the Secretary had just brought in, ezerthaas said, "Mike, that's it. My former agent, guy mcelwyne, do you remember?" Owitz nodded and said, "didn't he go to Columbia to be a producer? It's been a long time." "You know," ezerthaas continued, "Sony is going to buy Colombia soon. Guy finds that he is not suitable to be a producer. He wants to go back to the agency industry." Owitz recalled the information of guy mcelwyne and said, "guy is very capable in this aspect. In this case, let him come back directly. Let's make an appointment to talk about it." "No, it's not like that," said ezerthaas, shaking his head and looking a little more embarrassed. "Guy is sure to go to ICM. This time, actually, you know, my relationship with guy is very good. I want to continue to let him be my agent." Owitz shrunk his expression: "Joe, do you want to leave CAA?" Joe ezerthaas nodded, "yes, Mike, I hope you understand." Today, a series of events have made Michael owitz's mood extremely bad. Hearing that CAA's clients who have been sparing no effort to support over the years want to leave, his bad mood suddenly broke through a certain critical point. Without hesitation, he shook his head and said in a cold voice, "Joe, I won't let you leave." Joe ezerthaas didn't expect owitz's tone to be so stiff and resolute. He was stunned and said, "Mike, I can pay the penalty." "No way," owitz shook his head again. "Joe, you are CAA's most valuable asset. I won't allow you to leave." "I'm not an asset of CAA, I'm a person," says Joe ezerthaas "Well, you're alone. Anyway, you can't leave. At least, you don't want to leave CAA until your contract ends." "Mike, I just heard that Kurt Russell and Gordy Han have left. Why do you embarrass me?" "Why, Joe, do you know how much resources CAA has invested in you over the years? Do you know how much thought I have put into you. All in all, it's impossible for you to terminate your contract ahead of time. " Feeling owitz's unreasonable and resolute tone, Joe ezerthaas became angry. Their voices grew louder and louder, and soon turned into a quarrel. Owitz's roar spread to the corridor. Don't forget, CAA gave you 1.25 million dollars Without CAA, you are nothing Don't even think about it. I'll bombard you with lawsuits, so that you can't get close to the typewriter, so that you're completely useless I want you to eat shit, you have to eat shit See those people outside? You want to run away. CAA infantry soldiers will find you from anywhere and smash your head I don't care what the outside world thinks. All those guys want is to write a script for Robert Redford... " The quarrel between the two became more and more intense, and it was not until several assistants of owitz felt that something was wrong and rushed into the office that they stopped a physical conflict in time. However, it is not over. The next day, Joe ezerthaas announced the details of the meeting in the form of an open letter in the Hollywood Reporter, accusing owitz of abusive acts of personal threat to him. Michael owitz's image in Hollywood has always been low-key, mysterious and omnipotent. In recent years, both Hollywood studio executives and first-line stars are in awe of him. As soon as Joe ezerthaas's open letter was published, there was an uproar both inside and outside Hollywood. The personal image created by Michael owitz over the years fell into collapse. Under the deliberate or unintentional suppression of danilisi entertainment, the situation of CAA became even worse.
