Chapter 165: Major Trouble
The September sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the face of Helen-Herman and a simple poster hanging on the rack in front of her. The poster, still devoid of any titles or actor names, had only been slightly adjusted in the positioning of the actors since she and Matthew last saw it.
"Bert..." Her gaze shifted from the poster to the press officer, "Matthew Horn is the absolute protagonist of this film, titled 'The Scorpion King,' and the primary focus should indeed be on the character Morias, am I correct?"
Press officer Bert, aware that agents can be particularly tough negotiators and having dealt with this woman before, acknowledged her point as inarguable, "You're not wrong."
Helen-Herman stood up and walked over to the poster, exuding the assertiveness of a leading actor's agent, and pointed out, "Then why doesn't the poster reflect that?"
Before Bert could respond, she continued, "Matthew's Morias is indeed in the center of the poster, yet he doesn't stand out! Firstly, his image is almost the same size as Hu Kelly's. If I recall correctly, Stephen-Somos mentioned that Hu Kelly's character is a supporting female role. How can a supporting character receive the same treatment as the male lead?"
Bert felt uneasy but didn't show it. The decision to design the poster with Hu Kelly almost equal in presence to Matthew Horn was no coincidence but a deliberate choice on his part.
Hu Kelly's agent was not only an acquaintance but also had a relationship with him, and he knew that Hu Kelly secured her role as Cassandra through Stephen-Somos's influence.
Helen-Herman didn't stop there, "The contract between the production team and Matthew includes a clause that gives us the right to make suggestions on the poster and still photos!" She pointed at the poster again, "Besides Hu Kelly's character, there's also an issue with the other characters on the poster; they're all too prominent, especially Duff-Billie, Clark-Bernard, and Steven-Brand, who obscure a significant part of Matthew Horn."
Bert was taken aback, "Aren't they also actors under your agency?"
"I'm speaking objectively!" Helen-Herman maintained a professional demeanor, "I don't care who the actors on the poster are. I'm here today to secure the rights that Matthew Horn, as the male lead, should have."
Bert considered for a moment, then said, "I will have someone adjust the poster."
As Helen-Herman pointed out, this was indeed the treatment a male lead should expect on a poster. Originally, Bert wanted to help a friend, but now... it seemed best to let it go, especially since the issue had been raised, and it wasn't worth the trouble to persist.
"Thank you," Helen-Herman politely acknowledged, then added, "I believe a significant adjustment is necessary. Reduce Hu Kelly's character by half and the other characters to one-third of their current size on the poster. Matthew Horn's lead character should be fully visible in a half-body portrait."
"That's impossible," Bert immediately rejected the idea, as such changes would mean the poster would barely feature anyone but Matthew Horn and Hu Kelly. Other characters might as well be removed entirely, "Your demands are too extreme."
Helen-Herman came prepared, "How about this: make it the main poster for the early promotion, removing all other characters except for Hu Kelly and Matthew, keeping only the male and female leads."
Bert seriously considered this suggestion, seeing it as an opportunity to do Hu Kelly's agent a favor.
"I have a suggestion," Helen-Herman offered, softening her approach and speaking earnestly as if she were his subordinate, "Keep the size ratio of Matthew and Hu Kelly the same, but position them one above the other, with Matthew on top and Hu Kelly below."
This would clearly establish a hierarchy and be immediately understandable.
"I'll consider it," Bert wasn't ready to agree outright.
Helen-Herman walked back from the poster and added, "I have one last suggestion."
Bert, having listened to so much already, didn't mind hearing one more, "Go ahead."
"List Matthew Horn's name separately on the poster!" Helen-Herman suggested, "Don't group his name with the other actors. List it separately and perhaps in bold."
This would make it easier for people to notice, similar to the adjustments for the poster, benefiting Matthew's personal promotion.
A movie poster can convey a lot, often clearly indicating the importance and status of actors or directors to the film.
For example, some movies featuring Tom Cruise, especially those not directed by top-tier directors, prominently display tags like "A Tom Cruise Production."
While Matthew was far from reaching that level of prominence, Helen-Herman still aimed to highlight his status within the production team.
It was essential to fight for these things; without contention, they often wouldn't materialize.
"Miss Herman," Bert spread his hands, "I can consider your suggestions."
"That's all for now, then," Helen-Herman knew when to stop, aware that Matthew's influence wasn't strong enough yet.
She left the press officer's office, still prioritizing Matthew Horn as her top client, directing the agency's resources towards him. Other actors were secondary or backup options unless "The Scorpion King" flopped and Matthew's career ended...
In that case, they would have to let go of Matthew Horn.
Helen-Herman certainly didn't wish for that, having invested so much in him, expecting returns soon. A failure would mean wasting over a year of investment.
She didn't aim to directly sign star-level clients due to Angel Agency's small size, her young age, and being a woman in the industry. Stars didn't take her seriously, and those willing to sign were either in career decline or embroiled in scandals, offering little future profit potential, which she found unappealing.
If Matthew Horn became a commercial megastar, all her investments would yield substantial returns.
In Nevada's Black Rock Desert, numerous vehicles were parked on the dry lakebed near the sand dunes, where large cranes for filming were stationed.
Matthew, facing the harsh sun, rode a dromedary camel forward, holding a dummy resembling Hu Kelly, dressed in costume and wigged, indistinguishable from a real person from behind.
After moving about thirty meters, filming stopped, and the animal trainer immediately took the camel. Matthew handed the dummy to the prop master, dismounted, and rinsed his mouth of sand before drinking water.
Despite it being mid-September and not overly hot, the desert's unobstructed landscape and cloudless sky made for intense sunlight, necessitating frequent hydration.
Fortunately, the production's logistical support was excellent, making the conditions more bearable than those during the filming of "Black Hawk Down" in Morocco.
The crew's location near the Black Rock Desert's geyser provided a scenic break from filming, with Matthew and others, including Hu Kelly, exploring the area's beautiful intermittent geysers, dry lakebeds, and oddly situated mountains.
They also missed the renowned Burning Man festival, known for its detachment from reality, which had just concluded.
Returning to the production site, Matthew prepared for makeup before heading to the rock walls for additional scenes.
After makeup, Mira-Wang handed him his phone with a call from Helen-Herman. Matthew briefly caught up on her progress before hanging up.
Leaving such matters to agents was crucial to avoid conflicts with the production team.
As Matthew joined the crew in a cleared area, director Chuck-Russell was assembling the team when an assistant producer announced a change in plans due to tourists at the rock walls refusing to leave, despite negotiations.
Matthew felt helpless against the pervasive American liberalism. The production, being a commercial entity, lacked authority over tourists, leaving waiting as the only option.
Filming amid the tourists risked accidental appearances in shots, especially problematic for a historical film like "The Scorpion King." Even modern settings required agreements to use bystanders' likenesses.
Navigating the complex legal landscape necessitated personal lawyers and legal advisors for the production.
With filming paused, as Chuck-Russell reviewed the schedule for adjustments, an assistant director suddenly burst out of a trailer, exclaiming, "Oh God! Oh God... Something major has happened!"
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