Dipping a toe

Andy placed all the scripts on the table and squinted his eyes, observing the expressions on Nathan's face, Roy's slight surprise, and the quizzical look on Renly's face. He was quite satisfied with the visual impact he had created, and he chuckled lightly as he explained, "These projects merely hint at inquiries or open up possibilities, but they aren't formal invitations, much like how "Thor" was in the beginning."

Choosing actors for a project generally fell into two categories. One, as in the case of "50/50" or "Detachment", involved locking in a specific actor, someone they were determined to collaborate with, and they would go straight into discussions. Through face-to-face interactions, they'd exchange ideas and determine if they were a suitable fit. Sometimes, even if the director initially had a preference for an actor, their opinion might change after a meeting.

The other category was more like "Buried", "Fast 5", or "The Pacific" – it involved open auditions and exploring various possibilities. They might send invitations to actors they were interested in, inviting them to audition. However, these "invitations" could be extended to a dozen or more different actors, and they might also wait for unknown actors to come forward and audition. This was a more public recruitment process.

The scripts Andy had brought today fell into the latter category. For a commercial film, Renly's self-proven track record was still not enough to secure the former kind of collaboration.

Nevertheless, it was still incredible. After all, Renly had only acted in one commercial film and had already achieved success with ease, catching the attention of major film studios. Whether Andy recommended Renly for the film projects or the film companies invited him for auditions, the opportunities had multiplied exponentially, opening up new possibilities.

Six or seven potential commercial film projects with collaboration prospects? This level was definitely at the forefront of Hollywood today. It wasn't necessarily that Renly's box office potential was better than top stars like Tom Cruise or Robert Downey Jr., but rather that Renly had a wider range of role possibilities, which naturally led to more potential collaboration options.

"I've only made preliminary selections for these projects, and I haven't read the scripts in detail," Andy's gaze landed on Renly. Ultimately, the decision of which projects to take and the level of compensation would be determined by Renly. "But I've considered the themes, roles, and investment scale, and I believe they have development potential."

Renly didn't rush to express his opinion, simply looking at Andy. It was Roy, sitting beside them, who proactively inquired, "What about the compensation? Do you have a detailed plan for that?" This was a crucial concern for a manager.

"Yes," Andy replied with a mischievous smile, pausing his gaze meaningfully on Renly before turning to Roy. "Between $6M and $12M. If it's Universal Pictures, $6M is the bottom line, but if it's Warner Bros., I'll strive for $10M."

The six major Hollywood studios had their differences. For instance, Warner Bros. had a passion for visual effects-driven films and was willing to invest generously. Twentieth Century Fox had immense trust in projects led by A-list directors and spared no expense. Disney, on the other hand, was daring when it came to projects that could spawn family-friendly spin-offs.

Naturally, the negotiation strategies differed depending on the studio.

Furthermore, the situation Andy described was slightly different. With Universal Pictures, Renly might still share the leading role with actors like Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, so compensation had to be considered from a more comprehensive perspective. However, with Warner Bros.' projects, it might be an entirely new leading role.

"They are all from the six major film studios?" Roy, with his professional background, had a thinking pattern quite similar to Andy's.

Andy also sensed that this conversation was markedly different from the one with Renly. He found himself more at ease with this professional exchange—simple, direct, and effective. "No, there are other companies," he continued. "If I remember correctly, there are two more. But negotiations for compensation with smaller companies can be quite complex. My target figure is $5M, but it depends on the specific project."

In the summer blockbuster season, over ninety percent of commercial films were controlled by the six major film studios. The reasons behind this were intricately woven, but to put it bluntly, it came down to who had the money and who didn't.

Smaller companies outside the big six often had lower investment costs. Even if they had adequate funds, they needed to make the most of every dollar. Therefore, when choosing actors, they were more budget-conscious and more willing to select cost-effective actors or even A-list actors willing to take pay cuts.

Roy carefully considered this and looked at Renly, his gaze flickering slightly. However, he was also worried that Renly might not understand his meaning. After all, their collaboration had been relatively short, so he nodded as a supplement, as if to say, "Your agent's judgment is correct."

Renly sat quietly by the side but didn't speak.

In fact, he could sense the subtle competition between Andy and Roy. Roy was observing Andy, and at the same time, Andy was assessing Roy.

As a rule of thumb, regardless of whether a project was suitable or not, Andy would typically read the script briefly to gain a general understanding of the characters and the story. This was not only because he needed to make an initial assessment of the project but also because he knew Renly's value for scripts.

If it were other agents, they would usually present the project to the artist after finding out the investment scale and the preliminary cast lineup. However, after the incident with "Thor", Andy knew that Renly didn't buy into this approach. So, he had always stuck to this practice, and the projects he recommended to Renly had consistently been of high quality.

But today, Andy had brought all the projects without even glancing at them. Renly was certain that these projects must vary in quality. Clearly, Andy wasn't doing this to trouble Renly. The purpose was obvious: Roy Lockley.

Reading scripts was a time-consuming and energy-draining task. If it was a script for a confirmed role, the actor had to read it, even if they were unwilling. But when it came to selecting projects, especially in the initial stages, apart from a very small number of actors, most would leave it to their managers. After the initial screening by the manager, the actor would then make their own judgment.

Some actors didn't even read scripts from start to finish, relying entirely on their agents' recommendations. They would sign contracts directly based on their agents' selections. In some extreme cases, actors would only start memorizing their lines when they arrived on the set. Bruce Willis was a typical example in the industry, and he was fired from Woody Allen's film "To Rome with Love" due to his refusal to memorize his lines.

Even actors like Renly, who were willing to read scripts personally, couldn't possibly read every single script in the first and second rounds of screening. Andy and Roy had to do the crucial work of filtering and selecting. Therefore, the role of a manager was of paramount importance. If a manager made a poor judgment, accepted bribes, or spread malicious rumors, the consequences could be disastrous.

Andy had absolute confidence in himself. He believed that he understood Renly's interests, hobbies, and inclinations well enough, which would naturally inform his script selections. But what about Roy? What was Roy's style, and what were his preferences when it came to commercial projects? Could Roy be trusted? Would Roy consider Renly's best interests? Could Andy and Roy work together seamlessly, or would there be future disagreements?

This was the essence of Andy's probing.

Renly sensed this, but he didn't say much. For Renly, a reincarnated individual, reading scripts was never a difficult task, as he had already watched most of the films in his previous life. However, Renly tacitly acknowledged Andy's probing. Just like when he had initially started working with Andy, the road to future collaboration was still very long, and everyone needed time to adjust to each other.

Afterward, Roy and Andy continued their conversation, sharing their opinions on Renly's next project. Both of them agreed that, relatively speaking, Renly had been a hardworking actor, having participated in four productions in just over a year. They believed that for artistic films, Renly could slow down a bit, carefully select scripts, and not rush into anything. If Renly found a script he genuinely liked, then he shouldn't miss the opportunity. However, if there wasn't one, there was no need to rush.

In relative terms, the success of "Fast 5" had significantly elevated Renly's commercial value. Leaving aside Universal Pictures' initial disregard, their willingness to consider a spin-off was the best affirmation of Renly's talent. Now, taking on a major commercial film, carrying the weight of the lead role, would mark a substantial leap in Renly's status within the industry. It would turn the brilliance of the past year into tangible benefits.

The most immediate benefit was that Universal Pictures wouldn't be able to maintain their condescending attitude in future negotiations.

"So, Renly, what do you think?" Both of them had been talking non-stop, but Renly, sitting to the side, remained silent. Roy turned to him for his opinion.

Renly shrugged lightly. "I think I need some rest tonight," he replied. This answer left both Roy and Andy momentarily stunned, while Nathan on the side chuckled softly. "We can discuss the specifics after we wrap up filming. Until then, I need to focus all my energy on the movie."

"Of course, of course," Andy nodded with a genial smile. Their primary purpose for this meeting was never to disturb Renly, but to inform him that they needed to plan for the future, with Roy joining the discussions this time. "Then, we'll leave you to rest."

As if on cue, Andy stood up, ready to leave. "What about these scripts?" He gestured towards the thick stack of papers on the table, seeking Renly's guidance.

"Roy, you take them back for now," Renly said, acting like a boss dismissing his subordinates.

Roy didn't hesitate to accept the task, nodding in agreement. However, he couldn't help but ask, "Do you need to skim through them briefly?" But before he could finish his sentence, Renly waved his hand, signaling his refusal, and the second part of Roy's question remained unspoken.