1585-1587

*Chapter 1585: Full of Confidence*

"So, how was the trip? New York is sunny today, but windy. Landing should have been smooth, right?"

"You must have been extremely busy lately. Summer is usually vacation season, but now you're tied up with work. No idea when you'll get a break."

"So, any plans for the upcoming holidays?"

"What about Anson?"

"Ha, we all know that once Anson goes on vacation, it often means he disappears without a trace. Nobody can find where he is or what he's doing. God, how does he even do that? I think there's probably no one on Earth now who doesn't know him, so how does he hide himself?"

"Please don't tell me he grows a goatee like Leonardo and hides in the Amazon jungle, haha."

Back and forth they went, exchanging pleasantries.

If he needed to be, Michael Linton could be very witty and humorous. This was the consistent impression he usually left on others – always smiling, approachable, like a breath of fresh air. Although he maintained the reserve of someone in a high position, he didn't make people feel intimidated. He was definitely an excellent leader.

Clearly, Edgar was the same.

Usually in front of Anson, Edgar seemed clumsy with words, completely humorless, and easily led around; but in front of others, Hollywood's most powerful agent naturally had his own demeanor and style. His neither humble nor arrogant, appropriately poised manner showed absolutely none of the smugness and arrogance one might expect after a rapid rise.

Especially in the face of the aggressive dominance of William Morris Agency, Edgar seemed even more friendly and likable.

The conversation went smoothly, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

Michael's back straightened slightly. The plan was executing smoothly, and the demeanor and atmosphere Edgar displayed could be considered a small surprise.

There was no malicious talk, no nitpicking, no haughtiness, no arrogance, no bossiness. Michael had even mentally prepared himself for Edgar, like someone who'd suddenly found success, to give him a hard time. He was willing to swallow any bitterness. There was no need to worry about these emotional disputes; the correct approach was to firmly hold interests in his hands.

However, all his worries were unnecessary.

Not only was there none of that, but Edgar was fully cooperative, unhurriedly and genially exchanging pleasantries, maintaining patience even though it was all just small talk.

This precisely demonstrated Edgar's rationality – that he wouldn't act emotionally or impulsively, but would remain calm and rational, adhering to the rule of interests coming first.

This meant Michael was still in this competition, and he still had a chance to turn the situation around.

Thinking of this, the smile in his eyes deepened slightly.

"...Undoubtedly, we look forward to continuing to work with Anson. Anson is a charismatic actor, he possesses infinite possibilities."

"We must admit we didn't anticipate this. Everyone thought he was Montgomery Clift, but we didn't realize he was Marlon Brando."

"Beyond just 'Spider-Man,' we hope to see Anson appear in more projects."

Finally, he got to the point.

But Michael didn't rush to discuss salary. Instead, he gestured, and a neat stack of projects was brought forward nearby, scripts and proposals all clearly organized and neatly arranged.

"We look forward to a long-term collaboration, built entirely around Anson, to create an exclusive brand, hoping people can experience Anson's charisma in every way."

"Of course, these projects are just a small part. We specifically selected them based on Anson's image. In the future, we hope Anson can come directly to our company. Our treasure trove is completely open to Anson."

So, were they imitating Warner Bros.?

Of course, Sony Columbia's rights library is completely no less impressive than Warner Bros.'s. These two companies are well-known copyright heavyweights in Hollywood; other film companies simply can't compare. But Warner Bros. doing this was eye-opening, while Sony Columbia following suit had already lost the first-mover advantage.

Edgar showed a smile. "Wow, undoubtedly, this is an honor. I'm sure Anson will be very excited."

That being said, Edgar didn't even glance at the stack of projects.

Michael understood implicitly. They needed to offer something substantial.

"Moving forward, Sony Columbia is preparing to continue producing the third and fourth 'Spider-Man' films. The company has already greenlit the projects, and Sam is working on creating the script for the third one. We hope to build the entire series to completion, creating a superhero image that will go down in history – not just a consumer product, but a real, flesh-and-blood ordinary person."

"We hope audiences can grow and mature with Peter Parker, experience the ups and downs together, and allow Peter Parker to become a part of their lives."

"Naturally, we also hope Anson can continue to portray Peter Parker, hoping Anson can become a part of Peter Parker, a perfect spokesperson."

A detail Edgar immediately seized upon—

Amy Pascal put Anson first. She believed Peter Parker was becoming a part of Anson.

Michael Linton, on the other hand, put Peter Parker first. He believed Anson was becoming a part of Peter Parker.

To be honest and realistic, if the Sony Columbia board needed to "say goodbye" to Anson and start fresh, no one could stop them, because the movie adaptation rights for the Spider-Man comics were in their hands. Not even the CEO was an exception; they couldn't stop any of it.

However, the stances shown by Amy and Michael revealed a bit about their perspectives.

On the surface, it looked like Michael had lowered his stance, but deep down, he still believed Anson was replaceable and that the Spider-Man character was the core.

From a professional standpoint, Edgar agreed with Michael's view. Anson couldn't be tied to Spider-Man forever; even if Sony Columbia wanted him to be, Anson wouldn't. So, Anson was indeed replaceable, and it was inevitable that he would be replaced eventually.

But from an agent's standpoint, Edgar didn't like Michael's starting point. The first half of this negotiation had already gone off track. Now they had finally reached a turning point, but they still weren't back on the right path. Edgar didn't think continuing this collaboration would lead anywhere in the future.

Clearly, Michael didn't realize his flaw, let alone the myriad thoughts in Edgar's mind.

Michael continued.

"So, we hope to start a long-term collaboration with Anson, signing a two-movie acting contract at once, guaranteeing that Anson will continue to portray Peter Parker in the upcoming third and fourth films."

"I believe this is a win-win."

The subtext carried a sense of condescension, as if this were Anson's honor.

Sony Columbia was willing to make an unprecedented move and give the green light; Anson should feel special.

Soon, Edgar realized the reason for Michael's attitude. The slightly upward curve of his lips showed a confident assurance.

Strong and resolute.

Michael believed Anson had no reason to refuse.

"We are willing to finalize a package deal for two projects with a salary of forty million US dollars per movie. This is Sony Columbia's sincerity and attitude. We steadfastly believe this is a win-win collaboration..."

*Chapter 1586: Leaving No Room*

In Hollywood these days, the "20 Million Club" is still the absolute top tier, a height everyone in the industry aspires to and looks up to, a truly distant dream –

Make one movie, get twenty million dollars in the bank. That's the value of a mansion, just like that.

Even though the big shots on Wall Street have tens of millions of dollars flowing through their books every single minute, where's the happiness in that compared to the dazzling, wild, and extravagant lives these Hollywood superstars get to live?

No wonder Hollywood is called the land of dreams.

But now, get this, Sony Columbia is actually offering a salary of forty million dollars, instantly doubling the 20 Million Club in one fell swoop! And the craziest part is, it's a package deal for two films right off the bat, guaranteeing eighty million dollars in earnings. Just sign the contract, and you're instantly in the ranks of billionaires.

One set of numbers, one sentence – that was enough. The shock came rushing in.

No wonder Michael Lynton was so confident, so sure of himself.

Even though Edgar had tried to prepare himself mentally, the sheer pressure and impact of that number still hit him head-on, like ten thousand horses charging, completely overwhelming him. You could tell instantly, if Anson were to sign that contract, the impact it would have on the entire film industry would be absolutely like a volcanic eruption.

Putting aside emotions and any bias for a moment, you have to admit Michael's ruthless decisiveness –

He didn't haggle over the small details, dragging things out with back-and-forth calculations like twenty-five million or thirty million. That kind of tug-of-war and calculating would only make him lose the initiative he had fought so hard to get back, leaving him powerless to change the situation where Amy had the upper hand. So, he went all in and dropped a bombshell, a number that would blow the entire industry's mind, trying to achieve his goal in one go.

And, signing a package deal for two films all at once!

On the surface, it seems like Sony Columbia is taking a huge risk because they have no idea yet what the box office for the third film in the series will be. Considering Anson's salary alone is forty million dollars, the rise in production costs is definitely going to squeeze the profit margins. Signing a package deal for two films at once absolutely comes with massive risk.

But in reality, Michael is directly cutting off future problems. He's firmly keeping the initiative for the third and fourth films in the series in his own hands. Once Anson takes the bait for the short-term money and gets tied to the Peter Parker role, Sony Columbia can completely turn the tables and control the fate of the fifth film.

His boldness was clear to see. Michael believed that when faced with an eighty-million-dollar check, Anson shouldn't be able to say "no."

Definitely worthy of being a contender who could go head-to-head with Amy. It was a heavy punch that hit the target squarely.

As for how Michael actually managed to convince the board to get on board with this, well, that wasn't something Edgar needed to worry about.

Impressive!

Truly impressive!

Edgar had to be honest, he was tempted –

Just one signature, eighty million dollars in earnings. William Morris's commission alone would be a whopping eight million dollars.

For the top five talent agencies in Hollywood, this was also an unbelievable number, absolutely comparable to that historic breakthrough moment when the six actors from "Friends" united to negotiate one million dollars per episode for themselves.

Everything, just needed one signature.

Michael looked at Edgar, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, a flicker in his eyes. You could clearly feel his smugness, his arrogance, and his excitement. He was full of confidence, completely convinced that Edgar had no reason to refuse.

"This is our sincerity," Michael said, like a devil whispering.

The corners of Edgar's mouth also curved upwards, and he met Michael's eyes squarely, without flinching.

"It's our honor. I believe if Anson knew, he would be absolutely ecstatic, overwhelmed with joy. Feeling this respect and recognition is undoubtedly priceless, more convincing than any number or any other terms."

"However, we have a different idea."

Michael's smile froze at the corners of his mouth. Without any warning, the situation instantly flipped.

Michael never in a million years imagined Edgar's response would actually take such a turn –

He guessed Edgar might ask for more details regarding terms, he guessed Edgar might stall and make excuses to pause negotiations to compare Amy's terms, he guessed Edgar might try to push for more power beyond salary, gaining an inch and asking for a mile. He had anticipated every single possible scenario. But Edgar's reaction, outright rejecting the proposal, was an exception he hadn't considered.

Edgar didn't speak immediately. Instead, he took out a neatly folded square piece of paper from his inner suit pocket, unfolded it himself right there in front of Michael, and then slid it across the desk, presenting it for Michael to see.

This action proved that Edgar wasn't just suddenly deciding to ask for more after hearing Michael's proposal. These were genuinely the terms he had already prepared before even coming to Sony Columbia.

Michael didn't show his confusion. He had inquired about Amy's potential terms and discussed it with the board members before finally putting together this offer.

Michael knew he had messed up. "Spider-Man 2"'s performance had not only met their constantly increasing expectations but had also just swept them away and shattered all expectations. This put them in a really tough spot, forcing them to make painful concessions.

But now, talking more was useless, and regret wouldn't help.

Since he had to make concessions, he needed to be decisive and ruthless! Michael planned to go straight for the jugular, delivering a fatal blow, securing this deal in one fell swoop. He refused to give Amy a chance to counterattack and refused to give Anson any room to keep negotiating, aiming to exchange the smallest sacrifice for the greatest gain and completely reverse his decline.

However, Edgar and Anson actually had other ideas?

What kind of idea could possibly be higher than an offer of forty million dollars per film, packaged as two films?

For a moment, all sorts of thoughts flooded his mind. Michael used every ounce of energy to barely control himself, but still, he couldn't help but show a little bit of his turmoil in his eyebrows.

Michael forced himself to stay calm and made a joke, picking up the square paper. It still felt warm. "Looks like you came prepared too."

Edgar spread his hands. "After all, this is Sony Columbia. Showing up without preparation would be too arrogant and conceited. I wouldn't dare, not yet."

On the surface, he was still humble, just as he had been throughout their meeting – low-key, friendly, cooperative. But at the crucial moment, he refused to compromise.

Michael had a vague sense of foreboding. He realized he might have been played by Edgar.

But Michael didn't rush to a conclusion. He opened the paper. There was one line written on it that made Michael doubt his own eyes, and his heart suddenly constricted.

"Is this a joke?" Michael gave two light, forced laughs, but his throat felt dry, and he could barely manage it. A sense of anxiety and tension from his gut grabbed his thoughts, slowly sinking, in a freefall.

He felt, this probably wasn't a joke.

Edgar shook his head, his face serious. "We are completely serious. Just like your company, we came here with one hundred percent sincerity to discuss cooperation."

Michael: ...

He read the words again to make absolutely sure he hadn't misread or misunderstood, but the sense of absurdity only became clearer.

Michael just started laughing. A genuine laugh this time.

"Twenty million dollars base salary, plus 5% of the box office for the actor, and 5% of the box office for the producer. These demands are completely outrageous. Are you actually saying this is serious?"

*Chapter 1587: Making Them Bleed*

Forty million US dollars per project salary – this was good, very, very good, far beyond just "good." It effortlessly overturned Hollywood standards.

A shock, an impact, breaking industry barriers. It raised the club's threshold once again, ten full years after Jim Carrey became Hollywood's first ever member of the $20 Million Club. You could already imagine the industry-wide reverberations.

What's more, it was a package deal for two projects in one go.

But in Edgar's view, it still wasn't enough.

Currently, "Spider-Man 2" was still in theaters, and the final box office was unknown. But Edgar didn't need much ambition or greed; just calculating based on a North American box office of five hundred million US dollars—

As the movie entered its third week of release, "Spider-Man 2"'s cumulative North American box office immediately surpassing four hundred million, and five hundred million was also already within reach, without a doubt.

So, how much salary could Anson expect to earn?

The contract signed back then included a base salary of ten million US dollars, plus a 5% share of the box office profits after the North American box office surpassed two hundred million US dollars.

Calculating with a North American box office of five hundred million, Anson's salary for starring in "Spider-Man 2" had already easily reached twenty-five million US dollars.

But in Edgar's view, the target for "Spider-Man 2"'s total North American box office shouldn't just be six hundred million; it was very likely seven hundred million, which meant Anson's salary could reach thirty million or even thirty-five million US dollars.

And now, Michael Linton was actually preparing to buy it outright with a fixed price of forty million US dollars?

Heh, a joke.

Who did Michael think he was messing with?

Of course, the math wasn't calculated this way.

Film companies need to make a profit and take on risk. They need to calculate for themselves within reasonable limits. Giving Anson a forty million dollar salary was also the result of careful consideration. In the present day of 2004, Sony Columbia also had to face pressure from their Hollywood peers and the intense competition from the upcoming complete explosion of superhero movies.

Coupled with the two-movie package deal, the risks they needed to bear would continue to rise.

So, the terms Michael offered were reasonable and persuasive.

These principles, Edgar understood.

But the key point was, this was also a result of weighing pros and cons; it wasn't the "cutting flesh and bleeding" he had imagined. Yet Michael put on an air of being high and mighty, as if Anson would be a fool not to seize such an opportunity. This attitude made Edgar decide to counterattack.

Now, when it came to who was the seller's market and who was the buyer's market, Edgar believed he needed to remind Michael and the Sony Columbia behind him.

Stepping back ten thousand steps (hypothetically), Anson really didn't need the baggage of "Spider-Man 3" to continue proving himself. Anson's future had already unfolded. If Sony Columbia still hadn't recognized this reality, then Edgar didn't mind letting this industry giant take a hard fall.

The fact was, Edgar was the one who had thoroughly examined this collaboration plan from all angles, inside and out. He knew the bottom line they could accept, and he also knew Sony Columbia's upper limit. So, he needed Sony Columbia to show sincerity to convince Anson.

Paying dearly, they had to show the boldness to pay dearly.

Therefore, for several days now, Edgar had been setting the stage, brewing things. The game had already begun before the meeting. Everything, absolutely everything, was for this moment.

If Michael had shown sincerity, Edgar wouldn't have planned to take out this "Fang Sheng" (this proposal), but would have shown sincerity and genuinely begun negotiations. But if not, this "Fang Sheng" was specifically for slapping faces—

Michael thought he was being humiliated and played?

Yes, that was the purpose.

The base salary, that was one aspect. Twenty million US dollars was non-negotiable. Anson deserved this treatment. It was time to break through this barrier (have an open discussion).

Box office share, that was another aspect, and it included both the actor's and the producer's portions. Edgar was pursuing not just the profit figures, but also Anson's say within the film crew. He didn't want to see the situation from the "Spider-Man 2" collaboration happen again—

This referred to Sony Columbia blindsiding Anson, and also to the incident where Anson and Sam Raimi's script revision ideas were shot down by the producers.

Edgar knew the power of this "Fang Sheng," because these were figures he had carefully considered. Even calculating with a North American box office of four hundred million US dollars, this "Fang Sheng" could earn Anson a check for sixty million US dollars, which was equivalent to half the movie's cost going into Anson's pocket.

So, Edgar was completely unsurprised by Michael's reaction, which was laughing out of extreme anger.

"...This demand is outrageous. Are you saying this is serious?"

Edgar looked at Michael's forced smile, raised his hands, and assumed a posture of surrender. "You know what? I agree with your point of view. How about this – let's discuss it? Everything can be adjusted, right?"

"Twenty million US dollars base salary, 5% actor's box office share, 10% producer's box office share. How about that?"

Not falling, but rising instead.

This wasn't just slapping his face; it was completely cutting flesh and bleeding him dry.

Michael: ...

Although Michael tried his best to control his emotions, even for a seasoned old fox like Michael, his facial muscles couldn't help but twitch.

Finally, one sentence blurted out, "Have you lost your mind?"

Edgar showed a smile. "I know. It's crazy. It's unfair, right?"

"But... welcome to Hollywood."

Slapping his face openly and brazenly, a harsh slap landed squarely on Michael Linton's cheek, leaving absolutely no room for courtesy.

Everything was too unexpected, too shocking, completely overturning Michael's plan.

In Michael's view, it had all been planned—

From the start, Edgar had no intention of negotiating. The sole purpose of today's meeting was to humiliate Michael, to get revenge for the blindsiding last summer.

Anger. Humiliation. Shame. Frustration. Depression.

Various emotions burned fiercely in Michael's chest. Then, at the peak of his anger, Michael regained his composure. "I didn't expect you to be so childish, like a middle school student."

"You're not still holding onto what happened last summer, are you? So, what do you need? An apology?"

Childish!

What he didn't expect was for Edgar to look directly at Michael. "If it's an apology, then nothing could be better."

Michael: ...

A breath caught in his chest, and he nearly exploded.

Michael couldn't believe his ears. But when it came to actually apologizing, the words were on the tip of his tongue, yet he couldn't say them.

Suddenly, he was stuck in an awkward position.

Honestly, Edgar was slightly disappointed. As Anson had said, if Michael could bend and stretch, he would be a cunning leader, a truly dangerous person. But now it seemed, although Michael hadn't surrendered easily and had some resilience, he wasn't smart enough—

It was likely Michael still couldn't find the root of the problem, completely unaware of his condescending attitude and his disregard for Anson.

All along, they had planned and strategized completely, because Sony Columbia was a giant beast, and trying to leverage things against them was definitely like hitting a rock with an egg. But only after actually taking the step did they realize that the so-called giant beast wasn't that scary after all. The face hidden behind the capital...

Was nothing special.