581-585

*Chapter 581: A Heart That Appreciates Talent*

"Do I have such qualifications?"

Anson asked, wondering if he could become the lead of a film like Bill Murray, carrying the movie and driving its box office success.

A smile appeared in Jeff's eyes. "Yes, of course you do. You now completely possess those qualifications."

At this moment, Jeff finally understood Anson's plan.

By rejecting large projects like Troy, Anson was avoiding getting repeatedly caught in the whirlwind of big projects, which would truly turn him into a decorative idol. Instead, he focused on medium to small projects. He wasn't just immersing himself in honing his acting skills but was establishing his actor image through these commercial projects, laying the groundwork for his future transition while attracting box office success.

Recently, with Elephant and his music album, Anson has been in the spotlight, and many believe that this overnight success story has lost his way, blinded by the glamor of the entertainment world.

But now, it seems they were all wrong.

Including Jeff himself.

Jeff couldn't help but develop a heart that cherished talent.

Having been in Hollywood for years, Jeff knew that most actors are just products, created by agents and film companies, much like Barbie dolls. They lack thoughts and souls, becoming just another cookie-cutter product on an assembly line.

This is Hollywood.

They strive to find a successful formula that can be endlessly replicated and repeated.

Only a very small number of actors manage to break free from the mold and have their own vitality.

In Jeff's view, the current top A-list stars, like Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Will Smith, Julia Roberts, and Meg Ryan, still lack that actor's vitality.

Tom Hanks has already broken free, and Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp are in the process of doing so but haven't quite found their way yet.

Remarkably, Jeff saw that Anson was also starting to "break free," trying to take that step ahead before being fully caught in the Barbie doll trap.

Although Jeff couldn't definitively say whether Anson would succeed, this sense of calm and wisdom made him look forward to seeing more.

From a purely factual standpoint, Anson currently doesn't have strong box office appeal. The success of Spider-Man can be attributed to many other factors. If Anson were to carry a project on his own right now, he might not be able to draw audiences to the theaters. But at least Anson dares to take risks and try new things. Instead of remaining a pawn in large projects, he bravely chose to switch roles and become the one moving the pieces.

For this reason alone, Jeff wanted to take on this project.

It was an instinct.

Jeff had always believed that to achieve greatness, one needed not only rationality but also a touch of impulse and risk-taking. To him, those who play it safe and follow the rules would never make a big impact.

After a pause, as thoughts swirled in his mind, Jeff made a decision.

"Go to New Line Cinema. This project is better suited for them."

New Line Cinema was established in 1967, initially focusing on distributing low-budget European and local horror films to schools. After more than a decade of effort, they began producing their own films, still primarily focusing on low-budget horror movies.

In 1990, New Line bought the rights to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from 20th Century Fox, which they hesitated to release, and pushed it into theaters. The film became a major success, turning New Line into one of the top independent film companies in North America.

In 1993, New Line was acquired by Time Warner, becoming a subsidiary of the media giant. However, since the president of New Line still held most of the company's shares, they continued to operate independently.

New Line and Warner Bros. were both under Time Warner but operated separately.

Of course, though they were separate, they still supported each other.

In recent years, New Line has thrived, partly due to Warner Bros.' assistance in distribution and marketing. Warner Bros. even helped with the Oscar campaign for New Line's latest Lord of the Rings series, hoping to see the films win big at the Academy Awards.

When considering Warner Bros.' future development plans, Jeff certainly didn't overlook The Lord of the Rings.

Overall, Warner Bros. focused more on large-scale investment projects, while New Line handled relatively smaller projects. Interestingly, many people might not believe it, but the budget for The Lord of the Rings wasn't that high:

The first film had a budget of around $90.3 million, and the second film around $94 million.

Neither had crossed the $100 million mark.

So, while Jeff could greenlight Anson's project at Warner Bros., it likely wouldn't receive much attention or resources.

Especially considering Anson's rejection of Troy.

Jeff was a straightforward person. Unlike other top executives, he lacked some of the vanity and pretense of the industry and was more grounded as an artist.

"You can choose to work with Warner Bros. I estimate the budget could be between $20 million and $25 million, but the trade-off would be a strict, by-the-book producer who might interfere with the filmmaking process, someone like Chris Bender."

"Also, when the film is released, it may face some resource constraints."

"Sorry, you shouldn't have turned down Troy."

"Of course, if you use joining Troy as a bargaining chip for this project, that would be a different story."

Anson raised his hands in mock surrender, his face full of innocence and sorrow.

Jeff chuckled.

"Or, you could choose to work with New Line. I can help you make the connection, but you might have to go and have a face-to-face meeting."

"For them, the budget probably won't be as high—maybe around $8 million to $15 million, depending on your personal charm."

"However, they are more willing to give small to medium-sized sci-fi projects a chance, allowing you to develop your own unique edge and style. I believe you have your own ideas for this project and this role, and they will give you more creative freedom."

"Keep in mind, though, their distribution resources aren't as strong as Warner Bros.' But they're more experienced in distributing small to medium-sized projects like this."

There were pros and cons.

The key was how Anson positioned himself and what choice he made.

Honestly, Anson hadn't expected such a candid and truthful response.

This was the second time Anson owed Jeff a favor.

Though he jokingly said earlier that this project would repay the favor, Anson knew that Jeff's introduction to Steven Spielberg had been done without any expectation of return. No matter what, this favor was still owed.

And now, it seemed, one favor hadn't been repaid, and another had been added.

This was different from the Hollywood Anson had imagined.

Wasn't it supposed to be all about self-interest? Wasn't it supposed to be full of backstabbing and scheming?

But clearly, Jeff wasn't like that.

Instead, it was Anson who felt a bit embarrassed.

However, expressing thanks with words at this moment would feel cheap. Anson silently noted this favor, but jokingly said, "Jeff, do your superiors at the company know you're speaking ill of them behind their backs?"

Jeff tilted his head, looking serious. "If they find out, I'll know exactly who leaked it."

*Chapter 582: Unexpected Incident*

"Shh."

At the entrance of the conference room, someone signaled for silence, but the quiet only lasted for three seconds. Soon after, the rustling and murmuring resumed, completely out of control.

"Shh!"

"Careful, they might hear us inside!"

No matter what, Jeff Robinov was a top executive at Warner Bros. Even though he was usually approachable, one still had to be cautious.

However—

Curiosity eventually overcame caution. One by one, people pressed their ears against the office door. Some even held disposable paper cups to the wall, acting like spies, whispering gossip to one another.

"Do you think Anson is here to talk about Troy?"

"It must be Troy. What else could it be?"

"Brad Pitt and Anson Wood—what a colossal clash."

"I still don't see what's so special about Anson. He's just a young guy. Real men only gain mature charm after thirty. He’s not on the same level as Brad."

"Heh, if you don't like him, why are you here? Anson has a unique charisma—charisma!"

The whispers continued, impossible to stop.

Lena watched the scene unfold before her and couldn't help but marvel. This kind of allure was definitely star-level. Don't forget, this was Warner Bros.!

The pinnacle of the Hollywood pyramid! A major company that had seen countless top-tier stars!

Yet, at this moment, six people were milling around outside Jeff’s office, openly displaying their curiosity and excitement.

Lena felt a bit nervous, but she was also curious—

What exactly were Anson and Jeff discussing? Chris Bender had just walked out with a gloomy expression, and it didn’t look good.

"Anson Wood"—it wasn’t so much admiration or reverence as it was curiosity. From the moment he appeared, he had piqued Hollywood's interest and, step by step, had swept through the industry in a short time. Even those who didn’t like him couldn’t help but be curious.

That was what made him truly remarkable.

And then—

"He’s coming out, he’s coming out"...

A commotion broke out, and the six people quickly scattered, pretending to be busy with their own work outside Jeff's office, as if they had just coincidentally passed by.

But the truth was, one person was examining a potted plant, practically using a magnifying glass to study the leaf patterns. Lena found it completely unconvincing.

Creak.

The office door opened, and Anson and Jeff appeared, one after the other.

The air suddenly became tense.

Lena hadn’t realized that her previously averted gaze had quietly drifted back. She was sneakily observing every move of that tall figure—

Anson wasn’t blind; he immediately noticed the bustling scene outside the office. The people trying to hide were practically advertising their presence.

Just as Lena was curious about Anson’s expression, she accidentally made eye contact with him.

"Huh!"

Lena instantly held her breath, lowered her head, and clumsily started organizing her already neat files.

Then.

Anson’s voice, warm and pleasant, reached her ears. "Jeff, it seems the rumors about Warner Bros. are wrong. The work atmosphere here is surprisingly relaxed."

Jeff replied, "So, what kind of rumors are out there?"

"Ha, I shouldn’t be the one telling you." Anson chuckled cheerfully. "Good morning, I’m Wood, Anson Wood."

Lena: ???

What was happening?

Typically, when actors are met with onlookers at a film company or set, they usually don’t linger. After all, this is the industry, not an audience unfamiliar with movies. Actors don’t have time to indulge the curiosity of industry insiders.

Leaving directly is considered a positive response; sometimes, actors might even respond with sarcasm or anger.

But Anson?

Lena sneakily looked up and saw Anson confidently stop to greet and shake hands with every person who had been sneaking peeks at the office.

He wasn’t just greeting them; there was light conversation as well.

Laughter, camaraderie—it was all so natural.

Before anyone realized it, the six people had gathered around Anson, with Jeff temporarily playing a supporting role.

This scene… was entirely unexpected.

Gradually, more employees passing by also stopped, and the hushed whispers continued to grow—

This was true star treatment.

It was hard to imagine that this scene was centered around Anson, but Lena didn’t find it odd at all.

Under the spotlight, Anson remained humble yet composed. His demeanor, both bright and gentle, carefree and easygoing, captivated Lena’s gaze, making it impossible for her to look away. Her ability to think completely shut down, and the world around her fell silent.

Until Anson walked directly toward her.

Only then did Lena realize she had boldly made eye contact again. Realizing she had been caught, her heart pounded like a drum. She quickly lowered her head and busied herself aimlessly like a headless chicken.

Then.

A shadow appeared in front of her, looming over her.

Alright, since she had been caught, she might as well be bold.

Lena decisively lifted her head and was met with Anson’s smiling face. "Hey, Anson."

Anson’s lips curled into a gentle smile. "Sorry for causing some chaos this morning. And thank you—I hope we can work together in the future."

Lena: …

What did he say? How should she respond?

Her brain was working too slowly to process it. She could only watch as Anson stepped into the elevator, escorted by a crowd of smiling faces, until the elevator doors closed.

"Ahem."

A cough came from nearby, snapping everyone back to reality. They turned to see Jeff with a serious expression.

Jeff lightly shook his head.

"There’s no need to be so reluctant. There will be more opportunities in the future."

Jeff meant that Anson was no ordinary person. His future was boundless, and he believed Warner Bros. would have more opportunities to work with Anson.

But to the employees, it sounded like something else:

Wait, does this mean Anson is going to star in Troy? Does that mean Anson and Brad will be in the same movie?

Just the thought of it was enough to make everyone excited, their blood rushing to their heads. As they returned to their workstations, their steps were unsteady as if they were walking on clouds.

Not just them—Lena felt the same way.

Now, Lena finally understood all the stories circulating from the Friends set. Even before Spider-Man, even before The Princess Diaries, the crew’s positive stories about Anson had spread by word of mouth. Almost everyone agreed that Anson was indeed someone special.

Unlike with audiences, earning a good reputation among Hollywood insiders is something else entirely. That’s how fame and image spread.

Finally!

The next time people discussed these things, Lena would have her own story to share. Thinking of this, Lena picked up her phone again to share with her friends.

"Ahhh, oh my God, Anson might be starring with Brad! Troy—this movie is going to blow up the summer box office!"

In just a few days, the news that Anson might star in Troy spread like wildfire throughout Hollywood.

Even Jeff was left scratching his head: ??? Huh? How did things escalate to this point?

### Chapter 583: Shoujo Manga

The car was silent. The air inside felt a bit tense, even though nothing particular was happening. However, the faint roar of engines outside the parking lot seemed like a blazing fire, gradually making everyone inside anxious and restless, constantly shifting in their seats.

“Mackie…”

Eric could hardly bear it. Mackie was fidgeting in the driver’s seat as if it were full of thorns, continuously shifting his position, causing the seat to creak and groan, which was grating on Eric’s ears. He couldn’t help but call out.

Mackie responded immediately, turning his head and tucking the loose strands of hair behind his ear. He looked at Eric with a puzzled expression, completely unaware of the noise he was making.

Eric hesitated, words swirling on the tip of his tongue before swallowing them back.

Before Eric could say anything, Mackie started mumbling to himself, trying to calm down.

Since Mackie was driving, Eric turned to look at Anson in the back. When he was about to speak, he realized his mind was a chaotic mess, causing his words to catch in his throat. He blinked in confusion.

Anson looked at Eric and said, “They agreed to cooperate.”

Mackie, who was beside them, was slightly startled and didn’t say anything. He just opened the car window, looked out, and tilted his chin up to bask in the sunlight.

Seeing the eager faces of Eric and Mackie, Anson couldn’t help but chuckle, “Let’s leave here first, shall we?”

Eric: ??? When did that happen?

But Mackie couldn’t be bothered to respond to Eric. He quickly glanced at the rearview mirror.

“In-and-Out, I need to grab some energy. It’s already past lunchtime, right?”

Mackie let out a startled cry, and Eric looked up to see Anson emerging from the elevator, both of them in a flurry of motion.

They had been sitting restlessly, anxious without any updates. But now that the meeting had ended so quickly, a sense of dread gripped their hearts.

The space in the underground parking lot seemed confined and stifling, with the air and time feeling suspended. They finally understood the feeling of being trapped in amber—unable to move, cut off from the outside world. Time seemed to pass, yet also felt like it wasn’t moving at all, leaving them disoriented.

After leaving Warner Bros., Anson and his team headed straight to New Line Cinema, also located in Century City. Anson went upstairs alone, getting straight to the point. They had been busy all morning without realizing how much time had passed, completely missing lunch.

“We had a brief meeting, exchanged opinions, and confirmed our ideas. New Line Cinema is willing to invest in this project, with me as the producer. They’ll also assign an executive producer to handle the specific work.”

A wave of unease spread through their eyes.

Mackie and Eric exchanged glances, both seemingly not fully comprehending what Anson had just said.

Despite this, Mackie couldn’t stop biting his nails, savoring the moment as if he were reluctantly refusing a steak, trying to taste every bit of flavor.

Time seemed to freeze briefly, and then Eric silently turned around, raised his right hand, and bit his coat, letting out a muffled shout—

“Mackie?”

Mackie still hadn’t unbuckled his seatbelt. “Don’t mind me, I’m fine. Anson… Anson!”

Eric hurriedly moved forward but barely took a step before Anson came over, so they both returned to their seats. Eric, acting like a bodyguard, escorted Anson into the back seat, then quickly rushed back to the front passenger seat, eagerly turning to look at Anson, afraid he might miss something important.

At this moment—

Anson didn’t notice the exchange of glances between Eric and Mackie, but he knew the two screenwriters must be anxiously awaiting the outcome, so he didn’t keep them in suspense. As the car left the underground parking lot, he revealed the answer directly.

Mackie, acting like a chauffeur, turned to Anson and asked, “Where are we going now?”

There was no immediate response from the front seat.

“In-and-Out,” Anson said, referring to a hamburger chain that operates only in California. Their specialty is that, to ensure quality, they only have locations in California. Their juicy burgers have made them famous far and wide, becoming something of a local specialty.

In 2013, after Ang Lee won his second Oscar for Best Director with “Life of Pi,” a widely circulated photo showed him holding a burger from In-and-Out, which became an iconic image.

Mackie turned to Eric, and the two quickly exchanged glances:

Based on their experience, meetings that end this quickly usually indicate failure—the other party isn’t interested and just wants to get rid of them, or they ask for the script only to never follow up.

Just as Anson wondered why Mackie was acting like the male lead in a romantic teen drama, Mackie suddenly yelled at a passing car without warning.

After first meeting with Warner Bros. and then heading to New Line Cinema—

“We’re going to make a movie!”

Eric had already jumped out of the car and taken a few steps forward before noticing Mackie wasn’t with him. He turned and called out.

“Never mind, just wait.”

“Cough, cough.”

Stammering, hesitant, a bad thought swirled at the tip of his tongue but didn’t dare to be spoken, for fear that saying it out loud would make it true—

One second, two seconds.

“I’m thirsty; I wanted to ask if you’d like to get a coffee…”

Casually, Anson dropped a bombshell.

Originally, Eric was already extremely nervous, but with Mackie’s added anxiety, his tension doubled. His throat felt like it was on fire, and his heart was racing so fast it seemed on the verge of exploding. He thought he might pass out.

The car started and moved out.

This is New Line Cinema.

Mackie slapped his forehead, “Right, right, right.”

To be precise, it hadn’t even been thirty minutes—at most, only twenty-five minutes had passed before Anson finished his meeting with New Line Cinema. It seemed like he hadn’t even had time to warm up his seat before it was over.

As he spoke, Mackie couldn’t help but glance back at the elevator in the parking lot.

Mackie lunged forward but was pulled back, realizing he hadn’t unbuckled his seatbelt. He fumbled with the seatbelt in a panic, struggling to unbuckle it as his anxiety mounted.

Eric was seriously considering whether he should go outside to get a coffee. Even if he wasn’t thirsty, he could at least get some fresh air.

“Anson.”

“Remember our last meeting with Universal Pictures? We waited nearly two hours just for the producer to show up. Now, it’s not even thirty minutes; Anson must be bored to death waiting in the guest room.”

“You just went up there and came right back down. Did you not meet with them? Or…”

Thirty minutes?

“Anson, uh, so, did everything… go smoothly?”

“Uh, do you mean…?”

Ah!

Ahhhh!

Ah!

All the screams were muffled in his clothes, but the intense tension could still be felt.

Mackie nodded vigorously like a pecking chick, “I was just telling Eric that we need to fill our stomachs.”

“We’re about to start filming a movie, woohoo.”

Tears flew in the wind.

*Chapter 584: Weathering the Storm Together*

Anson froze and glanced out the window, catching a glimpse of Mackie’s face in the rearview mirror—tears streaming down his cheeks.

His usually smooth hair was being whipped wildly by the wind as he shouted with a trembling voice. His slightly reddened eyes sparkled with tears, creating a scene straight out of a pure-hearted romance or a youthful drama. However, when you paired this with Mackie's well-groomed beard and typical nerdy appearance, the whole scenario started to feel oddly out of place.

"We... boohoo... we! We're finally going to shoot our first movie!"

"We're going to be superstars! Hollywood, here we come!"

"Boohoohoo, boohoohoo."

As he spoke, Mackie began crying uncontrollably, his tears and snot mixing together into a messy display.

Anson, feeling awkward, cleared his throat.

“Mackie, Eric, there’s one more issue.”

In an instant, Eric turned around to face Anson again, his eyes filled with fear.

"Do they not want us to direct? That's our bottom line, no way—"

"No, Eric, it’s not that," Anson quickly cut him off before he could spiral further. "I know that’s non-negotiable, and I’ve already secured that for you. Don’t worry; you two are the directors, and the producer won’t be changing the script either."

Mackie finally caught up with the conversation, his nose as red as Rudolph’s, sniffling pitifully as he looked at Anson through the rearview mirror, his tear-filled eyes brimming with anxiety.

Anson made a calming gesture with his right hand. "Calm down, calm down."

"Listen, we haven’t signed anything yet; the contract isn’t finalized. If you’re not happy, you can back out anytime. We can refuse, and if necessary, we’ll move on to the next studio."

"This is Hollywood. We don’t need to put all our eggs in one basket."

What Anson didn’t mention was that he believed DreamWorks and Sony Columbia were their last hopes—the former because of his personal connection with Steven Spielberg, and the latter due to ongoing negotiations over Spider-Man 2. In any case, with Anson’s name attached, they would eventually find an investor.

He was confident about that.

Right now, they were still in control, able to choose the company they wanted to work with. So, Anson wasn’t too worried.

After countless rejections, Eric and Mackie couldn’t help but be on edge, but they finally realized that with Anson as their producer, the project’s fate might have completely changed.

Today was the best proof of that.

Previously, they had been going in circles with no end in sight. But ever since Anson joined them, they had made a breakthrough in just a week—or more accurately, in just one morning.

Seeing Anson’s calm demeanor and the strong confidence radiating from him, the anxiety and restlessness in the car gradually dissipated. After their initial shock and excitement, they managed to regain some composure.

Slowly, Mackie drove into the lane, ready to buy burgers and fries—

"In-N-Out" was initially famous for its drive-thru service, with relatively few customers dining inside.

After placing the order, they circled half the store to pick up their food at the window.

"Hey, Anson."

"Anson Wood!"

"Oh my God, oh my God, Anson, you’re the most handsome man in the world!"

The employee at the window couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw Anson. They let out a string of exclamations and even leaned out of the window, clutching Anson’s right hand tightly while letting out dolphin-like squeals. They resembled a fish out of water, flopping around with all their might.

The scene made Anson chuckle.

After keeping a low profile in Portland and Columbus and now returning to Los Angeles, Anson could feel the overwhelming Spider-Man frenzy growing stronger and stronger—

From Warner Bros. to New Line Cinema to the burger joint they were now at, every step of the way, he could feel the intense gazes from all around. And it wasn’t just from industry insiders or regular audiences—their eyes were full of curiosity and interest.

Anson was truly experiencing the superstar treatment, but instead of the glamorous image he had imagined, the scene in his mind resembled E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

He was the E.T. in this scenario.

Anson flashed a smile. "Shh, let’s keep this a secret. Otherwise, if my personal trainer finds out, my training schedule for next week might double."

A small joke earned an enthusiastic nod from the employee, who used all their strength to agree while still trembling uncontrollably.

Then, one by one, more employees from the store came out to greet Anson, eager to join in the excitement.

Finally, before the crowd could gather further and cause chaos, their car slowly pulled away. Only then did Anson notice Mackie and Eric’s wide-eyed expressions of shock—

Once again, the two writers were forced to reconsider. They suddenly realized that they might never have fully understood Anson’s market appeal.

So, was this a good thing?

Or was it a bad thing? Would the excessive attention on Anson overshadow the film itself, potentially leading to its failure?

For a moment, their minds were filled with swirling thoughts. After the initial surprise and panic, they even forgot how to respond.

Eric stared at the burger in his hand, lost in thought, still preoccupied with the project and completely losing his appetite.

Mackie, who hadn’t planned on eating the burger anyway, swallowed hard and finally couldn’t hold back any longer.

"Anson, what exactly was the issue you mentioned earlier?"

Anson had just taken a bite of his burger and gestured for Mackie to wait a moment as he chewed, swallowed, and then spoke. "The budget."

Both of them froze.

Mackie and Eric immediately realized the seriousness of the situation—

Although they hadn’t planned on making a big-budget commercial film, a lower budget would change everything.

First, the way the crew shot the film could change completely, and they might not be able to use as many visual effects.

Second, the cast and crew might also change, and they wouldn’t be able to hire big-name actors.

Third, if the budget was lower than expected, it would directly affect the film’s release scale and promotional efforts. After all, no studio would spend $50 million to promote a $10 million movie. Both the screening and marketing resources would be reduced.

A single budget change could affect a lot of things.

However, Mackie and Eric had already anticipated this possibility. With the two of them directing, they lacked the star power, so if they insisted on directing, they would have to make some sacrifices.

That’s why they initially insisted on a $20 million budget. It wasn’t that the film actually needed that much money; it was a strategy.

If they could secure that amount, it would be great. But if not, they had room to negotiate and compromise.

It was all part of the plan.

Unfortunately, so far, whenever a producer or studio heard that Mackie and Eric planned to direct their debut film, they didn’t even give them a chance to negotiate or adjust. They simply brushed it off and… that was the end of it.

Now, it seemed that the $20 million idea might have been a terrible one that scared away the producers and studios from the start.

Taking a deep breath, Mackie looked into the rearview mirror. "What’s the budget?"

"Ten million dollars," Anson said.

*Chapter 585: Fair Trade*

"Ten million dollars."

With just a few words, the price was slashed in half.

New Line Cinema prides itself on being an independent film company, even for projects like "The Lord of the Rings," where they consistently strive to control costs. However, now that it has been acquired by Warner Bros., the company's nature has inevitably changed, adopting the perspective and posture of a major studio.

Even though McKee and Eric were mentally prepared, they still gasped, their minds freezing as they struggled to react.

Anson understood the gravity of the situation, so he continued without pause, "Of course, we have two options."

One is Warner Bros., and the other is New Line Cinema.

At this point, Anson shared Jeff Robinov's suggestion, offering it to McKee and Eric for consideration.

"Different choices, different outcomes."

The car became quiet as McKee and Eric wrestled with their inner conflicts—

They thought the situation had finally turned around, but now it seemed that solving one problem only led to another, with possibly more to come.

This only further proves that the roles of producer and actor are entirely different.

This is the true face of Hollywood.

Everything is tied to interests, with each gate leading to another. For those like them, at the bottom of the pyramid, they have no voice. As a result, they face one bloodsucker after another, each layer stripping away their rights and interests.

This is one of the key reasons why Eric and McKee kept hitting walls, becoming trapped—

Thinking that talent alone could open doors is unrealistic.

However, the current situation is slightly different:

Anson.

At least among them, Anson is someone who has a preliminary say in things. The recent events at the fast-food chain also reinforced this impression.

Eric, being straightforward, turned to Anson, "What do you think?"

"I choose New Line," Anson said without hesitation. As the producer, he felt he should take a professional stance in the film's production decisions.

McKee furrowed his brow, showing some concern. "But with this budget…"

McKee glanced at the rearview mirror: even Anson's salary might be at risk.

Anson caught on, "If we go with New Line, I'll forgo my salary and instead take 10% of the box office revenue as my stake."

Although there's no hard rule, the difference between projects usually comes down to specific negotiations. Generally, the box office revenue share cap for directors, producers, and actors is 20%. To exceed this, you'd need to be someone like Steven Spielberg or Tom Cruise.

In other words, if they manage to strike a deal with New Line Cinema and secure a 20% share, Anson would take half of it.

But what if they can't?

In Hollywood, only a few directors, actors, and writers get a cut of the box office. Most just take their salary, and that's almost always the case for people like McKee and Eric.

So, not reaching that 20% share is the likely outcome.

Anson would still get his 10%, at the expense of McKee and Eric giving up part of their share.

See, Anson producing "The Butterfly Effect" isn’t exactly charity work.

Though McKee and Eric are the writers and directors, the original creators of the project, without Anson, it likely wouldn't even get filmed, let alone reach an audience. Even if they found a company willing to invest, the box office revenue might just be an illusion.

It's really that simple.

So, Anson took the lion’s share of the revenue without guilt; in fact, asking for just 10% without pushing for 15% or 18% is already considerate.

Of course, taking the biggest share also means Anson bears significant risk—

He would earn nothing upfront, completely performing for free.

If the movie fails, Anson’s losses would be severe. Although it wouldn’t ruin his career, his next attempt to produce or challenge different roles might face more obstacles.

After all, the entertainment industry has always been tough on those perceived as mere eye candy.

Now, Anson is truly in the same boat as McKee and Eric, facing the storm together.

The more it’s like this, the more they need honesty, which is the foundation of good cooperation. So without any pretense, Anson straightforwardly laid out his terms.

For a moment, the car was silent, with only the sound of the wind whistling by.

Anson didn’t say anything further, not trying to convince or influence their judgment—

It's a collaboration, after all. A forced deal wouldn’t be satisfying; if they agree, that’s great. If not, there’s no need to strain relationships; it’s just business.

Then.

Eric cautiously turned to the side, "Anson, so, about how much box office revenue do you think we can get?"

McKee glared at Eric, "Does that really matter?"

Eric stiffened his neck, "How does it not? I’m about to be unable to pay rent, and now with New Line cutting the budget, our writer and director income might also be offset as production costs, meaning we'll have to rely on box office revenue. This means we’ll have to stick it out for another six months. I need to know if it's worth it!"

Honestly, they’re not saints who would sacrifice themselves for art. Everyone has their struggles, and things are far from simple.

McKee sighed deeply, "Eric, I understand your difficulties, I’m in the same boat, but the key here is maintaining control over the script, editing, and filming. Otherwise, if the movie ends up like ‘Alien 3,’ no amount of box office share will matter, because the movie might not even cover distribution and theater costs."

"We need to ensure the film's success."

"If the box office reaches a hundred million dollars, even just 1% of that share would be considerable."

However, Eric shook his head, "We’re already struggling to make it until the film’s release, we might be evicted by then. So, are you planning to sleep on the set?"

"If I know the revenue share, at least I can go beg my family for money or even apply for a bank loan. It would be persuasive; otherwise, we might not even last until then."

Both had valid points.

Seeing that McKee was about to argue further, Anson quickly interrupted.

"We still need to negotiate the box office share with New Line Cinema, but I believe that a 20% share for the core creative team is achievable. They’re cutting production costs, and we’re investing our talent, both sides taking on risk. They have no reason to refuse."

"As for creative control."

"McKee, this is our condition for choosing New Line Cinema. They won’t interfere with the film’s creation. The executive producer will only be responsible for controlling the budget and overseeing production, leaving all creative aspects to you two."

"If they don’t agree, we can always go with Warner Bros."

Although Warner Bros. might interfere creatively, Anson doesn’t see himself as someone to be pushed around. Let’s see who can outlast whom in a standoff with the studio.

Clearly, just like McKee and Eric, Anson has his own calculations.