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The melodious and soothing piano sound echoed in the cafe, making it even quieter. Duke sat next to the window, slowly lowered the coffee cup in his hand, and looked at Lovett across the street calmly.

Duke did not expect that the former agent was so persistent. He just declined his proposal on the phone yesterday, and today he chased New York. His sincere appearance could not tell at all that he had asserted that he had no future in Hollywood a year ago.

Although he couldn't help but feel a little proud, Duke wouldn't show it on his face, and he was observing Lovett, and Lovett was also observing him.

For Lovett, he really couldn't see the person sitting opposite him. They had worked together for five years. Duke Rosenberg was a rookie with no potential in any aspect. As for the so-called directorial talent, he had watched two experimental films shot by Duke, which were all messy things that he didn't know at all.

This is not his own idea. CAA took the initiative to give up a client with strict review procedures and gave up Duke Rosenberg can be said to be the will of the entire CAA, but the result is obvious, and the entire CAA has seen it.

But the mistakes made by CAA now need him to make up for.

Although coming to New York was related to Michael Orwitz's forced order, Lovett was willing to do so.

Three days have passed this week's working day. "The Speed ​​of Life and Death", which was still hovering at the box office of more than $66 million last weekend, has accumulated over the past three days, and the box office in North America is about to reach $80 million!

This is the third week of the film's massive release. Even if the fiercely competitive summer season kicks off, "The Speed ​​of Life and Death" will definitely stay in theaters for a while. The box office in North America is not sure that it can hit the $100 million mark...

A new director who was only 22 years old and had a box office of over 100 million US dollars in the first official feature film?

Thinking of this alone, Lovett was enough to throw away all his face, even if he slapped himself, he had to sign Duke back to his own position.

"Duke, I urgently ask you to seriously consider my suggestions."

On that professional face, the shrewdness and indifference of the agent disappeared, and all the revealed sincerity was full of sincerity. Even Lovett's eyes staring at Duke could be described as fierce. "CAA is Hollywood's largest agency company, occupying half of the actor market. We can plan the future for you, and the resources in my hands will definitely be tilted towards you first..."

These conditions are really touching. Lovett then took out CAA's killer weapon, "The most important thing is that CAA can provide package services for your works. You only need to focus on your directorial career. CAA can do it for you in other aspects."

"It seems that this is not the director, but the CAA's puppet, right?" Duke suddenly interrupted.

"Uh..." Lovett was stunned. He had never considered this issue. At this moment, he suddenly realized that it was indeed a bit like it.

"Lovitt, I'm just a little director."

He picked up the coffee cup and Duke took another sip, then he said in Lovet's earnest gaze that he looked straight, "I've just got on the road..."

"Then you should join CAA!"

Hearing the other party's words, Duke slowly shook his head, "What CAA is best at is what I don't like the most."

"Packaging service?" Lovett immediately reacted.

"Yes." Duke nodded and said in a calm tone, "As the number one giant in entertainment brokerage, CAA naturally has to control everything, control its actors, directors, producers and even their works, but I am also a person with a strong desire to control. I will not hand over my own works to others."

He did want to hold CAA's thigh before, but his purpose was very clear. CAA is the tool and step for him to realize the director's dream. As long as he has the capital, he will definitely kick CAA out. As a director, he doesn't like CAA's packaging services very much.

Spielberg, who has a relatively gentle personality, can be voted under CAA, and the tyrant James Cameron on the set has never missed CAA, whether in the past, present or in the future, and he is extremely resistant to their package service. Although Duke's temper, personality and achievements are far from comparable to truck drivers, he has also taken the first critical step. He does not want his crew to be a toy controlled by CAA in the future.

It can be said that all directors with strong desire for control are born to be in conflict with CAA.

"Duke, please think about it carefully."

Packaging services is the most basic strategy of CAA. Lovett will definitely not give Duke any promises in this regard. Moreover, Duke's current status is not worth the CAA's efforts. "Adding to CAA will only benefit your future development."

"No need to think about it." Duke gave the answer directly, "CAA won't change for me, so I refuse."

Having said this, there was no need to continue. Lovett said a few beautiful scenes and left the cafe first.

Drinking the coffee from the cup, Duke left the cafe and walked along the crowded streets of Brooklyn toward the hotel.

He is not worried about what CAA will do. Many people in Hollywood invest in CAA, and many people refuse to join CAA. If they do things because the other party refuses to join CAA, they don’t have to do normal business anymore.

When he arrived at the door of the hotel, Duke found that there were many people around him. They held the poster of "The Speed ​​of Life and Death" and would occasionally shout a few names of Keanu Reeves or Uma Thurman. The director, as he walked into the hotel from under their eyes, but no one could recognize it.

The directors of this era, especially those who only have one work, are really not paying attention to it. Duke will not be psychologically imbalanced because of such trivial matters, and he doesn't care.

Just at the hotel lobby resting place, Naomi Watts was sitting here with Nancy Josephson. Her blue-green eyes fell on the crowded people at the door through the hotel's glass door. They were also an actor who played "The Speed ​​of Life and Death". Her treatment with the male and female protagonists can only be described as completely different.

Becoming famous is the desire and dream of everyone who comes to Hollywood to be an actor. She is no exception, otherwise she would not have stayed in Los Angeles to work hard.

"He's back." Naomi Watts immediately stood up and walked over, waved, "Duke."

Hearing a familiar voice, Duke turned his head, "Hello, Nami."

“Do you have time?”

Seeing Duke's puzzled look at him, she said directly, "My agent Nancy, you have seen him, she wants to talk to you."

"broker?"

As soon as this thought was turned in my mind, Duke guessed the other party's possible purpose. Hollywood is indeed a place that can only pursue successful people.

Five minutes later, Duke and Nancy Josephson sat in the cafe on the second floor of the hotel. As for Naomi Watts, she was just a referee and had been sent away by her agent.

"You want to be my agent?" Duke looked at Nancy Josephson seriously.

The matter was just as he guessed, and the other party came up and expressed his intention.

“ICM company can provide you with the best service, and I am the future inheritance of ICM…”

Before Nancy Josephson could finish his words, Duke raised his hand and interrupted her, "I know something about ICM and also its position in the industry. To be honest, Nancy, I just met someone from CAA."

"It is undeniable that CAA has more resources in its hands." Nancy Josephson obviously made ample preparations, "but don't forget that they have more famous directors and actors in their hands. Joining CAA, even within it, you will face very fierce competition."

"It's true!"

This is a recognized fact, and Duke did not deny it. He thought about it carefully for a while and said slowly, "I also have several conditions. These are the prerequisites for me to cooperate with any economic person, otherwise I would rather have no agent."

Nancy Josephson made a gesture to say.

"First, I don't like the packaging service of the brokerage company very much. I don't like the brokerage company behind it interfering with my crew. Second, the brokerage company must not interfere in my private life. I have no interest in marionettes. Third, I may sometimes do some measures that the brokerage company cannot understand. Fourth..."

As Duke listed one by one, Nancy Josephson's face became darker and darker. According to Duke, the agency could only be in the most basic service provider.

Many of the conditions Duke mentioned were just to say, and negotiations with brokerage companies require a lot of money to be paid locally. Of course, just like treating CAA, he will not let the brokerage company interfere too much in his work and life. Both parties should clarify their respective status. He is not a star cultivated by economic companies through hardships. He pays the brokerage company commissions, and they only provide him with necessary services.

He really doesn't have much capital now. If the other party doesn't want to give the conditions, he can turn around and leave. Anyway, he will not compete with other directors for the director position of scripts or other crews. He needs more a suitable negotiator.

"I need to think about it..." Nancy Josephson said after thinking for a while.

"I need to consider it too..." Duke didn't hide his thoughts, "and you need to know more about ICM and yourself."

Whether it is an agent or the goal they are eager to sign, no one will just listen to the other party’s issuance of a series of blank checks and then sign an agency contract in a hurry. Just as a film company will strictly review each movie to be established, this requires a process of investigation.

Duke would not consider it, and ICM's Nancy Josephson could be used as an alternative. After returning to the room, he hung up the phone to Robin Grand and learned about some of the other party's situation.

One of them indirectly proves that this is a very capable agent. Nancy Josephson is preparing a sitcom for Warner, and the name of the sitcom is tentatively set to "Six People"!

Duke attaches more importance to Nancy Josephson.

However, under those outrageous conditions, it is still unknown whether the other party will be interested in him. Duke just believes that she can indeed be ranked as an agent with relatively strong abilities.

(Tomorrow's birthday, my friend made an appointment to have dinner together in the afternoon to celebrate the upcoming fourth year. Chapter 2 is a little late. There is another chapter after twelve o'clock. Please support me! Recommend, collect more things!)
Chapter completed!