The My Hollywood System
Chapter 112

Regardless of what the media claimed, Dream Talent Agency and ICM were actually not enemies. They are rival companies. In business, there is no lasting relationship. They change constantly, by changing agendas and changing times.

The power of money and opportunity necessitates that fact. And that's why entrepreneurs around the world, who followed the treatise written by Sun Tzu, know that in Business keep close friends, and enemies closer, and that, it really just means keeping a close relationship with everyone on the field.

If an entrepreneur follows that, opportunities will come knocking from the most unexpected places.

“We have an offer for the role, from ICM and Jenkins Agency, I have copied the email to you,” Jeremy said. Both he and Will, sitting in Will's office, they had just finished discussing the details to be displayed on [1917] with director Lucas, and now they were discussing the possibility of the next move, he said, which the company will take with [500 summer days].

“OK, I want you to view profiles from ICM and Jenkins and select suitable candidates from the list. And schedule the fastest meeting with the CEO of ICM.” will answer.

“Are we moving towards a friendlier relationship with ICM?” Jeremy asked nervously.

Will shook his head and said, “No, any relationship we build with ICM is only for the benefit of cooperation. They have their agenda, we have our agenda. Their ambition is to be top in Hollywood, and so are we, but that doesn't mean that we can't use the opportunities afforded to us while continuing to keep an eye on the field situation of their employees and talent there. And I'm sure they'll do the same to us. One of their agendas is to look for possible talent from our agency and we will be similar, if not the same thing. A real friendly relationship will go a long way, in achieving that for both of us, while simultaneously we can work to improve the public image of our relationship as well.”

“So basically, make your friend rich, and your enemy rich, then find out which one?” Jeffery asked her, after pausing for a moment.

“Technically,” Will confirms.

“Alright, Will, I'll tell Amanda about meeting arrangements, and I'll check out the list, let's see where this will take us. I'll trust you for this one.” Jefri sighed.

Saying that, Jeffery nodded at Will and left his office. Will sat in his chair, pondering while looking at the beautiful sunset outside his window.

***

In the conference room of the MCA building, in Los Angeles, California. Meetings between the board of directors and other executives are ongoing.

Matthew Collins, MCA CEO presides over trial. Beside her is her niece Steve Collins, head of Public Relations, on the other hand is Christine Collins, wife of Steve Collins, who is the head of the finance department. All three together constitute the majority of the company's shares. Besides them, indoors, was Benjamin Charles, the leading Agent, and with him was another agent working for the company.

They discussed the fiscal quarter-end deal, and the company's future projections.

“Surely, the actors realize that we are still as good as we used to be? I mean, we still have a turnover of over 400 million this year.” Matthew interrupted.

Christine shook her head and pointed out, “From that 400 million, twenty-five percent only comes from [17 More] and it's easily attributed to Will Evans, he said, he is considered an anomaly in numbers by most companies in the industry. And the actors know that. They look past the works associated with him and look for information and data given to him outside the picture.”

“But we are working on [17 More], it was just written by the boy!” Matthew demands.

“Well, when I said that she was treated as an anomaly, it covered everything she had touched, and that included the script she wrote for our film. The only way out of this, is if we show that we can still produce a film that guarantees a good return at the box office, or we associate ourselves with Will Evans and his company. His image will be a game changer if we can prove that he is partnering with our company.” He suggested.

Matthew's face showed a series of emotions that Benjamin could classify as irritated, and disgusted, followed by anger, and he didn't have to think too hard to know that the next question would be directed at him.

“Alright, we have some projects that we propose to work on by the boy's company. Benjamin, what happened at the meeting? Did your team finalize the deal? ” As he expected, the next set of questions was for him.

Taking a deep breath, Benjamin scanned the room around him, he could already see an expression of pity being thrown at him. They were empty of course, he knew it, and he didn't want it either, but they were there. Looking at the CEO, he replied in a professional tone, as he could muster, “I did send one of my best agents, Reagan Norris' direct agent, Jacob Woodsworth, to meet with Will. They rejected the terms, they considered a ten percent box office clause, a price that was too high for Reagan Norris.”

That's when Matthew's nephew Steve interrupts “I have information from a credible source that the DTA has approached every other company in the Big Six, and they have agreed to start a meeting with at least two, one of them is ICM. Roles offered to our actors, now on the open market.”

Matthew's facial mutter is now akin to hatred, and Benjamin must swallow a wave of anger at the CEO's blindness, caused by his arrogance, which threatens to flow through him. He instead calmly tried to calm down, “If we remove the ten percent box office clause, we might still get a role for Reagan. I did tell you before that the clause was too steep, they wouldn't accept it. ”

Matthew cut it, “No, this is too much. The kid doesn't know how to maintain good business relationships. Sometimes, you have to accept a raw deal to appease a sleeping tiger. Now he's trying and aiming too far from his position, and he's showing us his fangs. Kittens can growl as they please, but they are usually very careful around tigers. Now the tiger has awakened and this one is ready to roar. If he wants to destroy all possible relationships with us, then so be it. We will reply with everything we have as well.”

Benjamin couldn't believe the level of ignorance the CEO showed. His arrogance, ego, and pride, backed up by his constant record of success as a niche in the industry has blinded him from his mistakes. He could see that everyone else in the room, including his nephew's wife felt the same way as Benjamin.

He tried again to appease the CEO by saying, “Master, try me one more time. I'm sure, if I go have a meeting with Will, we can achieve better results.”

Matthew looked at Benjamin and for a moment, it seemed like he wanted to growl, but he held back his emotions and let out, “Good! One turn, Benjamin. And just because you're one of my oldest and most efficient employees. I'll give the boy one chance. After this, we burned all the bridges and prepared for whatever fight was ahead of us. We have come out of worse things than this, we will do it again.”

'We've come out of worse things before, Matthew. But at the time, we had a reliable team on the board that made decisions, not a family that ruled the company like a dynasty.' Benjamin retorted internally as the meeting ended. He had to go to his office, and call his wayward nephew to arrange a meeting now. He wondered if there was another way for him to get out of this.