Behind The Spotlight Chapter 248
"The movie barely grossed $100 million," the producer said with dismissal. He crossed his arms to assert dominance in the negotiation.
"At the North American box office. Don't act like it's a small feat. How many movies can gross over $100 million in just one continent? If Whiplash was released internationally, the movie might have surpassed $250 million," Collin replied.
The producer snorted... But Collin was actually right. Axel's performance in his last movie was amazing and even praised by the critics. On top of that, despite being a psychological drama, the movie grossed over $100 million at the North American box office. It was no simple feat, especially for a genre known to struggle commercially.
Still, the producer would never admit that he was wrong. If he admitted it, he would lose his position and authority in the room. Hierarchy mattered in many negotiations, especially when large sums of money were at stake.
"..." He gritted his teeth. It seemed that Collin wouldn't leave without getting what he wanted. The tension in the room thickened as both sides understood that neither would back down easily.
'Damn talent agents. These people shouldn't exist in Hollywood. If I met Axel personally and negotiated with him, he would probably agree to lower his salary to $3 million.' The producer internally complained.
Agents like Collin existed precisely to prevent such undercutting of their clients' worth.
...
...
...
Later that day, Axel was playing Tekken with his son when his phone rang. The atmosphere at home was relaxed, a contrast to the heated negotiations happening between Collin and the producer.
"$20 million salary and 10% worldwide box office share." That was Collin's welcome sentence, straight to the point. He didn't bother with small talk, knowing that the number itself would capture Axel's attention instantly.
"..." Axel was speechless. His other hand froze mid-game, which led to his son landing a full wrestling combo using King.
"Deal." His answer came instantly. There was no hesitation, as he understood how valuable such an offer was for his career.
No reason to say no. That was his biggest salary so far. He was eager to sign the deal and get his money as soon as possible. At the same time, he felt grateful for having an agent who could push negotiations to such favorable terms on his behalf.
...
...
...
"Collin! Welcome!" Lawrence laughed and greeted Collin with a wide smile, pulling him into a hug. The music was quite loud, so Lawrence slightly raised his voice. The lively energy of the party was contagious, with laughter and chatter echoing through the large house.
Today was the actor's birthday, and he was throwing a party at his house in Beverly Hills. He had invited many people, including his family, whom he had rarely interacted with this past year because he was keeping his marriage a secret.
Now that Lawrence was free from those shackles and divorced, he went all out with his birthday party and enjoyed himself to the fullest. It was his way of celebrating freedom and starting a new chapter in his life without restrictions.
"Lawrence, happy birthday. Here's my gift." Collin gave his present to Lawrence, it was a watch... quite expensive for Collin's taste. Lawrence grinned and passed the gift to his assistant. He had received many gifts from people today. The stack of presents kept growing, showing how wide Lawrence's social circle had become over the years.
"Take this to my room," he said to his assistant with a casual wave.
Lawrence put his arm over Collin's shoulder and invited him in, guiding him deeper into the house. Collin caught sight of the pool and saw women swimming in bathing suits, their giggles blending with the music.
"What? You like one of them? How about it? I can introduce you to these pretty girls," Lawrence teased his agent. Most of the women who got into the party were in the entertainment industry. Some were models, some were small-time actresses, while some were avid fans of Lawrence who had snuck in...
It wasn't unusual for such gatherings to attract people hoping to network or simply enjoy the glamorous environment.
"How did they get into your party?" Collin asked dryly.
"A friend of mine helped me manage the party and he invited these women," Lawrence shrugged.
"..." Collin was not even surprised. He glanced once more at the pool and saw some women smoking... It might not have been a simple cigarette. He silently noted the potential risks.
"You invited your relatives too?" Collin asked, changing the subject.
"Yeah, I miss them. They want to celebrate my birthday." His parents had actually interrogated him about his ex-wife, but Lawrence didn't say much. He avoided deep conversations, preferring to keep things light during the celebration.
"..." Collin didn't know what to say.
"Anyway, the others have already arrived." Lawrence clapped his hands.
Lawrence led him to another part of the house, which was less crowded. When they entered, they found Axel, Wyatt and his girlfriend Elise, Jennifer, Princess Chantal, and even Isabella drinking happily. The group seemed relaxed, enjoying each other's company without the usual pressure of work.
"Collin, you're here!" Wyatt raised his wine glass and laughed, looking slightly flushed.
"You guys are already drunk," Collin sighed with a light smile, which made his clients laugh. He felt a sense of comfort seeing everyone enjoying themselves freely.
"Collin, I miss you!" Princess Chantal went in for a hug, and Collin hugged her back, patting her head.
"Don't drink too much. You have a rehearsal tomorrow," he reminded her.
"You're always so serious," Princess Chantal pouted, though her eyes sparkled with affection.
Collin found his seat and Lawrence gave him a beer, he preferred beer as it didn't make him drunk as quickly.
The whole lineup had met again after so long. Each of them was busy with their own lives and projects. It was very rare for everyone to attend a party together. Fortunately, they had a free schedule today, and since Lawrence had invited them, it would have been awkward not to attend. Moments like this strengthened their bond.
Anyway, they talked about many topics.
Jennifer and the others were curious about Lawrence's wife, only to be shocked by the news that the couple had already divorced.
"That fast!?"
"Well, it is what it is." Lawrence didn't elaborate and just laughed. He was not comfortable telling anyone about his relationship with Emma, his emotions were quite complicated to define. Even he struggled to fully understand what he truly felt about everything that had happened.
Then, the topic turned to Collin.
"Why do I feel like something is different about you?" Isabella frowned while staring at Collin.
"That's also what I'm thinking," Lawrence agreed. For some reason, Collin had changed, but they couldn't explain it.
"It's his smile," Wyatt chuckled. Being a movie director, he was sensitive to people's facial expressions.
"Now that you mention it, Collin's smile is indeed quite carefree," Isabella agreed.
"Has something good happened to you lately?" Axel asked, but Collin just chuckled and sipped his drink.
Collin had completely moved on from his past relationship. On top of that, Collin and Lila had been seeing each other. It wasn't official yet and they hadn't reached third base, but they had been dating for a while. They wanted to take it slow and were enjoying the process of getting to know each other.
Suddenly, someone entered the room with food. It was a woman wearing a microkini, to the point that almost everything on her body was visible.
Everyone was stunned. Even Princess Chantal and Isabella blushed slightly because the woman was so daring. The unexpected entrance shifted the mood momentarily, making them uncomfortable.