Behind The Spotlight Chapter 11
The three took their seats after a brief exchange of greetings and some small talk.
William looked at Wyatt with clear interest, his youthful face trying to appear composed. However, it couldn't hide the fact that the young guy was new to this.
It was normal for an investor to be interested in the director of a movie, as the director's vision would ultimately shape the film's direction and quality.
After all, the director was usually the key factor in determining whether the movie would be successful, both creatively and commercially.
"We talked yesterday on the phone, remember?"
"I'm thankful that you gave me a chance," Wyatt replied, his voice full of genuine gratitude.
Actually, Wyatt was surprised, because he hadn't expected that the person he spoke with yesterday was still in his late teens, someone who looked like he had just graduated from high school.
The voice on the phone had been deeper, so Wyatt had assumed the person was an adult in his late twenties, at least.
But now that he saw William in person, Wyatt was speechless and a bit stunned by the difference between the voice and the face.
Why? Because a teenager who could provide hundreds of thousands of dollars was no ordinary person. He had to come from serious money, influence, family, inheritance, or whatever it was.
"Lila talked about it and said your script is interesting and has commercial potential. She said I could double my money, hehe, so I'm going for it. I trust her decision."
"..."
Collin realized that the young guy probably had no idea about the complex clauses involved in movie investments, the kind that could trap investors in complicated revenue splits... He briefly entertained the idea of scamming the young guy but quickly shook the thought from his mind.
"Wyatt is a promising director, and he'll make an amazing movie that will bring you a lot of profit once it hits the theaters."
Honestly, Collin was just spewing nonsense at this point. He knew it, but he kept going. All he had was the golden words above Wyatt's head. That was the only assurance he could hold onto, like a gambler clutching a lucky charm. But it wasn't even an assurance at all.
In the past few days, he'd seen some people with white and yellow talent above their heads, but it wasn't enough to confirm his theories. So far, only Wyatt had the golden talent.
Does golden talent guarantee immediate success? Collin was still trying to find the answer.
Collin was gambling with everything he had, his credibility and his reputation were on the line.
"I see, I see. Then let's sign the contract!"
William nodded enthusiastically, like a child buying a toy. As though he didn't care about the six-figure investment.
"..."
Collin glanced at Wyatt... The young director was simply happy that someone was willing to trust him. He didn't see anything strange.
'First of all, this guy didn't try to negotiate at all! He's just upfront and rushing things like it's pocket change. We're talking about $200,000, not some fucking high school allowance,' Collin thought, his disbelief growing.
Most of the time, investors would negotiate for a better deal with complex terms and demands.
They'd fight for a higher profit share and copyright ownership. It was like a tug-of-war for authority.
But this kid was different, in the most generous way.
'... He's clueless about how movies make money or just doesn't care enough to ask.'
Well, William was still just a kid, after all. A kid with an enormous amount of money.
This was their first meeting, and Collin hadn't expected the investor to agree so easily without hesitation. Not even reviewing the proposal in detail... Collin should have called his lawyer to get things wrapped up quickly.
"I'll call my lawyer." William stood up casually, pulling out his phone as if he were about to order a pizza.
"Oh, by the way, how about I increase my investment to $300,000? I don't want the budget to be tight, so I'll increase it to make sure everything runs smoothly."
He smiled with the innocence of someone who didn't understand what $100,000 meant to most people.
"Absolutely. We're happy to hear that and we truly appreciate your support."
Collin also stood up and went to the receptionist to call his lawyer immediately... Yes, Collin didn't have a cellphone. He had to ask the receptionist on the 10th floor for a favor.
He didn't want to let go of this opportunity, no matter how unusual it felt. Besides, a higher budget meant more security for filming and better props, which would elevate the production quality.
As for Wyatt, he was still daydreaming with happiness in his eyes and disbelief on his face. The young aspiring director was still shocked that he'd secured an investment in just a few days.
Wyatt glanced at Collin, who was sweating a little while walking out the reception room. Wyatt realized that he had an amazing agent! It was tough to find an investor, but Collin had done that in such a short amount of time, he was clearly good at this!
Moreover, Wyatt was taken aback when he realized that Collin could casually walk to the highest floor and look for the CEO as if he belonged there!
His status was not simple. Maybe Collin had more power in the industry than Wyatt had originally assumed.
Being new to the industry, Wyatt decided that he needed to stay close to his agent and never take that connection for granted. An agent with strong ties to management could help him find jobs and open up opportunities.
Half an hour later, two lawyers finalized the contract after reviewing the terms. William shook Collin and Wyatt's hands with a satisfied grin on his face, clearly pleased with the deal.
"Lila said I could make money if I invest in your project. Hehe, $300,000 is just a portion of my monthly allowance, so I hope you won't feel pressured because of my investment. Just do your best." William rubbed his nose, a bit shy.
"..."
Collin was speechless.
'Damn, some rich kid,' he thought.
Now, Collin understood. This negotiation meant nothing to the young guy! It was just a game for him, a casual gamble, not a serious business move at all!
Collin finally understood why William hadn't fought for more benefits or profit share.
Just like that, they received $300,000 from William with almost zero resistance.
The contract was simple. William would invest $300,000 in exchange for 30% of the movie's profit. In essence, he owned 30% of the movie, including the copyrights.
Collin and Wyatt were required to return the $300,000 initial investment to William, plus the 30% profit after the movie's release and revenue collection...
It was, in fact, an incredible deal for them, almost unheard of. William didn't demand the complete copyrights, and his profit share was only 30%. It was an amazing scenario for small-time filmmakers like them.
As an agent, Collin knew this was a feast served on a silver platter. No, it was a golden platter!