Behind The Spotlight Chapter 13
While Collin and Wyatt were talking in the park, Lila Seraphina secured a deal with CBA Network after several days of intense negotiation. CBA was one of the major television networks in the United States, with nationwide coverage.
Talent agencies had various ways of generating income depending on their clients and areas of specialization. However, their most profitable model was known as the Package Deal. A method that allowed agencies to earn a substantial share of the revenue.
ANT, as one of the largest talent agencies in Hollywood with a roster of A-list celebrities, writers, and behind-the-scenes experts, profited by signing contracts with production studios and television networks, offering to manage an entire project from start to finish.
This meant that for a single project (whether a movie or a TV series), the entire cast, directors, producers, and production crew came from the same agency. Each was carefully selected to execute the production. This model was common in Hollywood, especially for agencies aiming to dominate both the creative and financial aspects of a project. The studio or network only had to pay a lump sum and the agency handled the rest.
Agencies could negotiate terms that heavily favored them, often maximizing profits by hiring lesser-known talents and managing tighter production budgets.
However, lesser-known didn't mean untalented. In fact, many of these individuals were hidden gems, waiting for the right opportunity to shine.
Hollywood was full of gifted people who had yet to find their big break, sometimes due to poor timing, bad luck, or simply a lack of connections.
In this setup, the studio just paid the agency, and the agency delivered a complete production, ready to roll.
This method had its pros and cons.
The advantages were that casting became far less time-consuming, as the agency already had a roster of talent ready to go. The studio also didn't need to hire additional crew, since everything from screenwriters to costume designers was already provided by the agency. It was quick, easy, and ideal for studios wanting to save time.
The cons? They were monopolizing the business which would prevent small-time employees to get jobs.
Now, Lila had successfully closed a deal for a new TV series with a mid-tier budget and a promising script. All they needed was the investment, and pre-production could begin immediately with no hassle.
ANT had the writers, directors, producers, and actors ready to fill every role. The advantages of a package deal were on full display.
After leaving the TV network building, Lila received a call from William.
The woman offered a faint smile as she answered. Her tone was, as always, serious.
"You signed the contract? That's amazing. I didn't expect them to agree that quickly, very impressive. You're lucky they gave you a chance."
As the CEO of a talent agency in an industry driven by power, influence, image, and language, Lila Seraphina was, unsurprisingly, skilled at lying. She had no shortage of charm.
She knew full well that a rich kid from Silicon Valley like William had no clue how the entertainment industry worked.
William was the eighth son of Ellijah Edward, a tech mogul and founder of one of the most powerful software companies in the world. William had 16 siblings, 15 of whom were half-siblings from different mothers, each with their own ambitions.
Ellijah Edward was a genius and a billionaire, but he was also a notorious playboy. He fathered so many children that tabloids once joked he was founding a nation. Publicly, he declared that only one of his children would inherit Database Giant, his most valuable asset. The heir would be the one who proved themselves without his help.
As a result, the Edward children had entered into a fierce competition. Many succeeded in launching their own businesses and breaking into industries beyond Silicon Valley in order to stand out.
William, one of the youngest, was determined to prove himself, even if he didn't fully understand how business worked.
Unfortunately, he lacked basic business acumen.
Still in high school, William was easily distracted and lacked the maturity and skills his older siblings had already cultivated. Worse, his siblings did everything in their power to sabotage his chances of success.
William's monthly allowance was $1 million. A modest sum compared to his siblings, who enjoyed private jets and unlimited corporate credit cards.
This time, Lila had "helped" the kid by convincing him to invest in Wyatt's project with smooth lies and a persuasive smile.
She claimed Wyatt was a sought-after director with multiple studios eager to sign him. That his movies were guaranteed to make millions at the box office. That he might even be the next big thing.
She also said Wyatt was eccentric and disliked investors who tried to interfere or push for additional benefits.
William might have been wealthy, but he was still young and naive. He lacked the resources and network to verify Lila's claims or investigate Wyatt's background.
It was 1995. You couldn't just Google someone's name. Investigating a person's background meant hiring a private detective, and that took time.
So William chose to believe Lila and quickly invested in Wyatt's film without much thought. During the meeting, he did his best to act tough and mature. He even bragged that $300,000 was just his allowance. That part, at least, was true.
William probably thought he made a smart move. And in a few months, he actually would have.
Lila chuckled softly after ending the call, amused at how easy it had been to manipulate the boy. Today had been entertaining.
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"Don't get too excited. You don't want to end up disappointed again like last year, when your scene didn't make the final cut."
"Shut your bitch ass up. You don't know it, but I've got three lines in this movie! Three real lines, with emotion and screen time! Of course I'm excited, this is a big break for me. Finally."
Jennifer Randon snapped at Collin, who was her agent. She'd been with his client for three years, ever since leaving her previous agency.
She'd been in Hollywood for a decade. Now 28, she was beginning to feel the pressure of the industry's shelf-life on actresses her age.
"You and your foul mouth," Collin muttered. "Of course I know. How could I not? You've been reminding me for months since you landed the role. Besides, I'm the one who got you into this movie. Don't forget that part."
He replied with a smirk, though there was clear pride in his voice. He did his best for his clients.