Behind The Spotlight Chapter 296
Balthazar was so livid that his face turned bright red, and even Dong and Forest were intimidated. They could tell Balthazar was in a foul mood... Were negotiations involving money really this intense? Yes, especially when Balthazar was putting up his own capital.
"You understand that you're sitting on a gold mine, right? You just have to put in the work to dig out the gold."
'Work my ass, you're extorting me!' Balthazar screamed internally.
"... $8 million."
"Balthazar, it's either $10 million plus a 10% profit share, or nothing at all. Your choice."
Balthazar realized he wasn't in a position to haggle over the price. If the deal fell through, Collin would inevitably reach out to the competing studios, and Balthazar would lose his exclusive advantage entirely.
This was his only shot at acquiring the film...
"Deal." Gritting his teeth, Balthazar relented. At his core, he was a businessman, and he knew where his priorities lay.
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"Eat up, it's my treat." Collin invited Forest and Dong to grab a bite at the nearest McDonaldo.
The two men stared at Collin as he unwrapped a burger and took a casual bite.
"Thank you," Dong said sincerely.
"I apologize for how I acted earlier. I've held a grudge against handsome guys ever since my ex-girlfriend cheated on me with a good-looking frat boy." Dong felt guilty for misjudging him. He knew it wasn't fair to treat someone poorly based purely on appearance without actually getting to know them.
"Your girlfriend cheated on you? Well, you're not alone there. My ex-fiancée cheated on me with a drug dealer," Collin replied with a casual shrug.
Another golden rule in recruiting clients: share a personal story both sides can relate to... Collin recalled using the exact same tactic when signing Axel Gunner.
Hearing that, both Dong and Forest looked genuinely shocked.
"You got cheated on too?"
"Of course," Collin nodded.
"Then I really owe you an apology," Dong admitted, owning up to his mistake.
"Nah, forget about it." Collin waved a dismissive hand. The three men ate their meals while Collin laid out the details of the deal inside the McDonaldo, with discarded wrappers on their table.
"My legal team will fly in tomorrow to draft a formal contract both sides can agree to. We can't celebrate just yet, since all we have right now is a verbal agreement."
"We understand."
Collin advised them to wait until his lawyers thoroughly reviewed the paperwork before putting pen to paper.
"My agency typically takes a 10% commission, but for you guys, I'll knock it down to 7%. Not a bad deal, right?"
Dong and Forest let out a quiet sigh of relief... They had fully expected a 20% commission rate, as that was the standard back home. In Australia, agency commissions for film and acting routinely ranged from 10% to 20%.
Securing a 7% commission rate felt like an absolute steal.
"Of course, the 10% profit share is handled separately. At our agency, we usually charge a flat rate of $150,000 for every 1% of profit share we secure."
"That makes sense."
Other agencies often demanded an ongoing cut of the profit share themselves, whereas GSG opted for a one-time upfront fee instead, a far better arrangement for the creators in the long run.
Dong and Forest were genuinely surprised. It was clear Collin was operating in good faith.
"Now, let's get to my actual business pitch. I'd like to invite both of you to sign with my agency. I promise you this will be the best thing to ever happen to your careers, and I'm confident I can change your lives for the better."
The two leaned in, listening intently.
"Before founding my own firm, I was a senior executive at ANT. I personally signed and managed Jennifer Randon, Axel Gunner, Wyatt Bray, Lawrence Terrence, and Princess Chantal."
"... Are you being serious right now?"
Every single name Collin dropped was a massive heavyweight in their respective fields. They were household names!
"Dead serious," Collin grinned.
"The reason I was able to bully through that negotiation earlier is because of my track record. Not to brag, but I carry real weight in Hollywood."
"..." Both men sat in stunned silence.
They hadn't arrived at the Toronto Film Festival harboring grand illusions, yet crossing paths with Collin had instantly altered the trajectory of their lives.
"To show my sincerity, our agency will lock in that 7% commission rate across every deal we negotiate for you. You won't find terms like that at any major firm. On top of that, I can get your movies marketed across Hollywood without a problem."
"I'm in," Forest answered immediately. Making it in Hollywood had always been his ultimate dream.
"... Count me in too. I want to join Golden Spotlight Group." Seeing his creative partner ready to jump aboard GSG, Dong readily agreed as well.
"Glad to hear it." They shook hands across the table, marking the official start of a long-term partnership.
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The following day, both parties finalized the agreement for $10 million upfront plus a 10% backend profit share.
In addition, several key stipulations were written into the contract:
1.) The cast was required to participate in promotional tours, with Harper Studio paying each member between $5,000 and $40,000 for their promotional appearances.
2.) If the film performed well commercially, Dong and Forest were obligated to return and produce a sequel.
3.) Harper Studio committed to putting its full marketing and distribution power behind the release.
All in all, both sides walked away pleased with the transaction. Balthazar pinned high hopes on Sawed breaking out at the box office, determined to ensure the project succeeded.
From that single transaction alone, GSG pocketed $2.2 million. Because Collin had personally spearheaded the negotiations, the support staff who assisted with the paperwork received modest bonuses, leaving the lion's share of the revenue to flow directly into GSG's accounts.
Lila's lingering anxieties over the agency's operating deficit were wiped away in one fell swoop. While it was easily the largest deal the new agency had closed to date, it certainly wouldn't be the last.
[Thank you for reading this novel.]