The Premier League was currently in its off-season, so Duke naturally couldn't head to Stamford Bridge Stadium to watch a match immediately. He merely gave a verbal agreement to Roman Abramovich's invitation, and to actually make it happen would have to wait. Not only was it uncertain when his next visit to London would be, even on this trip, there were more important matters than watching a football match to deal with.
Legally, the fully independent Harry Potter Studio was in the process of being registered, and negotiations with Emma Watson and other main actors were also underway.
As the producer of the series, Duke attended one of the negotiations himself, expressing a tough stance that if the other party's demands were too excessive, he wouldn't hesitate to replace the actors...
Of course, that was one aspect. On the other hand, Robin Grand had also loosened up regarding box office profit sharing.
In truth, both parties understood that neither side's conditions could be fully realized. Negotiation was inevitably a process of confrontation and mutual compromise.
After the new Harry Potter Studio was successfully registered, Robin Grand also reached an agreement in the negotiations with the agents of several main actors.
Both the production side represented by Robin Grand and the actors made certain concessions.
In addition to the shares specified by the Actors Guild and the Producers Guild agreement, Emma Watson and the other main actors would, for the first time, receive a large share of box office profits.
"A base salary of $10 million per film, plus 5% of the box office profit for each person..."
Seeing the content of the agreement reached, Duke couldn't help but sigh. "Even Hollywood A-list stars don't get treatment like this."
Some top-tier actors didn't even receive such compensation.
"To offset their agents' demand for merchandise revenue," Robin Grand shook his head, "I had no choice but to increase the share of box office profits."
"Robin, you did well!" Duke smiled at him. "Isn't this exactly what we were aiming for?"
Robin Grand also smiled. This agreement appeared as though the small-time actors would receive massive rewards in the future. But in reality, it was the result they had deliberately guided toward.
Operating under normal circumstances, the two-part finale of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was bound to bring in extremely high box office revenue. Earning huge profits wouldn't be difficult, and this 5% box office profit share was conservatively estimated to bring in $20 million in income...
Unfortunately, some things could end up entirely different from what was imagined.
If this agreement was truly implemented, Emma Watson and the other two—along with other actors who signed the box office profit sharing deal could take away hundreds of millions in high compensation. How could Duke and the other investors possibly allow that to happen?
They weren't J.K. Rowling, who held immense value. Once the series ended, these actors would be of no use whatsoever.
At least that's how Duke and Warner Bros. saw it.
After carefully reviewing the terms reached in the negotiation, Duke spoke again, "Robin, get them signed as soon as possible."
"Don't worry," Robin Grand nodded, "they're more anxious than we are."
Though Duke was considered a rather mild person on set as a director, his reputation in Hollywood wasn't much better than James Cameron's. Many people knew about his tough methods.
After all, anyone with eyes could see that the situations of Sean Connery, Mel Gibson, and Michael Ovitz were closely related to him.
Considering his nickname, 'Two-Faced Man,' it wasn't hard to understand what some people in Hollywood thought of Duke.
It was normal for agents to fight for their actors' interests, but they also worried that if they pushed the production team too hard, Duke this tough-handed producer might really go ahead and replace the actors.
They could see, to some extent, that without the Harry Potter series, Emma Watson and the other two were essentially nobodies.
The production team's concessions also gave them a sigh of relief. With the anticipated tens of millions of dollars in income, for now, it was enough to satisfy both them and their employers.
Once Emma Watson and the other two signed the contract with the main terms of "a $10 million base salary per film plus 5% of the box office profit for each actor," Duke didn't stay in London any longer and took his private jet back to Los Angeles.
He hurried back primarily to attend a charity party hosted by Steven Spielberg.
In social circles, relationships are always reciprocal. Last year, Spielberg not only attended Duke's Children's Charity Foundation's inaugural banquet but also donated a large sum of money. Now, this small favor definitely had to be returned.
The charity party, of course, couldn't go without an auction. Perhaps Spielberg's influence was strong enough, as someone even donated a Monet painting for auction. However, Duke had no interest in antiques or famous paintings and didn't even consider raising his paddle.
"Four million dollars!"
It was an unremarkable piece among Monet's works, yet someone had already called out four million dollars. The auctioneer stood on stage, shouting loudly, "Four million dollars for the first time, four million dollars for the second time, four million dollars..."
Just as he was about to strike the gavel, another paddle was raised. "Five million dollars!"
It seemed the only sound echoing through the vast banquet hall was that one. Many people turned their eyes over, including Tina Fey next to Duke. She glanced over, then leaned toward Duke's ear.
"It's David Ellison. I heard he's preparing to collaborate with Spielberg," she said in a low voice, "this is clearly to curry favor with Spielberg."
Duke just smiled and asked, "What do you think of that painting?"
Tina Fey looked at the impressionist masterpiece hanging on the wall and shook her head without even thinking. "I'm not interested in that kind of fuzzy stuff."
"Then forget it." Duke's hand left his paddle. "Let's wait for the next one."
For most Hollywood stars and celebrities, five million dollars was no small sum. After the auctioneer struck the gavel, David Ellison secured the painting.
During the subsequent auction, Duke also made a purchase and wrote a million-dollar check to Spielberg's charity foundation, effectively returning the favor from last year.
After the auction ended, the charity party turned into a social gathering once more.
After making a round in the banquet hall, the cool breeze from the air conditioning became a bit uncomfortable. Many people left the hall and entered the garden at the back. Los Angeles, being relatively close to a desert climate, is scorching hot under the sun during the day, but after the sun sets below the horizon, the temperature drops rapidly. Though not as dramatic as a true desert, it's no longer as hot as the day.
Duke also left the hall, chatting casually with Tina Fey as they walked into the brightly lit garden.
Each got a glass of wine and walked to the lawn filled with many tables and chairs, settling in a quiet spot with fewer people. They had barely taken a sip when someone came over.
"Ah, here you are."
Wearing a cocktail dress, Charlize Theron was familiar enough with both Duke and Tina Fey to sit down directly next to Duke without formality. "Where have you been lately? Emma's been answering all the calls at your place."
Duke put down his glass and said, "Went to London for a while."
As he spoke, he remembered the upcoming collaboration between them and asked, "How's your preparation coming along?"
"Besides studying the role and script, I've been working out."
Charlize Theron flexed her arm. Naturally tall and solidly built, she wasn't the petite type. With her recent training, her upper arm showed prominent muscles. "Well? Does this meet your requirements?"
Instead of answering, Duke fixed his gaze on Charlize's beautiful golden hair.
Retracting her pose, Charlize Theron raised her hand to stroke her silky smooth golden locks. "I really can't bear to part with them."
She frowned slightly and asked Duke, "Can't the female lead keep her long hair?"
"Darling, it's a post-apocalyptic world where all order has collapsed," Duke said firmly, shaking his head. "In such a world, do you think a pretty woman can be the commander of a team?"
"Oh God, I'm already regretting this."
The two had known each other for years and had maintained a long-term intimate relationship. Charlize Theron knew Duke well and deliberately complained, "For this role, I have to shave my head and lose an arm…"
Duke raised his eyebrows slightly. "If you don't do that, how will you break your established image?"
Charlize Theron, of course, understood. The last time she transformed her image, she earned herself an Oscar statuette, but it hadn't fundamentally changed her career. The film's audience was simply too limited. To mainstream viewers, she was still just the eye-candy from The Matrix.
"I heard Charles Roven is negotiating with Tom Cruise?" Charlize asked about a matter that concerned her. "So he'll be the male lead?"
"That's right." Duke didn't deny it. "Your character already has the advantage by default. I need a strong male actor to pair with you."
Charlize Theron's pout was fleeting. She was smart enough not to say anything more. Even though she didn't like Tom Cruise, she knew she had no power to change Duke's decision.
Since she had decided to act in his film, she would just ignore the little details that didn't please her.
She then turned to the side. "Tina, are you producing this one?"
"Sort of…" Tina Fey smiled modestly. "My main job is still assisting Duke."
With Charles Roven returning from vacation, Tina Fey's short stint as a producer also ended. Though she'd continue to be credited as a producer on new projects, most of her role remained assisting Duke.
Tina Fey didn't talk much with Charlize Theron. The latter was notoriously aloof in the industry, and she had never planned to become close. After exchanging a few polite words, her gaze drifted toward the distance, just in time to see someone approaching.
"David Ellison is coming," Tina Fey reminded Duke.