Behind The Spotlight Chapter 127
Producer Harper was livid as he realized that Director Summerbelt had no intention of working with him again. Fury boiled inside him, threatening to consume him entirely.
"That fucking bastard! I helped him when he filmed Passionate Island, and now he's acting like he doesn't know me. Fuck!" His voice echoed sharply and venomously through the office, scattering papers across the floor in his manic rage.
Sonya-Collapse Studio had encouraged him to convince the director to work with them again and had been very clear about how much they expected him to succeed. The studio was even ready to pay Harper $1 million bonus if he convinced the director, a generous carrot dangling in front of him.
Harper had thought the job would be easy and considered it done, smugly assuming that Summerbelt owed him a debt of gratitude. But things hadn't gone his way. Director Summerbelt had no intention of working with him again and made that point bluntly.
Instead, Summerbelt signed a deal with 20th Centaur, one of Hollywood's major studios.
Harper slammed his fists against the table, groaning in pain as he realized he had overestimated the strength of his hands compared to the solid desk. He hadn't broken the table, he'd broken a bone in his hand. He bit down on his lip to suppress a scream. It was both stupid and humiliating.
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Just like Lawrence, Axel Gunner also received a script.
Face: Swap had now grossed over $282 million at the worldwide box office. Touchpebbles Pictures was satisfied with the performance and no longer held a grudge against Axel. In Hollywood, money forgives everything.
With this success, Axel had salvaged his reputation. One production studio considered him worth hiring. Like Lawrence, all of Axel's films had been box office hits, proving that his appeal wasn't a fluke. The previous scandal wasn't enough to derail his career.
Collin received the script as well. He met the director and was a bit disappointed that the director had no glowing talent in filmmaking. Still, he encouraged Axel to audition, knowing that the production team was genuinely interested in the actor.
"I tried auditioning for movies this month, but no one cast me. Fortunately, I received a script where the production clearly wants me," Axel said, flipping through the pages with a hint of excitement he hadn't felt in months.
Like Face: Swap, the script was an action movie filled with car chases, explosive gunfights, and physically demanding sequences. It was mid-budget, and the production team wanted Axel as the protagonist, a validation he hadn't felt in a long time.
Collin felt some guilt. He had encouraged Axel to audition for projects with more talented directors, listing all the "best" directors and hoping one would recognize Axel's value.
Yet, for various reasons, Axel hadn't been chosen. Perhaps the directors didn't find his aesthetic suitable, or maybe it was due to his history of breaking contracts.
Still, one production team deemed Axel worthy, and that made him happy. Someone finally recognized his hard work.
"I can look for more projects if you're not interested in action movies," Collin offered. He thought a film with a top-tier director could better showcase Axel's talent.
"No, it's fine. I want this project. The script has over-the-top scenes, but I like it. Besides, I was a soldier, I know how to handle firearms," Axel said gratefully. Deep down, he had feared the day no one would cast him again.
"I promise to get you the lead role," Axel assured him.
"They'll hold an audition next month."
Collin nodded as he saw the bright yellow talent above Axel's head flicker, still alive and burning.
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September arrived, and Bride Runaway had grossed over $132 million at the North American box office after 30 days of screening. Its international release schedule promised even greater profits.
Face: Swap had grossed $302 million worldwide. The movie was losing momentum and probably wouldn't reach $400 million, though it had already surpassed expectations. Still, it was a box office success. With a production cost of $55 million, industry insiders called it one of the most profitable projects of the season, the revenue was 5.4 times its budget.
That month, Lawrence secured a role in Summerbelt's project. Negotiations were tough, taking Collin three days to reach an agreement with the 20th Centaur producer. The days were filled with back-and-forth calls and endless coffee meetings until they finally reached a middle ground.
Lawrence was satisfied with $17 million upfront, plus a 3% North American box office share. Finally, he could enjoy the perks of a major star with box office shares.
Director Summerbelt's movie centered on a female boss and her employee. The female boss was about to lose her working visa and needed to marry to avoid deportation. She convinced her employee to marry her. The film's title was The Boss Proposal.
Axel Gunner also passed his audition. Collin's negotiation was faster because the production had a mid-budget; asking for a huge salary could have cost Axel the role. Axel secured $1 million, the highest salary in the cast except for the director.
His action movie was about an agent who lost his memory and didn't know why the CIA was hunting him. Determined to regain his memory and uncover the truth, he had to survive. Axel became the protagonist of The Born Identity, based on a novel.
With all his clients safely placed in the industry, Collin realized he didn't have much to do. His work consisted of visiting studios, checking on clients, and occasionally attending negotiation meetings. Overall, life was good, and he finally had time to breathe.
Still, he felt it was time to hire a secretary. A capable secretary could help manage his schedule and reduce his workload, preventing burnout from juggling multiple stars.
Fortunately, after consulting Lila, he learned the company would cover the secretary's salary, a relief since Collin disliked unnecessary expenses eating into his commissions. He was thrilled because he didn't like sharing his money unless it was with his family, whom he prioritized above all else.
Collin was now waiting for Chantal to arrive in the United States to begin a new chapter in her life, and possibly in his career. He also planned to set up a hiring meeting to find a talented secretary to ease his workload.
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[Author's Note: I know Director Summerbelt and Producer Harper have first names, but I don't want to confuse readers, so I stuck with single names only. Thanks a lot for your support, it's the biggest motivation for me to keep writing.]
[Also, do you want Chantal to compete in the singing competition or sign a proper record label instead? I prefer the record label since singers who win competitions usually don't have lasting careers.]
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