After more than twenty minutes, and after reading more than half of the script, Jonathan Friedman forcibly stopped reading. He had other work today, and now was not a good time to read the script.

Moreover, although he has only read half of it, Jonathan Friedman has determined that the quality of the script of "The Butterfly Effect" is absolutely as good as its story idea. If it can be filmed, this will definitely become a very classic film.

Of course, with Jonathan Friedman's professional vision, the shortcomings of this script are also very obvious.

First of all, the name 'Butterfly Effect' seems too niche. Most ordinary people still cannot understand this professional theoretical term that was only proposed in the 1970s, which will undoubtedly hinder many people's interest in the film. However, Simon just explained

After discovering the meaning of the Butterfly Effect, Jonathan Friedman could not find another more appropriate name for a while, so he could only put this aside for the time being.

Secondly, the overall style of the story is too gloomy. Especially at the end of the story, the male protagonist returns to his mother's body and strangles himself with the umbilical cord. If you think about it carefully, it even makes people feel creepy.

However, the entire script also fits the style of my client's work.

During the reading process just now, Jonathan Friedman was actually concentrating on some thoughts.

Due to the internal turmoil at WMA, a large number of customers left, and Jonathan Friedman was also affected.

Brian De Palma, a well-known Hollywood director who has directed films such as "Carrie" and "Scarface", was recently invited to consider changing jobs to C+. According to the news he received,

The C+ side has even prepared a project as a meeting gift.

The reason why Brian De Palma did not leave as quickly as Al Pacino, Barbra Streisand and others was mainly due to the camaraderie developed through these years of cooperation.

However, Brian De Palma's two consecutive big-budget films with an investment of more than 10 million US dollars in recent years have ended in failure. As an agent, if he cannot find a high-quality project with sufficient box office guarantee for the other party as soon as possible, Jonathan will

Friedman believed he would soon lose this client.

Now, "The Butterfly Effect" couldn't be more appropriate.

It is a novel enough idea and a wonderful story script, and it is also the thriller type that Brian De Palma is best at. Moreover, from the plot point of view, the budget of the film is not too high, which undoubtedly makes it easier to produce.

The studio is setting up the project.

Adding up all these favorable elements, Jonathan Friedman believes that "The Butterfly Effect" really does not have much possibility of failure, and it will not even be much worse than Brian De Palma's famous work "Carrie".

Moreover, as an ensemble drama with rich characters, this film can be used to promote its young artists. Since C+ can produce a series of successful package projects, the overall strength is no less than that of C+'s WMA.

Reasons cannot replicate the other person's experience.

Now, it seems clear that the low-budget, low-risk The Butterfly Effect would make a good package project.

After weighing all the details, Jonathan Friedman raised his head and looked at the young man opposite. Perhaps, occasionally signing a movie screenwriter would also be a good choice.

After making up his mind, Jonathan Friedman spoke again: "So, Simon, do you have any other scripts?"

Listening to Jonathan Friedman's tone, Simon knew that his trip today would be worthwhile.

However, now that "The Butterfly Effect" has aroused Jonathan Friedman's interest, he does not plan to immediately release another script. Doing so will only distract the agent from the script promotion process.

In fact, Simon originally planned to submit scripts only every one to two months, as long as he could find an agent.

Even so, in order to continue to increase his weight in Jonathan Friedman's heart, Simon still replied firmly: "Yes, but the script is still being perfected and it will take some time. This is a story about death, combined with Eastern

A certain fatalistic view. In the concept of Eastern people, they believe that if the God of Death confirms a person's death date, then this person will not be able to escape the entanglement of death no matter what."

Jonathan Friedman originally just asked politely casually, but Simon's words aroused his interest again.

However, Simon did not continue, and Jonathan Friedman stopped asking questions.

There will definitely be many opportunities to chat in the future, but now we still need to resolve the current issues.

"In that case, let's talk about signing a contract. Simon, since you have done so much preparation work, you must have a certain understanding of signing a contract with a brokerage company. First, tell me your requirements?"

Simon nodded, not politely, and said: "First of all, I only write scripts that interest me and do not accept commissioned scripts or long-term employment. Therefore, I hope to only sign a simple script agency contract."

Just after hearing Simon's first request, Jonathan Friedman couldn't help but want to shake his head.

The total number of film and television programs produced in Hollywood each year based on original scripts is only a few hundred. If they only relied on original scripts to make a living, the two major screenwriters unions on the east and west coasts of North America with a combined total of more than 10,000 members would probably starve to death. Therefore, most screenwriters in Hollywood

The jobs that make a living are various script adaptations, script doctor and other commissioned tasks, as well as long-term employment with film and television production companies.

Simon's request at this time was tantamount to limiting his personal career to a very narrow scope.

He wanted to explain, but looking at the young face opposite him, Jonathan Friedman chose to give up the idea.

Since you are young and frivolous, it is better to experience more setbacks.

Simon could probably understand what Jonathan Friedman was thinking from the change in his expression, but he continued without pausing: "Secondly, if conditions permit, I hope to try the job of a film director, so I hope to

You retain a certain degree of autonomy in your own scripts."

After all, Jonathan Friedman felt the corners of his eyes twitch. He looked at Simon again and finally said, "Actually, Simon, I'm very curious about your age?"

Simon took out his wallet, took out his driver's license and handed it over, saying: "Mr. Friedman, although I don't intend to hide this from you, I still feel that in the process of selling the script, you need to avoid interacting with

Film company executives talked about my personal age issues."

Jonathan Friedman took Simon's driver's license and glanced at the date of birth on it.

February 22, 1968.

Although he knew it well, Jonathan couldn't help but glance at the date on the display screen of his desk phone. Today was June 19, 1986.

In other words, the little guy in front of me just turned 18 at the beginning of this year.

Some shook their heads and smiled speechlessly, and handed the driver's license back to Simon. Jonathan Friedman said: "Okay, I will try to ignore this as much as possible. But, Simon, you have to know that most of Hollywood

Directors only get the opportunity to direct a film for the first time after they are thirty years old, so you are still too..."

Simon didn't wait for Jonathan Friedman to finish, and couldn't help shaking his head and interrupting: "You are wrong, Joe. Steven Spielberg is not, Martin Scorsese is not, George Lew is not

Cass is not, and neither is Francis Ford Coppola. So why should I be the mediocre majority?"

Jonathan Friedman was stunned.

Until many years later, Jonathan Friedman still clearly remembered the high-spirited teenager’s powerful words in his office one afternoon in the summer of 1986.

Steven Spielberg is not;

Martin Scorsese is not;

George Lucas is not;

Neither was Francis Ford Coppola.

He didn't even know that the young man at that time had less than $100 in his pocket. If he couldn't find a job that could make a living as soon as possible, he would probably have to live on the street.

After a while, Jonathan Friedman regained his composure and began to continue discussing the signing with Simon.

Simon had left such a deep impression on him in this meeting that Jonathan Friedman couldn't help but no longer put forward too harsh signing conditions for Simon based on the standards of a newcomer.

In fact, in the final analysis, the height a screenwriter can reach in Hollywood is ultimately limited, and the benefits he brings to his agent are insignificant compared to an agent of Jonathan Friedman's level.

Jonathan Friedman instinctively felt that if he gave this young man a little convenience at this time, he might get unexpected gains in the future.

Therefore, the two quickly negotiated the basic contract framework.

A simple script agency contract has a contract period of three years and a commission of 10%. Simon has a certain degree of autonomy over his scripts. To put it simply, if he wants to direct one of his scripts, he does not need to prepare it through an agent.

project.

The detailed contract content will naturally not be so simple, so Simon needs to come back to sign the contract tomorrow.

Finally, in order to ease the mood of Jonathan Friedman who was obviously frightened by him just now, Simon also took the initiative to explain a few words, saying that his next goal is just to make some ultra-low-cost experimental films as an exercise.

Probably a 16MM camera, a few thousand dollars, two or three people.

As expected, Jonathan Friedman was more willing to accept Simon's rhetoric and offered to provide some help within his ability.

The two chatted happily, and when the meeting ended, 5:40 passed unknowingly.

Saying goodbye again to Jonathan Friedman who personally escorted him to the door of the office, Simon turned around and found that there were still two men and one woman waiting in the outer lounge, both young men.

As the office door opened, the three people who were chatting stood up with respectful expressions, and couldn't help but look at Simon, the guy who had kept them waiting for more than an hour. The two young men had obvious envy and admiration in their eyes.

Alert, the girl with short black hair also looked at Simon curiously.

Simon just nodded slightly to the three of them. Although he felt that the short-haired girl looked familiar, he walked out without thinking too much.

It wasn't until he left the WMA headquarters building that Simon remembered a name that Jonathan Friedman had mentioned more than an hour ago, and realized that the girl with short hair should be Courteney Cox, the famous obsessive character in "Friends"
Chapter completed!