Chapter 306: Sales Data That Stings the Eyes - An Agent Abandoned by Actors

"...Welcome to ABC Television's weekly box office report. Over the recent Independence Day weekend, The Mask of Zorro took the top spot with a $22.52 million opening. However, the real focus this week isn't on that film, but on The Matrix, which has been in theaters for nearly two months."

"Just this weekend, The Matrix earned $5.41 million across 1,455 theaters, bringing its total North American box office to $301.03 million. It has become the first film of 1998 to cross the $300 million mark in North America. The film also broke the drought that had persisted since 1996, where no R-Rated Film could surpass $300 million in the North American market. At the same time, The Matrix is poised to challenge the $325.79 million North American R-Rated Film box office record held by Saving Private Ryan, which was also directed by Duke Rosenberg!"

"Furthermore, looking at this year's release schedule, there is almost no doubt that The Matrix will claim both the North American and global annual box office crowns. The film's overseas box office currently stands at a staggering $256.22 million, bringing its total worldwide gross to over $550 million."

"After shifting styles with Saving Private Ryan and Chicago, Duke Rosenberg's return to sci-fi for the Summer Season has been incredibly powerful. Why has The Matrix resonated so strongly with audiences? We've invited Mr. Robert Iger, head of Touchstone Pictures under Walt Disney, to provide a professional analysis."

"Hello, Mr. Iger. What do you believe is the reason behind the massive success of The Matrix?"

"Why is it selling so well? The incredible action and set pieces in The Matrix are unprecedented. The film deeply explores the relationship between humanity and cyber technology, and the mutual influence between a virtual world and the human soul. It's an absolute sci-fi classic. But in my opinion, the movie's massive popularity is primarily due to its extraordinary visual effects. The black trench coats and sunglasses, the frozen-time slow motion, and the ultra-cool fight choreography and explosions are highly entertaining. The exaggerated shattering effects during the explosions violently crash into the audience's retinas!"

"Additionally, the concepts of Bullet Time and Explosion Time are the film's biggest highlights, and they will inevitably become the target of imitation for many movies in the future. The era of action films has been rewritten by director Duke Rosenberg..."

Sitting expressionless in front of the television, Steven Spielberg realized that Deep Impact, which he had produced, stood in stark contrast to The Matrix. This direct competition, pitting DreamWorks and CAA against Duke Rosenberg, had ended in complete failure. Although Deep Impact had been besieged from multiple sides, after seeing the final cuts of both films, even he had to admit that the gap between DreamWorks' blockbuster and The Matrix was simply too obvious.

In fact, saying the two films weren't in the same weight class was just clinging to a fig leaf.

Spielberg sighed, finally understanding the most crucial reason for their failure—Hollywood only had one James Cameron, only one Steven Spielberg, and similarly, only one Duke Rosenberg!

How could a director like Mimi Leder even compare to Duke Rosenberg?

DreamWorks had already lost this competition, and Spielberg was utterly unwilling to accept it. This failure could impact the future of DreamWorks; perhaps it was time for him to step in personally once again.

'Maybe I should direct a film myself? Clash head-on with Duke Rosenberg down the line?'

Perhaps simply too unwilling to accept defeat, this thought suddenly surfaced in Steven Spielberg's mind and grew increasingly intense.

"Sir, you have a phone call."

A maid suddenly walked in.

"It's Mr. Martin Bob from CAA on the line," she reminded him.

Just hearing the name made Spielberg feel a surge of irritation.

"Tell him I'm already asleep!" he snapped.

What a loser!

Thinking about the projects the man had packaged over the past few years—films like Interview with the Vampire and Braveheart, none of which had been true, massive successes—Spielberg felt like a complete idiot. Why had he let himself be persuaded by Martin Bob in the first place? Why had he let him package and manage Deep Impact?

He swore he would absolutely never work with Martin Bob again!

Spielberg wasn't the only one who wanted nothing to do with Martin Bob anymore; so did the CAA-signed actors who had been shoved into the Deep Impact package.

The sun climbed above the horizon as another busy workday began. A young actor with a highly likable baby face, accompanied by his lawyer and guardian, walked onto the office floor of Century City CAA. Because they had made an appointment in advance, they headed straight for Martin Bob's office.

"Eli, are you sure you want to do this?"

The middle-aged man among them turned to the baby-faced actor. "Mr. Bob explicitly stated that you should decline this audition invitation."

"Dad, I've already made up my mind!" the baby-faced actor said with a firm expression. "Martin Bob is only one of my agents, and I'm not even eighteen yet. According to the contract terms, if he imposes too many restrictions on me as a minor, we have the right to request a change of agent, or even terminate the agency contract with CAA entirely. Don't forget, that small penalty fee means nothing to us."

"But falling out with Martin Bob..."

He could see that his father was still hesitating.

"Dad, do you really still not get it?" the baby-faced actor said with utmost seriousness. "The person who sent me this audition invitation is named Duke Rosenberg. He's one of the most successful directors on the planet. The people he previously invited to audition personally—Nicolas Cage, Keanu Reeves, Naomi Watts, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Will Smith, Charlize Theron..."

A long string of names tumbled from his lips.

"Not only did these people make their names through his films, but they've all become massive stars," he continued. "Dad, how do you choose between Martin Bob and Duke Rosenberg? It isn't a hard choice, right?"

The lawyer was an old family friend.

"Wood, I think Eli's choice is absolutely correct," he spoke up. "This is the best opportunity to expand his acting career!"

The man called Wood nodded, then clamped his mouth shut. He followed his son and the lawyer into Martin Bob's office, where they met the renowned head of CAA in the outer reception suite.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the baby-faced actor cut straight to the chase.

"Mr. Bob, I just can't understand why you wanted me to refuse Duke Rosenberg's invitation," he said. "Right now, the line of people in Hollywood who want an audition invitation from him could stretch from Long Beach to Malibu. Why make me give up such a great opportunity?"

Hearing this, Martin Bob's complexion—which hadn't looked good lately anyway—instantly turned even gloomier.

"I have a clear plan for your future. That role doesn't suit you," he said.

His voice was low and sinister. If this had been a few years ago, let alone the young, baby-faced actor sitting across from him, even B-list actors would have obediently shut their mouths upon seeing him on the verge of losing his temper.

But it wasn't a few years ago anymore.

"No, Mr. Bob," the baby-faced actor fired back without missing a beat. "I believe I should fight for this opportunity."

Martin Bob's face darkened so much it looked like ink might drip from it.

"Elijah, are you sure you want to do this?"

The baby-faced actor met his gaze unflinchingly. Martin Bob's eye twitched slightly as he forcefully suppressed his rising anger.

"You will not attend this audition. I've already arranged an acting class for you..."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Bob, but I won't be going," Elijah interrupted before Martin Bob could even finish.

"I seriously suspect you're bringing your personal grudges into my work contract," he continued, completely ignoring Martin Bob's fury-fueled glare. "I am demanding the termination of my agency contract with you."

"Boy!" Martin Bob squeezed the word through his teeth. "Elijah Wood, have you thought about the consequences of doing this?"

The baby-faced Elijah Wood turned to look at his lawyer, who nodded at him.

"I'm not even eighteen yet, so I'm protected by child labor laws," he said.

His lips quirked quickly, a look of disdain flashing across his face.

"I know what you mean, Mr. Bob, but the man who sent me this audition invitation is Duke Rosenberg, and nobody is stupid enough to turn him down. I know you're highly influential and can affect a lot of productions, but I don't believe you can sway Director Duke Rosenberg!"

He stood up first.

"I'll pay the penalty fee in full. My lawyer will discuss the details with you," he stated.

After speaking, Elijah Wood didn't even spare Martin Bob another glance. He walked out of the office with his father, leaving only the lawyer behind.

Just like in any other company, the speed at which office gossip circulated within CAA was staggering. The news that Elijah Wood was forcefully terminating his agency contract with Martin Bob over an audition invitation from Duke Rosenberg quickly spread to every corner of the firm.

For a minor actor to dare challenge the authority of the head of CAA so directly meant one thing, and everyone knew it: after suffering continuous failures, particularly the massive North American box office flop of Deep Impact, Martin Bob's authority had plummeted to rock bottom. He had even lost the trust of the actors signed under him.

"Elijah Wood is only the beginning."

In another office, Eno Martin was in quite a good mood.

"Moving forward, more actors are going to start questioning Martin Bob," he said with a smile to Pat Kingsley, who had come specifically to see him.

"I've never liked Duke as much as I do right now," Pat Kingsley said with a faint smile. "Did he do this on purpose?"

"Who knows?" Eno Martin said, spreading his hands. "If I were in Elijah Wood's shoes, I'd kick Martin Bob to the curb and choose Duke too."

The two shared a few laughs.

"Our partnership system is closely tied to the stars we control," Eno Martin said earnestly. "Martin Bob is being abandoned by his own clients. When the next partners' meeting rolls around, our chance will have finally arrived!"