System in Hollywood

"No need to worry about the newspapers and critics. As per your instructions, when we signed contracts with them, we offered generous terms but made the penalties for breach of contract even steeper."

"After all, our money at Hemera Pictures isn't easy to take."

"If they breach the contract, we wouldn't even have to do anything to pocket fifty or sixty million~"

"How's the situation with the theaters?" Wayne asked.

"The theaters are all set. After all, no one turns down money, especially when Hemera Pictures isn't like those small production companies that occasionally release one or two hits."

"In the past six months, we've been highly productive, and every release has been a box office hit."

"So when I proactively shared our plans with them and let them see the quality of this film, they were all eager to give us more screens~"

"That's too bad. I was hoping someone would challenge us so I could use the countermeasures I'd prepared," Wayne said with a laugh.

"But Sierra will be following the 'Taken' crew to Europe as the producer, so you'll have to handle the company's operations and the promotion of 'The Bourne Identity' on your own. Do you still have the energy to be the producer for 'The Notebook'?"

"That… probably won't be possible." Mia thought for a moment, then replied with a wry smile.

"The company is still expanding rapidly, and there's so much work to be done. Although the promotion for 'The Bourne Identity' has been arranged, I'd still feel uneasy not overseeing it myself after spending so much money. So I'm afraid I won't have the time to be the producer for 'The Notebook.'"

"By the way, isn't Nancy Meyers almost done with her work? How about letting her take on the role of producer for 'The Notebook'?"

Wayne shook his head and said, "I've written another script that should be ready to shoot soon. I want her to direct this one."

Mia and Sierra were both taken aback by his words.

"Another new script?"

"Yes, it's to repay a favor to Jill Tavelman, for Lily," Wayne explained.

Sierra then explained to Mia how Jill Tavelman had helped them during their acquisition of Industrial Light & Magic, which made Mia suddenly understand.

"And who will be the producer for this film?" Mia asked.

"Let Nancy Meyers handle both roles."

"But won't that make the production costs too high?" Mia frowned slightly.

The director's fee for 'Mean Girls' was already $7 million, and adding the producer's fee would likely push it above $8.5 million. 

Adding in Wayne's high screenwriting fees, even without any big-name stars, the production cost of 'Hotel for Dogs' might exceed $18 million.

"It's better to use someone you're familiar with. Of course, I'll wait until 'Mean Girls' is finished and see how it turns out before making a final decision."

After hearing this, Mia didn't say anything more. Whether $7 million was expensive for a director depended on their skills.

"What about 'The Notebook'?" Mia asked.

"How about you take it on?" Wayne thought for a moment and said, "Let Melanie Sloan be the producer for 'Taken.' That way, she can take care of Scarlett too."

"Sierra will stay at the company to oversee daily operations and handle the promotion for 'The Bourne Identity.'"

"As for you, you should come back to me~"

Mia rolled her eyes at him but then couldn't help but smile sweetly, leaning her head on his shoulder as she hugged his arm.

Clearly, Mia didn't feel upset about being 'demoted'—in fact, she seemed quite happy about it.

After all, she was only 20 years old. If it weren't for the desire to keep up with Wayne and help him, who would want to bury themselves in tedious work every day?

As for the producer role for 'The Notebook,' with a couple of experienced assistants, she wouldn't have too much to worry about.

Across from them, Sierra watched the two of them display their affection in public and took a sip of her coffee, a look of satisfaction on her face.

"But with the company expanding, aside from Susan, we need more talented producers. Also, we need to hire professional managers for daily operations..."

Thinking of this, Sierra suddenly remembered meeting a fellow producer, Mary Parent, at a Beverly Hills Women's Club gathering a few days ago, which Jill Tavelman had invited her to.

Mary Parent also graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts. After graduation, she joined Universal and worked as a producer for nine years before deciding to go solo in 1999. She left Universal to start her own production company with a friend.

But things didn't go as she expected. The connections she built while working at Universal weren't as reliable as she thought.

Now, she's struggling to secure investments and has been making low-budget straight-to-video and TV movies.

Sierra took an interest in Mary Parent not just because she saw a reflection of herself and Hemera Pictures in its early days but also because, after talking with her, she felt that Mary Parent was quite capable—maybe even better than Susan.

With Hemera Pictures in need of more producers, she considered recruiting Mary Parent.

Wayne, of course, was unaware of this. If he knew, he would find it amusing.

Because Mary Parent wasn't just anyone.

Although she struggled after going solo in 1999, with her company going bankrupt and having to take a job at MGM before eventually returning to her old company, Universal, after two years, she bounced back with Universal's support.

She went on to produce successful films like *Three's a Crowd*, *Changing Lanes*, and *Role Models*.

Then, in 2011, she struck a deal with Legendary Entertainment, where she managed operations and founded her production company with their funding. Over the next five years, she produced hits like *Pacific Rim*, *Godzilla*, and *Pacific Rim 2*.

Finally, she returned to Legendary Entertainment, becoming its Vice Chairman.

So overall, Mary Parent's vision and ability as a producer were solid—she just lacked the means to secure her own investments.

After years of ups and downs, she finally made her way to Vice Chairman of Legendary Entertainment, no longer under anyone else's thumb.

It's quite a legendary story.

(End of Chapter)