Chapter 36

Votes! More votes, please!

"Mr. Stanton, I hope you will keep your promise as you have to me during the filming."

In an office of the Hollywood Actors Guild, the Mulligan couple sat on a slightly old sofa, closed the actor's contract in their hands, and looked at Murphy with a warning tone, "My agent will be watching you closely."

Beside the Mulligan couple, Carey Mulligan was silent, but her eyes shone with the pride of a victor.

"Rest assured," Murphy said earnestly, "Stanton Studio, though newly established, is a company with a good reputation, and I personally hold integrity as the most basic principle."

During the previous two meetings, the Mulligan couple had many objections to the script of "Hard Candy," and Murphy had promised to make changes. He even quickly produced an improved version of the script. With the backing of Kara Feys, the news director of Channel 6, the Mulligan couple finally agreed.

Reputation and status, though intangible, can play a very real role. Without Kara Feys' help, Murphy might have had to choose a new lead actress.

Contracts involving minor actors are never a joke. Besides Murphy, Carey Mulligan, and her parents, the legal advisor of "Hard Candy," Robert, Bill Rosies, the new agent of Carey Mulligan and Julianne Faires, representatives from the Children's Association and the Actors Guild, and Julianne Faires herself were all present.

Reviewing the contract, negotiating, and haggling over some contentious clauses... After more than two hours, both parties formally signed Carey Mulligan's acting contract.

Since it involved a minor and a member of the Actors Guild, and was supervised by the Children's Association, the contract was quite strict, specifying everything from Carey Mulligan's daily working hours to the hiring of a tutor. Under the relatively complete and strict protection system in Hollywood, Carey Mulligan's rights in the production would be maximally protected.

Although these clauses made Murphy's teeth ache, he knew he was participating in a legal game. To survive in this circle, he had to at least follow the rules on the surface.

Moreover, any minor actor would sign a similarly strict contract.

However, there were aspects that satisfied him. Carey Mulligan had never acted in any film or TV show before, so it was impossible for her to demand a high price. Her salary was only $5,000.

As for the working hours and study time specified in the contract, the representatives from the Children's Association and the Actors Guild would not be constantly monitoring the set. They might send someone to check occasionally, but there was room for flexibility.

The script content Murphy had promised to modify was the initial draft he had shown the Mulligan couple, which had a very high level of content. If filmed as is, it might become NC-17. He definitely couldn't shoot it that way.

Although he still didn't know what method Carey Mulligan used to make her parents compromise, their willingness to negotiate with him indicated a desire to collaborate. By first presenting a more extreme script and then gradually stepping back, he could show the production's sincerity.

This was a common psychological tactic in negotiations.

Moreover, after the Mulligan couple signed the contract, they would return to London to focus on their respective work, leaving Carey Mulligan in the care of Julianne Faires and Bill Rosies. While they were also difficult to deal with, compared to the rigid Mulligan couple, these Hollywood insiders had a more flexible understanding of the film's content.

More importantly, Carey Mulligan trusted him. As long as she didn't cause trouble, there would be fewer problems.

After both parties signed the formal contract and registered it with the Actors Guild and the Children's Association, the lead actress of "Hard Candy" was officially confirmed.

"Murphy..."

Outside the Actors Guild, as Murphy was about to open his car door, he heard a clear voice behind him. Turning around, he saw Carey Mulligan running over, waving at him, "Wait, I have something to say to you."

Turning around, Murphy's gaze fell on the Mulligan couple watching from a distance. He politely smiled at them and then looked at Carey Mulligan, "What is it?"

Carey Mulligan stopped about five feet away, crossed her small hands behind her back, swayed her body, and said in a low voice, "I came to thank you."

"Thank me?" Murphy pointed at himself, as if he didn't understand, "Why?"

"You made me see my goal clearly," Carey Mulligan's voice was still low but very firm, "And taught me that if I want something, I must strive for it with all my might."

"No, no, no, Carey, this has nothing to do with me," Murphy knew how to handle this girl, "What you've done only shows that you are a girl with ambition."

"Really?" Carey Mulligan asked, her eyes twinkling.

Murphy nodded without hesitation, "Of course, when have I ever lied to you?"

Carey Mulligan took a small step forward, her voice even lower, "You're the best, Murphy."

Hearing this, Murphy looked up slightly, as if a crow had just cawed above, but then he smiled, "You're the best too, Carey. I believe you will become the best actress."

"Um-hum!" Carey Mulligan nodded her pointed chin without any modesty.

"It's getting late..." Murphy gestured towards the Mulligan couple, "Your parents must be waiting for you."

"They..." Carey Mulligan snorted a few times before saying, "If I hadn't forced them into a corner, would they have given me the freedom to choose?"

Even though she had achieved her goal, her resentment towards her parents had not dissipated.

Murphy was a bit curious, lowering his voice, "Dear, what did you do?"

"Guess..." Carey Mulligan gave a sly smile, "It's my secret, I won't tell you."

"Well... okay." Murphy made a gesture as if he was making a phone call, "Wait for my call, and don't forget to study the script."

Watching Carey Mulligan leave, Murphy was still a bit curious about what she had done to make the Mulligan couple finally compromise.

But once he got in the car, he understood. From previous interactions, he could see that the Mulligan couple actually cared for Carey Mulligan, but their rigid personalities and busy work schedules made them poor communicators. For a girl almost of age, there were many ways to make her loving parents compromise.

What method Carey Mulligan used, did it matter? She had become the lead actress of "Hard Candy" anyway.

Perhaps she wasn't the best choice in all of Hollywood, but among the actresses Murphy could reach, Carey Mulligan was the most suitable.

After securing Carey Mulligan, Murphy returned to Mitten Café to continue his preparations. He worked with the set designer, lighting designer, and prop master to revisit the San Fernando Valley, discussing the envisioned scenes with them.

To be honest, the preparation process was far from as smooth as Murphy had expected. He himself had little experience, and the people he hired, who had been at the bottom of Hollywood, were not outstanding in their abilities.

Fortunately, Murphy was prepared for this. He knew that starting anything was difficult. A group of people without sufficient experience and ability could not complete a film project in a short time, even if the film mostly involved one scene and two actors.

After returning from the location scouting in the San Fernando Valley, Murphy specially arranged to meet James Franco.

"Take a look at this." In Mitten Café, Murphy placed a stack of contract copies on the coffee table and pushed them towards James Franco, "This is specially prepared for you."

"Without my agent present, I can't sign any contract." James Franco, thinking the contract was specially prepared for him, picked it up and flipped through a few pages. His eyes immediately lit up, especially when he saw Carey Mulligan's costume test photos, his eyes seemed to bulge out, "Oh... oh... ah... that... this..."

He made a series of meaningless sounds, took a deep breath, closed the contract copy, and slapped it on the table, "You're not kidding me?"

James Franco wasn't stupid. Although Murphy had previously said Carey Mulligan had joined the production, he had been dragging his feet in the negotiations and hadn't fully believed him.

Murphy looked at him, "Do you want me to bring out the original contract and also invite Mr. Julianne Faires, Carey's agent in Los Angeles?"

Seeing James Franco open the contract again, staring at Carey Mulligan's photo like a wolf eyeing Little Red Riding Hood, Murphy said calmly, "If you feel it's too much, I can find another actor."

"No! No..." James Franco raised his hand as if to stop Murphy, "Absolutely not! Murphy, I am very, very interested in the role in the script, but your salary is too low, and my agent is strongly against it. I've been trying to convince him, but it takes time."

The James Franco Murphy knew from media reports was known for his eccentricity, but now he seemed even more eccentric.

"Jim, my time is tight. I've almost finished the other preparations, and I need to leave time for the lead actors to rehearse separately before shooting..." He emphasized the word 'separately' intentionally, "There are only two main actors in this project, so you will have more time to rehearse separately."

James Franco seemed to have made up his mind, slapped the table, and said, "I'll go talk to my agent right now."