Chapter 69

Please recommend and collect!

"Great to work with you!"

"Great to work with you!"

In the hotel meeting room, after exchanging contracts, Murphy and Jones-Butler received a film copy of *Hard Candy* from Paul Wilson, symbolically gifting it to Jones-Butler. Apart from the credits for Stanton Studio, director, screenwriter, and producer Murphy Stanton, the film had little to do with him.

Relevant personnel from the film festival committee witnessed this transaction.

After several rounds of tough negotiations, Murphy chose to sell the copyright of *Hard Candy* to Miramax Films.

With the contract signed, Jones-Butler had no intention of staying longer and reminded, "Director Stanton, please deliver the original film reels to us as soon as possible."

Murphy certainly wouldn't default on his promise to Miramax, "I will hand over the film reels to your company personnel as soon as I return to Los Angeles."

Jones-Butler smiled, nodded to his team to pack up, and shook hands with Murphy, "You can call me when you start your next project."

Murphy also smiled politely, "I will."

This transaction successfully connected him with Miramax. As long as *Hard Candy* performed well in the market, there would be a possibility of further collaboration.

Besides the copyright fee, this was another significant gain for him.

After seeing off Jones-Butler and his team, Murphy finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although the vague fantasies in his heart ultimately proved to be childish, selling the copyright of *Hard Candy* had fully achieved his goal. More importantly, he now had the funds to start his next plan.

One million dollars was the final price, which also temporarily made Murphy a millionaire.

In just over half a year, he had transformed from a penniless ex-convict to a man of some means, which was undoubtedly a stroke of good luck.

Even if all the costs of *Hard Candy* were included, the total expenditure was only about $300,000. In a few months, a $300,000 investment had doubled to $1,000,000, and Murphy had no complaints.

Back at the hotel, Murphy packed his luggage, preparing to return to Los Angeles. However, there were still some matters to handle before leaving.

He and Bill Roscis first went to the film festival committee office to handle the follow-up for *Hard Candy*. Since the film participated in the festival and was sold, a 3% commission, or $30,000, needed to be paid.

Additionally, Miramax was brought in through Bill Roscis' network, and according to their previous agreement, he would receive a 5% commission.

Although this money could be paid later, Murphy still allocated it, leaving him with less than $1,000,000.

Moreover, Murphy planned to give Paul Wilson a bonus, not a large amount, around $2,000 to $3,000. He liked this diligent and perceptive intern and wanted him to continue working for him, which was impossible without payment.

After settling these matters, he and Paul Wilson flew back to Los Angeles.

Exiting Los Angeles International Airport, Murphy called a taxi, first dropping Paul Wilson off at his school, then heading to Robert's law firm. The tax season was approaching, and despite his intense dislike for the IRS, he needed to understand how to save money and legally avoid taxes.

The transaction of *Hard Candy* was conducted under the name of Stanton Studio, which was registered in Delaware, a state with lower taxes. According to Robert, there were various tax incentives, such as investment tax credits, which most Americans, let alone Murphy, didn't understand. He left these matters to his lawyer and accountant.

By evening, Murphy returned to his house in the Latino community. Closing the door and throwing his luggage aside, he slumped onto the old sofa. After the recent busy and stressful period, he felt as if his bones were about to fall apart.

However, thinking of the balance in the company account, a smile crept onto his face, and he clenched his fists, pumping them in the air.

Whether on the other side of the Pacific or in present-day America, Murphy had never achieved such success. He felt the fog of the future gradually clearing, and he could see a bright path ahead.

He had taken a crucial first step, and it was a successful one, laying a solid foundation for his future plans.

The road is always taken step by step.

Unlike his calm demeanor in public, Murphy no longer suppressed the excitement within him at home. He ordered takeout from a nearby upscale Chinese restaurant and even requested a bottle of wine.

He had never told anyone, but from the start of the project, he had been under immense pressure. If the project failed, everything he had gained from Bill Roscis and Kobe Bryant would be in vain, and it would be hard to have such good luck again.

Given his personality, he wouldn't confide his stress to anyone or share his excitement with outsiders.

The restaurant quickly delivered the takeout. In the dark of night, Murphy sat by the window, sipping his wine alone. Outside, in the dilapidated community, people passed by from time to time, and the shabby houses did little to block out the chaotic sounds.

Listening to these sounds, Murphy sat quietly, the excitement gradually fading, his face returning to a calm expression, though his brows were slightly furrowed. The joy of success, unshared, was not a pleasant feeling.

He couldn't show this to Paul Wilson or Bill Roscis.

After finishing a glass of wine, Murphy took out his phone and dialed Ross's number, only to hear the cold, mechanical voice: "The user is powered off."

Putting down the phone, Murphy couldn't help but shake his head. In the vast city of Los Angeles, he was alone, stuck in this rundown, chaotic, crime-ridden Latino community.

Perhaps it was time to move to a better place? This thought crossed his mind.

Living in the center of Los Angeles wasn't ideal. Although he now had more funds, he still needed a significant amount for his next plan. Buying a suitable house wasn't wise, but renting in a better area was feasible.

Moreover, Stanton Studio couldn't stay in the slums forever and needed its own office. He couldn't always conduct interviews at places like Mitten Café, could he?

Besides, his crew had already scared the old Lynch, who probably wouldn't support him as much as before.

Murphy was always a man of action. He immediately called Robert and asked if he knew any real estate agents.