Chapter 41

"Call me Bruce, Wei, I read the script of 'Little Miss Sunshine' last night and discussed it with my team today. We think it's a pretty good script. I was planning to get back to you after Thanksgiving, but it's good to give you some time to think about it these days."

Hearing Willis's words, Ye Wei was almost shouting with excitement. A big shot liked the script and showed a significant interest! There was hope, a great deal of hope! But he was immediately puzzled about what to consider.

While his mind raced, he smiled and said, "Yes, I'm thrilled to get your response so quickly. What are your thoughts?"

Willis's voice came through the phone again, "I had my assistant check with Focus Features. They sold the 'Little Miss Sunshine' project to you for $500,000, right? How about $650,000 to us? Young man, that's a fair price."

What!? Ye Wei's eyes widened, feeling as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water, suddenly feeling cold all over. Oh no, Willis misunderstood; he wasn't in the business of reselling scripts!

He naturally knew that Willis had his own film production company, named "Cheyenne-Enterprises."

It opened in October 2000 and had been running for more than three years. Willis's good friend and company partner, Arnon Rifkin, managed the daily affairs. Over the past three years, they had boldly produced four films: "The Score," "Hart's War," "Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course," and "Tears of the Sun."

In terms of box office, only "Crocodile Hunter" made a small profit, while the others lost a lot of money. Fortunately, there were multiple producers, and other income streams compensated for the losses, not to mention Willis's deep pockets.

So, Cheyenne-Enterprises continued to produce films, with "The Whole Nine Yards" and "Hot Fuzz" scheduled for release next year. They also co-produced the action film "Standoff," with a $50 million production budget, set to start shooting in January next year. Last year, they bought the adaptation rights for nine novels, planning to produce 2-4 films, which was old news.

This was an ambitious company.

Ye Wei had long thought that as long as he could get Willis on board, they could use financing, co-production, and other methods, but the key was the distribution of equity and his role as producer and director...

But now, Willis thought that DreamChase Alliance was just a middleman buying and selling film projects, which was not good.

He took a moment to gather his thoughts, walking to the window and said, "Bruce, our company is dedicated to film production, and we value the 'Little Miss Sunshine' project very much. We didn't show you the script to sell it but to invite you and Cheyenne-Enterprises to join us."

"Oh?" Willis was surprised, but being a seasoned veteran, he quickly responded, "We can set up a project and see how it goes. Whether to really produce it and who to cast can be discussed later."

Ye Wei gazed at the night sky, his brows furrowing even more. This so-called "project setup" was just an intention, no money spent, no filming, just one meeting after another. He wouldn't even meet Willis; he would be talking to Arnon Rifkin and others, and after a year or so, they might decide not to produce it.

He had no time or patience to get bogged down in Hollywood's commercial production process. He probed, "There's one thing you might not know. Our contract with Focus has a clause that we must start production within two years, or the project reverts to Focus."

"Wei, you know a bit about the film industry, so I'll be straightforward. Focus isn't a problem; we can have them as a co-producer. But if my company joins 'Little Miss Sunshine,' we must be the main producer, and we decide how to produce it. I can't give you any guarantees. A project that has been prepared for a long time might be produced, or it might not. That's how the film industry works. If you don't agree, I have no interest in our cooperation.

But I really like this script. If you give it to us, it will be in the first tier of our production plan. If it's really produced and you have sufficient funds, you can co-produce with 10% equity. I'll also recommend you for an Associate Producer credit, which is already a good deal for you."

Willis's words did not make Ye Wei excited but rather more helpless.

To be fair, it was a fair and generous offer.

First, Willis took him seriously. This call could have been made by an assistant or agent, but he made it personally, even on the eve of Thanksgiving. For a top-five paid actor in Hollywood, wasn't that a favor?

Second, the $650,000 offer was high. In less than a week, it had increased by $150,000, a 30% increase! And he was willing to let DreamChase Alliance co-produce with 10% equity.

Third, an Associate Producer credit!

An Associate Producer is at the bottom of the producer pyramid, with two types: one who does the most work and gets the least credit, and the other who does nothing, given as a gift to big shots, or more bluntly, as a bribe or for some other benefit. Often, it's just to make big shots feel good, like when Willis, who didn't participate in the production of a film, is still credited as an Associate Producer (planner), which sounds impressive and can even be used as a selling point for the film.

David Mamet's "State and Main" humorously describes an Associate Producer, with one character asking, "What's the point of an Associate Producer credit?" and another answering, "If you promise to give your lover's secretary a raise, it's a substitute for a salary."

So, the Producers Guild has been cracking down on this trend. In 1999, when "Shakespeare in Love" won the Oscar for Best Picture, five producers rushed to the stage, and subsequently, the Academy and the Producers Guild decided that only three producers could be credited on each nominated film, "those who played a dominant role in the production."

Thus, the trend changed, and now an Associate Producer credit is not valuable, and big shots don't like it, even considering it an insult.

But for him, a 15-year-old with a blank resume, this was priceless!

With this credit, which university wouldn't accept him? He would become a star student!

This was a huge temptation. If it were someone else, they would have eagerly accepted it. What else could they do? Refuse? Want more? Who do you think you are?

A clause in the contract? Forget it. With Willis on board, the people at Focus would be both regretful and eager to co-produce with 15% equity. Who would care about the clause?

This was why Ye Wei felt helpless. Logically, he should accept, but he couldn't!

"Bruce, I am very, very grateful for your offer. As you said, it's a good deal, but I still can't accept it. I don't just want a title... I know this might sound crazy, but I have to say it..."

Ye Wei's eyes narrowed, and he knew he had to speak his mind: "I want to produce and direct 'Little Miss Sunshine.' I can do it. If Cheyenne-Enterprises is willing to invest, whether you act in it or not, and whether DreamChase Alliance co-produces with 10% or more, I will gladly accept."

"You? Produce and direct?" Willis's voice was full of incredulous surprise. "Do you know what you're saying?"

The warmth in his tone was gone, replaced by coldness and annoyance. It was as if he had been talking to a polite, humble, mature, and knowledgeable young man one moment and a foolish, arrogant, and ignorant kid the next.

Negotiate terms? Was his offer not good enough? Entrust a multi-million-dollar business to a ninth-grader?! Who was crazy?

"Kid, kid, are you joking? I don't like jokes when I'm serious."

"No, sir..." Ye Wei had anticipated this and remained calm, speaking sincerely, "I know this sounds crazy, and it's impossible to convince someone with just a few words. So, I'm currently producing a 10-minute short film, which I wrote, directed, edited, and scored, to showcase my abilities."

"Ha, brave, but the world doesn't work that way."

Willis didn't want to waste more time, his voice flat, "Whoever told you this was wrong. You need to think it over. That's all. If you change your mind, you can contact our company. My offer still stands, but it might be different after a while. No company's production schedule waits for anyone."

Hearing the other side about to say "goodbye," Ye Wei quickly said, "I understand, but I have one request. When my short film is done, please take 10 minutes to watch it! Sir, you're always willing to give young people a chance. You gave M. Night Shyamalan a chance, please give me one too!"

"I've already given you a chance. You should know that opportunities don't last forever. Think it over these few days. Goodbye."

Willis hung up as soon as he finished speaking, and the phone beeped—

"Phew!" Ye Wei leaned back, taking a deep breath. The situation with Willis had changed dramatically, but what could he do? As long as he insisted on his demands, this would happen again. All he could do was continue his work, finish the short film as soon as possible, and convince the big shots!

But he felt frustrated and wanted to talk to someone. Seeing it was still early, he called Lily: "Hi, good evening. The big shot just got back to me..."

Hearing him reject Willis's offer, Lily gasped, "What? Why didn't you accept? That was a great deal for us!"

"Because I want to produce and direct, and he thinks I'm crazy." Ye Wei rubbed his forehead, feeling helpless.

"Oh... Wei, Wei, I don't know what to say..."

Lily sighed, sounding troubled, "That is crazy. If you had accepted, we would have had nearly 30% profit, and... don't you know how far 'Good Deeds' is from a professional film?"

"Yes, I know, but that was just for fun. When I'm serious, it's different." Ye Wei tried to explain, seeking encouragement, "Lily, I need your trust. Believe in me, okay?"

"I..." Lily paused for a moment, her voice gentle but firm, "I believe in you! Wei, you're walking a tightrope. If your short film isn't good, it will ruin a lot, everyone's hard work, and your promising future. I was thinking of the worst, and I felt scared. Being an Associate Producer on a film with Bruce Willis is so rare. I don't want you to become a laughingstock.

But then I thought, to hell with them! What do they know? They don't dare to dream, but you do... That's what makes you so different, what makes me... believe in you!"

"Thank you... Lily, thank you." Ye Wei was deeply moved. She chose to support him emotionally!

"Um, work hard!" Lily's voice was sweet, and he could imagine her smiling, "No one can make a professional film at 15 or 16. That's for ordinary people, but you're VIY."

"I might not be able to, but how about 17? Hahaha!"

"You're still laughing, oh my God! Look at what I just said... Wait, I have to get on the plane. Let's talk later. I won't have much time to chat these few days. Talk to you when I get back, okay?"

"Sure, have a safe trip, have fun, may the Force be with you."

"May the Force be with you too, good night."

Beep, beep—

After hanging up, Ye Wei stared at his phone screen for a long time, smiling. His heart was churning with something he couldn't quite identify, but he felt full of energy! He murmured, "Girl, for your trust, I'll do it! GO! GO! GO!"

He took a few steps back to his computer and got to work. The script was almost ready, and the next step was to start preparing many things, including finding the lead actors.

There were many characters in the script, but finding actors for Annie's parents wouldn't be hard. The USC acting database had plenty of suitable amateur, semi-professional, and professional actors. The key was the two main leads. Toto could play himself, but if he lacked talent, they'd have to hire a professional dog actor.

The hardest part was finding Annie. Dodo was too young and hadn't taken acting classes. He needed a professional 7-10-year-old actress!

Invite a famous child star? Dakota Fanning? That would be as difficult as getting Willis to play Richard. With no shortage of production funds, it wasn't necessary to complicate things. A better goal would be an excellent but undiscovered young girl!

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