Chapter 409: This Is No Joke

In September 2006, after Jim Carrey left the United Talent Agency (UTA) where he had been for 15 years, he rejected offers from CAA and did not sign with any new agency.

However, he retained his long-term agents Jimmy Miller and Eric Gold, still allowing the two UTA agents to handle his business management.

This was essentially a new mode of cooperation with UTA; they were no longer responsible for everything he did, nor could they "bundle" him with other actors, directors, or staff from UTA.

Because during this period, the "bundling" and "package" service business model was rampant among Hollywood agencies—a series of nested "services" involving staff, actors, funding, filming locations, and so on.

Among these, the main personnel would be either a big star or a popular, well-known director; if you wanted to use that big star or director, you had to accept the other "set" of bundled personnel.

In Hollywood, the first person to secure a share of the initial gross box office for directors and actors was Michael Ovitz, the founder of CAA, who was also the first to start the "package" service.

The original intention of this package service was good: to reduce the trouble for studios or producers in inviting other staff members and to speed up the project's progress.

Moreover, because these "packaged" staff members were all from the same agency and were relatively familiar with each other, it could also improve work efficiency.

Therefore, when this service first appeared, it was not resisted by the studios.

At that time, in order to promote their "package" groups, agencies would carefully arrange and combine them, truly doing the work.

However, as time went on, this service changed its flavor.

Agencies might stuff an unsuitable newcomer, an over-the-hill actor, or an actor with some peculiar hobbies into a "package" group led by a big star or famous director.

It wasn't just actors; the same operation applied to other staff members as well.

Slowly, this led to dissatisfaction not only from the studios but even from the big stars or directors leading the "packages."

In 2004, Leonardo DiCaprio did not renew his contract with his agency, choosing only to let UTA represent his acting business, and only acting matters at that, without any so-called "package" business.

In 2005, the then-emerging director Christopher Nolan took his agent and switched to CAA, and in his negotiations with CAA, he had a specific agreement that he could accept "packages," but he had to decide the candidates for the "package" himself.

After Jim Carrey's contract expired in 2006, he made the same choice, no longer renewing with UTA, only letting his former agents handle acting matters, and no longer accepting "package" business.

It is worth mentioning that Johnny Depp was also signed with UTA.

However, ever since he collaborated with Cao Yang, the first film they worked on, "The Mean Milk," won him an Oscar for Best Actor, and the subsequent films were all collaborations with Cao Yang.

He was already a famous eccentric who always chose roles based on his mood; such an actor is very difficult to "package."

Before UTA could even manage to "package" him in the films he made with Cao Yang, he had already become a two-time consecutive Oscar winner and one of Hollywood's hottest big stars.

Added to this was Cao Yang's influence and his "golden combination" with Depp.

Even if UTA wanted to intervene with a "package" now, it wouldn't be realistic—Depp is different from Leonardo DiCaprio and Jim Carrey; he wouldn't "endure" until his contract expired, as he is truly capable of paying out of his own pocket to break a contract.

Whether it is an agency or an agent, dealing with "eccentrics" is quite a headache.

"Jimmy, what do you think about this?"

Jim Carrey asked Jimmy Miller, the UTA agent who was still handling his acting affairs.

"I don't think this is a question that needs choosing. You have to know that is Cao Yang, the director who let Depp win the Oscar for Best Actor for two consecutive years, and the director who let Depp have two consecutive films with box office earnings exceeding 900 million dollars."

Jimmy Miller shrugged his shoulders and continued: "He is also the one who won the Oscar for Best Director, and as a producer, he has also won three Oscars for Best Picture."

"But this is a comic book adaptation, and not even the most popular Batman, just an obscure Joker."

Another agent, Eric Gold, retorted: "Don't forget, by the end of the year, we had already almost finished negotiating with the 'Yes Man' crew, and this film is the traditional comedy that fits Jim best; the probability of success is the highest."

After a moment of silence, Eric Gold reminded him: "Jimmy, I think you should know Jim's predicament; he cannot afford to fail again, even if the film's box office earnings are just a little low."

Subsequently, Eric Gold turned his head to look at Jim Carrey.

"Jim, I know you really want to challenge yourself, but don't forget, this is an art-house film, a damn art-house film adapted from a superhero comic; that is the most ridiculous part."

Then, he knocked heavily on the table and asked Jimmy Miller:

"Jimmy, when have you ever seen a comic book adaptation win an Oscar? When have you ever seen a superhero comic adapted into an art-house film? Let alone winning awards; it's simply a huge joke."

Eric Gold is a very senior agent; not long after Jim Carrey joined UTA, he became Jim Carrey's agent, and one could say he watched Jim Carrey rise to fame step by step.

As Jim Carrey's long-term agent, he can also be considered one of the behind-the-scenes promoters of Jim Carrey's rise.

But Jimmy Miller is different.

When he became Jim Carrey's agent, Jim Carrey had already become a red-hot big star in Hollywood; because business increased and the agency team needed to expand, he became one of Jim Carrey's agents.

The reason Jim Carrey chose these two UTA agents after not renewing his contract with UTA was mainly because Eric Gold was steady and handled things reliably.

Jimmy Miller was younger and had more of an adventurous spirit.

"Eric, I admit that it is rare for a superhero comic to be adapted into an art-house film, especially a superhero like 'Batman'; I have never seen such a superhero comic adaptation win a major Oscar."

Speaking of this, Jimmy Miller smiled, and then he said softly:

"But, have you ever seen someone who has won an Oscar for Best Director, and has also won three Oscars for Best Picture? And has won two Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay and one Oscar for Best Original Screenplay?

He has also cultivated a person who won the Oscar for Best Actor for two consecutive years, and has also cultivated an Oscar winner for Best Supporting Actor.

He has also won two Golden Lions at Venice and one Palme d'Or at Cannes, and he has also become the first person in history to achieve a Grand Slam of Best Director awards at the three major European film festivals.

He has also cultivated four Best Actresses at the three major European film festivals and one Best Actor at the Berlin Film Festival.

The two Hollywood films he directed recently both broke 900 million dollars in global box office, and he might even become the third director to have a single film break 1 billion dollars."

Jimmy Miller spread his hands, turned his head to look at Eric Gold, and asked in a low voice:

"Have you ever seen such a comprehensive super-director? So, what you think is impossible, what you think is a joke, for a genius super-director like Cao Yang, is not necessarily so."

Eric Gold opened his mouth to retort, but nothing came out.

"If I can reach an agreement with Director Cao Yang, what about 'Yes Man'?" Jim Carrey asked from the side.

Jimmy Miller's words not only left Eric Gold with no way to retort, but Jim Carrey also felt his heart surging with excitement.

His requirements were actually not high; if he couldn't make a breakthrough in box office, then winning a Best Actor award at one of the three major European film festivals would also be good.

It would be even better if he could get a nomination for an Oscar for Best Actor.

He hadn't even received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor yet.

Why did he want to transform and film several different types of movies in the past few years?

Because he had already proven himself at the box office.

After a big star has proven himself at the box office, what is the thing he wants to do most?

Of course, it is to make a breakthrough in awards, especially the Oscars or the three major European film festivals.

Forget about the Golden Globes; they aren't authoritative, at least for a big star of Jim Carrey's caliber, the Golden Globes are somewhat of a chicken rib.

"That's not much of a problem."

Somewhat unexpectedly, the one who answered this question was not Jimmy Miller, but Eric Gold, who had been holding an opposing opinion.

"If they knew you were going to collaborate with Director Cao Yang, they would be dying for you to film Director Cao Yang's movie first."