Behind The Spotlight Chapter 194
"Thank you, Collin. They didn't trouble you too much, right?" Princess Chantal thanked Collin over the phone. She had been trying to avoid the topic because it made her uncomfortable, but she decided to hear about it to confront reality.
"Everything's alright. You don't have to worry. If they try to trouble you or cause problems, I'll make sure they suffer the consequences. They already signed the contract; they are legally bound," Collin assured her confidently.
The two were talking on the phone. Princess Chantal was currently in Italy, preparing for her next concert, surrounded by staff.
"Thank you," Princess Chantal sighed in relief. She had trauma related to her family and was afraid to meet them. The scars had never truly healed. However, she couldn't deny that her parents had made sure she survived until she reached legal age. She admitted that she had to return the favor, at least materially.
She thought her parents would ask for something extravagant, and she didn't know how to deny them. Her parents would 100% guilt-trip her and convince her that she should give them money.
In fact, she was already prepared to spend $1 million monthly just to shut them up, considering it a necessary loss. She had even talked to Collin about it. As long as her parents wouldn't trouble her or affect her career, she was prepared to spend millions for peace of mind. Even for someone who earned over $100 million last year, Princess Chantal found it hard to part with $1 million per month. After all, she worked hard to earn that money. It was hard-earned. She didn't steal it, every cent was earned through work... Unlike politicians who embezzled government funds.
It didn't help that she felt no love toward the family who had kicked her out, so spending money on them was extremely difficult to accept.
However, she had a talented agent who handled the negotiation perfectly and exceeded her expectations. Instead of spending $1 million, he lowered it to $220,000 per month, a drastic reduction. That was an acceptable amount and made Princess Chantal deeply grateful. As much as she wanted to repay them, she didn't want to be sucked dry.
"You don't have to thank me. I'm just doing my job," Collin replied modestly.
"That's always your answer," Princess Chantal giggled, already used to his humility.
Collin earned a commission, of course. It was 10% of the money he saved. Collin and Princess Chantal had agreed that she accepted spending $1 million monthly, and his job was to make sure her parents wouldn't exceed that amount.
At the same time, if he saved money and lowered the payout, he would earn a 10% commission on the saved amount.
In this transaction, Collin saved $780,000. His commission was $78,000, although he could only keep 60% of that amount since the agency and the entertainment lawyer had their shares.
Even so, $46,800 was still a payday worth celebrating. This amount was already a yearly salary for an employee, yet Collin earned it from a single transaction.
Even though a talent agent could only earn through commissions, the profession still had massive potential for those skilled enough. Only agents in the top 5% of the industry could enjoy the status Collin had, where connections mattered most. No wonder many agents went crazy trying to acquire a famous and profitable client. As long as an agent had a money-maker, he wouldn't go hungry.
After confirming that everything was settled, Princess Chantal ended the call. She sighed in relief. She hoped this would be the last time, she wanted closure. She had actually seen them at the airport but did nothing because she didn't want to face them. She walked quickly and was fortunate that Collin intercepted them that day, saving her from emotional distress.
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Axel Gunner stepped out of his trailer and greeted the staff with a smile. The staff greeted him back. Despite being a famous actor, especially after the huge success of The Born Identity, Axel maintained a humble attitude.
After experiencing a scandal that almost destroyed his career, Axel understood that being a good person was better than being hated by the production team.
The director spotted him and approached with intent.
"Axel, our scene today is heavy. I want you to give your full 100%. Give me a convincing performance," the director said clearly.
"I will, Director," Axel replied. Internally, he studied his role, trying to understand the character more deeply.
The director nodded. He had been working with Axel for two months, and Axel always delivered. He never disappointed. His performance was outstanding, and the director was glad to have someone like him in the cast. Despite being a supporting character, Axel's role was important, the catalyst for the lead role. The director needed Axel to deliver an amazing performance and he never failed.
For that, the director was satisfied.
Axel's appearance was completely different from his usual self. He took the role so seriously that he followed it to the T. He shaved his head, grew a beard, and made himself look older, almost unrecognizable. He became a completely different person. Even his son was shocked by the transformation.
"Whipflash, scene 12, take 1!"
The assistant director held the clapperboard and announced the sequence loudly. He snapped the clapperboard in front of the camera.
The film rolled.
A group of musicians played their instruments with utmost seriousness. They were truly playing, and real music filled the studio.
The director was searching for perfection and had ensured the cast learned how to play their instruments through months of preparation.
Inside the filming studio, the harmony was smooth and captivating. Even the crew members found the musical performance impressive for beginners.
The camera was rolling, and the crew maintained their silence.
In front of the musicians stood a mentor with his hands on his waist, listening intently. He was bald, with a thick beard. His eyes were closed as he analyzed every note, listening to the harmony.
He frowned when he caught a subtle flaw. He opened his eyes and stared at the drummer, who was rolling the drums.
The mentor slowly approached him. The musicians gradually stopped playing as the mentor raised his hand, signaling for a pause. The drummer also stopped, his body stiffening as he realized the terrifying mentor was standing right in front of him. Sweat formed on his forehead as he looked at the bald man, his eyes filled with fear and respect.
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