Page 116 of Off Script
The pandemic hit Hollywood hard. Shutting down television and movie studios. Halting current productions. Stalling new projects in development. Then just as the studios began to operate normally and recoup their losses from the pandemic fallout, Hollywood was hit by the writers’ and actors’ labor strikes.
Once again, Hollywood came to a near standstill. The unions disallowed any publicity for movie releases, and the box office numbers tanked. Without new contracts being signed, agents and their agencies sustained millions in lost revenue. Without bloated profits, studios’ budgets grew leaner and massive ripples were felt throughout the industry. Projects were scrapped, salaries were slashed, and layoffs were widespread. Studios, actors, and everyone associated with the industry took huge financial losses.
Including talent agents and their agencies.
Jada is underwater big time after taking huge risks by expanding her business too quickly and at the wrong time. According to the financial report the PI emailed me, Jada is deeply in debt, and if she doesn’t close some big deals soon, her business will likely go under. Since Becky works for Jada, she would lose her livelihood too.
Jada represents both Willa and me, and we’re currently the biggest stars on her roster. Willa is taking a break from acting to travel, and I want to pursue parts in smaller, independent films that aren’t as lucrative. Both of which mean that our future potential earnings are dwindling at a time when Jada is anxious to increase her profits.
WhenCaptain Commanderwas projected to be a monster hit at the box office, Jada saw an opportunity to cash in. The movie studio is eager to sign Willa and me onto the sequel. My salary for the first filmwas inflated, but the numbers being discussed for the next installment are massive, representing a huge financial boon for Jada too. Since Willa is also her client, Jada’s commensurate percentage from our combined salaries would be enough to keep her business afloat for a few more months, buying her time to sign new talent and book new gigs for her existing clients.
Jada was desperate for Willa and me to remain on good terms with one another personally, so that we would be open to, or even eager about, the idea of working together professionally again.
However, if my relationship with Carlisle became more serious, Jada rightfully assumed that I’d be leery to sign on to anotherCaptain Commandermovie because it would create an uncomfortable situation for Willa and me to play lovers onscreen again.
Given Willa’s unrequited feelings for me, I doubt she would have willingly subjected herself to that painful situation either.
And if neither Willa nor I were amenable to resurrect our roles, then the second movie would be dead in the water.
Simply put, Carlisle’s ongoing presence in my life posed a threat to the likelihood of the secondCaptain Commandermovie getting a green light. And Jada needed those contracts signed if she had any hope of saving her business.
While Willa and I were abroad, Jada and Becky worked hard behind the scenes to push us together in hopes that we’d start catching real feelings for each other. And if that didn't work, they were covering their bases by manipulating the situation to drive a wedge between Carlisle and me.
After reading the PI’s report and seeing it in stark black and white, I finally understood that money is all that Becky and Jada care about. My history, and Willa’s history, with them doesn’t matter. Loyalty be damned. They are both willing to manipulate us to suit their end goals.Willa was right to fire Becky, but I’m convinced Jada is just as much of a snake as Becky.
“I’m sure you know why I’m here,” I surmise.
Secretive and flustered glances fly between the two women, as they try to determine if there’s any way to rescue our fractured professional relationships, and if so, what their best play is.
Becky’s the first to crack. “Ben, I’m sorry. I overstepped at Jada’s request, but it really was for your own good.”
Laughing wryly, I bark, “Overstepped? Is that what you call telling my girlfriend that I don’t want to see her anymore and then paying her off?” Turning my ire to Jada, I continue. “And you? Using your lackeys during the promotional tour to change Carlisle’s number in my phone so I couldn’t contact her?”
Jada flushes and she tries to save face and deny my accusations. “Ben, I would never!” She hops up from her desk, staring me down.
“Cut the bullshit, Jada!” I roar, slamming my fist down on her desk. “Once I found out the truth, I’ve contemplated how it could have happened. My phone is with me all the time. How did anyone get access to it? How did anyone know my passcode to open my phone?” I pause. “And then it hit me. When I was arrested and booked in Tokyo, they confiscated all my belongings, and I had to supply them with my passcode to verify the timeline of events. When I was released, James, your employee, handed me back my things. He had ample opportunity to change Carlisle’s phone number, ensuring that I wouldn’t be able to contact her while I was overseas. There’s no way he would have done that on his own. He had to have done that at your behest.” I shake my head in disgust. “It’s one thing for you to manage my acting career, but my love life is a separate matter altogether, Jada. You had no right to manipulate my personal life for your gain.”
Abandoning any semblance of remorse, Jada struts out from behind her desk. Leaning against it, she crosses her arms and narrows her eyes. “Ben, you can’t be that naïve. You’ve been in the industry for far too long to not understand how it works. When you’re a celebrity, your personal and professional lives are a package deal, intertwined so tightly that they can never be untangled. I was trying to keep you from throwing away your career for a girl.”
The corner of my mouth tilts up. “Somewhere along the way, you forgot that you work for me, not the other way around, Jada. But that won’t matter anymore because you’re both fired.”
Cascade of Celebs Ditch Talent Agent
Rumors are churning after actor Ben Sutton and several other famous clients departed Hollywood’s Jada Fischer Talent Agency under mysterious circumstances this week.
Sutton first signed with uber-agent Fischer nearly a dozen years ago at the beginning of his burgeoning career. Under her tutelage, Sutton has quickly risen through the ranks to become one of the most highly sought after actors in the business.Forbeslisted Sutton as the third highest paid actor in Hollywood last year, which makes his abrupt departure even more unexpected. According to an industry insider, no one knows exactly what went down to cause the bad blood between Sutton and Fischer.
Less than a day later, Sutton's ex-girlfriend, actress Willa Radford, also announced that she had secured new representation. In the days since, the list of celebrities parting ways with Fischer hasgrown, including singer-songwriter Reya, actor Pierce Logan, and actress Cheyenne Wilson.
On the condition of anonymity, a source within the embroiled talent agency claimed, “These purported rumors that talent is leaving the agency is just that—rumors and completely unfounded.”
However, based on the number of celebs self-reporting that they are under new management that seems highly unlikely—at best, an understatement and at worst, a total fabrication of the truth. Because it certainly appears that the once profitable talent agency is now circling the drain.
Epilogue
BEN
Three years later
