Determining the lineup

The scene shifted to a café in Los Angeles the next day.

Jason Statham, dressed in a gray shirt, had both legs stretched out in front of him. His gaze wandered outward, and his right hand constantly stirred the coffee in front of him, giving off an air of impatience.

However, even without his signature hat, he remained conspicuous in the spacious café.

As soon as Lyman entered, he spotted Jason.

Jason, who had been keeping an eye on the entrance, naturally noticed Lyman's arrival and quickly stood up to greet him.

"Hey, Director Lyman."

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Lyman said apologetically, "I got caught in traffic on the way here, which delayed me for a bit."

"No worries. I just got here too." Jason smiled politely and gestured for Lyman to take a seat.

They sat facing each other in a corner by the southwest window. A waiter brought another cup of coffee for Lyman.

Jason smiled once again, and to be honest, with his prominent eyebrows and eyes, he did seem to fit the image quite well.

As for acting skills, it might be quite a challenge, but at least Jason's outward appearance seemed to align with the character's essence.

Calmly discussing the details of the project, Lyman explained the role. At that moment, Jason felt a slight pang of disappointment upon hearing that the director wasn't Lyman himself, but the newcomer, James Wan.

However, since James was the director, and the fact that the film was produced by Lyman, he still had a considerable interest in participating.

"If it's possible, can you have your agent come over to Paramount tomorrow?"

"That works."

"I have a few things to attend to."

"Goodbye."

It was true that Mann Studio was in need of an action-oriented actor to take the lead.

Before this, Heath Ledger was undoubtedly their number one collaborator, Nicholas Cage was known for his acting, and while Tom Cruise's relationship with the studio was fair, he hadn't been their go-to for action films. Nicolas couldn't be relied on to play the tough guy role; he probably wouldn't accept that kind of character.

If they could propel Jason to stardom, his appearance, demeanor, and physique were all in line with the trajectory of an on-screen action hero. It was a great fit, wasn't it?

After meeting with Lyman, Jason immediately called his agent to confirm the invitation. On the other end, James, Leigh Whannel, and the rest of the team were busy as well. Simultaneously, they were making preliminary preparations for the upcoming shoot.

Oh, one thing that was forgotten to be mentioned earlier: Leigh was not only the screenwriter of the film but also one of the assistant production managers of "Saw". After getting the chance, James hadn't forgotten his friend and intended to help him get closer to the roles of producer or director, learning from his actual on-set experience.

This was quite commendable; at least, loyalty and humility were evident. Without a doubt, his character was reliable.

Regarding projects like "Saw", while the investment wasn't high, the workload was substantial. After settling things with Jason, Lyman began searching for the other main actors in earnest.

Inviting Hugo Weaving went smoothly.

He was the kind of actor who wasn't necessarily a big star, yet possessed remarkable acting skills. His paycheck, however, wasn't exceedingly high. After all, producers cared more about the audience market. Even if your performance was excellent, most viewers didn't have a clear concept of that. If they couldn't remember you and you lacked a fan base, it was hard to stand out.

Yet, these seasoned actors were still sought after in the industry; their steady presence was like a meticulously crafted instrument. They might not be eye-catching, but they provided a certain level of performance assurance.

When Hugo received the call, he was delighted.

Lyman was even more pleased. The budget was ample, and even though Hugo was playing Dr. Lawrence, whose role wasn't the most significant, his compensation was generous and sincere.

Hugo didn't hesitate and immediately signed the contract.

Then, there was just Jigsaw left.

...

"Hey."

The call connected, and Lyman, who had been lounging on the couch, immediately sat up straight and greeted, "Jon, how have you been lately?"

"Doing fine. Do you need something?" His words carried a sense of ease. After all, he wasn't lacking in acting opportunities.

"I have a role missing for a film. Do you have availability?"

"I'm going to be in Warner Bros.' film next month. How about..."

"The role doesn't have many scenes. You could probably finish your part in a week or two. What do you think? Can you do it?"

"Is that so? Alright then, I'll come over tomorrow."

For roles with limited screen time like this, being able to invite seasoned actors like J.K. Simmons was undoubtedly giving Lyman some face.

Perhaps it was due to the success of "Miscreant", or maybe Jonathan had a favorable impression of him.

In any case, during the salary negotiation on the following day, Jonathan asked for a friendly rate outright - $300,000.

After reviewing the script, it was quite evident that the Jigsaw character didn't have numerous positive scenes. He was more like a background character until the final twist, which accounted for more screen time. Considering it was a cameo appearance, Jonathan decided to go for a personal favor.

Lyman didn't necessarily need that extra money, but Jonathan was genuinely sincere. He couldn't really refuse, so he ended up owing a favor.

In the reception room at Paramount.

Lyman shook hands with Jonathan with great sincerity, expressing his gratitude.

The contract was signed, and Jonathan chuckled, "Alright, when will this film start shooting?"

"In a few days. Don't worry, we'll prioritize shooting your scenes and it won't interfere with your schedule." Lyman assured him.

"Sure, let me know when the time comes," Jonathan sat in his seat for a moment, then smiled and added, "You don't have to take too much care of me. If the shooting schedule gets too tight, it might not turn out well. If there's a conflict with Warner Bros., I'll just talk to them."

Lyman pursed his lips, not sure what to say.

He was always wary of unexpected displays of goodwill.

The first one was Heath Ledger. He traveled all the way to Cannes, France, and took on "Buried" with a very low paycheck. To be honest, the production team was really struggling at that time, carefully managing every expense. Heath didn't complain, endured subpar meals, endured the heat, and filmed scenes sealed in a small wooden coffin.

Lyman had witnessed it all.

Then there was Nicolas Cage. After the failure of "Windtalkers", he still took on a similar film, "Fury". Lyman also remembered that favor.

He wasn't one to utter polite words. He always preferred actions.

So, when it came to making a film, he always thought of these people first.

Of course, these people weren't lacking either.

The fact that the collaboration between both parties could be maintained so well was apparent.

After all, personal favors sometimes fade away as time passes, right?