Chapter 77: Reserves

In the café, as Logan looked at the tall, well-endowed, delicately featured female editor across from him, he once again doubted whether the Jessica Felton he remembered was someone else.

The Latina woman opposite, in a light-colored linen shirt, fitted jeans, and tall boots, exuded a clean and fashionable vibe.

Logan lifted his coffee cup, took a sip, and said, "Jessica, long time no see. You look even more beautiful, which only adds to my confusion. Which one of you is the real you?"

Perhaps due to her mixed heritage, Jessica Felton's wheat-colored skin was far smoother than that of the average Caucasian woman. She understood Logan's words and touched her own face, saying, "Both are me. Everyone has two sides, it's normal."

She countered Logan, "I heard single men's homes are usually messy."

Logan shrugged, "Not mine."

Jessica Felton seemed surprised, "Aren't you single?"

"I am," Logan explained, "but I like a clean and tidy environment."

Jessica Felton suddenly laughed, "So, working with you makes me feel at ease, without so much messiness."

Logan immediately recalled the greasy feeling when they first met, unconsciously playing with his fingers and jokingly saying, "Rest assured, in my crew, no one will disturb you with things outside of work."

Anyone with ideas in mind, seeing Jessica Felton focused on her work, would probably keep their distance.

Jessica Felton tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, seemingly unconcerned about anything other than work, "So, is there a new job?"

Logan smiled and said, "I'm here to fulfill our agreement."

The last time he hired Jessica Felton, he verbally promised her the role of editor for "Death Comes."

"'Death Comes'?" Of course, Jessica Felton hadn't forgotten.

Logan nodded and asked, "Do you have an agent?"

Jessica Felton shook her head, "An agent? No, those guys just disrupt my normal work."

"Alright," Logan didn't beat around the bush, "Let's discuss the contract. How much salary do you want?"

Jessica Felton casually said, "A bit more than last time will do. I'm short on cash, and I want to buy the latest editing equipment. I heard there's new digital editing software out recently, and I'm planning to buy a computer and related software. Technical research costs money."

This woman's salary is all spent on learning and buying new equipment.

Logan thought for a moment and said, "Weekly salary of $4,000, working time may be around ten weeks."

"Okay," Jessica Felton smiled. Perhaps she was in a good mood, smiling too brightly and breathing a bit quickly, causing the huge peaks to sway and blur, making one dizzy. She added, "But I have a condition."

Logan's mind went astray, and he said directly, "I'll provide you with a full-time nanny."

Not for anything else, but for the sake of his eyes and nose.

Jessica Felton shook her head slowly, "Not that. My condition is that your next film should prioritize me."

Logan didn't immediately answer, just looked at Jessica Felton, who explained, "I'm currently on the rise and need to get my hands on real films."

Logan agreed, "No problem."

With outstanding skills, reasonable prices, and even bringing bedding, it's hard to find such an editor.

Actually, what Jessica Felton needed most was an excellent agent. An agent could bring her more job opportunities, but Logan didn't have any intention of reminding her. That would be asking for trouble.

Jessica Felton checked her phone for the time and took the initiative to leave, "If there's nothing else, I'll go first."

Logan casually said, "It's almost noon, can I treat you to lunch?"

"No," Jessica Felton refused without hesitation, "I'm tight on time, and I still have some footage to edit for practice."

Logan didn't waste any more words, "I'll call you when it's time to sign the contract."

After Jessica Felton left, Logan found a place to have lunch and then returned to Sand Sea Entertainment.

With the start of the two projects "Death Comes" and "Ace Agent," Sand Sea Entertainment conducted another round of recruitment, with the company's staff now exceeding fifteen people.

The main job of these personnel was to serve the two film projects.

The addition of new employees did not bring much pressure on salaries. Just like last time, as long as there were film projects in progress, employee salaries would be paid from the production crew.

For sure, anyone who doesn't fully utilize such a film project without third-party guarantees and investment oversight is a commercial idiot.

Logan also knew that if they continued to succeed, such opportunities for rapid growth would be hard to come by again.

Back in the office, he opened his email and then called Mary in.

"The budget for 'Ace Agent' has been reduced to $10 million," Logan had been considering this for a long time, "The funds saved will be reserved for the contingency fund for 'Relativity.'"

He glanced through the slightly crowded office outside the glass and said, "The company will need more manpower in the future, this place is too crowded. Let someone check if there are any small office buildings for rent in Burbank, with around three floors being sufficient."

Mary nodded, "I'll do that." She reminded him, "Logan, you need an assistant."

Logan understood, "Post a job advertisement."

After Mary left, Logan opened the photocopies he got from Professor Johnson and started reading. This part mainly talked about the packaging services provided by talent agencies.

There were many successful and failed cases of packaging services inside.

After reading for a while, he closed the bound photocopies, frowned slightly, and thought of "Ace Agent."

Compared to the smoothly prepared "Death Comes," "Ace Agent" had made no progress despite being formally approved for tax refunds. Apart from the script, the project had nothing else.

This was a movie destined to lose money in North America. Logan had contacted several directors and agents, but the results were all unsatisfactory.

Perhaps it could be handed over to a talent agency for packaging?

Would any talent agency be willing to take on this hot potato?

This film must be made, and the main storyline of Arab agents saving the world must not change. Only after deeper involvement did Logan realize that the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority was a behemoth, and some things could be done discreetly. However, if they were paying real money, the promised film had to be produced to avoid future trouble.

Whether the production would be good or bad was another issue.

After considering for a while, Logan decided to let George release some information and see if any talent agencies were willing to wade into this mess.

He called George, dealt with a few more documents, and then saw an industry news article online.

Lionsgate acquired the rights to more than 40 films from the former Embassy Pictures library for a total of $5 million.

"As expected, bankers find it easier to raise funds."

Logan shook his head inwardly, "Lionsgate is ambitious, eager to expand the company's reserves."

What is the biggest reserve of a film company? It's never the newly produced films, but the vast library of films.

Any of the big six companies, just the old films in their libraries alone, can generate tens of millions of dollars in net profit every year. Like the dozens of animated films in Disney's hands, they are truly invaluable treasures.

How much profit do the derivative products of those animated films generate each year?

For Logan, who was constrained by funds, he wouldn't easily let go of the library of Embassy Pictures.

For him, the immediate distribution channels were more important than the long-term slow profits of the film library.

Encountering a distribution company willing to sell, with relatively complete distribution channels, was a rare opportunity. Missing this one, it might be difficult to find a suitable one for the next four or five years.

The profitability of a distribution company is extremely powerful.

With a distribution company, he could go to the San Denis Film Festival in a while.

He remembered that a film was completed and the copyright was traded at the San Denis Film Festival a long time ago.

Without a distribution company on hand, even if he risked the huge risk of copyright infringement to make a film, it would be useless.

With a distribution company, it's a completely different story.