The Greatest Showman #1165 - Cooperation Continues

The ultimate goal for every broker is to become a partner at a prestigious brokerage firm, and Andy Rogers, a senior broker, is no exception. More importantly, Andy has his sights set on becoming a partner at the Creative Artists Agency, a leader in Hollywood, and the number one agency with vast power and influence.

For years, Andy has worked tirelessly to reach this point, and now, he can finally see the dawn of success on the horizon. However, not long ago, Andy found himself caught in a career crisis, with everything he had worked for on the verge of falling apart. This crisis stemmed from the fact that Andy's brokerage contract with Renly Hall was nearing its expiration.

To many who aren't familiar with the industry, it might be hard to grasp why an actor's brokerage contract could cause such a significant crisis for an agent. After all, Andy is not a rookie; he is a senior employee at Creative Artists Agency, with proven abilities and established connections. His reputation in the industry is well-recognized.

But here's the truth: Renly Hall has reached the peak of his career—both in personal talent and commercial value. At just 23 years old, Renly's potential is limitless, and the industry has only begun to scratch the surface of his future earnings. Simply put, Renly is one of the most sought-after clients in the entire brokerage industry.

The competition for Renly's services is fierce. Not only are other major Hollywood agencies eyeing him, but even Creative Artists Agency itself is positioning to retain him.

In Hollywood's brokerage system, agents and actors are typically inseparable. Their success and failure are tied together, creating a symbiotic relationship. However, Creative Artists Agency is different. Within their company, all resources are shared. This means actors are not tied to individual agents, but to the agency itself. The agency manages resource allocation, plans, and ensures actors are placed in the best opportunities.

For instance, when Renly signed with Andy, it wasn't just Andy who benefited—it was the entire Creative Artists Agency. Renly's 10% commission wasn't paid directly to Andy, but to the agency, which then redistributed it. If Renly became dissatisfied with Andy, he could switch to another agent, but his access to resources would remain unchanged.

While this system maximizes resource efficiency, it also creates discrepancies between agents. Why do some agents rise to the top while others don't? The answer is simple: the agents who manage more successful actors, directors, and screenwriters naturally earn higher dividends and rise in status. This dynamic helps determine who gains power within the industry.

The clearest example of this is in 1998, when Tracy Jacobs, a top agent at Creative Artists Agency, was poached by the Rising Star United Elite Agency. She took Johnny Depp with her, who was on the cusp of becoming a major Hollywood star.

The same could happen with Renly and Andy. For other agents, Renly's contract expiration presents an opportunity to either poach him or increase their own agency's influence. For Creative Artists Agency, Renly has become a crucial asset that all other agents want to secure.

The news of Renly's impending contract expiration was not made public, but everyone in the industry knew the timeline. When Renly first signed with Andy, industry insiders started counting down to the end of the contract, anticipating the moment they could make their move. Although the contract technically ends in August, by July, the competition had already begun. By late August, when Renly appeared on Broadway, the pressure reached a boiling point, with brokers swarming like sharks scenting blood.

Andy found himself caught in a tough spot. On one hand, he had to juggle Renly's tight schedule, balancing his Broadway performances with promotional duties for Transcendence and communication with the Gravity crew. On the other hand, he was forced to deal with the malice and sabotage from rival agents, who were using every dirty trick in the book to undermine him.

At least two senior partners within Creative Artists Agency were involved in trying to poach Renly. And this was just the tip of the iceberg—Andy only knew of a fraction of the underhanded moves happening behind his back.

Throughout all this, Renly remained focused on his Broadway performance and had little time for the backstage drama. Andy kept him largely unaware of the pressure mounting around them, choosing to protect Renly's focus on the show. However, as the battle for Renly intensified, Roy and Nathan, key members of Andy's team, found themselves caught in the whirlwind of attention. From constant calls and messages to glamorous parties and event invitations, they were treated like Hollywood royalty—except, it wasn't without its costs. Roy even joked about the overwhelming attention, claiming that, at times, he felt like he was Leonardo DiCaprio after Titanic.

Despite the frenzy, the chaos only lasted two weeks before coming to an abrupt end. This was due to a public statement made by Renly, which, unbeknownst to Andy, had been arranged through a senior partner at Creative Artists Agency. This senior partner had bypassed Andy, Roy, and Nathan to arrange a private meeting with Renly, using an intermediary, Matthew Dunlop.

Renly was displeased by this underhanded maneuver. He had no patience for agents or executives who used his friends to get ahead. When he realized that this tactic was being used to meet with him, any potential collaboration was immediately closed off.

If Andy had known in advance, he would have strongly advised against such a move. What works in high society doesn't always work with Renly, whose trust and loyalty to his friends are paramount. Unfortunately, the senior partner's lack of understanding of Renly's preferences meant the opportunity was lost.

Renly was already aware of the situation before the senior partner's dinner. He called Andy immediately afterward, asking, "When are we going to update the brokerage contract? Is there anything we need to change? Why didn't you tell me earlier? It would've saved so much trouble."

Andy was caught off guard. He thought Renly needed time to consider his options. After all, with his newfound star power, Renly could pick any agent he wanted. Yet, Renly chose Andy. This came as a complete surprise to him.

"You made the decision before you signed with me, didn't you?" Renly's reply was simple and clear.

Through Roy, Renly became aware of the internal competition and sabotage within the agency. This led to their honest conversation and Renly's understanding of the situation. Despite the challenges, Andy's loyalty and determination to protect Renly's interests were clear, and that was something Renly truly appreciated.