The Greatest Showman #1513 – Boiled Frog in Warm Water

The game of salary negotiation is a delicate dance between the brokerage company and the production company. Only when the timing is right, the conditions align, and all players are in sync, can the limits be pushed. Too hasty or too aggressive, and things can backfire.

Right now, Renly's career is booming. His star power is rising, and every Hollywood agency is eyeing him. After the International Innovation Management Company took over Vin Diesel's contract, things settled down briefly, but internal conflicts still linger. The crux of the matter is the increase in Renly's salary — an issue that benefits all agencies once it's resolved.

But who would have expected that Renly himself, the central figure, would present such a perfectly balanced salary figure?

It's an art! So, was this number set by Andy Rogers, or did Renly himself have a hand in it?

Then Emma had another thought: Given Renly's character and professional demeanor, he likely doesn't concern himself with salary figures. He always maintains a professional actor's mindset. So, was this number a result of Andy's negotiation with Renly? No pressure, no aggression.

If that's the case, it aligns with Renly's usual style. Could this number, then, have come from Renly himself?

Emma's heart skipped a beat.

Underneath the veneer of a hereditary aristocrat and professional actor, Renly is far smarter and more astute than many realize.

If Renly could read Emma's mind, he'd be impressed — she was half right, and half wrong.

The number wasn't purely Renly's decision. It was the result of a compromise between Renly and Andy. It wasn't that Renly was too proud to ask for a higher salary; rather, he understood the industry dynamics.

The success of actors like Johnny Depp and Robert Downey Jr. with high salaries didn't just come from sequels; it stemmed from the massive profits of franchise merchandise, including the Marvel and DC series. Those lucrative side ventures justified their paychecks.

With Renly's current industry standing, there's no question that he could push for a higher salary. But one hit film like Interstellar alone isn't enough to break the mold established over the past decade.

If Renly demanded too much, it would surely provoke backlash from the major studios. Hollywood's power players wouldn't hesitate to complicate the process — especially with the ongoing turmoil at Warner Bros., which could affect projects like Jurassic Park and Degrees of Passion.

Andy, as Renly's agent, is more ambitious and aggressive. But Renly, as an actor, is focused on working with Christopher Nolan and being part of Interstellar. Yes, a salary increase would be nice, but not at the expense of his work or career. Hollywood politics, with its power struggles, don't excite him.

This approach left Andy feeling a little deflated, but he couldn't argue with Renly's logic, and the conversation stalled for a moment.

Eventually, Matthew Dunlop, a bystander to the negotiation, presented a solution: a $20 million base salary with 5% of the film's profits. This figure satisfied both Andy's demands and the production company's constraints.

It was the perfect balance.

Emma, with her producer's instincts, was eager to negotiate further. "$20 million plus 3%?" she suggested.

Renly, as if expecting this move, smiled confidently. "$20 million plus 6% in dividends," he countered.

Not only did Renly hold firm, but he also raised the offer.

This wasn't just about the numbers. It was about attitude. Renly was showing that while he wasn't overly concerned with salary, he wasn't willing to be taken for granted either. His professionalism and self-assurance were unmistakable.

Emma, watching his reaction, realized that Renly's confidence and calmness showed the wisdom and maturity of someone far beyond his years. At such a young age, he had already reached the pinnacle of the industry — and it was clear why.

"Is this your bottom line?" Emma asked carefully.

Renly shook his head with a smile. "That's the request."

Emma raised an eyebrow. "If we were to demand more, would you turn it down?"

"No, I'd gladly accept," Renly replied succinctly.

Emma laughed and shifted back to business. "The entire project is temporarily at a standstill while we finalize the details. We're working to find the most suitable cooperation plan. So, for now, we can't make a final decision on the budget, the cast, or the salary."

"However, this conversation was no joke," she added, anticipating any misunderstanding. "To be honest, having you star in this project would be a dream come true. As both a producer and a fan of Chris Nolan, I'm fully on board with your terms. I'll do my best to convince the other producers. What do you think?"

Renly raised an eyebrow, a smile playing at the corner of his lips. "Of course. Of course! This is how big production projects always work."

Renly was comparing this project to the Jurassic Park reboot. Although Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall were practically decided on their choices, the involvement of Thomas Tull had stalled progress. In Hollywood, these behind-the-scenes negotiations could be complicated.

Now, Interstellar faced a similar situation. While Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas had agreed to Renly's involvement, there were still more factors to consider. The tug-of-war between Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures was far from settled, and the involvement of the Christophers made it impossible to finalize anything just yet.

But Emma, as a seasoned producer, was ready to make one more pitch. "To make this more persuasive, I have a small additional request that I hope you'll seriously consider."

Renly tilted his head slightly, signaling he was listening.

"There's nothing wrong with a $20 million salary. That's in line with the very few top actors who are worth that much in Hollywood, and Renly, you're certainly one of them. The 5% is acceptable, but only if the North American box office exceeds $200 million."

She had calculated this beforehand. If the box office grossed under $200 million, the production company could cut its losses, just like when Jim Carrey earned $20 million for Cable Guy but the film made only $60 million at the box office. In that case, Sony Pictures couldn't even protest.

But if the box office surpasses $200 million, Renly's share of profits would hardly matter — the production company would make a substantial return.

Emma added, "This request is more of a bargaining chip to help me persuade the other producers. You've had two $200 million-plus films, but commercial hits aren't your primary strength. We need more confidence."

Renly nodded. He suspected Emma knew exactly what he meant by his earlier comment on "big production projects." Thomas Tull was a key figure in both Jurassic Park and Interstellar, and his involvement was one of the project's biggest challenges.

Emma's gesture of cooperation was as much about strategy as it was about goodwill. Whether it was genuine advice or a producer's retreat was unclear.

Renly didn't hesitate. "No problem."

The numbers had been agreed upon. Now, the specifics didn't matter much. The key to the boiling frog strategy is that the temperature rises gradually — so slowly, in fact, that you don't even realize it until it's too late. What kind of pot or water used is secondary.

Renly's calm response brought a wide smile to Emma's face. "That could not be better. Chris and I are really looking forward to working with you. I'm already excited."