America gains both fame and fortune

Chapter 426 Head-on Collision
In a small office building on a quiet street in Long Island City, New York, Chuck Hogan's creative studio is just a small office suite.

The person who works as an office assistant is also Chuck Hogan's current girlfriend.

Many writers or playwrights who are in a dormant stage are not financially well off.

Chuck Hogan came in the morning, turned on his computer and wrote a column for the New Yorker for the week, but he sat for three hours and wrote less than three sentences.

I am too restless to continue writing.

He shouted to the outside: “Alyssa, has there been no call from Martin Davis?”

The door of the suite was opened from the outside, and an ordinary-looking girl came in with coffee and comforted her, "My dear, you have been too anxious these days. You have submitted your novels to Hollywood many times in the past, including Paramount, Warner Bros., Weinstein Films, etc. You have submitted them all, but there has been no news for several years."

Chuck Hogan took a sip of hot coffee and calmed down a little: "This time it's different. Graham recommended it to Martin Davis, and Martin also took it seriously..."

Alyssa continued to comfort him: “Martin is filming in New York. According to the news reports, he seems to have some psychological problems. It won’t be so fast.”

Chuck Hogan said: "I was too anxious."

The phone rang at this time, and Alyssa quickly answered it: "Hello, this is Chuck Hogan Studio, who are you? Martin Davis, yes, he has time this morning, you can come anytime."

When she hung up, Chuck asked, “Martin Davis?”

"Yes, it's Martin Davis calling." Alyssa said directly: "Martin wants to visit you to discuss the adaptation of "Prince of Thieves". He is rushing over from the Brooklyn Studios."

Chuck pumped his fist vigorously: "Great, I finally got this day!" He ordered Alyssa: "Hurry up, take out the Blue Mountain coffee that Graham gave me and clean up the studio."

Alyssa got busy.

Chuck went to the dressing mirror and adjusted his clothes carefully.

The person introduced by Graham King was indeed very reliable, and Martin Davis came to him in person to negotiate, so he couldn't help but take it seriously.

Chuck knew very well that as long as he took the first step successfully, it would be equivalent to advertising for his other works in Hollywood and he would not have to worry about sales.

Preparations here were quick because Martin was coming over from Brooklyn, so it didn't take long.

…………

Outside the office building, a Volvo SUV parked in a roadside parking space, and brothers Ben Affleck and Casey Affleck got out of the car one after another.

Big Ben looked up at the nameplate of the office building and asked, "Are you sure this is the right place?"

Cassie glanced at the printed address in her hand and said, "Yes, it's here. The idiots at Weinstein Pictures wrote down the address but left out the phone number."

Big Ben took out the novel that Chuck Hogan delivered to Weinstein Company from the car: "Let's go up."

Cassie followed behind and asked, "Is this one really suitable for adaptation? Are you sure you can do it?"

"Of course, I'm good at crime themes." Daben was quite confident: "Stupid, let me tell you a secret to being a director. If you can adapt a work, do it instead of creating an original work. Adaptation not only has an audience base, but the author has also planned the plot, which saves time and effort."

He added: "It is also easy to get investment from the film company, but Harvey cannot fully support the adaptation of the novel. Weinstein Pictures has limited financial resources and all resources are concentrated on Quentin's project."

Cassie shrugged: "I only know how to act, I don't know how to direct."

The two went up to the third floor, found Chuck Hogan's studio, and knocked on the door.

Alyssa came over to open the door, and when she saw Ben Affleck, she was stunned for a moment, then she reacted and asked, “Are you… Ben Affleck?”

Ben forced a smile on his long face: "Yes, I am Ben." He asked: "Is Chuck Hogan, the author of the novel "Prince of Thieves", here?"

"Yes, it's here." Alyssa turned back and shouted to the suite: "Chuck, the Hollywood people are here!"

Chuck Hogan opened the door and came out. He was surprised to find that it was Ben Affleck instead of Martin.

But he quickly adjusted his attitude and said, "Please come in, both of you."

Big Ben and Cassie entered the office suite and sat on the couch.

Chuck asked Alyssa to bring coffee.

Ben Affleck didn't beat around the bush. He took out "Prince of Thieves" from Weinstein Company and said, "Mr. Hogan, I came here this time to ask if you still have the film and television adaptation rights for this book?"

Chuck told the truth: "Yes, I have tried to sell it many times in the past few years, but I never sold it..."

Having said that, he suddenly remembered that Martin would come over to discuss the copyright of the novel with him.

Ben noticed that Chuck's expression was a little weird, but he didn't take it to heart. In his eyes, he was just an ordinary writer waiting for Hollywood to adapt it. He said directly: "I intend to buy the adaptation rights of the novel and film "Prince of Thieves" into a movie."

There was a reason why he noticed this novel in the huge database of Weinstein Company: "Chuck, I grew up in the Boston area and I know the situation there very well. I am most suitable to adapt this novel."

Chuck has friends like Granham and Scorsese, and has a basic understanding of the film industry. Ben Affleck in front of him looks sincere.

But he had doubts. Since "Pearl Harbor", Ben Affleck has not been very good and every movie he starred in was a failure.

If Prince of Thieves had no other way out, Chuck would definitely give it serious consideration.

The problem is that there are people who are paying attention.

…………

Martin came with not only Bruce but also Thomas. When it was really necessary to negotiate copyright, Thomas would be the one to step in.

Although this should not be the job of an agent, Thomas did not shirk it at all. Last night he even learned about the novel and its author Chuck Hogan so that he could negotiate the relevant copyrights as soon as possible.

The three of them found the office building, parked the Escalade next to a Volvo, and went straight to the third floor.

Bruce glanced at the company's distribution map, then arrived at the door of Hogan's studio and knocked on it.

Alyssa opened the door and glanced at Bruce, not recognizing him.

But then she saw Martin coming from behind and raised her voice and said, "Mr. Davis, you are here."

Martin met Alyssa at the party a few days ago. He smiled and nodded slightly: "Hello, we meet again."

Alyssa shouted into the suite: "Chuck, Martin is here."

The door of the suite opened, and Chuck walked out quickly. When he reached the door, he shook hands with Martin enthusiastically and invited him, "I've been looking forward to your coming these days. I haven't been able to concentrate on work."

Because of Graham, the two were familiar with each other. Martin joked, "Because your novel is so wonderful, I was so immersed in the plot that I almost forgot about you."

Chuck laughed happily and invited Martin and the other two to come in.

Alyssa closed the studio door.

The suite door creaked and opened again.

Bruce subconsciously blocked Martin, and when he saw the person coming out, he winked at Martin.

Martin discovered that the people who came out were Ben Affleck and Casey Affleck.

Thomas heard Martin talk about what happened at the Oscars, and looked at the Affleck brothers and then Chuck in surprise.

There are some things that brokers must be ahead of their clients.

Thomas didn't say anything, but his dissatisfaction was evident on his face.

Chuck explained in a low voice: "They showed up unexpectedly without saying hello."

Martin turned around and took the initiative to say hello: "Hi, Ben, I didn't expect to meet you here."

"I didn't expect that either." Daben came over and said something meaningful: "It's such a coincidence."

He picked up the novel in his hand and said, "You are not here for the copyright of this novel as well, are you?"

Martin smiled and said, "Chuck and I are friends. We met through Granham. I came here specially to visit him."

Ben Affleck knew Granham, Scorsese's exclusive producer. Based on what he knew, he speculated that Martin probably got in touch with Granham through the crew of "The Departed".

This reminded Ben of his good brother Matt Damon.

Martin stopped paying attention to Big Ben and looked at Thomas.

The latter immediately said: "Chuck, let's talk business?"

Chuck thought of Graham and Scorsese's relationship with Martin and said, "Sure."

Casey Affleck was indignant and frustrated: "Hey, you..."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Affleck." Chuck interrupted them and said, "I'm busy here, so I'm afraid I can't receive you."

Daben looked very ugly, his long face was longer than that of a donkey.

Cassie did not do as much as Big Ben thought, and said: "Ben and I represent not only ourselves, but also Weinstein Pictures. You should know Weinstein Pictures, right?"

Chuck's heart skipped a beat; he knew the name of Harvey Weinstein.

Thomas couldn't help but smile: "Martin represents not only him, but also Warner Brothers."

Big Ben stopped Cassie from continuing and put his business card on the desk next to him: "Once you have thought about it, you can contact me anytime."

Chuck gradually realized that Martin and Ben Affleck seemed to have a conflict.

He didn’t answer and asked Alyssa to send the person out.

After the others left, Chuck explained, "Martin, I've been preparing since I received your call, and then they came to my door, and I was not prepared at all."

Martin acted very magnanimously: "It's okay, don't worry about them, let's continue talking about our business."

Chuck invited them into the suite office and asked Alyssa to make coffee. He said, "I've heard of the bad reputation of Weinstein's film company. There are many rumors in the New York author circle. Even those who work with him are afraid of their future..."

Thomas said: "Don't worry, Weinstein Company is not a threat to us yet."

Martin specifically said: "Graham has been recommending you to me, so I read Prince of Thieves carefully and have some ideas for the adaptation."

The two sides started chatting about adaptation and copyright.

(End of this chapter)