Chapter 16 |
That evening, Dennis called Matthew, asking him to come by the Starlight Agency the next day to pick up his pay for "Girl, Interrupted."
Since he was there in person, the cashier at Starlight paid him in cash. After deducting the ten percent agent's commission, Matthew received $180.
It wasn't much, but it was money he had earned through his own hard work, wracking his brain and pulling every string he could.
"Come into my office for a chat," Dennis Coulter offered with a warm smile.
Matthew nodded.
He had his pay, and now it was time to cut ties with Dennis Coulter.
Following Dennis, Matthew stepped into the office and glanced around. There were about five or six agents at work, but the office was spacious enough that it didn't feel particularly cramped.
Walking over to an empty desk, Dennis pulled out a chair for Matthew.
"Make yourself at home."
"Water's fine," Matthew said casually.
Dennis went to the water cooler to get him a cup. As Matthew mulled over how to politely sever ties, the young man sitting across from the desk suddenly spoke up. "You're Matthew Horner?"
Matthew froze for a second. Am I famous already? he wondered. No, that's impossible.
He then nodded. "Yes, that's me."
The young man glanced over at Dennis, who was still at the water cooler, then lowered his voice. "Find a new agent," he advised. "Dennis has a bad reputation around here. He's a real piece of work. The moment you're not useful to him, he'll drop you. It's what he always does."
"Is that right?" Matthew managed a strained smile. "Thanks for the tip."
"Don't mention it." The young man deftly slid a business card to Matthew. "If you can't find a decent agent, give me a call. I know plenty of producers and casting directors."
Matthew took the card without a word. The young man leaned back, returning to his work as if the exchange had never happened.
Dennis came back with two cups of water, setting one down in front of Matthew before pulling up his own chair.
"I've got a question for you," Dennis began, his voice laced with curiosity. "Matthew, how did you land that part?"
Matthew picked up his cup. "Someone helped me get through to Winona," he said, before taking a sip.
Hearing this, Dennis felt his suspicions being confirmed. A wide grin spread across his face.
"Matthew, let's sign a long-term contract."
After his first meeting with Dennis, Matthew had done his homework, just in case the portly agent tried to pull something. He'd gotten a basic understanding of Hollywood contracts. An actor's relationship with an agency was often temporary; they'd file paperwork for a specific job, and that was it. Only if an agent or the agency itself saw potential would they offer a formal contract, adding the actor to their talent pool. On top of that, California had several laws specifically designed to protect actors.
To protect actors' interests, California had a very strict law, the California Talent Agencies Act, which stipulated that an initial contract between an actor and an agent could not exceed one year, and any subsequent contracts could be no longer than three years.
In other words, it wasn't hard for an actor to switch agencies if they weren't happy.
In a way, this also curbed the power of the agencies, reducing them to what they were supposed to be: service providers.
Matthew mulled this over, letting Dennis's offer hang in the air for a moment.
"As for the contract, I'll have the agency draw one up next week." Dennis, assuming Matthew's silence was consent, beamed.
The smile stretched his features, making them almost grotesque.
"Matthew, could you ask Ms. Kathy Conrad to have dinner with you?"
"Hm?" Matthew instantly saw the contract for what it was: bait.
"Why don't you give her a call?"
Dennis urged, "Ask Kathy Conrad what day she's free."
Matthew recalled Dennis asking if he had some kind of relationship with Kathy Conrad back on set. At the time, he had neither confirmed nor denied it.
The profit-hungry agent had clearly jumped to the wrong conclusion.
"No." Matthew prepared to deliver the real reason for his visit. "I can't ask her."
He scanned the room and noticed the young agent from before seemed to be listening in.
Dennis Coulter's patience began to fray. Thinking Matthew was just messing with him, he pressed, "You don't know Kathy Conrad?"
"I know her," Matthew said, a clear note of mockery in his voice. "Kathy Conrad is a producer on 'Girl, Interrupted'."
"Matthew, you just need to make an introduction—"
Before Dennis could finish, Matthew cut him off.
"The problem is, she doesn't know me."
"What?" Dennis Coulter stared as if he hadn't heard him correctly.
"I know of Kathy Conrad." This so-called knowledge was simply knowing who the other person was. Matthew shrugged and said again,
"But Kathy Conrad doesn't know me."
It took a moment for the reality to sink in. Then, Dennis shot to his feet, stabbing a fat finger at Matthew. "You! You played me!"
"Played you? Me?" Matthew rose to his feet as well. "When did I ever say I knew Kathy Conrad? You're the one who invented this whole story in your head."
Dennis froze.
"Ha-ha-ha!" A laugh erupted from the other side of the desk. The young agent was looking at Dennis and roaring with laughter.
Dennis shot the young man a venomous glare before turning back to Matthew. "Don't even think about asking me to find work for you again! Not a chance!"
"It doesn't matter," Matthew said coolly. "I came here to tell you we're done."
He turned to leave, then paused and added, "But I should thank you. You've taught me just how tough this business is, and how treacherous people can be."
With that, Matthew walked out of the office without a backward glance.
Dennis stood frozen, completely stunned.
"So who's the simple fool now?" the young agent taunted. "Looks like it's you, Dennis."
The other agents in the office exchanged glances. There was a flicker of sympathy in their eyes, but it was quickly overshadowed by contempt.
An agent getting outplayed by some unknown actor—it was the laughingstock of the office.
...
With a hundred and eighty dollars in his pocket, Matthew walked out of the Starlight Agency's building, his mood inexplicably lighter. He'd seen the look on Dennis's face just before he left, and it would be a lie to say he hadn't savored it.
"Maybe from the moment I agreed to step into his office."
Matthew knew he wasn't some noble hero. "Subconsciously, I wanted to see that look on his face."
Now that he had cut ties with Dennis and the Starlight Agency, his next priority was finding a new, suitable agency. He had already reached out to three others, and with his afternoon now free, it was the perfect time to pay them a visit.
Matthew headed to North Hollywood first, where two of the agencies were located near Laurel Valley Boulevard. Both were similar to Starlight—small outfits with fewer than ten agents, mostly representing recent graduates and small-time actors.
Just as he had at Starlight, Matthew filled out an application, leaving his ID, headshot, resume, and contact information. The only difference this time was on his resume, where he made sure to list his speaking role in "Girl, Interrupted."
When he handed in the form, Matthew noticed the receptionist circle that exact line in red ink.
He submitted his application at both agencies, then hopped on a bus to Burbank—the self-proclaimed "Media Capital of the World"—where the third company on his list was located.
Just after arriving in Burbank, his phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number.
"That was fast," he thought, assuming it was one of the agencies calling back.
"Hello, Mr. Matthew Horner. This is Chris Walker." A familiar voice came through the receiver. "I'm calling to strongly urge you to pay the penalty for breaching your contract. If you fail to do so, we will be forced to take legal action."
Hearing this, Matthew muttered under his breath, "God, what was the old me thinking, signing that damn contract?"
Then again, he had broken the contract.
Matthew was broke, so his only option was to stall. He pinched his throat, making his voice raspy. "Who is this? You've got the wrong number."
Then he hung up and switched off his phone.
As for legal action, let them make the first move. He could always file a countersuit. He remembered from the movies that lawsuits in the States could drag on for ages.
By the time it was all over, maybe he'd actually have some money.
With that thought occupying his mind, Matthew walked on until he found the address for the Angel Acting Agency. It was a small, independent three-story office building. Two moving trucks were parked out front, with workers busy unloading desks and chairs and carrying them inside.
Matthew followed the movers into the small building. From the looks of it, the company was brand new.