Chapter 24: The Cutting Edge of Comedy

This situation had to be taken seriously. When nobodies joined the union, they didn't matter much, but bestselling authors were different. This needed to be reported up the chain. "Boss, this place of yours is pretty nice. Let me borrow it for a party next time." "Sure thing. You think you can handle it? You look like a scarecrow." "Come on, I'm one inch thinner but an inch taller!" "Haha, tall isn't helping much, pal. It's the bulk that counts. Watch yourself; don't go bending over." "Boss, when are you shooting this movie?" "It's a low-budget flick. Just a week of prep, and we'll be rolling quickly." "Boss, you're not making one of those action films, right? I can't handle that." William White sprayed coffee all over as he laughed. "What are you thinking, you idiot? What's your status now, anyway? Plus, who'd want to see a skinny twig like you?" "Haha, I can't handle it, but you definitely can. Just get a few girls from school, and we're good to go." "I've already got the actors lined up, just need a few extras. Check to see if any fit. The script is on the table." Don't let his casual demeanor fool you; he was serious about the script. His lack of seriousness didn't show when he was focused. William White was stepping into the film industry for the first time. The script's storyboard was a bit terrifying. The upside was that it limited mistakes; the downside was it restricted actors' performance. Police Academy was a classic example of a low-budget success. The film's style wasn't particularly sophisticated, as it aimed for laughs, often resorting to crude jokes. Now that the film was in William White's hands, the tone had undoubtedly dropped again. This movie was sure to have people rolling on the floor laughing. Having been influenced by modern humor, he could dish out jokes with ease. At that time, sitcoms like 2 Broke Girls were still relatively tame compared to what William was used to. The film's plot was straightforward: a city couldn't hire enough police. To boost the ranks, the female mayor expanded the hiring pool to include anyone who could not possibly be a police officer. Naturally, the black community had to be represented. Black officers existed in the U.S., but their numbers were relatively low. William White thought adding a couple of tough women would spice things up. Hopefully, audiences would enjoy the changes. This type of film had a defining feature: it needed very little investment and a short shooting schedule, making it perfect for the current White Films. Low-budget films never hired big-name actors. Fortunately, Hollywood was lacking in quality but not in duds. Pay? Just toss them a little something. It really didn't need to be much. The main actors generally made between $80,000 and $100,000. This film didn't really have a star, but many roles stood out. Would no one agree to low pay? Not likely. Ninety percent of actors in Hollywood were struggling amateurs, especially during this time. They were dreamers, and reality would eventually teach them all about compromise. Eddie Murphy was still selling shoes in a store when he heard that an extra spot was open. He showed up right away without asking about pay. Don't think he was foolish; every successful person was smart in their own right. This film company lacked fame, but the boss had a strong reputation. A bestseller that could be adapted into a film attracted many dreamers. William White wasn't exactly flush, but he didn't exploit others too much. After all, this was a series, and there would be future chances to work together. Especially with Eddie Murphy, still very young, who would surely become a cash cow for years to come. Black folks often had a knack for performance, and this guy was especially good at impersonating famous people. William White, having returned to the scene, knew how to find him. Before his family troubles, he too had roamed this circle, transforming from a struggling young man into a millionaire. This adjustment was hard for many to take. His wealthy family didn't just surprise people; he had also become an author, much to everyone's astonishment, and now his book was heating up, officially making the bestseller list. Though it was only ranked tenth, don't forget it was a new book by a rookie writer, which made this achievement quite remarkable. Forget about what other authors are doing; some publishers couldn't even get one book into the top ten. Plus, it was a slow-burn book, with rising sales each day. Whether it could peak was uncertain, but breaking into the top three didn't seem too challenging. White Films had gained some traction, leading to more people auditioning now. Cultivating a good relationship with a bestselling author seemed like a smart move. If he became famous, it would be too late to get in on the ground floor. Don't underestimate small companies; they were organized in their approach. Although labeled as a small investment, they clearly had funds. Cameras and lights were high-quality, and they wouldn't skimp on essential expenses. For this newcomer, the Hollywood giants didn't pay much attention. After all, he was just a film school student who had some spare cash to invest. Everyone had dreams; the author was doing well, and if the movie tanked, it didn't really matter. They were just messing around with it and didn't need to sweat the details. As for this fella refusing to sell adaptation rights, the studio heads weren't too fazed. After all, if they bought it, they wouldn't be shooting it right away. The book still had room to gain popularity, and they had plenty of time to wait. Hollywood followed a production formula, typically starting with a solid script followed by settling on a director. The director and producer often lacked capital, so finding investors was crucial. Once they secured investment, they could move to the next steps. Hollywood operated under a producer system, serving as intermediaries who used their network to connect the entire chain. White Films bypassed the producer stage, making William White the sole writer, director, producer, and investor. You had to admit, that was a strange situation. He was not only a member of the writers' guild but also a member of the directors' and producers' unions. Such a case was rare but not unheard of. Should William choose to act in this film, he'd probably need to join the actors' guild. Don't overlook these unions; their dues weren't collected for nothing. When a boss fired someone, the union would surely come out in force for support. Of course, there were downsides. The presence of these folks often led to constant battles between workers and management. An arbitration body would be helpful; the unions' unchecked growth could eventually undermine American manufacturing. If a union were insignificant, it wouldn't attract much attention, but the larger ones were a different story, like the United Auto Workers and the Steelworkers Union. These guys were not to be trifled with. Because of their numbers, politicians preferred to back them, which left the bosses hung out to dry. ***** https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.