Chapter 5 - 5: The Negotiation and the Secret Script - Entertainment: Starting as a Succubus, Taking Hollywood by Storm - NovelsTime

Entertainment: Starting as a Succubus, Taking Hollywood by Storm

Chapter 5 - 5: The Negotiation and the Secret Script

Author: GodOfReader
updatedAt: 2025-08-04

Chapter 5 - 5: The Negotiation and the Secret ScriptChapter 5: The Negotiation and the Secret Script

    ---

    "Mr. Benjamin, that''s the full story behind my creative process. I hope this clears up any doubts you might have," Martin said with a confident smile.

    Benjamin was momentarily stunned, then chuckled. "Martin, you''re truly remarkable. It''s impossible to see you as just a regular kid. I''m now absolutely certain that you''re the genuine creator of Kung Fu Panda."

    Any lingering doubt Benjamin might have felt disappeared entirely as he watched the young boy speak with such confidence and insight.

    He continued, "So, when it comes to negotiating the copyright terms, will you be handling this personally, or would you prefer Mr. Grant or Mrs. Linda to represent you?"

    Martin stretched lazily, and in an instant, his mature demeanor faded as his youthful playfulness returned. "I''ll leave that to my dad. I''m just a kid, after all!"

    Sheena couldn''t help but laugh, and soon Benjamin, Linda, and Grant joined in.

    With that, Grant and Benjamin moved into the negotiation phase, with Sheena taking notes. Linda took Martin to the cozy sitting area in the back garden to relax.

    Just as they were leaving, Martin called back, "Dad, don''t forget to mention to Mr. Georgia that my age is a great marketing angle. People are bound to be curious about what an eleven-year-old author can create. That, too, is a bargaining chip."

    Grant and Benjamin exchanged surprised glances.

    In the back sitting area, Linda couldn''t help but ask, "Martin, how did you get so familiar with Asian culture? I don''t remember hiring a tutor for that." sea??h thё n??el Fire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As a child from an elite family, Martin had a full roster of private tutors for music, painting, languages (Latin and French), etiquette, and horseback riding, among others. Although he used to resent these lessons, Martin now eagerly embraced them.

    Demons like Martin were naturally gifted in arts, language, and all things ceremonial, so these once-dreaded lessons had become invaluable to him. Not only did he study diligently with his tutors, but he also started self-studying, keeping his schedule packed.

    Despite this, he still made time for physical training—every demon is a fitness enthusiast, as a well-toned body only amplifies their powers of charm and allure.

    And how did Martin manage to fit it all in?

    He learned exceptionally fast.

    Especially in arts like music and painting, his tutors were continually astonished by his progress, thinking he''d suddenly "found his calling."

    Back to Linda''s question, Martin was prepared with an answer.

    "Well, Mom, my math teacher is Asian, and I''ve borrowed many books on Asian culture from him. I''ve even learned a little bit of the language. Listen to this—"

    "Ni hao, xie xie, bu ke qi, chi le ma, zai jian..." (Hello, thank you, you''re welcome, have you eaten, goodbye...)

    Linda, delighted, tousled Martin''s hair. "I didn''t understand a word, but my son is amazing!"

    "No, Mom! You''ll mess up my hair!"

    Linda laughed, "Oh, our little Martin''s growing up, getting concerned about his looks. Don''t worry; you inherited your mom''s good looks—you can pull off any hairstyle."

    "No, Mom, I''m a guy. It''s called handsome."

    Linda chuckled, "Alright then, handsome it is!"

    Martin knew just how to make his mother smile, and in their warm conversation, the time flew by.

    ---

    The negotiation between Grant and Benjamin went smoothly. They settled on a deal to release Kung Fu Panda a week before Thanksgiving, with an initial print run of 200,000 copies at a price of $15 each and a 10% royalty rate—a rate usually reserved for well-known authors.

    In the American publishing industry, royalties for new authors could be as low as 3%, with typical rates falling between 5% and 9%. According to Grant, Martin''s final remark about his age as a marketing angle had been very persuasive; Benjamin clearly saw the potential in promoting Martin as a "young prodigy author" to boost sales.

    A quick calculation showed that if all 200,000 copies sold, it would generate $3 million in revenue, with Martin''s pre-tax share at $300,000.

    Of course, taxes would take a significant chunk—the "Land of Taxes" lives up to its name—but Grant, with his financial expertise, knew just the strategies to reduce the tax burden.

    ---

    On the drive back, Benjamin sighed, "Unbelievable. Really unbelievable. I''ve never seen a child like that—someone who''s both innocent and sharp, who has a child''s purity but also an adult''s shrewdness. He''s truly unique."

    "I thought today would be interesting, but it was far beyond that. Meeting him was an extraordinary experience."

    Sheena, however, was marveling at something different. "Oh my, Benjamin, did you notice how handsome he is? There''s something captivating about him, especially those bright blue eyes. It''s like looking at a young Paul Newman!"

    Benjamin grinned at her enthusiasm. "He certainly has a star quality about him. This kid belongs in the spotlight."

    ---

    Back at the Myers'' house, Grant popped open a bottle of champagne. "To our little Martin—may his new book be a hit!"

    Linda pulled Martin into her arms, showering his face with kisses.

    "Hey, Mom, you''re going to scare me!"

    Martin wriggled, trying to dodge his mother''s "attack," but he couldn''t escape her enthusiastic affection.

    Linda laughed, "No, my dear, you scared me! I never dreamed my son would be a child prodigy!"

    "Alright, alright, can you two calm down for a second?" Grant interjected.

    "Martin, I have something to ask you."

    Martin seized the chance to escape from his mother, practically running to Grant''s side. "What is it, Dad?"

    "Martin, you once said you''d written ''a few things.'' Clearly, Kung Fu Panda isn''t the only one. So, tell me—what else have you been up to?"

    Martin hesitated, feigning embarrassment, then lowered his voice. "Actually, Dad, I also wrote a screenplay and sent it to Aunt Nancy."

    Nancy Meyers—Grant''s younger sister, Martin''s aunt, and a well-known Hollywood producer, director, and screenwriter.

    "What?"

    "A screenplay?"

    [??———?———?———?]

    ???? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ????????????????????????????. ???????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????!

    ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ????????:

    ? ????????????????????????

    ? ????????????????????????????????????

    ? ???????????????????? ????????????????

    ???????? ???? ????????????????????????, ???????????? ????????????????????????:

    ? ???????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????: ???????????? ????????????+ ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????????? ????????????????.

    ? ???????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????-????????????: ???????????????????????????? ???? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????? ???? ???????????????????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ????????????????????????????!

    ???????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ????????????????????????????????????. ???????? ????????????''???????? ???????????? ???? ???????????????????????? ????????????, ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ????????!

    ???? ???????????????? ????????????: ????????????????????????????.????????????/????????????????????????????????????????????

    ???? ???????????????? ????????????????????????????????????: ???????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????! ???????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????????? $30—???????????? ???????????????? ???? 10% ????????????????????????????????! ???????????????? ???????????? ???????????? ????????????????: ????????????????????????????????????????????.

    ???????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????, ???????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????? ????????????????????-???????????????? ????????????????????????????????, ???????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ????????????????????????. ???????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????????, ???????????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????!

    ????????????????????: ????????????????????????????.????????????/????????????????????????????????????????????/????????????????

Novel