Writing Web Novels In America-Chapter 163 - 161 Opportunities

After a long discussion, Wang Jian and James reached a preliminary agreement on the television adaptation rights for "Anomalies and Creatures."

Because Wang Jian was no longer just a best-selling author, he had behind him a website, Twitter topics, and other online resources with pretty decent user traffic.

Thus "Anomalies and Creatures" bagged a contract for an American TV series similar to the one given to the scriptwriters of "Friends"—a top-tier IP deal.

However, part of this was probably due to ABC’s lack of serious competition.

Of course, Wang Jian did not push for further demands, such as participating in the production or anything like that.

It wasn’t that he was suddenly generous; it was mainly because such a large investment was too much for a website that hadn’t gone public yet!

In the end, the agreement reached was: "Anomalies" would run for 30 episodes per season, and the website would collect a licensing fee of 2 million US dollars per season.

If ABC licensed the TV version of "Anomalies" to other media organizations for broadcast,

then the website could also collect a 5% transfer fee.

As for earnings from video products, derivatives, and other revenues, the website could collect profits ranging from 1% to 5%, depending on time factors.

In exchange, within five years after the completion of filming, the website was not allowed to license other organizations to produce television series based on "Anomalies and Creatures."

Of course, if the viewership failed to meet standards, ABC retained the right to cancel the show and other standard requirements, which were naturally written into the contract.

Finally, after Tom and ABC’s legal team had the contracts reviewed by professionals, they were handed over to Wang Jian and James.

Each took up a pen and signed their names.

"Then, here’s to hoping we have a pleasant collaboration."

Watching James leave, Wang Jian made a call to Lehman.

"Anomalies" has been licensed to ABC, you can start calculating the increase in shares, going public, and related matters based on the growth rate of the website users."

As James stepped out of the office building and settled into his car, he also made a phone call.

"Contact the main shareholders; we’ll need another six months’ time."

Per the contract’s requirements, Wang Jian immediately ordered the technical staff to publish news of "Anomalies and Creatures" approaching TV adaptation on the homepage.

Then...

The book review section and Twitter discussion areas suddenly surged with activity.

"Anomalies is going to be adapted into a TV series? No way... No way? No way!"

"Fantasy creatures in space, finally going to appear on TV?"

"Don’t get too excited too soon, look at what NBC turned ’Superman’ into! Hope ABC doesn’t butcher ’Anomalies and Creatures.’"

"Well, we can’t control that; let’s discuss which Hollywood stars would fit to play vampires, werewolves, and the male lead."

Seeing that there was no significant negative sentiment among readers, Wang Jian breathed a sigh of relief.

While film adaptation was good, it would’ve been a loss had it alienated his core fanbase.

At that moment, one reply in the book review section caught his eye.

"I never thought I’d see the day when another long-form sci-fi work like ’Star Trek’ gets turned into a TV series.

Although I’m not familiar with the entertainment industry and can’t help much. To encourage the author, I promise to give him the latest Apple computer next time we meet."

"Meet? The latest Apple computer? Who do you think you are, Jobs?"

"I am Wozniak."

"Ha, then I must be Bill Gates!"

"You’ve discovered my secret; I am actually Bill Clinton."

"Washington’s here."

Seeing that his readers were still in the mood for celebrity jokes, Wang Jian closed the computer and continued to read ABC’s proposal.

What he didn’t know was, as the total producer of "Anomalies," James notified CAA to officially begin package services,

actors throughout Hollywood, from background actors to second-tier stars, went completely crazy!

What does a TV series with a production cost over a hundred million in 1996 mean for an actor?

It represented a chance to further their status in Hollywood, built with US dollars!

The most critical issue was, unlike in movies where lead actors need to carry the box office pressure, it wasn’t the case with TV series.

If the series got high ratings, actors naturally could become stars like Rachel and Monica, reaching the top echelon without losing to A-list Hollywood stars.

As for not meeting viewership targets?

Most audiences would just complain about a lousy script, poor writers,

but it wouldn’t affect their current status in Hollywood in the slightest.

At that time, inside Universal’s studio, Naomi Watts was chatting with her compatriot Nicole Kidman in a flattering tone.

After finishing "Prison Break" and being repeatedly turned down by Wang Jian, she had returned from New York to Hollywood to look for opportunities.

However, the most famous from "Prison Break" wasn’t her; it was Miller.

Moreover, due to differences between films and TV series, Naomi could only get some major supporting roles here.

As for the female lead, she had no chance at all.

Fortunately, as a fellow countryman and friend with the wife of superstar Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, after some buttering up, she was recommended to be one of the three leading actors in a low-budget movie "The Portrait of a Lady."

"You know?" Nicole chatted casually, "Last night, ’Los Angeles Post,’ the most famous gossip newspaper in Hollywood, was smashed by some people."

Naomi had no interest in these things, but still played along and asked, "What happened exactly?"

"It’s said that someone leaked private information about a big shot." Another main character, Robin White, whispered, "The big shot had ABC inspire the African community to smash the newspaper office."

Hearing this, Naomi was startled, "Doesn’t that make it like ’The Godfather’?"

"No, worse than ’The Godfather.’" The makeup artist interjected: "’The Godfather’ is illegal; the police might catch them."

"But the Los Angeles police, after the major riots, hearing ’black people,’ ’discrimination,’ they won’t interfere at all!"

"This..." Naomi, who had acted in a TV series, thought of herself as an insider.

But she never imagined Hollywood’s underbelly was so profound.

"Naomi, Hollywood is much more complex than television," Nicole reminded her softly, "It isn’t like New York; you must be very careful with everything you do here."

Thinking of her time in New York with unreliable producers, responsible directors, and novice actors, Naomi nodded her head.

Yes, it wasn’t that complicated there!

At that moment, Tom Cruise’s agent, Pai Kingsley, hurried over.

She glanced at the makeup room, frowned slightly, but still leaned over and whispered into Nicole Kidman’s ear.

"A TV series?" Nicole first complained softly.

But then, her eyes lit up.

"Naomi," Nicole looked over, "Thank me!"

"I’ve secured an audition for both of us!"

Follow current novℯls on f(r)eewebnov𝒆l