"Even so, does the director still insist that Jim Carrey is the best choice?"
Anson didn't say much, but his seemingly plain statement carried enough sarcasm on its own.
Clearly, this French director had a deep-rooted romantic idealism, believing that the cast and crew would band together out of sheer passion and complete the project without compensation.
Edgar sensed it. "I know how you feel, Anson, but do you believe it? Honestly, I admire Jim Carrey and his agent."
The perspective immediately shifted.
"I understand that actors get excited when they come across a good script and role—I'm the same, don't get me wrong. But as an agent, I have to focus on the actor's standing and value. That's what my job is about."
"Can you believe it? Since Ace Ventura first got him into the $20 million club, Jim Carrey has demanded the same fee for all his movies."
"Twenty million dollars."
"No negotiations. No wiggle room."
"Even when Ace Ventura bombed at the box office, and Sony-Columbia took a massive loss, Jim Carrey didn't budge. His rate stayed the same."
"Anson, do you know what that means? That's the dream of every agent. No matter which studio, producer, or director, if you want to work with me, it's simple: $20 million, flat. No discussions."
"In Hollywood, only a few actors are that tough and still manage not to get blacklisted. Jim Carrey is one of them."
Anson really didn't know this.
He tilted his head slightly, curiosity showing in his expression. "The Truman Show?"
That movie earned Jim Carrey a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama, and it's probably his most famous serious role.
Edgar nodded. "Twenty million dollars."
Anson continued, "Man on the Moon?"
This biographical film, aimed squarely at the Oscars, was seen as Carrey's best shot at winning an Academy Award. It earned him a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy and his first SAG nomination.
Edgar confirmed again. "Twenty million dollars."
Anson exclaimed, "Wow."
His admiration and amazement were genuine.
Whether it was The Truman Show or Man on the Moon, both films had relatively small budgets. If Jim Carrey demanded $20 million, his fee alone could take up 50% of the production costs. From a producer's or studio's point of view, that was like trying to climb a mountain bare-handed.
Anson couldn't help but be intrigued. "And yet the studios are still willing to pay?"
Edgar spread his hands. "Of course. In Hollywood, people either love him or hate him, and trust me, more people hate him."
"He's disrupting the market."
"But audiences love him. Over the past five or six years, even though some of his films flopped, as long as his name is on the poster, people still show up at the theater. So, even if producers don't like him, there are always projects willing to hire him."
"After all, he only needs to do one project a year."
No wonder! It made sense why the Frat Pack could rise to prominence!
Clearly, countless producers in Hollywood weren't fans of Jim Carrey. That opened the door for the more budget-friendly and cooperative Frat Pack to stand out.
But Anson had a different thought. "So, he's still wondering why he hasn't won an Oscar?"
The Academy Awards are voted on by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which includes actors, writers, directors, producers, and other industry insiders.
Imagine—if half of Hollywood dislikes Jim Carrey, how could he possibly land an Oscar nomination?
For years, fans have felt that Jim Carrey was unfairly snubbed by the Academy, claiming that they look down on comedic actors and refuse to give them the recognition they deserve.
That's true.
But beyond that, Jim Carrey's own attitude must also play a significant role. It's hard to win both high paychecks and prestigious awards.
Edgar wasn't surprised. "Anson, sometimes these Hollywood stars live in their own fantasy bubble. He gets $20 million per film, keeps churning out projects, and the box office numbers are still strong. He can't hear any criticism, so naturally, he's puzzled about the Oscars."
Anson still found it hard to believe, but when he thought about it, it wasn't impossible. "The agent must play a key role in this."
If the agent shields the actor from hearing negative feedback—and considering that social media wasn't prevalent and the internet was still in its early days at the time—it's plausible.
Edgar didn't disagree. "And we should also add managers and PR teams into that mix."
Thus, top-tier stars end up living inside their own bubbles.
Edgar continued, "But this time, Jim Carrey told the director that he's willing to make an exception for this script—he'll take $8 million."
That was the answer—
Imagine, after six years of refusing to compromise, negotiate, or lower his rate, this top-tier star suddenly agreed to slash his fee for one project.
And not just a small cut—from $20 million down to $8 million, which is a 60% reduction.
How could Michel Gondry resist? How could he let go of Jim Carrey?
You could picture Michel doing everything he could to convince Focus Features that they couldn't miss this opportunity.
Sure enough, Edgar's next words confirmed Anson's guess.
"Michel threatened Focus Features, saying that if they refused to use Jim Carrey, he would leave the project."
So extreme?
Anson was intrigued. "Does Michel have the leverage to threaten Focus Features?"
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was only Michel Gondry's second feature film. Even if the director were replaced, it wouldn't affect the project too much.
Edgar smiled. "Charlie Kaufman does."
"After all, the concept and framework for the movie came from Michel, and Charlie can't just dump Michel and pick another director."
"Charlie hasn't made a public statement yet, but he hopes Focus Features can convince Michel."
So, the ball was now in Focus Features' court.
After a brief pause, Anson understood—
Focus Features had passed the problem over to them.
Anson couldn't help but laugh. "So, they want me to convince the director?"
Edgar waved him off. "Not exactly. You've already convinced the writer and producer. There's no way they're expecting you to handle everything."
"Even if they did, I would refuse. It's not our job. If we get involved, we'll either offend the director or upset Jim Carrey. Do they think we're idiots?"
"All we need to do is give Focus Features a reason to shut the director up."
"The paycheck."
That's where the challenge lay.
Focus Features knew Anson was at a crossroads.
"Anson, the whole of Hollywood is watching us. We're in a delicate position."
"We're just shy of the $20 million club, and everyone's waiting to see what happens."
"Dropping down to $10 million would be easy. We might even consider $15 million, but we need to be very careful about the projects we choose. They need to prove our box office draw. When the film comes out, both the numbers and the reviews will be scrutinized under a microscope."
"That's why we need to be extra cautious with our choices right now."
"And that's why I'm here today. I want to talk with you and see—how much are you willing to sacrifice?"