Fable Weaver
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DOS Ch-191
🕑 Added 2025-03-12 21:37:23 +0000 UTC“These last few years have been some of the best in Warner Bros. Studios' history,” Dick continued on the mic. “I can’t thank you all enough for your tireless work in making that possible.”
The room erupted in applause and cheers.
“A significant part of that success is thanks to our wonderful CEO, Barry Meyer, and his COO, Alan Horn.”
Polite applause filled the hall as Dick name-dropped the two executives, who were both present. From the looks of it, they didn’t seem particularly pleased. Or was that just my imagination?
“So, it is with great regret that I have to share the news of Barry’s departure from Warner Bros.”
No one could have been more surprised than me. Barry was the main reason I had cut ties with Warner. Could they have fired him to win back my trust? Nah, that’s absurd. Or is it?
“Barry has decided to take a few years away from Hollywood to spend more time with his family. On behalf of the entire Time Warner family, I wish you all the best, Barry. May retirement suit you.”
Dick raised his champagne glass toward Barry.
Barry, holding a glass of his own, lifted it in return, though I could tell he wasn’t happy about this change. The crowd didn’t seem to notice, responding with enthusiastic applause.
“Now, the big question on everyone’s mind is: ‘Who will be the next CEO?’ Logically, I offered the position to Barry’s second-in-command, Alan, but he didn’t seem very enthused about the job either. You see, he’s an ambitious man who wanted to move up to our parent company, Time Warner. So, I granted his request—Alan Horn will be taking over as an Executive Director at the Time Warner headquarters in New York. Good for Alan, but that left me in a pickle.”
So they fired Barry and “promoted” Alan. Or was it really a promotion? He’d be moving from LA to NYC, stepping into a different environment. From what I knew, it sounded more like a demotion.
“When I couldn’t find anyone else, I did the only thing that made sense: I decided to take over the position myself. Effective immediately, I have stepped down as CEO of Time Warner, with my COO, Jeff Bewkes, taking over the reins. I’ll be handling Warner Bros. in the coming year, and I hope we can all work together to achieve the same level of success in 2007 as we did in 2006.”
As soon as Dick finished speaking, the room burst into loud applause.
I turned to Dad. “Did you have any idea this was happening?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I knew as much as you did. It makes sense that they kept it under wraps. This is a major management shift, so legally, they couldn’t announce it before informing the SEC. I’m sure they quietly filed it late in the day so the news wouldn’t break until the new year.”
“Could this have any impact on the release of [Half-Blood Prince] or the production of [Deathly Hallows]?” I asked.
“Not really.” Dad shook his head. “Contracts signed by the previous CEO remain valid even when management changes. And Barry already signed away all creative control to me. What I’m really worried about is Dick using it as leverage to push you into coming back to Warner.”
That thought hadn’t even occurred to me. Dick had done exactly what I’d asked, so obviously, he’d expect me to repay the favor. Something I was still uncertain about.
Then a thought occurred to me and I turned to Dad, “Can we send out a message to all the big studios that I won’t work with them if they hired Barry?”
Dad chuckled, “They probably already know, including the reason for it. Things like that hardly stay quiet in the inner circles. His career in the big 6 studios is as good as over.”
That was a comforting thought.
(Break)
“Troy!” Dick greeted me enthusiastically. “There you are! I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”
I turned away from the Los Angeles skyline I had been admiring and took in Dick’s appearance—his black tuxedo perfectly tailored, his smile wide and practiced. He looked happy, but I could tell it was all an act. I was an actor, after all. And I liked to think I was at least semi-decent at recognizing the tells.
“People sometimes forget I’m human too,” I said. “Just wanted a moment alone without all the crowding. My parents are busy catching up with friends. Even my date abandoned me to meet Matthew McConaughey.”
We shared a laugh before settling into a comfortable silence.
“Congrats on your new position, by the way,” I said after a moment.
“Ha!” Dick scoffed. “Congratulating me on a demotion? All because of the chain reaction you started?”
“I never told you to fire anyone,” I retorted with a grin.
“True,” he admitted. “But your accusations made me rethink things. I quietly started an internal investigation. Found some… other troubling things about how they ran the ship. I talked to Barry and Alan, offered them both executive director positions at Time Warner—at half their current salaries. Barry refused, so we’re letting him go.”
Corporate politics. I hated it with a passion. One of the many reasons I was glad to be an artist and steer clear of it. But there was something in his words that stood out to me.
“‘Some other troubling things’?” I repeated. “So, can you confirm Barry was the one who sent those paparazzi after me?” I raised an eyebrow.
Dick grinned before shaking his head. “I won’t.”
I chuckled. Of course, he wouldn’t. If he confirmed it, I could sue Barry Meyer and Warner Bros. Not that I had any intention of doing so. That kind of unnecessary drama would only hurt my public image. Besides, I’d already had my revenge on Barry now after getting him fired.
“Looking forward to the job then?” I asked casually.
“Honestly? Not really. I’m only doing it for a year or so—it’s even written into my contract. As soon as I find a suitable replacement, I’m out. I have been planning my retirement since last year.”
I chuckled at his tone. Dick was an excellent orator.
“I was just looking through some of the scripts we own the rights to,” he continued after a beat. “And I found a few that would be perfect for you. In fact, there’s one where I can’t even imagine anyone else playing the character.”
Thanks to Dad, I knew this part of the conversation was coming sooner or later. I had already thought through my response.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to do it this year,” I said honestly. “I’ve already made other commitments.”
“Then do it next year, which starts in…” He checked his watch. “...an hour.”
I gave him a deadpan look. He just shrugged.
“I don’t think you’re booked for the entire year,” he continued. “I asked around—no other studio has signed you after your HBO series. So unless you’re secretly producing something—which is highly unlikely since I talked to your Dad about it—I don’t believe you.”
Damn. Dick had done his homework. He had me cornered.
“I want to take a break from back-to-back filming and focus on my music for a few months at least,” I lied smoothly.
While I did plan to work on music, it wouldn’t take more than a month at most. I could do that part even while filming something else. The truth was, I didn’t want to commit to anything until I had confirmation about the two movies I was eyeing—[Avatar] and [Dune]. Ideally, I’d prefer to shoot them in 2008 or later. But with my meeting with James Cameron turning out to be a bust, my hopes now rested on the second one. Hopefully, Bobby will give me an answer in a few weeks.
“I wouldn’t even mind delaying the film for a 2008 shoot,” Dick persisted. “Your salary would be 15% of the gross box office, subject to a minimum of $20 million. And if you have a script you want to produce or star in—no matter the budget—bring it to me. I’ll greenlight it, no questions asked. I’ll even give you complete creative freedom for one film. Consider this an apology of sorts for everything Barry may or may not have done.”
That was the most generous non-Harry Potter offer I had ever received for a film I was not producing out of my own money. No studio had ever made me a deal like this. The highest I’d been offered was $25 million upfront, but with no bonuses. And that was for a terrible film I had no intention of doing. With this deal, I could take any project to Warner. Hell, I might even be able to get them to sign off on [Dune] if I could secure the rights.
“Okay,” I said after thinking it through. “Send me all the scripts you want me to consider, and I’ll give you an answer soon.”
Dick grinned. “Glad to hear that. I have a feeling that together, you and I will set unprecedented records.”
“We sure will,” I replied with a smile, though I wouldn’t be fully convinced until I saw the script he was so excited about.
“Come on, let’s head back inside. It’s almost midnight. Unlike me, you’re young and single—enjoy the party.”
Following his advice, I went back in. I had stepped out for some air, but now that I’d cleared my head, it was time to let loose. What had felt like a dull event just half an hour ago suddenly seemed much livelier.
A DJ stood in the center of the dance floor, blasting an electrifying mix of songs as people danced like it was the last night of their lives. The energy was contagious.
I spotted Anna Kendrick dancing with a guy who, after a few moments, I recognized as Zac Efron—the rising star who had gained worldwide recognition for his lead role in High School Musical. The only noticeable difference in this timeline was that his character wasn’t named Troy. That had to be because of my presence.
It was strange to see Zac here instead of at the Disney party…
As I mulled over that thought, I accidentally collided with someone.
“I’m so sorry,” I apologized immediately, realizing I had nearly knocked a man off balance. “I wasn’t watching where I was going. Are you okay?”
“Oh yeah, don’t worry, mate.” The man, who looked to be in his mid-thirties, straightened up.
The moment our eyes met, I recognized him. Christopher Nolan. One of the greatest directors of the 21st century—his films not only earned critical acclaim but also achieved massive commercial success.
And from the way he looked at me, he had recognized me as well.
“Oh my God!” I blurted out before I could stop myself. “I’m a huge fan of your work, Mr. Nolan. I’ve seen all your films—from [Following] to [The Prestige]. But I especially love [Memento]. Everything about it is just perfect.”
“Just call me Chris.” He dipped his head graciously. “And thank you. That means a lot. I’ve seen all your work as well. Your performance in [Brick] was undeniably my favorite.”
“It was?” I asked, surprised. I loved working on that film, but most people rarely brought it up first when complimenting my work.
Nolan chuckled. “My taste in movies is a bit unconventional. I’m not a fan of those Oscar-bait films.”
“Me neither,” I agreed. “If an audience is paying to watch a movie, they should walk out satisfied, not frustrated or depressed.”
“Exactly!” Chris grinned. “That’s what I love about your filmography. I don’t know if it’s just luck or instinct, but you never seem to pick a boring project.”
Curious, I asked, “So, what’s your all-time favorite film?”
“That’s a tough one,” Chris said thoughtfully. “But I can name a few of my favorites—Heat, Chariots of Fire, Speed, 2001: A Space Odyssey...”
Time slipped away as we delved into an animated discussion about cinema. He was alone at the party—one of his kids wasn’t feeling well, so his wife had stayed behind. And I was in no mood to leave this talk behind and go back to a party of all things. Chris’ passion for film was infectious, and I found myself completely immersed in our conversation.
Having been in the industry for nearly a decade, I had developed a deep appreciation for classic films—many of which most modern audiences wouldn’t even have on their watchlists.
As midnight drew closer, I finally asked, “So, what’s your next project?”
“The sequel to Batman Begins,” he replied honestly. “Pre-production has already begun, and we hope to start shooting by mid-2007.”
“I’d love to be a part of it,” I offered seriously. “If there’s any role for me, I’ll take it. I just want to work with you.”
Chris considered it for a moment before shaking his head. “Not in this one—unless you’d be up for a small cameo. But I’ll keep you in mind for my next film.”
That was disappointing, but such was life. At the same time, I felt a strange sense of relief. Only a fool would turn down a chance to work with Christopher Nolan, but I had my reasons for not wanting to take on another film in 2007. I wanted to make time for my relationship with Rihanna. Sure, she was keeping it on the down-low, but if I committed to a film like The Dark Knight, I’d be shooting on location in different cities—far away from Los Angeles, where my lady love was.
“Troy!”
I turned just in time to see Anna Kendrick rushing toward me, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “What are you doing? The countdown has begun!”
“56! 55! 54!…”
The entire room was shouting in unison as 2007 was now less than a minute away.
“Go on,” Chris nudged me toward Anna, a knowing grin on his face.
I stood up, fully aware that he had likely made some incorrect assumptions about my relationship with Anna. But I had no desire to correct him, so I followed her to a group of young people, including Zac Efron and a few others I didn’t immediately recognize. We exchanged quick handshakes, but there was no time for introductions—everyone was too busy counting down.
“5! 4! 3! 2! 1!”
“Happy New Year!”
I saw the anticipation in Anna’s eyes just as she leaned in for a customary midnight kiss. At the last moment, I subtly tilted my head, letting her lips land on my cheek instead.
Not wanting her to feel embarrassed, I pulled her into a hug.
“I’m sorry, Anna. I can’t…”
“Don’t worry about it,” she said, her tone lighthearted. “Happy New Year.”
“You too.”
As we pulled apart, I instinctively scanned the room for my parents—the only other people I wanted to greet right away. But before I could reach them, the crowd around me surged forward. Everyone wanted a moment with me. A lot of young women clearly hoped for a New Year’s kiss, but I wasn’t about to let that happen.
Before I could escape, I ran into someone else familiar.
“Troy, my man! Happy New Year!”
A strong arm pulled me into a manly hug, one I couldn’t decline.
“Happy New Year, Shawn,” I greeted him back.
Shawn Carter—better known as Jay-Z—was a powerhouse in the music industry and the owner of the label that had signed Rihanna. We had crossed paths a few times over the past year, mostly at industry events like Rihanna’s music launch.
Standing beside him was one of the most stunning women—and one of the greatest vocalists of the 21st century—Beyoncé.
Comments
James Harrold
Forced Troy to accept lower pay then his contract from HP5 onwards and was forcing creative changes in HP5 i think.
David Karlsson
Drug overdose is a more tricky death to derail than Alan Rickmans cancer. Sure, the media claimed it was due to method acting the Joker but of course they would use his death to increase ticket sales and exposure at the awards. A co-star, I think it was Gary Oldman(?) Said in an interview that the narrative that Heath Ledger spiraled as a result of batman is nonsense
David Karlsson
I've forgotten, did Barry do anything to Troy besides the Paparazzi tipoff?
TheMackAttack
Nolan is a potentially great connection to make. Does a cameo in The Dark Knight connect Troy with Ledger in a meaningful enough way to save his life? Either way, Inception, Dunkirk, Tenet, and Oppenheimer are all interesting potential projects.
Keerthivas Venkatesan
Come on the arc climax
James Harrold
Great Chapter really like the Christopher Nolan part. Can't wait for the next chapter.
Ju
Marry BB 🤩 (Just kidding)
Jarod lane
Here it comes, JayZ is about to casually reveal the real reason for the fake breakup
