The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 95: Three New Films

"Here's what happened." In a café near Universal Pictures, Matthew recounted the events in detail, adding, "I admit, I was impulsive, but it's hard for anyone to control their emotions in a situation like that."

Instead of complaining or blaming Matthew, Helen stated, "Based on what you've said, it must have been Vin Diesel who asked to have you removed from the film."

Matthew added, "From what I've seen and heard, Diesel has enough pull on this project to make that happen."

"I know," Helen said calmly.

"So, they're terminating my contract?" Matthew frowned.

The question was self-evident, and Helen didn't bother with a direct answer. "That goes without saying."

Matthew sighed, lifted his coffee cup for a sip, and thought about the acting contract he had so recently signed. "Fine, let them terminate it. But isn't there a breach of contract clause in the agreement I signed with the production? They're the ones breaking the contract, right?"

Helen glanced at her watch. "Of course. We must pursue damages for their breach of contract. It's your legal right."

She stood up. "Let's go do it now."

Leaving the café, Matthew and Helen entered the Universal Pictures lot, where they were met by an unfamiliar producer in a small office building adjacent to the soundstages."Hello, Ms. Herman." The producer was polite enough. "Hello, Mr. Horner."

He introduced himself, "I'm Doug Clayborn, an executive producer on the film. I'm here specifically to handle the termination of Mr. Horner's contract."

Helen glanced at Matthew and whispered, "Wait outside."

Matthew nodded and stepped out of the office, settling onto a bench in the hallway. He pulled out his phone and began to wait.

For negotiations like these, which were bound to be contentious, it was always best for the actor to be absent. The agent served as a necessary buffer between the two parties, and if things went south, the blame could be shifted, giving both sides room to de-escalate.

While Matthew waited outside, Helen opened with a verbal volley.

"With all due respect, Mr. Clayborn," Helen began, seated on the sofa, her tone anything but deferential, "the production had no valid reason to terminate the contract of my client, Mr. Matthew Horner."

Of course, Clayborn was aware of this, but he didn't let on. Seeing that Helen was a young woman, a flicker of condescension was inevitable.

The production was mentally prepared to pay for the breach, but they would naturally try to save money if the opportunity arose.

"Mr. Horner damaged a vehicle belonging to another cast member, Vin Diesel."

Before Clayborn could finish, Helen cut him off. "That is a dispute between two actors and should be resolved by the actors themselves, correct?"

Having his sentence cut short left Clayborn slightly annoyed, and his tone grew a bit sharp. "Matthew Horner then retaliated against Mr. Diesel during filming, causing him injury. That violated on-set regulations, and the production has every right to terminate your client's contract."

"I'll need proof," Helen stated, her expression serious. "Time, place, the specific incident, and witnesses. Yesterday's shoot was an action scene, a fact the director and stunt coordinator can confirm. My client was also injured in the process. Was that, perhaps, deliberate retaliation on Mr. Diesel's part? Maybe he wanted revenge for his car?"

Recalling Matthew's account, she pressed, "You'd need a third-party witness to provide an objective view of the situation."

Clayborn hadn't expected Helen to put up such a fight.

Helen added, "And I'll remind you, Mr. Matthew Horner is a member of the Screen Actors Guild. I've already been in contact with the union, and if necessary, I will request they arbitrate. We are perfectly patient enough to wait for the results of the union's investigation."

Clayborn fell silent. Finding impartial witnesses willing to back Diesel's story wouldn't be easy, especially when several crew members had privately complained to him about Vin's behavior. Even he didn't want to go to bat for such an on-set tyrant.

The production, and Universal Pictures in particular, had been indulging him, and now they were kicking Matthew out purely for financial reasons.

Clayborn knew the production would never allow the actors' union to launch an investigation; once the union got involved, the film would inevitably be shut down temporarily, leading to a loss of time and money.

That was true even if a large portion of that money was from investors Diesel had brought in.

"Ms. Herman," Clayborn conceded, knowing a free dismissal was impossible, "what are your terms?"

Helen was unyielding. "I have no terms. We will proceed strictly according to the breach of contract clause."

Clayborn frowned. He had reviewed the relevant contract that morning; the penalty was five times Matthew Horner's fee—a full $30,000!

He thought for a moment before offering, "The production can pay Mr. Horner one installment of his salary for the film."

"Six thousand dollars?" Helen shook her head decisively. "That's impossible. If this is your position, then there's no point in continuing this conversation. You can wait for the union's investigation."

...

Inside, the negotiations dragged on. Matthew sat on the bench in the hallway, playing Tetris on his phone, confident in Helen's ability to secure a proper settlement for him.

On the other hand, he hadn't expected Diesel to be so vindictive after yesterday's shoot, willing to have the production breach a contract just to get him thrown off the set.

"Did I hit him that hard?" Matthew muttered to himself. "Isn't that asshole supposed to be a tough guy? Why the hell did he run off and tattle?"

He turned his attention back to his phone.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed from down the hall. Matthew looked up to see Paul Walker approaching at a brisk pace, wearing a pair of cricket shoes.

"What are you doing here?" Matthew asked, standing up. "Aren't you filming?"

"I'm on a break," Paul said as he walked over. "I heard the production is going to terminate your contract."

He asked, "Is it true?"

Matthew nodded. "It's true."

Paul immediately exclaimed, "Fuck! That bastard Diesel did this, didn't he? Son of a bitch!"

"It's fine," Matthew said, his mood surprisingly calm. He lowered his voice. "I guess those two punches I landed yesterday made life a little too difficult for him."

Paul laughed. "Your optimism is amazing."

"I have my reasons." Matthew spread his hands, glanced at the office beside them, and grinned. "My agent, Helen, is in there negotiating the breach of contract settlement. If all goes well, I'll get the full penalty amount stipulated in my contract—that's $30,000!"

He seemed to be in genuinely high spirits as he told Paul, "I've earned more money than I expected, got the audition and on-set experience I wanted, beat up an asshole, and met you and Jordana."

As he spoke, Matthew had a sudden realization. He had gotten everything he wanted out of this production, with the sole exception of actually appearing in the finished film, "The Fast and the Furious."

"I'll be off this set soon, and I'll never have to watch Diesel's insufferable behavior again—showing up late and changing scripts on a whim. I'm relaxed and happy."

He reached out and clapped Paul on the shoulder. "But you're the one who has to put up with him. And Paul, don't start a fight with Diesel unless you absolutely have to."

He feared Paul would have to work with Diesel for many years to come, unlike him, a fleeting guest in the franchise.

The click of heels on the floor announced Jordana Brewster's arrival. She waved at Matthew, who smiled back at her.

"Diesel and Neil are headed this way," Jordana Brewster said after a quick hello.

Matthew pointed to the other end of the corridor. "You two should hurry and go. No need to get into trouble on my account."

Paul frowned. "Matthew..."

"Get moving," Matthew urged. "My agent's here."

He waved them off, and the two actors finally relented and left.

As he watched Paul and Jordana go, Matthew turned back to the other end of the hall.

Not twenty seconds after they had disappeared around a corner, Matthew saw Diesel's bald head appear, walking alongside Neil.

Diesel's gaze locked onto Matthew from a distance, and Matthew couldn't help but meet it with an even sharper look of his own.

However, Diesel and Neil didn't linger; they walked straight into the office.

Neither Matthew nor Diesel was foolish enough to start a confrontation right there.

...

Half an hour later, Helen emerged from the office. She had reached an agreement with the cast and crew; the production would officially terminate Matthew's contract and had promised to pay the $30,000 breach of contract fee.

The next day, both parties officially signed the termination agreement in the presence of lawyers and representatives from the actors' union.

After receiving the settlement, Matthew made a phone call and arranged a meeting with Ilana.