William Morris Adds Money To Packaging

William Morris Adds Money To Packaging

by Mary Sampson

In a move that may secure their place as overachievers of the
year, the William Morris Agency has pre-financed, via foreign sales, five independent feature films for thier clients to star in and direct. This marks the first
time an agency will include the financing of a film in their packaging of
talent. While it's obvious how packaging actors and directors for a project
benefits an agency, supplying the money that will pay them requires some
explanation. It seems to imply they want a piece of the box office (a
certain conflict of
interest) or a hefty fee from the producer (a less certain conflict of
interest).

During an interview with indieWIRE Thursday, Indie friendly agent Cassian
Elwes insisted there will be no equity involvment on the part of the agency
nor any fee charged to the producer for securing this money. "We're just
trying to get more employment for our clients," Elwes stated. He also
maintains that the agency will have no relationship with the producer of
the projects. When pressed further, however, he added the agency "will
probably represent the producer in negotiations once the project is
finished." Three of the five
already-financed films have been chosen. No word on who or how the agency
will chose the remaining two.