Chapter 57: Scott Building
Monday, January 2nd, Afternoon
It was just after lunch when Tucker Baker was escorted into the office of Kayla Drake. Kayla met him at the door and lead him to the conference table in her office. Tucker looked at the other two people sitting at the table, as Kayla took her seat. To Kayla's right, was one of them, Haley James Scott, one of the top executives at the label, and one of his Mom's best friends. The other, seated at Kayla's left, was the artist, Chris Keller.
Tucker shook hands with both Haley and Chris and took his seat at the opposite side of the conference table. He laid down his briefcase on the table within reach. Kayla picked up a pen and tapped it on the legal pad in front of her. Haley looked across the table at Tucker, with her usual all business stern look. Chris was looking at Tucker with his usual cool detachment.
"So, Tucker, what do you have for us?" Haley asked.
Tucker nodded and opened his briefcase, with the metallic pops of the two locks. He pulled out several folders and passed them to the other side of the table. Each person took it and started to look through the content. Tucker waited a few minutes for everyone to get familiar with what he had inside and turned to look back at him.
"Sorry, for the proposal not being in the usual manner, time is short on this and I wanted to get this in.
"So, the song that Red Bedroom is going to release as Chris Keller's lead single for his new album, is Lord is Going to Cut You Down. As I learned recently a traditional Southern Spiritual covered by other famous artists, such as the late great Johnny Cash.
"Well going with that theme and the recording style, this is what I propose. We're to set the video in a classic church or meeting house, choose what you would like to call it. The congregation is waiting as the pastor takes the pulpit and introduces the traveling minister who would give the sermon that day. That guest minister would be played by Chris.
"As he takes the pulpit, he starts the sermon by saying a few lines of the chorus of the song. The band will start playing and the congregation would join in doing the stomping and clapping that's on the track.
"Chris would sing the song as giving it as an impassioned sermon. This is where he would give his all-out playing the minister. When the song ends Chris will pass out in religious ecstasy.
"The best part would be casting the congregation, to show the mix of people attracted to Minister Keller's preaching style. We would populate the congregates with Chris Labelmates that are in town with their on-stage attire, a few regular sorts out of the local extras, and maybe even a few of the actors filming TV shows in Wilmington," Tucker said, giving his pitch.
Kayla nodded; Tucker noted. That wasn't a terrible thing, but it wasn't always a good thing. He turned his eyes to see that Haley was thinking it over, as well. Finally, he turned his eyes to see Chris, thinking it over in his head.
"Would I have some freedom in how I handle playing Revered Keller?" Chris asked.
Tucker nodded, "Within reason, you can't be bumping and grinding the Virgin Mary or stuff like that, but you can portray your religious ecstasy anyway you want, as long as it's reverent, not trashy, and not too campy. I don't want this video to be too campy," he said.
Chris nodded, "I get you, keep the trashy minister stuff behind closed doors," he said, "Well Chris Keller likes it, and wants to play Revered Keller."
"Chris, enough with referring to yourself in the third person," Haley said, and turned to Tucker and nodded, "Do we have an estimate on the budget?" she asked.
Tucker nodded, "Yes, it's in the binders I gave you in the folder. I believe it's reasonable, as I talked with the local studio and we've can have it arranged to reuse some existing sets, also given the scope and time frame," he said.
Haley turned to the binder and looked through it. When she came to the proposed budget, she looked it over. She studied the numbers and wiggled a pen in her free hand. Tucker noticed this was a habit of hers. Finally, Haley nodded and put the pen down and looked up at Tucker.
"My most important question is, do you think you could pull this off?" Haley asked.
Tucker nodded, "It's a tight timeline, but I strongly believe we can do it," he said.
"Supremely confident aren't we, Mister Baker?" Haley asked.
"Well Mrs. Scott, there are two types of people in this world, those who wait for things to happen, and those who make things happen. When it comes to filming things, I make things happen," Tucker said.
Haley nodded and looked to Chris, "Chris, it's your video, what do you think?" she asked.
Chris nodded, "Hales it sounds like it will be a fun video, and a fun one to shoot, and plus I get to have fun playing a minister, sounds perfect to me," he said.
"I see quite clearly where you stand on this," Haley said.
"Yes, you do, Hales," Chris said.
Haley nodded and looked Chris over one last time, "Okay, thanks, Chris," she said.
"You're welcome," Chris replied.
Haley turned to Kayla, "Well, what do you think, Kayla?" she asked.
"The final call on this is yours, of course, Haley," Kayla said.
"That goes without saying, but what do you think?" Haley asked.
"It's in the budget, and he's promising it in time, we should give him a shot," Kayla said.
Haley nodded, "Are you sure you could pull this off?" she asked.
"Yes, I can deliver," Tucker said.
Haley nodded and reached over to pull out another folder, and she put it down in front of her. She opened it and slid it across the table to Tucker. She sighed, "This isn't your first time shooting videos for us, so this is pretty much the standard contract, and there's a special bonus in there, which states that we'll fly you out for a week to spend with Tacit Blue, which after that week we'll fly you to meet up with Nordwind so you can finish your commitment with them. The condition that has to be met is a finished and releasable music video that must be delivered to us for release Friday," Haley said.
Tucker nodded, "I understand," he said and read the contact over. After a few minutes, he put the contract down and took a pen out of his briefcase and signed it. He pushed the contract back over to Haley, who picked up her pen and signed it.
"Alright, I'll get a copy over to you, I'm pretty damn sure you want to get going on this video," Haley said.
Tucker nodded, "Yes, I would," he said.
"Thank you, Tucker, and I hope you deliver," Haley said and stood up. Tucker stood up and they shook hands.
"You're welcome, Haley," Tucker said, then turned to Kaya who also had stood up by this time, and they shook hands.
"Good luck, Tucker," Kayla said.
"Thank You," Tucker said.
"You're welcome," Kayla said.
Tucker turned and looked at Chris. Chris looked back, "So, when do you need me and where?" Chris asked.
Tucker nodded, "I need to get a few things tied down, but I'll call you later with all the details," he said.
"Okay," Chris said, and turned to Haley and Kayla, "I'll be in my hole, as they call it, waiting for your call."
"No problem," Tucker said, he smiled and collected his stuff and left the office. He took the elevator down to the lobby and sighed in relief. That was over. Now the real work begins. He looked around the lobby and headed out, pulling out his smartphone. It rang a few times and then the person on the other end picked up.
"Hey Dad, yeah they got it and sighed on. So, could you book all the stuff for me? Thanks, yes, going no FX and old school really helps with time and budget, thanks for the suggestion. Yes, I'm heading to Beaulieu and going to start making some calls. I know, it will be coffee, five-hour energies, and no-doze the next few nights. Tomorrow, I'll be down to get the first walkthrough and stuff is done. Of course, everything will be done as we spoke about it. Yes, I miss Alix too, and I hope she'll be home soon as well. Talk to you later, Dad, bye," he said and disconnected his smartphone slipped it into his pocket and got his keys out.
Once he got to his car, Tucker threw his briefcase into the back seat and got behind the wheel. He pulled out his smartphone, again, and quickly typed out a text message.
Tucker: They signed on. Will be busy the rest of the day getting shit ready. But I will be able to do our normal nightly date.
Alix: Great! Good Luck! Can't wait! CYA L8R.
Tucker put his smartphone down and started the car. He leaned over and adjusted the radio. After a quick smile, he put it into gear and pulled out of the parking space. Pulling onto the main road he headed back to Beaulieu Manor and more work.