Volume 4: White Devil Chapter 222 Determined to Win
Laura Leighton woke up and glanced at the ornate wall clock. It was already nine twenty in the morning. However, she did not rush to get up. Instead, she lay lazily on the comfortable hotel bed for another ten minutes. Then she got up reluctantly, poured herself a glass of water, walked to the window, opened the electric curtains, drank water, and enjoyed the superb scenery of Beverly Hills.
It was not until this moment that she confirmed that she seemed to have really become a small star. Although she was only a reality show star, her status was slightly lower than that of movie stars and TV stars, but at least she was no longer an unknown Nobody.
The reason for her success was that she played a rich white girl who fell into the streets in the hotly debated reality show "The Fake Heiress".
This reality show is now very popular. Every Friday during prime time, countless American viewers sit in front of the TV, waiting to watch their own destiny. As one of the two heroines, her popularity has naturally risen.
The most intuitive reaction is that the guest appearance opportunities in several TV series that she had previously obtained by having sex with those producers are now considering turning her role into a permanent one, offering her a contract that is at least stable, although the pay is not too high.
Also, Susan helped her book a room for a long stay at the Beverly Hills Hotel, which is nicknamed "the home of stars" in the industry.
Before the show became popular, she had never stayed in the hotel alone except to sleep with the producers.
It seems that after the show became popular and I became famous, I have a lot more friends around me. Before, the producer who would only contact me for sex now calls me a friend. Even Susan, when she sees me, smiles more when she compares me to other artists under her company. When she occasionally has a hangover, she no longer scolds me directly, but just pours cold water on me to wake me up.
In short, the world seemed to become full of kindness in an instant.
She called the hotel butler to send a breakfast to her room. Before she finished eating, the assistant Susan arranged for her came in from outside with a room card:
"Laura, we have an appointment with the photographer of the California edition of Vogue to take the cover photo at 10:30. The stylist and the brand clothing are waiting for you in the hallway."
Laura spat out the unpalatable but fattening bran cake she had just put into her mouth, and looked at her male assistant in shock: "I have an appointment for a photo shoot at 10:30, and you're notifying me now? Do you want me to appear in the camera like this?"
Although she felt that she had the potential to become a star, she did not yet have the airs of a star. As , she quickly walked to the bathroom, pressed her tonsils to induce vomiting, and then walked out of the bathroom holding her belly. She looked at her Hungarian assistant, who was a male, and asked in disbelief:
"Wait, the cover of Vogue California? Are you kidding me?"
The assistant walked quickly to the dining table and poured Laura a glass of water. He handed it to her and introduced the situation. "They chose you at the last minute. I only found out about it 20 minutes ago. The original cover girl, Brazilian supermodel Betty Bronsi, had a blast last night. She told a joke about the magazine owner in public at a celebrity-filled cocktail party. Susan was also at the cocktail party last night. I don't know if she relied on Jewish connections or money to get the job done. Anyway, the editor-in-chief of the magazine has some impression of you. Susan promised that she would take care of your brand clothing and styling herself, so they are willing to arrange for a photographer to come to your house today and take a set of photos for you to see how it turns out."
"What a joke?" Laura took the water cup and took a big sip, trying to trick her stomach into forgetting her hunger.
The assistant shrugged. "You won't be interested. This is a joke that the magazine owner hates. It's also a good reminder for you, Laura, to never drink too much or take drugs when you attend a cocktail party in the future."
"Of course I wouldn't be interested. I just want to remember that the joke is not funny and I will never touch it." Laura Leighton drank the whole glass of water and said in a firm tone.
She would not waste this opportunity to become famous that she had finally seized, nor would she ruin her dream of becoming a star.
The assistant looked at Laura's curious eyes, hesitated, and finally said, "Well, Betty was drunk at the party and grabbed the microphone and said that when the other boss had sex with her, he actually thought she was a little dark, so he caught a firefly and stuffed it into his golf club to help light the way. Betty said this was the most artistic sexual behavior she had ever heard of in her 24 years of life, and also the stupidest sexual behavior she had ever seen, because they didn't do anything in the middle of the night, but instead called a doctor to help take the firefly out of the club."
"Wow, this joke ruined all my wonderful fantasies about fireflies." Laura was stunned for a while after hearing it, and then she said in amazement:
"That girl... can say goodbye to her career early, right?"
The assistant took out a few vitamins and handed them to Laura: "I think so, because her firefly joke has spread from Los Angeles to New York, Paris and London overnight, and the brand she endorses is considering how much compensation to ask her for."
"So where can I find a stylist and clothes for the photo shoot without any appointment at all..." Laura didn't have time to care about why the female model was punished like a criminal for just telling the truth. This was Hollywood and she had no time to care about other people. The most important thing was whether she would have a chance to benefit from the other party's misfortune. She swallowed the vitamins handed to her by her assistant and immediately asked more important questions.
The assistant pointed in the direction of the door and said, "Susan called the legendary big boss Tommy. Tommy asked his girlfriend's stylist and the Los Angeles regional managers of several brands she is used to wearing to send a bunch of clothes for you to choose from. You can also go to the luxury houses he rents to shoot."
"I love Tommy and his girlfriend. Should I call in person to express my gratitude? I haven't met the legendary Tommy yet. He only exists in Mark and Susan's description." Laura said with a sigh of relief after hearing the assistant's words.
The assistant shook his head. "It's better not to. I heard from Susan that Tommy is furious right now."
"Why?" Laura looked at the assistant curiously.
The assistant helped Laura close the curtains again. "I'm not sure about the details, but it seems that since he didn't spend any money, I asked them to send the clothes in for a try-on."
"It's hard to imagine the troubles of rich people." Laura looked at the assistant and said in disbelief, "Getting angry because the money wasn't spent? This is the first time I've heard of this reason."
…
Sean Ray, BT's vice president of public relations, sat in the conference room at ease, watching Tommy pacing back and forth in front of him like an enraged bull, cursing under his breath. After walking around a few times, Tommy sat down next to Sean and looked at him viciously:
"You're telling me that you offered to buy the TV rights to Fox's movie on behalf of BT with real money, and they not only rejected you, but also humiliated BT, right, Sean?"
Sean smacked his lips, nodded slowly, and said to Tommy who was standing nearby: "That's right."
"It's their fault. They not only humiliated you and BT, but also humiliated the entire United States." Tommy said fiercely and decisively.
Sean rolled his eyes. The other party just refused to sell the film copyright to BT because the offer was too low. He didn't understand how a normal business behavior could become an unforgivable American sinner in Tommy's mouth. After hesitating for a moment, he said with a half-smile:
"Well... I wouldn't say it so absolutely. In fact, according to your requirements, BT's offer is not high, or it can be said to be the lowest in the industry. It is reasonable for the other party to refuse. As for humiliation, it is just a normal response. I won't say which one of BT and FOX humiliated the other first. Anyway, if you don't mock each other on your own TV every day, the audience may find it strange. By the way, have you heard that the audience compares BT and FOX to a couple, BT is a low-class black man in the United States, and FOX is a rude country girl from Australia. They quarrel all day long, and the audience is their children, sitting at the dining table every day watching their parents quarrel over various topics."
"Even if BT is a low-class black man, he has his limits. He will never get together with an ugly bitch from the Australian countryside and have so many children." Tommy stared at Sean for a long time before speaking in an unhappy tone, and then asked Sean:
"The recordings of several phone calls seeking to buy were backed up, right? Including the words used by FOX to mock and humiliate BT."
Sean nodded: "Uh-huh."
"Wrap it carefully and tie a pink bow. When I need it, I will remember to give it to Fox as a surprise gift." After getting Sean's affirmative answer, Tommy's expression eased a little and he reminded.
Sean didn't understand why Tommy had asked him to record all the audio or text records of the negotiations with FOX Films on the broadcasting rights of the film. In his opinion, those records were useless:
"What's the point of that? There's no personal attack, it's just a joke between people in the industry, which doesn't meet the minimum requirements for filing a lawsuit."
"If I reveal it to you now, it won't be a surprise, Sean." Tommy did not satisfy Sean's curiosity. After saying this, he got up and prepared to leave.
Seeing Tommy was about to leave, Sean immediately quickened his pace and said:
"There is another question. Warner Bros. wants to... discuss cooperation, and they want to talk to you in person."
"Warner?" Tommy sat back in his seat and looked at Sean in confusion: "What cooperation?"
"I helped BT find the television broadcasting rights for some classic movies before. In addition to Fox, I also contacted several other film groups. Warner's attitude was the most positive." Sean said calmly.
Tommy thought about Warner's famous movies and then said, "Of course I am positive. It seems that in recent years, apart from the Superman series and the Batman series, Warner doesn't seem to have any well-known works. What's worse is that the reputation of the Superman series is getting worse and worse."
"Warner is willing to license their classic movies to BT for broadcast, and we don't even need to pay. That means we don't have to pay a penny, and we can broadcast all the classic movies of Warner Bros. on the BT TV network all day long. But the additional condition is that it hopes to acquire shares in BT's entertainment production company and have a seat on the board of directors of the entertainment production company, and then..." Sean didn't finish his words, but spread out his hands and looked at Tommy.
Tommy nodded, understanding what Sean didn't say. "So, they can also use BT Entertainment's self-produced programs for free."
"Yes, and their international distribution department can help promote our self-produced programs overseas." Sean nodded.
Tommy took out a cigarette and lit one. "I remember that Warner and CNN are tied together, right? CNN's owner, J.J. Turner, is a shareholder of Warner. CNN's paid movie channel can always broadcast Warner and MGM movies. Why do you want to license the film library to others now? Aren't you worried about stealing CNN's business?"
"In fact, this cooperation was proposed by Mr. Turner, a director of the Warner board of directors. The reason he hopes Warner will acquire shares in BT Productions is that CNN's cable variety channel has never had any competitive programs. He actually hopes that BT can help CNN plan one or several truly excellent reality shows to compete with that damn Fox, because Fox has also started producing a cable pay reality show channel." Sean introduced the situation he knew to Tommy.
Although BT Television Network and BT Entertainment Production Company are clearly one and the same, they can be treated differently in Hollywood, where production and broadcasting are separated. For example, other television networks and film companies, if willing to pay, can also ask BT Entertainment Production Company to help produce the programs they want. In fact, in recent times, other television networks have indeed contacted BT, hoping that BT can help produce some reality shows.
It's not that their own production company can't do it, but the main reason is that the ratings can't beat the completely shameless BT. BT, which gave up the Emmy Award, didn't receive good reviews from the industry, but the ratings of a series of variety shows such as "Wife Swapping Game", "Looking for American Daddy", "The Almighty Gun King", "Fake Daughter", etc. have been on the rise and have been favored by a large number of advertisers.
Therefore, in the television industry where ratings are king, it is not so strange or incomprehensible that CNN's Turner wants Warner to hold shares in BT Productions and then let BT help CNN create a popular reality show.
Tommy smoked most of his cigarette in silence before he slowly spoke, "I really can't refuse this reason. After all, no matter who it is, as long as they want to drive the arrogant and rude Australians out of the United States, I, Tommy Hawke, will definitely be willing to stand and cheer them on."
He raised his head and looked at Sean: "He wants me to meet with him? You arrange it."
Sean shook his head. “Mr. Turner said that if you agree to meet, let me let him know, and then another board member of Warner will come to organize a meeting.”
"Why is it so complicated? He... is determined to win." Tommy asked himself and answered himself, then looked at Sean again: "Does the director know Stephen Bean or his father?"
Sean smiled and said, "No, that director and your father-in-law have been friends for many years. You are right. Turner Jr. is determined to invest in the production of the reality show."
