Hollywood truly had no secrets. Linton had just finished lunch at his manor when he received a call from Winona.
She had recently landed the lead role in the film bram stoker's dracula and had already started training with the crew.
However, the training location was in Los Angeles, and hearing that Linton was preparing to invest in and direct a new film himself, she called him immediately to ask if she could play the lead role.
“Winona, didn’t you just take on bram stoker's dracula? My film is scheduled to start filming in February and finish in May. Do you have time?”
“Ah, isn’t your new film just beginning preparations? Is it starting to shoot so soon? I probably won’t be done until June.”
“This is a Minor Achievement, a youth musical. The project preparation is very simple. We’ve already confirmed starting training in February, and shooting from March to May. Besides, for such a small project, would you even be interested?”
“Your film, no matter how small the investment, I want to act in it. But this timing really doesn’t work. But it’s agreed, next time you have a film project, you have to tell me first, okay?”
“Okay, I’ll definitely tell you first next time. But bram stoker's dracula is a popular big-budget production. You perform well, and the box office will definitely explode.”
“I’ll take your word for it. I think so too. Tonight, I’m going back to my apartment. You come find me.”
“Won’t it affect your training with the crew?”
“It’s fine, just one night. It’s settled then, see you at 8 PM. Bye-bye.”
Subsequently, Cameron Diaz also called. She had recently taken on the lead role in an art-house film, August Love, and had already joined the crew, filming in New York.
“My dear, I heard you’re preparing to invest in and direct a new film. Are there any suitable roles for me?” Cameron was still relatively modest, not directly asking to play the lead.
“Michelle, my film is a youth musical. The lead actress is a ballet dancer. You’re too tall, it’s not suitable. Besides, my film will move very quickly. Training starts in February, and filming begins in March. You wouldn’t be able to make it.”
“You didn’t say so earlier! If you had, I wouldn’t have taken this current film.”
“Please don’t say that. In Hollywood, before becoming a big star, you can’t be picky. If you have an opportunity, you must try hard to seize it.
My film project also just started recently, but I didn’t expect the preparations to go so smoothly, which is why it’s progressing so quickly.”
“My dear, next time if you have a project, remember to tell me first, okay?”
“Okay, no problem.”
“Love you, bye-bye.”
Putting down the phone, Linton couldn't help but sigh at the appeal of film roles to Hollywood actresses.
In the afternoon, Linton arrived at the third floor of an office building on Fifteenth Street in Burbank, where Annie’s dance troupe was located.
The dance troupe was quite large, about 300 square meters, with 5 dance studios in total—2 large and 3 small. Except for one small dance studio, all the other studios had people training in them.
Walking into Annie’s office, Annie was choreographing. She kept performing dance moves, then paused to write and draw at her desk.
Seeing Linton, Annie first had someone bring him a cup of coffee, then discussed her understanding of the script’s dances with Linton.
She believed that for the film to succeed, the coolness and visual appeal of the dance moves, their ability to move people, and to inspire imitation among teenagers were key. The most crucial aspects were the dance skills of the lead actors and two large-scale dance scenes.
According to the script, the male lead primarily dances hip-hop, and she had already designed many hip-hop moves that Linton could start practicing now.
After speaking, she pulled Linton into the small dance studio and began dancing herself, demonstrating the designed hip-hop moves for Linton.
Linton watched and indeed, she was a master. In just a few days, the hip-hop choreography had already taken initial shape, incorporating many modern elements. It was truly cool and not much different from the original film.
Linton changed into his dance clothes and, under Annie's guidance, began practicing. With Linton's physical fitness as a cultivator, these various moves, which would require hard practice for others, were effortlessly performed by him.
Annie was astonished and happily said:
“With such good dance talent and physical fitness, it seems I can increase the difficulty and make the dances even cooler and more dazzling.
You go back and practice the dance moves from today. I’ll continue to refine them here.”
“What about the female lead’s dance? Do you have a plan?” Linton asked.
“The female lead primarily dances ballet. I’m already designing the moves. Oh, during this time, why don’t you have Naomi practice basic ballet moves? It’s crucial for her to perform graceful ballet for the film to be appealing.”
Annie already knew Linton intended for Naomi to be the lead actress.
“You need to speed up the moves here. In at most a week, the film crew will be officially assembled and casting will begin. Training needs to be completed by February. I plan to start official filming in March.”
“Don’t worry, I have no problem here.”
It seems everyone is working hard and diligently, Linton thought happily, and returned with Annie’s dance practice assignment.
He had his housekeeper, Amy, partition off an area in the gym to serve as a dance Room. After all, the gym was large enough and currently had plenty of space.
At dinner time, Amy, the housekeeper, came in with several evening newspapers.
“Boss, the newspapers are all talking about you investing in a film now.”
“Oh, what are they saying?”
Amy hesitated for a moment, “They’re all not optimistic, saying you’ve become arrogant, that you’re not being a good singer and instead trying to be a director to make a film. No one believes you’ll succeed.” She finished and handed the newspapers to Linton.
“And there are quite a few paparazzi outside the manor who want to interview you.”
“Don’t pay attention to them. I saw them when I came back this afternoon.” Linton took the newspapers.
Los Angeles Evening News: “Popular Singer Becomes Director to Make Film, Who Gave You the Confidence?”
Hollywood Evening News: “Wishful Thinking, Can a Singer Succeed as a Film Director?”
Hollywood Entertainment News: “Arrogant Linton, Changing Careers to Become a Film Director, Is There a Funnier Joke?”
Hollywood Gossip: “Popular Singer Spends Ten Million Dollars to Make a Film, Is It to Promote His Girlfriend?”
........
They were all front-page headlines, with not a single positive report. All were critical with a mocking tone, criticizing Linton for not minding his own business, for his fanciful idea of making a film, and that he would surely fail and waste his money.
But at least they all mentioned the film’s name, step up, and that it was a youth musical.
Linton didn't take it to heart. Indeed, from a conventional perspective, it was hard for a newcomer like him to be taken seriously as a director making a film.
Let them mock and ridicule now. At least it helps raise the film’s profile, serving as promotion for the film. He would eventually use the results to firmly slap them in the face.
While reading the newspaper, Daniel called, telling him that he had already selected a female singer, gave an address, and invited him to an audition tomorrow morning.
As he expected, Daniel was engaging in self-serving behavior, not planning to sign the new singer to Universal Records, but rather to his own secretly controlled music production company.
At 8 PM, Linton had Nick drive around the streets for a few circles, shaking off the paparazzi, then arrived at Winona’s apartment as promised.
As soon as he entered, a soft body threw itself into his arms. Having not seen each other for over two months, both were very passionate and quickly entered battle mode.
The living Room, on the sofa, in the kitchen, on the balcony, on the big bed, for a time, was filled with the breath of spring.
........
After a long while, the battle subsided, and Winona lay on Linton’s body, saying,
“It’s all your fault, being so impatient! I had already opened a bottle of red wine, and I haven’t even had a sip yet.”
“It’s fine, it’s not too late to drink now. Also, you haven’t seen the gift I brought yet?”
He finished speaking, got up, went to the living Room, and brought in the LV bag he bought in Paris last time, giving it to Winona.
“My dear, this is what I bought for you when I went abroad last time.” Winona happily gave him a fragrant kiss.
Then Linton brought the red wine and glasses into the Room. As they drank red wine, they shared their work and lives over the past two months. Linton also briefly introduced the step up film project to Winona.
Upon hearing that the film had progressed to such an extent in just half a month, Winona was stunned by Linton’s efficiency. She had never heard of a film being made so efficiently, or even so hastily. She asked curiously,
“How can your film project progress so quickly? I heard that from concept planning to project approval, no film takes less than 3 months?”
“It’s different. Generally speaking, the most difficult part of film project approval is finding investment, and investors definitely need to conduct project evaluations and market research first, only investing when the risks are deemed controllable.
But this film of mine is fully funded by myself, so all those processes are completely omitted, and naturally, it’s faster.”
So that’s how it is, but thinking of him investing so much so rashly, she couldn’t help but ask with concern,
“You’re too impulsive! Ten million dollars just to fulfill your dream. Have you done any market research for this film?
You need to know, if you fail, losing money is one thing, but more seriously, you’ll be mocked by everyone in Hollywood, and it will be even harder to make films in the future.”
“It’s fine, I’ve evaluated it. This is a youth musical idol film, targeting the young adult demographic.
As long as the lead actors are handsome and beautiful, the songs are good, and the dances are moving, it will definitely attract teenagers to the cinema.
My conservative estimate is a $40 million box office. It won’t fail.”
“That’s right! With how good-looking you are, if the film is well-made, it will definitely attract many girls to the cinema, plus your fans, a $40 million box office should be achievable.”
“I didn’t expect you to have so much confidence in me.” Linton thought, indeed, she’s a looks-obsessed person.
“Definitely! But next time you make a film, be sure to tell me first, okay? I want to see if I can play the lead.”
“Okay, no problem.” Linton reluctantly agreed.
When Linton mentioned his manor in Beverly, Winona complained,
“There have been several rumors about your new manor, and I haven’t even been there yet.”
“Isn’t it because you’ve always been busy? Whenever you’re free, you’re always welcome there.”
“It’s a deal. After I finish this film, I’ll visit your place and take a good look around. Maybe I can spend a few days on vacation there.”
“My dear, I’m always at your service.”
“Your mouth is so sweet. Let me taste if it’s really sweet.” She finished speaking, took a mouthful of red wine, and kissed him.
Then the battle began anew.
........
It wasn’t until the early hours of the morning that the two finished their battle.
Linton remembered that in his previous life, Winona had mild depression and a shoplifting addiction, and was even exposed by the media and caught in the act, which greatly affected her image and career.
Now that they were together by fate, he definitely had to help her solve it. He secretly performed Soul Inducement.
He subtly suggested at Winona’s spiritual level that she was happy, and when she felt down, she could think more about her time with Linton.
Stealing was illegal and would be scorned by others, so she must stay away from such behavior.
With his current Foundation Establishment cultivation, although Soul Inducement couldn't completely cure her at once, it could guarantee half a year's effect.
At worst, he would perform it again after six months. Once he reached Golden Core in the future, he could completely cure her.