[TL/N: I already made 30 adv. chapter on my pa treon, if you want to read advanced chapter, go patreon.com/Edgyreader but don't worry, i'll still update 1-3 chapter everyday.]
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Burbank, Universal Studios.
When Grace Nichols, the CEO and president of the Victoria's Secret brand, was led by a staff member to a set community resembling a fairy-tale town, Simon had just finished a production meeting for Desperate Housewives.
This 'fairy-tale town' was naturally the Wisteria Lane set that Simon had constructed based on his memories.
After saying goodbye to the main creators of Desperate Housewives, Simon greeted the short, bespectacled, black-haired woman in front of him. The two then walked together along the clean asphalt road toward the exit.
Leslie Wexner's main focus remained on transitioning LTD's fashion business toward a 'fast fashion' operating model. Simon could not spend too much time overseeing the matter. Therefore, the preparations for the Victoria's Secret show were left to Grace Nichols for specific execution.
Grace Nichols came from a marketing department background and had only been promoted by Leslie Wexner to head Victoria's Secret last year.
This also reflected Wexner's management style.
As a result, Simon did not have one hundred percent confidence deep down about whether Wexner could shift LTD's fashion business from a marketing-focused style to one centered on 'fast fashion' operations. However, as long as the Victoria's Secret brand was successfully built up, Cersei Capital's acquisition of LTD would count as a success.
They had already met several times before and were somewhat familiar.
Simon and Grace Nichols chatted casually for a bit before the topic quickly shifted to the main subject.
Grace Nichols still harbored concerns about some of the media feedback on the Victoria's Secret show they were preparing. "Lately, the media has been accusing the fashion show we're organizing of flaunting sexuality and objectifying women. I feel that perhaps we should take a more conservative approach this time."
Simon did not share Grace Nichols' worries. "Leslie and I have already discussed this issue. Controversy is inevitable. No matter how the outside world judges it, we should first establish a clear positioning for this runway show. The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show aims to convey to consumers a concept of lingerie consumption that is fashionable, charming, healthy, and romantic."
"I know that," Grace Nichols continued, "but the media often won't see it that way."
"Some things, even if they are not true, if you repeat them to the public a hundred times, most people will end up believing them," Simon said. Suddenly realizing something, he turned his head to look at the woman beside him and smiled. "Alright then. I'll help handle the media side of things."
The freedom that media boasted about was mostly just freedom in the absence of conflicting interests.
If publishing a certain opinion might cause major sponsors to withdraw their advertising placements from the media platform, then that freedom would immediately cease to be free.
Daenerys Entertainment, or rather the entire Westeros system, was undoubtedly now a major advertising client that no mainstream media outlet could ignore. Whether mainstream newspapers and magazines, or specialized film, technology, or fashion publications, whether cable networks or broadcast stations, they all carried advertisements from various companies within the Westeros system.
Moreover, North American media platforms essentially all belonged to some large, comprehensive media conglomerates.
For instance, the Hearst Corporation, which controlled countless newspapers and magazines, or the Capital Cities/ABC group, which owned the ABC television network along with cable networks such as ESPN and A&E. Therefore, even if a particular newspaper or television station had no direct business ties with the Westeros system, there was no guarantee that other media outlets under the same parent company were in the same situation.
When you get to the bottom of many things in this world, only two words remain in the end: interests.
Grace Nichols mentioning the media encounters with the Victoria's Secret show was also hoping that Simon would use the Westeros system's connections to reverse certain public opinion situations.
Simon noticed this point and readily agreed. The main reason was that, with LTD now already part of the Westeros system's community of interests, the company was similarly a major advertising client on the media side.
To make preparations for the Victoria's Secret show more convenient by being nearby, Simon had specifically allocated a soundstage within Universal Studios to the Victoria's Secret team.
In truth, it might have been better to select the soundstage directly at the Malibu Daenerys Studios. However, the soundstages in Malibu were now mostly being used for film production, and more than half were professional virtual production stages for principal photography. Only the older-style soundstages at Universal Studios still had availability.
After completing the acquisition of MCA last year, following reconfiguration, many buildings at Universal Studios would be demolished to construct new attractions. The functional soundstages and post-production centers would mainly be used to produce television series.
Hollywood film production was increasingly favoring on-location shooting. For television, however, soundstage applications would remain very widespread until many years later.
The Victoria's Secret team had selected a small soundstage roughly 45 meters long and 25 meters wide.
Just as Simon and Grace turned into the corridor where the soundstage was located, they saw numerous slender figures already waiting at the soundstage entrance. Those figures clearly spotted Simon right away as well and immediately showed a wave of commotion.
Today was the final round of interviews for the Victoria's Secret Angels.
Out of the 40-person Victoria's Secret Angels team, approximately 10 spots were basically pre-determined. This included the planned 5 Victoria's Secret Angel spokesmodels, as well as several other famous models who would participate in the Victoria's Secret runway without taking on spokesmodel duties. The remaining 30 spots would be selected from various modeling agencies.
To select a group with perfect bodies, Simon had also set extremely high requirements.
Anyone shorter than 175cm would be eliminated. Those whose faces were not pretty enough would be eliminated. Those whose runway walks were not outstanding enough would be eliminated. Those unable to accept the full set of stringent Victoria's Secret Angels contracts would be eliminated.
The first three conditions were actually very easy to screen.
Only the last condition was challenging. For this show, the Victoria's Secret team was only offering non-famous models a fee of five thousand dollars, which was basically equivalent to one month's salary for an ordinary wage earner.
However, from the moment their contracts were signed, the selected models would have to begin preparations for the November show: further physical training, diet control, participation in runway rehearsals, joining media activities according to the Victoria's Secret show's schedule, and so on. In addition, any subsequent income from the show's television broadcasts and videotape sales would have nothing to do with these models.
Of course, over the following four months, additional expenses such as the models' fitness training and transportation would still be borne by the Victoria's Secret company.
The modeling industry fed on youth.
Spending a full four months focused on one thing, with uncertain outcomes and pitifully low compensation, these requirements caused many models who had already opened up their careers and hoped to climb higher to shrink back.
The Victoria's Secret team responsible for casting made no concessions or forceful demands regarding this.
Just like Hollywood actors, the fashion world was never short of beautiful women.
Moreover, this grand show was a major promotional opportunity for the Victoria's Secret brand. For the models participating in the show, it was an even rarer chance for the fashion circle to present itself to the general public. Because the Victoria's Secret brand and the Victoria's Secret Angels enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship, the company had also specially designed a promotion plan for the Angels team.
As the saying went, the modeling world's attempts to leverage celebrities and singers for advancement ultimately came down to just one thing: fame.
The Victoria's Secret show was equivalent to giving a group of models a dazzling platform to stand directly before the public.
As the pair reached the soundstage entrance, a string of proactive greetings immediately rang out. Many of the women looked at Simon with eyes burning with eager anticipation. However, probably due to the large crowd, even as Simon passed through the group of gorgeously dressed vixens, none dared to step forward.
Simon also recognized quite a few relatively familiar figures from his memories among them. But such matters no longer stirred any waves in his heart now.
After several preliminary rounds of selection, there were a total of 100 candidates competing for the final 30 spots.
The waiting area inside the soundstage could not hold them all, so the line extended all the way outside the entrance.
Upon entering the soundstage, the space of over a thousand square meters had been divided into several work areas. Makeup rooms, changing rooms, and spaces for the design and production of the angel costumes were all available. In the widest open space at the very back of the soundstage stood a twenty-meter-long runway. The upcoming auditions would be conducted there.
The audition process had been designed well in advance.
Change outfits, take to the runway to display figure and walk, a brief conversation, then the next.
Therefore, in just one afternoon, the 100 people were quickly finished. Many models who had hoped to 'interact' with the Westeros system found no opportunity.
At six o'clock in the evening, inside the brightly lit soundstage, after the auditions concluded, Simon continued discussing the issue of the 10 reserved spots with the Victoria's Secret preparation team.
For the five spokesmodels, Cindy Crawford was the first. This supermodel, who already leaned commercial, had immediately accepted the invitation for a three-year Victoria's Secret spokesmodel contract. Naturally, the endorsement fee was substantial: five million dollars over three years. This expenditure would of course be covered by Victoria's Secret itself and was not counted within the fashion show's budget.
Next was Yasmeen Ghauri, whom Simon had accidentally propelled to fame last year.
This 'waist spirit' had been one of the Victoria's Secret spokesmodels in the original timeline. Whether in terms of looks and figure or from the perspective of racial diversity among the spokesmodels, Yasmeen Gare was a very suitable candidate.
Although they already had Yasmeen Gare as an mixed representative, among the five spokesmodels, it would be unacceptable not to include a Black woman. Therefore, the nineteen-year-old Tyra Banks was selected. This Black model had debuted at fifteen. For a model, nineteen already counted as relatively old, and her fame was sufficient.
There had also been recommendations for Naomi Campbell.
Although Black supermodel had been dropped by Elite agency last year due to various misdeeds, her solid foundation meant that after switching to another agency she remained active in the fashion world.
However, as was well known, this Black supermodel was notoriously difficult to deal with. Short-term cooperation was fine, but a long-term endorsement could be expected to bring constant trouble.
After Cindy Crawford, Yasmeen Gare, and Tyra Banks, for the remaining two spots Simon ultimately chose Helena Christensen and Stephanie Seymour.
Compared to Cindy Crawford's three-year, five-million-dollar endorsement fee, the latter four Angel spokesmodels had their fees exactly reversed: three million dollars over five years.
Besides the five spokesmodels, the remaining five supermodels who would attend to show support were also basically confirmed. They were similarly Linda Evangelista, Claudia Schiffer, and other most well-known supermodels of this era.
The next day was another Friday.
The date was already July 3. This year's Independence Day holiday happened to fall on a Saturday.
As one of the hottest slots in July, three major films were releasing in North American theaters on July 3: the Daenerys and Warner Bros. collaboration The Last of the Mohicans, Disney's sci-fi family comedy Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, and Paramount Pictures' Patriot Games.
The film that had opened the previous week, A Time to Kill, ultimately achieved a first-week box office of 23.73 million dollars.
Limited by its subject matter, this opening performance was not high. Still, it met expectations. The key would be the film's subsequent box office trend.
Although this Independence Day holiday fell on a Saturday, American wage earners generally scheduled their annual vacations around this time. Therefore, the period remained popular.
Having spent the previous afternoon on Victoria's Secret show preparations, Simon flew to San Francisco again this morning.
After half a year of preparation, Blockbuster's online platform was launching right during the Independence Day holiday. Nancy Brill hoped Simon could attend this press conference today.
As North America's and even the world's largest video rental chain, the 'Blockbuster Online' press conference naturally drew significant media attention. The event was held in the conference hall of the Marriott Hotel in downtown San Francisco.
When Simon arrived at the Marriott Hotel, the press conference was nearing its start.
After a simple greeting with the attendees for the day, everyone entered and took their seats.
At ten o'clock, the press conference officially began.
Blockbuster executives detailed the development process of 'Blockbuster Online', the website's application procedures, and their outlook on the prospects of the online business from the stage. Nancy Brill, meanwhile, discussed the problems Blockbuster was facing at this time with Simon from below the stage.
After several years of taking over Blockbuster, this video rental chain now had more than 4,300 stores worldwide. Nancy's ultimate goal was 5,000 chain stores globally, with 3,500 in North America and 1,500 overseas.
This target would likely be achieved by next year at the latest.
Compared to the more than 9,000 stores Blockbuster had at its peak in his memories, 5,000 stores seemed reduced by half. However, under Nancy Brill and the Blockbuster team's management, through continuous optimization of the operating model and warehousing logistics system, the current Blockbuster was actually stronger than the scale-chasing Blockbuster of the original timeline.
However, in Nancy Brill's view, the current Blockbuster still faced many problems that needed changing.
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