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Chapter 157: Annual Fashion Show
🕑 Added 2024-11-14 18:06:25 +0000 UTC"Why aren't you with the crew?"
As they walked past the red carpet and into a relatively quiet area, Mrs. Leah looked back at Duke, who had caught up to her, and asked, "Didn't you plan a promotional event?"
"Tom is enough; he attracts the media more than I do."
Duke turned to look back, where Tom Hanks had just stepped onto the red carpet, and the audience and reporters were going wild. When it comes to media and public attraction, a top director can't compete with a top actor. Moreover, Tom Hanks was attending with Rita Wilson.
It wasn't easy for Tom Hanks to appear at the Victoria's Secret annual fashion show. Although he had an obligation to promote the film, this appearance was added last minute. The studio had communicated with his agent, Iino Martin, several times before making it happen.
However, Duke wouldn't have an easy time either. After taking a photo with his mother under the backdrop, he was pulled by Warner Bros. PR staff to the interview area.
Immediately, a reporter came up and asked, "Director Rosenberg, is your new film 'Saving Private Ryan' completed?"
"You'll see it in the summer," Duke replied.
"I heard that Victoria's Secret established a professional model team based on your suggestion?" another reporter inquired.
"I just mentioned it casually," Duke replied, also promoting his advertising agency. "It's Santa Fia that turned my immature ideas into reality."
"Everyone knows your films never lack beautiful women. Will the Angels have a chance to appear in your movies?"
"Of course, as long as there's a suitable role."
The promotion for "Saving Private Ryan" had already begun, and as long as it sparked topics and attention, Duke welcomed all reporters' questions.
"Congratulations, Director Rosenberg! 'Independence Day' has surpassed $900 million at the global box office!"
One reporter pushed through the crowd with a genuine smile on his face. Duke nodded lightly. "Thank you."
The next question was less polite, "But your film has been criticized by numerous industry professionals, and its professional rating has dropped to 2.92. What are your thoughts?"
"There are people in this world who, when they can't get grapes, will tell everyone that grapes are sour, bitter, and the worst-tasting thing in the world."
Hearing Duke's metaphor, the surrounding reporters were slightly stunned before being blocked by a few suited men. Duke nodded to the head of security for the event, turned, and left the interview area to enter the venue.
After looking around, Duke saw where his mother was sitting and walked over.
Like all film promotion strategies, the focus for "Saving Private Ryan" wouldn't be on the director. Tom Hanks was the highlight of this mutual support event with Victoria's Secret. Even other actors like Leonardo DiCaprio, led by Robin Grand, would arrive at the venue later for media appearances.
The only regret Duke felt was that Leonardo DiCaprio and his agent declined the suggestion from the crew to stage a false romance with a Victoria's Secret model. The child star had a smoother career path compared to Keanu Reeves, and he likely didn't want to exploit his private life too much.
"Duke, come here."
His mother waved him over, and once he arrived, she introduced him to several people around her. "This is the president of Victoria's Secret, Lori Grayer; this is the vice president, Rebecca Fein; and this is the operations director, Bill May…"
All the introductions were to executives from Victoria's Secret, and Duke greeted them politely.
Mrs. Leah stood aside with a proud smile. Duke had indeed become her greatest pride, achieving more than she had ever imagined!
Looking at Hollywood, across the U.S., and even worldwide, how many directors could achieve what Duke had? Was there any director who could accomplish such feats at his age?
Not to mention the total box office of his last three films exceeding $1.5 billion, "Independence Day" alone grossed over $360 million in North America and more than $900 million globally. What an extraordinary achievement! If she weren't proud of him, that would be hypocritical.
As a successful businesswoman, Mrs. Leah understood well that in this highly commercialized society, while commercial success doesn't represent everything, it is the foundation for earning respect and recognition. Besides, Duke had entered the incredibly pragmatic Hollywood, a circle that spoke through commercial data.
After a brief chat, the Victoria's Secret executives went backstage. Duke accompanied his mother to sit in the front row near the runway, socializing with people who came to greet them while observing the situation in the venue.
Unlike future fashion shows filled with stars, the current draw of Victoria's Secret was evidently insufficient. While there were some familiar faces, there weren't many big-name stars, especially from Hollywood. Apart from Tom Hanks and other members of "Saving Private Ryan," there were actually not many.
The few who could attend were related to Duke's invitation, including Christopher Lee, Uma Thurman, and actors signed under Nancy Josephson.
Among them was Jennifer Aniston, who had become famous last year with a sitcom.
Although this actress typically played the role of a silly American girl, she was no fool in reality. After entering, she immediately came over to greet Duke, chatted warmly with Mrs. Leah, and even called her "Auntie..."
Few successful people are fools, and Jennifer Aniston clearly understood the predicament of actors who rose to fame through TV series. Without suitable roles for a transition, they would be limited to that forever. The ideal transition for a TV actor was to make it onto the big screen.
"Back in Los Angeles, shall we have dinner sometime?"
As they said goodbye, she softly invited him. Duke naturally had no reason to refuse. "Sure, I'll wait for your call."
As Jennifer Aniston gradually walked away, Duke noticed his mother's gaze turned toward him. He adjusted his expression and settled back into his seat, temporarily putting the earlier events out of his mind.
The fashion show was not just a show; as the promoter, Santa Fia had signed broadcasting contracts with ABC and Sky TV to transmit the event in North America and Europe. As long as the results met expectations, such shows would become routine in the coming years.
Not long after, the show began. Although different from the videos he had seen in the past, Duke felt that the models walking the runway and the overall operation seemed to be taking on a future shape.
Victoria's Secret's operational strategy was not to position itself as a high-end luxury brand but rather as the world's most famous, accessible sexy lingerie brand. Therefore, the models on stage didn't exude the cold nobility typical of fashion shows; instead, they frequently blew kisses, laughed, winked, waved, and even made victory gestures, interacting with the audience and camera.
The makeup artists also put significant effort into the models' looks, with the Angels' long hair naturally curling, as if they had just woken up and hadn't yet gotten ready or had just experienced a perfect romantic encounter. Their faces were alluring, with rosy cheeks and misty eyes resembling lips just kissed.
What surprised Duke the most was that the show had invited Madonna as a performing guest. The pop music queen wore sexy lingerie and sang her classic hit "Material Girl" while high-fiving passing models, creating the first peak of excitement in the venue.
"Did Santa fia invite her?" Duke pointed at Madonna on stage and quietly asked his mother.
Mrs. Leah nodded. "It was a suggestion from one of Santa fia's creative vice presidents. I think it's great."
Although Duke knew that it was a tradition for Victoria's Secret to invite guests to perform, he clearly remembered that he hadn't mentioned this detail. The reason was simple: he had forgotten, and now someone else brought it up, which wasn't particularly strange. Many things only need the key point raised for some additional elements to come naturally.
Duke never underestimated the elite of this era; it was impossible for all creative ideas to stem from him or for success to be taken for granted. He neither had a hard drive nor Google in his brain to remember everything. Even those memories he did have were one thing; turning them into successful facts was another.
Subsequently, the show reached another peak, again related to something Duke knew but had forgotten to mention!
One of the five supermodels, Claudia Schiffer, walked the runway wearing a diamond-studded lingerie set worth two million dollars. Under the bright lights and alongside the world-class model, the lingerie dazzled many in the audience, especially some men in the back row, who excitedly whistled.
"Whose proposal was this?" Duke asked quietly again.
Mrs. Leah's lips curled slightly. "Mine; it seems to be quite effective."
Expensive diamonds, beautiful angels, and sexy lingerie combined could easily captivate many, so the effect could only be impressive.
Duke greatly admired his mother. Unlike him, who relied on shortcuts, his mother had achieved success primarily through her own efforts after her marriage failed. Apart from the limited network from the Rosenberg family, she had worked hard to gain her position.
The first annual fashion show of Victoria's Secret was nearing its end, and the high-priced lingerie Claudia Schiffer showcased became a focal point of contention, garnering even more attention than Madonna. The event hadn't even concluded when a wealthy individual from Southern Europe pulled out $3 million to purchase the lingerie.
The fashion show concluded perfectly, undeniably a success. After such a successful event, the organizers naturally held a thank-you dinner.
