Chatting casually, they also talked about the girls' last trip to Europe sponsored by Simon. The two sisters were obviously looking forward to the next trip. Just as the champagne in the glasses was finished, Simon waved to the waiter who was passing by not far away. , the other party came closer and saw a set of cocktails on the tray. He reached out and took a glass. Seeing the bright eyes of the two girls beside him, he smiled and asked: "Do you want it?"
Nikki immediately shook her head: "Simon, we are not of drinking age yet."
"I want it," Paris reached for a glass and said, "But Simon, when mom sees her later, I will tell you that you asked me to drink it."
Simon nodded and said, "Okay."
Nikki saw her sister getting a glass of wine, not to be outdone, she also reached for a glass, waited for the waiter to leave, put it to her mouth and took a sip. Of course it was not her first time drinking, but the alcohol content of the cocktail was much higher than that of champagne, so she drank it in one sip. Next, he immediately stuck out his tongue.
It's not that I can't stand it, it's just that it will definitely look cuter in front of him.
Paris drank half the cup in one gulp, and her face quickly turned red. Just as she was about to continue talking, three other girls had already walked over. One of them had exaggerated breasts that the two sisters together could not compare to. It’s the Christina Hendricks internet celebrity trio.
When a group of big goblins surrounded Simon just now, they failed to find a chance to step forward.
At this time, it was the Hilton sisters, so they didn't have too many worries. Christina, who was obviously the eldest sister, came closer and greeted with some restraint and eagerness: "Simon, I am Christina, we can take a photo with you." ?"
"Sure," Simon nodded and reminded, "But you can't post it online."
"Of course," Christina nodded, then reacted and tentatively asked: "Simon, do you know us?"
"I know, Elite's internet celebrity girl group," Simon said with a smile, "Actually, I am Elite's major shareholder, and you are my employees."
"Oh, what an honor." Christina said, finally remembering the two companions beside her, and helped introduce: "Also, Simon, this is Barbara, and Lisa."
Simon took the initiative to reach out and said, "Hello."
The three girls shook hands with Simon respectively, and then Christina pushed the black-haired girl named Barbara on the left, who reluctantly left. Christina quickly explained: "Cameras are not allowed here, we just Can you please hire an official photographer?"
After saying hello in advance, Christina said, there was already a photographer following Barbara with a camera.
Simon patted the two girls next to him and motioned for them to give up their positions first. The three girls who could only stand next to him immediately sat down next to him. Christina boldly hugged the arm of the man next to her. Simon suddenly turned around Fall into the gentle land of overwhelming force.
After taking pictures, the three girls did not continue to stay here. However, when Christina left, she quietly thrust a card into Simon's hand and boldly invited him to call her.
After the three women left, Paris, who had regained her own, immediately began to speak venomously: "It's so big, it must have drooped. In fact, it's ugly."
Nikki also stood with her sister this time, and looked at the card in Simon's hand sourly: "Simon, will you call her?"
Simon put the card seriously into his shirt pocket and shook his head: "Of course not."
Paris pouted: "Liar."
Nikki thought it was quite considerate of him to lie to her.
So I also took a big sip of the cocktail, feeling dizzy, and became bolder. I got closer and hugged the man's arm just like Christina did just now. She leaned her slender body close to me and mustered up the courage to say: "Simon, actually, I like it." And you."
Simon tilted his head and rubbed the girl's head with his cheek, smiling: "I know."
Nikki's face turned red: "Well, last time you said..."
Before Nikki finished speaking, Paris had already said: "Simon said last time that she likes you a little more than me, that is, just a little more than me."
The girl immediately looked at Simon pitifully.
Simon smiled and said: "Your sister is annoying, right? Let's get rid of her."
"Um."
Paris immediately imitated her sister and hugged the arm of the man next to her, saying in a playful manner, "I'm not leaving."
Immediately, another voice came: "Simon, have you started to change your taste and like little girls?"
The three of them looked over together, it was Madonna.
As representatives of rebellious girls and pop queens who have been popular for many years, the two sisters originally liked Madonna. However, when Queen Madonna said this, she immediately lost two fans.
Madonna didn't care, she stepped forward and picked up Paris's chin, quickly came over and kissed her, and said: "Sweetheart, please give me your seat, otherwise I will have to sit on Simon's lap and compete with you for the seat." ”
Paris was dazzled by the kiss, and since Madonna was the queen of pop after all, she was still very prestigious in the little girl's heart, so she subconsciously moved inside to make way for her. However, when Queen Madonna sat down, Paris immediately began to regret it again, angrily thinking that she must find all the Madonna records at home and throw them all in the trash can.
Simon waited for Madonna to sit down next to her, took a look, and said with a smile: "Maggie, your eyes seem different from before."
"Isn't it more beautiful?"
"Well, it's a little more charming."
Madonna proudly raised her hand and wiped the corners of her eyes: "I just had it done by a very good plastic surgeon."
The Queen has always been open about plastic surgery.
Simon didn't care, and even took a look at the McQueen's lips.
Madonna got it right and said with a smile: "I haven't had my lips done. Nowadays, natural lips are advocated. It's because of you. Simon, when I chatted privately with my plastic surgeon, he said that he had worked with a famous company for many years. The manufacturers of lip injections went bankrupt last year, and it’s all your fault, haha.”
Simon smiled and said: "I will not be responsible for this."
Madonna smiled heartlessly and stretched out a white arm exposed outside the sleeveless dress towards Simon: "Also, Simon, do you think I'm very white now?"
"Um."
"Although I am already very white, I recently tried whitening injections, and the effect is quite good. It's all because of you. Whitening injections are becoming more and more popular now," Her Lady Queen said, leaning into Simon's ear again. : "However, the most obvious effect is at my place, Simon. How about we find a place for you to enjoy it, whatever you want."
Madonna didn't lower her voice at all, so that Nicky, who was still close to Simon on the other side, suddenly blushed. The girl knew that Queen Madonna always had fun, but it was still a little unexpected.
Simon immediately refused: "I'm not interested. I think it's better for us to be pure boyfriend and girlfriend."
The longer Simon has been in the fashion industry, the more he understands that so-called fashion trends are never determined by the public, but are led by brands, media and even individuals who have the right to speak.
It's similar to the saying 'What's good at the top will be worse at the bottom'.
Just like now, Simon's preferences dominate the female aesthetics in the entire fashion and entertainment industry. In recent years, fewer and fewer women have received lip augmentation injections in the industry, and many people have also changed their tanning habits. This aesthetic style continues to Sinking has gradually become a popular trend in the entire society.
Madonna made a few jokes and then turned to a serious matter: "Simon, my film "Mrs. Peron" will be completed soon. Can't you help me look at the samples?"
"It's not necessary. I've read the script. It's a completely tailor-made project for you. The director is Alan Parker. The quality is guaranteed. Maybe you can get an Oscar nomination this time."
Queen Mai was dissatisfied: "Then why did you refuse to invest in the first place?"
"The price-performance ratio is too low," Simon said truthfully: "If it was only 10 to 20 million, I would definitely invest. A budget of 50 million is already a blockbuster level. Maggie, to be honest, you are playing a little too big this time. If you screw it up, you won’t be able to make it in Hollywood in the future.”
There was a rare flash of worry in Queen Mai's eyes, and then she said carelessly: "Isn't it you? Someone just said that we are good friends."
"Good friends shouldn't cheat each other."
"Tsk, Simon, you are already so rich, 1.5 trillion, why do you sound even more stingy?"
"A friend is a friend. If you are short of money, I will definitely lend it to you. But you have to follow the rules in doing business, otherwise, no matter how good the company is, it will fail."
"Okay, okay," Her Majesty the Queen obviously didn't like to hear Simon's rationale, and returned to her previous request: "Anyway, Simon, just help me take a look and make some suggestions. It only takes you two hours. Or, It’s okay if you don’t watch it, just say a few nice words and ask Paramount to give me more publicity resources.”
After the new version of "Mrs. Peron" was passed by Simon, the former producer Disney also chose to reject it under Vivendi's cautious operating strategy, and ended up with Seagram, who still wanted to make a difference in Hollywood. In the hands of Ramon Films.
In fact, Simon just said that playing too big is too much, and Queen Mac also knows it very well.
Over the years, she has continuously impacted Hollywood and suffered repeated defeats. The resources that the film industry can provide her have reached their limit. This time, the investment of 50 million US dollars in "Mrs. Peron" is considered a big gamble. In addition, it is a musical where the heroine fights alone. Once it fails, Queen McLaren will have no reason to shirk. She will be in Hollywood in the future. There is basically no place to stand.
On the other hand, due to the impact of the Internet, the physical record industry shrank rapidly, and Madonna's singing career also began to decline.
If both aspects fall rapidly, she will be eliminated next.
This is something that the McQueen cannot accept at any cost.
Therefore, whether it is her taking a chance on "Mrs. Peron" or even the recently mentioned plastic surgery that was actually very cautious, it is Queen McQueen who is working hard to continue her career.
For this time, Madonna first thought of Daenerys Entertainment. However, although she had a good relationship with Simon in private, business is business. Simon actually knew about this project. Historically, the film cost 55 million, and the global box office is about 140 million, which is not a loss. Coupled with Madonna's Golden Globe Award for the heroine, the profits from subsequent channels are actually good.
The problem is that Simon just said that the price/performance ratio is too low.
After all, this is not just a matter of making less money. Simply speaking, Simon will not mind investing, but once he takes on this project, it will definitely occupy a considerable amount of schedule and resources, and the annual movie schedule and promotion resources are limited. Yes, Daenerys Entertainment has decided to promote "Good Will Hunting" this year. This literary drama film has a production budget of only 10 million US dollars and once had a global box office of more than 200 million. There is no need to worry about how to choose between the two.
However, at this moment, with Madonna holding his arms and shaking her arms and pleading, thinking that the film was not a failure, Simon finally nodded: "Okay, it's just that, Maggie, my two hours are actually very precious. of."
Madonna came over and wanted to kiss Simon. Unfortunately, this little man who had been coveting her eyes for too long did not give her any chance to take advantage of him. He just kissed him on the palm of his hand. Her Majesty the Queen was not discouraged and once again seductively said: " Simon, I’m all yours tonight.”
“…”
The Hilton sisters who were listening in the audience complained together: It's so shameless.
Simon firmly refused again, and finally agreed that if there is a chance next time, just like today, the Queen can give Melisandre a favor for some brand for free, as a return of favor.
Having achieved her goal, Madonna lingered and chatted for a while before reluctantly leaving, not forgetting to grab Paris's face and kiss her before leaving.
Simon did not stay at the party for too long, staying for more than half an hour, and then left with Sofia. Instead of staying in Manhattan, he returned to Greenwich in upstate New York. Sofia made an appointment to have breakfast with her family the next morning.
The next day is Tuesday, September 17th.
In the morning, Sophia left and flew to Los Angeles to see her children. Simon also returned to Manhattan. Today is the launch day of the second season of "American Idol". Simon had already watched the samples of the first two episodes of this week on the plane that he rushed to the East Coast yesterday. In the morning Most of my time was spent discussing various detailed modifications with the project team.
As a Golden Hen show that brought Daenerys Entertainment $600 million in pre-tax income per season, this emphasis is not overstated.
The second season of "American Idol" was finally determined to have 40 episodes, 8 more than the first season. It will be broadcast on September 17th. The schedule is every Tuesday and Thursday evening at 8 o'clock in the prime time slot, including the first 10 weeks. The 20th phase is the audition stage, the 4th phase of the winter break is a special winter training program for the finalists, and the official competition phase after the year is 16th phase.
In terms of budget, the first season was a huge success and it is inevitable that the second season will go up.
However, because several judges have signed long-term contracts, and the length of 40 episodes has a dilutive effect, the total cost of the second season is estimated to be about 260 million, with an average of 6.5 million per episode, which is only a 30% increase from the first season.
On the other hand, due to the great success of the first season, the quotation for insertion advertising in the second season has also increased significantly. The TV department predicts that compared with the revenue scale of US$630 million in the first quarter, if all goes well, the pre-tax profit in the second quarter will reach an even more terrifying US$800 million.
Not surprisingly, this level of profit is enough to last two to three quarters before it begins to decline.
Due to the phenomenal success of "American Idol", many other television stations in North America have begun preparing for the same type of singing reality show.
It's a pity that Phenomenal is phenomenal not only because of its characteristics that are difficult to copy, but also because Phenomenal works have occupied the attention of a large number of viewers for a period of time. Even if other dramas of the same type are of higher quality, people's preconceived notions , it is often difficult to gain too much popularity, and more will only become cannon fodder for others to imitate.