Burbank, Universal Studios.
When Grace Nichols, CEO and president of the Victoria's Secret brand, was led by a staff member to a set community that looked like a fairy tale town, Simon had just finished a production meeting for "Desperate Housewives."
This 'fairy tale town' is naturally the Wisteria Street set created by Simon based on his memory.
After saying goodbye to the main creators of "Desperate Housewives", Simon said hello to the short black-haired woman with glasses in front of him, and the two of them walked out together along the neat asphalt road.
Leslie Wexner's main focus is still on the transformation of LTD's fashion business into a 'fast fashion' operating model, and Simon is unlikely to spend too much time staring at this matter. Therefore, Grace Nichols is still responsible for the preparation and execution of the Victoria's Secret show.
Grace Nichols is a senior executive in the marketing department. She was promoted to the head of Victoria's Secret by Leslie Wexner last year.
Wexner's business style can also be seen from this point.
Therefore, Simon is not 100% confident in whether Wexney can transform LTD's fashion business from a marketing-focused business style to a 'fast fashion' model. However, as long as the Victoria's Secret brand is developed, Cersei Capital's acquisition of LTD will be considered successful.
I have been in contact with it several times before, so I am familiar with it.
Simon and Grace Nichols just chatted casually, and the topic quickly turned to the main topic.
Grace Nichols still has concerns about some of the feedback from the media on the Victoria's Secret show: "Recently, some media have been accusing the fashion show we are preparing of of selling sex and objectifying women. I think, maybe this time we should Be conservative.”
Simon did not have Grace Nichols' worries, saying: "Leslie and I have discussed this issue. Controversy is inevitable. No matter how the outside world evaluates it, we should first confirm a positioning for this catwalk: Victoria's Secret The fashion show hopes to convey to consumers a concept of fashionable, charming, healthy and romantic underwear consumption.”
"I know that," Grace Nichols continued, "but the media doesn't tend to think that way."
"There are some things, even if they are lies, if you tell them to the public a hundred times, most people will believe them," Simon said, suddenly realizing something, he turned to look at the woman next to him, and said with a smile, "Okay Well, regarding media matters, I will help you say hello."
The freedom advertised by the Western media is more of a freedom without interests involved.
If you make certain remarks that may cause some big investors to cancel advertising on media platforms, then this freedom will no longer be free.
Daenerys Entertainment, or the entire Westeros system, is undoubtedly an advertising sponsor that cannot be ignored by any mainstream media. Whether it is mainstream newspapers and magazines or professional film, technology or fashion newspapers and periodicals, whether it is cable TV networks or wireless broadcast stations, there are advertisements from various companies in the Westeros system.
Moreover, North American media platforms basically belong to some large comprehensive media companies.
For example, the Hearst Group controls countless newspapers and magazines, and the Metropolis/ABC Group owns the ABC television network, ESPN, AE and other cable networks. Therefore, even if a certain newspaper or television station had no interest in the Westeros system, , it is difficult to guarantee that the same will be true for other media under the same parent company.
Many things in this world, if you look into the root cause, there will only be two words left in the end: profit.
Grace Nichols mentioned some of the experiences of the Victoria's Secret show in the media, and she also hoped that Simon would use his connections in the Westeros system to reverse certain public opinion situations.
Simon noticed this and readily agreed, mainly because by doing so, LTD Company is now part of the community of interests of the Westeros system. In terms of media, LTD Company is also a large advertising sponsor.
In order to make it easier to prepare for the Victoria's Secret show nearby, Simon specially allocated a studio in Universal Studios for the Victoria's Secret team.
In fact, it seems better to choose this studio directly at Daenerys Studios in Malibu. However, the studios in Malibu are now basically used for film shooting, and more than half of them are professional virtual studios used for pre-screen shooting. Only the old sound stages at Universal Studios are still available.
After completing the acquisition of MCA last year, many buildings at Universal Studios will be demolished to build new attractions after reconfiguration. As for the functional studios and post-production centers, they will be mainly used for the production of TV series.
Hollywood film production is increasingly leaning towards live-action shooting. In terms of TV series, studio shooting is still widely used until many years later.
The Victoria's Secret team chose a small studio that is about 45 meters long and 25 meters wide.
As soon as Simon and Grace turned into the corridor where the studio was located, they saw many graceful figures waiting at the entrance of the studio. Those figures obviously saw Simon for the first time, and there was obviously a commotion.
Today is the final round of interviews for Victoria’s Secret Angels.
About 10 of the 40-person Victoria's Secret Angel team have been basically reserved, including the planned five Victoria's Secret Angel spokespersons, as well as several other well-known models who will participate in the Victoria's Secret catwalk but will not serve as spokespersons. The remaining 30 places must be selected from various model agencies.
In order to select a batch of perfect ODY, Simon also put forward very high requirements.
Those who are less than 175cm tall will be eliminated, those whose faces are not pretty enough, those whose steps on stage are not good enough, those who cannot accept the full set of demanding contracts of Victoria's Secret Angels will be eliminated.
The first three conditions are actually very easy to choose.
Only the last one is that for non-famous models to participate in this catwalk, the Victoria's Secret team only gave a salary of US$5,000, which is basically equivalent to a month's salary of a salaryman.
However, once the contract is finalized, the selected models must begin to prepare for the November catwalk show, including further physical exercise, diet control, participating in catwalk rehearsals, and attending media events according to the Victoria's Secret show schedule. In addition, the subsequent TV broadcasts and video sales of this catwalk show have nothing to do with these models.
Of course, for the next four months, additional expenses such as the models’ fitness and transportation will still be borne by Victoria’s Secret.
The modeling industry is all about youth.
Focusing on one thing for up to four months, the results are uncertain, and the pay is pitifully low. These requirements have discouraged many models who have already opened up their careers and are expected to advance to the next level.
The Victoria's Secret team responsible for casting did not make any concessions or demands.
Just like Hollywood actors, the fashion industry is also indispensable for beautiful women.
Moreover, this big show is a grand promotion for the Victoria's Secret brand, and for the models participating in this big show, it is a rare introduction from the fashion circle to the general public. Because the Victoria's Secret brand and Victoria's Secret Angels have a mutually beneficial relationship, Victoria's Secret has also designed a promotion plan specifically for the Victoria's Secret Angels team.
Again, the modeling industry is trying every possible means to catch up with celebrities and play with singers. In the final analysis, it is just for the sake of popularity.
The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show gives a group of models a dazzling platform to stand directly in front of the public.
The two walked to the door of the studio, and a series of proactive greetings suddenly sounded in their ears. Many girls looked at Simon with a bit of eagerness in their eyes. However, probably because there were too many people, until Simon passed through a group of colorful goblins, no one dared to step forward.
Simon also saw many familiar figures in his memory, but it was difficult for this kind of thing to cause any waves in his heart now.
After several rounds of selection in advance, there were a total of 100 candidates for the final 30 places.
There was no room in the waiting area inside the studio, so the queue stretched all the way out the door.
Entering the studio, thousands of square meters of space have been divided into several work areas, including dressing rooms, dressing rooms, and angel costume design and production spaces. In the most spacious space at the far end of the studio, there is a 20-meter-long T stage, where the upcoming auditions will be held.
The audition process was already planned.
Change clothes, go to the T stage to show off your figure, communicate briefly, and then move on to the next step.
Therefore, in just one afternoon, the 100 people were all gone quickly, and many models who were looking forward to 'interacting' with Westeros failed to find any chance.
At six o'clock in the afternoon, in the brightly lit studio, the audition ended, and Simon continued to discuss the 10 reserved spots with the Victoria's Secret preparation team.
Among the five spokespersons, Cindy Crawford was the first. This supermodel who is already biased towards commercialization also immediately accepted the invitation for a three-year endorsement contract with Victoria’s Secret. Of course, the endorsement fee is also high. $5 million over three years. This part of the expenditure is of course the responsibility of Victoria's Secret itself and is not included in the budget of the Victoria's Secret show.
Then, Yasmin Gehry, whom Simon accidentally made famous last year, was the second.
This 'waist essence' was once one of the Victoria's Secret spokespersons in the original timeline. Regardless of her appearance and figure or considering the racial diversity of the spokesperson, Yasmin Gary is a very suitable candidate.
Although there is already Yasmin Gary, a mixed-race Asian, it would be unjustifiable if there are no black people among the five spokespersons. This year, 19-year-old Tyra Banks was selected. This black model has already debuted at the age of 15. For a model, 19 is considered an old age, and the other person is famous enough.
In fact, some people also recommended Naomi Campbell.
Although this black supermodel was fired from the Elite agency last year due to various misdeeds, she is still active in the fashion circle after changing to another agency because of her solid foundation.
However, as we all know, this black supermodel is really difficult to work with. Short-term cooperation is no problem. If it is a long-term endorsement, you can imagine that it will definitely be troublesome.
After Cindy Crawford, Yasmin Gary and Tyra Banks, there were two spots left, and Simon finally selected Helena Christensen and Stephanie Seymour.
Compared with Cindy Crawford's endorsement fee of US$5 million in three years, the endorsement fees of the last four angel spokespersons are exactly the opposite, US$3 million in five years.
In addition to the five spokespersons, the remaining five supermodels who will attend the show are also basically confirmed. They are also some of the most well-known supermodels of this era such as Linda Evangelista and Claudia Schiffer.
The next day is another Friday.
It’s already July 3rd, and this year’s Independence Day holiday happens to fall on Saturday.
As the most popular schedule in July, on July 3rd, a total of three heavy-hitting films were released in North American theaters, namely Daenerys and Warner Bros.'s collaborative project "The Last of the Mohicans" and Disney's sci-fi family comedy "Honey, I Turned the Kids Up" and Paramount Pictures' "Patriot Games."
"A Time to Kill," which opened the week before, ended up with a box office of $23.73 million in its first week.
Due to the subject matter, the opening results were not high, but it met expectations. The key lies in the subsequent box office trend of the film.
Although this Independence Day holiday falls on a Saturday, American salaried workers generally arrange their annual leave during this period, so this period is still popular.
After spending an afternoon preparing for the Victoria's Secret show yesterday, Simon flew to San Francisco again this morning.
After half a year of preparation, Blockbuster’s online platform was launched just in time for the Independence Day holiday. Nancy Brill hopes Simon can attend the launch today.
As the largest video chain in North America and even the world, the launch of 'Blockbuster Online' naturally attracted a large amount of media attention. The conference was also held in the conference hall of the Marriott Hotel in downtown San Francisco.
Simon arrived at the Marriott Hotel and the press conference was about to begin.
After briefly greeting today's guests, everyone began to enter and take their seats.
At 10 o'clock, the press conference officially started.
Blockbuster executives introduced in detail the development process of 'Blockbuster Online', website application process and prospects for online business on the stage. Nancy Brill discussed Blockbuster with Simon in the audience. The problem that Shida is facing at this time.
A few years after taking over Blockbuster, the video chain company now has more than 4,300 chain stores worldwide. Nancy's ultimate goal is to have 5,000 chain stores worldwide, including 3,500 in North America and 1,500 overseas.
This goal will probably be achieved by next year at the latest.
Compared with the scale of Blockbuster's global chain stores of more than 9,000 in the heyday of memory, the 5,000 chain stores seem to have shrunk by half, but now Blockbuster, under the operation of Nancy Brill and the Blockbuster team, Through the continuous optimization of the operating model and warehousing and logistics system, it is stronger than Blockbuster, which was just a scale-seeking company in the past.
However, in Nancy Brill’s view, Blockbuster still faces many problems that need to be changed.