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Chapter 89 - Chapter 89

Behind The Spotlight Chapter 89

Negotiating with Vanessa Yajiro was fruitful, and now Jennifer had a chance to explore a career in hosting.

However, Collin was still skeptical and uncertain about the path he was setting for her.

The talent he saw above Jennifer's head read "Talkshow King." That meant Jennifer's talent likely leaned toward hosting talk shows and conducting one-on-one interviews. Yeah, a bit redundant, but you get the gist.

The job Collin found for Jennifer involved hosting a singing contest on primetime television. He wasn't sure if Jennifer's talent would apply in that setting, since talk shows and singing competitions required different kinds of charisma.

Collin couldn't find any talk shows where Jennifer could properly use her talent. Because of that, he had no choice but to improvise. He heard from Arnold that one of the executives knew a director who was about to start a singing contest project for a major TV network.

Since Jennifer couldn't land any roles despite multiple auditions, Collin decided to look outside the film industry and expand her opportunities.

He reached out to Vanessa, and the negotiation was successful after a series of back-and-forth conditions.

Although he didn't agree with Vanessa's principles, especially regarding professionalism, Collin had no choice but to tolerate it for Jennifer's sake. He was never a fan of the casting couch. Having once been a model himself, he had firsthand experience with how demeaning it could be. But that was Vanessa's way, and this time, he had to let it slide.

Collin decided to call Jennifer to talk about her next step.

'If Jennifer doesn't want to become a talk show host, then I'll respect her opinion as her agent and as her friend. I'll probably be sad, but I'll do my best to help her find a place in the film industry, where she originally dreamed of shining.'

It was up to Jennifer whether to let go of her dream of becoming a Hollywood actress and embrace a different kind of stardom.

He called the potty-mouthed woman.

"Hello, Jennifer. I found an audition for you, but it's a little different this time. Remember our conversation? When I said you have talent in hosting, I meant it, with all honesty and professional instinct. Why don't you try auditioning for a hosting job?"

-- Collin, if you think I have talent, then I guess I'll try it since I trust your judgment. What's the address and schedule? What kind of show will it be?

On the phone, Jennifer sounded skeptical but agreed after a moment of thought. She knew she was getting older, and that was the biggest reason productions were reluctant to cast her despite her looks and experience.

Contrary to what Collin thought, Jennifer was actually comfortable with the idea of hosting, as long as it kept her in the spotlight. She was flexible. That was one reason she never lost hope, even after getting scammed by her first agency. A dark chapter in her life.

"You're not against it?"

-- Do I look like I'm desperate to be an actress? Collin, there are many ways to be famous. Being an actress is just one of them. What I want is fame, money, and the power that comes with it. If this hosting job can help me get there, then I have no problem taking that route.

"That's great to hear. The show you're auditioning for is a singing competition. The address is… and you need to be there three days from now at exactly 10 AM. The director and producer will meet you."

-- Wow, you really set this up well. You planned it in advance, huh?

"I have a friend who helped recommend you to the show as a strong candidate."

Well, "friend" was an exaggeration. Collin and Vanessa weren't even close. But he had no intention of explaining that to Jennifer, who probably wouldn't care anyway.

-- Thanks, Collin. I appreciate it. I'll do my best at the audition and show them what I've got.

"You don't want me to go with you? Maybe you're nervous."

-- Nah, I don't need you hovering around like a helicopter parent. Fuck that. That would be uncomfortable. Besides, I know you're busy with other clients.

"Well," Collin chuckled. He still had to negotiate Lawrence and Axel's salaries and that alone would take days.

......

...

...

Three days later, Collin received a call from Jennifer earlier than expected.

-- I got the job on the spot after my audition.

"Really?" Collin was surprised, caught off guard by how fast the result came.

-- Why are you acting like I was going to fail?

"Because all your auditions have been failures until now."

-- Fuck off, Collin. Anyway, they agreed to make me the host. And about the salary, don't fight for more. I'm already satisfied just getting the job and making a name in this new field. I think this show is going to be a hit.

"You really think so?"

-- Yeah. This singing competition is unique, unlike anything I've seen before. Instead of traveling across the country to host auditions, singers will perform in the studio. Four famous music artists will act as coaches. If a coach likes the singer's voice, they'll smash a button and their chair will turn around to see the performer's face. It creates suspense and excitement. I'll explain more when we meet in person.

"Yeah, I think so too."

Collin had never heard of a show like that, with blind auditions and spinning chairs. Maybe it really was something new and revolutionary.

-- The title of the show is The Singing Voice.

"Okay. They didn't do anything bad to you, right?"

-- Collin, haha. If that happened, I'd never accept the job. You know how much I hate that kind of thing.

......

...

...

Just like that, July 1997 arrived, and Collin was neck-deep in work with barely any rest.

First, there was Lawrence's salary for Trapping the Parents. Collin successfully negotiated an $8 million paycheck for Lawrence after four days of discussions. This was a huge upgrade from his previous $1.5 million salary for Passionate Island.

As of July, Passionate Island had grossed over $902 million worldwide, breaking box office records in multiple countries. Hollywood was stunned. The movie's performance was outstanding, even Sonya-Collapse Studio was thrilled. They hadn't expected such results from a film directed by a TV director and starring a relatively unknown actor.

Naturally, Lawrence received a $2 million bonus straight from the studio's profit share. Sonya-Collapse Studio was so satisfied that they hoped to work with him again on another blockbuster in the future.

It was no wonder Lawrence could now command an $8 million salary. He was incredibly famous, with a growing fanbase and relentless media coverage. It was obvious he had box office appeal. Many fans even watched Passionate Island in theaters more than once.

Collin finalized the contract and earned an 8% commission on Lawrence's new salary, while his team and agency took the remaining 7%, as per their internal arrangement.

That meant Collin earned $640,000 in cold, hard cash. A sweet reward for the talent agent who once struggled to pay rent. Investing in Lawrence had been one of the best decisions of his life.

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[Thank you guys for the support.]

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