Hollywood Domination Chapter 48: The rise of a white lotus

"It's such a pity." Lilian complained on the phone, "If it weren't for the inconvenient shift that month, I could have seen your premiere. But now it's really hard to find a chance to go back to New York. It's a bit difficult."

Lilian is still on rotation, so sometimes she is relatively free, and sometimes when she rotates to a busy department, she even squeezes out the time to drink water. In the past few months, she has been in the emergency room, and she is basically overloaded. Even if you want to go back to New York to see the show, you have to wait until you leave the emergency room.

"It's okay, I will continue to perform until July," Jenny said, "You still have five months to go, just call me a few days in advance, otherwise it will be difficult to arrange tickets."

"I've heard what Chesa said." Lilian's laughter came through the microphone, "Your box office is so popular that even he has to get tickets in advance, and there are only two tickets for one game."

"This is already the result of him asking James to get the tickets." Jenny said helplessly, "Now there are only two last-minute reception tickets left in the audience, even if I want to book tickets, I can only book them half a month in advance Say hello above. Otherwise, you can only get a standing ticket."

"Chicago" has been on for more than a month, and Jenny has gradually become accustomed to the rhythm of one performance per day. "Chicago" is staged six days a week, two of which have afternoon shows, but Jenny does not act. Group rotation. She is only in charge of the evening show.

If you want to get tickets for the afternoon show, it doesn't matter, as many as you want, Jenny and Cesare can easily get a dozen tickets, but now the evening show is really hard to find, on Yahoo It even cost thousands of dollars—the first-class ticket price in the theater is 700 dollars, which is actually not low. In the off-season, it is often sold out, and discounts will be released on the day, but now? A phone call to book a ticket requires a few or even dozens of first-class seats. The theater sells tickets half a month in advance, and now audiences call to reserve first-class seats every day after midnight, which will not exceed half an hour. , The first-class seats will be sold out, and even some crazy fans will go to the ticket office at the door to queue up after seeing this show, and buy tickets directly after waiting for an hour or two.

Such a hot box office can be said to be an anomaly in Broadway, which is still deeply affected by 9/11. " and so on are even worse, and the current situation is that if you are lucky, you can still buy the remaining tickets for "Cats" on TKTS, but it is impossible to buy discounted tickets for "Chicago". On the afternoon of the ticketing day, even standing tickets will be sold out.

"This is a good thing." Lilian could tell that she was very happy for Jenny, "I heard Chesa talk about the grand event in the back alley, my dear, you are becoming a big shot."

"I don't know how to go out now." Jenny covered her face and collapsed on the sofa, "I mean, I can handle fifty people, but one hundred, two hundred? I don't have that many Time, but if I only sign a few people, it's not fair to the rest."

Maybe because of her kind style, maybe because of her outstanding performance but low-key style, the audience has no way to get to know her except in musicals, so more and more fans are waiting in the back alley after the performance, Jenny is now You can only stay in the backstage to rest after the performance, and wait until after 12 o'clock, and the ticket office will issue tickets before taking the opportunity to leave. ——now, she fully understood why Cesare said she needed an assistant, and it would be difficult for her to leave the theater safely without her new assistant, Mary, watching over her and driving to the parking lot.

"Don't tell me you're complaining about your popularity." Lilian said with a laugh, "Honey, I have to say, it's a bit hypocritical."

Jenny also laughed, "Well, then I'll tell you honestly, I'm poor and happy enjoying my exhausted fame process, at least I'm lucky enough, in Los Angeles and New York, there are thousands This girl is as tired and poor as me, but not as famous as me."

"Yeah, Baby, that's the correct tone." Lilian said jokingly, "When you **** a little more, you'll be a qualified troupe top performer."

"Oh, you've already heard from Chesa?" Jenny stood up reluctantly and began to choose her outing clothes for today, "Yes, I guess she won't last long, if all goes well, maybe In a few days, the tabloids will publish some gossip news such as 'The fight for the top card? J.J.J forced Velma's top actor away'."

"Then I hope they at least choose a beautiful photo for you to use as a picture." Lilian chuckled and ended the call, "My afternoon tea time is coming to an end, we'll talk next time, bye."

After picking up the line, Jenny started to change clothes quickly and did simple makeup. Now she seldom goes out without makeup. Occasionally, if she does not wear makeup, she will put on a hat and sunglasses professionally—she is really I understand more and more why most stars in the showbiz wear sunglasses to cover their faces at airports and other places. It is actually a kind of professional attitude not to let photos of bare makeup flow out.

When she was ready, her assistant Mary also came downstairs, drove the Audi A6 leased by Jenny from the building's own parking lot for her, and called Jenny. The doorman of the building said hello - this is also a position that only high-end apartments can have. After getting into the car, Mary handed a box of packed salad to Jenny, "Here, it's still Mario's salad without vinaigrette."

"Thank you." Jenny opened the box and started eating on the passenger seat. The slightly chubby Mary glanced at her, shook her head, and said with emotion, "I don't understand why you can insist on eating this kind of food for three meals a day-I think that's why I'm driving you now , dear Jenny."

In fact, she is also very beautiful, but she is relatively stocky. After graduating from high school, she encountered obstacles in Hollywood and New York, but she was unwilling to give up and go back to college. Sometimes even this kind of work is rejected. In order to supplement her living expenses, she works part-time in the morning and works as a short-term assistant in the evening, so that she can earn more money for her to live on when she goes back to perform experimental dramas next time.

Jenny just smiled and didn't want to provoke Mary anymore. In fact, if it weren't for Dave's opportunity last year, she would probably be living the same life as Mary now, balancing back and forth between part-time jobs and dramas, and waiting hard. With slim chances.

It was not far from the building she rented on the Upper West Side of Manhattan to Broadway. Jenny got off the car at the entrance of the theater, and Mary drove the car to the parking lot for her. Before she walked into the theater, a motorcycle drove up beside the staff passage, and a reporter got off the car and greeted her with a familiar smile. "Hey Jenny, can I have a smile?"

Roxy's success changed almost every aspect of Jenny's life. These great changes almost all happened within a month. She didn't even know how to sum it up, nor did she know why these phenomena happened. Fans gathering in the back alley waiting for autographs, changes in the attitudes of troupe members, interview invitations pouring in like snowflakes, and drama critics constantly appearing-these are all changes she expected, but the appearance of paparazzi even Judy I didn't expect it at all. In her words, "Your popularity is gathering much faster than we thought."

Of course, there are not many paparazzi who will come to take pictures of her now, and they are not waiting around the clock. There are only two people who show up intermittently when she arrives at the theater in the afternoon to take one or two pictures. Jenny suspects that they should be bribed The security guard, who knew her daily rehearsal time, was able to appear so accurately.

"Good afternoon, Tom." She also sent a working smile. ——The courses that Cesare arranged for her are gradually showing their effects. Jenny found her most beautiful camera angle and smile arc under the guidance of the teacher in the facial expression class, and continued to do so under the teacher's request Repeat the practice, and now she can easily give anyone a photo business smile.

"Ah, you remember my name." Tom exclaimed happily, "Have you had a good time these days? I heard that there is going to be a personnel change in the troupe."

Familiarity is a must-have skill for paparazzi. When Judy knew that a paparazzi came to photograph her, she specially set aside 15 precious minutes to teach her the key to dealing with paparazzi: be friendly, but don't talk too much.

Friendly, because the paparazzi hold the power of life and death to choose street photos after all. If there are a group of paparazzi deliberately choosing ugly photos for publication for a long time, it will be a big blow to personal image. ——Many times, in order to create an image of a fashion icon, PR will actively contact magazines and release a batch of street photos with effects comparable to blockbuster movies. This is the power of the media in this era.

As for not talking too much, it is of course because among the paparazzi, a word can become news. As if she didn't hear Tom's words clearly, Jenny gave him a questioning expression, and quickly entered the staff channel.

"Hi, Jennifer." Countless greetings immediately overwhelmed her, and Jenny responded to each one with a working smile.

Her work schedule is actually very fixed. She comes to do simple rehearsals and warm-ups at 3 pm every day, adjusts her state, reviews her moves, accepts the teacher's guidance, and then waits for the performance to begin at 8 pm. For performances in fixed theaters, the whole team will get in touch soon after the premiere, and there is no need to rehearse with makeup every day, so it is actually a little easier than the preparation period. But today, because of the afternoon performance, the rehearsal room will not be vacated until four o'clock, and Jenny has received a notice to come early, so she will eat in the car

"The performance in the afternoon went well." After encouraging Amos from group B who was about to take the stage, she turned to the manager's office and knocked lightly on the door.

"James, what do you want me to do?"

"Hi." James returned an exaggerated smile, and he pulled her into the room, "Come, meet Ann Benson."

"Hi, Ann." Jenny showed a warm... working smile to the Latin beauty in front of her. "I've been looking forward to it for a long time, and I finally see you."

This is not a polite word, she has heard about Ann Benson for a long time.

If you want to say which is more professional in the West End of London or Broadway, this question cannot be answered clearly in one sentence or two, but there is a big difference between the British show business circle and the American side. First of all-the British side is much poorer There is almost no film industry in the UK, and the most important TV station, the BBC, is state-run and not profitable. It is conceivable that its remuneration level is definitely not comparable to that of Hollywood TV series, so musicals are more attractive in the UK than in the UK. The United States is much stronger. The most intuitive manifestation is that on Broadway, you can hardly see handsome men and beautiful women. Girls who are really outstanding in appearance and good in singing and dancing either want to be in Hollywood or in the music industry. Few people are willing to sing on Broadway. But in the West End of London, it is not uncommon to see outstanding musical and stage actors, such as Catherine Zeta Jones, who was born in musical theater.

James stayed in London for two full weeks. Soon after he returned to New York, Jenny heard about Ann Benson. It was said that she was Velma at the Cambridge Theatre. It was the cameo opportunity in Hollywood that lured her to audition. As for the result, judging from James' current behavior, of course, there is no need to say more.

"Hi." Ann also greeted her friendly, "I'm looking forward to working with you too, Jennifer, I've seen your show, and I have to say, you are one of the people I signed the contract with." Big reason.”

She is younger and more beautiful than Dietrich, and if she can pass the committee to become the new Group A Wilma, her professional strength should be at least stronger than that of Dietrich, and judging from her words, Ann has a great deal of confidence in her professional quality. Confident, not afraid to 'fight' with her.

Jenny is not afraid to accept the challenge, and she also welcomes Ann's arrival, because it means that Dietrich will be fired. "Then I have to work harder. If I'm not careful, the drama critic's sweetheart will soon be replaced."

Ann smiled at her, and James hurriedly reminded, "We advocate healthy competition, girls, please remember this."

Although Group B was using the large rehearsal room, James was clearly prepared. They were taken to the small rehearsal hall that Jenny used before, and Jenny and Ann had a few scenes. She quickly affirmed that Ann's self-confidence was definitely not without reason. Maybe it was because the competition in the UK was more intense, or maybe Ann was really talented. Her talent in "drama" was much higher than that of Dietrich, at least she could do To keep up with Jenny's performance, it will not be out of touch. As for the singing and dancing part, although the voice is not as thick and high-pitched as Dietrich's, the skill part is also remarkable.

"After tonight's performance, I will fire Dietrich." The rehearsal time for Group A is approaching, and Jenny left Ann to continue practicing, and she and James left to go to the big rehearsal room. Ask, "Would you like to stay and watch?"

"Are you flattering me?" Jenny asked.

James shrugged, "You do seem to want to point at her and laugh at her when she's unlucky—I think it's a way of venting your anger."

Jenny is eager to tell James **** for tat, but it won't make her feel much better about him. ——If James had called Dietrich to fire on the day he found out the truth, then she would have been willing to watch on the sidelines, but compared to 'being punished by justice for doing something wrong', Dietrich now feels more like The victim of capitalist exploitation (a bit outrageous, but she really thinks so), watching all this and laughing at it can only make Jenny feel that she is an accomplice of James, a utilitarian, and stupid - too stupid to understand herself After losing the value of use, they will be kicked out so mercilessly, and even the tragedy of being kicked out will be used as the last resource to please the new strong.

"Thank you for your low evaluation of my personality." After all, she couldn't hold back, and replied with a stick, but soon regretted it.

If Jenny's own temper is to be followed, she is not afraid to speak coldly to James now, because James has invited Ann with a high salary. Given the cost he paid for this play, he will definitely promote them to the Tony Awards , strive to use the Tony Award to drive the box office in the six months of next year. So no matter how much she ridicules, she should not change his approach. But Cesare's warning is like a nasty ghost, always echoing in his ears at inappropriate times: this circle relies on connections, and although she seems to be less and less needed, James' favor is in a certain situation. Time may play an unexpected role.

"But, even if you have such a low evaluation of my personality, you are still willing to take care of my vulgar desire for revenge," she abruptly turned the sarcasm just now, with a perfect working smile and warmth A warm thank you. "Thank you for taking care of me, James."

Her efforts were not in vain. After a month of absence, James' cuteness came out again.

"Just keep this in mind: I could have had her as Team B Velma." He winked exaggeratedly at Jenny, "but because of you, she was reduced to getting fired, and I Will tell some curious little ear that she got fired for cocaine addiction.”

There are very few actors who have never touched contraband, but very few filmmakers like actors who can use contraband. There is no need to explain the reason, and everyone can understand it. Drug addiction is a very huge penalty point, and Dietrich's journey on Broadway is destined to be more difficult.

"Should I say thank you?" Jenny asked halfheartedly.

"I think a kiss would be a decent return." James gave her a 'Mua' across the air.

Jenny felt slightly disgusted. She was sure that her arrow towards James had been almost ruined by his performance. This does not mean that she despised James' character, but Jenny absolutely She doesn't have any "heart to heart" skills, she is very standard self-centered, no matter how many reasons he has, James' statement in the cocaine and peanut oil incident has made her put him in the group that cannot be friends.

"What about your 'don't date actors' policy?" she coped absently.

"I think what we agreed on was 'I'll ask you out when the play is successful,'" James shrugged, "and it seems to me that we're making it."

Jenny could feel the tension under his hippie smile, and she knew that James was also re-testing her attitude towards him.

She was still reluctant, however, compared to the previous trial, the tone of the relationship between the two had changed greatly. This time, Jenny was completely free to care about his reaction after being rejected.

"You call this success?" She didn't say it directly, but ended his silent inquiry with a question. "Honey, we haven't even got a Tony yet."

Pushing open the door, she smiled at James and entered the rehearsal room.

#

This time the routine rehearsal was very loose, and many actors stretched and whispered while looking at Dietrich. Jenny was not surprised by this: in the troupe, gossip always spreads. Soon, someone should have seen Ann walking out of the manager's office with her just now.

However, under the supervision of the teacher, nothing dramatic happened. After the rehearsal was successfully concluded, everyone dispersed for dinner, except for Jenny - since you have an assistant, make the most of what you have, and Mary will drive to the nearby health food store to buy organic chicken salad for her.

Dietrich also stayed behind. She seemed to have encountered difficulties packing her carry-on bag. She squatted on the ground for a long time, and when everyone had cleared up, she straightened up and walked to Jenny, seemingly asking casually. "So, you saw the new Velma at James' place?"

The two of them have always maintained a friendly relationship on the surface, and have not talked about the "suppression" problem pointed out in the drama review, but they did talk less and less after the show started. This is the first time that Dietrich has been in a few days Talk to her.

Jenny took a few glances at her and felt that Dietrich actually knew her own fate well—maybe she had anticipated this day after the premiere, so now she behaved quite dignifiedly, at least calmly.

It was her time to choose, Jenny realized, and she could just tell Dietrich: 'You don't act like you're going to be enough to induce me to do drugs for this role, or frame me for allergies. And yes, I met the new Velma, she's a hundred times better than you, and you're going to be fired, citing drug addiction as an excuse, and never getting a new job. It's all because you dared to plot against me, **** revenge, Bitch. ’

She can also choose the second option - acting ignorant, avoiding the real reason she was fired (her dislike), not talking about the real reason Dietrich thought (being suppressed), using 'Cesare's method' to deal with it all.

The first kind of face-slapping is straightforward and very cool, the second kind of slap in the face is a bit like a night walk, but it is good for PR, and Jenny doesn't need a former colleague who will talk nonsense about the paparazzi at this stage.

"Be proud of yourself, Cesare." Jenny thought, and secretly decided that she would never admit this to Cesare, "Your training of me was indeed successful."

"Oh, I don't know..." she said in a 'panic', avoiding Dietrich's eyes, "James didn't say anything, just introduced Ann to me..."

Dietrich nodded and said calmly, "I understand."

She threw the backpack over her shoulder, gave Jenny a complicated look, then turned and walked out. Jenny chased after her and walked out of the rehearsal room with her, her tone was very sincere, "Dietrich, I can only say that I am sorry--I would like you to stay if I could, really--it's just that some things are not me I can decide, I didn't expect them to say that-"

Several colleagues passed by them and looked at them with interest.

Dietrich finally interrupted Jenny at the door of the dressing room, her tone was a little impatient, "I know—I know—"

Although she didn't say it clearly, the words 'Why you stupid girl are so lucky' are written on her face, Jenny can also imagine Dietrich's mood now, after she has done so much to keep her job , and now she still has to lose her job, which of course makes her very disappointed, but on the other hand, she has been tricked twice by her (although both of them were unsuccessful due to 'coincidence'), but Jenny has not found anything yet, and she still treats her as a good friend , undoubtedly gave her a sense of superiority mixed with a guilty conscience. On the one hand, she felt that Jenny was really stupid, and on the other hand, she would be unbalanced because of "stupid girls are always lucky", and then mixed with the fear and irritability of losing her job , forming her peculiar impatient attitude now.

But no matter what, it's always hard to really hate or hate a stupid person, especially when she hasn't done anything wrong (too stupid to make mistakes) and is just doing her job well. The possibility that Dietrich would talk nonsense with reporters should not be high.

The'stupid girl' sniffed and stopped talking——she looked at Dietrich for a few seconds, and finally couldn't bear it any longer. She stepped forward and hugged her, expressing her true feelings, "I will miss you, Honey, really, I will miss you."

Even though Dietrich's face cannot be seen at all, Jenny can feel that she must be rolling her eyes now. She tightens her arms and writes down a few notes in her heart:

1 I will confirm with James later that when I fire her, I will only say that it is the committee's decision, and don't mention cocaine, so as not to make Dietrich suspicious.

2... Well, sometimes, it's cool to be a white lotus Bitch...

The author has something to say: Note: Ann Benson is my fictional character. But it is true that the BBC is a state-run television station.

---------

Second update

Are you satisfied with Dietrich's curtain call XD