Chapter 707: When Will We Start Shooting?

[Chapter 707: When Will We Start Shooting?]

Women always had a knack for causing a scene, especially beautiful women.

With Eric's approval, Cindy Crawford and the others promptly entered the changing room behind them to put on their sexy bikinis. Red wine, drinks, and snacks were gradually gathered onto the terrace, and the women even brought out the sound system from the living room. As music started playing, the terrace turned into a mini party.

In late March, Los Angeles' temperature barely climbed to around 20 degrees Celsius, not exactly ideal for swimming. However, for women who cared about their appearance, temperature was never an issue.

Eric lounged lazily on a poolside chair, watching five gorgeous women frolicking in the pool, and he was very much enjoying himself.

After a while, Linda Evangelista swam over to Eric, propping herself up on the pool's edge, eyeing Eric, who still wore his shirt and pants, and said, "Eric, why don't you join us?"

Eric looked at her elegantly androgynous face from the short cut she sported and replied with a smile, "Do you have goldfish at home?"

Linda rested her chin on her smooth arm and shook her head in confusion. "Not at home, but Christy likes to have them."

Eric gestured towards the other stunning women in the pool, a mischievous grin on his face. "What do you think would happen if you put a shark in a goldfish bowl?"

Seeing Linda's movement, the other four women swam over, arranging themselves at the pool's edge in a row, just in time to hear Eric's comment. Amid their giggles, Cindy Crawford shot him a teasing glance, "Mr. Shark, you could come down and see if you can eat us."

Eric didn't expect her to be so bold; the implication was rather clear.

After calculating the time, he shook his head. "Not now, I have a guest at ten."

Cindy and the others looked puzzled since Diane Kruger had been by Eric's side last night. "Is it that Alan Hasenfeld?" she inquired.

"Yes, it is," Eric nodded. However, with the Transformers rights being a complicated matter, he didn't want to discuss it further and switched the topic. "Aren't you all attending the Oscars the day after tomorrow? How are the preparations going?"

The women realized Eric was steering the conversation away and wisely refrained from asking more questions. Linda said, "We're already set; honestly, I never thought I'd have a day on the Oscars stage."

As they chatted, noticing that Eric had no intention of jumping in the pool, the women decided to get out.

Eric admired the stunning bodies in front of him and thoughtfully handed each of them a towel to dry off. Once they dried off, he arranged the lounges on either side of him. The warm sun close to ten o'clock felt very comfortable, and the women quickly relaxed, resembling cats basking in their owner's affection.

Eric strolled over to the sound system to change to a more soothing playlist. Returning to his chair, he asked, "After the Oscars, what's next for you all?"

"Whatever the agency offers, we'll take it. However, up until September, we'll mostly be free," said Linda, who was lounging to Eric's left. "September is going to be busy with the four major fashion weeks and the Victoria's Secret Show, and then it'll get slow again until the fall/winter shows next February or March."

Cindy, unable to snag a spot next to Eric, leaned over from her position between the other women and asked, "Eric, do you have any job opportunities for us?"

To maintain the Victoria's Secret Angels' visibility, apart from the fashion show, Firefly Group continually provided them with media exposure opportunities. This was a primary reason why becoming a Victoria's Secret Angel had become highly competitive in the modeling world. However, these opportunities paled in comparison to what Eric could offer directly. So, sensing what Eric hinted at, Cindy eagerly inquired.

Eric certainly didn't disappoint, saying, "Yeah, when I was preparing for the Victoria's Secret Show last year, I started thinking about this. In short, it's a reality competition for models, where contestants face various challenges to compete for an invaluable Victoria's Secret Angel contract."

Diane remarked, "It sounds similar to the model competitions our agency hosts, doesn't it?"

"Not quite," Eric shook his head. "What I envision isn't just a competition; it's a reality show. If it's a show, we need to showcase what draws the audience in. My plan is to choose a well-established supermodel as the host, invite some well-known fashion figures as judges, and create various fun yet professional challenges each episode, using a competitive elimination format to crown a champion who earns the contract."

After Eric finished, Tyra Banks chimed in, "Are you saying it's like Survivor?"

Eric looked at Tyra with interest and nodded, smiling. "Exactly, just like Survivor."

Watching the excitement blossom in the women's eyes, Eric doused their enthusiasm slightly, stating, "However, this is a more professional reality show, and its ratings surely won't compare to Survivor."

Christy Turlington asked, "So, Eric, what kind of ratings do you think this... reality show will get?"

Eric shook his head. "I can't guarantee anything. No one can accurately predict a show's ratings until it airs."

Cindy followed up, "Will it air on ABC?"

"No," Eric replied. "Every TV show has a specific target audience. ABC mostly broadcasts shows for all ages. This... let's call it the America's Next Top Model for now, will target young viewers aged 16 to 28, especially women interested in fashion. Once produced, Firefly will sell the show to networks like UPN, WB, or MTV that cater to younger audiences."

The America's Next Top Model would likely air on the UPN and later CW, which was formed when Paramount's UPN and Warner's WB merged. However, even if history remained unchanged, that show would still debut a decade later.

Cindy, who had hosted a fashion program called House of Style on MTV a few years earlier, understood the state of those networks. Even if their ratings were generally low, their concentrated audience made them attractive to advertisers targeting specific demographics. Therefore, their hit shows also turned out to be quite profitable.

If the America's Next Top Model could achieve Survivor-level ratings on these niche TV networks, the show would undoubtedly create a stir. Securing the hosting spot would not only bring in substantial pay but also elevate her status to the top in the industry thanks to the exposure from such a reality show.

Reflecting on Eric's earlier mention of selecting a well-regarded supermodel as the host, Cindy's eyes sparkled with a hint of wariness as she glanced at Linda Evangelista beside her.

If there was anyone with the most seniority in the supermodel circle, it was undoubtedly Linda Evangelista. She was recognized as the first supermodel in the fashion world, while Christy Turlington's credentials appeared to surpass Linda's. Even though Tyra Banks and Diane Kruger seemed less competitive on the surface, it was uncertain what Eric might decide; after all, if he chose Tyra or Diane as the host, no one could stop him.

Cindy's thoughts ran deep, and the expressions of the other women reflected subtle changes as well.

Eric, oblivious to the shift in mood among the women, continued with enthusiasm, "While the America's Next Top Model won't compete with shows like Survivor or Who Wants to Be a Millionaire for viewership ratings, its production costs will also be very low. Most expenses will be for the host and judges' fees, and the shooting locations won't be particularly demanding. My rough estimate is that once we find our footing with the network, turning a profit through broadcast rights, tape sales, and international licensing will be quite easy. Moreover, the beauty of such a low-cost reality show is that as long as there's a market, we could keep producing season after season, whether it's ten, twenty, or even thirty seasons."

Hearing Eric's words, the hearts of the five women raced almost in unison.

The short-lived careers of models had always been a pressing dilemma for their community. Usually, even supermodels would begin to fade away once they hit thirty, replaced by fresh faces, regardless of how stunning they still were. Landing a hosting role on a long-running reality show meant securing a stable position, akin to holding an iron rice bowl. Even if the pay wasn't astronomically high, they could maintain their fame and continue earning through other avenues.

Eric took a few sips of juice, about to say more when the intercom on the wall beeped, signaling that Alan Hasenfeld had arrived.

Eric exchanged a few words over the intercom and turned to the lounging women. "You all keep enjoying yourselves. I'll go meet the guest."

Cindy quickly offered, "Eric, do you need me to help entertain him?"

"No, it's okay," Eric waved her off.

The women understood that Eric preferred them not to know too much about the Transformers matter, so they didn't press further.

However, the moment Eric stepped through the glass door, leaving, the atmosphere on the terrace turned noticeably colder.

Brief glances exchanged between the five women revealed the undercurrent of subtle hostility. There could only be one host for the America's Next Top Model. The reason they had managed to maintain a facade of camaraderie leaned heavily on their standing as Victoria's Secret representatives, as their current statuses were relatively equal.

But if one of them were to seize the role of host on the America's Next Top Model, that delicate balance would likely shatter in an instant.

...

Alan Hasenfeld parked in front of the Liberty City Shell villa and stepped out, taking in his surroundings, especially the villa that had been frequently joked about by the media as an alien spacecraft after last year's Men in Black. He gazed at it with envy.

While Hasbro was valued at two billion dollars, like many long-established companies, it had morphed into a publicly traded entity over half a century of development. Although the Hasenfeld family still controlled the toy company, they were no longer the majority shareholders. Their family wealth stood at merely five to six hundred million. Alan's personal fortune was even less than a hundred million, making it just a matter of light envy as he beheld this dream villa coveted by many wealthy individuals.

Perhaps this financial disparity subtly drained Alan's confidence, leaving him feeling somewhat unsettled about the upcoming negotiations regarding the Transformers rights.

As the villa door opened, Alan spotted Eric approaching and quickly went to meet him.

The two exchanged greetings, and Eric led him inside the villa, directly to the study.

Once seated on the sofa, Alan observed Eric going over to make coffee and remarked, "Eric, why not let the servant do that?"

"Ah, I prefer peace and quiet, and I'm not used to having people hovering around. So usually, they stay outside and don't come in unless needed."

Everyone has their unique preferences. Hearing Eric say this, Alan nodded slightly and didn't ask further.

Once the coffee was ready and poured for the two, Eric sat down on the sofa. "So, Alan, let's get straight to the point. What are Hasbro's final terms for collaborating on Transformers?"

"Uh..." Alan hesitated, putting down his coffee cup as he paused for a moment before saying, "Eric, regarding what you said last night, I want to ask first. If Transformers is handed over to Firefly, when can you officially start filming?"

*****

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