[Chapter 240: Gossip, Ghostwriters]
It was almost five o'clock when Linton stepped out of the foundation office. Considering that Cristiana and Monica were both at the mansion, and Izumi Sakai and Noriko Sakai had also come to Los Angeles and stayed at the estate, Winnie was very understanding. She felt like she had Linton all to herself for several days, so she didn't try to keep him and let him return to the mansion early.
...
"Megan, how's the recruitment for writing talent going?" Linton asked on the car ride back to the mansion, dialing Megan, the office director of Linton Films.
"Eleven people have already signed up. After my initial screening, I've kept six -- three men and three women. When do you want to arrange the interviews?"
"Let's do it tomorrow. The interviews will be held at the film company, which is also where they'll be working and writing."
Linton was a bit surprised so many people had applied for the ghostwriter position. It seemed the job was more attractive than he had imagined.
...
As soon as he returned to the mansion, Izumi Sakai and Noriko Sakai each threw themselves into his arms and kissed him sweetly. "Honey, we missed you so much."
"I missed you too. Let's have dinner first, then we can catch up properly after."
The butler and chef had already prepared a sumptuous dinner.
Izumi Sakai was here to promote her upcoming single Complicated, set for release on October 28th. Universal was very confident in the single, and with Linton's influence, although Izumi was a newcomer to the North American market, the single would be launched at the same level as second-tier singers.
A lot of publicity was arranged, including interviews with various media outlets, appearances on TV variety shows, the single's music video airing on MTV, radio promotions, and more.
After the song's release, she was set for a two-week promotional tour in major U.S. cities.
Noriko Sakai was promoting the upcoming movie Happy Death Day. Although she was only the third female lead, any boost was welcome.
And how could she be left out of the love triangle story the media had just started hyping? Besides, she needed the movie's popularity to raise her own profile and improve her status in Japan.
...
Starting with Hollywood Gossip Daily, rumors about Linton, Cristiana, and Monica spread rapidly, sparking follow-up reports from many entertainment outlets.
Last week, Hollywood Gossip Daily exposed a love triangle between Linton, Cristiana, and Monica, igniting American audiences' enthusiasm.
This week, Hollywood Gossip Daily unveiled shocking news that Linton was dating Cristiana, Monica, and Noriko Sakai simultaneously, even attaching photos of the three women coming and going from Linton's estate within one week.
This wasn't just gossip -- there were pictures and truth behind it. In fact, these photos had been proactively provided by Linton's assistant, Meena.
Soon, all entertainment media couldn't stay silent. They churned out stories, fabricated rumors, and published short essays.
Even TV and radio stations, big and small, tried to capitalize on the buzz. Though unable to interview Linton himself or secure him as a guest, hosts and guests discussed and debated whether Linton was a playboy, a scoundrel, a super idol, or a true talent.
The consequences of this sensational gossip were:
1. Sales of Hollywood Gossip Daily increased dramatically, surpassing 30,000 copies daily -- far exceeding Linton's previous goals. The paper was no longer dying but thriving with energy.
2. Linton's popularity soared. His Starlight Spark growth accelerated, and his fan base expanded. Inevitably, some detractors appeared, harming his reputation slightly.
3. The popularity of Happy Death Day skyrocketed. That afternoon, Linton received a call from Harvey with good news. The cinema chain proactively expanded screenings, with the opening reaching 2,800 theaters and 5,400 screens.
Even midnight screenings had 1,300 theaters participating -- a remarkable feat for a movie with a small budget, no famous director, and no big stars.
4. Cristiana's and Monica's popularity surged. The film hadn't even been released yet, but the two already enjoyed second-tier female star status. The media even dug up their past film experiences and European works.
Reviews were mixed, but everyone agreed on one thing: both were stunning beauties. Even Noriko Sakai gained some momentum.
That evening was filled with joy and sweetness. Cristiana, Monica, Izumi Sakai, and Noriko Sakai were naturally enthusiastic. The singing at the mansion continued nonstop...
---
The next morning, Linton arrived at the film company to interview six ghostwriting candidates.
His interview method was straightforward. He split the candidates into two groups and asked them to write on specified topics within half an hour. There was no word limit; candidates could choose their own background.
The three men formed a group. Using a traditional Hollywood treasure-hunting movie template, two teams simultaneously discover a treasure. They wrote about how the plot developed afterwards.
The three women formed one group, adopting traditional Hollywood female character templates, writing Mary Sue stories from a first-person perspective, where the male lead was obsessed with the female protagonist.
...
While the six wrote, Linton reviewed their backgrounds.
Turns out, these six were talented. All graduated with literature-related majors, though none from Ivy League schools.
They had shown writing talent in school, each publishing at least 20 articles in university and regular newspapers and magazines.
After graduation, they chose to work in writing fields. Some even worked as unsigned Hollywood screenwriters, contributing to scripts.
But reality was harsh. Success couldn't be guaranteed by writing skills alone, whether for novels or screenplays. Their works either struggled to find publishers or failed quietly after release.
Though aware that ghostwriters for Linton wouldn't earn credit or copyrights, they all joined willingly for the generous salary.
...
Half an hour passed quickly. Linton asked them to wait in the conference room, then read their six submissions.
Everyone showed good writing skills, producing quality pieces. He selected two that suited his taste best.
The male writer, Eddie Camille, included fight scenes for treasures as well as political schemes and tactics, adding richness, elevating his work beyond the others.
The female writer, Rosa Spier, specialized in Mary Sue plots.
Mary Sue heroines were a popular trend in Hollywood, with the most successful example being Julia Roberts. Her role as a call girl who drove rich men crazy in love was even more cliche than some classic soap operas, but audiences loved it.
Negotiations followed with Eddie Camille and Rosa Spear.
They would write based on outlines provided by Linton, earning $1,000 weekly, with bonuses for on-time completion and successful publishing.
Their workplace was at Linton Films. Linton prepared small offices with computers for each.
To encourage high-quality work, Linton dangled the carrot: "Finish five books that impress me, and I'll hire you as a screenwriter at Linton Films with credit rights."
Though ghostwriter pay was decent, completing three novels successfully in a year would yield over $100,000 annually -- far exceeding most writers' incomes.
The catch was no career prospects. But screenwriter positions were the dream for Hollywood writers.
Eddie and Rosa immediately brightened up. "Boss, when do we start?"
"If you have agents or lawyers, bring them this afternoon to sign contracts. If you don't, that's fine -- I can provide endorsement lawyers."
They both said, "Okay, see you this afternoon."
*****
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