[Chapter 132: Shania's Reward and Step Up 2 Begins Filming]
Shania wrapped up her month-and-a-half North American promotional tour on January 7. Although the promotion significantly boosted both her popularity and the success of her songs, making sales skyrocket, it had been exhausting for her.
She had promised Linton she'd reward him as soon as she returned, but she was too worn out. Once back in Los Angeles, she was completely drained.
She spent the night resting at her rented villa, and only the next morning did she regain her strength. The first thing she did was call Linton, inviting him for an evening together.
...
Considering they hadn't seen each other for almost three months, Linton thought it was the right time to reconnect. Plus, with Shania's rising fame, he expected to gain some benefits from their time together to boost his own cultivation.
However, since the film crew already had Jennifer and Catherine for nightly games, having Shania at the set didn't seem suitable. He asked her to come to his estate instead.
...
After finishing that day's shooting, Linton stayed to review the day's shoot with the director team. He then assigned Michael and Ryan to check the next day's filming schedule and preparations. After greeting Jennifer and Catherine, he headed back to his estate.
...
Shania was already waiting for him, having gone shopping during the day to prepare various props. Upon meeting, their passion ignited instantly. She threw herself into Linton's arms, holding him tightly, and planted passionate kisses.
After their intense embrace, Linton carried her up to the third floor. Soon, their fervent intimacy filled the entire space, accompanied by soft, melodious singing.
Shania was ecstatic, almost like living a dream. It had been less than a year since she met Linton, and her career had already taken off. Her single had climbed to number three on the Billboard charts, and she was about to enter the international market, reaching the level of a top-tier female singer.
She kept her promise wholeheartedly, using all sorts of props -- costume changes, stockings, and more. Their passionate sessions were endless yet invigorating.
...
During their time together, Linton noticed Shania's fame had skyrocketed, nearly rivaling Winona's, which significantly accelerated his ability progress. To help her ease fatigue and maintain stamina, he generously shared a lot of his energy essence with her.
...
The next day, Shania rested at Linton's estate, spending the day relaxing and exercising to recharge, looking forward to their private time when Linton returned from the set at night.
However, her rest only lasted two days before her manager pulled her into commercial gigs. Taking advantage of her current high popularity, these performances paid well and helped solidify her fame. Usually, singers earn most from gigs and endorsements rather than from royalties, except for top stars like Michael Jackson, Linton, and Madonna.
If your image is strong enough, brand endorsements also bring substantial income.
By late January, according to Universal Music's plan, Shania was set to release a new single. Her manager was busy filling her schedule and evaluating brand endorsement offers.
---
Back to Linton's side, the filming of Speed was progressing smoothly. Yet on the morning of January 10, he took a half-day off, leaving the crew under Michael's and Ryan's supervision.
After two months of rehearsals and preparation, Step Up 2 officially started filming on the 10th. As the screenwriter and co-producer, Linton attended the opening ceremony. It was also partly to support Anne's directorial debut, with Frank taking on producing duties for the first time.
Step Up 2 already had great buzz. At the ceremony, the press swarmed without invitations, eager for news about the sequel to a blockbuster hit. Plus, the project featured mostly newcomers, creating perfect media hype.
During the Q&A session, although Linton seated Anne, Jennifer, and Leonardo in the center and himself and Frank on the edges, reporters mainly directed questions towards him -- the biggest name present and the artist whose recent singles occupied the top two Billboard spots, essentially bringing built-in traffic.
"Mr. Anderson, why aren't you directing Step Up 2? Why aren't the original cast members returning? Why choose a first-time director like Ms. Fletcher? Aren't you worried she'll mess it up and ruin the sequel?" a reporter asked.
He cracked a smile and replied, "That's a fair question. To joke a bit, the story of the first Step Up has already concluded completely. Step Up 2 tells a totally different story but keeps the same core themes -- youth, dance, struggle, love, and chasing dreams through music and movement.
So, it naturally calls for new creative leads and actors. When casting, we were very careful. Just look at Jennifer Connelly -- she's gorgeous, and Leonardo DiCaprio is incredibly talented. Both have trained hard for over two months with professional instructors, and I'm confident they will deliver spectacular performances.
After filming this movie, I bet you'll see them become Hollywood's hottest stars.
As for the director, Anne is a talented, passionate woman with a genuine love for learning. When she was the dance choreographer on the first Step Up, I noticed she was diligently absorbing directing knowledge.
Before appointing her as director, we tested her thoroughly. She performed excellently, earning unanimous praise from me and the producers. I believe she will bring a fantastic film to everyone.
Also, I'm just the screenwriter and co-producer here. I'm currently shooting Speed, so please direct your questions to Anne, Jennifer, and Leonardo instead."
Though reporters mostly aimed questions at him, he handed off answering duties to Anne and the main cast.
Of course, the Los Angeles media and paparazzi were relentless, constantly trying to stir up drama or sensational headlines. Fortunately, Anne and the team had prepared extensively, with Linton's publicist Ellie coaching them to handle tough questions professionally. Their responses were smooth, avoiding any major slip-ups.
After the interviews, Frank handed each attending journalist a crew photo and a payment envelope as a thank-you.
The group then moved to the set to start filming.
...
Under Linton's observation, the crew operated under Frank and Anne's control without discord or disruptions; everything ran smoothly.
He had initially worried that their inexperience might cause issues or that someone else would try to stir up trouble, needing harsh discipline. But none of that happened, a welcome sign that harmony promotes success.
Satisfied, he returned to the Speed crew that afternoon to continue shooting.
*****
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