[Chapter 529: MV Shoot - Female Stars Visiting the Set]
On June 18th, after what felt like an eternity to Daniel, Linton's music video shoot finally kicked off.
Linton's single, You'll Be in My Heart, released at the end of April, had become a sales phenomenon, soaring past 45 million copies sold worldwide. Since three singles had already dropped the previous year, album release schedules suggested the full album should have launched while the single was still hot.
In reality, the album had long been finished and was even in production presses, with much of the promotional plan ready to roll. The problem was Linton couldn't find time, leaving Daniel to tear his hair out.
Initially, Daniel often showed up in person to secure some studio time with Linton, but all he got was the same answer: Linton was too busy. He was only promised a vague start around mid-June without any concrete date. It left Daniel frustrated to the point of despair.
If this were any other artist, Daniel would've unleashed the full power of the label's influence to force their hand. But Linton wasn't just any artist -- he was the boss. So Daniel resigned himself to having all preparation ready, waiting day after day, hoping Linton would finally free up some time.
By June 10th, everything for the video shoot was assembled: the band, backup dancers, extras -- all in place, awaiting Linton's arrival. Daniel wanted to rush the new album launch even if it meant incurring extra costs. The moment Linton walked on set, shooting would proceed as swiftly as possible.
Daniel envisioned something grand for these videos. It was 1996, and top-tier stars -- especially divas -- were no longer content with simple, studio-bound dance scenes or flimsy plots. Big money was pouring into music videos turned mini-movies, complete with special effects, cinematic storylines, and breathtaking production.
As the unique superstar of all America, Linton's videos had to match or surpass the best, maintaining Universal's prestige. Daniel had initially budgeted $30 million for the 13 videos, a sum that could easily finance a medium-budget commercial film.
He had commissioned stirring short scripts for each song, intending to shoot on location across the United States -- showcasing the nation's stunning landscapes in the album's videos.
But Linton vetoed the plan. While the concept was stunning, it demanded too much time -- which Linton didn't have. He capped the shoot for each video at only two days.
Facing the boss's commands, Daniel begrudgingly had the screenwriter rewrite the scripts, and the director and producers adjusted the shooting schedule accordingly.
All shoots shifted to Universal Studios' soundstages, but Daniel wasn't inclined to cut costs. Instead, he funneled funds into elaborate set builds to perfectly realize every scene indoors.
...
The current shoot paired Linton with Catherine Zeta-Jones on the song I Knew I Loved You. The song told a bittersweet story of a beautiful yet fleeting encounter in love -- brief but stirring deep emotions.
The script had Linton sitting on the subway home, locked eyes with a captivating woman. The two shared instant mutual attraction, culminating in a stroll through a beautiful garden.
The sets were straightforward: a subway car and a lush garden. Of course, plenty of singing scenes were woven in to fit Linton's style.
This simple concept perfectly met Linton's needs. Minimal extras, simple locations -- everything manageable within the tight two-day schedule.
Since June 10th, the cast and crew had already gathered and rehearsed extensively. When shooting officially began, it went remarkably smooth -- wrapping up in just a day and a half.
...
The next afternoon, Michelle Reis arrived early to commence filming Everything You Want.
The first day's afternoon session went well. By dusk, the director boasted that a third of the shoot was complete.
Linton expected the shoot to continue without a hitch.
However, no one knew how word got out that Linton was filming a music video here -- starting the third day, waves of female celebrities flocked to visit him on set.
...
Julia Roberts was the first to show up. She was prepping for her new film, My Best Friend's Wedding, due to start shooting next month, so her schedule was relatively free.
Julia had called Linton multiple times to ask him out, but he had always declined, citing no time. Upon hearing he was on set filming, she seized the chance to visit him. Linton couldn't refuse.
She arrived that morning with a coffee cart in tow.
During a break, Julia smiled and handed Linton a cup personally, slipping a hotel key card into his hand.
"Linton, you free tonight? I'll be waiting at the Four Seasons."
"Can I say I'm not?"
"No way. You've turned me down too many times. I checked -- there are no other jobs, just this shoot. You can't say no this time. Or should I just wait for you at your trailer?"
With Julia pushing it this far, Linton had no choice but to agree.
"Good, I won't bother you -- see you tonight," Julia said joyfully, giving him a warm hug before leaving briskly. Later, he had to explain to Michelle Reis, "Alright, after I'm done tonight, I'll come over."
...
Julia's visit was just the start. At noon, after calming Michelle Reis down, Linton was just stepping out of his trailer for afternoon filming when assistant Li Xiaoran approached with phone and notebook in hand.
"Boss, during lunch, Halle Berry, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sharon Stone, Elizabeth Hurley, Drew Barrymore... ten female stars called wanting to visit you. What do you want me to reply?"
"Forget it. We're on a tight schedule. If they all come, the shoot will get disrupted. Tell them no."
...
Still, those stars were not easily deterred, and their star power was no joke. Though the crew didn't approve or send escorts, it couldn't stop determined visitors.
Take Sharon Stone and Gwyneth Paltrow, for instance -- both solid A-listers, with Sharon firmly in the top tier. How could the Universal security truly stop them?
That afternoon, two coffee trucks arrived, treating the entire crew and extras to refreshments -- a perk that boosted morale.
Even more entertaining for everyone on set was watching the visiting stars try every trick to slip into Linton's arms, sparking gossip and juicy tidbits.
Linton, however, firmly declined both their date invitations.
No matter what, having three waves of visitor teams in one day posed serious disruption to filming.
Linton was speechless but didn't blame the security guards. He understood these were Hollywood rules -- ordinary regulations often didn't apply to top stars.
Since stopping them was impossible, to minimize interruption, Linton instructed Li Xiaoran to call all other prospective visitors who hadn't come yet, rescheduling their visits to ensure only one star visited the set per day.
*****
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