[Chapter 449: Miss Universe Pageant]
In the early hours of December 14th, the midnight screening of The Sixth Sense premiered in 2,800 screens nationwide.
Thanks to the star power of Bruce Willis and Monica Bellucci, combined with the robust promotional campaign by Linton Films and extensive media coverage following the premiere, the film achieved an impressive opening at midnight.
Around 3 a.m., during a temporary pause in the party at Linton's estate, Linton received an exciting call from Harvey in the distribution department.
"Boss, fantastic news! The Sixth Sense has earned $4.63 million at midnight screenings, making it the third highest this year after Independence Day and Batman Forever."
Hearing this thrilling news, Monica and Noriko Sakai instantly lit up with excitement, and naturally, the rest of the party became even more vibrant.
---
At 9 a.m., Monica, Noriko Sakai, Bruce Willis, and Hailee Osman boarded a private jet with director M. Night Shyamalan, flying straight to New York to begin a two-week promotional tour.
To accommodate Monica's health, the tour was limited to 10 cities, making the schedule relatively relaxed.
At 10 a.m., Linton met with the visitor in his office.
Though this man was close to 50 years old, he looked like a handsome man in his early 40s, brimming with energy, and his trademark short blond hair made him appear radiant -- a mature man with undeniable charm.
Upon seeing Linton, Donald ignored the offered handshake and instead opened his arms wide for a big hug.
"Linton, you look amazing -- almost as good as I did when I was younger."
His enthusiastic hug and quirky opening line threw Linton off for a moment. He wondered who was guest and who was host here.
"Donald, welcome. I've heard a lot about you."
To Linton's surprise, Donald immediately seized the opportunity to joke, "Haha, looks like I'm pretty famous if you know my name. Tell me, do you know me as the real estate mogul or as the actor on screen?"
Linton thought to himself, 'This guy is shamelessly self-centered, acting like he's some kind of legend. I know you from your president status in my past life, becoming a troublemaker in the whole world.'
Deciding not to go easy on him, Linton dryly teased, "Oh, you acted in movies and TV shows?"
Unexpectedly, Donald didn't catch the sarcasm and instead puffed up proudly, "Of course! I've been in quite a few productions and even won some acting awards."
"Oh, impressive. What movies?"
"Ghosts Can't Do It," he said with pride.
When Linton heard Ghosts Can't Do It come out of his mouth like a badge of honor, he nearly spat out his coffee. That film had earned him a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor. Linton thought, 'Your audacity is remarkable -- bragging about a Razzie like it's an Oscar. No wonder you made it big with that kind of shamelessness.'
Donald was a true social butterfly. Despite this being their first meeting, he was completely at ease, effortlessly chatting and sharing stories. He was knowledgeable, witty, and quickly put Linton at ease, narrowing the gap between them.
Linton, with a free morning ahead, found it somewhat entertaining to listen to this former global agitator's boastful tales.
One of Donald's strengths was his honesty about his past -- for example, the episode when his rapid real estate expansion backfired during the late '80s economic downturn, leading to his company's bankruptcy.
What would be a dark memory for most, Donald described as a badge of honor.
He explained that in 1990, he was burdened with nearly $4 billion in debt, and his company was effectively insolvent.
However, the banks that lent him money realized that if he declared bankruptcy, they would lose not only the interest but possibly the principal too.
After negotiation, they allowed him to defer some loan interest payments, taking control of his real estate holdings under bank supervision until he could repay.
True to his word, he worked tirelessly to manage his debts and continued his strategic investments, gradually reclaiming his properties from the banks.
With the American economy recovering and real estate booming, within five years, Donald not only repaid most of the debt but also took the Trump Taj Mahal Casino public and regained his status as a prominent New York real estate tycoon.
It was indeed an impressive comeback story that attested to his talents and resilience -- a reason why he was proud, not ashamed, of his past and carried himself with great confidence.
...
After over an hour of Donald's tall tales, they finally turned to business.
"Linton, I have an excellent project I think you'll be interested in."
"What project?"
"The Miss Universe Pageant."
...
Miss Universe is an internationally renowned beauty competition founded in 1952 by the Pacific Mills clothing company in California. It stands alongside Miss World, Miss International, and Miss Earth as one of the four grand international pageants, with enormous global appeal.
The pageant's mission is to empower women worldwide by promoting their careers, personal development, and social responsibility.
Titleholders of Miss Universe are known for cultivating poise, wit, and education to exemplify the modern woman.
Through the competition, contestants gain opportunities to travel internationally, showcase their charm on a global stage, and ultimately fulfill their dreams.
Since its establishment in 1952, the pageant has attracted participation from over 150 countries annually.
Due to its international stature, the organizers stopped limiting the venue to the U.S. starting in 1972. Instead, the host location is selected from candidate countries based on various factors like hosting fees, logistical plans, and financial investment.
If Linton's memory was correct, Donald had acquired the hosting rights for the 1996 Miss Universe pageant in his previous life.
...
"Of course I'm interested -- that's a top-tier event. What's your plan?"
"I've invested heavily to secure next year's hosting rights. How about your UPN TV Network partnering on the broadcast?" Donald handed Linton an official authorization document from the organizers.
"I'm definitely interested. A win-win for both of us. How do you want to collaborate?"
"The competition runs from June through the end of November, lasting six months, with weekly highlight episodes ready for broadcast. You know how ratings soar with beauty pageants," Donald smiled. "Since we clicked, I came straight to you with an exclusive North American broadcast friendship offer -- $120 million. What do you say?"
Linton didn't buy the "first to ask" or "friendship price" lines for a second. He activated his Soul Induction ability subtly.
"Donald, which other networks have you talked to?"
"NBC."
"How did they respond?"
"They only offered $55 million for North American exclusive rights, which is below my minimum."
"What's your minimum?"
"$60 million."
As expected, Donald was a shrewd businessman and a smooth talker. Linton ended the spiritual influence and said plainly, "Donald, I'm very interested, but for negotiations on terms, how about we bring in..."
"Great, no beating around the bush. When do you want to start, and where should we negotiate?"
"Let's form the negotiation team immediately and start next week in Los Angeles. How does that sound?"
*****
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