Behind The Spotlight Chapter 74
We can list some models who successfully transitioned into acting over the years, carving impressive careers for themselves.
1. Cameroon Dias. She modeled for Kalvin Clein and Levvi's during the peak of her modeling career. She starred in a movie called The Maskara, which became her breakthrough role.
2. Charliz Therona. She was a South African model and ballerina. But don't be confused, Charliz was a white South African. She starred in several movies and won an award for her leading role in Female Monster, which earned critical acclaim.
3. Marky Wahlborg. He was a Kalvin Clein model but transitioned into acting with great success.
So it was understandable why the two women thought that Collin had transitioned from modeling to acting, just like the others who came before him.
"I'm not an actor. I'm a talent agent," Collin said and made things clear.
The two women were surprised and visibly impressed. They didn't expect that kind of answer from someone with his presence. Perhaps Collin was one of the few, if not the only one, who transitioned from modeling to talent management, something quite rare.
"I guess you guys are new in modeling, right?" Collin asked in a calm tone, already guessing the answer.
"Yeah, we just started two years ago," one of them replied, smiling shyly.
Collin had figured as much and nodded slightly. Even though he wasn't a top model in the mainstream sense, he had collaborated with respected magazines and fashion brands in the industry. He had also walked the runways in New York and Paris, an achievement in itself. The models from his generation either knew his name or at least recognized his face.
"Well then, this is my stop. See you next time." Collin gave a polite nod as the elevator slowed.
He excused himself as the elevator doors opened. If these two were living in the same apartment complex, as he suspected, he would likely see them again sooner or later.
"I think I've seen that man in some magazines a few years ago," the woman whispered, now curious.
"Yeah, I think so too," the other replied, nodding in agreement, her eyes still on the elevator doors.
The elevator closed and Collin walked home with steady steps. After eating the breakfast his mother had prepared for him, he took a bath.
Collin left the apartment at 7:30 a.m. and reached the ANT building by 7:45 a.m.
He no longer stopped on the 3rd floor as he once used to. His new office was now on the 5th floor, two levels higher, signaling a new chapter in his career. It reflected the improvement in Collin's status, a reward for all the effort he had put in.
Having his own office was an upgrade that not many agents could boast about. Although it was smaller than his room at home, it provided privacy and a sense of independence, something he didn't have in his former cubicle on the 3rd floor where distractions were constant.
Collin sat down and opened the newspaper he had bought from the receptionist on his way in. He had paid for it, of course, it wasn't provided for free.
The headline was once again questioning O.J. Thompson's innocence.
"Damn, this issue's been going on since last year," Collin muttered to himself, shaking his head.
O.J. Thompson was a football player and actor with a controversial reputation. To be precise, he was a professional football player before becoming an actor and building a decent Hollywood career. He starred in a few movies, such as The Naked Pistol, which brought him public attention.
Last year, O.J. Thompson was trialed for the murder of his ex-wife and her friend in what became a national media spectacle. They were found dead with stab wounds, and many described the scene as gruesome.
The verdict declared that O.J. Thompson was not guilty, according to the jury. This court decision was questioned by the media and the public, who continued to investigate and analyze the case.
Some believed O.J. killed them. Others believed he didn't, citing insufficient evidence. There were also those who thought the case had racial undertones as O.J. was black, and the victims were white.
So let's return to the question: Do you think O.J. Thompson was innocent or not, based on the evidence and information surrounding the case?
After reading that article, Collin turned the page and found another one about The Accidental Wedding Crashers, which immediately caught his attention.
As of May 1996, The Accidental Wedding Crashers had officially ended its screening in North America, finishing with impressive box office numbers. A few remaining countries, mostly in Asia and Europe, were still showing it.
After eight months of global screenings, The Accidental Wedding Crashers had grossed over $335 million, a significant achievement. While the total box office could increase slightly, the theatrical run was coming to a close.
Because of this, Hollywood had to update its rankings for last year's highest-grossing movies and revise box office reports. This dark horse had made its mark and had to be acknowledged. Naturally, Uni-versus Pictures was thrilled with the result.
Among all movies released in 1995, The Accidental Wedding Crashers ranked 6th in box office performance, an extraordinary feat.
It was a huge accomplishment for everyone involved, from the cast to the crew. Even Collin felt proud reading the numbers. The fact that he was the producer and part of the movie's creation was something he would always carry with pride, no matter where his career led him.
He smiled as he read the news, feeling a warm sense of validation. The day had started on a hopeful and positive note.
After that, Collin had meetings with people from various departments. He was especially focused on finding someone to fill the PR Agent role for his team, finalizing his Talent Representation Team.
Within the agency, this group was usually referred to simply as the "team."
ANT had a PR department composed of professionals with experience in marketing and public relations, each with their own impressive portfolios. Naturally, Collin looked for a PR Agent within that department, it was the logical move.
A talent agent could be assigned to a team depending on the client's needs. Looking for a PR Agent from the department wasn't unusual or discouraged. It all came down to availability, budget, and whether the agent was willing to take on the extra responsibility. You could say that for most of them, being part of a team was like having a side job.
Collin himself had once been part of a team when he was just starting out. He worked as a physical trainer for two actors, designing their fitness and diet plans. But the side job only lasted a year, one actor switched agencies, and the other fired him.
Since then, he hadn't worked on another team.
Now, he found himself in the position of leading one. He was the Lead Agent and the one responsible for it all. That thought made him speechless.
His self from three years ago would probably laugh in disbelief at the idea that his future self would one day become a Lead Agent with rising stars under his guidance.
After speaking with several people in the PR department, Collin shortlisted three candidates based on their availability and potential.
Unfortunately, none of them showed clear PR-related talent that immediately impressed him. But with the deadline looming, he had to submit the final list to the executives and possibly to the CEO in the coming days, Collin decided to move forward rather than delay.
He chose the candidate with the most work experience, hoping that experience would compensate for the lack of standout skills.
He also needed to contact Wyatt later to finalize the contract concerning the team's structure and responsibilities. The official paperwork hadn't been signed yet, and the salary and payment terms, whether per hour, per project, or using a hybrid structure, still needed to be clarified to avoid any misunderstandings.