Chapter 118
After Frank and Ediris, Edith returned home. The pain in their injuries worsened. Unable to bear it any longer, they both went to the hospital in the middle of the night. Frank’s injuries were visible, but the examination results were not serious. Elith’s face had been swollen earlier, but by the time she was examined, the swelling had already subsided. Despite their efforts, they found no relief and returned home, spending the night in pain, unable to sleep. Leon and Sienna also spent a sleepless night due to their pain.
The next day, Phoebe arrived at her office, where Wendy knocked on the door and entered. She handed a sheet to Phoebe and said, “Ms. Jenkins, there have been several script and variety show offers recently. I’ve compiled them for you to review.”
“I’ll take a look,” Phoebe said, taking the document. The chart detailed which shows and scripts were available, who the directors were, and what roles they were offering, whether to her or Gwen. After Wendy joined her, Phoebe had been able to lighten her workload considerably. Most of the resources that had come their way were offers for Phoebe herself. As for Gwen, most of the scripts offered were focused on marriage-related roles, along with two variety shows that were relationship discussion programs.
Phoebe asked Wendy, “Do you think any of these are suitable for Gwen or me?” Wendy, known for her attention to detail and strong intuition, had proven herself capable. Phoebe had an idea to cultivate Wendy into a top-tier agent who could eventually manage new talents in the studio. They had discussed this plan before. Wendy had already considered this question while organizing the offers.
She smiled and replied, “I don’t think any of these scripts or shows are right for Gwen. If she were to accept, it would not only diminish her recent resurgence in popularity but also risk typecasting her into narrow roles.”
Phoebe nodded. “That’s what I was thinking too. Decline the scripts and shows offered to Gwen. I’m planning to push for her to get a lead role in a spy thriller.” Wendy, aware of Phoebe’s intentions, was also interested in the business of talent management. She made sure to excel in her role as an assistant while constantly learning more about the industry. She had already gathered information on some upcoming projects.
Wendy asked, “You mean the one initially offered to that other starlet?” Despite being a thriller, that show had a very popular and highly skilled male lead. It also had several seasoned actors, making it highly anticipated. Though the entertainment industry often focused on stars with large followings, viewers of both TV and film had shifted their attention toward performance and story quality. As a result, many young stars with large fanbases were working hard to improve their acting skills.
Phoebe replied, “Exactly. The director has already terminated her contract, so I’m planning to secure the role for Gwen.” That starlet had been surrounded by negative publicity and was eventually dropped by Jenkins Entertainment. Naturally, the director wasn’t going to risk having a scandal-ridden actress as his lead. Initially, Leon leveraged his connections to secure a role for the actress. With her having been dropped, Jenkins Entertainment planned to replace her with another actress. Phoebe reviewed the script and saw how demanding it was in acting ability. The role was perfect to highlight Gwen’s talents. It could help her return to the ranks of top actresses. So she had to act quickly to secure the opportunity.
Chapter 115
Wendy was fully supportive of the plan. “This is a great idea.” Securing the role and performing well in it would not only humiliate that actress but also benefit Gwen's career. Pluche then asked, “What roles are suitable for me?”
Wendy thought for a moment and responded, “I think the script for that box office hit might not do well.” She paused before continuing. “That fantasy drama is directed by a famous director. While the trope is fully utilized in modern films, the production budget is large, and the post-production could yield excellent results. I think it has the potential for lasting success. However, the male lead is Reece. Sienna is vying for the female lead. I heard that if it weren’t for the previous controversy, her role as the lead would have been secured by now.”
Phoebe noticed that Wendy had real talent and put a lot of effort into researching. Her comments were insightful and helpful. “Contact the director of the rural mother film and tell him I’ll take the role,” Phoebe replied. Before traveling back in time, Phoebe had acted in this film. It had great potential for winning awards. She liked the role a lot and hoped to perform even better this time. “Got it,” Wendy said, a little surprised, though she recognized this as Phoebe’s typical approach.
Wendy then asked, “What about the fantasy drama? The director mentioned that you could choose either role.” She added, “Whatever role you don’t take will go to Sienna.”
Phoebe smiled. “Well, they’re being quite straightforward.” The intent was clear. In addition to casting, they wanted to leverage the dynamics between the three of them to get the best possible results. It was a typical strategy, and being upfront about it didn’t bother her. In fact, it showed a certain level of sincerity, offering Phoebe the first pick between the two main roles and then giving the remaining one to Sienna. It also certainly dealt a blow to Sienna’s ego.
Phoebe decided, “I’ll take the second lead. But the script must remain as it is, with no weakening or altering of the second lead’s storyline. If that’s acceptable, I’m on board.” Before traveling back in time, Sienna had risen to fame on a reality show before immediately signing onto this fantasy drama. Because of its high production quality, the renowned director, and Reece as the male lead, the show became a massive hit. Though Sienna’s acting had been mediocre, she had the support of Reece and Leon. The character she played was well-written, which contributed to her skyrocketing popularity.
Meanwhile, the actress playing the second lead didn’t get to share in the success. Instead, she was criticized online for bullying. During the shoot, that second lead actress had been heavily suppressed by Sienna. With Leon and Jenkins Entertainment backing Sienna, the director forced several rewrites of the second lead’s storyline. As a result, the second lead’s character lost much of its original strength and became nothing more than a tool to highlight the lead. However, Phoebe had always liked the second lead’s original character arc. The drama told the story of a cold, powerful deity falling in love with a mortal woman, which mirrored Sienna’s and Phoebe’s own experiences.
In the previous version, the second lead's background was diminished to focus on the male lead's cold-hearted nature and the female lead's purity and kindness. The changes to the second lead turned her into a crazed villain, a spiteful antagonist. But originally, the second lead had been the male lead’s mortal wife from before he joined the immortal realm, also the woman he sacrificed to achieve his divine status. Though she had survived thanks to a twist of fate, she entered the demonic path. She returned seeking revenge, intending to use the same ritual to kill her husband. Although the main characters were divinely protected and the second lead didn’t succeed, her presence left a lasting impact. Phoebe loved how the character was complex and full of depth. That was why she wanted to ensure the second lead’s original storyline remained intact. A strong performance could overshadow the female lead and become a contrast to the purity of Sienna’s character.
If someone else had been cast as the female lead, Phoebe wouldn’t have felt the need to steal the spotlight. But since Sienna was in the role, Phoebe relished the opportunity to create a direct comparison. After all, Sienna had made a career out of doing the same to others. If Sienna wanted to use this drama to rise to stardom again, she would first need Phoebe’s approval. This time, Phoebe was happy to let Sienna take whatever she discarded.