From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

The California sunshine always seemed to favor those sharply defined youthful faces, the golden halo leaving fragments in the shadows of their features, subtly polishing the temperament between their brows and the color in the depths of their eyes, inadvertently pausing time with a casual glance or a turn of the head.

“Hey, Uncle Darren.”

A greeting, the youthful vigor flying from the corners of his mouth, seamlessly blended the physique of a man with the charm of a boy, a burst of springtime.

Darren was also a little surprised, taking off his sunglasses.

Only then did he realize that in just two months, the youngest son of the Wood family seemed to have transformed again, his unique temperament making it hard to look away.

“Anson!”

Darren waved, watching Anson stride towards him, reaching him in just a few steps, forcing him to look up.

Now, Darren finally understood David Klein's thinking: even if it was a case of going with the flow and playing along, the premise was that Anson was worth it.

Anson placed his motorcycle helmet on the ground, noticing Darren's slight daze, "Uncle Darren?"

Darren snapped back to reality, a smile tugging at his lips, "Ha, nothing, it's only been two months, and I almost didn't recognize you. You're really growing into yourself. I was just thinking, I'm a little regretful; I should have had you act in our show, the buzz would have been all ours."

Of course, this was a joke.

“Sex and the City” aired on HBO, a cable television station. They didn't need to worry about ratings or advertisers; they only needed to answer to their paying subscribers.

In other words, "Sex and the City" didn't need buzz or attention. If Anson had a cameo, he would have been just a pretty face, and the current opportunity wouldn't have arisen.

Anson smiled, "Uncle Darren, how embarrassing. You've already started thinking about my next job as soon as this one is over."

This, too, was a joke.

Darren understood the implication, his smile widening, "Don't worry, your next job has already been arranged for you by David Klein."

Anson was puzzled.

Darren didn't speak immediately, but looked around.

There were still some subtle gazes being cast over from the cafe, filled with curiosity and inquiry, but no one acted, all remaining in their seats.

That was enough.

Darren had chosen this table because it was in a corner, with no other seats around it, maintaining a certain distance. Even if someone strained their ears, they wouldn't be able to catch any information. Furthermore, the cafe was already noisy, and this noise was a natural cover, so there was no need to worry about leaks.

Then.

Darren leaned closer to the round table, slightly raised his chin in a signal, and after Anson leaned in, briefly summarized the situation in a few words.

Anson couldn't be kept in the dark about this matter; they needed his cooperation.

Moreover, in David Klein and Darren's eyes, Anson was just an eighteen-year-old kid, inexperienced, ignorant of the entertainment industry, a little willful, a little impulsive, a little reckless. To ensure the smooth progress of the plan, they needed to give this kid some pointers.

Anson immediately understood.

Please, such tricks were at the level of playing house in the age of social media. After seeing all kinds of monsters and demons, suddenly encountering such a refreshing approach?

It was a bit of a novelty, perhaps.

Anson blinked, "So, you mean, you need me to cooperate and create some buzz?"

Darren paused—

Sure enough, the thing he feared had happened.

These young people always held a detached and arrogant attitude, with unrealistic fantasies about Hollywood, such as refusing to create buzz, relying entirely on strength, and pursuing dreams.

That wasn't necessarily wrong.

But they were advanced animals, needing to learn not only how to use tools but also how to use their brains.

Darren hesitated. Teenagers of eighteen were stubborn and rebellious. How should he correctly express himself to persuade Anson?

Darren carefully considered his words.

"Anson, this isn't creating buzz; it's a reasonable counterattack. Think about it. If David agrees to Brad's request, it also means you'll lose your job. And David can't possibly listen to Brad's orders. But if David refuses, he might not target David, but he'll definitely see you as a thorn in his side…"

“Okay.”

The words were only halfway through when Anson spoke.

Darren was slightly stunned, "What?"

Anson nodded, "I said, okay."

Darren: ? ? ?

“So, I have no reason to sit still and wait for death.”

“Moreover, why refuse to create buzz? News is a form of publicity, just with different methods and means.”

“I deeply believe that people have some misunderstandings about news. Negative news is called creating buzz; positive news is called publicity. But in fact, whether it's negative or positive, news is news, all part of promotion. How to use news to achieve your goals is the ability.”

“No problem, I will cooperate.”

From the use of the word, "buzz" itself carries negative emotions. But in fact, living in an age of information explosion, how to publicize, how to promote, how to operate, this is a professional job. Without news, there is no attention, and no one is an exception.

Creating buzz and operating, in essence, are actually talking about the same thing.

Darren blinked, slowly recovering, a smile appearing in his eyes and at the corners of his mouth, "It seems you've completed the introductory course to Hollywood."

Originally, Darren had planned to cram some last-minute tips on how to deal with reporters and paparazzi, but now?

He felt he could save some time and energy.

However, details were key, and Darren could still tell Anson some experiences.

“If there are no surprises, the news should be in the papers tomorrow. It will take some time to spread and ferment, and then reporters and paparazzi will surround the two of them.”

“Their homes should be very lively.”

“But I don't think you need to worry. This time, they probably won't come to surround your residence. You're not the focus or the center of attention.”

“Monday, Stage 24.”

“They'll choose to wait for you there, interviewing other actors in the crew while also interviewing you, the person involved.”

“I'm flying to New York tomorrow. I'll need to stay there for a while. I won't be able to help in the city on Monday, but I have time today.”

The first part, Anson understood without a problem. The “Sex and the City” soundstage was in New York. Besides shooting inside the studio, they would occasionally do location shoots, so the entire crew was in New York. This season of the show was also entering its final stages, and Darren needed to go to the set to oversee things.

But the second part, help? Time?

The context of the words wasn't coherent, like a jigsaw puzzle, missing a very important piece.

Anson looked at Darren, "Time to do what?"

Darren didn't answer immediately, but took a step back, carefully looked Anson up and down, and then revealed a mysterious smile.

“Shopping.”