章 217: Chapter 215: Press Conference
"Good afternoon, passengers. This is Jenny, your chief flight attendant on United Airlines flight UA714. We have safely arrived in London airspace and are preparing for a smooth landing. For your safety, please remain seated with your seatbelt fastened until the seatbelt sign has been turned off and before the cabin door is opened."
"Mr. Baker, we are about to land, and there may be some turbulence. Please take caution."
In the business class section of the Boeing aircraft, a blonde flight attendant in uniform knelt beside Link, offering him a thoughtful reminder.
"Thank you!"
Link nodded and set aside his travel magazine.
As the Boeing aircraft began its descent, Link glanced out the window. The once clear blue sky was now filled with thick clouds, transitioning from pure white to gray. As they descended to an altitude of over a thousand meters, the London skyline became visible, shrouded in a thick layer of smog.
During this descent, Link often felt a sense of falling from paradise into hell.
The plane jolted as it touched down at London Heathrow International Airport.
Franco, Simon, Anna, Bob, Wallace, Coach Brooks, and members of the Dynasty Promotion's logistics and medical team all rose from their seats.
"Link, due to promotional requirements, the boxing organizers will be holding a press conference at the Sofitel Hotel after we disembark. We'll have a short rest at the hotel before heading to the London Tower International Hotel in the city center this afternoon," Franco informed him.
"I'll leave it to you to arrange," Link responded with a nod.
This WBA-WBC World Boxing Championship was set to take place at the O2 Arena in the Greenwich district of London.
The arena, also known as the "Millennium Dome," was a massive structure built by the British to commemorate the year 2000.
Located on the Greenwich Peninsula on the south bank of the River Thames, the arena was a distinctive circular domed building.
From the air, it resembled a pearl nestled beside the River Thames, earning it the nickname "The Pearl of London."
The O2 Arena boasted a vast interior with over twenty-three thousand seats. Since its completion, it had gradually replaced Wembley and the CTC Arena as the most renowned stadium in London.
The arena primarily hosted various sporting events, entertainment activities, and large-scale concerts. It was also slated to be one of the venues for the upcoming London Olympics.
This particular match was jointly organized by the British Arena Promotion Company, the WBA British Boxing Association, and the WBC British Boxing Association.
Link's appearance fee was a substantial 6 million US dollars, win or lose, thanks to his immense popularity.
The prize money for the fight was 10 million, with a 30/70 split, the winner taking the lion's share.
In terms of box office revenue, Link was entitled to 15%.
The PPV (Pay-Per-View) revenue was divided into three parts: 20% for the UK, 50% for North America, and 15% for other countries and regions.
The PPV revenue was the most significant portion. If one million households opted to pay to watch the match, Link and Dynasty Promotion stood to earn over 40 million US dollars from this event alone.
If this money materialized, his combined income from boxing and music this year would surpass 100 million US dollars.
With such a lucrative prospect, Link was understandably excited about the upcoming match.
"Link! Welcome to London!"
"Link, I love you!"
As Link and his team emerged from the airport, they were greeted by thousands of fans gathered in the square, a sea of faces holding up banners and posters, their voices raised in a chorus of his name.
Before achieving fame, Link struggled to understand the psychology of fans. After all, everyone was human, so what was the point of idolizing someone?
However, after becoming a celebrity, he delved into research papers on the subject.
These articles explained that "star chasing" was a manifestation of the "admiration for strength" psychology, present throughout human development and an inherent human instinct.
Star chasing was also a form of popular culture, a social activity akin to a gathering of like-minded individuals at a party, a way to alleviate feelings of loneliness.
Furthermore, it served as a form of spiritual sustenance. Witnessing the success of one's idol could bring a sense of accomplishment, a phenomenon known as the halo effect in psychology.
Link concluded that star chasing was a social activity undertaken by humans to fulfill their personal spiritual needs once material civilization had reached a certain level of development.
Becoming a qualified idol, a star with enduring appeal, was a formidable challenge.
Idols aged, fans aged, and tastes and interests evolved with the times.
No one could maintain their popularity indefinitely, and MJ served as a prime example.
Before 2003, wherever he appeared, tens or even hundreds of thousands of fans would flock to see him.
However, after his passing, only over thirty thousand fans attended his memorial service, far fewer than the millions predicted by the media.
It was rumored that vendors selling MJ memorabilia outside the Staples Center suffered significant losses that day.
After becoming a star, Link naturally entertained the idea of remaining popular for a century, but he knew it was an unrealistic goal.
Therefore, he resolved to fulfill his responsibilities as an idol during his "tenure," releasing quality work, winning championships, and striving for greater success.
He also made an effort to connect with his fans, leaving them with a positive impression.
Seeing the large and enthusiastic crowd of fans, Link took the initiative to approach the protective barrier, waving, signing autographs, and posing for pictures.
Arriving at the Sofitel Hotel east of the airport half an hour later than planned, he prepared for the press conference.
---
The press conference was well-attended, with representatives from local British media, as well as journalists from Europe, the United States, and even numerous Asian countries. In total, there were two to three hundred people, including photographers and reporters.
As Link stepped onto the stage, the reporters crouched, their microphones poised.
He settled onto the sofa, took a sip of water, and signaled to the host to begin.
"Mr. Baker, welcome to London, England. As far as we know, this is your first visit to London. What are your impressions of the city so far?"
A BBC TV reporter inquired.
BBC, the largest television station and news organization in the UK, held a privileged position in the world of journalism.
Link spread his hands and smiled. "Yes, this is indeed my first time in London. So far, I've only seen the London sky and the bustling Heathrow Airport, so my impression of the city is quite limited. I can't fully answer your question at this time.
However, I have interacted with many British and London individuals in my work, and they have all left a wonderful impression on me. British gentlemen are known for their elegance, knowledge, and refined manners, exuding a sense of good breeding.
And British ladies are graceful, poised, and impeccably dressed, true ladies in every sense.
In the eyes of us Americans, they make excellent dating partners, although few succeed in winning their hearts. Of course, this is due to the exceptional qualities of British gentlemen, making it difficult for foreign men to compete."
His words elicited good-natured laughter from the British men in the audience.
"Mr. Baker, are there any British actors or singers you particularly admire? Who are they?"
A Daily Mail reporter asked.
Link smiled. "I admire many British actors and singers. Being born in 1989, I'm not particularly interested in older films. I tend to prefer movies released in the past decade, so the actors I admire are also relatively young. For instance, Ms. Kate Winslet, she was my childhood idol. Ms. Keira Knightley, she's such an elegant lady, and I've seen almost all of her films.
There's also Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint, all of whom are good friends of mine.
Oh, and Mr. Christian Bale, his acting is phenomenal, and he's incredibly dedicated to his craft. During the filming of 'The Fighter,' he practically became my acting coach. I have immense respect for him.
I also have a fondness for British singers. Mr. John Lennon, I believe he's universally admired. There are many talented singers from the older generation, but among the newer generation, Adele is undoubtedly my favorite."
Link went on to share the story of sitting next to Adele at the Grammy Awards, praising her coolness, vocal prowess, and describing her as his idol and a future great in the music industry.
His focus on younger actors and singers was not solely based on personal preference but also a strategic move, as his fan base was predominantly young and overlapped with the fans of these stars.
By praising these celebrities, he aimed to delight his fans and strengthen their connection to him.
"Hello, Mr. Baker, I'm Bernard Gary, a reporter from The Sun!"
The Sun reporter, Gary, adjusted his glasses, microphone in hand, and asked from the third row, "You mentioned Emma Watson is a good friend. Do you plan to meet her during your time in London for the competition?"
"Yes, I have that intention. Also, Daniel and Rupert. But Half-Blood Prince is so popular right now, I don't know if they have the time. If it's convenient, I might ask them to buy me a drink," Link replied, looking at the reporter.
Gary was about to ask another question when the moderator pointed to the Guardian reporter.
Most of the reporters present were from major British media outlets. Some, like The Sun, Daily Mail, and Daily Mirror, leaned towards sports and entertainment. Others, like The Guardian, The Times, and The Financial Times, were more serious.
The entertainment reporters tended to ask about celebrity gossip and personal lives, while the serious ones, like The Guardian reporter, asked about the upcoming match with Carl Froch, Link's odds of winning, and his goals as a pop culture icon.
The Financial Times reporter inquired about prize money, business ventures, and potential investments in the UK.
Link would improvise when answering the entertainment reporters, but for serious outlets like The Guardian, he would rely on the prepared script from Simon and Anna. This was important to maintain his "inspirational college student" image.
Being a public figure wasn't easy. It required talent, social skills, cultural awareness, and a professional management team. Many celebrities faded early due to a lack of talent or poor management.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you again for attending my press conference. Due to scheduling constraints, I can't answer all your questions. However, I'll have more public events in the next two days. If you have further questions, you can ask them then or contact my agent for a separate interview. Goodbye!"
The press conference lasted over forty minutes, with Link answering more than twenty questions before leaving, the sound of camera shutters filling the air.
---
"James, where are you?" Bernard Gary asked, getting into his car after leaving the Sofitel Hotel.
"I'm outside the terminal maintaining order. Damn, I don't know what these young people are thinking. They won't leave even though Link is gone," Officer Ryder replied, annoyed.
"James, try to find a way to infiltrate Link's security team. If we want photos of him and Emma Watson on a date, we need to get closer," Gary said, eyeing the entrance of the Fiat Hotel.
"It's difficult. I just found out Kingston Security is handling Link's security. We're only responsible for maintaining order and traffic outside. We only get close if something happens."
"James, go outside then. No matter what, we need to get as close as possible to take photos. If we get solid evidence of them dating, we'll be rich," Gary said excitedly.
Not only would there be a £100,000 reward, but also a chance for promotion and a raise. He didn't want to miss this opportunity.
"Alright, I'll try," Ryder said before hanging up.
Gary then called Charlotte to ask if she had found Emma Watson. Charlotte replied that Emma had been at her Cambridge Street apartment in North London since returning from Paris and hadn't been seen leaving.
Gary told her to keep an eye on the place and report immediately if Emma left. He also reminded her to watch Emma's aunt, Irene, as she might know Emma's whereabouts.
After hanging up, Gary contacted Kuro Biggs. Biggs chuckled, saying he had infiltrated the London Tower International Hotel and booked a business suite for £668 a night, reminding Gary to reimburse him.
Gary frowned, asking why he didn't book a cheaper room.
Biggs explained that Link and his team had booked almost all the rooms at the London Tower Hotel, and the remaining twenty were taken by others. All the major hotels near the O2 Arena were full.
The £668 suite was the cheapest at the London Tower, and he only got it by scaring the previous guest with a mouse. Otherwise, even £2,000 wouldn't have secured it.
Biggs believed Gary should praise him, not blame him.
Gary thought for a moment and agreed. The boxing match had attracted many wealthy people, causing prices to surge for hotels, rental cars, and flights.
Biggs getting a room at Link's hotel for £668 was indeed impressive.
Gary changed his tone and praised him, telling him to stay at the hotel as Link's team would arrive in the evening.
Biggs' task was to find out Link's room number and any possible routes for entering or leaving.
After ending the call, Gary called his paparazzi, offering £100 per photo of Link with Emma Watson or any other female celebrity.
After several calls, Gary loosened his tie, took a deep breath, and drank the warm mineral water in one gulp.
Noticing many fellow reporters outside the Sofitel Hotel, he sighed inwardly. There were too many people watching Link. Earning this money wouldn't be easy.
Chapter 215 Press Conference
"Good afternoon, passengers. I am Jenny, the purser of United Airlines flight UA714. The plane has safely arrived in the sky over London and is landing smoothly. For your personal safety, please do not get up and move before the seat belt signal light is off. Before opening the hatch..."
"Mr. Baker, the plane is about to land, there may be a little turbulence, please pay attention."
In the business class of the Boeing airliner, a blonde stewardess in uniform squatted in front of Link, thoughtfully giving him a reminder.
"Thank you!"
Link nodded and put down the travel magazine in his hand.
The Boeing plane began to descend, and Link looked sideways out of the window. There were thick clouds in the originally blue sky. The clouds changed from pure white to off-white. When descending to an altitude of more than 1,000 meters, it was visible to the naked eye that London The sky is filled with a thick layer of haze.
During this process, Link often has the feeling of falling from heaven to hell.
The plane bumped and landed at London Heathrow International Airport.
Franco and Simon, Anna, Bob and Wallace, Coach Brooks, and members of the logistics and medical team under Dynasty Promotion got up one after another.
"Link, because of the need for publicity, after getting off the plane, the boxing match organizer will hold a press conference at the Sofitel Hotel. After the press conference, we will take a short rest in the hotel, and then go to the downtown London Tower International Hotel in the afternoon. Check in."
Franco came over and said.
"I'll listen to your arrangements."
Link nodded.
This WBA-WBC World Boxing Championship is held at the O2 Arena in the Greenwich district of London.
This stadium is a large-scale stadium built by the British side to welcome the millennium in 2000, and it is also called the "Millennium Stadium".
The stadium is built on the Greenwich Peninsula on the south bank of the River Thames in London, and it is a circular dome-shaped building.
From the plane, it looks like a pearl inlaid on the banks of the Thames, and it is also called "the pearl of London".
The O2 Arena has a large internal capacity, with more than 23,000 seats. After its completion, it has gradually replaced Wembley and CTC Stadium, becoming the most famous stadium in downtown London.
The stadium mainly hosts various sports events, entertainment activities, and large-scale concerts, and it is also one of the venues for the future London Olympics.
This competition is jointly organized by the British Competition Room Promotion Company, the WBA British Boxing Association and the WBC British Boxing Association.
Link's appearance fee is 6 million US dollars, which can be obtained regardless of whether he wins or loses. This is because of his great reputation.
The prize money for the competition is 10 million, divided into 30-70%, and whoever wins between him and Carl Franche will get the big bucks.
In terms of box office sharing, Link can get 15%.
The PPV viewing fee is divided into three parts, 20% in the UK and 50% in North America, and 15% in other countries and regions.
PPV revenue sharing is the big one. If one million households choose to pay to watch their match, he and Dynasty Promotion's income in this match will exceed 40 million US dollars.
If he gets this money, his total income from boxing and music this year will exceed 100 million US dollars.
For the sake of US dollars, he has high expectations for this game.
"Link! Welcome to London!"
"Link, I love you!"
When Link arrived at the airport with his work team, he saw thousands of fans gathered in the square in front of the airport, a large crowd, holding various cheering signs and posters, shouting his name loudly.
Before becoming a celebrity, Link didn't quite understand the psychology of fans. Everyone is human, so what's the point of chasing stars?
After becoming famous, he seriously read research papers in this area.
Related articles say that star chasing is a kind of "strong admiration psychology", which exists in all stages of human development and is a human instinct.
Star chasing is also a kind of popular culture and a way of socializing, similar to a group of people with similar interests having a party together to eliminate loneliness.
In addition, star chasing is also a kind of spiritual sustenance, for example, seeing the artist you support become more successful will also give you a sense of accomplishment, which is called the halo effect in psychology.
Link summed it up, star chasing is a social activity that people engage in to meet their personal spiritual needs after the material civilization has developed to a certain stage.
And to become a qualified idol and an enduring star is also a very challenging thing.
Because idols will grow old, fans will grow old, and everyone's tastes and interests will change with the times.
No one can be popular forever, MJ is a good example.
Before 2003, wherever he appeared, there would be tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of fans wanting to go to meet him.
After his death, only more than 30,000 fans came to see him off at his memorial service, instead of the hundreds of thousands or millions predicted by the media.
It is said that the vendors selling MJ souvenirs outside the Staples Center lost a lot of money that day.
After Link became a star, he naturally thought about being popular for a hundred years, but he also knew it was impossible.
So he will try his best to fulfill the responsibilities of an idol within his "term of office", such as releasing more good works, winning more gold belts and gold medals, and making himself more successful.
At the same time, get close to fans as much as possible, and leave a good impression on fans.
Seeing that there are many fans at the scene, everyone is very excited.
Link took the initiative to walk to the guardrail area, waved to the fans, signed autographs for the fans, and took pictures with the fans.
It was more than half an hour later than originally planned that we arrived at the Sofitel Hotel in the east of the airport to hold a press conference.
-
There were also many people who came to the press conference, including local British media, as well as media reporters and cameramen from Europe, the United States, and even many Asian countries, with two to three hundred reporters and cameramen.
When he walked to the podium in front, the reporters all maintained a half-squatting posture, and the microphones in their hands were ready to move.
Link sat down on the sofa, took a sip of water, and told the host at the scene to start.
"Mr. Baker, welcome to London, England. As far as we know, this is your first time in London. What is your impression of this city?"
A BBC TV reporter asked.
The BBC is the largest TV station and the largest news organization in the UK, and it also has many priorities in interviews.
Link spread his hands and smiled: "Yes, this is my first time in London. I have only seen the sky in London and the busy Heathrow Airport so far. My impression of this city is very one-sided, and I can't answer your question for the time being.
However, I have met many British and Londoners in my work, and they all left a very good impression on me. British gentlemen are elegant and erudite, gentle and polite, giving people a very educated feeling.
The British misses and ladies are all dignified and generous, and they have good taste in dressing, and they are real ladies.
In the eyes of us Americans, they are all very good dating partners, but few people succeed. The reason is of course that British gentlemen are too good, and it is difficult for foreign men to win their hearts. "
Hearing his words, the British men in the audience let out a burst of good-natured laughter.
"Mr. Baker, do you have any British actors and singers you admire more, who are they?"
A Daily Mail reporter asked.
Link smiled and said: "There are many British actors and singers that I like. Because I was born in 1989, I am not very interested in old movies. I prefer movies released in the past ten years, so the movie actors I like are also relatively young.
For example, Ms. Kate Winslet, she was my goddess when I was a teenager, Miss Keira Knightley, she is really an elegant lady, I have seen almost all of her movies.
There are also Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint, all three of them are my good friends.
By the way, Mr. Christian Bale, his acting skills are very, very good, and he works very seriously. When filming on the set of "The Fighter", he almost became my acting teacher, and I respect him very much.
There are also many British singers that I like, Mr. John Lennon, I think no one should dislike him, there are many singers of the older generation, and the new generation of singers is undoubtedly Adele. "
Link talked about the news of him and Adele sitting together at the Grammy Awards, praising Adele for being cool, having great singing skills, and being his idol, saying that she will become a great singer in the future.
The reason why he only mentioned young actors and singers in the interview is not only because he likes them, but also because his fan base is relatively young and overlaps with the fans of these stars.
When he praises these stars, fans will be very happy to see it, which will enhance their sense of identity with him.
"Hello Mr. Baker, I'm Bernard Gary, a reporter from The Sun!"
Gary, a reporter from The Sun, pushed up his glasses and stood in the third row of the crowd with a microphone and asked, "You just mentioned that Miss Emma Watson is your good friend, do you consider meeting her during the London competition?"
"Yes, I have this plan, as well as Daniel and Robert, but the "Half-Blood Prince" is too popular recently, I don't know if they have time, if it is convenient, I will consider asking them to invite me to drink."
Link looked at the other party and said.
Reporter Gary was about to ask again, and the host pointed his finger at the Guardian reporter again.
Most of the reporters present came from several major British media.
Some reporting styles are biased towards sports and entertainment, such as The Sun, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, etc.
There are also a few more serious and serious media, such as The Guardian, The Times, The Financial Times, etc.
During interviews, reporters from media outlets that focus on entertainment news tend to ask questions that are biased towards entertainment gossip and like to inquire about the privacy of celebrities.
And serious and serious media, such as the Guardian reporter, will ask him questions related to the game when asking questions, how much chance of winning against Carl Franche, and will also ask him what his next goal is after becoming a popular pop culture idol, career planning and the like.
The Financial Times reporter will ask him about his prize money for the competition, his business trends, and whether he has ever thought about making commercial investments in the UK.
When answering the questions of entertainment reporters, Link will improvise according to his own ideas.
And for serious media such as The Guardian, he will give some more professional answers based on the interview drafts prepared by Simon and Anna in advance.
If the answer is unprofessional, or the answer is contradictory, after the report, it will be regarded as uneducated, and it will also affect his label of 'inspirational college student'.
So being a public figure is not an easy task, not only need to have professional strength, but also have strong social skills, cultural accomplishment, but also need a professional agent team.
The reason why many entertainment stars 'die young' is not only because of their lack of strength, but also because the brokerage team around them did not play their due role at critical moments.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you again for coming to my press conference, because of the itinerary, I can't answer everyone's questions, but I will have many public events in the next two days, if you have other questions, you can interview next time, you can also contact my agent, we have a separate interview. Goodbye!"
The press interview lasted for more than forty minutes, and Link answered more than twenty questions before getting up and saying goodbye to the reporters, and the shutter sound at the scene sounded again.
----
"James, where are you?"
Leaving the Sofitel Hotel, Bernard Gary got into the car and dialed James Ryder's phone.
"I'm maintaining order outside the terminal, damn it, I really don't know what these young people think, Link is gone and they don't want to leave."
Officer Ryder said angrily.
"James, think of a way, see if there is a chance to mix into Link's security team, if we want to take pictures of him and Emma Watson dating, we must be closer to them."
Bernard Gary looked at the door of the Fiat Hotel and said.
"It's difficult, I just inquired, Link's security work is handled by Kingston Security Company, our police are only responsible for maintaining law and order and evacuating traffic on the periphery, and we have a chance to get close to them only when something happens."
"James, you can also go to the periphery, no matter what, if you want to take pictures, you must be as close to him as possible, if you can take conclusive evidence of their date, we will get rich."
Bernard Gary said excitedly.
At that time, not only can he get a reward of 100,000 pounds, but he also has the opportunity to be promoted and raise his salary, which is a good opportunity that he does not want to miss.
"Okay, I'll try."
Officer Ryder hung up.
Bernard Gary called Charlotte again and asked him if he had found Emma Watson's whereabouts.
Charlotte replied that after Emma Watson returned from Paris, she had been in her apartment on Cambridge Street in North London for the past two days and did not seem to have gone out.
Gary told him to keep an eye on it and report it in time when he saw Emma go out.
In addition, remind him to pay attention to the movements of Emma's aunt, Ms. Irene, and maybe he can know Emma's exact whereabouts from her.
After hanging up the phone, Gary contacted Kuro Biggs again.
Biggs snickered that he had infiltrated the London Tower International Hotel and booked a business suite for £668 a night, asking him not to forget to reimburse him.
Gary frowned when he heard his words and asked why he didn't book a cheaper room?
Biggs told him that Link and his team had booked almost all the rooms at the London Tower Hotel, and the remaining twenty or so rooms had also been booked by others.
In addition to the London Tower Hotel, most of the big hotels near the O2 Arena have been full recently.
The suite he got for £668 was also the cheapest room at the London Tower Hotel, or he threw a mouse in and scared away the original guest, and took the opportunity to get it, otherwise he wouldn't get it even for two thousand pounds.
Biggs believes Gary shouldn't blame him, but praise him instead.
Gary thought about it, and it was true.
Link and Carl Franche's boxing championship battle attracted many wealthy people from the British Isles to watch, and in recent days, not only hotels have increased prices, but car rental companies and flights will also become busy.
Biggs was able to get a suite at Link's hotel for £668, which was indeed somewhat capable.
Gary changed his tune and praised him, telling him to stay in the hotel, and Link's motorcade would probably arrive there in the evening.
Biggs's task was to try to find out the room number where Link lived, the elevator or other ways to go up and down the stairs.
After ending the call, Gary called several paparazzi under him and asked them to stare at Link, and if they could take pictures of Link contacting Emma Watson or other female stars, it would be 100 pounds per photo.
After making several calls in a row, Gary loosened his tie, took a deep breath, took the mineral water that was hot on the seat, and drank it all in one gulp.
While drinking water, he noticed that there were many colleagues outside the Sofitel Hotel, and he couldn't help but sigh, there were too many people staring at Link, and it was not an easy task to earn this money.
(End of chapter)
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