The $100 Million Club, Part 2
Stage 29 at Paramount Studios in Hollywood. Fully equipped to film television shows, the building looked like a massive warehouse club from the outside. With nothing but "Stage 29" written on its beige exterior walls, it almost felt like a secret government facility where the Department of Defense kept and tortured aliens.
Inside, preparations for the shoot were in full swing. Men wearing headphones dashed down the hallways as if preparing for a rocket launch, and equipment tests were being conducted in real-time. Amidst the chaos, the man who could be called today's astronaut sat in his dressing room, smoking a cigarette. His name was Arsenio Hall. He was the host of The Arsenio Hall Show, which was currently enjoying massive popularity among young viewers aged ten to thirty across America. Although the comedian and talk show host always projected a cheerful, lively persona on screen, in reality, he was a sensitive workaholic.
"Hmm..."
Two hours before filming. He was reviewing the production materials one by one while smoking. Sion Lee, the star of Fragments of You, was scheduled to appear as a guest on today's show. Arsenio had been cramming information about him into his head, and he found himself intrigued by how much the actor had changed recently over his ten-year career. Those kinds of shifts were always the perfect entry points for a good interview.
Right now, Fragments of You was a mega-hit across the United States. Released during the Christmas season just before the New Year, the romance film had drawn massive crowds eager to see the love story of two breathtakingly beautiful leads. Sion Lee and Elena Asimov had successfully crossed the threshold into adult acting, cementing their status as bona fide superstars. Already teen idols, the two were currently navigating a grueling, jam-packed schedule. Having secured one of them through negotiations with the production company, the captain of this show recalled a piece of advice he had received not long ago.
Johnny told me not to let my guard down. I wonder what he meant.
For his previous film, it had been The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. For this movie, it was The Arsenio Hall Show. While both were currently the premier late-night talk shows representing America, their vibes were vastly different. Arsenio was the first Black comedian to host a late-night talk show. While Johnny Carson appealed to all age groups, Arsenio Hall was highly favored by the younger demographic for his signature witty banter and trendy, fast-paced hosting style. He was even touted as the man who would one day succeed the great Johnny.
A young star visiting such a youthful show. Now, what kind of questions should I ask? A talk show was all about the chemistry and banter between the host and the guest. Although he had heard plenty of rumors, Arsenio had never actually met Sion Lee face-to-face. Sorting through the ideas popping into his head, he began piecing together the outline of today's show alongside the script provided by the writers. First and foremost, Sion Lee was undeniably one of the hottest young stars of the moment. He really made his mark with Swing in Chicago. And he did it in a way that was completely different from his past, when he had relied solely on his face. He was now a rising symbol.
This was an era where the demand for indie films was being proven and cinematic trends were shifting. Having successfully navigated both the traditional Hollywood studio system and the independent scene outside of it, Sion was subtly viewed by industry insiders as something "liberated." I don't know exactly how to put it into words yet, but... There was a palpable feeling that he was going to become something truly massive. And Fragments of You might just be the opening shot. At any rate, many Hollywood experts had recently begun to speculate whether his sudden acting transformation was entirely intentional. Otherwise, none of this made sense. How could an actor who had been rated the absolute worst of the worst in terms of acting and project selection since his childhood suddenly change overnight by appearing in an indie film?
It doesn't make sense unless his agency calculated this entire image makeover down to the last detail. He seriously wondered if the head of Sion Lee's agency was some kind of genius. But... the "calculated image theory" fell apart because, ultimately, the actor himself had to deliver those performances. Therefore, there was only one logical conclusion: Sion Lee had read the room of the changing times himself and consciously shifted his image and acting style. Either way, the kid is a lunatic. With the massive success of Fragments of You, countless Hollywood production companies were dying to work with him. Many industry professionals were starting to revise their opinions of him. While those who had been burned by him in the past still looked on with skepticism, Arsenio, who had no history with Sion, leaned positive. This is his second project already. He has definitely changed. You could tell just by looking at the Elena Asimov's attitude. If Sion's transformation were a sham, why would Elena, who had worked directly opposite him on two movie sets in a relatively short period, be smiling so warmly around him lately? After mulling it over, Arsenio chuckled and muttered to himself, "The typical story of a hot star. How boring."
What about his name, "Sion"? Usually, in America, "Sion" would be pronounced "Sigh-on" or "Sean." But his was pronounced "Si-on," like a drawn-out version of "Sean." It sounded almost like a rapper's stage name. Should I ask about that in detail? ...Ah, right. No touching on racial or ethnic topics. His eyes fell on a line on the final page of the brief—the "NG List" provided by the agency and production company to protect the actor's and the film's image. Unusual names were often tied to ethnicity. He briefly considered dancing around the topic, but decided it wasn't interesting enough to warrant ignoring a direct request. While the materials raised some questions, they didn't quite fit his show's style anyway. "Well, let's just wing it. Wing it." In the end, Arsenio resolved to do what he always did.
Time flew, and at six in the evening, filming for The Arsenio Hall Show began.
The show's signature New Jack Swing opening theme blared, accompanied by thunderous applause from the audience. Standing behind the curtain waiting for his cue, Arsenio stepped onto the stage with a vibrant smile.
The studio audience of about three hundred let out The Arsenio Hall Show's signature dog-bark chant. Amidst the roaring cheers, Arsenio kicked off his monologue as usual. He cracked a few jokes targeting the band members and the audience, warming up the crowd before bringing out the guest to keep the momentum going.
But as he scanned the crowd during his opening remarks, he was slightly taken aback. Wow, there really are a lot of guys here. He had heard rumors, but seeing it was another thing entirely. The Arsenio Hall Show distributed free tickets starting in the morning, and he had fully expected today's audience to be mostly women. I should use this to break the ice with Sion. He probably won't expect it either. Grinning, he pointed toward a biker-looking guy in the crowd. "Hey, brother! How many Harleys do you own?!" The camera cut to a bearded, Viking-looking man. He let out a booming laugh and held up two fingers. The surrounding crowd erupted in laughter, and riding the wave of warm, energetic vibes, Arsenio shouted, "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome today's guest! Sion Lee!"
The roar was deafening. Are these bastards watching the Super Bowl or what? Arsenio thought. Sensing that this unexpected dynamic would hook the viewers at home, Arsenio pumped his fist in a circular motion to celebrate the explosive start. And then, as if he owned the place, he made his entrance. Sion Lee. Everyone went wild. People leaped to their feet, giving him a standing ovation accompanied by screams so loud it was absolute madness. Looking perfectly accustomed to such a reception, Sion waved and reached out to greet them. Then, with a smirk, he walked up to a man in the front row and extended his fist. A fist bump—the crucial ritual between men. A sign meaning I carry no weapons.
Dressed in a sharp suit and sunglasses, Sion completely stole the spotlight, reducing Arsenio to a mere bystander as the crowd chanted:
Hearing the distinct pronunciation, Arsenio chuckled in disbelief. These guys are actually pronouncing it 'Si-on,' not 'Sigh-on.' It was proof that they genuinely remembered and respected the actor. Once Sion settled comfortably onto the couch, Arsenio skipped the standard pleasantries and jumped straight into the interview.
"Sion, it's great to have you here!"
"Great to be here, Arsenio."
"I've been dying to ask you something ever since I saw you!"
"What's that?"
"What does it feel like to go through life as such a handsome man? What's the best part about it?"
"The best part is definitely getting a free cookie every time I go out for coffee."
"Oh, so I assume all the ladies love you?"
"And the men, too. Let's hear it for them!"
Sion called out shamelessly, prompting the audience to burst into laughter and applause. Though momentarily stunned by the actor's effortless crowd control, Arsenio played along, using exaggerated gestures and shrugs to whip the audience into an even bigger frenzy. Internally, however, he was impressed. He's a natural showman. Is this what Johnny was talking about? Sion possessed quick wit combined with just the right amount of cockiness that perfectly appealed to the younger generation. Naturally, the next question flowed seamlessly.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! That's a first—a guest taking over my crowd! I love it! Sion, did you expect this kind of wild reaction? Everyone is absolutely in love with Fragments of You."
"When you combine a great script, a great production company, and great actors, the only thing left is to make the right choice."
"Ha! To be honest, I was actually a bit surprised," Arsenio said, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Because today's audience is mostly men. I was fully expecting a crowd of beautiful women. Were you aware of this trend?"
"Of course I was."
"Wait, how did you know? Dammit, Sion! You know it too, don't you? ...Men hate you. I do too! Because every single woman I know talks about nothing but you!"
A massive wave of booing erupted. In terms of timing, it was directed at Arsenio, but at a glance, it was hard to tell who the crowd was actually booing. However, as Sion casually crossed his legs and smiled, the booing was naturally "framed" as being directed at him. Watching him play off the crowd's reaction in real-time, Arsenio thought the kid would make a fantastic talk show host himself one day. He carried himself with the effortless charisma of a true rising superstar. This kid is absolutely insane! And he was exactly Arsenio's cup of tea.
"Oh, I know, I know," Sion said. "Back when I was in kindergarten... well, actually, I grew up in a poor single-parent home, so I never went to kindergarten, but let's just pretend I did for the sake of the story. Anyway, my kindergarten teacher and the girl at the flower shop next door both loved me. I was already quite robust back then."
The crowd burst into laughter. Seeing him casually turn his childhood hardships—what could have been his biggest vulnerability—into a joke made everyone give him a thumbs-up. Men are simple creatures. Especially American men of this era, where a certain ruggedness still prevailed. To them, a real American man had to be "cool," and Sion delivered exactly that.
"That kid is awesome!"
"He's a real man! He proved he's got balls!"
"And he didn't even have to take his shirt off! Hahaha!"
A few shouts from the audience were drowned out by the applause and cheers. As the excitement began to simmer down, Sion paused for effect before speaking in a meaningful tone.
"But honestly, Fragments of You is a movie for men."
"A movie for men?"
"Isn't that right, my fellow brothers?"
"Sion, what do you mean it's a movie for men? It's a romance film. Sure, it has some sci-fi elements, but people go to see the beautiful love story between you and Elena. Wouldn't it be more for women who want a good cry rather than men?"
"No, absolutely not. This is a story for every man in America."
"Okay. Keep going, sir. Keep going."
Intrigued, Arsenio waved his hands in mock surrender, giving Sion the floor. Sion adopted a deeply serious expression and addressed the crowd.
"You all love your wives, don't you?"
"I'm sure most of you do. It might sound funny coming from someone who isn't married yet, but why do we men live? It's to protect and provide for our beloved wives and the children we raise together. But one day, we all have to say goodbye. Sure, it might be easier if we're the ones who leave first, leaving everything behind. But... what if the person you swore to protect for the rest of your life vanishes, and you're left all alone in this world? Fragments of You is a film that captures that very fear of a man."
At Sion's words, a few bikers in the audience choked up as they recalled the movie's plot. They wiped away tears with their long, braided beards, listening intently.
"One of the beautiful things about stories is that they allow us to feel things as if they were real, even if we haven't experienced them ourselves, forcing us to reflect on our own lives. In that sense, I believe this is a movie for men. Elena might disagree, but for me, it was an opportunity to think about the family I want to build in the future. Yes, that's the mindset I had when I acted in it."
As Sion finished speaking and looked around, something magical happened. Hundreds of American men stood up and began to applaud, deeply moved. While the floor manager gestured that it was time to wrap up and go to a commercial break, Arsenio stood up and shouted.
"Sion! We'll be right back after a quick break! Any final words?!"
Giddy with excitement, Arsenio even busted out a few dance moves as he handed the floor back to Sion. Sion stepped closer, looking directly into the camera, and pointed his index finger.
"Grab your beloved wife's hand and head to the theater tomorrow!"
It was a tagline so perfect it could have been printed in a newspaper ad. Even as Arsenio turned to walk offstage, he couldn't help but chuckle, realizing the sheer genius behind the stunt Sion had just pulled. Has there ever been a guy who could promote his movie this shamelessly while perfectly matching the vibe of the show?
Sion Lee. He was a natural-born showman, and the absolute incarnation of capitalism.