Of course, such a steep jump also has to do with the fact that this canned product was never one of their flagships, so the baseline was relatively low.
Tracy added, "But whatever the reason, it's an extraordinarily successful marketing case. Delmont is thrilled and has already asked if you can shoot ads for their other lines sometime soon."
If the market keeps trending upward, they're open to upgrading you from a single-product endorsement to a full brand ambassadorship when the contract expires next year—those two tiers are worlds apart in pay and prestige."
"Good news," Landon said, nodding. A solid step forward.
"There's better," Tracy said, sliding the second folder toward him. "Thanks to the Delmont spot, I've fielded several ad inquiries this week. The most valuable is a Dove chocolate campaign, and it came with a strong recommendation from Eric—the director we loved working with last time."
Dove is looking for a fresh face for the ad; Eric mentioned you and they're very interested.
You wouldn't be the lead, though. That's Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Dove signed Catherine Zeta-Jones as their spokesperson.
So if your role is confirmed, you'll be her on-screen partner.
Catherine Zeta-Jones?
The actress who just exploded after The Mask of Zorro, famous for drop-dead glamour?
Even a supporting role in her commercial means massive exposure and buzz.
"Eric is still brainstorming the script and concept," Tracy continued.
"They want a real story that still spotlights Dove's 'silky smooth' core promise."
Dove! Milk chocolate! Indulge in silkiness!
The words crashed together in Landon's mind, igniting a long-buried memory.
"Hold on," Landon cut in. "You're saying Eric hasn't locked the concept yet?"
Tracy gave him an odd look. "Right. McCann pitched a few directions, but Dove's marketing team isn't sold. Eric's still tearing his hair out. Why?"
Instead of answering, Landon reached over and casually took Tracy's hand, brushing his thumb across her knuckles. "If I've got a solid idea, could we use it to squeeze out… say, an extra creative fee? Or better terms?"
Tracy's brows lifted; she leaned slightly forward, giving him a fuller view. "Creative? Absolutely. Adland pays for good ideas. If it's a complete concept, we can funnel it through Eric as a joint pitch or your personal contribution to McCann and Dove. They still have final say. As for money—"
She paused. "A TV concept that Dove-level brands adopt as their core idea usually runs five hundred grand to a million, depending on how dazzling and fully fleshed-out it is."
Landon's ears perked. Way above expectations.
He only wondered whether an Eastern-market concept could travel West; cultural fit was the wild card.
Zero cost either way—might as well try.
"Get on the phone with Eric, then," Landon said. "I just had a flash of inspiration about the Dove spot—see if Duncan & Co. bites."
Curiosity lit Tracy's face. "Of course! But, darling, give me a hint—what direction?"
Landon released her hand, leaned back, steepled his fingers like a frame.
"Picture a romantic, recognizable cityscape—Paris or New York.
Color palette: soft pinks, golds, light browns for dreamy luxury."
He spoke as he pictured it. "Cold open: extreme close-up—Catherine Zeta-Jones's lips. She takes a delicate bite of Dove, eyes flooded with bliss and intrigued curiosity. The shot has to hit like a punch, all suspense."
He kept going, voice steady. "Cut to full shot: she's in a perfectly cut dress, sitting elegantly on a park bench or café chair, savoring. Then—"
Landon's mouth curved. "I come skidding in from the other end of the bench—awkward, accidental, still cool—and stop right beside her. The air shifts."
Tracy hung on every word.
"She turns, lashes fluttering, gaze drifting from the chocolate to my face, and with that world-stopping smile murmurs, 'Really… this silky?'"
"Really this silky?" Tracy echoed, eyes sparkling.
"Exactly," Landon confirmed. "Snap-cut metaphor: thick chocolate swirling silkily into white milk—mouth-watering.
Then the tagline lands: 'Dove. Indulge in silkiness.' Final freeze: the two of us sharing a smile, background blurred, the words 'Indulge in silkiness' fading in again."
Tracy was floored. As an Agent she'd heard thousands of pitches; Landon's was tight, unforgettable. The teasing close-up, the silky double-entendre, the charming meet-cute, the killer line—fresh, fun, perfect for Dove's brief and crazy viral.
"My God, Landon!" Tracy jumped up, looped her arms around his neck, peppered him with kisses.
"You're a genius! Eric will die for this! McCann and Dove… I feel it—they'll love it!"
She stared at him, delighted.
The man kept surprising her.
Looks, chops, can fight, can race—and now a creative brain?
When she finally sat back down her cheeks were still flushed.
She sipped water, remembering something bigger.
"Also," she cleared her throat, pride glowing in her eyes.
"the fast and the furious deal—all key points locked. Lawyers are drafting. We sign next week barring surprises. The payday beat our floor, and—crucially—"
she stressed, "we secured killer sequel options: escalating pay and real leverage for you."
At last the cornerstone of his career clicked solidly into place.