From CNN's channel, Nike and Coca-Cola launched a campaign that could only have come from Billy's vivid, awake ideas. Once again, Billy spoke without thinking, and now he could only shrug at what awaited him.
-Do you know how to ride a bike?- asked the director, even though he had a stunt double prepared for the tougher parts of the video. The personal growth campaign was centered around several trial elements Billy would have to perform—far more interesting than what he had initially expected.
-I know how,- Billy replied confidently to the producers, -but I think just riding a bike is too mediocre. We need something more intense, something that challenges me as part of this program. -
-What could that be?- asked the producer.
-Mmm, we need a female partner—maybe an athlete, actress, or singer. Pick someone who resonates with the female audience and is willing to skydive from a plane,- Billy said resolutely. He had it all figured out. Extreme sports now filled his mind as the perfect solution. Of course, he never really considered the risks, but to him, that was the essence of rock—recklessness and the madness that Billy embodied was far from ordinary.
Michael Ocklars choked on his saliva as he tried to respond. A plane? Jumping out? What kind of madness was this? He tried to stop Billy's impulsive suggestion.
-What are you talking about?- the Nike producers asked.
-Yes! Filming a man jumping out of a plane sounds much more like personal growth than just cycling around a track. Something captivating. I call it a mini-documentary about two people who know nothing about skydiving and dare to do it. I'm free until June 25—three months to take courses, learn from experts, get trained, and find someone just as crazy and willing to jump from a plane,- Billy answered.
No one quite understood what the boy in front of them was talking about, but the five-million-dollar contract seemed more profitable with someone so eager to do activities that many stars wouldn't even consider. A move like that, especially from a star, was intriguing. Billy thought of calling Avril, but she was terrified of heights. Once she reached a certain height, she would shake and scream, with no chance of going any higher.
-I think Billy isn't serious, he's just exaggerating a bit,- commented Michael Ocklars. It was true that the culture of extreme stunts would become more common in later years, as extreme sports gained popularity. For now, these types of ideas were not as discreet.
-I'm not exaggerating! I'm serious. Consider my idea: jumping from a plane. I hope you all take this seriously. The symbol of the campaign is overcoming yourself, and well, I've never jumped from a plane. Fear won't stop me. Plus, you can cover the insurance. I make Warner a lot of money, so if you don't value me, you're missing out. This would be an incredible campaign,- Billy said, thinking how perfect it would be to get paid for doing something he'd wanted to do for a long time. Just being able to do it was worth it; otherwise, he wouldn't have pushed for it.
-But...,- Michael Ocklars was about to protest again.
-I can also make music—a track specifically for this kind of event. Something deeply revealing, something that captures the madness of festivals. It'll be electro, not rock, but with my voice, it'll captivate the masses. It'll be the kind of thing that makes people rush to the stores,- Billy replied with a giant grin, fueled by his desire to jump from a plane.
The Nike producer, a seasoned veteran who knew a lot about successful campaigns, recognized that a move like this, filled with fresh ideas, would surely appeal to a different kind of audience.
-I agree. Perfect. We'll launch the campaign to private agents. The challenge is to get them to accept within a month. I want the campaign to start production with the slogan 'Improve Yourself.' This needs to be a grand effort for people who aren't afraid to give it their all, - Patrick Cosmos, Nike's new producer, spoke up, and everyone began moving into action.
-I'll promote it myself again, through a website I hired to publish my life,- Billy said, once again interrupting Patrick Cosmos.
-A website about you?- asked Michael Ocklars.
Everyone looked at the boy.
-Of course. How else can I promote things as they are? It could show behind-the-scenes footage, draw the public in, guide them to my site, and bring in those who are just curious—especially the younger crowd. It's a perfect business model,- Billy explained.
Michael Ocklars' eyes lit up at the prospect of a marketing strategy that could strike at the core of audiences. The idea seemed reckless, with so many possibilities for disaster. Now he understood why Jerry rarely interfered with the boy's schemes. Billy was simply too young to be responsible for such wild ideas, which were, frankly, completely insane.
-I've got to call Jerry,- Michael thought, watching Billy sign an improvised contract on a napkin.
-Let the lawyers and HR handle the rest of the terms. Don't disappoint me, director,- Billy said, taking his seat and winking at Michael. He was thrilled with how everything had unfolded. Next up would be Warner's approval, but that didn't matter much now. Everything else was in place for his upcoming interview as Peter in Narnia—an iconic role he was eager to take on with gusto.
Behind him trailed a man who looked like he needed an explanation. His face was flushed, not from anger, but from the embarrassment and realization brought on by his father's legacy.
-Don't pull that face, Michael. The only point is to bring money to this company. You need to relax. Life's rules are simple—you either go at your own pace or follow others. When you chase after someone else, you'll run out of breath halfway through,- Billy said.
What more could he do to enjoy himself? He could already feel the wind on his face.
***
-He did what?- asked Osmand, Nike Europe's sales manager.
-He said our ad looked like something his grandma would watch while shopping for yarn to crochet a sweater. The whole running-with-purpose thing didn't resonate with him. He wanted raw emotion, to forget the glamour, and instead focus on his face before the jump,- responded Cosmos.
What could be worse than being forced into a complete overhaul? The boy's challenge had made young Patrick chase after an artistic idea that bordered on madness—filming an extreme documentary of the jump. It would be an unprecedented two-week shoot, condensed into 15 minutes.
-Well, it doesn't matter. If it's as powerful a campaign as the kid claims, and it creates a brand logo, song, and story, then I suppose you've convinced me to carve out some space in the marketing budget. You're asking for a female star, but she has to have the same level of fame as Billy—someone with a similar level of relevance,- Osmand remarked. He couldn't deny the potential of such a campaign with someone so famous. In the coming days, during the launch, he expected to dominate the advertising scene.
-How clever, - he thought, "to create a video like this, something no other star has done."
He could hear the deep excitement in his heart.
-Well, as a producer and director, I think we've got something wonderful cooking... We could even create a brand with this kid—something that's not just an ad but a product people can buy. Maybe shoes, like Jordan's line, or a jacket, or pants,- Patrick mused, embracing the situation. Directing was his passion, and this new direction felt like climbing to new heights—though not in the chaotic Hollywood world he had once detested.
...