Chapter 197: He Was No Ordinary Player
[Chapter 197: He Was No Ordinary Player]
[T/N: First half of the chapter was about the crew from Farewell My Concubine discussing Link, and his achievements. Because of the bet against CAA, they fear cooperating with him thinking the whole Hollywood may block their movie.]
After the Golden Globe Awards, Link returned to his company to edit Se7en, aiming to finalize it before March, and then move on to preparing his new film, The Butterfly Effect.
...
While editing, two significant news stories hit the entertainment industry: Robert Downey Jr. was sentenced to ten years in prison for assaulting Richard Gere, and shortly afterward, The Hollywood Reporter revealed a scandal involving Dustin Hoffman, who had been caught trying to seduce another man's wife and got into a bar fight over it. Paparazzi captured the incident, leaving CAA scrambling for damage control.
With no options left, Dustin Hoffman issued a public apology and announced his temporary departure from acting.
...
While these events seemed unrelated to Link, many speculated that Link had paid the media to expose these scandals to retaliate against Downey Jr.'s associates. As the media trajectory unfolded, Link suddenly found himself buried in negative press.
Entertainment Weekly listed his alleged "crimes":
First, they criticized him as a hack director, claiming that both Paranormal Activity and Final Destination were shallow, lacking depth and artistry. They argued that his commercial success was destructive to the film industry, driving good films out of circulation.
Second, they painted him as a villain, accusing him of ruining the careers of actors like Downey Jr., Kiefer Sutherland, and David Duchovny, and causing severe injury to Richard Gere.
Third, they labeled him a playboy, claiming that after hitting it big, he became extravagant, owning over ten properties and having romantic liaisons with more than fifty actresses.
Fourth, he was deemed a jinx of a director, with every film linked to unexpected deaths among audiences. They even alleged that Final Destination had caused two plane crashes, resulting in Downey Jr. facing bankruptcy and Richard Gere enduring severe injuries.
Fifth and sixth involved accusations of inappropriate relationships with young actresses like Liv Tyler and Angelina Jolie, suggesting he had been exploiting his power.
These sensational stories crossed moral lines and gained widespread traction, prompting Link to take them seriously.
...
"Have we figured out who's spreading these rumors?"
In the company coffee room, Link sipped his coffee and glanced at the day's headlines. The major publications had minimal negative coverage, while the tabloids and smaller magazines featured much more.
Unfortunately, many of these smaller publications were owned by shell companies that disappeared quickly, making it hard for the legal department to pursue action.
Moreover, creating rumors required funding, and only a few could afford to launch a major smear campaign. After Downey Jr. and Richard Gere faced setbacks, few were left with the ability to target him.
Who's behind it this time?
Jon Gordon said, "Link, based on our findings, these smaller publications have worked with several entertainment companies, including CAA, WMA, Warner Bros, 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Miramax, Castle Rock, New Line Cinema, and others. They assist in promoting films and creating buzz around actors. As for who initiated this specific campaign against you, we're still investigating. There's no clear conclusion yet."
Link frowned; the situation sounded complicated.
"Link, I advise you to understand the motives behind your adversaries. If they're trying to tarnish your reputation, there must be an underlying goal. Are they targeting your personal image, your films, or your company? Clarifying their purpose will streamline our investigation," said his agent, Sam Haskel.
Link nodded in agreement.
The last two years had brought him significant acclaim and profit in Hollywood, but he had also made numerous enemies.
These included Robert Downey Jr., Richard Gere, Tom Cruise, and even Michael Ovitz, along with the major studios, CAA, and other players in the entertainment capital.
He needed to uncover who was out to undermine him.
"Let's keep investigating. If we don't find definitive answers, it's alright. As a director, my reputation won't be severely affected."
"Link, we can't underestimate the power of these rumors. They're highly targeted and spreading broadly; if they continue long-term, it will hurt your image. I recommend that once you finish editing, take some time for media interviews. This will let us use mainstream publicity to restore your reputation while promoting your new film," suggested Lily, the head of PR.
Link pondered this and decided to accept the proposal.
*****
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