I am Hollywood

Chapter 284: Chapter 285: The New Turning Point



[Chapter 285: The New Turning Point]

Since that video was released, public sentiment began to shift dramatically. Initially, the North American media took a somewhat restrained stance. However, across the Atlantic, British media, including several UK newspapers under News Corporation, shamelessly changed their position to fully support Eric. The reason for this, of course, lay in Eric's British heritage; the British media seemed to think that, like any star from the UK who became famous in Hollywood, Eric could still be considered a "British rose," regardless of his current nationality.

Eric, having grown up in London until the age of eight and still retaining his British nationality, had created a series of box office hits as a Hollywood director. Unsurprisingly, before the controversy erupted, he had become a source of pride for the British public. The box office performance of several of his films in the UK was a testament to this.

Thus, when the controversy began, the British media initially joined the fray to criticize Eric. However, most of them adopted a tone of disappointment, like a parent lamenting a child's poor choices. They had believed their 'child' had fallen from grace, only to realize, as time passed, that he had actually been wronged by others. It's no wonder that their emotions ran high.

...n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

On the day the video surfaced, the famous Guardian newspaper published a front-page article that labeled the various attacks against Eric as "the most severe media persecution of the late 20th century."

"Eric Williams left behind a series of classics for the world film industry in just one year. Such a feat is exceedingly rare in the history of cinema. His Home Alone series brought laughter to children everywhere. Pretty Woman and Sleepless in Seattle offered romantic visions for young lovers. His film Running Out of Time showcased a gripping battle between good and evil. And his work on The Others proved that horror could be chilling without excessive bloodshed and violence...

But this extraordinarily talented young man faced a heartbreaking series of attacks, which can only be described as the most severe media persecution of the 20th century. A closer examination reveals that for over a month, the scandalous stories surrounding Eric Williams were largely fabricated from baseless rumors and unsubstantiated photos. The lawsuits he faced seemed to be orchestrated by those with ulterior motives. It is almost surreal that in a country like America, which constantly proclaims that freedom is paramount, the media can be manipulated to such an outrageous extent. This is nothing short of ironic."

...

Following the Guardian's commentary, the idea that Eric was enduring "the most severe media persecution of the 20th century" quickly gained traction among many foreign media and swiftly materialized back in North America.

Most American media, initially just following the trend, accepted this new viewpoint. They began to clear their names while defending Eric.

However, the most vociferous reactions did not come from the media but from ordinary citizens. History had taught that while common people could be easily misled, they were also the hardest to deceive. The comments made by Arnon Carpenter in the video were undeniably a significant provocation to the American public, who had always valued freedom and transparency.

Thus, in just three days, through various fan organizations formed across North America, groups supporting Eric began to emerge in over a dozen major cities including New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, and Philadelphia.

While the numbers in each city were not large -- barely reaching two thousand in Hollywood -- these demonstrations spanned nearly every important American city. Even the dimmest minds recognized the potential for the situation to escalate uncontrollably if the federal government remained indifferent.

...

As the federal government convened urgent discussions on how to respond, Eric, having barely spoken for over a month since the controversy erupted, announced that he would release his first single on Valentine's Day, February 14, in response to the debacle. He stated that all proceeds from the song would be donated to legal aid foundations in North America to support vulnerable communities.

This act of responding to personal injustice through a song was unprecedented. Curious individuals, regardless of their allegiance to Eric, eagerly anticipated the release. The major North American record labels quickly reached out to Eric, offering lucrative deals for the song's distribution.

Seeing the tide turning, the federal government announced a news conference on February 13, stating that a dedicated investigation team would thoroughly probe the series of attacks against Eric Williams.

...

On February 14, amid the nationwide romance of Valentine's Day, many couples found themselves spending the evening out at bars, shops, and cinemas in North America. However, noticeably fewer people were out than usual. Many went rummaging through storage for their long-neglected radios, desperately tuning in to find the right channel. In fact, those without radios contributed to a surge in sales, as the once-dwindling demand suddenly rocketed. Certain media outlets later reported that radio sales exceeded 2.6 million units that day, outpacing the annual Super Bowl TV sales record by far.

...

In a Beverly Hills villa, Michael Eisner returned home after a long day. Since Eric leaked the video, Eisner had become acutely aware that his coordinated campaign with several other film moguls against Eric had utterly failed. As one of the primary instigators behind the incident, it became imperative for him to erase any trace of past actions in light of the growing protests supporting Eric.

After resting briefly on the living room sofa, Eisner glanced at his watch and instructed the servant to bring him a radio, before retreating quietly to his study.

Simultaneously, countless individuals across North America engaged in similar behavior before eight o'clock.

At exactly eight o'clock, a popular music show on WABC kicked off.

"Hi, everyone! I'm your friend Matthew Suddeth, and as a radio host, I can assure you that today is likely to be the day with the highest listeners I've ever had, as everyone's eyes are glued to their TV screens right now. You might not know that in the over two hours since I got to work, I've already heard one song over twenty times! It's an exhilarating anthem! Wow, my boss is signaling me from the other side of the glass, so in order to avoid being fired, I'll just say this: this is WABC's 'Music Paradise' show, and I'm your host Matthew Suddeth. Now, let's listen to the new song, 'new-divide', from the famous director Eric Williams!"

As the host wrapped up, a brief silence was followed by a steady drumbeat that seemed to approach from afar, soon joined by rapid guitar strums and percussive rhythms that escalated in intensity. This prelude lasted over half a minute without the singer's voice appearing, and audiences all around felt a deep resonance emanating from their souls.

Michael Eisner, sitting in his armchair, tried to feign indifference. His fingers absent- mindedly tapped along to the rhythm on his desk, although a hint of embarrassment crept onto his face, even with no one else in the study.

The music from the radio continued undisturbed by his reactions, and Eric's voice soon filled

the airwaves.

I remembered black skiesThe lightning all around meI remembered each flashAs time began

to blurLike a startling signThat fate had finally found meAnd your voice was all I heardThat I

get what I deserve

[T/N: New Divide by Linkin Park]

...

Eisner shifted in his chair, forcing what appeared to be a cold smirk and muttering, "Is this supposed to be a condemnation? How childish."

Yet, despite his words, Eisner's expressions turned serious. As the CEO of a film company, he recognized that this song's reach would only bolster Eric's already advantageous position. So, sucumbing to instinct, he began to ponder whether there were loose ends he'd yet to tie up and whether any incriminating evidence could still be out there. He was a seasoned businessman, and knowing the situation had shifted, he naturally felt the need to continue collaborating with Eric. After all, profit reigned supreme.

*****

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