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Chapter 89: Brave Bull, Fearless of Hardships
🕑 Added 2024-10-17 21:34:48 +0000 UTCAfter discussing, Robert Iger quickly left. He planned to collaborate with Warner Bros. to strategize and use the media while seeking countermeasures against the protesting animal rights organization.
Gilbert also got busy, promptly notifying Sarah, a journalist from The Los Angeles Business Journal, to come to the set for an interview.
"Can I take photos?" Sarah, entering a film set for the first time, looked around curiously. She was stunned when she saw the tall, imposing robot model.
Gilbert smiled slightly, "Of course…"
Sarah immediately signaled her accompanying photographer, who snapped a few shots. She knew these photos would definitely be highlights for her report. However, she also understood that Gilbert hadn't invited her just to take photos.
Considering the recent protests by animal rights groups over allegations of harm to bulls on set, Sarah could easily guess Gilbert's true purpose.
As expected, during the interview, Gilbert not only promoted Real Steel but also condemned the actions of the animal rights organization.
"Black Lightning is a local champion bull, a three-time winner of bullfighting championships. The scars on its body are badges of honor that tell the story of its championship history. Jordan endured injuries on his way to three championships; it only proves that enduring hardships creates a legend. Would we really deny this bull its desire to be a champion in the name of protection?"
Gilbert's arguments were eloquent, likening the bull's journey to that of a human champion, underscoring the importance of perseverance. He went on, "A champion's heart is something we humans could learn from. I respect this bull immensely, and I've personally decided to award it a hundred thousand dollars in hopes of its next championship."
A cash prize for a bull was unusual. While bullfighting competitions do offer prize money, it usually goes to the bull's owner, who might only invest in some medical care or a better pen for the bull. To maintain its fighting spirit, Black Lightning had never even seen a cow and took out its frustrations on its opponents.
The hundred thousand dollars wasn't much to Gilbert; he didn't care what the bull's owner would do with it. His main aim was to irritate the animal rights organization.
After the interview, Sarah quickly published her article, quoting Gilbert word for word. The public had been buzzing over the Real Steel protests. Many viewed Gilbert's bold statements as a refreshing change, albeit with some amusement at his unusual approach.
Hollywood studios typically respond to such protests by apologizing or donating to the organizations, essentially paying protection money to quiet them. Over time, this protection money had become routine, with these organizations growing more audacious.
Typically, there's no way to counter these protests other than apologizing and paying, since these organizations often have media support from rival studios. If you suppress them, your competitors will ensure their voices are heard elsewhere.
But Gilbert's actions were different. He challenged the animal rights group, offering to give money to a bull rather than donating to the protesters. Angered, the group decided to organize a larger protest, hoping to teach Gilbert a lesson. Unfazed, he leveraged Disney and Warner media outlets to launch a public feud with them.
This back-and-forth quickly grabbed national attention, with audiences delighted that someone had finally stood up to these organizations, although few openly supported Gilbert due to the organizations' power. Gilbert didn't back down, and he even sent an invitation for a televised debate to the animal rights group.
Caught in a dilemma, the organization wondered whether to accept. Declining would look bad, but if they agreed and lost, their reputation could suffer. To allay their concerns, Gilbert promised to attend alone, facing their seven-member expert panel.
Convinced, the organization sent their debate team, thinking Gilbert was doomed. But they didn't realize that Gilbert was actually using a strategic retreat to set a trap.
Meanwhile, in CAA's president's office, Michael Ovitz and Martin Bob sat in silence. Finally, Martin asked, "Do you think this is Gilbert's strategy?"
Michael Ovitz shook his head, "I doubt it. Gilbert is young and likely acted on impulse."
Martin, still uneasy, replied, "I hope you're right." He recalled Gilbert's fierce newspaper battles and couldn't shake a feeling that things might not go as planned.
Gilbert's fans, Zoe and Doug, had also been following the situation. While angry at the protests, they enjoyed watching Gilbert's public rebuttals. They tuned in to ABC that night for the live debate, both anxious and excited.
Gilbert was set to face the organization's seven experts alone. This would be a legendary showdown, with over 15 million viewers tuning in, comparable to election debates or the NBA Finals. Regardless of the outcome, ABC was already celebrating a major win with skyrocketing ratings.
Whether Gilbert won or lost didn't matter to the network. They had already secured a massive success with this highly anticipated event.
