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Chapter 88:Showdown
🕑 Added 2024-10-17 21:34:16 +0000 UTCChapter 89: Magic Showdown
In far-off Los Angeles, at the CAA office, Michael Ovitz was discussing matters with Martin Bob.
"Interview with the Vampire is progressing smoothly. We're almost ready to start shooting," Martin Bob said.
"Michael, you should really come by and see it. Tom and Brad look absolutely captivating. I'm sure when the film is released, a lot of young women will be very excited."
The Interview with the Vampire project was specifically managed by Martin Bob, with Michael Ovitz overseeing everything from behind the scenes.
However, instead of discussing this project, Michael brought up something else. "Martin, have you heard? Real Steel has started filming."
"Oh? Really? Looks like Gilbert's pre-production work went very smoothly," Martin replied, with an air of indifference.
Michael then mentioned, "I heard a bull was injured during their filming."
Michael Ovitz kept a close eye on the progress of Real Steel. Although the crew repeatedly asked locals to keep things confidential, word still managed to leak out.
One such story was about Black Lightning getting hurt, which caught Michael's attention.
Martin quickly grasped the significance of this. "I believe the animal protection organizations wouldn't want to hear about a bull being injured…"
The two exchanged knowing smiles.
Black Lightning did indeed get hurt. It was only a minor scrape from a piece of debris, hardly a serious injury. Black Lightning was a champion bull, accustomed to various injuries and had never received this level of attention from animal rights activists before.
No one expected that a few jabs at a stationary robot would turn Black Lightning into a focal point for animal rights.
As soon as they got wind of this, the animal rights group immediately sent someone to investigate, posing as a reporter interviewing locals about Black Lightning.
The locals eagerly participated, sharing all about Black Lightning's championships and its recent film role. They also mentioned its injury history, seeing it as proof of Black Lightning's champion status.
Hearing this, the undercover activist wasn't angry. Most people in the animal rights organization didn't genuinely care about animals; they were more interested in the benefits involved.
After gathering enough firsthand stories, the activist quickly returned to Los Angeles and wrote an article condemning Real Steel for harming a bull, even exaggerating by attributing Black Lightning's old injuries to the film.
Soon enough, with a little help from CAA and the animal rights organization, the article was published across several newspapers.
Back at Warner Studios in Los Angeles, the Real Steel crew was greeted by protestors, incited by the animal rights organization.
These protesters carried signs with slogans like "Protect the Bulls" and "Save Our Best Friends," chanting loudly outside the gates.
The Los Angeles police arrived to help maintain order; otherwise, the protesters might have stormed the studio.
"What's going on? Why are there so many protestors outside?" Gilbert asked, confused about the situation.
Sofia Coppola took a look and returned to report, "They seem to be from an animal rights organization, protesting our alleged mistreatment of Black Lightning."
"Mistreated Black Lightning?" Gilbert was puzzled. "That crazy bull could probably take on a hundred of me. How could we possibly mistreat it?"
Robert Iger arrived, handed Gilbert a newspaper, and explained, "Apparently, a reporter went to your filming location, gathered some interviews, and wrote an article."
Gilbert skimmed the article, then slammed the paper on the table and cursed. "What a bunch of unscrupulous journalists! We didn't do any of this. It's malicious slander!"
"Calm down, Gilbert," Robert advised. "There's definitely someone pulling the strings behind this. Animal rights groups don't get involved unless there's something in it for them."
Anna Singh, the assistant, took a call and reported afterward, "Ms. Boone just called. She suspects this might be CAA's doing."
"CAA?" Gilbert's frown turned into a knowing smirk. "Well, that makes sense. Michael Ovitz and Martin Bob are ambitious and want to use Interview with the Vampire to counter my new film. They planned this from the start and are already making their move."
"What should we do?" Sofia Coppola asked.
"What should we do?" Gilbert sneered. "People who'd gladly destroy their own kind hardly care about the lives of a few animals. It's all just business."
"Are you saying we should bribe the animal rights organizations?"
"No," Gilbert shook his head. "At this point, animal rights groups have already done so much over the years that a lot of people resent them."
He continued, "We'll organize a counter-protest to protest their protest."
Robert's eyes lit up. "You mean, an anti-animal rights group?"
"Exactly," Gilbert confirmed. "Humans are inherently selfish. Animal rights groups may have good intentions, but they put animals above humans. Most people can't accept that. If there's no anti-animal rights group, then let's create one."
Sofia, who also disliked the animal rights groups, suggested, "I bet some of them eat meat too. Let's hire a private investigator to find out."
"Good idea. They preach about protecting animals but eat them in private. If we catch them, it'll ruin their reputation," Robert added with a laugh.
"But what if they're all vegetarians?" Anna asked.
Gilbert joked, "Are plants not living beings too? The only difference is that plants can't scream when they're hurt."
"Right," Sofia laughed. "Let's start a plant rights group to protest the animal rights activists for harming plants."
"That's brilliant."
As the group continued brainstorming, the atmosphere became lively.
This tactic was one Gilbert had picked up from future political strategies. If someone accused him of harming animals, he'd accuse them of harming humans and plants.
The goal was to pull them off their moral high ground. Then, he would step onto that high ground and criticize them in turn, letting them experience the outrage they had once directed at others.
