A strange hush enveloped the apartment entrance, and the sound of the wind echoed in the silence. For a press conference, especially one as fiercely anticipated as this one, this was a profound humiliation for the Hollywood expedition team, which had arrived with great fanfare and an imposing demeanor.
Renly scanned the surroundings, allowing ample time for the journalists to break the silence. Yet, they showed no intention of speaking up. So, he nodded with a smile, "Well then, let's conclude here for today. The production still has work to do, so I won't delay your work any further." With that, Renly turned confidently and left, heading back into the apartment.
Renly's responses today were repeatedly unexpected. He seemed completely indifferent to the negative press. If not for the relentless pressure from the journalists, he probably wouldn't have responded at all. Whether his candid responses were foolish naivety or self-assured integrity, one couldn't help but wonder. Regardless, it left the journalists in an immensely awkward predicament.
Should they continue reporting on this? Or not?
The peacock-blue apartment door closed with a casual swing, cutting off the journalists' view. The crowd exchanged looks, wearing expressions of embarrassment, before lowering their heads and hurriedly departing. The bustling crowd dispersed quietly and inconspicuously.
But the impact of today's press conference was just beginning to ferment after the crowd had dispersed.
Work, work, and more work. Renly's final words at the press conference reiterated, the "50/50" production team had no need for sensationalism, rejected it even, and he hoped that the media could tone down their efforts and return to their regular jobs instead of continuing to chase shadows.
So, was this entire affair of the media's making?
The thought alone sent a scorching sensation through everyone's stomachs. Upon reflection, how had the news developed to this point? First, National Enquirer, then the official statement from the production team, and now... Entertainment Weekly? Damn Entertainment Weekly!
Seated in the driver's seat, Cornell could no longer suppress his anger. He grabbed the orange juice next to him and downed it forcefully. But as he gulped, an uncontrollable rage burst forth. Clenching his fists, he crushed the plastic bottle, spilling orange juice everywhere, yet he paid it no mind.
Suddenly, a shiver ran through him, one after another. Then, he began to sneeze, unable to stop. All the anger dissipated in an instant. What was this unexplainable resentment about?
As the journalists left the apartment, they were all grappling with a dilemma: How should they report on this news?
During the entire press conference, they had been thoroughly ridiculed, enduring a barrage of attacks. They could hardly defend themselves, feeling vulnerable and defenseless. Their humiliation was immense.
Now, how should they approach their reporting? This was a serious question, but for the uncrowned kings, things were never so complicated. All they needed to do was to choose a stance.
The news exploded like a mushroom cloud that very afternoon, propelling the recent wave of reports to an entirely new zenith.
In broad strokes, the journalists were divided into two factions: those intensifying their criticisms and those shifting their perspectives.
Entertainment Weekly undoubtedly led the critical camp, its headline alone, "Renly Hall: Yes, All of Those Are True", was chilling.
In the article, Cornell emphasized that Renly acknowledged the allegations against the production crew without reservation, showing no intention of admitting wrongdoing. His composed demeanor seemed to suggest that everything was just as it should be. And towards the end, Cornell stated, "Our off-site reporters provided Renly with the opportunity to explain or refute, but he declined."
Throughout the piece, Renly, as depicted by Cornell's pen, exuded an air of arrogance and haughtiness, aligning seamlessly with the earlier leaks from within the "50/50" production crew. Ignoring other aspects of the situation, the article entirely focused on the crew's allegations, vividly portraying Renly's image of prideful individuality.
Apart from Entertainment Weekly, there were plenty of allies:
"Renly Hall Openly Admits All Accusations, Rejects Contrition," "Shirking Responsibility, Renly Engages in a Confrontation with Journalists," "Mocking the Kardashian Family, Renly Sparks Controversy Again," "Overconfident and Full of Certainty: I Earned the Nomination Based on My Own Merits," "Hall Admits Close Relations with Spielberg and Hanks," "Malicious Hype? This Is Just the Beginning"...
These condemnatory reports were certainly numerous, artfully extracting snippets of truth to full effect. The same sentence, viewed from different angles, revealed divergent meanings. And this was no less than a press conference brimming with content. Their words weren't lies; they were all based on facts. Yet, the results were entirely different from the atmosphere of the press conference.
With a single penstroke, the whole world could be changed. This was the fundamental reason journalists were dubbed the "uncrowned kings."
However, compared to the media that escalated their criticisms, those that shifted perspectives and altered their viewpoints dominated. In an instant, they reversed the direction of the entire coverage.
"Renly Hall: The Crew Never Considered Sensationalism. So, Who's Stirring Up Trouble?"
"Devoted to Filming the New Work, "50/50" Is Worth Anticipating."
"Another Victim of Entertainment's Extremes: Renly Hall. Who's Truly Pulling the Strings?"
"A Wholehearted Enthusiast of Acting, Unintentionally Stricken by Terminal Illness? Is This a Novice in Academy PR or a Cruel Persecution Driven by Envious Eyes?"
"Rejecting Sensationalism, Focusing on Performance. Renly Hall Counters Criticisms with Concrete Actions."
"Facts Speak Louder than Words, Time Will Judge! In the Midst of Turmoil, Renly Hall Displays Admirable Courage!"
...
These supporters were angrier and more impassioned than the last, as if they hadn't been part of the previous attacks. They were eager to step forward, rallying for Renly, and if possible, they would even present him with a banner of "Devotion to Duty", a sincere testament to their feelings.
Furthermore, Bradley Adams from The New York Times released an editorial titled "The Tragedy of Renly Hall: Who's Fanning the Flames?"
In this piece, Bradley sharply pointed the finger at the uncrowned kings who had lost themselves in the pursuit of truth due to their obsession with entertainment. He emphasized that Renly had never intended to generate sensationalism, nor had he ever considered exploiting his background for personal gain. Yet, time and again, he was manipulated into becoming a tool for news outlets to manufacture attention-grabbing headlines. In the era of fast-paced news, this was a lamentable and sorrowful reality.
"While Renly Hall wholeheartedly immersed himself in filmmaking, the media relentlessly disrupted the stability of the production crew. While Renly Hall devoted himself to the thorough exploration of his roles, the media, under the guise of righteousness, sought their own interests. While Renly Hall refused to compromise, the media unscrupulously shifted the blame to him.
"I sincerely hope that journalists won't focus on our production crew or on me. Let us concentrate on our work."
These were Renly-Hall's original words during the interview. What kind of predicament did he face to prompt such a response? It's a question that deserves contemplation."
This article from The New York Times set the tone and direction for the entire news coverage, outlining the background of the era of "entertainment to death". It truly pointed the accusatory finger at the media themselves, who went to extreme lengths to create sensation. Especially Entertainment Weekly, which instantly became the target of countless online criticisms. This time, they experienced firsthand what it was like to be in Renly's shoes.
Before this, the online critics who relentlessly denounced Renly immediately turned their guns on Entertainment Weekly without any hesitation or buffering. Like goldfish, they had a seven-second memory, devoid of guilt, burden, or any internal conflict—more precisely, devoid of awareness. They flowed with the tide and began criticizing a new target. This time, Entertainment Weekly happened to be in the line of fire.
In addition, Daisy Lucas from Vanity Fair took a different perspective on this incident.
"Renly Hall's Seven Sins: Conquering Hollywood's Symbols of Desire."
This was the title of Daisy's column. In the article, she believed that from the beginning of "The Pacific" until the upcoming Oscars, even though Renly had only appeared in the public eye for a year, his displayed talent, skill, temperament, and individuality ignited people's desires and effortlessly garnered considerable popularity. This made Renly the target, inciting this wave of opposition.
Daisy listed the so-called "seven sins", which were actually praises for Renly. She believed that with his charisma and skill, Renly had successfully carved out a place for himself in Hollywood. This sudden emergence caught people's attention.
However, Daisy also believed that Renly still needed to prove himself further. He needed to show that "Buried" and "Like Crazy" weren't just flashes in the pan. He needed to prove that his Oscar nomination could withstand scrutiny and that absolute ability would eventually shine.
"Perhaps, "50/50" cannot bear the weight of refuting doubts. But Renly, who devotes himself wholeheartedly to acting, has already proven his identity as an actor. He is simply an actor."
With a headline that was both catchy and sincere, Vanity Fair expressed their support for Renly.
Following the press conference, the "Renly Hall" incident seemed to intensify, with media outlets engaging in verbal battles. Neither side was giving an inch. Although Renly's supporters currently held the upper hand and were even in an absolute advantage, the opposing side showed no sign of backing down. They resolutely continued their protest.
Amid the hustle and bustle, as the focus shifted from Seattle, everyone's gaze spread across North America. It wasn't just print media or the internet; even talk shows couldn't resist joining the mockery. The situation seemed to be spiraling out of control, growing louder by the minute.