Ordinary movie fans are generally only interested in the plot. If someone dies in the movie, it's whatever—mainly they're just there for the excitement and to experience some eerie and creepy atmosphere. Very few people would delve into the scientific aspects. As long as the exaggerations aren't too extreme or blatantly false, directors are free to portray things as they want.
But who would have thought that Director Laila would be so serious even about these minor details? She's practically the conscientious conscience of the industry! Unlike those directors who treat movies like toys and audiences like children to be deceived. They ought to take a page from her book.
In reality, some directors do seek assistance from experts before making a film, especially for certain genres like science fiction. To avoid making errors that the general public would notice, inviting experts to provide insights is quite necessary. For instance, in Jurassic World, the preserved mosquito is trapped in amber. It's said that the mosquito extracted dinosaur DNA from its blood, enabling scientists to clone dinosaurs.
Awkwardly enough, scientists came forward after the film's release to correct this. They asserted that while the mosquito shown was from the prehistoric era, it didn't feed on blood; furthermore, it was a male mosquito. Everyone knows that only female mosquitoes feed on blood, making the scenario in the movie fundamentally impossible.
This demonstrates the necessity of expert input. Even if you can deceive the general public, scientists will always emerge to fact-check.
Therefore, the public's impression of Laila was very favorable. When Laila was filming "SAW," she was a fledgling director. Even back then, she understood the importance of professionalism. How could anyone not admire that?
The direction of public opinion suddenly shifted due to Laila's revelations. Those who were initially interested in gossiping about her began praising her dedication to filmmaking. Even veteran directors and film critics, during interviews, offered high praise for her serious approach.
What Laila didn't expect was to see a familiar name among those being interviewed—Cooper!
He was being interviewed by the "New York Post." She couldn't fathom how the journalist managed to locate him after he had disappeared from the film industry for so long. Not only did they find him, but they also managed to extract a whole article from him.
What was even more unexpected for Laila was that Cooper, who had always been hostile toward her and seemed like he'd be delighted to see her suffer, unexpectedly spoke favorably about her in the interview.
"The current film industry does indeed need directors like Moran. With the advancement of time and the development of film technology, Hollywood produces more and more films each year, but fewer and fewer truly outstanding ones. Why is that?"
"I believe it's because some production companies and directors have lost sight of the true purpose of making films while chasing profits. Moran is young and a prodigy, something I've always recognized. However, after this incident, I've seen even more shining qualities in her. This makes me gratified and pleased that the film industry has a future director like her. I hope her presence can bring a breath of fresh air to the film world."
After reading Cooper's comments, Laila felt uneasy.
This couldn't be Cooper! How could this possibly be Cooper? His speaking well of her in public was utterly absurd. Whenever he appeared in the media, he was either attacking her movies or attacking her personally. But now he was coming forward to sing her praises?
There must be something off about this!
She wasn't the only one who thought so. Roy, having read the article, had the same reaction. Consequently, while Laila was contemplating, Roy entered her office holding a newspaper.
"Can you believe it? Cooper not only resurfaced but he's also saying good things about you!" he exclaimed as soon as he walked in.
"I've seen it," Laila replied, feeling puzzled, although she didn't let it show. After all, having praised so many actors and their performances, acting wasn't something she was lacking in.
Deceived, Roy looked at her with confusion. "Aren't you surprised?"
"Why should I be surprised? What he said isn't wrong, is it?" She countered with a smile.
True, she was right! If someone else said what Cooper did, Roy wouldn't find anything amiss. The problem was, it was Cooper—it was her rival Cooper, the one who she had almost made kiss a donkey's behind in front of the whole world. The one who had been so embarrassed that he'd stayed out of the media for months.
Could such a person actually speak well of her? Who would believe that?
"I think this must be some fabricated story by that newspaper!" After thinking about it, Roy could only come up with this possibility. After all, it was the New York Post. They could report that aliens had given them an exclusive interview and it wouldn't be all that surprising. That newspaper was just like that, without any integrity.
"I don't think so." Laila seemed to have a better grasp of the situation than Roy. "The New York Post is his territory. With Rupert Murdoch backing them up, they wouldn't resort to using this kind of stunt for publicity."
"So, they have no shame, but they still have to put on a show?" Roy quickly caught on.
Laila nodded with a smile. "Exactly."
"It seems Cooper is planning a comeback. After what happened last time, he shouldn't be targeting you again, right?"
Laila smiled with a hint of mystery. "Who knows? Maybe he has more plans than we think."
The old saying goes that old habits die hard, and a leopard can't change its spots. While there were people who could turn their lives around, compared to the multitude who stubbornly clung to their misguided paths, the former were few and far between. It was easier to believe that Cooper wouldn't target her any more than to believe Laila had become a man. The current issue was, why did he say those things, and what was the intention behind those words?
The "New York Post" was a newspaper notorious for its lack of integrity, but surprisingly, many people enjoyed its sensationalism. Consequently, their circulation was quite good. After Cooper's interview was published, many readers who were aware of the backstory were equally surprised.
Some thought his comments were well-balanced, while others praised his objectivity, focusing on the matter at hand rather than the individuals. Overall, with the publication of this article, Cooper's popularity seemed to be experiencing a resurgence. Compared to earlier when he was subjected to ridicule and mockery, he was faring much better now.
The public is forgetful, and even the most sensational news fades away after a while. After months of silence, the topic of Cooper had mostly cooled down. This was the ideal time for his return to the media spotlight, appearing before the public eye once more. His comeback was given an extra layer of significance due to his complimentary comments about Laila. At least, before the general public learned the truth, he had said things that garnered their agreement, rather than attacking Laila ruthlessly due to personal grudges.