Regarding the journalist's statement, Roy just looked at him with a scornful smirk, "If you can understand Laila's thoughts, then you're also a top Hollywood director." Just a paparazzo, and he wanted to use his intelligence to comprehend Laila's mindset? What a joke!
The blatant words slapped in the face elicited laughter from other reporters around. At this moment, they didn't realize that just a moment ago, they were about to ask the same question. If it weren't for that person getting ahead of them, they would be the ones mocked now.
They only saw a colleague being ridiculed and witnessed the news value Roy brought to them. If they included this in their reports, would there be no audience?
The mocked paparazzo's face turned crimson. If it weren't for the substantial amount of money he had received previously and the promise of more after accomplishing this task, he would have left long ago. He knew very well that those so-called colleagues around him wouldn't help him when he was humiliated; they would even add insult to injury. To reclaim his dignity, he had to do it himself!
"Roy, are you trying to change the subject? I indeed can't understand Director Moran's thoughts. Can anyone else outside of me understand?" He thought that arguing alone wouldn't work against Roy, so he might as well drag more people into the water. The more, the merrier. In situations like this, the power of numbers mattered. Roy's words had offended everyone, and he was well aware of how to use this opportunity.
However, Roy, this straightforward boy, didn't follow his lead. Instead, he sneered, "So Hollywood only has one Laila!"
His meaning couldn't be clearer. Hollywood had never produced a director as extraordinary as Laila from the beginning. She created global box office hits at the age of eighteen, and every film she made since then achieved tremendous success. If someone could understand her thoughts, wouldn't that person become as remarkable as her?
So not understanding was expected!
The paparazzo was left speechless by Roy's retort. Surrounded by the mocking gazes from the people around him, he wished he could cover his head and escape. However, he didn't do that. Now, it wasn't about taking money to deliberately smear someone for others; it was about Roy humiliating him. For the sake of his dignity, he needed to make Roy understand who shouldn't be offended!
"Roy! Why do you keep avoiding my question? Is it because you also can't answer? It's clearly a Western fantasy work, yet it inexplicably includes Eastern scenery and actors. Isn't this a wrong interpretation of the work? Will the entire movie be filled with such mistakes?"
This time, he decided to criticize the entire film, believing that once his question spread, it would surely attract the attention of many people. He had great confidence in the question he had carefully crafted. Once those fans who admired the original work saw it, they would surely resonate with his question. At that point, the boycott would undoubtedly gain even more momentum!
Even Roy, who was usually slow-witted, understood that this paparazzo was determined to challenge him. His years in Hollywood had taught him how to deal with such people. Of course, he could play the same Tai Chi game that others had taught him before, giving vague and unrelated answers.
But the person he needed to protect here was Laila, and she was his reverse scale. Regardless of the cost, he would never allow these people to tarnish her reputation!
"I thought I made it clear. Laila does this to make the movie the best it can be! Don't criticize her approach just because you don't understand it. If I remember correctly, there were always people jumping out before her previous movies were released, thinking she would fail or make a terrible film. But what were the results? I don't think I need to remind you, do I?"
This was an argument that couldn't be refuted. Laila's films had all faced criticism. Yet, the outcome was her consistent victory. Many people speculated that she would fail, but it never happened. Even if those critics thought something was unreasonable, Laila still managed to achieve results that left them stunned.
It couldn't be said that they were incompetent. After all, they had some credibility in Hollywood, which meant there were successful examples outside of predicting Laila's movies. In this regard, Cooper was undoubtedly the most typical among them.
His accurate judgment on other films had garnered him a considerable number of supporters through the media. If it weren't for Laila repeatedly using facts and films to slap him in the face, he wouldn't have fallen to the point where he had to collaborate with opponents like the New York Post.
Seeing the paparazzo rendered speechless by his questions, Roy continued to stab him in the heart without reservation, "If you don't understand those things, I believe your colleagues around you would be very willing to tell you the answers."
This method of dealing with reporters was actually taught by Laila. It involved attacking only a single point, isolating him first, then verbally tormenting him, and finally making him the target of everyone's criticism.
It might sound cruel, but it was an effective method. Reporters and paparazzi wanted news. Regardless of their initial motives, if they couldn't answer their questions and couldn't escape, then it was better to create new topics for them.
Roy intentionally singled out this paparazzo because he wanted to make him his scapegoat. He aimed to shift the attention of other reporters from him to this unfortunate paparazzo. A paparazzo who was ridiculed by Roy—what an interesting topic, right?
These people didn't care whether this paparazzo belonged to their profession. In their eyes, there were only news, only topics, and only bonuses and red envelopes they could get their hands on!
"If you don't know, you can ask me."
"That's right, I'm more than willing to tell you. A newcomer should learn something while coming out."
Amid the laughter of others, the bribed paparazzo, unable to withstand the teasing glances around him, hurriedly left. But he also vowed in his heart that he would use his pen to let Roy taste the consequences of offending him! Arrogant, disrespectful, and Oscar-winning actor, he believed many people would be interested in such a report!
With the troublemaker gone, among the people surrounding Roy, others could stir up trouble. However, after weighing their significance, they wisely chose to put away their sharp fangs. They didn't want to end up like the unfortunate guy just now, getting mocked to the point of no return.
"Roy, can you please answer..."
"Also, about..."
Other reporters continued to throw questions at Roy. Having finally seized an opportunity, they wouldn't easily let it slip away!