Exiting her thoughts, Laila leaned back into the comfortable chair, contemplating the next steps while absentmindedly tapping the desktop with her fingers.
Although she appeared indifferent to the boycott in front of Louise and Leslie Cheung, claiming not to care at all would be impossible. Crisis, crisis – only danger brings opportunities. She wasn't a risk-taker by nature, but every time danger and trouble approached, she managed to turn the situation to her advantage and profit from the risks, even if it wasn't a good habit. Yet, most of the time, she had no other choice. Forced into such situations and, stubbornly refusing to use her family's money at the beginning, she repeatedly employed extremely risky methods to resolve numerous issues.
However, she was well aware that, despite the various troubles, she was a person adorned with a lucky attribute. Compared to ordinary directors, she had the privilege to film whatever she wanted, unlike her past life and the majority of directors who wasted much of their lives seeking investments.
The issue of the boycott spread widely on the internet, with many people discussing it on Facebook. While most were likely just joining the bandwagon, it was evident that some genuinely couldn't bear the Eastern elements in the movie, believing it would turn the film into a pile of garbage.
Louise posted numerous photos of Eastern scenery on the official website and her Facebook account, all beautifully captured by Laila herself. The breathtaking landscapes instantly captivated countless people, earning praise from various quarters. Laila's photography skills were widely acknowledged in both the photography and fashion industries.
Seeing one person after another expressing their desire to visit those places, Louise finally felt some relief. At least in terms of scenery, everyone's acceptance was not an issue. Even those who didn't like her couldn't deny how appropriately Laila had chosen the locations, unmatched for the book's settings.
However, the more significant problem lay with the Eastern actor.
Whether the filming location was in the West or the East, as long as it involved landscapes, it would be difficult for anyone to identify the exact place if not mentioned. However, when it came to actors, especially inserting an Eastern actor into a Western fantasy story, it seemed like a joke. Who knew how this actor would ruin their beloved work?
#Why force an Eastern actor into the cast? What hidden deal is behind this?#
This terrifying topic emerged out of nowhere and gained widespread attention in a short period.
"As everyone knows, 'The Lord of the Rings' is a purely Western fantasy work, a great masterpiece. When I heard that Laila Moran had bought the rights to direct it, I was very excited. She is the most outstanding among the new generation of Hollywood directors, having created many classic works. With her directing, we can confidently look forward to the movie."
"However, as various details about the movie surfaced, I realized that I seemed to have discovered something extraordinary. Everyone acknowledges Director Moran's excellence, so why would she suddenly introduce an obviously inconsistent Eastern character?"
"Based on my understanding, she had no intention of adding an Eastern actor before leaving Hollywood to find suitable shooting locations. However, after her trip to the East, she introduced this mismatched character. This made me wonder if the Eastern authorities forced her to include such an actor. So, what conditions are they using to threaten her? For example, not allowing the filming of movies in their country if she doesn't comply? Or did Director Moran herself choose this character to exchange for benefits from the East?"
"Many may not know that in the last two years, Director Moran has invested billions in building the largest Eastern theaters. Even some Hollywood movies need her permission to enter that market. It seems our young director is playing a big game!"
"What's even scarier, after my investigation, this so-called Eastern actor isn't an actor at all – he's a singer! [Album cover.JPG]"
"Having an Eastern singer play such an important role from the book, is this really how the movie should be made? I've always been a fan of Director Moran, but now I've decided not to watch any of her movies anymore."
A fan wrote The long article was posted online and instantly attracted countless people to watch. In particular, he also posted a photo of an album cover in the article, and it turned out to be the cover of an album by Leslie Cheung!
With the evidence in hand, a large number of people left messages on Laila's FB page. Some of her fans hope that she can stand up and explain, while others directly abuse her, thinking that she simply used a role in exchange for East's interests, regardless of how the movie turned out.
"It's disgusting. I never thought I would like such a director before. From today on, I won't consume any movies she directs."
"Although I love the movies you used to make, sorry, I won't be consuming any movies directed by you in the future."
"Is there a misunderstanding? Director Moran wouldn't make a movie a flop just for a bit of money. A successful movie brings her more profit, right?"
"The person above has no insight. How much money can a movie make? Monopolizing a country's film industry is the real big money!"
Laila calmly scrolled through these comments, each more hurtful than the last. These criticisms were something she hadn't experienced since the beginning of her career. If it weren't for her past life where she had already endured so much criticism, she might have been disheartened by now.
"Laila, I'll go and have those comments deleted right away! Don't look at anything online for now," Louise said urgently, wishing she could personally come over and shut down the computer. She had felt extremely suppressed after reading those comments. Even if the comments weren't directed at her, just imagining how the main person involved would feel after reading them made her uneasy.
Laila smiled faintly, "It's okay, let them be."