While the internet and media were busy discussing how an Eastern singer was deemed unsuitable to be cast in Laila's new movie, some fans from Asia were outraged.
"Who says he's not worthy?" "Who says he's just a singer?" "Who says he needs connections and benefits to get a Hollywood movie role? Clearly, your director personally invited him!"
When Laila approached Leslie Cheung, with the promotion from well-intentioned individuals, many people in Asia knew about the invitation and considered it an honor. Now, what's going on? The movie hasn't even been released, and there's already a protest claiming our leading actor isn't qualified.
In 2005, although exchanging information wasn't as easy as in the future, there were still many people who had lived on both sides due to work or other reasons. Leslie Cheung was a seasoned star, and even in the West, he had fans. The number might be small, but they existed. Some became his fans before coming from the East, while others learned about him through various means and became interested in his works.
With the news of the boycott spread across many media outlets, people in Asia, even if slow to react, received the message. Suddenly, the massive fan base was not pleased.
"Our actor's acting skills are impeccable. To label him as just a singer and assume he would ruin the role is pure bullying!"
"It's not surprising that Westerners act this way; they always look down on Easterners."
"Support Director Moran, wait for the movie to be released, and use the box office to slap those people in the face!"
"Once it's released, make sure to watch it multiple times, let them know about our power—"
Laila learned about the situation in the East a few days later. She had anticipated that there would be protests, so this outcome wasn't surprising to her.
"See? At least in Asia, we don't have to worry about the box office," she said with a smile to Demi, who was reporting the situation to her.
That expression made the blonde secretary feel like she was looking at a fox smiling slyly at her.
"Boss, do we need to find someone to bring the news from the East to the media here?"
It wasn't just Hollywood looking down on Asian actors; the media did the same. They often liked to sensationalize the East and tended to report negative news, propagating Eastern threat theories. Articles supporting their idols weren't something the media here had much interest in.
"No need; they won't be willing to report it," Laila was already familiar with the ins and outs of this.
Helping Leslie Cheung clear his name now would require spending quite a bit on public relations. However, not long afterward, those media outlets would voluntarily come forward to help her for free. Why spend money when that would happen?
"Rest assured, wait until the hype builds up a bit more, and then we'll stir the waters even more."
"?" Demi didn't understand, "Isn't the current hype high enough? Isn't the water muddy enough?" Why did she feel it was already troublesome?
Laila squinted her eyes, "Of course not." What she wanted wasn't just publicity; she wanted to expose the hidden hands behind the scenes. She was tired of always having someone dragging her down from behind. There was no reason for her to be led around by others; it was time for her to take charge!
It's a matter of perspective, causing differences in opinions.
It's like someone who has been playing with smartphones suddenly going back to a time when carrying a large cell phone could be considered showing off, wouldn't find it cool or imposing anymore.
Moreover, with the perspective of the future, there would be strong foresight, and there would be no need to make a detour to find the right path.
Laila was in such a situation. She didn't need any golden finger; having the big killer of rebirth was enough for her to navigate this world effortlessly.
After Demi left, she checked the networks in the East. Indeed, by simply opening a discussion forum, she could see topics related to Leslie Cheung or the movie boycott.
This was a good sign, indicating that more people were aware that the movie was about to be released. It also meant that she wouldn't have to put in too much effort to get them into the cinemas.
Of course, there was a powerful prerequisite— the movie must genuinely be good.
Fans weren't fools; they wouldn't blindly pour money into a terrible film just because their idol had a significant presence. If Laila made the movie into a flop, the audience would only pity Leslie Cheung for being "deceived" into a garbage film. But if the movie was genuinely good, they would shower it with all their enthusiasm.
So, regardless of the situation, the most crucial thing in her hands was to ensure the quality of the movie. She could hold her head high wherever she went.
Although Western media generally didn't care about Eastern affairs, the true identity of Leslie Cheung was finally exposed. At this point, it was no longer a matter of indifference, but rather a matter that could garner a lot of attention!
It all started with a fan of Leslie Cheung, presumably one of the die-hard ones. Not only did he write a lengthy article listing Leslie Cheung's achievements from his debut until now, but he also exposed all the movies he had acted in, the songs he had sung, the events he had attended, and the charitable activities he had participated in, all in great detail.
Not only that, but he also included many photos to corroborate his words.
In the conclusion, he passionately criticized certain articles that insulted his idol and warned that if those comments weren't deleted, he would directly sue the person for defamation.
Initially, Laila thought it was Leslie Cheung's PR team, but after inquiring, she found out it was an article written and posted by a genuine fan.
Having all his accomplishments meticulously recorded and standing up unconditionally to support his idol in times of trouble, this kind of fan would be loved by any celebrity.
Unfortunately, the timing was a bit early, slightly disrupting Laila's plans. She had intended to generate more hype before helping Leslie Cheung clear his name. Unexpectedly, someone had taken the initiative.
No matter how powerful she was, she couldn't control everything according to her will. Fortunately, the timing was still close enough, so she immediately contacted her media outlets and those reporters she had close relationships with to start whitewashing this matter.
Soon, the American public was surprised to see a large number of reports on the media, all explaining that the Eastern actor who appeared in Laila's news wasn't just a simple singer but a triple-threat star in film, television, and music, with significant influence in Asia.
This clarified the truth for those who were previously misled. He wasn't just some randomly inserted "layman"; he was indeed a talented actor.