There were quite a few journalists who, in their quest for firsthand information, went to great lengths. Some even camped outside Laila's house for two nights, finally seizing an opportunity to approach her car.
"Director Moran, regarding the discussion about the Eastern actor, initially, when people learned he was a singer, they thought he lacked acting skills. Now, they believe he isn't qualified to play a role in a Western fantasy movie. What do you have to say about this?"
Laila looked at the person with a pale face, who had almost been knocked away by her car. In the past, there were warriors who bravely approached to block her car for an interview, but there were very few who had the courage to stop in front of her speeding car. Some were even willing to risk their lives just to ask her a question. Could she still refuse so unfeelingly?
Therefore, she replied, "Whether an actor has skills or not is not something you can merely talk about. It's not about echoing others' opinions but rather observing the actor's actual performance. As for qualifications, I just want to know, what defines the qualifications for a Western fantasy film. Is it about acting skills, or is it about race? Is America still a land of freedom? If even our thoughts are restricted, what's the point of talking about freedom?"
Laila's words excited the journalist. He could already envision his report making front-page headlines tomorrow. Wasn't it worth it to risk his life just to ask her a question? Didn't he look like he was still shaking?
"Director Moran, do you believe that having an Eastern actor is a way to pursue freedom?"
"I just want to say one thing: verify everything with your own eyes, rather than relying on speculation and imagination. Whether I chose the right person, whether the movie turns out to be a flop or not, let's discuss these topics after everyone has watched the movie upon its release."
"Regarding the boycott, what would you say to those people?"
Laila thought for a moment and showed a faint smile to the journalist, "I understand; they are loyal fans of 'The Lord of the Rings,' just like me, deeply in love with this great work. They are afraid it might be turned into an unbearable film. But as I said, whether it's good or bad, whether it's a flop, let's first watch it with our own eyes."
Having answered three questions, Laila let her car drive away.
This was her rule, widely spread among paparazzi. If you could dare to risk your life to grab an interview with her, she would generally answer three questions. If you asked more than three questions, even if you had a lot more to ask, she wouldn't answer. If you insisted on staying, her bodyguards would have the chance to intervene.
Paparazzi could risk their lives for a single chance, but that didn't mean they liked being picked up by the neck and thrown to the side of the road. So, after the tragedies of a few "pioneers" who figured this out, everyone knew how to abide by her rules.
However, before this, it depended on whether the person had the opportunity to interview her. Not everyone dared to stand in front of her. Even if they knew that Laila's car couldn't possibly hit someone knowingly in front of it, what if the car didn't stop? If they didn't get the interview, the red envelope wouldn't be received, they might end up disabled after being hit, and they would have to pay a considerable amount in medical bills. It was too much loss for little gain.
So, not many people dared to try interviewing Laila, and those who truly had the courage to do so could be counted on one hand.
The next day, the record of this interview was placed on the front page of a newspaper.
As expected, it immediately sparked a heated discussion.
Laila's words always sounded reasonable. Was this why she could be so successful while others could only look up to her?
Since when did people start blindly echoing others' opinions without even bothering to see the truth for themselves, just following others?
It wasn't a particularly popular newspaper, but because Laila's interview was featured, their sales record for the day was broken. They had printed five times more copies than usual, anticipating a situation like this, but all of them were sold out within a few hours. The boss lamented, pounding his chest and stamping his feet, exclaiming that he had missed out on a lot of money.
Even without this interview, Laila would have found another media outlet for an interview.
For sure, there needed to be a conclusion regarding Leslie Cheung's situation. His reputation shouldn't be tainted just because of a few mice. And for the box office, she would do some research before the release. With the release date just over a month away, she had to be prepared.
On that day, under Laila's instructions, Louise arranged for several media outlets under Moran's banner to interview Leslie Cheung, who was still in the United States. To be precise, it was an interview with both Laila and Leslie Cheung. Although he was now being watched by some people, his popularity was still far behind Laila's.
After all, this was America. In this place where Eastern actors were unwelcome, Laila had to remain in control.
The first media outlet to come for the interview was a reporter from "The Entertainer," who had interviewed Laila many times before and was a familiar collaborator.
As a seasoned reporter, he usually asked questions that readers were very interested in and wouldn't cross the boss's bottom line. So, when "The Entertainer" sent someone for an interview, it was mostly him taking on the task.
As they were acquainted, they skipped the usual pleasantries and directly entered the questioning phase.
"Director Moran, may I ask why you chose an Eastern actor?"
Laila replied, "It's quite simple. I have always admired Mr. Leslie Cheung's acting skills. Coincidentally, I met him when I was in Hong Kong, and we had a pleasant conversation. I invited him to play a role in the new movie."
The reporter turned to Leslie Cheung, "When you received the invitation, Mr. Leslie, what were your thoughts?"
Leslie Cheung's English was fluent, rendering the translator useless. "At first, I was surprised and thought it was a joke. But Director Moran's sincerity made me realize she was serious. So, I accepted."
He didn't mention that Laila had thrown the script at him and allowed him to choose any role he liked. Even now, just appearing in the movie was met with considerable skepticism. If he revealed the truth, it might spark even more protests.
The reporter was curious, "Before accepting the role, did Mr. Leslie know what type of movie it was?"
"Yes, before I accepted, Director Moran had already given me the script. I also had the privilege of reading the work and really liked the grand world it portrayed."
"So, regarding your involvement in a Western fantasy film, didn't you feel that something was off?"
How could he not feel that? Leslie Cheung shook his head in his heart but maintained a calm expression on his face. "I didn't think so. Firstly, Director Moran is an outstanding director, and each of her works is a classic. Since she believes it's possible, there's nothing to doubt."