[Chapter 105: Totally Crazy]
At the West Coast Media Entertainment Studio, Hawke put on a tailored suit while Edward also donned his custom-made ensemble.
Hawke strapped on his Rolex gold watch and Edward fastened his Jaeger-LeCoultre strap. The two men walked out, with Hawke heading toward the Mondeo.
But Edward said, "Boss, let's take my Cadillac."
Remembering that this vehicle was bought with his good buddy Robert Downey Jr.'s money, Hawke didn't hesitate to take the passenger seat. Edward revved the engine and headed straight for Malibu.
On the way, Hawke pulled out his laptop and connected to the internet to search for news about Allison. The pictures and articles had been shared by some bloggers and websites, but the buzz and traffic weren't very high.
Unlike Jennifer Lawrence in his previous life, who had already become an Oscar-winning actress at the peak of Hollywood, Allison was nowhere near that level now. The online media painted a clear picture; public and media opinion about her had stagnated, lingering on that of a once-popular child star who had vanished from the limelight.
If this scandal wasn't handled well, Allison's chances of making a comeback could only rely on the San Fernando Valley.
Thinking back to what he saw on the yacht, even if they managed to smooth things over this time, similar situations would definitely arise again. Allison was not simply careless; she was completely without restraint.
People like her weren't rare in the celebrity world, a typical example being Grace Kelly. Rumors circulated that whenever Grace entered a film crew, she claimed she could sleep with all the men involved -- from directors and producers to even the crew. The difference was that Grace was very famous and could pursue any romantic interest she chose without ulterior motives.
Allison had already faded out; if she wanted to regain her former glory, she couldn't afford to be reckless.
Wasn't this like starting in hell?
Hawke closed his laptop, considering their options. The crisis presented an opportunity for him to make a bold request.
...
As the Cadillac entered Malibu and turned into the coastal villa area, Edward quickly found the high-walled villa and parked right in front of it.
Hawke called Joanna, scanning the area for any signs of paparazzi but found none.
The electric gate opened, and Edward drove in. In the green front yard, Allison and her backup dancers were still practicing their dance routine, clearly oblivious to what had happened.
The car came to a stop at the steps, and Hawke saw Joanna along with three others.
As he got out, Joanna introduced everyone.
The man was named Scott Braun, Allison's manager. The woman was Fergie Encko, Allison's publicity head. And there was a middle-aged man in his fifties, Roger West, the owner of West Voice Records.
Hawke shook hands with each of them as they moved up the steps into the villa.
Joanna emphasized, "Hawke is a crisis management expert. Without him, there would be no Steve Nutt today."
Roger's interest was piqued as he confirmed, "The star player for the Dodgers, Steve?"
Hawke replied, "Due to a confidentiality agreement, I can't disclose what happened, but I can assure you that every word Joanna said is true."
Scott interjected, "I work with Biles at the same agency. He's spoken highly of you. Impressive work."
Roger had already invested considerable resources into Allison and wasn't about to give up easily. He asked, "Do you have a way to salvage this scandal?"
"I checked the news online as I came in, and I can say it's impossible to restore her image," Hawke replied frankly. "With just us here, we can't fight back against internet opinion."
He stated outright, "Internet opinion can only guide or shift; it can't be confronted."
Fergie asked, "Why can't we just refute it?"
Hawke glanced at her, casually saying, "There might be hundreds of thousands who have seen this news, and each person has their take. Do you think we can really debate right and wrong with them?"
If a confrontation ensued, millions of armchair critics could pop up online, scrutinizing every detail. Not even God would withstand such nitpicking.
Joanna, clearly agitated, suggested, "Should we release a statement saying it's all false?"
"Calm down," Hawke indicated to Edward.
Edward quickly handed her a bottle of water.
Joanna then recognized him as that smooth guy from the premiere of The Scorpion King. She accepted the water, took a sip, and even flashed Edward a smile.
Seeing her expression gave Hawke a headache, but business was business: "With a scandal of this magnitude out in the open, never rush to deny it, nor call it rumors; that will only backfire. What we need now is calmness and a strategy to solve the problem, not to rush into media and public scrutiny unprepared."
As he spoke, both Scott and even Roger found something sensible in Hawke's reasoning and started to trust him more.
Hawke, having learned a tactic from Miss Baa, said, "Let's all take three minutes of silence to cool off and let our emotions settle."
The others complied, but Joanna found it hard to relax.
Hawke had a trick and subtly signaled Edward about Joanna.
Edward leaned in and whispered, "Jo, don't worry. There's no issue my boss can't solve."
Joanna nodded slightly, but what preoccupied her mind were the loans. If this incident caused Allison to completely fade away, she wouldn't just lose her loans -- West Voice Records could potentially sue for breach of contract too.
She had just taken out a loan against Allison's record contract.
Seeing her hopes of becoming the next Jamie Spears fade before dawn was hard to accept.
...
Three minutes passed, and Hawke lightly clapped his hands, asking Joanna, "Do you know where the photo came from? Who's the guy?"
Joanna replied, "It might be from two boys a couple of days ago, but looking at the background, it could be someone else... Allison partied too hard. I'm not sure if there were others involved."
"What? There are more?" Roger was nearly beside himself with rage. "I'm trying to build Allison into a pop star, not some bimbo from the Valley!"
Joanna lowered her head. "I'm sorry; I didn't manage her well."
Roger was about to explode but was interrupted by Hawke: "We need to solve the problem, not create new ones."
Scott advised Roger: "Let's first focus on solutions."
Sitting on a single couch, Roger pulled out his phone and quietly texted his assistant: 'Get me an appointment for a physical as soon as possible.'
He had reason to be anxious; he'd also been involved with Allison.
No, to be clear, it had been her who had seduced him.
With such reckless behavior, Roger felt uneasy.
Hawke was already formulating an idea, but he first needed to clarify a few aspects since the method would be quite radical.
He first asked Roger, "Allison's new album is taking an electronic and sexy direction, similar to the dance practice I saw when I walked in; did it include risque content?"
Roger answered, "Yes, we assessed that her looks and body are indeed her strengths."
Hawke continued, "If a singer has significant buzz and becomes a representative figure of some kind, can that buzz translate into album sales?"
If asked this question a decade later, the answer would have been obvious.
Roger considered for a moment before answering, "It depends on how significant that buzz is. Back in the '70s and '80s, probably not. But in the last decade, especially the last five or six years, there have been singers who went viral while having decent album sales."
"Fan economy in pop music and idol culture is worse than in film industry, right?" Hawke slightly elaborated on the fan culture.
Everyone present understood immediately; they were all industry insiders.
Scott confirmed, "Indeed, the loyalty and rivalry among fans in the music industry are far more intense than in cinema."
"Got it," Hawke said. "So let's align our thoughts and goals: Allison must make a comeback -- better yet, the more popular, the better. Ideally, she should become a trending topic to boost her album sales."
Fergie replied, "That's precisely the goal of publicity."
Everyone agreed.
Hawke's gaze fixed on Joanna: "Jo, I need to confirm one thing. After this crisis is resolved, can you ensure Allison refrains from similar incidents?"
Joanna wanted to say yes but opened her mouth and steeled herself to say, "It's difficult. I've had numerous arguments with her over her recklessness. Allison insists she's only interested in two things in life -- singing and partying..."
Roger, who was purely a businessman, nearly slammed his hand on the table.
Hawke stated, "Normal public relations cannot resolve this incident. Going in recklessly might cause Allison to be thoroughly abandoned by both public and media. Additionally, according to Joanna, Allison is like a ticking time bomb -- she might pull a second stunt at any moment."
He scanned everyone's faces. "So, the method I want to employ is to deepen the scandal, like a nuclear bomb explosion, transforming it into a hot topic."
Scott thought of someone: "Like how Madonna did? Publicly dating Rodman, teasing Jordan, and purposely leaking a series of scandalous stories in her autobiography to attract media and public attention, becoming the center of conversation across the nation?"
Hawke slowly shook his head: "Allison isn't Madonna; she doesn't have that kind of capital. Also, my method must be even more radical. Future similar incidents wouldn't be seen as scandals but could instead be perceived as symbols of female liberation, igniting a societal conversation."
With no sunk cost, Roger would have ditched Allison long ago. But given the investment already made, he asked, "How do you propose we proceed?"
Hawke calmly stated, "Let's first discuss the fee -- $800,000. This situation might raise some legal questions, so we need a legal consultant. I have someone in mind; you can negotiate his fee directly with him. Furthermore, all expenses incurred during this process will be covered by your side."
The quote left everyone in the room in silence.
Even Joanna hesitated, glancing at Roger.
Roger, however, gave no indication.
Joanna had invested too much in her daughter; the only way to repay her loans was if Allison succeeded, allowing her to become the envied Jamie Spears.
In all honesty, what choice did she have?
She lifted her head, looking at Roger: "I'll personally cover $400,000!"
Roger never expected such determination from her. Weighing the pros and cons, he finally said, "The record label can cover the rest."
Hawke chimed in, "I'll call the legal consultant; let's sign the agreement once he arrives."
Roger mused for a moment, saying, "The plan must satisfy us."
...
Hawke stood up, moved to a quiet spot, and dialed Brian Ferguson.
When the call connected, an astonished voice came through, "You actually called me! You're not looking to treat me to drinks, are you?"
"Aren't you a lawyer? I have a business proposition," Hawke reminded him from their last conversation. "Interested in Hollywood scandals and disasters?"
On the other end, there was a loud sound, followed by excited exclamations, and then Brian said, "I love scandals and disasters! Where? I'm on my way now."
"Malibu, in the seaside villa district," Hawke provided the address.
...
In less than twenty minutes, Brian arrived promptly.
Dressed to impress, he introduced himself as Hawke presented him to Roger and Joanna, showing them his attorney's badge and firm identification. They quickly negotiated fees.
Then, Hawke signed agreements with both Joanna and Roger. They agreed to share the costs.
Hawke stepped to the center of the living room, stating, "What I'm about to share must be kept strictly confidential. Brian, prepare the non-disclosure agreements; everyone here needs to sign."
Brian already understood the situation and was eager to see how Hawke would resolve this mess, responding, "I'll get right on it."
Once everyone signed the NDAs, Hawke declared, "I'm going to call this public relations project the San Fernando Valley Plan."
The name took everyone by surprise.
Ignoring their shock, Hawke continued, "We don't know who the male lead in those photos is, nor do we need to. We'll create a stand-in for this incident, extending the background into filming a video."
"Wait," Roger connected the dots, feeling a bit uneasy. "You mean filming something like that in the Valley?"
Hawke nodded slightly. "More specifically, a self-shot video led by Allison and the male lead we find, which would 'accidentally' leak and be bought by a Valley company; after gaining the rights, they'll undoubtedly promote its release."
Brian had never witnessed such public relations tactics. He thought Hawke had lost his mind.
Hawke continued, "We'll promote this video through the method typically used for a movie, generating buzz. No previous star, not even a faded star, has ever had an incident like this explode at such scale. We'd be the pioneers -- when the media and public think of leaked videos, they'll first think of Allison."
Joanna kept trying to wrap her mind around it: "But this is a scandal... a scandal!"
Hawke replied, "Just like everything Madonna did, scandals can also attract fans. Importantly, this wouldn't be a video we released; it would be something that leaked unintentionally. The ones who should feel ashamed aren't us or Allison, but everyone who watches the video."
He spread his hands, saying, "Allison simply did what couples often do. Is she to blame? Those who see the video owe Allison for an album!"
Roger began to see the implications: "Creating explosive headlines to promote Allison... but there's one issue; Allison's notoriety is somewhat limited."
"A long video carries much more impact than a few photos," Hawke, having seen successful examples before, replied: "The presence of such a video will revive memories of Allison; even those who don't know her will search for who Allison is."
He turned to Fergie: "So, one of your tasks will be to showcase Allison's past as a child star, utilizing blogs or other formats to ensure that the audience can easily find her online."
Fergie took notes.
Hawke slightly paused to ensure everyone absorbed the information before continuing, "There's another key element: The male lead! This character can't be just any regular Joe; they must be someone recognizable enough to spark viewers' curiosity and make the video truly explosive."
Brian caught on, interjecting, "Get a male star?"
Scott noted, "Generally, male stars wouldn't want to do that..."
The current decade certainly wasn't like a decade later when deliberately showing off body parts on social media was common.
"Actually, I know a male star who might be willing. He could be considered a second-tier celebrity, but in a video like this, his allure and timeliness would overshadow that of a first-tier." Hawke revealed, "Allison might not be as famous as he is, but she's got the looks and body to attract attention. He's well-built and attractive too, plus he's got a bit of fame -- imagine the buzz that couple would create in such a video..."
He made an exaggerated motion, "It would explode like a nuclear bomb, sending shockwaves throughout America."
Joanna concernedly inquired, "So, afterwards, for Allison..."
Hawke affirmed, "Allison will stand strong, fight through, and walk at the forefront of female liberation, becoming an emblematic figure for particular events that people will talk about -- even if she faces something similar again, she'll carry the banner of female freedom."
Roger, the pure businessman, was thinking further; if such an outcome was possible, it didn't matter whether Allison sold albums or anything else. He could even profit handsomely from leaked private moments.
He advertised, "Jo, I think this is a great plan. The record label will not only pay Hawke but also throw in an additional $500,000 for operational costs."
Joanna envisioned the financial prospects, saying, "I need to discuss this with Allison."
Hawke fell silent; the decision was now in their hands.
...
Within ten minutes, Joanna returned with Allison and nodded at everyone.
Allison was much more straightforward: "I'm totally on board. This is intriguing, and I'll cooperate."
Spotting Hawke, whom she had previously attempted to charm on the yacht but failed, she asked, "Could you play the male lead?"
"The lead is someone else," Hawke instructed Joanna to take Allison out while he laid the groundwork. What had been discussed so far was the operational mindset, but to execute it, numerous tasks remained.
The most crucial preliminary step was filming a private video.
Hawke had already chosen the right candidate.
About an hour later, he called Edward to prepare for their exit.
Brian tagged along, saying, "Man, you're something else! I've never seen anyone clean someone's name like this or so seriously handle scandals -- very impressive!"
Hawke teased back, "You looking to be the male lead? The female lead would totally agree!"
Brian quickly shook his head. "I'm not interested in that."
Hawke dialed Josh Hartnett's number, "Where are you? I've got a solid idea for our PR strategy."
*****
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