[Chapter 106: What Is This Operation?]
At Josh Hartnett's villa in Sherman Oaks.
Hawke briefly laid out his thoughts while sitting patiently on the couch.
Josh Hartnett sat silently with his head down.
Will, the agent, still showed signs of shock on his face.
Public relations manager Julius stared blankly at Hawke, his mind racing. Was crisis management really about escalating the situation into a larger scandal?
Will finally regained his composure and asked, "Is this really going to work?"
Hawke emphasized his key points again: "Allison is a Black woman. Didn't you guys come up with a plan for Josh to flatter Black women? This could be the opportunity."
Josh wanted to speak but was at a loss for words.
Hawke continued, "If you're going to flatter her, you can't just do it quietly; you need to let everyone in America see it. Once that video gets out, the public and media focus will be on that video, and the earlier topics about racial discrimination will be a thing of the past."
Josh finally spoke up, "But that's a scandal."
"How is that scandal worse than racial discrimination?" Hawke said as he reviewed the materials Will had sent him. "What kind of buzz could this video create? Josh could jump back into the public eye and become this year's hot topic, essentially becoming synonymous with Allison in celebrity tapes."
He looked at Will, "If Josh becomes extremely popular, can you help him find new work?"
At that moment, Will felt invigorated. "Fame is a star's lifeline. If this kind of buzz happens, I can't promise anything for the larger production companies, but there will be many mid to small-sized companies ready to craft a movie for Josh!"
Julius was contemplating, "A video leak isn't really comparable to racial discrimination. The privacy of celebrities has always been a hot topic, and this kind of private video could really ignite the public's desire to peek."
He seemed a bit cautious, "I'm worried that if things go wrong, it could worsen Josh's situation."
Hawke responded directly, "Could it be worse than it is now?"
Will and Julius fell silent.
Instead of waiting for a slow decline, Josh lifted his head and said with firm determination, "I'll do it!"
As a star who had risen to fame, he couldn't even count how many people he had encountered along the way. Now that's just making the process public.
Will and Julius didn't object.
"Let me explain the costs for West Coast Media Entertainment Studio: $800,000." Hawke stressed gender equality, "Additionally, any expenses incurred during this process will be shared between you and Allison Faith's side. The expenses related to your independent promotion will be borne solely by you."
The three moved to another room and, after some discussion, agreed to Hawke's terms.
Josh didn't have that much cash, but he had an apartment in Manhattan. He decided to mortgage it.
Hawke looked at Brian, "Prepare the contract and the confidentiality agreement."
Brian had come prepared.
Once both sides signed the agreements, Hawke said, "Let's head to Malibu."
Josh, Will, and Brian took two cars and drove straight to the villa in Malibu.
...
Just like before, Brian got into Edward's Cadillac and asked Hawke, "Buddy, can this really create the kind of explosive buzz you mentioned?"
Hawke replied, "If the video leaks directly online, that's not going to work. The buzz would rise and fall quickly. There are too many stars in Hollywood with a knack for getting themselves in trouble; there's always someone else stealing the spotlight."
Brian thought of his cousin, "The news about Erica and Johnson has been holding strong due to the LAPD's crackdown on the Mule Gang. Is that related to you?"
"I just gave it a nudge," Hawke replied while opening the door. The rest would proceed according to plan: "The LAPD and Fox Television have teamed up; the promotional power is significant."
"Is there more behind-the-scenes work needed?" Brian observed that there were not just crisis management, but also operations involving people.
Though he usually didn't conduct himself well, anyone who could become a lawyer couldn't be naive.
Today's events could easily be turned around to manipulate an opponent.
Hawke chuckled, "Without behind-the-scenes work, it would just become a true scandal."
Brian was increasingly curious, "Can I observe the whole process?"
"Sure," Hawke joked, "Let's calculate your tuition..."
Brian pulled out his most inconspicuous cost, "I'll provide legal services for you, and I won't charge you for small stuff."
Hawke called him over, with a purpose in mind, "If there's something useful for you in this matter, I won't be polite."
"Within my means," Brian replied, careful with his words.
...
Upon arriving at the beach villa in Malibu, Hawke introduced Allison and Josh to each other. With both sides having aligned interests, they reached a tacit understanding quickly.
Will and Scott arrived together.
The latter asked, "When can we officially proceed?"
Hawke considered practical issues: "Let's first get Allison and Josh acquainted."
Joanna hurried over and chimed in, "No need, I feel like they already know each other well."
Following her line of sight, Hawke turned to see Allison linking arms with Josh, sitting on the same single sofa, chatting.
Will cleared his throat, "Josh seems quite pleased with his partner."
Hawke inquired, "Jo, where did that photo take place?"
"My home," Joanna confirmed. "In Allison's bedroom."
Hawke nodded slightly, "Great, let's shoot at your house."
At this point, Joanna had no choice but to cooperate. "Today?"
"Yes, today. The pictures circulating online have already built some hype for us." Hawke called over Roger, "Speed up the recording of the first single and the MV, and release it when the buzz is at its peak."
He added, "I have some ideas for the single and MV to align with this event. We'll discuss them in detail later."
Roger replied, "The single has already been recorded, and shooting the MV can start anytime."
Hawke called out, "Alright, folks, we're heading to Beverly Hills. Prepare your belongings; we're leaving shortly."
He turned to Edward behind him and asked, "Did you bring the camera?"
Edward replied, "It's in the car."
...
As the group headed out, Brian chimed in again, "Shouldn't we design a storyline or evoke emotions from the actors? Shouldn't we bring in a specialized director or cinematographer?"
Hawke immediately understood what the guy was after, "You want to play a dual role?"
Brian smiled, "I'm quite skilled at this; I've done plenty, but I'm usually the lead."
"This kind of practical opportunity is rare," Hawke rubbed his fingers together, "But you have to pay to shoot."
Brian fell silent.
Once inside the Cadillac, when the car drove out of the villa gates, Hawke warned, "Buddy, listen to me: if you're looking to move into politics and you shoot this kind of video, don't let it end up in someone else's hands. You'd better destroy the best stuff you have too."
Brian replied, "I'll store it on my computer, locked in a safe."
Hawke understood; this guy was experienced.
...
The group arrived at Joanna's house. After checking out the upstairs venue, he didn't hesitate to use free labor.
On the second-floor hallway, Hawke took the camera that Edward handed him and directly handed it to Brian, "I have no experience, but you do, guide them."
Brian first asked, "No charge?"
Everyone around was stunned at the ridiculousness of the lawyer's question. You're being asked to guide, and you still want to charge?
What kind of operation was this?
"This time, it's free," Hawke waved his hand, pointing at the two at the door. "Hurry up; Allison and Josh are still waiting."
...
Brian carried the camera over and recalled how he usually filmed, saying, "Don't be nervous. Just do what you usually do; feel free to improvise, but remember one thing: you've both seen the photos, so focus on capturing those moments and the poses, and scenes."
Josh seemed to be facing a director, "I discussed this with Allison; I know what to do."
Brian nodded, "Now, let's talk about the shooting process. First, we need to achieve one thing: this is a one-shot love story, understand?"
Both of them nodded in agreement.
Brian became animated as the temporary director: "The shoot will primarily use three methods: a fixed camera position, one handheld by the male lead, and another handheld by the female lead. You can switch back and forth; don't limit yourselves to just one angle."
...
Meanwhile, everyone listened to Brian as he passionately relayed the considerations for the lead couple.
Will asked Hawke quietly, "Is this director... no, lawyer, providing legal services for a company in the Valley?"
Hawke reassured him, "Don't worry, he's dependable."
Scott glanced at Hawke with a serious expression, then at Brian, who was overflowing with enthusiasm. The latter hardly seemed like a reliable choice.
The shooting didn't need fancy lighting or professional sound recording, just a real feel.
After giving guidance, the filming began.
Including Hawke and Edward, everyone gathered at the door to watch the shoot.
After all, opportunities were rare.
...
Brian, the impromptu director, expressed his displeasure, "You all are going to interfere with their performance; move back, move far away."
Everyone had no choice but to retreat to a small hall on the second floor, watching from afar.
Before long, Brian called for a stop, "Allison, stop looking at the lens so much; you're doing it too frequently."
He knocked on the door, "Let's do it again!"
They resumed filming, but just a few minutes later, Brian halted it again, reiterating the same issue: "Hold back, don't keep looking at the camera!"
Similar problems continued, as Allison frequently caused the shooting to restart.
Hawke remained patient, biding his time.
Finally, Joanna couldn't sit still any longer. She stood, removed her jacket, threw it on a chair, and declared, "Let me take over!"
The room fell silent in shock.
Joanna stated, "I'm practically the same size as Allison, with my hair down, you won't even notice. Let me do this, and I promise we can get it right in one take."
Hawke gestured at the sofa chair, "Don't rush."
Scott advised, "Jo, calm down, give them a little more time."
"How can I calm down?" The weight of pressure bore down on her, and today's built-up frustration poured out. "I have a mortgage to pay, business loans, and I need to maintain a glamorous lifestyle. If I don't earn money, I'll go bankrupt!"
She shouted, "Those bastards at the bank will take everything from me, and the auction won't even cover the loans. I'm going to be drowning in debt!"
Her voice echoed into the bedroom, prompting Allison to bolt through the door and embrace Joanna tightly: "I'm sorry, Mom. I'll work hard and won't let you down."
Joanna nodded vigorously.
The touching mother-daughter moment quickly turned when Allison followed up, "Mom, when I succeed, can you hire a bunch of male models for a party? We can celebrate together!"
Joanna replied, "Once you succeed, I'll hire ten, no... thirty, and we'll have a nonstop party!"
After Allison returned, filming resumed again.
This time, Brian didn't call for a stop, and the one-shot love story was a resounding success.
...
As they gathered in Joanna's living room, neglecting the handsome couple upstairs, the video moved from the camera to a laptop that Allison frequently used.
Once everyone finished viewing, Brian exclaimed, "So, what do you think? Not too shabby, right? I'm a professional."
Scott asked, "What's next?"
Hawke replied, "We need to partner with a company in the Valley." He turned to Brian, "Do you know anyone who can help introduce us?"
Brian sighed in resignation, but wanting to see what unfolded, he pulled out his phone and browsed through his contacts.
Hawke stood, addressing everyone, "Folks, remember one thing during this execution: for stars, the worst thing isn't scandal but being ignored!"
...
As night fell and streetlights illuminated the Hollywood freeway, a Cadillac drove through Burbank, heading north toward the San Fernando Valley.
Brian watched the light poles rush by outside and said, "When you called me, I thought you were plotting against me."
He then shook his head, "No, when you asked what my family did at the precinct, weren't you considering today's situation?"
Hawke replied candidly, "I don't believe that someone as smart as you could fail to catch on to such simple tricks, yet you still came, which shows you're quite interested in this kind of mess."
Brian found himself at a loss for words. Was he supposed to admit he wasn't as smart?
He only received a call saying there was a Hollywood scandal to see, so he rushed over.
Hawke returned to the topic: "Tell me more about the company you mentioned that deals with private videos."
Since Brian had already helped with the call, he straightforwardly replied, "The private video company falls under the Private Media Group. The group primarily operates in the Valley and is one of the largest companies worldwide in this field, with over thirty subsidiaries and more than 50,000 employees globally. Its total assets exceed any of the six major studios in Hollywood, consistently ranking in the upper half of the Fortune 500 for years."
He had plenty of knowledge, "The group's primary shareholder is General Electric, and many well-known companies and investors are among its minor shareholders; my family has some investments there."
Hawke recognized the company; its logo was reminiscent of Columbia Pictures.
As the adult film industry continued to grow, it was strange not to see a big group behind it. Hawke asked, "Does the person you brought have any influence?"
Brian simply stated, "The company mainly handles North American business, and Justin Blatt is the senior director of their publishing business... This year, I've helped him with two legal disputes."
Edward couldn't help but interject, "No wonder you can direct; you really do handle adult business."
"Incorrect." Brian, ever wearing a bright smile, even while rebutting, said, "I only represent Justin's personal business."
...
The Cadillac reached San Fernando Valley and, following Brian's guidance, quickly parked outside a company building.
The three got out, and an assistant was already waiting at the entrance. After exchanging a few words with Brian, they headed upstairs.
In a spacious office, Brian introduced Hawke to the bespectacled, balding Justin, who shook hands with him.
Having a stake in this matter, Brian emphasized, "Regarding Steve Nutt's situation, Hawke is the behind-the-scenes driver. And you've seen the news about Erica, right?"
Justin remarked, "Miss Ferguson is incredibly brave; she's a city hero in LA."
Brian continued, "The video of Erica and Johnson was filmed by this guy; the promotion and image management were initially his."
Regardless of whether this was an act, Justin gazed at Hawke with respect and shook his hand again, "You're a hero in your own right."
Hawke replied, "I just aided a little."
He then had Edward boot up the laptop, diving straight into the main issue: "I've come today mainly to discuss a partnership with your company. I have a video that you might find interesting."
Justin came over to look.
Edward opened the video.
After watching for only half a minute, Justin showed interest, especially in the faces of the leading actors.
He recognized the male lead instantly: "That's Josh Hartnett, the lead in Pearl Harbor, and he has a significant role in this year's Black Hawk Down."
Hawke confirmed, "That's indeed Josh Hartnett."
Justin continued watching, and upon seeing the woman's face, he furrowed his brow, "She looks familiar. Let me think... right! That's her in the provocative news article on Yahoo Entertainment today."
Hawke added, "Allison Faith, a former child star who was once renowned alongside several of the most famous from the Mickey Mouse Club."
Justin pondered for a moment but said nothing further, refocusing on the video.
The recording lasted over thirty minutes and featured scenes almost identical to the news photos.
Yet to his professional eye, he spotted the differences -- the milk machine.
However, the video appeared to be a straightforward selfie; with his expertise, he could determine there was a lack of backdrop lighting, and no edits were present -- it simply showcased a couple documenting their loving moments.
Such types of personal videos featuring ordinary handsome and beautiful people would be captivating. With a Hollywood star and a faded female star involved, it surely would spark consumer interest.
Once the video ended, Justin looked at Hawke and asked, "I want to know the source of the video."
Hawke pulled out an authorization letter and placed it in front of Justin, "This is the authorization from Josh Hartnett and Allison Faith."
Justin took it for review, and after scanning through, he glanced at Brian. Seeing Brian nod, he asked, "Are you saying they want to sell the video rights and then launch it?"
Hawke nodded, "Exactly."
Justin was puzzled. Many actors actively participated in this industry, but more often, things operated through deception and monetary temptation. Were those two out of their minds?
"I'm quite confused," he stated plainly.
"There's a special need," Hawke elaborated, "The video would be licensed to the Private video company, with Josh and Allison each taking ten percent of the sales revenue, and the rest would belong to you."
Justin was intrigued by these terms. A tape featuring Hollywood stars would definitely sell like hotcakes.
It would require some investment for publicity; the cost for DVD production was negligible.
However, being a businessman, after some negotiations, they finally agreed on a seven percent cut.
Hawke added, "But there's one condition: you need to follow my promotional plan and work in sync with my pace."
Justin replied, "I need to know what your plan entails."
"First, you have to find someone willing to take a risk to play a repair shop owner," Hawke started detailing.
The meeting continued until ten o'clock at night, with both sides ultimately signing the licensing agreement.
Justin realized that following Hawke's plan wouldn't only mitigate risks; the video could potentially become a massive hit.
With such vast sums of money on the line, he felt it would be rude to decline.
*****
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