[Chapter 107: Heroes Speak Through a Movie]
It was late when Hawke and Brian emerged from the offices of a private film company. Edward had already pulled the car up to the entrance.
As they got in, Hawke asked, "Where are you heading?"
Brian replied, "I live in Covina. Are you really going to drive me there?"
"Covina on the east side of Los Angeles?" Hawke was a bit surprised. "You live out there? You must really enjoy country living."
Brian shrugged, "I moved over there a while ago. I've been settling down there for years now. I remember mentioning to you before that I'd definitely go into politics, and this is where my district begins."
Hawke remarked casually, "I wish you luck in one day taking over the Oval Office."
"You've got a knack for causing trouble," Brian responded, feeling a bit overwhelmed today. "If that day comes, you'll be my chief of staff."
Hawke chuckled, "Then America would end up looking quite abstract."
Brian had helped quite a bit today, and now Edward was dropping him off in Malibu, where Brian's car was still parked at the villa.
As they stepped out of the car, Brian asked, "Where are we meeting tomorrow?"
Hawke inquired, "Don't you have to work?"
Brian shrugged again, "Work or not, it doesn't matter to me."
Hawke restrained the urge to punch him; that guy might prove useful later. "Beverly Hills, Joanna's villa," he finally said.
...
As Brian drove off in his own car, he called his assistant. "Help me take a few days off. I have important matters to attend to."
That jerk could fulfill a purpose in the future; he'd be able to hang out with Hawke for a few days, connecting on some networking.
...
Inside the Cadillac, Hawke asked, "Did you record everything, Savior?"
Edward replied, "Boss, I recorded the whole thing."
Hawke nodded approvingly. "That's a good habit; keep it up." He thought for a moment. "Tomorrow morning, you drive the business van. Follow my instructions and act alone; make sure to capture the entire process."
Edward asked curiously, "Are you planning to sell this as news later?"
"We do have professional ethics!" Hawke emphasized, then added, "People are unpredictable; it's better to be safe."
He glanced at his watch. "Let's get back to the studio and rest up. We've got a long list of issues to tackle tomorrow."
...
The following morning, Hawke drove the Cadillac to Beverly Hills.
As he entered Joanna's house, Brian pulled in with a Mercedes.
Hawke ignored him and went straight into the villa, asking Joanna, "Are you ready?"
Joanna brought over Allison's laptop and said, "All set."
Hawke turned it on but saw an error message that prevented it from booting up. "Have Allison head to the Melrose Market area."
Allison stepped out from the study, threw on a jacket, and grabbed the laptop to put it in her bag.
Hawke's greatest concern was her: "Remember the address. Give the computer to be repaired, leave it at the shop, and go back to pick it up in two hours. Got it?"
"Uh, I got it," Allison replied, shouldering her bag and leaving.
Hawke got into Brian's Mercedes and pointed at the Porsche in front. "Follow that car."
"You're not shy at all, are you?" Brian feigned annoyance but drove after it anyway.
...
They arrived at Melrose Plaza, where Edward followed behind in a business van equipped with a dashboard camera.
Allison finally managed not to mess things up, stopping at the computer repair shop Hawke had mentioned. She walked inside with her bag.
Before long, she came back out, empty-handed.
Edward, in photography enthusiast mode, managed to catch the moment as he was filming the scenery.
Allison ventured into a flea market and began browsing around.
Hawke checked the time and instructed Brian to wait in the car.
Inside the repair shop, a young Mexican technician reinstalled the system and accessed the D drive, revealing a hidden file folder.
He opened it and his expression shifted to one of excitement as he scanned a video file. After checking it out for a bit, he remembered business and hurried to get a storage device, making a copy of the video.
Two hours later, Allison returned to the repair shop, paid for the service, and left with the laptop.
Diego, the young technician, searched for contact details on the computer, deliberately leaving some traces, as he picked up the landline and dialed the number of Private film company. He promptly closed the shop and headed straight to the San Fernando Valley.
Once there, he met a business manager and signed a sales contract, selling the video to Private film company for $10,000.
...
Inside the Mercedes following at a distance, Hawke received a call from Justin.
The message was brief: "We got it."
Hawke remained silent and hung up, then called Fergie and Julius, the two individuals responsible for press promotion. "We can start up."
The two of them employed their computer network to flood various online postings about Allison with attention-grabbing claims that they had more explosive content ready.
Every Stan knew that once these kinds of posts hit, the response rate went through the roof.
[T/N: Stan originated from Eminem's 2000 song "Stan," describing an overly obsessive fan. In the original it was LSP, which is it's equivalent in East Asia, hardcore fans who are overly enthusiastic or obsessive about celebrities, particularly regarding their appearances or personal updates.]
...
"Need pictures!"
"Videos would be even better."
"Here's my email, please send them directly."
"Please, reveal the info, OP!"
In the internet culture, there was a prevailing sentiment that political rants leading to sites or groups being shut down were met with scorn, but anything scandalous that caused a shutdown earned you the title of hero.
Almost to prove his point, a self-proclaimed hero leaked a few new images. While the content wasn't overly revealing, one of the figures was unmistakably the male lead.
Hollywood star Josh Hartnett!
Despite being embroiled in a supposed racial discrimination scandal, this kind of debuff did little to dampen the determination and enthusiasm of these Stans who were eager for gossip.
After all, he was the lead in a major blockbuster like Pearl Harbor.
Earlier that year, Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down had also been released.
The blogs and forums that shared these pictures erupted with comments flooding in.
"Josh has a great physique; what a handsome guy!"
"Honestly, I'm so jealous, he's quite the catch!"
"The girl is beautiful and sexy, even if her skin is a bit dark."
"Why isn't the leading lady Kate Beckinsale?"
The identity of the female lead had already been sleuthed out, with screenshots of web pages and links appearing in the trending comments.
"Allison Faith, a former child star who released two albums and was once compared to Britney and Christina from the Mickey Mouse Club. Unfortunately, she fell out of the industry after her parents divorced."
Many online platforms, forums, and blogs began to pop up with details on Allison Faith, particularly contrasting her child star pics with her current ones.
Allison's name gained increasing attention.
The urge to invade a celebrity's, even a washed-up one's, super-privacy enlivened people to scour the web, eagerly sharing once they had their juicy tidbit.
By nightfall, that hero had launched a blog where he uploaded even bolder images featuring the two in affectionate poses.
Having generated interest from his previous posts, countless Stans rushed in.
Some even demanded to know where the photos had come from.
Many questioned if they were digitally altered.
In a fit of rage, the hero penned a confession.
"All the photos are genuine! I screen-capped the video myself from Allison Faith's laptop! To clarify, I'm not a thief -- I didn't steal anyone's laptop! Allison brought it to me for repairs, and I just happened to see the video and copied it."
As his words spread, entertainment sites turned to reprint them, while the Stans, caught in a frenzy, fawned over their hero.
"Hero, speak through the video!"
"It's hard to believe you without showing the video."
"The only way to prove you're not lying is to release the video."
Not just the Stans but even media reporters began to catch the scent and follow suit.
One reporter commented, "I'm a journalist from the National Enquirer. Can I interview you?"
"Los Angeles Channel 9 is willing to pay top dollar for your video. Can we talk?"
Some media outlets even dispatched technicians to trace the hero's IP address, only to find it was all fake.
Gossip reporters in Los Angeles, along with several paparazzi, received directives from their higher-ups to quickly uncover the identity behind the video.
...
Outside of Allison Faith's house, now exposed to the network, paparazzi were beginning to swarm.
On the second floor of the villa, Joanna stared out the window, watching as at least a dozen cameras and phones were pointed her way, feeling an urge to cry with excitement.
It had been three long years!
The last time reporters had shown any interest in her and Allison was three years ago.
At that moment, Joanna truly understood what Hawke meant when he said that the scariest part isn't the scandal, but rather the lack of attention!
She picked up her phone and called Hawke. "There are a lot of reporters outside; should we..."
Hawke warned her seriously, "Do not accept any interviews tonight. Tomorrow, Scott and Will will make a statement on behalf of those involved. It's not the right time to be seen yet."
Joanna answered, "I'll follow your lead."
...
Back in the West Coast studio, Hawke hung up the phone and glanced across at Will and Scott who had gathered there.
Megan Taylor's host skirt had nearly reached the tops of her thighs...
Hawke asked, "You're not doing your show tonight?"
Megan walked over, sitting down beside him. "I had my eye on a headline, but without the video, what can I do?"
Hawke had an idea ready. "How about this: when the time is right, I'll help you get Josh Hartnett and Allison Faith on your show."
Megan, well aware of the dynamics at play, replied, "You want to use my show for your promotions without giving me any benefits. This is typical of you, maximizing every resource."
"This situation is highly complex," Hawke said. "This is just the beginning."
He pulled out a USB drive and handed it to Megan. "Use this as a token for appearing on the show."
"What is it?" Megan asked, intrigued.
Hawke casually replied, "Just pay attention to the news tomorrow, and you'll understand its importance."
Knowing the video wasn't accessible, Megan dropped her insistence. "I've been swamped with news pressures regarding Erica and Johnson lately. It's a lucky break to stop by your place; I can't leave empty-handed. Let's get to it."
"Alright, I'll make sure you head back with a few hundreds of millions," Hawke said, grabbing her and heading upstairs.
...
The next morning, while the entertainment sections of various tabloids didn't score the top story, news of Allison and Josh was everywhere.
Most of the stories mentioned that the informant still had the video.
Scandalous incidents involving celebrities could really capture the public eye.
Joanna found herself blocked by reporters at her Beverly Hills home.
Meanwhile, even more people gathered in front of Josh Hartnett's house in Sherman Oaks.
Almost simultaneously, Will and Scott, as respective agents, accepted interviews from reporters.
They stated that Josh and Allison were currently a couple, that the video was shot for personal enjoyment, and had long existed in Allison's laptop.
Alison's earlier visit to the Melrose Plaza electronics store for repairs was confirmed, and she had no idea why the video had leaked.
They urged anyone with the video to delete it and refrain from releasing it further or they would involve the police.
Such statements, falling on the ears of the media and the Stans, were tantamount to a confirmation of the video's existence.
What was previously uncertain news suddenly became solidified.
The various computer repair shops that resided around Melrose Plaza turned into reporters' hunting grounds.
Though it hadn't reached the level of total invasion of privacy, interest just kept climbing.
...
By that night, Megan Taylor aired the video Hawke had given her on Fox 11's Midnight Entertainment.
According to her, the footage was captured by a photographer doing a segment at Melrose Plaza, who inadvertently stumbled upon a key news item.
The video played, showing Allison suddenly stepping into frame as she entered the computer repair shop.
The camera clearly captured the shop's sign.
By midnight, the sound of car engines shattered the silence of Melrose Plaza as dozens of paparazzi raced to the computer repair shop.
However, the doors remained locked; there was no one inside.
In the dark, many reporters opted to stake out the shop.
The more effort they put in, the greater their zeal to chase the story became.
This was precisely the effect Hawke had intended.
...
As dawn broke, surrounding shops began to open, yet the repair shop's door remained shut tight.
While journalists were investigating for the owner's contact details, an additional piece of news broke: the hero had updated his blog.
Like hyenas, the reporters surged forth, those with laptops quickly connecting to Wi-Fi.
Those without scrambled to find places to log in.
The hero announced in his blog, "I've sold the full video to Private film company. Please stop bothering me."
Implied was the directive to head to the San Fernando Valley to interview Private film company.
A large number of Los Angeles paparazzi were mobilized by Hawke, compelling them to invest even more time and tenacity.
...
The spokesperson for Private film company accepted an interview, claiming they were not up-to-date on the situation but promised to provide information to the media as soon as they could.
...
Meanwhile, back at Joanna's villa in Beverly Hills,
Hawke glanced at Will and Scott, who were gathered there, and said to Brian, "I've just realized that aside from the initial day of signing the contract, you've mostly been an observer. Aren't you feeling a bit left out?"
Brian thought for a moment and replied, "Yeah, a bit."
"I'll give you a chance to participate," Hawke said as he pulled out a address book and handed it to Brian. "Pretend to be a news informant and call the reporters on this list to tell them Will and Scott are heading to Private film company to negotiate."
"This sort of participation?" Brian sounded reluctant.
Hawke replied, "If you give your bank account number, maybe someone will slip you $20 for tips."
Brian pulled out his phone, ready to call, "Do I really need $20?"
...
Many reporters returned to Melrose Plaza, intent on delving into the repair shop lead when several received tips that Allison and Josh's agents were on their way to negotiate with Private film company.
They couldn't even grab lunch before turning back, internally cursing.
But this was their bread and butter; chasing hot news translated to higher income.
By 2 PM, the number of paparazzi clustered around had surpassed fifty.
Even a major Hollywood couple's first public display of romance wouldn't have drawn such numbers.
At 2:30, Will and Scott arrived in a car, walking past the throng of media cameras as they entered Private film company.
...
Simultaneously, Edward drove Hawke and Brian to the company's back entrance, quickly ushering them into Justin Blatt's office.
Upon seeing Hawke, Justin warmly greeted him, "Hey, my friend, welcome back!"
Hawke asked, "Is tomorrow's press conference all set?"
Justin smiled. "Once you're out of here, I'll personally make the announcement that the press conference will be held tomorrow afternoon."
Hawke nodded slightly. "Schedule it for the afternoon and release an online version of the poster. We'll make a strong statement the next day, and you can post a teaser trailer online the day after that to maintain buzz."
"I have a feeling this will sell like hotcakes!" Justin said enthusiastically, grabbing a guest list from the table and handing it to Hawke. "Whoever you want, from Jenna Jameson to Jessica Drake, just let me know how many, and I'll get them here."
Brian leaned in. "We could throw a big party."
Hawke, already having a casual encounter and a new target, set the guest list aside, "Let's get our business sorted first, then we'll have fun."
...
Around 3 PM, Will and Scott exited Private film company, looking serious, and conducted interviews outside.
They expressed that the negotiations hadn't gone well. If Private film company insisted on its stance, they would take necessary legal action.
However, shortly after, Private film company held a brief press conference in the lobby, announcing that they would hold a news conference on the matter the following afternoon.
The San Fernando Valley hadn't been this lively in a long time.
...
When Hawke returned, he originally planned to ask Miss Baa to help him craft a statement for the press conference regarding Josh and Allison.
After all, he had promised her a 5% commission.
But Brian, keen to be more involved, offered to write the statement himself.
Hawke shared his thoughts, and Brian dedicated over two hours to draft it.
Next came the essential rehearsals.
Josh was alright as he had always been active in work until Hawke had tarnished his reputation; Allison, having been away from the spotlight for years, needed to reacquaint herself with it.
This all consumed a great deal of Hawke's time and energy.
He also contacted Megan Taylor to arrange for Channel 11 to broadcast the press conference live.
Moreover, a women's rights organization collaborating with Channel 11 was also set to enhance the event.
*****
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