Generation Z Artists

Chapter 409 The Mad God Fires Online

On the day when the hype was at its peak, "Taken" had an advance screening.

On May 31, the entire Hollywood was captivated by the star power of two premieres.

On one side was "Ocean's Thirteen," and at 8 p.m., the Grauman Chinese Theatre hosted a grand and dazzling red carpet ceremony.

Director Steven Soderbergh, star Joel Mapey, along with the rest of the cast and crew and a group of friends, made one last attempt to grab headlines.

The cheers reached their peak when Api's partner, Angelina Jolie, appeared.

Ms. Laura's popularity at this point in time is basically among the top three Hollywood actresses; she's always in the spotlight whenever she appears.

Her loving interactions with Xiao Pi, a perfect couple, created wave after wave of excitement.

When the future Black Widow, Scarlett Johansson, attended the event with her husband, Ryan Reynolds, she was clearly overshadowed.

"Bitch!"

Scarlett swears while hiding from the camera, but when she turns around, she has a bright smile on her face again.

That's right, that's Hollywood.

Behind him on the red carpet were many other well-known figures, and then the final guest was Al Pacino, our Godfather.

In terms of cast alone, "Ocean's Thirteen" is on a completely different level.

George Clooney is a top superstar whose career is declining, Brad Pitt is a top influencer, Matt Damon is a rising superstar with extremely high popularity, The Godfather who plays the big boss is at the top of the power list, and even the supporting actors are all famous.

With such a lineup, just hearing the name makes it sound expensive.

But under the media's lens, everyone's smiles looked somewhat fake, neither genuine enthusiasm nor true happiness.

A sense of tension filled the air.

The provocative American media will never miss an opportunity to stir up trouble.

They interviewed everyone from the director to the actors, and every question they asked was brought up in the neighboring film, *Taken*.

"Director Steven, what do you think of Director Fang Xinghe's act of 'crashing head-on into' your film? I remember you once spoke up for him and greatly appreciated his article about the name clash."

Steven was the director of "Sex, Lies and Videotapes" and had indeed expressed his admiration for Fang Xinghe. However, fate brought them to the opposite side in this situation.

"First of all, I still greatly admire SR's writing style."

Steven pushed up his glasses, his expression somewhat serious, and his response was very cautious.

"Secondly, he is indeed a very good action actor. I'm not sure what will happen between us, so I've decided to leave it all to the fans..."

He sounded timid, so the reporter pressed on, "Why didn't you mention his directing abilities?"

"Ahem! Please be mindful of etiquette, this is the premiere of 'Lohan'!"

The reporters couldn't find what they wanted to hear from him, so they immediately turned to the actors.

"George, what do you think about this?"

George Clooney smiled gently: "I may not be as popular as I used to be, but I'm never afraid of head-on competition."

This sounds interesting... no, it's very interesting.

Maintaining a dignified and professional demeanor in front of the media, demonstrating a fearless attitude towards challenges to fans, and stabilizing the voter base are the most cost-effective and beneficial approaches for oneself.

However, this stance is too much of a self-preservationist approach and is unlikely to motivate fans.

Next up is Pete.

This guy doesn't take the elegant route; he boldly launches a counterattack: "If I had $50 billion... no, I only need $1 billion, then I'd be willing to spend $100 million to appease the media and theaters."

But I don't have that much money, and neither does Luo Han. We care a lot about the audience's experience, so we put our limited budget into production, leaving not much for marketing and distribution..."

Wow!
A low gasp of surprise rippled through the media.

This statement is quite obvious; it's a sarcastic jab at Fang Ge's financial power and a way of defending his own company.

After he finished his long-winded explanation, the media started digging into Matt Damon's past.

"Hey, how much of a gap do you think your action skills are compared to SR's?"

Even though he knew the media was deliberately stirring things up, Ma Da still stepped on the mat.

There was no other way. He could disregard Rohan, but he had to care about the core project, Bourne III. If he backed down in such a high-profile setting, the subsequent promotional period for Bourne III would be in serious trouble.

Mada frowned and replied, "Dude, this is a movie, not a street brawl. All the action movies you see are essentially performances."

He's practiced some martial arts, and I've had extensive mixed martial arts training. What difference could there be between us? No, absolutely none.

"But SR's record..."

When the reporter brought up the NBA brawl, he said, "The video of him knocking down five NBA players is still a hot topic on YouTube."

Ma Da slightly changed his tune: "Perhaps his actual combat skills are a bit stronger than mine, but in the movie, it ultimately depends on the filming techniques and acting skills. Let's see how it goes."

"What result are you referring to?"

"The critical reception and box office performance of Hurricane and Bourne III".

Without even thinking, Mada blurted out those words.

Although this is the premiere of "Ocean's," the film doesn't have many intense action scenes, so it's not suitable for comparison.

Coincidentally, he also has a critically acclaimed film in the pipeline, so he'd definitely take the opportunity to generate buzz.

After everyone had spoken, the media naturally wouldn't let go of those top female celebrities and the godfather.

Angelina Jolie: "SR is a genius in every way, there's no point in discussing that. But I unconditionally support my husband, and I will always be proud of him."

She's very clever; she's covering for the man. The couple probably already planned out their respective roles.

Scarlett Johansson: "Friends are friends, and idols are idols. Today, I choose to support my friends."

This girl is paying the price for her words.

She had previously capitalized on Fang Xinghe's popularity; now that her man has aligned himself with Hollywood's mainstream, she must also stand firm on her position.

Al Pacino: "I've seen many kids who become famous at a young age. In the first few years after they become famous, they generally lack a sense of respect. It's okay, they'll get better with time."

This response caused the biggest commotion at the scene.

"You don't like SR, do you?"

"I just don't like some of his practices. Releasing films on the same day out of nowhere, and doing so suddenly, without giving us any chance to discuss or adjust, is just too much."

……

While the premiere of "Taken" was still underway, this sentence had already reached Fang Xinghe's ears and had even been broadcast in some news reports.

Both premieres were broadcast live on entertainment channels.

The Godfather criticizes the new emperor! Al Pacino bluntly states that SR lacks respect for Hollywood and has an inflated ego!

The Godfather predicted that SR would soon stumble!

"Ocean's Thirteen and Taken premiered on the same day, sparks flew on set, and conflicts have surfaced!"

The chaotic response at the scene, after being processed by the media, immediately created a shockwave that spread in all directions.

The TV channels that broadcast the premieres live saw their ratings skyrocket.

On the internet, thousands of comments can be generated in a single second.

The media kept relaying messages, and everyone was waiting for Fang Xinghe's response.

Here at Hurricane Rescue, the starlight shines even brighter.

Fang Xinghe didn't rely on his connections with Sony or Leonardo DiCaprio's network to create this situation; he had his own inherent advantages.

Several top figures from the sports world have arrived—Danny, Kobe, Yao Ming, Maria Sharapova, Mike Tyson, and a series of Nike stars.

Danzi launched a strong counterattack against the media.

"You know, SR is the best partner I've ever had in my entire career! But you've never really figured out just how good he is. Trust him, I can't wait to see the finished product!"

The "Little Snake" (a nickname for a player) actually had to come because of his status as a landlord, and also because his personality has softened considerably in recent years. Yao Ming, as the current representative of Chinese players in the NBA, deliberately delayed his return home—the Rockets, who contend for the championship every year, are once again "fishing" (a euphemism for being unemployed/spoiled).

What's going on with Sharapova? Fang Xinghe was completely baffled.

However, the little girl always stares at him, her eyes sparkling, which is very emotionally resonant.

Tyson volunteered to come. The retired boxing champion is actively trying to quit drugs and undergo rehabilitation, and is also trying to test the waters with entertainment. During the on-site interview, he was even more eager to please than the young woman.

"SR is the greatest kung fu master after Bruce Lee! It's such a blessing to be able to see his action movies in person!"

The reporters were giving him very strange looks.

The boxing champion is currently struggling with a debt crisis, which makes him seem less credible.

Tyson got anxious.

"I didn't take any money from SR! I swear! You guys have never been in the ring, so you don't understand. I know best how strong he is!"

"Even stronger than you were at your peak?"

The reporter tried to make things difficult for him, but Tyson admitted it without hesitation.

"If it were boxing rules, I would definitely be stronger, the weight class difference is just too big. But without the protection of the rules, I would die in a few seconds! I've seen the behind-the-scenes footage of 'The Return of the Condor Heroes,' and his agility and explosiveness are beyond the limits of human beings."

"Wow……"

An uproar erupted around them.

As a legend in the boxing world, Tyson is very convincing in this regard, and is certainly more reliable than those actors.

By the way, there weren't many top-tier actors present.

Leonardo DiCaprio was too lazy to get involved in these things, and even less willing to be in the same frame as Fang Xinghe, so he went back to the Mediterranean for a vacation.

Therefore, only the top players can be called the "King of the Hill," the "King of Cards," and the "King of Rotten."

Will Smith didn't get involved in the fight between the two sides; he just gave a casual compliment and that was it.

Cameron Diaz voiced the character in Shrek 3, but he wasn't in competition with Fang Xinghe, so he came to support the project through Cartier's connections.

Nicolas Cage is just trying to ride on Fang's coattails and return to his peak; he's desperate.

“SR is a master director who not only has a high reputation in the field of art films, but also knows how to balance commercial appeal. I am honored to be able to contribute my small voice to his new film…”

Well, it's quite obvious that there isn't a single male celebrity here who relies on his looks.

Therefore, everyone could freely praise Fang Xinghe, and not seeing the finished product of Hurricane did not stop them from praising Fang Xinghe himself.

Compared to the somber atmosphere over there, this is a scene of pure, unadulterated flattery.

After them, LV brought in another group of models, all of whom were top-notch, but let's not talk about them.

……

The interview with Fang Xinghe finally brought about the scene that everyone was looking forward to.

The reporter first asked a bunch of questions related to the film, and then started to nitpick.

"A large group of well-known film critics, including Turan, believe that your insistence on squeezing into this release window is a crazy act. What do you think of such comments?"

That's actually true; if everyone crowds in here, no one will benefit.

It has nothing to do with the quality of the film, but rather with the market size. Screens, prime-time screenings, advertising space, box office revenue... everything is competing for attention.

Fang Xinghe replied, "YEP, I am a madman."

One sentence can kill a game.

From everyone's perspective, this approach is a lose-lose situation, harming others without benefiting oneself.

However, from the perspective of future generations, there is no such thing as a winning season this year; close-quarters combat is the only option.

Brother Fang didn't want to explain; Brother Fang went crazy in public.

A gasp erupted from the crowd; some simply didn't understand, some were filled with admiration, and others were completely stunned.

The media was extremely excited, immediately anticipating another hefty bonus today.

The Los Angeles Times did not forgive Fang Xinghe because of Kobe's arrival; they continued to stir up trouble.

"Why didn't Depp come today? You were there to support him at the Pirates of the Caribbean premiere. Did your fragile friendship only last a few days?"

Yes, it only lasted for a few days.

Fang Xinghe's sudden attack caused more than 400 pieces of the pirate ship's projection screen to be eaten by the hurricane, and the captain has already "turned against" him.

But Fang chose to be dignified on this issue.

"I asked him not to come."

"WHY?"

Fang Xinghe shrugged casually: "Before, my movie hadn't been released, so we were friends. But from this moment on, we are officially competitors."

So I told him: "Go ahead and do your promotions, put your heart into it, and don't let me trample you underfoot, AS is coming."

Very good, when it comes to publicity, Fang Xinghe is still the same arrogant god.

The media loved Fang Xinghe in this state, so they gave him all the footage and shots.

Zhang Hanyun watched obediently from the side, her eyes sparkling with pink light, and her body covered in a thick layer of red light—no one knew when she had leveled up, but she was already a top star among the stars, a level 5 Belief Fan.

Questions came one after another, and every now and then the other side would pass on the reporters' answers.

Q: "What do you think of Pitt's satire?"

A: "He doesn't have $50 billion. Does that mean I'm preventing him from earning it? There are plenty of people who are jealous of me. I don't have time to give them all a second glance. Next one."

Wow... that's incredibly lethal!
Q: "Matt believes that the action effects you showed in the movie are not necessarily better than his, and he declared war on you with The Bourne Legacy. What is your response to this?"

A: "Hollywood is too obsessed with special effects and editing. Any Tom, Dick, or Harry can make action movies, but not all action is the same. Rhythm, rhythm, aesthetics, aftertaste... A slight difference in ability can result in a significant difference in effect."

Of course, it's not his fault, nor is it yours.

I know you've never had a good one. Now that I'm here, you'll soon understand what a real action movie is all about.

Wow... this level of humiliation is absolutely overwhelming.

Q: "Hollywood legend Al Pacino criticized you for lacking respect. What would you like to say to him?"

A: "What is it about him that makes me respect him?"

Fang Xinghe raised an eyebrow, his arrogant expression exuding a fierce aura.

Talent? It's worthless.

Wealth? Not worth mentioning.

Character? Chaotic private life, volatile temper, diva-like behavior, drug addiction, alcoholism, stinginess, double standards…

Dude, the moment he started criticizing me, he was already overstepping his bounds and trying to scam me. What were you thinking, asking me a question like that?

Holy crap! It's blown up!
The scene was chaotic, and the live broadcast ratings hit a new high. The tension between the two premieres was so high that it was about to explode.

Actually, this is not a bad thing for the thirteen Arhats who are already at a significant disadvantage.

Only with attention can they have a chance to turn things around; if no one discusses it, they're doomed.

So Sony reminded Fang Xinghe more than once: "Dad, stop talking about them..."

It's best not to show them any images.

Brother Fang twitched the corner of his mouth and smiled slightly.

How can we not give it to them?
This kind of attention that forcibly links the two films together—you want it, I'm willing to give it to you!
Give me as much as you want.

With wolves in front and tigers behind, who has the patience to engage in a slow and drawn-out tug-of-war with you?
Instead of focusing on the public, let's go straight to the decisive battle and win in one fell swoop!
The winner takes all, the loser dies; let's see how our reputations fare!
************
I only slept for 4 hours after taking the medicine, and spent the whole day in a daze. I gave up.

(End of this chapter)