American Entertainment: Starting with playing the role of Little Beaver

Chapter 84 A Slash Beneath a Warm Heart
Michael Eisner's reason for choosing Eminem is simple.

Firstly, all attacks require human intervention.

Secondly, Eminem was notorious in North America.

The former needs no further explanation.

The latter...

If Eisner and his team had found a normal person to criticize Isabella, such as an entertainment media editor, and asked him to write an article titled "Isabella is a Money-Making Princess," then the public opinion would have reacted in two different ways after the news was released.

The first scenario is that people think it makes sense, and then the public begins to condemn Isabella.

The second scenario is that people feel the argument is unreasonable, and then the public starts to angrily criticize the writer.

Furthermore, the second type of feedback is more likely to occur than the first type.

Because Isabella has a good reputation, and, to be honest, age is really Isabella's best shield.

When Isabella was only 13 years old, how many people would have believed that she was actively making money by making movies and releasing records?
She has never even been to the United States!

Is this something someone who wants to maliciously swindle money would do?
Right?

Therefore, having someone unknown to the general public launch a smear campaign can easily lead to a reversal of public opinion as soon as it erupts. Warner Bros. and Disney could easily manipulate public opinion with a simple press release. To avoid this failure, it's essential to find someone with social influence and a following to attack Isabella, because fans, when facing their idols…

Fans often blindly follow others and believe everything their idols say.

This kind of 'belief' allows smear campaigns to garner a lot of public support from the very beginning.

Then, the media can ride the wave and stir up trouble.

Then, there is a very high probability that they will pin the accusation of 'malicious money-grabbing' on Isabella.

Given this, who in the vast North America is more suitable than Eminem right now?

No.

Because everyone knows that Eminem is prone to acting crazy, it's normal for him to fire at anyone;

This would cause the public to overlook whether the attack on Isabella was a conspiracy by someone else;

Because everyone knows that Eminem has a group of followers, and no matter who he criticizes, his fans will follow suit;

This will allow the smear campaign to garner huge support from the moment it is released;

Because he was one of Bronfman Jr.'s men, in Eisner's eyes, this was one of his own men's guns...

As for why Eisner didn't use the "Heaven and Earth Together" trump card from the beginning, he could have easily had normal people write critical articles, pinning the blame for the money-grabbing on Warner Bros. and Disney, and thus directly attacking them.
Well this...

Eisner’s core demand is to embrace the complete Disney.

He wants to continue being the king of Disney!

Instead of nuking Disney!

"So, is this matter difficult to handle?"

The next day.

Global Headquarters.

Edgar Bronfman Jr. summoned his subordinate, Doug Morris, chairman of Universal, as soon as he returned to California.

Morris frowned slightly upon hearing his boss's request, nodding and then shaking his head. "Boss, we can use Eminem to attack Isabella, but if we fail, Eminem might... might... become obsolete..."

Eminem is now infamous.

Although his fourth album last year, *The Eminem Show*, sold very well, exceeding 20 million copies, with Mariah Carey's strong rebuttal and the number of rivals increasing, if he continues to provoke top celebrities in the industry, then…

His future is probably just so-so.

"The Eminem Show" may have been the peak of his career.

This is something Doug Morris doesn't want to see.

Currently, a significant portion of Universal Music's net profit comes from Eminem.

but……

"Doug, how long do you plan to hold on to this hip-hop trash?"

Bronfman Jr. looked at Morris nonchalantly and said, "I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that Universal Music's financial report will look bad without Eminem. But I want to tell you that a hip-hop artist's career only lasts a few years."

"Because they have foul mouths, because they cause trouble, because they could die suddenly at any moment."

"Have you forgotten the East Coast and West Coast diss wars from back then?"

"It caused the market value of all the companies involved to plummet..."

The East Coast and West Coast diss war took place ten years ago.

The specific details are too complex to explain in a few words. In short, it involved the East Coast and West Coast rap circles exchanging insults, arranging fights, and ultimately clashing. In short, it was the biggest event in the hip-hop scene, or rather, the pop music scene, with the most deaths.

2Pac and Biggie's beef even earned them a private archive in Foley.

The deaths of these two marked the end of the war, but in the decades-long struggle, how many more people died?

This is the real reason why hip-hop can't be considered mainstream. Western societies already have a low level of morality. The mainstream here doesn't demand you be completely right, but what's with all the shootings and deaths happening every day?
Since dying suddenly in the street has become a stereotype of hip-hop artists, what about Eminem's future...?

Honestly, in Bronfman Jr.'s eyes, this guy has almost no future.

Because the people he criticized were fanatical followers.

If you push those people too far, they really will make you pay with their lives.

Because an unstable future has no value in the face of capital.

Therefore, using such a person as a gun is, in the eyes of chess players, a waste of resources.

So……

Bronfman stared at Morris with a serious expression.

"Okay, I understand."

Morris nodded slowly. Since his boss had made up his mind, he would not try to persuade him any further.

But at the same time, he added, "Boss, we can have Eminem attack Isabella, but we can't give the order directly."

“Because direct instruction is dangerous. Amu is a madman; you never know what he'll say next. The more he knows, the more likely he is to drag us down with him when he senses danger, so…”

At this point, Morris suddenly paused.

Young Bronfman knew that Morris was waiting for his reaction.

“Continue.” He gestured with his chin, indicating that Maurice should not be reassured.

Seeing that his boss thought his idea was fine, Morris said, "Actually, Eminem once told me that Mariah Carey couldn't bring him to the top, and that he really wanted to attack MJ."

"Once he already had the idea of ​​continuing to make moves, I will try to communicate with him."

“Guide him, hint at him, and get him to actively shift the focus from MJ to Isabella.”

"Furthermore, I don't think this is difficult, because..."

“I have informants in his company.”

“I heard that he dislikes Isabella very much.”

“Very good, then I’ll leave this matter to you.” Bronfman Jr. was very satisfied with Morris’s answer.

He waved his hand, telling him to go about his business.

Although Bronfman Jr. was able to easily handle Eminem, it didn't mean that Eisner's plan could be executed perfectly. When designing the plan, Eisner felt that guiding Eminem was not the most difficult part. The real challenge was Michael Arndt, the screenwriter of "Little Miss Sunshine".

As for the reason?

Very simple.

This guy is a normal person.

He has a brain.

Anyone with a brain can judge the pros and cons of a situation.

That is indeed the case—

After being approached by Eisner's men, Arndt immediately felt that their smear campaign was utterly absurd.

This is not only because he watched "The Voice of China" and knows that "The Voice of China" is completely different from his own song "Sunshine," but also because he knows how strong Isabella is now, and malicious slander could make him disappear from the world.

However, just as he was preparing to reject the defamatory proposal brought by Eisner's subordinates...

Eisner's man suddenly held up two fingers and said, "Two million US dollars."

"If you're willing to stand up and attack Isabella, we'll give you $200 million, and you can pay upfront."

"And then, Michael, don't you want to get revenge on Isabella, and on Chris Columbus?"

"They stole your script."

"They messed up all your hard work."

"..."

Arndt remained silent.

To be fair, after learning that the person who bought the script was from Spielberg's side, Arndt already had a premonition that his story would most likely be completely changed.

Even though he was mentally prepared, he was still somewhat annoyed when it actually happened. For a screenwriter, a script is like their child. Selling a script is like selling a child, which is already distressing enough. But to have your child bought and then not only not treated well, but also treated cruelly?

this……

That's actually quite insulting.

If you only need the skeleton, why don't you write it yourself?

Copying an outline isn't considered plagiarism in the industry.

but……

Arndt knew that whatever he thought, for the moment, he could only endure it!

Because he couldn't win against Isabella!
They can't outmaneuver Spielberg!

They can't compete with the capital within the industry!
"I'm sorry, I really want to take this money, but I'm afraid I might have the life to take it but not the life to spend it."

After a complex internal struggle, Arndt ultimately chose to give up.

It wasn't that he didn't know the person coming must have financial backing; rather, he didn't want to cooperate with such clandestine financial backers.

In a capitalist society, hiding one's true intentions only proves one thing: the person making the move is no match for their opponent.

Truly powerful people always reveal their identity when they attack.

I, Rockefeller, am going to kill you. Who agrees and who disagrees?

Just as Arndt shook his head and stood up to leave, Eisner's subordinate held up three fingers and continued playing his card:
"300 million, and you don't even need to slander me."

"All you have to do is tell a story from the past in front of the camera."

"This shouldn't be difficult for you, right?"

Arndt suddenly paused.

Eisner's subordinates, on the other hand, wore smiles.

While many people in the entertainment industry can be described as having limited education, not everyone is a fool.

Therefore, after Arndt received a proper university education, Eisner felt that he was unlikely to accuse Isabella of buying the script, as doing so would do him no good and would bring him almost nothing but cold money.

This judgment is easy to understand.

With Warner Bros. and Disney backing Isabella, Arndt's slander could wipe him out of Hollywood.

Because by doing so, he was actually breaking the rules of the game.

Therefore, when formulating the plan, Eisner had already thought of a backup plan to achieve his goal indirectly.

If Arndt truly doesn't want to slander, then he'll compromise and simply ask Arndt to tell a story in front of the media. He believes that buying a piece of the past for $300 million is a deal Arndt can accept.

As for what the story is...

"I'm going to think about it."

Arndt understood.

And I was somewhat tempted.

Even if he was very tempted, he felt he needed to calm down and think things through.

but……

"Payment first."

As Arndt took his steps, Eisner's men also stood up and walked out of the coffee shop where they were to meet.

"The $3 million will appear in your eight different bank cards by 6 p.m. today."

"You can spend two hours verifying it."

"Then, arrive at Los Angeles International Airport before nine o'clock."

"The plane we booked for you will take off at 9:40 tonight."

"You will arrive in New York before 7 a.m. tomorrow."

"Someone will be there to pick you up at the airport with your name tag." "Just follow that person, and you can finish your work within six hours."

"Next, you can go on vacation to Sri Lanka or India."

"We know you lived in both of those places, and it was a pleasant experience, wasn't it?"

"We've already booked your tickets to both destinations. They'll be departing from New York the day after tomorrow."

"Of course, if you don't want to go abroad for vacation, you can also go back to Virginia for a visit?"

"I think your family must miss you very much."

Having said that, the two arrived at the entrance of the coffee shop.

The forced sale made Arndt's eyes widen, and it also made Eisner's men extend their right hands.

"I wish you a happy life."

That radiant smile and the detailed information made Arndt realize that he had no choice but to accept.

That being the case...

I rushed home.

Turn over the account.

When $300 million appeared in eight different amounts from eight different companies, ostensibly for script purchases, creative support, or inspirational writing, Arndt arrived at Los Angeles Airport at the designated time.

With the roar of engines, the world arrived at June 21, 2003...

The sky was clear and blue in New York that day.

Early in the morning, the entrance to the Disney fan club was already crowded with people.

The faces of the young men and women were filled with joy; they had all come to participate in the auditions for "The Voice of America."

Today marks the start of preliminary auditions in many cities.

Guided by the staff, those who had signed in and received their number plates lined up in order and entered the venue one after another.

Lana Draco was also in the group.

Unlike many who come in groups or with companions, Lana Draco came alone today.

Her uncle was not there.

Because he suddenly received a call from the school the day before yesterday, saying that there was an unexpected work situation that needed his attention, he had to return to school. Her uncle was very sorry about this, but Lana Dre didn't care; she was used to being alone.

As she hummed the melody of her competition song while waiting in line, trying to get into the right mood before entering the venue...

"Elizabeth Grant?"

A voice called out to her.

Looking up, she saw a staff member with an ID badge around his neck smiling at her.

The staff member had his left hand in front of him—holding a stack of documents that looked like the forms people filled out when they registered.
With his right hand behind his back, he looked as if he were about to bow.

Although Lana Draco didn't understand why the staff member was suddenly calling her, she nodded and responded immediately, "Yes, this is Elizabeth. Is there something you need?"

"of course."

The staff member smiled and raised his eyebrows.

He took out his right hand, with a palm-sized gift box hanging from his five fingers.

"If your registration information is correct, today should be your eighteenth birthday."

"Happy birthday to you."

"Oh~~~ Thank you~~~"

Lana Draco looked pleasantly surprised!

Today really is her coming-of-age day!

She reached out and took the small gift. Although the gift box was light, it didn't matter, because it was the first blessing she had received since becoming an adult!
Their conversation attracted the attention of those around them, and the sudden appearance of the small gift surprised many people.

This caused some commotion.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the staff member smiled and said, "Shall we open it and take a look?"

"it is good."

Without hesitation, I opened the package.

Soon, a beaver badge holding a cake appeared in front of everyone.

Above the cake was a rounded blessing: 'Happy Birthday'.

"Oh—this is—"

Lana Draco covered her mouth and screamed.

The staff member smiled and nodded, tacitly agreeing, and said, "Good luck."

Although the blessing was simple, Lana Draco was still delighted.

With pursed lips and a slight tremor, she pinned the badge to her shirt.

Perhaps it's because it's her birthday? She looks very beautiful today.

White shirt, green tank top, jeans, sandals.

At first glance, you can even feel an overwhelming surge of youthful energy rushing towards you.

At the same time, she lifted the hem of her shirt and tied it into a knot.

After doing this, the girl's inherent passion was immediately revealed.

But no matter how youthful and enthusiastic she is, with the addition of splatter on her upper body, she ultimately becomes adorable.
The little beaver with magic can turn everyone into its own shape!

hey~
"Oh—this is Miss Beaver—"

"Oh my god—do people still get badges on their birthdays?!"

"I want this too—"

The atmosphere in the waiting room changed dramatically as the gifts were presented.

The surge of envy made Lana Draco very happy. At this moment, she even felt like she had become a chosen child, the center of attention. Meanwhile, the staff smiled and looked around, sharing the spotlight with everyone.

"Everyone, please don't feel regretful or angry."

"Everyone has smacks."

"Every contestant who registers for the competition, regardless of whether they pass the preliminary round, will receive a small blind box upon leaving."

"The badges inside have various patterns."

"Of course, 'birthday wishes' are not included, because that's a special gift."

"However, don't be discouraged, because as long as you advance, pass the level, and celebrate your birthday within the competition period, you will receive a gift. So, good luck everyone! Whatever your dreams are, we wish you all the best..."

The fact that everyone received a gift made the people waiting in line happy.

The heartfelt blessings encouraged many people, who smiled and expressed their gratitude.

But none of this mattered to Lana Draco. After wearing the beaver badge, she felt like she had been elevated. The stares and whispers from those around her, along with the constant greetings and congratulations, made her feel quite giddy.

It wasn't until the staff called her in that she realized she had completely forgotten about her pre-selection preparations!
With a sense of unease and anxiety, Lana Draco entered the audition studio, her mind screaming "Oh no, oh no, oh no!"

The watchful gaze of her supervisor and the inquisitive scrutiny of the staff made her somewhat nervous.

But after the judges smiled and wished her a happy birthday and chatted with her about everyday things, her emotions calmed down.

He talked about his past.

The story of how she went astray but was saved by her family caught the judges' attention.

I talked about my experiences in music—

The judges liked to describe it as a source of emotional comfort when one is emerging from a low point in life.

Show off your singing voice—

Her languid voice earned unanimous praise from the judges.

"Lana Draco, right? Congratulations on passing the audition!"

"Oh—thank you—"

The easy pass brought a smile to Lana Draco's face.

Led by the staff, she went backstage to fill out a new form and received a prize. She couldn't wait to open the gift box that appeared again, and the beaver babes on a beach vacation made her very happy.

On her way home, she couldn't wait to share her joy of passing the test with her family and friends on her phone.

Everyone was happy for her success, and many people even invited her out tonight. Everyone knew it was her birthday today, but passing the preliminary rounds was just the beginning. The city competition was the main event, followed by the state competition and the national competition. There was still a long way to go.

That's why she chose to practice singing at home...

"Hey! Elizabeth! Don't be so boring!"

"It's your 18th birthday today! Aren't you going out to have fun?"

My friend couldn't take it anymore and yelled on the other end of the phone, "Nothing will happen if you play all day! If it's really not okay, just drink less! If that still doesn't work, how about we don't go to the bar?"

"Shall we go to a nightclub and have some fun?"

"Come on?"

Lana Draco was somewhat tempted.

Ever since her parents put her under the care of her uncle, she hasn't been able to run wild for a long time.

Uh……

To put it bluntly...

She even felt that her uncle's departure the day before yesterday was creating an opportunity for her.

Because adult indulgence is quite normal in Europe and America.

"Okay, wait for my call."

Lana Draco agreed.

Just as she was humming a song and wondering where to go that night, a loud shout suddenly pierced her ears—

Wow~~ This person's story is so inspiring!

These words made her instinctively turn her head.

At this moment, she is on an intercity bus heading to Brooklyn.

At this moment, the bus is waiting at an intersection for a red light that will last for about 180 seconds.

A newsstand stands by the roadside.

The boss was fiddling with an old-fashioned, pocket-sized black-and-white television with an antenna.

As the volume increased, a distorted male voice blared from the television speakers—

“Yes, I went to Hollywood after graduation, but I didn’t start as a screenwriter, I started as an assistant. You know Matthew Broderick, right? I was his sidekick… A screenwriter as an assistant, that sounds ridiculous, right?”

“I followed him and learned from him for about four or five years. Then one day in 1999, I quit my job because I watched a movie called ‘Ride with the Devil’. Yes, it was a movie directed by Ang Lee.”

"A film directed by Ang Lee, the director of 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'."

"I won't comment on whether this movie is good or bad. I just want to say that Ang Lee is also my classmate. After graduating from New York University in 84, he was unemployed until 90 when he finally made a movie. The reason he persisted was very simple: he wanted to be a director."

"His behavior reminded me of something my teacher said when I was in school: if you want to be a director, you have to keep writing scripts, because a director tells a story to the audience through the camera, while writing a script is about constantly creating stories. If you don't keep writing scripts and do other jobs instead, you will find that you have lost the ability to tell stories when you want to be a director."

"That sentence made me pick up my pen again and start writing scripts. Then, in the summer of 2000, I created a story related to talent shows. This story was picked up by Endeavour Management in 2001. I originally wanted to get investment from them, but... Endeavour sold my script in the winter of 2001..."

"This is something I regret, because I didn't become a director."

"but……"

"I am also very happy."

"Because the buyer filmed that script very well."

"The results are also outstanding."

Indeed, the inspiring story made Lana Draco raise her eyebrows.

But this had nothing to do with her, so she tried to put what she had overheard out of her mind and think about where to go that night. But as the intercity bus continued on its way, the shopkeeper's mutterings drifted into her ears again...

"A talent show story? Well-made? Outstanding results? Is this... talking about 'The Voice of China'?"

"It seems like there's only one talent show movie in the last two years, 'The Voice'?"

"But... isn't The Voice Hermione Granger's work?"

"What does it have to do with him?"

"This person's description is very strange."

"???"

Lana Draco turned her head again and squinted.

(End of this chapter)