novellhall Chapter 149 Back on Talk Show [3000 words]
Chapter 149 Back on Talk Show [3000 words]
Chapter 149 Back on Talk Show [3000 words]
Despite domestic assistance, the negative online sentiment has not been completely reversed.
Lionsgate's public relations counterattack only managed to create a small ripple in the first few days.
The director and author's strong support, along with the carefully edited behind-the-scenes footage, did indeed appease some wavering fans and garner some goodwill from neutral viewers.
But the internet's memory is as short as its patience.
A few days later, once the novelty wore off, the negative sentiment returned with renewed force, and even intensified.
Haters copied and pasted their accusations on various social media platforms and forums.
They skillfully used hashtags to keep #NotMyKatnis and #NotMyPeeta firmly on the trending topics list.
Lionsgate is a company that started out by making low-budget, high-return horror films like "Saw".
Lionsgate quickly found itself overwhelmed by the challenges of waging a cultural battle against teenage fans that required sustained investment, meticulous execution, and real-time engagement with a massive online community.
Their social media team is small.
The only possible response strategies are to issue press releases, contact friendly media outlets to write whitewashing articles, and delete some overly malicious comments.
But this effort quickly vanished in the face of Twitter's frenzy of thousands of related tweets every second.
"Is Lionsgate's public relations department a bit weak?"
Even Jennifer, who was bombarded with calls from her agent every day until she had a headache, noticed that something was wrong.
She scrolled through the largely unchanged negative topics on her phone, and the increasingly out-of-control comment section under Lionsgate's official account: "Damn it, they seem to only post official platitudes like 'Coming Soon' and 'Thank you for your support,' while the other side is practically swearing!"
Rob confirmed this to Chen Xun over the phone: "Lionsgate communicated with me and they admitted that the online public opinion was a bit beyond expectations. They are not very good at this kind of protracted battle that requires working with fans little by little to change their perceptions, and they also have a limited budget."
Robert paused, his voice turning serious: "They want you and Jennifer off the field as soon as possible!"
"Go on TV shows, run errands, face the audience and media directly, and use yourselves to break down those outdated..."
Too muscular; doesn't fit the original character's image.
Rob said, "The plan is set. The first wave will be the three most important late-night talk shows: The Tonight Show, The Ellen Show, and The Conan Show. Time is tight and the task is heavy. We'll start recording tomorrow."
At a single command, Chen Xun and Jennifer, this pair of unfortunate companions, were forced to end their leisurely life in Beverly Hills and begin a high-intensity promotional campaign.
This wasn't Chen Xun's first time performing these stand-up routines, so he was naturally quite skilled.
Jennifer, on the other hand, was repeatedly warned by her agent, who was afraid that the shrew might accidentally say something she shouldn't!
Fortunately, Chen Xun and Jennifer appeared on the show together, which made Jennifer's agent feel much more relaxed.
This rising Chinese star in the film industry is a public relations expert!
She had heard Robert boast to her more than once.
As it turned out, Robert's words were true.
Backstage at The Tonight Show, both of them sported sophisticated looks.
Jennifer wore a sharply tailored black dress that made her skin look even whiter and showed off her figure perfectly.
She frowned slightly and repeatedly adjusted her posture in front of the mirror.
Chen Xun wore a simple dark gray suit without a tie, and one button on his shirt was undone, making him look casual yet polite.
"nervous?"
Chen Xun looked at Jennifer.
"A little!"
Jennifer honestly admitted, tugging at her skirt, "I'm mainly afraid of saying the wrong thing and causing trouble for my agent. The host's questions will definitely be very direct."
"Answer direct questions directly. Sincerity is more effective than pretense, especially for you."
Chen Xun patted Jennifer's head: "We are Katniss and Peeta. They are criticizing the symbols on the poster. We want to show them real people."
The staff knocked on the door to signal that they were ready.
The two exchanged a glance and walked together toward the passageway leading to the stage.
You can hear the enthusiastic laughter from the audience in the studio and the deep, teasing voice of the host, Jay Reynolds.
"The next two are currently in the eye of the storm."
Jay Reno's voice came through the wall: "They're starring in a highly anticipated teen movie, but the casting has sparked a lot of discussion online. Let's welcome Katniss and Peeta from 'The Hunger Games,' Jennifer Lawrence, and our old friend Chen Xun!"
As the music began, amidst applause and cheers, Chen Xun and Jennifer walked onto the stage side by side.
Bright lights instantly enveloped the audience, turning the stands into a dark mass, with only some blurry smiling faces and held-up phones visible in the front row.
Jay Reynolds stood up and shook hands with them.
After exchanging pleasantries and taking their seats, the classic talk show sofa interview began.
The opening is naturally a lighthearted joke about how tough filming is and how many mosquitoes there are in the forest.
Chen Xun occasionally made a sarcastic remark, which drew laughter from the audience.
Although he hasn't acted in sitcoms for a long time, his comedic skills are still there, especially when facing a sitcom-like situation.
Jay Reynolds and Chen Xun kept vying for the rhythm, making the atmosphere on set increasingly lively.
Jay Reynolds was sweating a little.
During the first interview, he was stunned by Chen Xun's aura and was led by the nose by Chen Xun for a time.
He had prepared thoroughly for this interview, but he still almost lost control of the conversation to Chen Xun.
The pressure Chen Xun is putting on him now is even greater than when interviewing top Hollywood stars!
He then turned his attention directly to Jennifer: "Jennifer, I've read a lot of reports and browsed the internet."
Jay Reynolds leaned forward, feigning curiosity: "Many people say that you and Katniss, as described in the book, are quite different in age and appearance. What do you think about that?"
The camera immediately focused on Jennifer.
Chen Xun could feel her body tense up slightly for a moment.
Jennifer took a breath and began, following the script she had been trained to say: "I think the most important thing for an actor is to capture the spirit and soul of the character. At the core of Katniss is resilience, the determination to protect her family, and the will to survive in desperate situations. I think I can understand these inner qualities and will try my best to portray them."
The answer was standard, without any major errors, but also lacking any highlights.
Jay Reynolds nodded, but was clearly not satisfied.
Such a conventional answer is unlikely to boost his show's ratings.
The last interview with Chen Xun had the highest viewership ratings in nearly a year.
Jay Reynolds' heart sank, and he turned his attention to Chen Xun: "Chen, many fans of the original work online are furious that a Chinese person was able to replace a white actor as the male lead. They feel that you have ruined the sacred work in their hearts, and that this has happened in two big-budget productions in a row! What do you think about this?"
This is a very pointed question.
It directly addresses controversies surrounding skin color and culture.
They even brought out past reviews of "Green Lantern" for comparison.
A purple attribute orb dropped from Jay Reno:
[Sharp questioning rhythm +6]
Chen Xun absorbed it directly.
[Temperature: Lv4 (766/800)]
The subtle insights into how to understand pointed questions, optimize the pace of questioning, and resolve pointed questions should be integrated into one's consciousness.
This knowledge can be applied not only to acting, but is also invaluable experience for navigating the glamorous world of Hollywood.
The audience quieted down, waiting to hear how this recently controversial Chinese actor would respond.
Chen Xun didn't speak immediately. He smiled slightly and leaned back on the sofa, a posture that subtly defused some of his aggression.
Instead of defending himself directly, he looked at Jennifer.
"Actually, I think Jennifer was absolutely right!"
Chen Xun spoke, his voice steady and clear: "We are not playing the illustrations in the book or a fixed image in a reader's mind; we are portraying two living people created by Susan Collins."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the audience before returning to Jay Reno: "There is pressure, of course, but I think rather than trying to fit some external template, we should focus on whether we can truly make the audience believe that the emotions between Katniss and Peeta in that brutal arena are real, and that their struggles and choices are moving."
"As for 'Green Lantern,' its box office success and audience popularity speak for themselves!"
"A good story shouldn't be limited to skin color or race; it should be the story itself!"
These words cleverly elevated Jennifer's somewhat stiff response to the level of an actress's duty and the core of the story.
He also subtly defused the sharp questions directed at him into a discussion of the essence of the story.
His tone was sincere, his logic was clear, and his demeanor was neither humble nor arrogant.
Jay Reynolds' eyes were filled with resentment upon seeing Chen Xun's excellent answer, but there was nothing he could do.
As an interview host, if he displays too much aggression and bias, he's not far from being fired!
The audience erupted in applause, a bit more enthusiastic than before.
Jennifer visibly breathed a sigh of relief as soon as Chen Xun finished speaking.
Jay Reno seized the opportunity presented by the improved atmosphere, abandoned his plan to make things difficult for Chen Xun, and instead of delving deeper into the controversy, asked about interesting anecdotes from the filming process.
Chen Xun and Jennifer naturally cooperated, sharing some funny and embarrassing stories from the set, gradually lightening the atmosphere and making it more lively.
Chen Xun also occasionally cracked jokes, using small humors to adjust the rhythm. His level 5 rhythm attribute allowed him to always respond at the right time, eliciting laughter from the audience.
In the latter part of the interview, Jay Reno played a game where the two reenacted the famous "Berry's Suicide Pact" scene from the movie.
The lights dimmed, and a spotlight shone on the two of them.
There were no lines, no actions, just eye contact.
Chen Xun instantly entered a state of high alert, activating his level 5 eye attribute at full power.
He looked at Jennifer, his eyes no longer filled with the lighthearted banter of the show, but with Peeta's tenderness, reluctance, and deep affection.
The gaze seemed almost tangible, piercing through the stage lights and projecting directly onto them.
Jennifer was clearly swayed by that powerful gaze, and she almost instinctively responded with Katniss's stubbornness and all-or-nothing attitude.
For a few seconds, the studio was completely silent.
Everyone was captivated by this silent yet powerful performance.
Wow!
Jay Reno broke the silence first, clapping: "That's fantastic! Just look at those eyes, I'm starting to believe you two are Katniss and Peeta!"
The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause and whistles.
The program ended in a pleasant atmosphere.
Backstage, Jennifer let out a long sigh of relief and slapped Chen Xun's arm hard: "Your speech just now was so good, I almost just memorized the script."
"Your gaze in the back is also quite good!"
Chen Xun smiled and said, "Remember this feeling, and the rest of the show will follow this pattern!"
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