novellhall Chapter 209 Filming Suspended [5000]
Chapter 209 Filming Suspended [5000]
Chapter 209 Filming Suspended [5000]
Ding!
Chen Xun noticed an extra email in his inbox.
It was posted by Robert.
How to identify and counter false information targeting Chen Xun
This was downloaded by Rob from his fan group.
Chen Xun clicked to take a look:
Chapter 1: Common Types and Characteristics of Rumors Chapter 2: Fact-Checking Methods Chapter 3: A Library of Polite Counter-Reaction Techniques Chapter 4: Relevant Legal Provisions Appendix: A Chronology of Chen Xun's Works and Achievements The outlines are quite professional.
"Who made this?"
Chen Xun was very curious.
"A Chinese fan group called Chen Xun Data Group, whose members are said to include lawyers, designers, programmers, and English majors, works in shifts 24 hours a day to monitor public opinion on major platforms around the world."
Don't they sleep?
"There's a time difference; it's nighttime in China and daytime in the US, so it's a perfect relay."
Chen Xun was suddenly a little moved.
He posted a message on Weibo: "Thank you to everyone who spoke up for me, especially my friends in China. I saw all the charts, videos and manuals you made, and I was very touched."
One minute later, a comment read: "Not tired at all! The battle was awesome!"
"Chen Xun replied to me! I'm alive!"
"I'll go make ten more anti-black images right now!"
"The upstairs neighbor is dead!"
Annie texted me: "Your fans are amazing, my agent is thinking of hiring them."
Chen Xun contacted his team members in China and prepared a batch of autographed photos and merchandise, planning to give them away to fans through a raffle.
After thinking about it for a while, he simply posted another video: "Hello everyone, I'm Chen Xun. I sincerely thank everyone who has supported me during this time —"
He spoke in Chinese for over a minute, expressing his gratitude in a simple and down-to-earth manner, without any airs of a celebrity, just like chatting with a friend.
"I know many people stayed up all night for me, bypassed internet restrictions for me, wrote long articles, made charts, and edited videos for me. I remember all of this. In return, I will continue to make good works and not let you down. Also, please take care to rest and don't overwork yourself. Your health and happiness are more important than anything else."
The video was posted on Weibo and instantly garnered over a million reposts.
Comments section: "I cried, he really cares about us!"
"Not tired at all! Seeing your comment gives me even more energy!"
"Chen Xun, fly with confidence. If something happens—well, if nothing happens, we'll always be there for you!"
"From this day forward, I'm Chen Xun's die-hard fan!"
Chinese netizens added English subtitles to the video and posted it on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Headline: "He deserves it!"
The comments from those haters below the video are now completely buried and invisible.
Instead, messages in various languages appeared: "Although I can't understand Chinese, I can feel the sincerity."
"I've become a fan."
"Are those who criticized him feeling ashamed now?"
Public opinion has completely reversed.
The Hollywood Reporter published a feature article this afternoon titled "Chen Xun's Crisis PR Victory: Fan Power and Transparency Strategy".
The article analyzes the entire process of this incident, and specifically mentions the organized counterattack by Chinese fans, calling it an unprecedented transnational fan action.
The article concludes by saying, "In this incident, Chen Xun demonstrated the qualities that a modern artist should have: he did not back down in the face of rumors, spoke with facts, and cherished the support of his fans."
"His fans have shown a new way of idol worship, not just consuming, but participating and even defending, which may change the future of Hollywood's fan culture."
Chen Xun smiled after reading the article.
He didn't know whether things would change or not; all he knew was that they had won the battle.
Rob called, sounding relaxed: "Warner Bros. has withdrawn its proposal to pause filming, and Director Nolan says filming will proceed as planned."
"So fast?"
"A crisis can also be an opportunity. You are currently very popular, and your image is more positive. You have the ability, the responsibility, and a group of loyal fans."
"Oh, right, there's something else!"
Rob paused for a moment, then continued, "The assistant who leaked the contract has been caught. He was Christine's former assistant. He sold the information because he had gambling debts. Christine has filed a lawsuit against him."
"This kind of trade secret leak is a sure thing to result in a successful lawsuit!"
After hanging up the phone, Chen Xun lay down on the sofa.
He opened the panel.
The progress of "receiving widespread praise" has reached 58%!
Chen Xun's name has been spreading online for the past few days, causing his [cultural influence] to soar, and his progress on the panel to advance rapidly as well.
This is much faster than leveling up through acting!
Chen Xun seems to have found a new path to level up.
Chen Xun's good mood only lasted for three days.
On the fourth day, Chen Xun saw the photos that Robert had sent him.
Rob called immediately: "The Warner Bros. office building is under siege!"
"What?"
"A group of white people held up a banner saying, 'Get out of Nolan's new movie, get out of Hollywood!'"
Chen Xun grabbed his coat and headed outside: "I'm going to take a look."
"Don't come! They're after you!"
"Then we should go even more."
Driving to Burbank, two blocks from the Warner Bros. office building, Chen Xun saw the crowd.
About fifty or sixty people lined up on the sidewalk in front of the office building, holding banners with white backgrounds and black lettering.
The banner read in large letters: "There are no Asians in space!"
"Let American heroes remain American!"
"Nolan betrayed us!"
Some people in the crowd were chanting slogans, while others were giving speeches to the media cameras.
Chen Xun parked his car across the street, put on a hat and sunglasses, got out of the car and walked a little closer.
-
The speaker was a middle-aged white man, bald, wearing a plaid shirt, and holding a megaphone: "Cooper is a symbol of the American spirit! He's a father, a pilot, a hero who saved humanity! To cast a Chinese actor in this role is a desecration of it!"
The people below held up signs and echoed, "Blasphemy! Blasphemy!"
During an interview, a reporter asked, "Who do you think is more suitable to play Cooper?"
"Any white actor is better than an Asian actor!"
As Chen Xun listened, a surge of anger rose within him.
There were a few familiar faces mixed in with the crowd; Chen Xun seemed to have seen them among the dissenting voices surrounding "Green Lantern" and "The Hunger Games."
Looks like he's a long-time hater!
Several others held up the Stars and Stripes and sang the American national anthem.
The scene was extremely absurd.
But in America, this is almost normal.
Rob called again: "Have you arrived?"
"Across the street."
"Don't go over there, Warner security is already clearing the area, but the media has already taken most of the photos."
"When did they start?"
"They arrived at seven in the morning. They were very well organized, with uniforms and slogans. It's obvious they have someone behind them."
"Who?"
"The investigation is still ongoing, but we suspect it was hired by another company, or it could be an extremist group."
Warner's security guards began dispersing the crowd.
But those people knew the law well; they stood still on the public sidewalk, just chanting slogans.
Security guards could not forcibly drag them away; they could only form a human wall to prevent them from approaching the office building entrance.
More and more media outlets gathered, snapping photos with their long lenses and microphones.
Chen Xun spotted several familiar faces among the reporters.
They were all the people who had been chasing him around asking about race.
My phone vibrated. It was Nolan's assistant: "Chen, the director told you not to respond, not to say anything."
"I know!"
"Warner is holding an emergency meeting; the situation is not looking good."
"What do you mean?"
"Some high-level officials have wavered."
The phone hangs up.
Chen Xun stared at the group of protesters for a few minutes, then turned and got into his car.
Back home, Chen Xun turned on the TV.
Local news outlets are already reporting on it.
The banners in the video were glaring, and the slogans came through the TV speakers.
The controversy surrounding the casting of Nolan's new film continues to escalate. This morning, a group of people claiming to be guardians of American cinema protested in front of the Warner Bros. office building, demanding the replacement of the Asian lead actor, Chen Xun.
Below, a scrolling list of comments reads: "Support the protest! Hollywood is becoming increasingly politically correct!"
"This is racial discrimination!"
"What did Chen Xun do wrong? Just because he's Chinese?"
"Chinese people shouldn't be portrayed as American heroes!"
Chen Xun turned off the TV.
He opened the panel.
The progress of "receiving widespread praise" has reached 60%!
It's gone up another 2%!
Progress is incredibly fast!
Chen Xun even wanted to let the bullet fly for a while longer.
However, it must be within a controllable range.
Otherwise, if he were to be abandoned by the crew, his future Hollywood career would definitely suffer a huge blow!
-
This kind of open racist protest is far more damaging than gossip.
Rumors can be clarified, but once racial issues are labeled, they are very difficult to remove.
Warner Music will most likely drop him.
When Robert arrived at Beverly Hills in the afternoon, Chen Xun noticed his grim expression as soon as he entered.
"Warner's meeting is over."
"result?"
He's considering suspending your scenes until things calm down.
"7
Chen Xun stared at him: "Where's Nolan?"
"Nolan objected, but Warner executives had different opinions."
Rob sat down on the sofa and rubbed his temples.
These days, he's also been quite exhausted by the constant stream of negative news: "A vice president said that the film investment is huge, and we can't take the risk. If the box office fails because of casting issues, the responsibility would be too great."
"So they want to replace me?"
"It's not being replaced, it's being paused."
Rob emphasized, "The official explanation is to cool down public opinion, but in reality it's a soft censorship."
"Does Nolan agree?"
"He disagreed, but Warner is the investor and has the final say."
In the United States, directors have relatively little interference in the casting and capital aspects of films.
Although Nolan is a renowned director, he only has slightly more authority and cannot influence the choices of capital.
Chen Xun remained silent for a few seconds.
"If there's a pause, how long will it be?"
"I don't know, maybe several months, maybe until they find a replacement."
"Who is the replacement?"
"Matthew McConaughey!"
really!
He has a classic white image and was a strong contender for the role of Cooper before Chen Xun appeared.
"That's Hollywood!"
Rob sighed, expressing his helplessness: "We talk about diversity and inclusion all the time, but when it really comes down to it, it's still white people first."
"Moreover, the contract includes a force majeure clause, which means that if the film cannot be shot normally due to external public opinion, the investors have the right to make adjustments."
"What do we do now?" Robert asked.
"wait!"
"Wait for Warner's official notification!"
Chen Xun had anticipated this and was not surprised.
There's no other good way now, we can only wait.
Chen Xun felt he had done everything he could.
The promotion for "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" has begun, but the production team did not invite Chen Xun to participate in the roadshow, obviously taking into account Chen Xun's current negative news.
The Fast and Furious crew, however, continued with everything as usual.
Director Justin Lin even sent Chen Xun the upcoming filming schedule, urging him to finish his current work as soon as possible and join the filming crew.
Vin Diesel and Justin Lin, the two main figures in the Fast & Furious film crew, have a lot of say. Vin Diesel also has some production rights, so he is not affected by the investors.
The film still features multiple lead actors, who also value the Chinese market.
"You've changed!"
Robert looked at Chen Xun sitting on the sofa, not at all like the restless or worried man he had imagined.
"What do you mean?"
"You might have swallowed your anger before, but now you're much tougher!"
"Now I have the means!"
Chen Xun smiled and said, "I have my works and my fans. Even if I'm kicked out this time, I can still survive."
"Nolan's new film is a great opportunity."
Rob was unwilling to give up.
"Opportunities can be found again, but dignity must not be lost."
Rob nodded: "Okay!"
Rob rarely stood up for himself like this.
Looking back two or three years ago, he was working as an assistant director on film sets, and now he's a highly sought-after agent in the industry. What more could he want?
After Robert left, Chen Xun sat alone in the living room.
At 9 p.m., Warner's official notification arrived.
It wasn't an email, it was a phone call.
A vice president called personally, speaking in a very official tone: "Mr. Chen, given the current external public opinion environment, the company has decided to postpone the filming of 'Future World.' Your scenes will be delayed, and the specific time will be notified separately. During this period, the exclusivity clause in the contract will be suspended, and you can take on other work."
It was phrased euphemistically, but the meaning was basically clear: you've been fired from the production team!
Chen Xun asked calmly, "Is this the final decision?"
"Yes."
"What did Nolan say?"
"The director has the right to make artistic decisions, but the company has the right to make commercial decisions. We respect the director, but we must also be responsible for the investment."
"Understood."
"In addition, the company will pay the first phase of the payment according to the contract. The penalty clause will not be triggered for the time being. We hope there will be opportunities for cooperation in the future."
future?
Chen Xun sneered inwardly.
The realities of capital were laid bare at this moment.
Chen Xun had anticipated this, but he didn't expect it to happen so quickly!
After hanging up the phone, Chen Xun sat in the darkness for a long time.
His phone kept receiving messages, but he didn't check them.
He was thinking about something: what should he do if this really ends like this?
Returning to China to develop one's career?
Stay in Hollywood and continue struggling?
For the first time, he felt that the power this system provided wasn't so strong in the face of reality.
It can help him improve his acting skills, absorb attributes, and increase his favorability.
But it cannot change some people's prejudices, it cannot change the choices of capital, and it cannot change the unspoken rules of this industry.
Warner Bros. issued a statement the following day: "In view of the recent public opinion environment faced by the 'Future World' project, in order to ensure the smooth progress of film production, after consultation with the main creative team, it has been decided to adjust the filming schedule. The filming of the scenes of the lead actor, Mr. Chen Xun, will be temporarily suspended. Specific arrangements will be notified separately. We thank Mr. Chen Xun for his efforts in the role and look forward to continuing our cooperation in the future."
It was posted on Twitter and the official website, and within ten minutes it was retweeted over 10,000 times.
The comment section was instantly taken over by two groups of people.
The first wave consisted of protesters and supporters: "Warner made the right choice!"
"Hollywood has finally woken up!"
"It's been a long time since white people played white roles!"
The second wave came from Chen Xun's fans and supporters: "Disgusting! Blatant racism!"
"Warner Bros. has succumbed to extremists—shameful!"
"What did Chen Xun do wrong? He's just an actor!"
"Boycott all Warner Bros. movies from now on!"
But soon, a third voice emerged: "With such a large investment, it's really not worth the risk."
"It's a pity about Chen Xun, but business is business."
"I hope he'll have another chance in the future."
this is the truth.
When you get into trouble, many people won't take sides; they'll only understand the choices made by capital.
Chen Xun was looking at stock trading software.
Warner Bros.' stock price rose slightly by 0.3% after the announcement.
Removing him actually caused the stock price to rise!
Rob called: "As for 'Fast & Furious,' director Justin Lin said the schedule can be moved up so you can join the crew as soon as possible. There are also a few independent film scripts, but none of them are very big."
"Then join the crew!"
Chen Xun made a decision quickly.
There are plenty of movies out there, so what difference does it make which one we make?
After hanging up the phone, Chen Xun opened Twitter.
The hashtag #ChenXunSuspendsFilming# has been pushed to the top of the trending list.
Below it is:
#WarnerMedia Bows Down to Racism#
#BoycottNolan's New Film#
Clicking into the topic reveals a lively discussion.
American netizens are celebrating: "Finally, this day has come!"
"Asian people shouldn't play American heroes!"
"I hope he never comes back!"
Many people are also criticizing, saying, "I never thought this kind of discrimination still exists!"
"Warner Bros. chickened out!"
"Boycotting a movie before it's even been made? Are you crazy?"
Chen Xun opened Weibo, and the trending topics were all about him.
#Chen Xun kicked out of Warner Music#
#WarnerMedia's racial discrimination confirmed#
#Chinese netizens preparing for the expedition#
"Given that Warner Bros. is part of Time Warner, which has some business operations in China, we will simultaneously investigate its non-compliant business practices in China and report them to the relevant authorities."
Some people were furious and prepared to retaliate.
The comments below were equally lively: "Professional! These aren't just fans, they're a professional team!"
"Saved. The day the movie is released is the day to act."
Will Warner Music regret offending Chinese netizens?
"They probably don't even know who they've messed with."
Looking at all this, Chen Xun felt a mix of emotions.
He posted a message on Weibo: "Thank you everyone, but please be rational and don't do anything illegal. The movie is the result of many people's hard work, so don't let my issues affect others."
Someone immediately replied, "Chen Xun, you're just too kind!"
"But we can't swallow this!"
"Rest assured, we will only act within the bounds of the law."
"Warner Bros. must pay the price!"
Chen Xun wanted to say something more, but Robert called again.
"Watch the news! CNN is broadcasting Warner's press conference live!"
Chen Xun turned on the TV.
In the CNN live broadcast, Warner Bros.' vice president and the producer of "Futureworld" sat on stage, answering questions from reporters.
A reporter stood up: "Does Chen Xun's suspension from filming mean he will eventually be replaced?"
Vice President: "At this point, we are only adjusting the filming schedule; whether to replace the actor has not yet been decided."
"When can a decision be made?"
"We need to assess the changes in the public opinion environment."
"Was this decision influenced by the protests downstairs?"
The vice president paused for a moment: "We comprehensively considered many factors, including but not limited to the public opinion environment, project risks,..."
Production progress, etc.
Another reporter asked, "What is Nolan's attitude towards this?"
The producer took the microphone: "Director Nolan understands the company's decision; he is currently focused on the artistic creation of the film."
"So he agreed?"
"The director and the company have always maintained good communication."