[Chapter 466: Movie: Philip]
Having just rushed back from San Francisco to Los Angeles, Tom Cruise quickly walked into the Coastal Building, took the private elevator to the 16th floor, where Edward led him into a meeting room.
Within minutes, Hawke arrived.
Tom Cruise went straight to the point. "On this trip to San Francisco, I encountered many people and events that left a deep impression. Philip is a true hero; his story shouldn't be forgotten."
Hawke, with a serious expression, said, "Twitter and Saint Steve have agreed to fund a Philip statue at the Mattachine Society and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People."
Tom had attended Philip's funeral and witnessed how much of a sensation it caused. In terms of its impact on American society, it surpassed even the Los Angeles fires.
The LA fire's victims were basically Angelenos and some Californians. People in other states watched with interest but weren't directly affected by the flames or smoke. It was more like spectators watching from the sidelines.
However, Philip's LGBTQ rights movement erupted across most states and major cities nationwide, directly impacting tens of millions.
Tom suggested, "I have an idea. Can we collaborate again to adapt Philip's life story into a movie?"
He wanted not just to produce a film adaptation but also to deepen the partnerships and shared interests with Hawke.
Tom Cruise had endured in Hollywood for over twenty years because powerful backers supported him.
The Church of Scientology, which had long backed Tom, often operated behind the scenes.
This reminded Hawke of the Hollywood films and Oscar standards that would become popular in ten years, such as the movie Moonlight.
Hawke said, "Philip's life story truly has the potential to be adapted into a film. I hadn't had a chance to think about it yet, but you're already considering it -- no surprise from Hollywood's top star."
"You're too busy with many projects," Tom said with a cheerful smile. "Unlike me, who deals with movies every day, and lately has been busy with films based on true events."
Hawke recalled, "How's the progress on The Los Angeles Fires?"
"The post-production is nearly complete and will finish next month," Tom roughly outlined. "We've had several internal screenings, all well-received. That's why I want to adapt Philip's story -- fact-based movies naturally attract an audience."
Hawke thought for a moment. "I'll hold off on the adaptation for now. Once Eric finishes The Los Angeles Fires, we can sit down and discuss it."
Tom and Eric had worked together twice, and Tom highly respected Eric's abilities. "Having Eric write and direct ensures quality."
After settling this, Tom took his leave, and Hawke personally escorted him to the elevator.
Another reason Tom was so invested in collaborating with Hawke was the practical benefits he'd already gained.
Mission: Impossible III, filmed on location in Abu Dhabi, had secured substantial funding and advertising sponsorships from an Abu Dhabi consortium.
---
Back at the office, Edward followed Hawke in holding his phone.
"The $1 million charity donation has been traced to an environmental foundation under Leonardo's name," he reported.
Hawke wasn't surprised. "Was it easy to trace?"
"Yes, the foundation's records were quite transparent. Probably Leonardo wanted people to know who was donating," Edward speculated.
The Philip incident video was first broken by Twitter, which had since vigorously pushed related news coverage. For someone like Leonardo, who understood media dynamics, Twitter's stance was clear.
Hawke considered. "Check the recent schedule for any overlap with Leonardo. I want to find an opportunity to have a serious talk with him."
Hillary was a female politician who naturally sided with feminism; sooner or later, they would clash.
Hawke had dug many holes; apparently, there might be one for Leonardo as well.
On the last United Nations Environment Programme flight returning from Africa, Leonardo had indicated an intention to align himself.
---
In Brentwood, Rick Yorn's car pulled into Leonardo's mansion.
Rick had been Leonardo's manager since the early 1990s. He was also the one who insisted Leonardo star as the lead in Titanic.
After Leonardo's rise to stardom, Rick encouraged him to leave the CAA agency, making Leonardo the first Hollywood star to use only managers, no agents.
Leonardo sat under a pool umbrella and beckoned Rick over. "Is everything handled?"
Rick replied, "I used funds from your environmental foundation for the donation. Anyone who investigates will easily find the trail."
Leonardo nodded. "Good. Hawke is cautious; he'll definitely check."
Rick was puzzled, "Why not approach Hawke directly?"
"Because I don't want things getting too close -- especially if Hillary finds out," Leonardo frowned. "Running into him publicly is normal, but private meetings could cause trouble."
Rick was Leonardo's most trusted confidant and knew about his messy history with Hillary. "Leo, are you determined?"
Leonardo's expression was resolute. "Do you know how it feels to have Hillary sitting on my face? Worse than the slums, more disgusting than any toilet!"
Recalling the most painful moment made Leonardo's eyes rage; he nearly slammed the table in anger.
Rick quickly comforted him. "We'll find a way. You'll get rid of that old woman."
Leonardo shook his head. "She has money, power, a terribly dark heart and ruthless means. Remember the plane crash in the Hudson River involving the two BlackRock CEOs? I suspect she was behind it."
Besides grief, Leonardo felt fear. "If she dares to harm two billionaires, what am I?"
Rick had been in Hollywood for over ten years and knew the truth behind the glossy facade -- true bigwigs mattered, stars were merely small potatoes.
Leonardo and Tom Cruise stood at the top of Hollywood actors, not to mention political heavyweights or second-tier moguls like Harvey Weinstein, who they dared not offend easily.
Rick understood that feeling. "You flew back from Africa on the same plane as Hawke, and you talked to him. How did he seem?"
"Hawke was friendly and chatted a bit. He's closely linked to the Ferguson family, who oppose Hillary and Bill Clinton couple," Leonardo analyzed. "Also, Hawke isn't fond of men -- he won't cross the line with me. Other shameless politicians, I can't say."
Rick agreed. "True, many politicians are like Hollywood bastards, they're into everyone."
Leonardo had considered using others to get rid of Hillary but worried about his safety and dreaded the miserable aftermath of escaping one nightmare only to face another.
Rick mused, "I heard rumors that Hawke Osment has a special relationship with Megan Taylor, director at Fox Channel 11. She moved to Brentwood last year, nearby."
Leonardo said, "Go get in touch with her."
Rick replied, "Got it."
Leonardo thought of the helicopter crash in the Hudson River, cautioning, "Keep it confidential."
From now on, he vowed never to fly helicopters again.
---
Burbank, BWR Public Relations.
Natalie Portman hurriedly entered, escorted by an assistant into director Rooney Chason's office.
Rooney was her PR manager, responsible for media and public image matters.
She instructed the assistant to bring coffee, "No milk."
Natalie kindly smiled at the assistant. "Thank you."
A strict vegetarian, she not only abstained from meat but also promoted the lifestyle to others: "Rooney, your agency could switch to fully vegan coffee -- no milk -- which would be healthier and more environmentally friendly."
Rooney initially wanted to argue but realized Natalie was a passionate idealist. She held back.
Thinking to herself, she sighed at the irony: stars and billionaires don't call on her when wasting resources, but now suddenly preach conservation -- good people, indeed.
Natalie continued, "Eating meat weakens one's convictions..."
"That's actually related to what I want to discuss today," Rooney interrupted. 'I can't stand the preachy vibe anymore. Vegetarianism is a personal choice, but don't force it on others.'
Smiling, she asked, "Nat, did you finish your studies in Jerusalem?"
Natalie nodded. "Yes, it's my hometown and the promised land for all Jews. I found peace there."
These were carefully crafted self-imaging statements.
Rooney said, "More than two years of study show Hollywood's Jewish community your stance, but it's not enough. Capital ultimately seeks profits. You must also attract the audience. Padme Amidala made you famous, but after Star Wars, your films didn't do well commercially."
Talking work, Natalie paused her vegetarian campaign momentarily and admitted, "Padme's popularity was thanks to Star Wars, not Natalie Portman."
Rooney analyzed, "Your Jerusalem campaign targets a highbrow crowd. But to really become a star, audiences must like you. I'm planning a strategy to get you closer to the market and fans."
Natalie, thinking herself smart, said, "Go ahead."
Rooney laid it out. "In Hollywood, top stars have causes beyond acting, forming a solid base -- like Leonardo's environmentalism or Will Smith's Black empowerment. You could focus on women's rights; I know you're part of a New York feminist group."
"Yes," Natalie proudly confirmed. "I've long fought for women's rights."
Rooney handed her a document. "To promote you, I drafted a new plan combining feminism and vegetarianism."
Reading it, Natalie's eyes sparkled. "Sounds promising."
Rooney added, "The biggest risk is inconsistency with celebrity behavior. But you consistently promote women's rights and strict vegetarianism -- you're the perfect example."
Some feminist rhetoric in the document felt a little extreme to Natalie. She hesitated, "Would this alienate other groups?"
Rooney responded, "Times have changed. Look at Leonardo's environmentalism, Will Smith and Spike Lee's civil rights activism, or Cate Blanchett's feminist leadership. None win everyone's approval, but they build a strong core following."
Trusting her PR, Natalie said, "I'll study this plan; it suits me well."
"Great," Rooney said with curiosity. How did Hawke know Natalie so well? Combining feminism and vegetarianism to please her was clever.
"Let's stay in touch."
Natalie left BWR PR and returned to her hotel to meet her mother, who offered full support.
...
Meanwhile, Rooney arranged to meet Scarlett Johansson at the Matata Cafe.
Scarlett was still a rebellious teen, sporting a large nose ring on one side and a streak of red in her blonde hair. Under her white T-shirt, two metal rings were faintly visible.
Known for her wild personality, she was even photographed having sex openly near elevator cameras.
Rubbing her nose ring, Scarlett asked Rooney, "Can you help me reverse the bad press? Producers and directors doubt my star power after last year's commercial failure with The Island. They think I'm only fit for indie films, no matter how much I kowtow."
Rooney told her a harsh truth, "Dear, since The Island bombed at the box office, this is inevitable for you as lead actress."
Impatient, Scarlett exclaimed, "My agent only offers me indie roles now, and I'm fed up. I want blockbuster parts, big money."
She was everything Natalie wasn't -- she entered Hollywood to make bank.
"You'll struggle to land commercial roles right now," Rooney advised strategically. "I'll devise a two-to-three-year plan to turn things around. You're young; time is on your side."
Direct, Scarlett asked, "Who do I need to cozy up to -- producers, investors, directors?"
"Don't rush," Rooney waved her off. "We're shaping your overall image, not just films."
Scarlett relaxed.
Rooney, highly respected in the industry, reused some arguments she used with Natalie and quickly won Scarlett over.
She asked, "Are you bisexual?"
Scarlett thought. "Mostly men, but if a woman catches my interest, I'm not opposed."
In her child star days, she acted in many female-led productions and often faced unrefusable demands in Hollywood.
Rooney asked, "So, you're a queer?"
Scarlett laughed brightly. "Exactly, I'm queer."
"Good. Now, do you know what's hottest right now?"
Not waiting for an answer, Rooney said, "From San Francisco, the LGBTQ movement is spreading nationwide, with the Q standing for Queer -- like you."
Scarlett had followed the news. "You want me to support this movement? Most supporters are male stars; few female stars speak out."
Rooney was serious, "You could be the first, which would draw more attention. The LGBTQ movement is blazing nationwide and unstoppable. Early supporters gain more traction, and you yourself are queer."
In a few years, Scarlett would mature and prefer feminism over LGBTQ, but now, she embraced queerness.
She pondered, "I need to discuss with my agent."
"Let's go together," Rooney said.
Hollywood was at the forefront of social movements. After Rooney's analysis, both Scarlett's agent and Scarlett saw it as promising.
...
Not only was the LGBTQ movement thriving across San Francisco and the U.S., Hawke had planned an event to elevate star prestige.
Through UN collaborations in Africa, Hawke contacted the UN Human Rights Council; when appropriate, a female star could give a speech at the UN building.
Of course, not just a fake close-up for media.
This would boost a Hollywood star's class and reputation.
Rooney also recruited another top female client, Emma Watson, who was filming the Harry Potter series in the UK. She would meet with Rooney only when she traveled to Los Angeles with her parents for an event.
...
After planning, the next morning, Scarlett Johansson tweeted official support for the LGBTQ movement, featuring a rainbow flag and Philip's poster.
"I send my love and respect to those who can't breathe freely in life. I hope you move at your own pace. Ultimately, I wish for a world of equality and love, where no one fears vulnerability or expressing feelings."
She also posted proof of a $10,000 donation to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
That morning, the NAACP tweeted a response showing Scarlett's heartfelt letter.
"I am very inspired by what you do. Thank you to all those who fight for fairness and justice!"
Scarlett then received a call from Steve Nutt inviting her to San Francisco's City Hall for a Twitter show taping.
Tom's film company sent Scarlett's agent an audition invitation for a skilled female assassin supporting role.
In just two days, Scarlett's career seemed to take a turn.
Unlike last year's near-ruin of her commercial film path after The Island, this was a positive shift.
The audition came from Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible crew!
Scarlett immediately booked a flight to San Francisco and appeared frontline at the LGBTQ movement event that night.
...
Meanwhile, Natalie Portman joined women's rights marches in California and nationwide, advancing step-by-step through newspaper interviews promoting feminism and vegetarianism, though not combining them yet.
That view needed a formal, grand occasion to attract attention.
Natalie also met with Fiona, a powerful figure in the FMF, quickly becoming allies due to shared views.
...
At the same time, Leonardo's manager Rick quietly approached Megan Taylor, hoping she could mediate a private meeting between Hawke and Leonardo.
Hawke agreed immediately upon Megan's notice.
He planned to discuss Hillary and related issues seriously with Leonardo.
In Hawke's recollections, Leonardo had a tangled rumored history with Hillary and Puff Daddy.
*****
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