Recently, the Burbank shooting incident in a satellite city of Los Angeles caused quite a stir. It was widely reported that a Hollywood star, facing three armed terrorists, not only survived unscathed but nearly single-handedly subdued the attackers. This left countless people astonished. While there are action stars in the country, media professionals are well aware that most of the famous ones are all show.
How many could, like Matthew Horner, deliver a thunderous strike in a dangerous situation and take down three armed terrorists in mere seconds?
Was Matthew Horner not afraid?
"Terrified. Scared to death," Matthew said frankly. "Who wouldn't be afraid when facing the threat of death?"
He smiled and added, "Because of my work in movies, I've had the chance to interact with many military personnel, many of whom have been to war. They told me that even veterans are still afraid of dying. It's human instinct."
Hearing Matthew speak so candidly, both reporters and the audience felt he was very genuine.
Most people, after all, are afraid of death.
Matthew continued, "I'm just an ordinary person. Because of my roles, I've practiced mixed martial arts for years, and I've sparred with professional fighters. My skills are decent, I suppose. Also, I'm a member of a gun club in Los Angeles. I've never bought a gun, but I have a legal license and practice shooting regularly."
He shrugged slightly, "Even with all that, when I faced three armed terrorists, I was still afraid."
The audience and reporters began to feel that this Hollywood action star was very different from the local action stars, who often acted like they could fight in real life as they do in the movies.
Matthew pointed to his chest. "Because I've practiced shooting, I know that any part of the body can't withstand a bullet."
His words resonated with the audience. While some martial arts purists might disagree, most clear-headed people know that no matter how skilled you are in martial arts or mixed combat, it's useless against firearms.
"Then why did you stand up and fight back?" a reporter asked curiously.
"Because I was afraid of dying!" Matthew continued with his "authentic" persona. "I'm afraid of pain, afraid of death, afraid of losing everything I have now, so I had to fight back."
He said seriously, "At the time, I was in a desperate situation. If I didn't fight back, I would have died. Fortunately, Lady Luck smiled on me, and I survived."
Suddenly, someone in the audience stood up and shouted, "I don't think it's just that! It was your hard training that ensured you'd come out on top!"
"Exactly!"
"That's right!"
The audience and film students chimed in. Everyone knew that an ordinary person wouldn't have been able to do much in that situation.
The reporter asked again, "Mr. Horner, do you agree with what they said?"
Matthew smiled, "There's some truth to that." However, he emphasized, "But mainly, I was just lucky."
In this country, it's important to remain humble, as it wins more approval than being arrogant.
Sure enough, more voices supporting him came from the audience until the moderator, Chen Datou, stepped in to quiet the hall.
Matthew watched everything unfold, knowing he was getting closer to achieving his goal.
The Q&A session continued, and now it was time for fans and regular audience members to ask questions. Chen randomly picked a fan from the audience, a man of average build.
"In movies, your skills are impressive. We watched that video of the shootout, and you took down a terrorist in the blink of an eye. It was mind-blowing." The fan went on before asking, "Matthew, have you trained in martial arts?"
Matthew slowly shook his head, "No, I practice mixed martial arts."
The fan followed up, "There are many martial arts experts here. Would you consider learning from them?"
"Depends on the time," Matthew smiled. "I'd love to learn some martial arts."
He used the word "learn," not "seek instruction," as the latter could imply too many things.
Matthew had trained in mixed martial arts for a long time and had considered sparring with others, but it was just a thought. After all, win or lose, he'd still lose.
If he lost, his reputation would be ruined. If he won, the recognition he gained might instantly vanish, and he'd become a public enemy.
He was here to open up the market, not to have the market shut its doors on him.
The second person to ask a question was a film student, possibly from the acting department.
"Hello, Matthew." The student introduced himself, "I'm Lin Yuan, a student from the film academy."
Matthew smiled and nodded, "Hello, Lin Yuan."
Lin asked, "I've read many reports about Hollywood, and they say that before lead actors play certain roles, they spend a lot of time experiencing the real lives of those characters. For example, in your case, many reports say that when you shoot military-themed films, you undergo military training, and for action films, you start training months in advance. Is this true?"
"Of course," Matthew answered casually. "It's the most basic thing. I imagine you have similar courses in your studies, right?"
"Yeah." Lin Yuan nodded.
Matthew continued, "When I filmed Band of Brothers, I trained for over a month, crawling through mud in the winter. For Black Hawk Down, I trained in rappelling…"
At this point, he paused, then smiled, "But in the past two years, things have improved. I no longer need to spend months training for action or gunfight scenes."
As soon as he said this, someone in the audience muttered to their neighbor, "Got a big name now, doesn't want to work hard anymore."
Matthew didn't hear what was said and didn't care. "Because I've incorporated fight training and shooting practice into my daily routine, just like morning runs. So when I join an action film crew, the stunt coordinators no longer require me to spend so much time training."
He said with some flair, "Honestly, audiences shouldn't know about the behind-the-scenes work of actors, as it might affect their viewing experience. These are just things an actor should do, and they're the bare minimum."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Yuan was the first to applaud, followed by more people, and the hall once again erupted in applause.
"These are just the basics for a true actor," an older professor said as he clapped, "That's what makes a good actor."
A younger professor chimed in, "Hard work leads to results. Matthew Horner didn't get to where he is without reason. An actor like him will only continue to succeed."
Chen's eyes glanced over Matthew. After working with him for some time, she realized that this man from across the Pacific not only understood the local context but also seemed to have a high emotional intelligence.
When answering questions, he subtly guided people's thoughts to align with his rhythm, fostering a sense of agreement.
None of the other Hollywood stars she had encountered were this clever.
"Let's continue," Matthew gently reminded her.
Chen smiled, then called on another audience member to ask a question.
This fan, a man in his twenties wearing black-rimmed glasses and with a very ordinary appearance, asked an extraordinary question.
"Matthew, I'm a fan of yours. Ever since you starred in Gladiator, I've watched all the movies you've been in," he said. Then came the shocking question: "It's widely rumored on the internet that there are hidden rules in the entertainment industry. And if you look into it, you'll realize it's true. So, is there such a thing in Hollywood?"
It seemed like a staff member was about to take the microphone, but the man quickly sped up, "Is there a casting couch in Hollywood?"
The question was so sensitive that even Matthew hadn't anticipated someone would ask so directly.
All eyes were now on Matthew, waiting to see how he would respond.
"You don't have to answer," Chen whispered softly, "Just say you don't understand the term."
But Matthew remained calm. In that short moment, he had already thought of an answer.
Since this was a public meeting and the question was asked, and he had a suitable response, he decided to answer.
"I understand what you mean," Matthew said seriously. "I can't speak for this side, but in Hollywood, such situations do exist."
Many Hollywood stars had publicly discussed this before, though they never named names. Matthew continued, "Hollywood production companies and key departments of film crews are predominantly male. Men hold absolute power, while women have relatively lower status, resulting in significant imbalances in resources and opportunities."
The audience and reporters were surprised that Matthew actually answered, as no one in the country ever responded to such questions directly.
"The truth is, this issue isn't just confined to Hollywood or the entertainment industry," Matthew began steering the conversation in his own direction. "It exists in various industries and even society as a whole. In North America, there's office politics in the workplace, secrets in the business world, and women often face more threats and injustices than men."
Many people were nodding in agreement, as this reflected reality.
Few realized that Matthew had skillfully shifted the topic.
Matthew, now speaking with heartfelt sincerity, said, "The social status and rights of women have not been given the attention they deserve. To eliminate inappropriate rules, modern society, regardless of gender, should take responsibility for advancing the movement for equality and do whatever they can to promote gender equality."
As soon as he finished speaking, Chen was the first to applaud, and all the women in the audience followed suit. Then, more people joined in
, and the hall filled with applause.
The older professor clapped and sighed, "This man is truly extraordinary."
The younger professor agreed wholeheartedly. While there wasn't a strong feminist movement in the country, there was a saying that women hold up half the sky. Matthew Horner had cleverly taken a sensitive question and turned it into a topic with a universally correct value across both sides of the Pacific. His quick wit and understanding of the local context were evident.
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