Currently, it's a crucial time for Oscar voting. Upon hearing Bill Ross' words, Murphy couldn't ignore it. He immediately set aside the discussion with Kara Faith and went to the desk with Bill. Bill opened a webpage and navigated to YouTube, where he clicked on a prominently featured video.
The video was titled "Revealing the Truth About Famous Hollywood Director Murphy Stanton and a Drug Cartel."
Just from the title, Murphy knew it was something highly detrimental to him. Perhaps attracted by the title, the video already had over 200,000 views on YouTube.
After waiting a few seconds, the video began playing. The background seemed to be downtown Los Angeles. Murphy glanced at it and recognized it as the old bar Ross often visited.
The video featured a local TV reporter. The camera first panned over her and then shifted to the bar's sign behind her, with the reporter's voice-over starting.
"Viewers who have seen 'Diego Ross' will be familiar with this place. This bar is where the male protagonist frequently drank. Why did Murphy Stanton choose this bar for filming? According to our reliable sources, the Hollywood director often secretly met with drug lord Diego Ross here to discuss very confidential matters..."
The reporter was clearly trying to mislead the viewers.
"Could it be that their discussions were about drugs? Or perhaps the funding sources for film production..."
Rumors about this had never ceased. Bringing it up at this bar now clearly had malicious intent.
"We found Montoro Rodriguez, who used to work at this bar. He claims to have witnessed Murphy Stanton and drug lord Diego Ross having numerous secret meetings."
The camera panned back to the reporter, who was now standing opposite a Latin man in his thirties.
The reporter held the microphone to him and asked, "Mr. Rodriguez, can you describe the meetings between Murphy Stanton and Diego Ross that you witnessed?"
"Diego Ross is a local celebrity, and Murphy Stanton is a famous Hollywood director."
Montoro Rodriguez seemed well-prepared. "I recognized them the first time they appeared in the bar. They were very familiar with each other, always talking privately at the bar counter. Only the boss was allowed near them. We waiters were not. There were guards, making it seem like what they discussed couldn't see the light of day."
"Did they meet frequently?" the reporter asked.
"Sometimes once or twice a month," Montoro Rodriguez explained, gesturing as he spoke. "Other times every two to three months. Occasionally, Robert Downey Jr. would join them. They were very secretive. I never heard what they talked about."
The reporter retrieved the microphone and said, "Thank you, Mr. Rodriguez."
The camera then focused solely on the reporter, who stood in front of the bar and said, "According to reliable sources, the funding for Murphy Stanton's early films came from Diego Ross' drug cartel. The funding source for the film 'Diego Ross' is unclear."
The reporter confidently analyzed, "Murphy Stanton has been known for making commercial films since entering Hollywood. This sudden shift to art films and securing investment is due to the support of a drug cartel..."
At this point, Murphy shook his head and told Bill, who was holding the mouse, "Turn it off."
Bill Ross turned off the video, and Kara Faith immediately asked, "Has the video been broadcast on TV?"
"It aired on this morning's news," Bill Ross explained succinctly. "This local TV station mainly operates in New York and Los Angeles."
Murphy couldn't help but shake his head. "What a clever tactic."
New York and Los Angeles have the largest concentrations of Academy members.
"Not just the TV station..." Bill Ross opened his briefcase and pulled out a stack of clippings from various newspapers, saying, "Today, similar reports also appeared in several newspapers in New York and Los Angeles."
Murphy quickly flipped through the clippings Bill handed him, all containing unfavorable news about him.
"Murphy Stanton's intimate history with drug lord Diego Ross..."
"A director who rose to fame with the support of a drug cartel – Murphy Stanton!"
"Can you believe that Murphy Stanton's film 'Diego Ross' wasn't funded by a drug cartel?"
"Don't underestimate the intelligence of the public and Oscar voters! Exposing the true face of Murphy Stanton!"
Just from the headlines, it was clear what these articles contained and how malicious their intentions were.
Even though none of them were from major newspapers like The Los Angeles Times, they were still from papers with decent circulation in New York and Los Angeles. Murphy knew that some people would inevitably be influenced by such reports.
"What about the internet?" Murphy asked Bill. "Besides YouTube, what about other websites?"
Bill Ross replied, "There are some, but not many."
Murphy nodded. Although he didn't know who was behind these messages, they clearly understood the Academy well. Most of the Academy members are older and may not use the internet extensively.
Moreover, the timing of this attack was perfectly chosen. Stanton Studio and 20th Century Fox had been busy preparing for the press conference for 'City of Darkness' these past few days, temporarily neglecting Oscar-related matters. They took advantage of this opportunity to launch a media attack.
Murphy wouldn't underestimate such a media attack. Seemingly insignificant aspects could influence the voters' choices. Even Ang Lee and Spielberg had suffered from such attacks in the past.
Kara Faith couldn't help but sneer, "The person behind this really knows how to pick their moment!"
There was no need to look. It was clearly a meticulously planned move by someone behind the scenes.
Murphy asked Bill Ross, "Bill, how big will the impact be?"
"It's hard to say," Bill Ross admitted, "It could sway some neutral voters' decisions."
He firmly stated, "We need a crisis management response, and the sooner, the better!"
Crisis management is easy to talk about but difficult to implement, especially when it needs to be targeted.
Murphy placed the clippings on Kara Faith's desk, crossed his arms, and thought for a moment before saying, "Do you find this situation familiar?"
Bill Ross frowned in thought.
Kara Faith asked directly, "What familiar situation?"
"Past Oscars," Murphy reminded, "Spielberg's 'Saving Private Ryan' was criticized by British veterans for being inaccurate; Roman Polanski's 'The Pianist' faced renewed publicity of his child molestation case during its Oscar run, both films lost Best Picture!"
He continued, "There's also 'A Beautiful Mind,' which suddenly revealed John Nash's cross-dressing and homosexuality during the awards season. Woody Allen's Oscar campaigns always have someone bringing up his relationship with Soon-Yi. Martin Scorsese was accused by the media of being Oscar-chasing for the sake of it..."
Murphy cited seven or eight such examples.
Bill Ross nodded, "It's almost the same tactics we're facing now."
Kara Faith caught the key point in Murphy's words, "Are you saying the same forces are behind these incidents and ours?"
"Yes, it's very likely," Murphy spread his hands, "Think about it. Who benefited from those films' downfalls? Who stands to benefit the most if we fail at the Oscars this time?"
"Harvey Weinstein!"
Bill Ross and Kara Faith thought of it simultaneously.
Murphy nodded, "I believe this is likely Harvey Weinstein's doing. For the Oscars, they might resort to such measures."
"Hmm..." Bill Ross considered, "It's very likely."
Kara Faith didn't say anything, but she agreed with Murphy's speculation. The Weinstein brothers' company has always built its operations around the Oscars. They've dared to attack the big six studios for the Oscars, let alone a director like Murphy.
"I'll contact the media to make some clarifications," Bill Ross quickly thought of a countermeasure, "And bring the Catholic Church back into it, that attacker..."
He glanced at Kara Faith and didn't continue.
Kara Faith pretended not to hear and said to Murphy, "That's not enough. 'The Artist' is our biggest competitor. Even a small number of neutral votes shifting to 'The Artist' would be very detrimental to our Oscar bid! We need to strike back!"
Passive defense has never been Murphy's choice. He nodded, "We do need to strike back."
As he spoke, Murphy paced back and forth, formulating a plan in his mind. "How many people and companies have the Weinstein brothers attacked for the Oscars over the years? From the mid-'90s to now, there have been too many, right?"
"Great idea!" Kara Faith immediately understood Murphy's intention, "Many in the industry are fed up with the Weinstein brothers' Oscar tactics, especially their victims, who are very unhappy with them!"
"In the past, no one has rallied these forces," Murphy looked at Bill Ross, "Time is limited. We need to act quickly!"
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