Chapter 90: The Most Unique Debate in Television History
As a director, Gilbert's main task should have been to make a good film.
Since they had already discussed the strategy, he didn't need to worry anymore and could focus solely on making the movie.
However, Gilbert suddenly had a brilliant idea, thinking this was a great opportunity.
Although it looked like a fierce slander war, the name Real Steel had been repeatedly mentioned in recent media reports.
This was effectively a form of promotion, just with a rather unique approach.
So, Gilbert decided to go all out, fully igniting this fire and making Real Steel a household name across America.
When he first proposed this plan, both Disney and Warner Bros. opposed it.
For them, Gilbert's proposal was unheard of; if it backfired, not only would Gilbert's reputation suffer, but the film would also be affected.
But Gilbert convinced Disney and Warner Bros. After a simulated debate where he faced eight people without losing ground, he proved his point.
The key was that Gilbert was an excellent orator, articulate, and had a persuasive style that made people naturally trust him.
What they didn't know was that Gilbert had gone through numerous online battles during the internet era.
He had witnessed and participated in many fierce clashes between die-hard fans and trolls.
He remembered it was a quiet night, the wind a bit noisy that day.
As a director, Gilbert's first challenge was dealing with the onslaught of trolls attacking the lead actor, who faced backlash from haters.
Then the lead actor's fans launched a fierce counterattack against the trolls.
The intensity of that battle left Gilbert dumbfounded.
Not only were such top stars involved, but even some internet influencers' fans were incredibly aggressive.
The fierce fighting among fans was one reason why certain projects faced backlash.
This kind of public opinion environment had honed Gilbert's skills, and facing the so-called debate experts from the nineties was no challenge at all.
Disney and Warner Bros. quickly unleashed their capabilities, promoting the debate war under Gilbert's direction to make it well-known across America.
They also found a seemingly neutral channel, ABC, to broadcast the debate.
However, Disney had already held shares in ABC and had replaced the debate program's host and crew with their own people, creating favorable conditions for Gilbert.
At the same time, they hired private investigators to look into the personal lives of several executives from animal protection organizations.
More importantly, they uncovered some scandalous pasts of the debate experts from the animal protection organization, including a dozen explosive photos.
To counter the questions that the opposition's experts might raise, Disney and Warner Bros. assembled a team of advisors to strategize for Gilbert.
Finally, on the night of the live television program, Gilbert finished filming during the day and headed to the studio for the debate.
Naomi Watts and Sofia Coppola accompanied him. Naomi expressed her concern, saying, "Gilbert, what if you lose? What should we do?"
"Don't worry," Gilbert said, taking Naomi's hand reassuringly. "You have to believe in my fighting ability. Those so-called debate experts are definitely not my match."
Naomi was still worried, but since Gilbert had said that and the live broadcast was about to start, she didn't press further.
With a faint smile, Naomi replied, "Good luck, I believe in you."
Sofia Coppola, with a heavy nasal voice, handed Gilbert the prepared materials: "These are the documents we prepared. The copies have already been submitted to the television station. You should familiarize yourself with them quickly."
Gilbert casually glanced at the materials, closing them with an air of confidence. "Don't worry, Sofia, I've already memorized them."
"Let's hope so. I'm not ready to become independent just yet; I still need this job," Sofia replied.
This proud daughter of a director was not as gentle as Naomi Watts or as willful as Cameron Diaz, but she encouraged Gilbert in her unique way.
Feeling his friends' concerns, Gilbert gave Sofia a confident look and walked toward the studio.
Inside, seven experts from the animal protection organization were waiting, ready to trap Gilbert in their web.
Little did they know, Gilbert was not just stepping in; he was carrying a torch, ready to burn their trap down.
"Welcome to ABC Television, where we present a special live debate. I'm your host, Abby." As the live signal started, the experienced host Abby began her opening remarks.
In front of the television, Zoe and Doug were watching nervously, with Zoe biting her fingers in anxiety over the potential loss of Gilbert in the debate.
On one side of the table sat one person, while the other side had seven, making it look like Gilbert was at a disadvantage.
Lewis and Salati Morton, along with more than ten others, were silently watching the debate from a bar.
Salati asked Lewis, "Do you think Gilbert will succeed?"
"Maybe!" Lewis replied, his tone lacking confidence as he stared at the TV.
This live broadcast attracted 15 million viewers across America, not just Gilbert's few fans but also a large audience eager to see the spectacle, including those related to animal welfare.
Robert Iger, Jeff Robinov, and Doug Walter were all watching the program together.
Michael Eisner appeared indifferent but secretly tuned in to watch the show at his estate.
Gilbert's aunt's family was also watching the show, silently praying for him.
Cameron Diaz, Charlize Theron, and Scarlett Johansson were all watching in their respective apartments, hoping for Gilbert's success.
Naomi Watts and Sofia Coppola were at the recording site, silently clasping their fists and praying for Gilbert's triumph.
Among the opponents, Michael Ovitz, Martin Bob, and even Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, the stars of Interview with the Vampire, were tuning in.
This was undoubtedly the most unique and highly anticipated debate in television history.
A world-renowned genius director versus a formidable team of experts from an animal protection organization.
At first glance, Gilbert seemed to have no chance of winning, even though he had the backing of Disney and Warner Bros. The outcome of the debate appeared predetermined before it had even begun.
After Abby introduced the background of the situation, she introduced both sides of the debate.
"Let's welcome the well-known Hollywood director, Gilbert Landry."
Gilbert stood gracefully, waving and displaying his signature smile, impeccable in his etiquette.
Next, Abby introduced the experts from the animal protection organization: "Mr. Jack Wells, Mr. Omod Schneider, Mr. Garth Howard, Mr. Pasquale Saifi…"
There were a total of seven people, each a recognized expert within the animal protection organization.
Anyone who had interacted with the organization would have heard of their names.
These seven experts were the backbone of the animal protection organization, earning substantial salaries to advocate for their interests.
Both sides were well-prepared for this televised debate. They had also hired private investigators to dig up Gilbert's dirty laundry, but they hadn't found much—unless his meat-eating habit was considered blackmail.
But with so many people eating meat, using that against Gilbert seemed inappropriate.
For the animal protection organization, however, being unreasonable was their goal, so Gilbert's meat-eating became a point of attack against him.
Gilbert had previously hosted a barbecue party, taking plenty of photos that became evidence.
The experts were well-acquainted with this kind of operation and were quite adept at it.
After a brief introduction of both sides, Abby announced the debate was officially underway.
At the outset, the animal protection organization launched a fierce offensive, surrounding Gilbert with relentless attacks.
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