Chapter 166: They're All Villains

Everyone turned their attention to the assistant director, puzzled about what could have possibly happened that warranted such a reaction. Even if the presence of uncooperative tourists necessitated a change in the shooting schedule, it surely didn't justify such panic.

The assistant director, Fernandez, was visibly shaken, his expression one of disbelief as if he had just witnessed the onset of World War III.

"Fernandez!" Director Chuck-Russell, clearly annoyed, demanded, "Calm down!"

"It's a disaster... a disaster..." Fernandez was far from calming down, repeating his earlier state of panic, "My brother... my brother..."

His words were jumbled, leaving Matthew completely clueless.

"What about your brother?" asked a crew member familiar with him, "Didn't you tell me yesterday that he went to work at a major company in the World Trade Center?"

The mention of the World Trade Center sent a shock through Matthew, prompting him to ask Mira-Wang, "What's the date today?"

"It's September 11th," Mira-Wang promptly replied.

September 11th... The date, coupled with the recent mention of the World Trade Center, led Matthew to the immediate realization that the world-changing tragedy had occurred.

As expected, the assistant director, through tears, exclaimed, "I just heard on the news... The World Trade Center was attacked, and the South Tower has collapsed. My brother works on the 78th floor of the South Tower..."

"How is that possible?"

"No way!"

"You can't joke about something like this."

Most of the crew either couldn't or refused to believe it, considering that America hadn't experienced a severe attack on its soil in over a century.

Matthew believed it to be true but chose to remain silent, recognizing that this was a moment where silence was the most prudent response.

Soon, people began checking their phones to verify the assistant director's claims.

"Oh God..."

"How could this happen?"

"Is World War III about to start?"

Chaos ensued within the crew as everyone reached for their phones, especially those with friends and family in New York.

Matthew made two calls: one to Britney, his girlfriend who was shooting a music video in Orange County's Irvine area, and another to Helen-Herman, his significant business partner, to ensure their safety. Both were far from the scene in New York.

He also texted James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, who quickly confirmed they were not in New York.

Putting away his phone, Matthew joined the rest of the crew as a mere observer among countless others, deciding against trying to gain any advantage from the event, aware of his inability to do so and the inappropriateness of the situation.

With no possibility of continuing the shoot, the crew, though not directly affected like Fernandez's brother, was deeply shaken by the event, particularly the Americans.

Director Chuck-Russell declared a day off, recognizing that everyone's minds were elsewhere, far from the deserts of Nevada.

Returning to the makeup trailer, Matthew observed many making calls, including Mira-Wang, a Briton, seemingly anxious without confirmation of their loved ones' whereabouts.

"Who would have thought something like this could happen?" Hu Kelly approached Matthew, her makeup trailer next to his, "Thankfully, my family is in Hawaii."

She inquired about Matthew's calls, "Did you call? No one in New York, right?"

"Family?" Matthew shook his head, "I haven't had a family for a long time. My friends aren't in New York."

"We're all lucky, then," Hu Kelly remarked.

Matthew agreed, "Anyone not in New York is fortunate."

Being away from Manhattan at such a time was indeed a stroke of luck.

The conversation between the two continued for a while before Matthew decided to take a walk around the trailers, pondering the impact of 9/11.

He remembered how the event led to the identification of Osama bin Laden as the mastermind, sparking a global war on terror that changed the world's dynamics.

The specifics of these changes were not clear to him, given his focus on day-to-day survival. For the little guy, global unity seemed less important than filling one's stomach.

As for Hollywood, Matthew recalled reading gossip that post-9/11, black actors became more prominent, leading to significant shifts towards political correctness in casting, with movies lacking major or positive black roles being criticized for racial bias.

Hollywood's competition would intensify, possibly making room for movies featuring black and LGBT leads to easily win Oscars.

Shaking off these thoughts, Matthew concluded that anyone standing in his way, regardless of race, was an adversary.

Reflecting on 9/11's broader impact, he noted the irony of the emergency number 911 and its pre-existing association with the police, debunking the myth that it was chosen post-9/11.

Back in his trailer with satellite TV, Matthew absorbed more news on the tragedy, witnessing the devastation in Manhattan.

The event had a profound effect on American society, evident even in the remote desert where the crew was stationed. The next day's attempts to resume work were futile, with many still distracted, leading Chuck-Russell and Sean-Daniel to grant a week-long hiatus.

Matthew spent this break in Irvine with Britney, staying informed on current events and the film industry's struggles in the wake of 9/11, which hit the box office hard, especially films with serious themes.

Concerned about "Black Hawk Down's" upcoming release and its potential reception in a post-9/11 world, Matthew sensed a challenging road ahead for the film.

Returning to Black Rock Desert, the crew gradually regained focus, allowing filming to proceed, albeit with occasional errors.

Matthew pondered the appeal of action-centric movies with minimal dialogue, recognizing their commercial viability despite criticisms of being mindless entertainment.

After wrapping up desert scenes, the crew moved back to Los Angeles, where promotional posters for the film were released, focusing solely on Matthew, with Hu Kelly as a secondary highlight, a change delayed by 9/11's aftermath.

Clark-Bernard's outrage in the makeup room over their exclusion from the poster revealed tensions, with Steven-Brand accusing Matthew, through Helen-Herman, of pressuring the production to remove them, branding it as bullying.

___________________

(Support with power stones, comments or reviews)

If you guys enjoy this story, In support me on Patreon and get access to +200 advance Chapters

Read Ahead

Patreon.com/INNIT