webnovel

From Neil's perspective

As the photos of Lucas in his haggard Joker makeup spread across the internet, his already massive Twitter following swelled even further. His account, @LucasXKnight, which had been hovering at 69 million followers despite his infrequent posting, suddenly surged past the 70 million mark.

The platform was ablaze with activity centered around Lucas. Fans were frantically tagging him in posts, hoping for some kind of response or explanation:

"@LucasXKnight Please tell us you're okay! We're all worried sick!"

"Has anyone heard from @LucasXKnight? Those pics are scary af #WhatsHappeningToLucas"

Lucas's direct messages were flooded with hundreds of thousands of concerned messages from fans, and fellow celebrities alike. The sheer volume of notifications would have been overwhelming if Lucas had been paying attention to his phone.

However, Lucas remained blissfully unaware of the digital storm brewing around him.

His phone, which had been entrusted to Neil to prevent distractions during filming, was constantly buzzing with notifications. The device lit up incessantly, filled with Twitter alerts, text messages, and missed calls.

Several news outlets, in their quest for a more personal angle, had managed to track down and contact Lucas's close friends - Liza, Samantha, and Paul. These friends, caught off guard by the alarming reports about Lucas's health, had been frantically trying to reach him.

Neil made a mental note to discuss with Lucas about keeping his inner circle better informed in the future.

Not only that, Neil found himself increasingly overwhelmed by the barrage of messages and the growing concern in the social media.

He knew he needed to address the situation soon, but he was torn between respecting Lucas's desire for privacy during filming and the need to quell the rising tide of worry among fans.

Neil stared at Lucas's phone, torn between laughter and dismay as he scrolled through the seemingly endless stream of notifications.

The leaked photos of Lucas on set as the Joker were spreading like wildfire, each new image adding fuel to the growing concern.

Then he came across a recent post that made his stomach drop. It was a crystal-clear photo of Lucas, his hair long and unkempt, his face gaunt to the point of looking almost skeletal. The poster's words accompanying the image hit hard:

"I don't know if Lucas is genuinely ill while filming, or if he's pulling a Christian Bale and transforming his body for a role. Either way, it's alarming. If he's sick, his condition looks severe and he needs immediate medical attention. If this is for a role, which seems likely given his dedication, it's still incredibly dangerous for his health."

The post went on to detail potential health risks:

"Rapid weight loss like this can lead to muscle deterioration, weakened immune system, and hormonal imbalances. It puts immense strain on the heart and other vital organs. Even if it's temporary, the long-term effects can be serious. Yo-yo dieting for roles can increase the risk of eating disorders and metabolic issues. Not to mention the psychological toll of such extreme physical changes."

The post had already amassed millions of likes and hundreds of thousands of comments. Fans expressed their worry:

"Please let this be for a role. I can't bear the thought of him being this ill!"

"As a nurse, I'm seriously concerned. This kind of rapid weight loss is dangerous, role or not."

"Speaking as a physician, this level of weight loss can have severe consequences. I hope he's under close medical supervision."

Neil sighed deeply, realizing he couldn't let the speculation continue unchecked. He knew he had to take action, even if it meant posting on Lucas's behalf without his explicit permission.

With a nod, he began crafting a statement on Lucas's Twitter account.

After several minutes of careful consideration, he posted:

"Hello everyone, this is Neil, Lucas's manager. I want to address the concerns many of you have expressed about Lucas's recent appearance. I can assure you that Lucas is not ill or in any life-threatening situation. His current physical state is entirely for his latest role, which requires an intense transformation.

Lucas is being monitored 24/7 by a team of health professionals. We have nutritionists, doctors, and fitness experts ensuring his well-being throughout this process. He's following a carefully designed meal plan and receiving supplements to maintain his health despite the weight loss.

While we appreciate your concern, I want to emphasize that everything is under control. This is a temporary transformation for a role, and Lucas is fully committed to doing it safely. He's in good spirits and excited about the project.

Thank you for your support and understanding. We'll share more about the project when the time is right."

The post immediately garnered attention, with likes and retweets skyrocketing within seconds. Comments began flooding in:

"Thank goodness! We were so worried. Can't wait to see what he's working on!"

"Wow, talk about dedication to the craft. Lucas is the real deal!"

"Glad to hear he's being monitored. Still, hope he doesn't do this too often!"

Neil stared at the screen, his eyes widening as he refreshed the post. The sheer speed and volume of the response shocked him, though on reflection, he realized it shouldn't have.

Lucas wasn't just Hollywood's golden boy anymore; he had become a bona fide social media phenomenon – an uncrowned king of the digital age.

Despite Lucas's minimal online presence, his influence was staggering.

His Twitter account, rarely used, boasted the highest follower count on the platform. His YouTube channel, home to only a handful of music tracks and videos, had broken records left and right. Neil vividly remembered the day in late 2011 when Lucas's first music video hit a billion views, a feat unprecedented at the time.

Each subsequent release seemed to follow suit, with view counts soaring into the billions or rapidly approaching that mark. It was mind-boggling to think about the reach Lucas had achieved with such limited output.

As Neil pondered this, he realized that while Lucas's acting career was certainly impressive, with recent films crossing the billion-dollar mark at the box office, it was his music that had catapulted him to this level of global stardom.

He even saw his tweet on Lucas's account was picked up by news outlets across social media within minutes. The power of Lucas's online presence never ceased to amaze him.

Neil shook his head as he stepped out of the trailer - a modest, no-frills model that was Lucas's first and only concession to buying a personal trailer. If it hadn't been for Neil's insistence, Lucas probably wouldn't have even considered it.

"That kid," Neil muttered to himself. "Making millions from his music alone, and he can't be bothered to spend a dime on himself."

Lucas's selflessness sometimes bordered on the ridiculous, leaving Neil both exasperated and oddly proud.

As Neil made his way to the set, he noticed the bustling activity. A crew member nodded respectfully, "Mr. Lamb. You're just in time. We're about to film a good scene."

Neil chuckled, settling into his seat. "With Lucas acting and Todd directing, I'd say every scene so far has been pretty amazing."

The crew member laughed in agreement, and Neil couldn't help but smile.

He glanced around, realizing that the entire production team seemed blissfully unaware of the media storm brewing outside their bubble. Not just Lucas, but the entire cast and crew were without their phones, a testament to Warner Bros.' intense secrecy surrounding the project.

They waited in anticipation, and Neil watched as Lucas took his position on the set, already fully transformed into the Joker with his striking red suit and meticulously applied makeup.

"Action!" Todd called, and Lucas sprang to action.

Lucas, embodying Arthur's transformation into the Joker, began to move. He took a long drag from his cigarette, exhaling a plume of smoke before launching into a haunting dance. His movements were a mesmerizing blend of grace and madness as he descended the stairs.

The crew worked in perfect synchronization with Lucas's performance. Lawrence Sher, the cinematographer called out, "Camera one!" and "Camera two!" alternating between shots to capture every nuance of Lucas's dance.

"Dolly in slowly," the DP instructed, and the camera gracefully closed in on Lucas's face, capturing the manic glee in his eyes.

After each take, the team huddled around the monitors, scrutinizing every detail. "Can we get a little more contrast on camera four?" the DP suggested. "And let's try that last bit again with a wider angle."

Neil observed from a distance as Todd and Lucas huddled together, deep in conversation. Lucas nodded, absorbing the director's guidance, before returning to his mark for another take.

The scene began anew, with Lucas embodying the Joker's manic energy once more. His movements were a haunting blend of grace and madness as he danced down the stairs. He took a long drag from his cigarette, the smoke curling around him, adding to the surreal atmosphere.

Suddenly, Lucas leapt onto a water-covered section of the stairs. The splash seemed to energize him further, and he continued his dance with even more abandon, completely lost in the character's descent into madness.

Only when everyone on set was satisfied with the take did they move on to the next scene. Neil watched as they seamlessly transitioned to filming the two police officers spotting Arthur on the stairs, initiating the chase sequence.

As the day progressed, Neil found himself continuously amazed by his client, Lucas, as an actor.

But he had to admit, that while Lucas's performance was captivating, but it was the seamless integration with the crew's expertise that elevated the scene to another level.

下一章