After hanging up Helen Herman's call, Matthew went to the living room, turned on the TV, and switched to CNN, a channel known for its continuous coverage of breaking news. It didn't take long for him to see the major news event Helen had mentioned.
Matthew scratched his head in frustration. For Americans, 9/11 truly was an extraordinary and ominous date.
On the evening of September 11, at around 10:00 PM local time, the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, a major city in eastern Libya, came under heavy attack. The assault involved a variety of methods, including aerial bombardment, raging fires, and intense gunfights.
The siege lasted four hours until 2:00 AM on September 12, when Libyan security forces managed to regain control of the situation. Tragically, four Americans, including Ambassador Stevens, were killed.
This marked the first time in 33 years that a U.S. ambassador had been killed in an armed attack.
Without a doubt, this event etched another bloody 9/11 into the memories of Americans.
Turning off the television, Matthew called Helen Herman back to exchange thoughts on the incident. He then used the hotel's facilities to organize a remote video meeting with the American Sniper crew and Warner Bros.' promotional team.
As more details of the incident emerged, Matthew and the team quickly recognized that the Benghazi attack would strike a raw nerve in the U.S., where sensitivity to terrorism was already high. A film like American Sniper, which had strong anti-terrorism themes, might indirectly benefit from the heightened emotions.
Movies are never isolated from society; they are deeply influenced by current events.
The Benghazi attack would undoubtedly impact American Sniper and its potential audience.
However, neither Matthew nor Warner Bros. intended to exploit the tragedy blatantly for promotional purposes. Overdoing it would be foolish and counterproductive.
As expected, the incident provoked a powerful emotional response across the United States.
For those who hadn't experienced the 9/11 attacks firsthand, it was difficult to comprehend the depth of Americans' collective trauma and their visceral hatred for terrorism, especially on this significant date.
The public had little interest in understanding the deeper reasons behind the attacks. Even as some media outlets suggested the violence was sparked by the outrage over Ignorance of the , they focused on one undeniable fact: once again, America had been attacked by terrorists.
Within half a day, the Benghazi consulate attack became a flashpoint, triggering reactions across all levels of American society, much like a drop of water hitting hot oil.
By the afternoon, American Sniper posters on billboards and promotional banners had quietly been updated to include a bold tagline: "When terror strikes, I choose to protect my family!"
The incident sent shockwaves through the nation, though it fell short of the monumental impact of the 9/11 attacks. Since the assault occurred abroad, it did not incite widespread panic, nor did it destabilize the movie market as 9/11 once had.
Warner Bros. conducted a professional analysis, concluding that the event would likely heighten the public's disdain for terrorism, boosting interest in related films during this period.
As a result, they decided to increase their investment in American Sniper's promotional campaign.
Matthew learned that Warner Bros. wasn't just boosting American Sniper's marketing budget; they were also positioning Argo, another film centered on a U.S. embassy crisis, as their top contender for the awards season.
Given the national mood following the Benghazi incident, Argo, with its embassy-centered narrative, had a strong chance of emerging as an Oscar frontrunner, provided the film's quality met expectations.
Hollywood films are deeply intertwined with societal events and have never been separate from politics.
The added resonance of the Benghazi attack could even propel Argo to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
Hearing this news, Matthew couldn't help but reflect on the role of luck. He wasn't the only one benefiting—Ben Affleck seemed even luckier in this case.
Who could have predicted that Affleck's film, which had been in development for years, would coincide so perfectly with such an event?
Of course, conspiracy theorists might argue otherwise, but only a fool would take such claims seriously.
The timing was simply an extraordinary coincidence.
The Argo project had been in the works for three years, based on the memoir of a legendary CIA operative. Two years ago, Ben Affleck was confirmed as the director and star. At that time, no one could have anticipated a terrorist attack on the Benghazi consulate on 9/11.
Matthew's decision to release American Sniper the weekend after September 11 was initially aimed at leveraging the lingering emotional impact of the date to attract audiences stirred by memories of terrorism. He had no idea such an event would occur.
Looking back, Matthew wondered if this Benghazi attack had also happened during his earlier life in the Pacific. But back then, like many ordinary people, he'd paid more attention to celebrity gossip than geopolitical events. Why would he have cared about foreign affairs?
Regardless, the coincidence had occurred, and not capitalizing on it would be a disservice to his investment.
In the following days, American Sniper's promotion subtly yet effectively revolved around the themes of terrorism and protection.
Perhaps driven by the heightened awareness from the Benghazi incident, ticket pre-sales for the film surged, with daily numbers jumping nearly 30% above previous averages.
The incident was sure to crown certain films as winners in the market.
Online, American Sniper garnered increasing attention. A recently released clip of the protagonist sniping a terrorist quickly amassed over 5 million views within a single day.
Matthew adjusted his schedule to remain in New York for a few extra days, partly to align with the new promotional strategy and partly because he had received a call from journalist Ronan Farrow, who wanted to meet him.
Matthew saw no reason to decline. For now, no one suspected any connection between him and Ronan Farrow.
Moreover, aside from being Woody Allen's son, Farrow had yet to make a significant name for himself.
Meeting in a conference room at the Waldorf Astoria, Matthew found that Ronan Farrow had matured significantly since their last encounter two years ago.
"How's the investigation going?" Matthew cut to the chase.
"It's bigger and more complex than I imagined," Ronan replied, sounding like a detective uncovering a web of corruption. "I've reached out to nearly forty women, convinced over twenty to come forward, and obtained some critical recordings and visual evidence."
"Do you think that's enough?" Matthew asked.
If needed, he could mobilize all his resources to initiate a campaign against Harvey Weinstein within months.
Ronan shook his head. "It's not enough."
Matthew frowned slightly. "That's quite a lot already."
"It's really not," Ronan said earnestly. "The deeper I dig, the more I realize the vast network of connections Weinstein has built. That network acts as his shield. We need overwhelming evidence and enough witnesses to make anyone tied to Weinstein step aside."
He paused before adding, "I tested the waters recently by sending a marginal piece of information to a newspaper under one victim's name. The response was swift—someone called the paper and warned them. They decided to bury the story."
Matthew nodded lightly. "That's not uncommon."
Ronan looked at him intently. "Do you know who made the call?"
"Who?" Matthew was curious.
"Ben Affleck and Matt Damon," Ronan replied, naming two high-profile figures.
Matthew rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Their closeness to Weinstein is well-known in Hollywood."
"That was just a minor test, using inconsequential material," Ronan said, exasperated. "If more substantial evidence surfaces, wouldn't even more powerful forces step in to defend Weinstein?"
"Undoubtedly," Matthew said calmly.
Ronan wasn't deterred. "No matter the obstacles, I won't give up!"
Understanding Hollywood's inner workings all too well, Matthew chuckled. "Ronan, when your evidence becomes so irrefutable that no one can deny it, what do you think people like Affleck and Damon will do?"
Ronan caught the implication and smiled. "It'll be a spectacle."
Matthew nodded. "This industry's conscience has been buried for far too long."
Clenching his fists, Ronan said, "I'm already drafting a report. Trust me, Matthew—I'm going to change the narrative."
Matthew spoke evenly. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to reach out."
"I will."
Ronan didn't stay long. After less than an hour of discussion, he departed.
Reviewing the materials Ronan had left behind, Matthew noted that Weinstein had coerced more women than he could count on two hands. Many of these cases had made their way to the media or legal authorities, only to be suppressed.
Money, power, and networks continued to wield immense influence in so-called free and democratic societies.
Among Ronan's evidence, Matthew saw mentions of figures like Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Meryl Streep—individuals who had actively helped Weinstein silence the media or victims.
For some, the pursuit of an Oscar had driven them to compromise their principles far more than Matthew ever had as Hollywood's infamous "bad boy."
After meeting with Ronan, Matthew returned to Los Angeles to prepare for American Sniper's
premiere.
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