American Entertainment: Starting with playing the role of Little Beaver

Chapter 48 The Premiere Under the Dark Clouds

Richard Harris is Dumbledore in Philosopher's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets.

In mid-July this summer, he was hospitalized due to a fever.

Initially, the doctor diagnosed him with pneumonia, a mild case. However, after continuous medication, his fever did not subside, so the doctor performed a comprehensive examination. It was then discovered that he did not have pneumonia, but rather Hodgkin's lymphoma.

This is a malignant tumor. Although the five-year survival rate for early-stage patients is over 90%, the cured cases are mostly young adults under 30 years old. Therefore, it is already quite good that the old man's condition can be controlled.

To be honest, once the news spread, everyone already had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on.

The old man doesn't have much time left.

Because Isabella was filming "The Voice" when the incident happened, she really didn't have time to visit him, so she missed the opportunity to communicate with him immediately. However, she still showed her concern by calling the old man, but his family answered the phone.

By the time she finished her work and had time to visit him, the old man had already been discharged from the hospital.

He didn't want to stay in the hospital; he wanted to go for a walk outside, and his fever had subsided.

Although everyone could see that this was a final burst of energy before death, it was not something that could be said openly. So, when the old man's family said that he was fine and did not want outsiders to visit, Isabella stopped.

What's the difference between bringing a bunch of stuff to see someone and delivering a clock at a time like this?

Right?

And now...

How is Richard doing?

Since Columbus has called, Isabella will definitely rush back to London.

She took off directly during the day on the 20th, and the chartered plane only took 12 hours, arriving at the University of London's affiliated hospital at 9 pm.

Because she called Columbus as soon as she got off the plane to get the latest updates, therefore...

David Heyman is here too?

"Richard's condition is quite bad. He fell into a coma at noon today and there are currently no signs of him regaining consciousness."

Isabella's question made Columbus shake his head, saying, "The doctor said... the chances... are slim..."

The little girl understood.

The old man probably won't wake up.

The old man may pass away in a few days at most.

In Isabella's past life memories, the first Dumbledore did indeed die of illness, so everything happening now wasn't too unexpected for her. However, they had worked together for two years, and their collaboration had been quite pleasant. Therefore, the fact that a life that was still vibrant was about to end still filled Isabella with sadness.

He sighed softly and nodded silently.

Accompanied by my mother and older sister, I entered the ward to visit my father, who had fallen into a coma.

The glass in the ICU can block everyone's way forward, but it can't beautify the old man's pain.

After staring at the door for a while, Isabella chose to turn away.

She can't bear to see such scenes. It's not that she's being dramatic; it's just that normal people have the capacity for empathy. When sadness overwhelms you and death is imminent, your mood will naturally be low.

After offering her polite blessings to the family, Isabella left the ward and went back to David Heyman and Chris Columbus, who were... sighing and lamenting...

Is it a difficult situation?

Isabella sat down beside the two of them.

"Ah."

David Heyman knew what she was talking about and nodded directly, saying, "Originally, we thought Richard could hold on until the premiere, but no one expected his condition to deteriorate so quickly, and now... sigh..."

If unrelated people were to analyze David Heyman's words, many would probably think he was heartless.

Because anyone could tell that David Heyman felt Richard's illness would affect the premiere of "The Chamber of Secrets".

But actually...

This judgment is both right and wrong.

That's right. It happened before a movie was released, and the lead actor suddenly passed away. This would definitely have an impact on the movie's promotion and distribution.

For example, if everyone had prepared festive materials beforehand, then with the passing of the actor, these things must be removed and redone. Spending money is a minor issue; the real trouble is rushing to finish the work.

For example, the passing of the lead actor can also affect the direction of the film's promotion. In the subsequent publicity, you need to constantly remember and thank him. Admittedly, these are things that should be done. In a society, regardless of your civility, at least you should have some public manners. However, all the remembrance and gratitude will make all the prepared press releases unusable and require rewriting. And this is very troublesome because you can't afford to make any mistakes.

If the press release is wrong, whether intentionally or unintentionally, the outside world will think that your production team lacks sincerity.

Whether moviegoers will hurl insults or boycott the film is anyone's guess, but competitors will definitely spend money to smear you.

Yes, this is actually the real reason why the general public makes the wrong judgment.

Right now, what's bothering David Heyman the most isn't the fallout from the publicity campaign, but rather the looming threat from New Line.

Their Lord of the Rings: The Second Ring is scheduled for December!

Because it was indeed a very troublesome matter, Isabella sighed along with David Heyman.

Then, she turned her gaze to Chris Columbus.

This person was also troubled, but his troubles were different from David Heyman's—

“I visited Richard after his second hospitalization; he was not yet unconscious at that time.”

“Richard told me that he knew his time was running out and he wouldn’t be able to play Dumbledore anymore, which he regretted. At the same time, he also said that he really liked Dumbledore, so he asked me not to change his portrayal of Dumbledore after his death, so that the image of the white-bearded old man that children love could continue. I agreed.”

"Then, he said he hoped his good friend Peter O'Toole could take over the role of Dumbledore for him, because he felt Peter O'Toole could bring his interpretation of Dumbledore to life, this..."

"I'm not really comfortable agreeing to that."

"Because Peter O'Toole is 32 years old, only two years younger than Richard."

"Dumbledore can't keep changing players."

There's an unspoken rule in the entertainment industry.

Once a project becomes a huge hit, if you want to turn it into a series, you can't frequently change the core creative team.

It's like running a restaurant. When your restaurant's signature dish is selling very well, if you want to improve it today by adding more salt, or if you feel like adding less vinegar tomorrow, or if you think that chicken essence is unhealthy and cut it the day after, aren't you actively driving away customers?
So, when Richard Harris was unable to continue playing Dumbledore due to illness, choosing someone of similar age to continue playing the principal? That would truly be walking a tightrope.

This isn't a curse wishing Peter O'Toole a long and healthy life; it's purely a rational consideration.

This raises a problem: if Columbus agreed to Richard Harris's request, he would be putting himself in a very difficult position; but if he didn't, a different perspective might emerge in the market—

The Harry Potter creative team is ruthless!

Say No to Richard Harris's (Dumbledore's) dying wish!

Frankly speaking, most of the time, this kind of news won't reach Warner.

Who is Warner?
They are the world's largest media groups!
How many people can outdo him when it comes to dissing others?
You say we're cold-blooded and heartless?

Okay, no problem, your family's ancestral graves are gone.

I dug it up!
You dare touch my cash cow? I'll throw your ancestors into the sea!

The ruthlessness of capital is well-known; those who don't should take a closer look at HP. Unless there's a deep-seated blood feud, other media outlets wouldn't portray Warner as cold-blooded and inhumane in such black-and-white news.

The problem is that Warner now faces not only external competitors, but also internal rivals.

That's right, I'm talking about Time Inc., Ted Turner, and AOL.

When all these people wanted to be the sun in AOL Time Warner...

What they're targeting is Warner's cash cow, isn't it?
I'm fighting against the elite!

"Okay, I admit, this is pretty annoying for you too."

Isabella sighed again.

Ever since she arrived at the hospital, she felt like a little old man, constantly sighing.

However, there was nothing she could do. According to the "Failed Man Theorem," with great power comes great responsibility. So, when she was just a 12-year-old girl, she couldn't solve any of the problems at hand. Therefore, she could only sigh and sit there with the two of them.

Perhaps both of them knew that sitting still was pointless? After waiting for the old man's family to come out and express their gratitude, David Heyman and Chris Columbus, having completed the visiting procedures, got up to say goodbye and went back to their work.

This situation led Isabella to choose to leave the stage and wait until the 25th...

She had already moved back to Livingston when she heard the news of the old man's passing.

Then, everyone went to the funeral home to see him off on his final journey.

Yes, the old man's funeral was held at a funeral home, not a church, because he had said when he was lucid that he wanted to be cremated after his death and that his family should take his ashes to the Bahamas, which was his second home.

In the 1980s, when he was living a carefree life away from the film and television industry, he settled in the Bahamas.

The old man's farewell ceremony was quite simple, but there were many people in attendance.

They come from the political, business, and entertainment circles...

Because of his legendary life, despite his humble origins, he married the daughter of Baron Ogmore, the leader of the British Liberal Party, and had three children with her. At the same time, as an Irishman, he also supported Irish independence.

In addition, he has a wealth of achievements in the entertainment industry. He has competed for the Oscars, Emmys, and even the Laurence Olivier Award in the play. Moreover, he has also participated in the Grammys.

He released many records and competed for Best Album and Best Singer in the 1960s and 70s.

Because of his influence in various industries, the BBC did a special report on him on the day of his death.

Then, on the day of his cremation, many fans and admirers came from all over to bid him farewell. Honestly, he had already achieved a great deal in life.

The spontaneous remembrance by the public is a way of proving to the outside world that he once left his mark on this world.

Of course, the old man's passing also cast a shadow over the promotion and distribution of "The Secret Chamber".

Originally, HP's marketing campaign was going very well—

Back in mid-June, when everyone was renewing their contracts, Warner Bros. had already released the first trailer for "The Chamber of Secrets".

Although it was only 30 seconds long, Harry Potter fans were still very excited because it featured a flying car.

This recreation is fantastic for fans.

Next came Isabella's exclusive interview, where the 'ruthless gossip machine' sent fans into a frenzy.

Since the atmosphere had been heated up, Warner Bros. followed up by releasing the second trailer for "The Chamber of Secrets" on September 12.

The 137-second edited footage showed everything Harry Potter fans wanted to see.

The appearance of Dobby, the Spider, the Basilisk, and the Whomping Willow has all the children eagerly anticipating the release of "The Chamber of Secrets".

Warner Bros. listened to public demand and officially announced on September 27th that tickets for the premiere of "The Chamber of Secrets" were now available for pre-sale.
Interested fans can go online to register for the lucky draw!
cough cough-

In short, through a series of maneuvers by capital, moviegoers' expectations for the film were completely aroused.

However, all of the above happened before the old man passed away.

Even after the passing of the old man, new toys are still being released, new cola is still being promoted, and new collaborations are still being announced. The name HP still appears in every corner of the world, but Harry Potter no longer occupies the center position.

It was Dumbledore.

Memorial posters for the old man have appeared on the streets of London;

The old man's kind face appeared on London buses;

Creative statues of the old man have appeared at the entrances of major cinemas in London;

As November 3rd approached, the atmosphere in Leicester Square became somewhat somber...

Sunday.

The premiere scene.

Although many of the fans who came to show their support were dressed in Hogwarts uniforms, wearing witch hats and holding flying brooms, their joy was not as intense as when "The Philosopher's Stone" was released.

The cheers from the cast as they stepped onto the passageway still lingered, but it seemed as if one could sense the old man watching over them from heaven.

The combined sound wasn't very strong.

Many people simply waved their toys with delight.

It wasn't until Rowling and the trio of friends appeared that the atmosphere returned to normal.

After waiting for Eggsy to take the microphone and, on behalf of everyone, pay tribute to Richard Harris, who was absent that day—

“Richard is a wonderful person, a very kind person. We all love him, and it’s an honor to work with him. We all feel that he will be here tonight to watch the movie with us…”

The grand event was then revitalized.

As I said before, a child's affection is pure.

They are genuinely saddened by the departure of a character.

This kind of 'heart' is what all capital wants; it can truly generate a continuous stream of income.

Unfortunately, this kind of 'heartfelt connection' can never be controlled by external forces.

It's all about fate.

After the speeches concluded, everyone proceeded through the premiere's agenda in order—

It has to be said that Warner Bros. really values ​​HP. In order to create news for the media present and to give the fans a better experience, they brought the flying car from the movie to the venue and hung it up.

That angled flight design is truly ingenious.

Furthermore, Warner Bros. also arranged fan interaction sessions for the moviegoers at the event.

Lucky fans who are selected will have the opportunity to interact closely with the trio.

Daniel, for example, took a photo with two young ladies holding spider toys;
Rupert hugged a college girl;
As for Isabella?

When Warner approached with a little girl who looked about her age and asked her to sign the four Harry Potter books the girl was carrying, Isabella immediately felt that she was being watched.

I glanced at it sideways...

It really is J.K. Rowling.

Although Isabella found it strange—she didn't have the surname Zhang in her past life, nor in this one—she still obliged her fans' requests.

After everyone gradually entered—

"Aunt Annie, what happened just now really had nothing to do with me..."

The little girl started to 'pledge her loyalty'.

She really didn't intend to rebel!
"Oh, so it was all an accident just now?"

Rowling looked on with suspicion.

"Uh-huh."

The little girl nodded her head like a pile driver.

This action amused Rowling.

But she kept a straight face. "Really? I thought you hired an actress to come and get your autograph on the novel."

"..."

Isabella was speechless with emotion.

"How can it be!"

She sighed, looking utterly helpless.

Her loss of composure made Rowling laugh, and she put her arm around the girl's shoulder. "Alright, alright, although I'm also curious why people often ask you to sign their novels, this question obviously won't be answered."

"So... let's watch a movie."

"Look at what Chris has done to 'The Chamber of Secrets'..."

"Hey, by the way, do you think it can break 10 billion?"

The global screening of Philosopher's Stone has basically ended.

As of last week, its global box office had reached £6.18 million, or approximately $9.61 million.

The fact that it didn't break 10 was a great disappointment, but even so, Philosopher's Stone is still the second most successful film after Titanic, which makes everyone look forward to The Secret Room.

"I hope it breaks."

Although Isabella knew that only the last Harry Potter book had surpassed 10 billion copies sold, she wouldn't spoil Rowling's fun.

and--

"As you know, my goal is to be the greatest film of all time."

Isabella winked at Rowling, “Two movies and 20 billion isn’t enough for me.”

"If I could, I'd like to change 2 to 4."

"So, Aunt Annie, you have to work hard! Write the next few books well, and try to get me to break 15 billion with seven books."

“hahahaha…”

Rowling laughed and turned to the side, bumping heads with Isabella.

"Honey! Are you trying to get me to write three books on Titanic?"

“This isn’t ‘thinking,’ it’s ‘wanting,’ because you said Hermione Granger is better than Rose Dawson.”

"..."

Rowling lost her voice.

She pressed her lips tightly together, her body trembling.

Because she was afraid her laughter would be heard throughout the entire room.

Rowling gently patted Isabella's shoulder, sensing that the young girl was putting pressure on her.

'How wicked—'

During their casual conversation, the premiere of "The Locked Room" officially began.

Similar to the process of reading "The Philosopher's Stone," everyone reads first and then discusses, therefore...

Lights off.

The curtain rises.

(End of this chapter)