Chazelle didn't waste a second.
He immediately called an emergency meeting with the production team.
The people on the video call still had dark circles under their eyes. Clearly they had been up all night rewriting the script.
Chazelle dropped the bombshell and they snapped awake instantly.
"Lionsgate is adding another twenty million. Total budget fifty million. No creative interference whatsoever. Film stock, long takes, mixing stages—whatever we want, we get!"
Chazelle slapped the table, unable to hide the excitement in his voice. "Our only job now is to lock the start date. The sooner the better!"
"Are you insane, Damien?"
One of the producers rubbed his eyes, convinced he was still dreaming. "There are still a few details left in the script. Wardrobe and locations aren't finalized either. We need at least another month."
"Another month my ass!"
Chazelle shot back, "Right now the whole internet is guessing about Cassius and Emma working together. The buzz is at its peak. If we announce the start date while it's hot, we save a fortune on marketing.
Cassius's piano is already good enough. Emma has Mia's lines down cold. If we push, we can start shooting in three months, wrap before awards season, and it'll be perfect."
The others looked at each other. In the end they all nodded.
Fifty million on the table gave them real confidence. Everything felt doable.
That same afternoon Chazelle locked the start date.
They would shoot as much as possible in Los Angeles. Griffith Observatory, Venice Beach—all the iconic locations went straight onto the schedule.
At six in the evening, Summit Entertainment and Lionsgate jointly announced:
La La Land officially begins production. Starring Cassius and Emma Stone. Directed by Damien Chazelle.
The news detonated across Hollywood and the entire internet.
Cassius was in the middle of his final piano lesson with Eddie when Robert called.
"Bro! Open Twitter right now! Eight out of the top ten trending topics are about you!"
"What's going on?"
Cassius was surprised. He hadn't done anything outrageous lately. The beach concert buzz had already died down.
"La La Land just announced its start date. You and Emma Stone are the leads. The whole internet is shipping you two!"
Cassius: ???
Had the netizens lost their minds?
The photo scandal had barely faded and now they were pairing him with Emma Stone?
He felt a headache coming on.
Cassius hung up and opened Twitter.
"Emma Stone + Cassius — what kind of dream team is this?"
"Wait, didn't Cassius just finish playing the Ancient One? Why is he suddenly doing an indie film?"
"Career downgrade, right? Superhero movies have way more prestige than arthouse stuff."
"Probably because of the photo scandal fallout."
"You don't know shit. Maybe he actually wants an Oscar?"
The debate about Cassius doing an independent film raged on, trending higher by the minute.
Ten minutes later the trending list showed:
#LaLaLandOfficialAnnouncement
#CassiusEmmaStone
#CassiusCareerDowngrade
Fans and haters went at each other.
"Cassius can only get indie films now. No commercial projects want him. Serves him right!"
"He's an actor with integrity. He doesn't want to be chained to commercial garbage."
"Stop arguing. Wait until the movie comes out."
"Exactly. Plenty of time to fight after it flops."
——
"Can you people stop shipping for five seconds? Cassius is actually acting here."
"You're making it sound like Cassius came to open a harem."
"Hahahahahaha dead."
"Cassius: I'm literally just here to act."
Cassius's piano lesson finally ended.
"Is my technique still terrible?" he asked Eddie.
He had been practicing nonstop. But piano wasn't something you mastered in a day.
Even with his rapid progress, he could only play pieces fluently and still hit wrong notes fairly often.
Yet his ability to perform on piano had already reached master level.
"Terrible!" Eddie said bluntly.
But he looked at Cassius with clear satisfaction. "Your performance ability is extremely strong though. If I met you for the first time right now, I'd genuinely think you were a piano master.
Actors really are something else. This kind of talent is impressive."
Cassius paused, then laughed.
That was exactly why he had learned piano in the first place.
La La Land didn't need a real jazz piano master. It needed an actor who could make the audience believe he was one.
The next morning at 9:45, when Cassius arrived at the hotel, the entrance was already swarmed.
Reporters had set up a wall of cameras. Several broadcast trucks were parked along the curb, satellite dishes raised.
The elevator doors opened. Robert was already waiting.
Today was the official launch press conference for La La Land.
The entire crew was here.
The press hall doors were open. At least two hundred seats were filled, with more people standing in the back.
Chazelle stood to the side of the stage talking to a man in a black suit.
When he saw Cassius he waved him over.
Cassius made his way through the crowd toward the side of the stage.
Cameras started clicking immediately. Flashes popped nonstop. Reporters stretched microphones toward him but were blocked by security.
"Cassius, look this way!"
"What are you expecting from your first collaboration with Emma?"
"Is Christine coming today?"
Cassius didn't stop. He just raised a hand in a casual wave.
When he reached the side of the stage, Chazelle came over and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Nervous?"
"Nervous about what?"
Cassius glanced at the packed audience. "It's not like I've never done a press conference before."
Chazelle smacked his own forehead. He had almost forgotten that Cassius used to be one of Hollywood's hottest actors. His films had grossed over five billion dollars combined.
Compared to that, Chazelle still felt like a rookie.
"Twice as many media outlets showed up as we expected. Half of them are here for you and Emma."
Chazelle actually looked a little nervous himself. His face was flushed, eyes bright with excitement.
At the entrance, a red-haired woman was walking in.
Emma Stone wore a black blazer over a white T-shirt, jeans, and canvas sneakers.
Casual outfit, but she carried herself with quiet confidence.
The moment Cassius saw her, memories of her surfaced.
At this point in time Emma Stone had just broken up with Andrew Garfield.
The "Spider-Man couple" label had followed them for three years.
Rumors started during The Amazing Spider-Man press tour, then they were photographed holding hands and walking their dog, and last month they officially announced the split.
The internet had been full of regret.
Social media was flooded with fan-made montage videos set to sad love songs. Comment sections turned into crying sessions.
Some people said they would never believe in love again.
Others said no Hollywood couple ever lasted five years. Some blamed Andrew's career slump after The Amazing Spider-Man went on hiatus.
Meanwhile Emma's career was on the rise. She had just finished Birdman and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Her price had skyrocketed.
The two of them had grown apart. The breakup had seemed inevitable.
But fans didn't see it that way.
They turned their disappointment into excitement for Emma's next project.
La La Land was the first film Emma took after the breakup.
It was also her first collaboration with Cassius.
Who was Cassius?
The most complicated man in Hollywood.
Netizens had given him a nickname: Hollywood Shared Boyfriend.
Meaning that any moderately famous actress in the industry seemed to have some kind of rumored connection with him.
"Emma just broke up. She needs someone gentle to help her through the low period."
"Cassius would be perfect. He's not greasy."
"What about Christine?"
"Didn't Christine and Cassius break up already? They haven't interacted in forever!"
"Honestly I think Cassius matches with anyone. This guy's CP chemistry is insane!"
When Cassius saw those comments he was completely stunned.
He asked Robert, "When did I become the shared boyfriend?"
Robert replied, "It started after the photo scandal. Now it's spread even more."
Emma reached the side of the stage. When she saw Cassius she paused for a beat, then smiled.
"Hi."
Her voice was a little lower than he expected, like she had just woken up and hadn't had water yet.
"Hi, Emma."
Cassius nodded at her.
Cassius and Emma walked onto the stage one after the other.
The flashes exploded.
Cassius narrowed his eyes and took his seat under the host's guidance.
Emma sat to his left. Chazelle sat in the middle. To his right was producer Jordan, then several investor representatives.
The host gave a short opening, then Chazelle introduced the film—its creative origins and why he had chosen Cassius and Emma.
Cassius listened while scanning the audience.
In the front row of the press section sat several familiar faces—veteran entertainment reporters with recording pens, eyes locked on the stage.
Then came the Q&A.
The first question was standard: what were Chazelle's box office expectations?
The second question shifted toward the actors.
"Emma, this is your first project after the breakup. Why did you choose La La Land?"
Emma picked up the microphone. Her expression didn't change.
"Because the script was good."
She paused. "It made me cry. I haven't read such a pure love story in a long time."
"Does it have anything to do with your breakup?"
The reporter pressed.
Emma looked at him.
"It does."
The room went quiet for two seconds.
"Because I went through the pain of a breakup, I can understand Mia better now."
Emma gave a small smile. "The way she chases her dreams, the way she loves someone, the way she finally lets go——I get all of it."
Sitting beside her, Cassius mentally gave her a thumbs-up.
His first impression of this woman was clear:
She was very smart.
And she knew exactly how to handle the media.
The third question suddenly swung toward Cassius.
"Cassius, you and Christine haven't been interacting much lately. There are rumors you've broken up. Is that true?"
Cassius picked up the microphone.
"False."
"Then why haven't you been seen together?"
"We're both filming. No time."
"Jennifer Lawrence posted a statement supporting you. What's your relationship with her——"
"We're just friends."
Cassius cut him off. "Next question."
The reporter tried to follow up, but the host had already called on someone in the back row.
"Cassius, netizens are calling you Hollywood's shared boyfriend. What do you think of the nickname?"
Laughter rippled through the room.
Cassius laughed too.
"Who came up with that?"
"It's trending on Twitter."
Cassius nodded and thought for three seconds.
"It's pretty accurate."
The laughter grew louder.
"If you think I have chemistry with everyone, it just means I'm doing my job well. I brought the characters to life."
Emma couldn't hold it in. She laughed out loud beside him.
She turned her head and looked at Cassius with a mix of surprise and appreciation.
The reporters didn't miss the moment. Cameras flashed rapidly at both of them.
Chazelle tried to steer things back. "Everyone, today is the launch press conference for La La Land. Let's keep personal questions to a minimum——"
The conference was already veering off course.
Chazelle finally dragged the topic back to the film itself. The reporters calmed down for a few minutes and asked some professional questions about shooting schedules and musical style.
Cassius leaned back in his chair, an unopened bottle of water beside him, listening to Chazelle explain how he planned to use long takes to recapture the texture of old Hollywood.
It was interesting. Just a little long-winded.
Typical of directors who started as screenwriters.
From the corner of his eye Cassius noticed several reporters in the audience already looking at their phones, probably live-tweeting.
Suddenly a hand went up in the back row.
A young reporter wearing glasses.
Chazelle stopped and nodded at him.
"Um——"
The reporter stood up and cleared his throat. "I have a question for Cassius."
Chazelle looked resigned. He had hoped the reporter was interested in the script. Instead it was back to Cassius.
He had no choice but to gesture for Cassius to answer.
Cassius sat up straight and picked up the microphone.
"There are rumors that the twenty million Lionsgate added to La La Land was actually because of you," the reporter said quickly. "And that Lionsgate's CEO Jon personally called Director Chazelle, offering no creative interference and no product placement requests—just pure additional investment."
The room went quiet for two seconds.
Then people started whispering.
Cassius was surprised too.
He hadn't expected this reporter to have such good sources. From the look on Chazelle's face, it clearly hadn't come from their side.
The reporter continued, "I also heard that Lionsgate had some conflicts with you before—including removing you from the Hunger Games 2 China roadshow and disputes over profit sharing.
So I'd like to confirm: is Lionsgate suddenly being friendly now because they genuinely want to repair their relationship with you?"
The question landed. The entire room fell silent.
Even the flashes stopped. Every camera was pointed at the stage.
Cassius felt Emma's gaze on him from the left. Chazelle's posture had gone visibly stiff on his right.
The question was too direct.
"I did have an unpleasant collaboration experience with Lionsgate," Cassius said.
The silence deepened.
Emma tilted her head slightly beside him, concern in her eyes.
Chazelle tried to jump in and smooth things over, but Cassius raised a hand to stop him.
"But you're wrong about one thing."
Cassius looked at the reporter. "Lionsgate adding money to La La Land wasn't because of me. It was because of the project itself."
"But——"
"Let me finish."
Cassius cut him off. "I read the La La Land script before I even signed on. Director Chazelle spent two years writing it. I don't know how many drafts he went through, but I genuinely loved it.
I remember thinking, why didn't I see this script earlier?
This kind of pure expression is rare in Hollywood these days. You entertainment reporters know that better than I do."
A few people in the audience nodded.
"So when Lionsgate decided to invest more, it was because they understood the value of this script. They recognized Director Chazelle's talent. They valued Emma's acting."
Emma let out a soft laugh beside him.
The reporter wasn't satisfied. "But from what I know, Lionsgate originally only held 30% of this project. Summit had the majority stake.
Why did they suddenly jump from 30% to 50%—and right after you signed on?"
Cassius looked at him.
This reporter had done his homework.
"What do you think the reason is?" Cassius asked instead of answering.
Some things weren't appropriate for him to say out loud.
"I think——"
The reporter swallowed. "I think it's because Lionsgate realized they made a mistake before and wanted to use this opportunity to repair their relationship with you.
They underestimated your market value. They treated actors as marketing tools—use them and throw them away. They thought twelve billion in box office would shut everyone up, but reality slapped them in the face."
The room erupted.
That was bold.
Did he not want to keep his job tomorrow?
People started taking photos. Others typed furiously. More hands shot up trying to ask follow-ups.
Cassius was quiet for a few seconds.
Then he stood up.
The room instantly went still. Cameras clicked in rapid bursts.
Holding the microphone, Cassius walked to the front of the stage and looked down at the reporter.
The young man's face had gone pale, but he didn't flinch. He stood there straight and steady.
"What's your name?"
"I——I'm Mike. Mike Thompson. Intern at The Hollywood Reporter."
"Intern?"
"Yes. I turn full-time next week."
Cassius nodded.
Then he extended his hand.
"After you go full-time, make sure you include what I just said in your article."
Mike blinked, then instinctively reached out.
They shook hands.
Another wave of camera shutters went off.
Cassius returned to his seat and picked up the microphone again. "Whether Lionsgate was wrong or not isn't for me to judge.
But the twenty million they invested today is real money sitting in La La Land's production account. It lets Director Chazelle use the film stock he wants. It lets us shoot the scenes he wants at Griffith Observatory.
That's enough."
Cassius didn't say anything more.
Because on this project, he wasn't the one in charge.
Otherwise, Lionsgate thinking they could repair their relationship with him through money alone would have been delusional.
Not respecting actors and the market was their biggest mistake.
For now, though, he could accept their goodwill.
Whether for charity or for film, more money was always better.
Chazelle finally found an opening. "Cassius is right. Our only goal right now is to make this movie well.
Lionsgate's investment is recognition of the project, not compensation to any individual. I hope everyone focuses on the film itself."
Emma chimed in from beside him, "Exactly. Stop fixating on Cassius's love life. His fingers are almost swollen from practicing piano. If you don't feel bad for him, at least feel bad for me."
The room burst into laughter.
In front of Cassius's eyes, a panel appeared:
[Project Name: La La Land]
[Current Shooting Progress: Restaurant Scene]
[Performance Level: D—]
[Director Satisfaction: C]
[Team Collaboration: E+]
[Audience Expectation: E—]
[Overall Rating: D—]
[Reward: None]