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Chapter - 103
🕑 Added 2025-04-15 15:16:56 +0000 UTC[Title : [Death Note] Press Meet]
….
It has now been two full weeks since [Death Note] hit theaters…
…and eleven days since [Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets] launched.
To say it was draining for Regal’s would be an understatement.
From the past month, he had been to Youngster's Round Table to LA’s Got Talent, the Golden Globes, talk show circuits, back-to-back interviews, and an aggressive press run.
And with Regal simultaneously caught up in the whirlwind of his book launch, most of the heavy lifting fell to EverLeaf and his team.
They carried it - flawlessly.
It had been a genuine team effort, through and through.
Still, Regal made a mental note that day - Never again would he let two major projects collide like this.
It was too much.
The only saving grace? Both projects were doing well.
Really well. That was the silver lining in all the chaos.
Today, a small press meet was scheduled to celebrate [Death Note] early success.
And for once, Regal felt like he could finally breathe.
Just a little.
….
The room was packed.
Camera shutters snapped in bursts, flickering like static lightning across the walls. A subtle hush rolled in as the moderator, an assured woman in a slate-gray suit, lifted her hand and signaled for the next question.
A journalist rose, flipping a page in his notepad.
“Uh, Mr. Regal, your film [Death Note] opened to a wave of negative reviews from a few critics, yet it’s drawing remarkable numbers at the box office. What do you make of that contrast?”
It was true. Unlike his debut film [Following], which had been almost universally praised, especially with the Stephen Hawking name attached, [Death Note] had stirred far more divisive reactions.
Some critics hadn’t held back.
Regal adjusting the mic slightly. “I don’t have much to say, really.” He said, his tone calm, casual. “The same critics who praised [Following] now have criticisms for this one.”
“And that’s fair. You can’t accept the compliments and dodge the punches. This one stings a little, sure… but I am grateful the audience decided to watch it for themselves instead of just reading the headlines.”
That earned a ripple of murmurs across the press row - low, appreciative.
Another hand shot up - this one from the Los Angeles Daily.
“There has been ongoing debate about the moral implications of [Death Note]. Some industry veterans argue that films like this glamorize dangerous behavior, and suggest Hollywood should steer clear of these narratives altogether. Does that concern you?”
Regal let out a slow breath. A faint sigh. Not annoyed - just tired of this particular conversation.
It was a topic that came up not long after the film’s release. Predictable, really. He and the Red Studio promotions team had braced themselves for it. They knew it would happen.
Still, some of the criticism felt… less like feedback and more like someone had it out for the project from the start. Harsh takes from people who probably never made it past the trailer.
And Regal wasn’t blind to it. He knew how Hollywood worked, how fast you could gain friends, and just how easily you could make enemies along the way.
Especially lately.
But even so, he was grateful the negativity hadn’t left a dent where it mattered most. The audience showed up. The story connected. And that meant something.
Still, it reminded him: being prepared is never enough.
You think you have got all your bases covered… until something hits you sideways.
This was the nudge he needed. He made a mental note then and there - it’s time to build a proper PR team of his own. One that worked for him, not just alongside the studios. A team that could spot these fires before they even started.
But that was something to sort out once things calmed down.
Right now, he adjusted the mic again and answered with calm clarity.
Regal gave a crooked smirk. “I think that’s a conversation that comes up every few years. First it was comic books, then horror films, then video games. Now it’s this. I am not sure how much truth there is to that claim, but I like to think our audience is smarter than we give them credit for. They are capable of critical thought. If someone walks out of my film thinking, ‘Hey, I should grab a notebook and start writing names’ - I would argue they had bigger problems long before they stepped into that theater.”
There were a few stifled chuckles. One reporter scribbled the quote down word for word.
A voice from Entertainment Weekly chimed in next. “Your film’s darker themes and moral ambiguity have sparked intense discussion. What do you hope people take away from [Death Note]?”
Regal didn’t hesitate. “That power corrupts. That justice isn’t binary. And most of all, that just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should. The film doesn’t glorify anything. It questions everything.”
That line hung in the air for a moment. A few nods. A murmur of approval.
Then, a voice from Hollywood Insider, one of the more respected names in the room.
“There has been a lot of surprise around the lead casting. From Stephen Hawking Jr., Timothée Chalamet, to even Kristen Stewart - the lineup wasn’t what many claim practical for a movie that claims to be the highest budget indie movie, but their performances have been widely praised. What led you to that casting?”
Regal smiled, leaning back just a little. “I think I have just been lucky. As a director, when your actors never fail you… that’s a blessing you don’t take lightly. Stephen Hawking Jr., was actually the first name to come into play, there is a favor I owed him, but as it turns out, he is a good actor too. So it worked.”
He paused.
“As for Timothée - let’s just say he walked into the wrong audition room. In a broader sense. But it led to the right place.”
Laughter erupted again, this time louder, more knowing.
Most people in the room already had a rough idea of what he was hinting at. The story had made its rounds.
Timothée himself had once been asked about it during a late-night interview. His answer? As brief and vague as it could legally be - something along the lines of “It was an accident I am really thankful for, but I am not allowed to say more.”
Now, hearing Regal lean into the mystery just enough, without giving too much away, only fueled the curiosity further.
And it made everyone laugh harder.
“And Kristen? I saw her in a small indie show, completely by chance. We reached out, she auditioned, and nailed it. She earned her spot.”
The room buzzed again - reporters scribbling, cameras flashing, whispers bouncing back and forth.
Then came a voice from The Guardian. “How much impact do you think the film will have on younger audiences? Especially kids?”
Regal paused, thinking it over with a half-grin forming. “Hum, I am not sure. Maybe just enough to get some kid to paint a notebook black, call it Death Note, and start scribbling down names of people they don’t like. Especially those teachers who give pop quizzes on Mondays.”
The crowd laughed. Regal raised a hand slightly, mock-serious. “But really - nothing beyond that. Writing someone’s name in a notebook isn’t going to do anything. At worst, some mean teacher out there might have to squint a little harder at their coffee next week.”
A few louder chuckles this time. Flashes went off. Even the moderator cracked a smile.
Then came a shift.
A question Regal had expected sooner or later.
“The actor playing your lead, Stephen Hawking Jr. He has obviously got a recognizable legacy. And no doubt, he gave a compelling performance. But why him? And, some are saying this is you encouraging nepotism. How do you respond to that?”
Regal’s tone didn’t flinch. “For the first part… I think you kind of answered it yourself - ‘he gave a compelling performance.’ That’s why him. He is good at it. Simple.”
He adjusted the mic slightly. “As for the second part… I don’t know if I would call it encouraging nepotism. But do I mind it? Not really. Talent is talent. If someone gets an opportunity and proves they deserve it, that’s what matters to me.”
There was a beat of silence before another reporter jumped in, a little too quickly.
“There is a rumor that Ross Oakley had a fight with you on set. Any truth to that?”
Regal let out a low chuckle. “On my sets? I would love to know the source of that one.”
The reporter leaned forward, carefully. “Ah - sorry. As a journalist, there are some boundaries we can’t cross.”
“Yeah, I get that.” Regal said smoothly. “And as a director, I have boundaries too. One of them is - what happens on set… stays on set.”
He smiled, but just before the moderator could move on, he added casually. “But since you asked - Mr. Ross Oakley is a gentleman. And I would be lucky to work with him again. As many times as he will let me.”
That answer caught the room off-guard.
Not the first part - directors brushing off rumors was standard fare.
But the second part?
Gentleman?
Ross Oakley?
Eyes darted across the press row. Everyone in the room knew Ross Oakley’s reputation - brilliant, sure, but notoriously difficult. The polite response was usually ‘It was an intense collaboration.’ Or ‘Creative differences, but we got through it.’
But ‘gentleman’? That wasn’t just a dodge. It sounded genuine.
And that was the weird part.
Because Regal’s face didn’t betray the usual sarcasm. No smirk or a wink. His posture stayed relaxed. Eyes steady.
He wasn’t kidding.
And somehow, that unsettled the room more than any tabloid-worthy behind-the-scenes feud ever could.
Then came another question, this time with a sharper edge.
“Due to your involvement in promoting [Death Note], was the release of the second [Harry Potter] book delayed? There are reports suggesting friction between you and Everleaf Publishing - some even claiming that legal action was nearly taken over a breach of contract.”
That one actually made Regal laugh. A short, genuine burst he couldn’t hold back.
He knew exactly who would be howling at home right now, probably a certain sharp-tongued blonde, doubled over laughing with a glass of wine in hand while watching the live feed.
He wiped at the corner of his eye.
“Sorry about that.” He said, still chuckling slightly. “I didn’t realize that’s the rumor going around.”
He leaned in a little.
“About the clash between me and Everleaf? It’s true.”
The room froze for just a second - reporters adjusting themselves, waiting for the usual PR spin.
Then Regal continued, unfazed.
“It was a clash because I wanted to release it earlier than they recommended. They were worried I was stretching myself too thin with the movie launch happening at the same time. But I didn’t want my readers to wait even two days longer than they already had. So yeah… I won that argument.”
He smirked, calm and confident.
“And for the record, not only was there no legal threat - if anything, I would recommend you reconsider the quality of your source material.”
The reporter blinked, slowly sat back down, less like someone who’d been shut down, and more like someone realizing they had just stepped into a conversation way above their clearance level.
Regal let the silence hang for a moment after his last remark - just long enough for the weight of it to settle without seeming smug.
Then he leaned back in his seat and scanned the room with a faint smile.
“Alright… anything else?”
A few reporters glanced at each other, flipping through their notes. But the earlier tension had already defused, replaced with a quiet respect. Some were still scribbling, others already typing up their angles. But no more hands went up.
The moderator, sensing the cue, stepped forward and addressed the room. “That concludes today’s session. Thank you, everyone.”
Regal took a breath.
He reached for the mic one last time.
“Before we wrap up - just want to say something quickly.”
The rustle of paper and camera clicks slowed down again.
“To the press.” He nodded sincerely. “Thanks for being here. For showing up, for asking the tough questions, and for keeping me accountable.”
He paused.
“And to everyone watching, especially those who went out and gave [Death Note] and my second Book a chance when they didn’t have to… thank you. Really. For the support, the conversations, the criticism - everything. It means more than you know.”
He gave a small, respectful bow of his head.
“I hope this is only the beginning.”
The room responded with polite applause, some genuine, some professional, but all acknowledging.
The flash of cameras kicked in one last time as Regal stood, shook a few hands, and exited the stage with the quiet grace of someone who’d said exactly what he needed to.
Outside, a muted buzz had already started on phones and keyboards. Headlines forming. Quotes being clipped. But Regal… he just walked.
Back into the noise, back into the chaos.
Back to work.
.
….
[To be continued…]
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