After Christmas, the crew resumed work, beginning to shoot a large number of action scenes.
Most of these action sequences were filmed in Chicago. For one tunnel car chase scene, the Chicago city government even closed off an entire tunnel for the crew to film.
This scene was shot entirely with IMAX cameras, placing very high demands on the filming process. Some shots had actually been completed in the studio beforehand, including the destruction sequences.
After all, the crew couldn't really blow up a tunnel that was in use. Otherwise, given local repair costs, the bill would easily run into over a billion.
During the dangerous car chase scenes, although Christian Bale and Heath Ledger both insisted on performing themselves, Gilbert still used stunt doubles.
It was better and safer to leave such professional stunts to professionals.
Gilbert also didn't want to see the main actors get hurt. Although accidents could generate publicity for the movie—like Heath Ledger's final work or Christian Bale's final work—Gilbert wasn't that cold-hearted. He still wanted the lead actors to be healthy and alive until the film's release.
Another lead in this scene, Nicolas Cage, had his scenes filmed in the studio and had completed filming successfully.
Time moved into 2008, and The Dark Knight's production continued in an orderly fashion, though the outside world didn't bend to anyone's will.
2008 was a competitive year. Previously, Gilbert had offended Wall Street, the medical complex, and some old-established financial conglomerates.
If the Blue faction came to power, the next four years would probably be rough for him.
But having the Red faction rise wasn't realistic either, as they had not performed well in recent years, not to mention the looming subprime crisis.
Of course, this didn't mean Gilbert had to play submissive for four years. At worst, he could trigger the crisis early. But currently, both the Blue and Red factions were involved, and there was no substitute person, so it wasn't easy to manage.
Gilbert's idea was to push Donald into action four years in advance—whether Red or Blue, just get him into the game.
Gilbert didn't want to stand in the spotlight. Acting as the behind-the-scenes push, getting Donald to step up, was perfect.
Additionally, the most important event that year was probably the Olympics. But the Chinese bid to host it ran into some difficulties.
Some media, with ulterior motives, began attacking China from various angles.
Of course, none of this involved Gilbert's media or those connected to him—they all remained silent, as if unaware.
Being able to stay silent was the only thing Gilbert could help his old friends achieve under the consensus of Western power circles. Speaking out was impossible, given he had to consider his own position, and the timing wasn't right.
Later, the famous Hollywood actor George Clooney stepped forward, publicly stating that the luxury watch brand Omega, which he endorsed, should pressure the Chinese.
Omega was a designated Olympic sponsor, providing all timers for the event.
Of course, Omega naturally ignored Clooney, still eyeing entry into the Chinese market, so they remained silent.
However, Clooney went too far, claiming they must respond, or he would unite Hollywood to boycott the Olympics.
Faced with such an opportunity, Gilbert wouldn't miss it.
In this matter, he had an interest point to leverage.
Hollywood knew Clooney was politically active.
Over the years, he hadn't produced much work. The few notable ones were the Ocean's series with Steven Soderbergh.
Warner Bros's big-budget Batman fourth installment had been messed up by Clooney.
So, to maintain his precarious A-list star status, Clooney used a move common among Hollywood actors: political posturing.
Clooney wasn't just a Blue supporter; he was a staunch member of the California faction. Last time Gilbert got in trouble, the California faction interfered heavily.
So Gilbert decided to use Clooney as an example, sending a message to the California faction that he was not to be trifled with.
While the crew was hard at work filming, Gilbert accepted an interview from Watermelon News, launching a fierce critique of Clooney's actions.
"I advise certain people to focus on their own work and not meddle in other matters. If you have the time, take on a couple more films, make movies, win Oscars."
The reporter asked, "So Director Gilbert, are you taking the side across the aisle?"
"I stand on the side of justice and fairness," Gilbert declared with a sense of righteousness. "The Olympics are a global event, and none of us want to witness a repeat of history.
The spirit of the Olympics is that everyone should have the opportunity to participate in sports, free from any form of discrimination, while promoting mutual understanding, friendship, unity, and fair competition.
I believe many have failed to uphold this principle, pre-setting their own positions instead of taking a human standpoint. I regret this deeply."
As soon as Gilbert made this statement, it caused an immediate uproar. Although he claimed to stand for justice and fairness, everyone clearly knew whose side he was on.
Some North American media outlets immediately began criticizing Gilbert, with suggestions that F.B.I investigate him, claiming he had been influenced and corrupted by the evil faction across the aisle.
"Now Gilbert is no longer loyal to us, so we must remove this villain."
Most of these media were traditional outlets, mainly reaching older audiences who didn't use the internet.
Gilbert's advantage lay in online media, where younger audiences, influenced by his controlled networks and online supporters, rallied behind him.
The messaging online was very different. As is well known, young people often enjoy rebellion. On the internet, Gilbert was portrayed as a freedom fighter resisting the older, established authorities.
Young people are generally impulsive, and this online momentum quickly spilled into the streets, with countless supporters marching and holding signs in support of Gilbert.
If you looked at the slogans in a large square, you would see they were identical everywhere.
Gilbert also controlled traditional media, including over a dozen newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times, reframing the conflict from supporting one side or the other to a debate between local priority versus global freedom.
This left the Blue faction media dumbfounded. They frequently used "global freedom" as their slogan, pointing out how certain regions restricted or violated freedom.
Now it was turned on them—they were the ones restricting freedom, while Gilbert's small group represented liberty.
A massive war of words erupted over what freedom really meant, and George Clooney found himself caught in the middle.
He became intimidated and chose to hide from public view.
At this point, Ivanka suggested releasing some of Clooney's club-related history, but Gilbert vetoed the idea, saying the timing wasn't right.
The conflict raged until February, when Gilbert finally brought out his ultimate weapon, claiming that North American media were trying to reenact Auschwitz.
The opposing media immediately quieted down, forgetting that Gilbert's position was still very strong. Orders from the top squid bosses behind him ensured no one dared attack Gilbert.
..
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