Due to the sudden incident, Dunn decided to give the entire crew a temporary break.
The crew was in a state of panic, and even if they forced themselves to continue filming, the actors wouldn't be in the right frame of mind, making it difficult to deliver a performance that would satisfy Dunn .
Dunn had figured it out: if it's meant to be, it will be; if it's trouble, there's no avoiding it!
This team, which he had just assembled two months ago, hadn't yet formed a strong bond. Right now, it was held together by the salaries Dunn paid and his reputation.
If Dunn could come up with a satisfactory solution to this sudden crisis, it would undoubtedly increase his authority within the team, allowing him to firmly control his crew—not just through financial incentives.
Dunn 's approach to handling the situation was straightforward—pursue two paths simultaneously.
First, he called Bryan Lourd, a big shot at CAA. Since the crew of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" had enjoyed half of CAA's packaged services, Bryan was obligated to ensure the safety of the crew.
Bryan had powerful connections, not just in Hollywood, but extending even to the White House. With his involvement, applying official pressure would likely yield quick results.
The second call Dunn made was to Francis Ford Coppola, Sofia Coppola's father and the head of the Coppola family, an Italian-American lineage.
The success of "The Godfather" trilogy had turned this Hollywood director into a major figure among Italian-Americans!
During the confrontation with the police officer, Dunn didn't gain much, but he did learn from the chubby detective that the group of hooligans who threw the gas canisters were of Italian descent.
This realization hit Dunn like a bolt of lightning—this was Chicago!
Even though it was the glamorous '90s, remnants… still existed!
With Francis Ford Coppola's influence among Italian-Americans, this small matter could be resolved with just a word.
Dunn noticed the worried looks on the faces of the crew and remained firm, waiting for results.
Forty minutes later, the entire crew descended into chaos, with several girls screaming and crying.
Nicole Kidman's face turned pale, and Sofia Coppola was trembling with fear, hardly daring to breathe.
The arsonist hooligans had returned!
They roared in on their graffiti-covered motorcycles, creating a scene as loud and menacing as when they had thrown the gas canisters.
"Quiet! Don't be afraid!"
Dunn shouted, stood up, made a calming gesture, and then strode forward.
"Dunn !"
Everyone was startled and quickly called out his name.
Dunn turned back with a smile and said, "Relax, trust me, it's been taken care of!"
"Taken care of?" Doubt flashed in everyone's eyes—they clearly didn't believe Dunn . How could he solve a problem that even the police avoided?
But Dunn exuded confidence as he walked forward. Sure enough, as he got closer, he saw that the dozen or so hooligans were all bruised and battered, with one of them having stitches crisscrossing the corner of his eye, clearly having received more than ten stitches.
Seeing Dunn approach with a blank expression, the hooligans quickly dismounted from their motorcycles, stood in line, and bowed to apologize to Dunn . "Sorry!"
Their voices were loud but carried a lot of resentment!
Looking at their young faces, which still bore traces of anger beneath their youthful appearances, Dunn couldn't help but sigh.
Tattoos, nose rings, earrings, dyed hair, leather jackets… perhaps this was the typical look for lower-class hooligans?
Seeing that they were about the same age as him but had taken a completely different path, Dunn wondered if this was society's responsibility. If you don't work hard, even God can't save you!
Dunn understood that they were forced to apologize, knew that their hearts were still filled with resentment and anger, and realized that no matter how he tried to persuade them, it would be impossible to change this group of delinquent youths. He waved his hand somewhat helplessly and said, "Since you've apologized, let's consider this matter closed. Don't let it happen again."
The hooligans' eyes lit up. They had expected to have to stage a painful act and suffer some physical punishment, just like in the past.
The hooligans hadn't expected the young man before them to be so easygoing. They immediately grinned from ear to ear and said, "Alright, since everything's fine, we'll be on our way. See you around!"
Laughing heartily, they mounted their motorcycles, engines roaring, and sped off just as noisily as they had arrived.
Dunn shook his head, feeling somewhat helpless, when suddenly, he heard the crew behind him erupt in cheers. Katherine Heigl, the film's female lead, excitedly ran over, clinging to Dunn 's arm and playfully flattered him, "Dunn , you're amazing, simply amazing!"
Understanding the deeper meaning behind her words, Dunn leaned in and whispered, "I'll come over to your place in a couple of days and teach you a good lesson, little temptress."
Katherine Heigl giggled, completely ignoring the curious looks from the crew, and with a teasing wink, she planted a quick kiss on Dunn 's cheek. "You better not forget! If you don't come, I'll never speak to you again."
As a young starlet just beginning to make a name for herself, she wasn't worried at all. In fact, she hoped everyone would gossip about her relationship with Dunn . After all, in this industry, being talked about equates to fame!
The crew had many young actresses, and though they were watching, seething with anger, their expressions masked with jealousy and resentment. Their hearts cursed, "What a witch! A total witch!"
They were envious, jealous, and bitter. But what could they do? She was pretty, had a great figure, and had won the director's favor—it wasn't surprising.
At that moment, another squad of police cars arrived.
This time, instead of just one, there were four cars. However, leading them wasn't a marked police car but an old Ford sedan.
After the vehicles stopped, a middle-aged man in a suit, appearing to be in his forties and slightly balding, confidently stepped out of the Ford. He exuded an air of authority.
Behind him, the four police cars stopped abruptly, and about a dozen officers jumped out, rushing forward.
Among them were Dunn 's old acquaintances, the chubby detective and the thin detective.
"Hello, are you Mr. Walker?"
"I'm Dunn , and you are?"
"You can call me Fred, I'm with the FBI."
Dunn glanced at Fred's ID, almost squinting in disbelief. His expression stiffened slightly.
He hadn't expected Bryan Lourd to escalate things so dramatically, involving the FBI! No wonder the local police department had nearly mobilized its entire force—this was a huge mess.
"Mr. Walker, we've received numerous reports about a highly dangerous gang operating in this area. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to gather enough evidence." Fred's eyes flicked over to the officers behind him. "I'd like you to tell me exactly what happened so I can ensure you receive the most just legal protection. Would that be alright?"
Dunn felt a bitter pang. He hadn't anticipated getting caught up in a conflict between the local police and the FBI.
This wasn't something he was equipped to handle, especially since he had just called Francis Ford Coppola, who likely helped round up these Italian-American troublemakers. How was he supposed to continue working in the future?
Dunn glanced at the nervous police officers behind Fred, then shook his head. "I'm sorry, Fred, but as far as I'm concerned, this matter is already resolved."
"Resolved?" Fred looked at the scorched grass where the fire had burned. "This has caused quite a bit of damage to the crew."
Dunn smiled, "There's been some loss, yes, but we can claim it from the insurance company. Besides, they've already come to apologize. They're just a bunch of kids who made a mistake. They've learned their lesson, so there's no need to make a big deal out of it. Everyone in the crew saw what happened—they can testify."
Fred glanced around at the crew, a hint of sarcasm in his voice, "Director Walker really does have a kind heart."
Dunn immediately straightened up and replied seriously, "We, as artists, have a duty to convey the correct values and promote the right cultural direction to America and the world. Having a kind heart is not just a prerequisite—it's essential."
Fred's face twisted slightly as he realized that Dunn was resolute. Knowing that this operation had failed, he gave Dunn a long, hard look. "Well then, I wish Director Walker's film great success. Goodbye!"
After Fred left, an elderly police officer with white hair and a white beard, his face flushed with excitement, approached Dunn and shook his hand vigorously. "Mr. Walker, thank you, thank you so much!"
Dunn frowned slightly, his mood subdued. "I just hope my film can be shot without any further disturbances."
"Of course, I can guarantee that!" The old officer, clearly the leader, immediately began giving orders, arranging shifts for 24-hour surveillance.
Such top-tier security was unheard of for a low-budget indie film with a budget of just over $10 million!
Even a big-budget blockbuster with an investment of $100-200 million would find it difficult to secure 24-hour protection from local law enforcement.
Dunn 's two phone calls had instantly elevated the status and influence of *My Big Fat Greek Wedding* in the Chicago area.
It was easy to imagine that with such connections, if Dunn ever returned to film in this city, the treatment he'd receive would be far from ordinary.
Dunn couldn't help but feel a bit emotional. This incident had taught him a lot.
In Hollywood, it wasn't just about having capital and ability.
There was another crucial element—connections!
The way this arson incident was handled clearly demonstrated the enormous influence of Francis Ford Coppola and Bryan Lourd. This wasn't just about one's position in Hollywood; it could even affect local political situations.
Dunn suddenly felt fortunate that he hadn't fallen out with CAA and that his relationship with Bryan Lourd was becoming more harmonious. Although he had some friction with the Jewish mogul Steven Spielberg, it hadn't reached the point of no return. If there was a chance, he'd try to mend that relationship.
He resolved to unite all the forces he could to face the powerful enemies he might encounter in the future.
Taking a deep breath, Dunn realized more than ever that the path in Hollywood was far from simple.