Chapter 317: Chapter 317: The First Thirty Minutes
The limousine stopped at the entrance of the red carpet, and as soon as the door opened, Nicole Kidman felt the intense, fervent atmosphere from the sounds around her.
Stepping out, the sight of Nicole in a water-blue silk evening gown immediately sparked 'Nicole' and 'Mia' chants from the fan crowds on both sides.
Nicole was her name, and Mia was her character in "Pulp Fiction."
Clearly, even after more than a year, fans hadn't forgotten her performance in that movie, and Mia had become her most renowned role.
It's very fortunate for an actress to have a memorable role.
It's also quite unfortunate for an actress to be remembered for only one role.
Nicole was grateful to have such a role at 20 but didn't want her career to stop with "Pulp Fiction."
With a polite smile, Nicole gracefully made her way through the red carpet, briefly posed for the media, and then quickly entered the Civic Auditorium.
Everything was pre-arranged.
Today was "Batman's" main event, not suitable for too much interaction with fans to draw attention. Though, she didn't think she could attract much attention anyway.
Unlike the lucky fans who received invitations, guests didn't directly enter the screening hall but were temporarily led backstage.
Following a staff member into the auditorium's backstage lounge area, Simon Westeros hadn't arrived yet, but the place was already buzzing with activity.
Nicole navigated through the crowd, casually mingling with the guests. Glancing around, she suddenly felt enveloped by a web of enviable super-connections.
The lounge area, now crowded with hundreds, almost felt like half of Hollywood was gathered in one place.
Old Hollywood big shots like Brian De Palma, Robert Redford, Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, rising stars like Sandra Bullock, Matt Dillon, Julia Roberts, Keanu Reeves, established names like Kevin Costner, Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, John Travolta, Melanie Griffith, and famous film critics like Roger Ebert, along with executives from Daenerys Entertainment, Warner Brothers, and other film companies.
Such a lineup would typically only be seen at the Oscars.
Now, all these individuals were present at a movie premiere, a feat not even George Lucas or Steven Spielberg could achieve in recent years.
Caught in awe, the entrance soon became noisy as Simon Westeros and his girlfriend appeared, naturally drawing the crowd.
Nicole stepped forward, waited a while, but only managed to nod at Simon. In this setting, just moments ago cheered on the red carpet, she felt like a small fish in a big pond.
Then, "Batman's" other creators appeared backstage, signaling the end of the red carpet ceremony.
Simon, arm-in-arm with Janet under the guidance of Jennifer with a memo, greeted all the important guests as it neared 7 o'clock.
The staff began leading guests into the screening hall, and Simon took a brief moment to relax.
Hiding in a corner, chatting casually with "Batman's" creators, Simon's assistant brought over a lady in a red dress, looking a bit tense. Simon glanced at her and warmly greeted, "Lisa, long time no see."
Lisa Collins, who had traveled from the East Coast specifically for this premiere, naturally came through Jennifer's connection. She had pleaded with her friend for a chance to meet Westeros again. Now, approaching him, she felt inevitably nervous, given his drastic change from their first meeting at Sundance.
Hearing Simon call her by name, Lisa Collins relaxed, hugged him, and even lingered in his embrace for a second longer before separating, laughing under Jennifer's disapproving look, "Simon, I can't believe you still remember me."
"Of course, you're great at skiing. Maybe we can play together again sometime."
"Sure, I'll hold you to that," Lisa said, pointing to a young man following her, "This is Frank, my boyfriend."
Frank, the young man, came forward, shaking hands with Simon. Trying to appear casual, he introduced himself, "Mr. Westeros, hello, I'm Frank, uh, Walken, Frank Walken. I work at Blackstone Group. Nice to meet you."
"Blackstone Group, I know it, a promising private equity firm."
"Actually, we're not just involved in mergers and acquisitions..." Frank began, but Lisa Collins pulled him away, "Alright, no one wants to hear about your company."
Everyone laughed, and Frank Walken felt a bit embarrassed but stayed quietly by his girlfriend's side.
The staff reminded everyone it was time, and Simon's group also entered the screening hall.
The media interaction would happen after the movie, and as the guests settled in, Billy Crystal briefly spoke before the lights dimmed. A spotlight hit the massive screen at the front, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
Months of intense promotion and circulating details about the movie had peaked everyone's curiosity.
Of the 1,200-plus premiere attendees, even the Hollywood celebrities, mostly there out of genuine interest to catch Simon Westeros's new film first.
The Warner Brothers logo animation was followed by Daenerys Entertainment's magnificent phoenix intro. Since Warner Brothers was distributing, Daenerys Entertainment didn't fuss over these details.
After the DC logo, the screen went dark.
Sounds of a hatch opening came from the speakers, and soon, doors swung open with lights illuminating a container's interior filled with various weapons.
The camera zoomed out, revealing a bustling dockyard scene.
Through dialogues of extras, the audience quickly understood this was an arms smuggling operation.
Despite well-crafted atmosphere and cinematography, the critics, after months of anticipation, initially found the opening somewhat ordinary, almost predictable.
But as the scene shifted to gang members patrolling the docks, startled by bats flying overhead, the conversation hinted at a recent event involving a "big bat," stirring curiosity.
Impatience turned to anticipation as a figure appeared atop a crane. The disbelief of seeing someone so high at night was shattered when the figure, identified as Batman, leapt down, using his cape to glide, stunning the audience.
This thrilling entrance, followed by a meticulously designed fight sequence, redefined Hollywood action for the viewers, showcasing raw power, sleek disarmament moves, and Batman's overwhelming presence.
These five minutes of opening scenes set a new standard, leaving the audience in awe and eager for what's next.
Industry insiders recognized unprecedented filmmaking techniques in these moments, with action directors like Mel Gibson and Kevin Costner marveling at the potential for their own projects.
The CG scene of Batman's dive was a technological feat achieved by Daenerys's special effects team, elevating Hollywood's action film standards and impressing everyone with its realism.
As the title "Batman" appeared, the audience was left exhilarated, their expectations for the rest of the film sky-high, marking an unforgettable start to the premiere.
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