บท 351: Make use of opportunity

Just as the first question was asked, the on-site discussion ignited with fervor. The question posed by Hope stirred not only interpretations of the ending but also insights into the film itself. After Renly's artful response, the audience's inquiries flowed one after another. It wasn't just Drake and Renly; even Charlie Bewley was granted the chance to address questions. Each of them shared their perspectives on the characters, on the narrative.

The Q&A segment progressed remarkably smoothly, beyond expectations. The theater buzzed with an atmosphere so lively that there wasn't even time to take a sip of water. It truly encapsulated the distinct essence that set apart the Sundance Film Festival from the rest.

Cornell McGregor sat patiently in his chair, waiting for his turn, resembling a venomous snake poised in the darkness, waiting for its prey.

Traditionally, the questioning began with journalists, followed by opening the floor to the audience. After the inquiries were concluded, the reporters would have the opportunity to conduct separate interviews with the cast and crew. In simple terms, journalists held a unique status, even in a place like Sundance.

But today, everything was in chaos. The scene resembled a boiling pot of water, bubbling and rolling. The audience's questions intertwined with those from reporters, and to everyone's surprise, the audience dominated, leaving the journalists to fend for themselves.

As another question concluded, Cornell seized his chance, inserting himself seamlessly. With a swift motion, he stood up, causing his chair to make a resounding clang. The sudden action turned heads in his direction, including the host and cast members, who all looked his way and saw Cornell raising his right hand high.

This was the effect he aimed for.

Before the staff could even hand him a microphone, Cornell boldly voiced his question, cutting through the air. The reporters nearby wore expressions of intrigue, while the audience members who heard the question began to whisper among themselves, creating a buzzing and slightly chaotic undertone.

Though the theater wasn't large, the sound struggled to propagate fully. The audience at the far end couldn't quite catch Cornell's question. It wasn't until the staff passed him the microphone that he repeated his query:

"Renly, during the premiere's red carpet event, there was a crowd crush incident. Was this orchestrated by the production for sensationalism?"

A concise question, yet it immediately stirred a storm. Everyone wore expressions of shock, and discussions erupted. While this question didn't directly relate to the movie, the scandalous gossip it concealed was enough to arouse excitement, astonishment, and disbelief in each person. The foremost thought in everyone's mind was: This must have some basis. Without evidence, a journalist wouldn't dare make such a claim!

"Lies! He's lying!" Tessa was the first to shout, her fury erupting from her chest, nearly uncontrollable. Her eyes widened, her voice strained as she yelled, "Liar!"

She had experienced everything that just happened; she understood the situation's nuances better than anyone else. She could hardly believe that a journalist could brazenly twist the truth, fabricating facts out of thin air to slander and defame Renly's reputation. It was Tessa's first glimpse into the ugliness and filth of the news industry.

Witnessing the chaos unfold before him, Cornell remained composed, concealing his inner satisfaction adeptly. Indeed, he was fabricating, yet accusing Renly wasn't his objective. It was merely a way to provoke Renly's reaction. After all, he was just speaking, and in the form of a question, seeking confirmation. It wouldn't amount to defamation or damage to reputation. One of the privileges of being a journalist.

However, for the general public, such hearsay often had the power to alter their perceptions of public figures.

Now, unexpectedly, Cornell found himself anticipating how Renly, trapped in this situation, would handle it.

Renly was taking a sip of water. He was the concentrated target of the questioning, not only because of Jacob's significant role but also because he was the most widely recognized actor in the entire cast, overshadowing even last year's breakout star at this very festival, Jennifer Lawrence, who rose to prominence with "Winter's Bones".

Nearly every third question was directed at Renly. His throat felt slightly parched.

Cornell's question had once again thrust him into the spotlight, eyes of eager anticipation casting his way like a barrage of arrows, attempting to turn him into a porcupine.

Even the other cast members wore puzzled expressions, unclear about what was unfolding, glancing at Renly with concern.

Amidst this sea of attention, Renly remained unruffled, unhurried. He calmly swallowed his water, twisted the cap back onto the mineral water bottle, placed it by his feet, and then accepted the microphone from Jennifer's hand.

The sequence of deliberate actions brought a calming effect to the restless atmosphere in the theater. The sharp interrogations and explorations began to smooth out. In contrast, Cornell's composure started to turn into impatience. He disliked Renly's composure and especially the current tranquility.

"I'm sorry, I need a moment," Renly's simple words carried dual meanings, inviting closer scrutiny, implying various interpretations. Coupled with the faintly mocking tone in his smile, it seemed to say, "This news is too shocking; I need to digest it."

A soft chuckle escaped Hope's lips. She wasn't the only one.

"Regarding the question from this journalist, I believe your primary concern should be whether anyone was injured at the scene. Also, how the aftermath of this incident was handled," Renly replied politely yet not without sharpness. "If you choose to focus solely on the chaos itself, then your question becomes irrelevant."

The implied meaning was clear – journalists always sought to link chaos with sensationalism, even resorting to alarming language to spark attention. Hence, their speculations about the chaos being a deliberate creation for publicity. Yet, if journalists placed more emphasis on the injured crowd, avoiding explicit mentions of the production team, the sensationalism loses its foothold.

Those seemingly casual words were anything but ordinary. They weren't a hasty defense nor an angry rebuke. Unknowingly, the attention of the live audience had already shifted.

A sense of unease welled up within Cornell. He could keenly feel countless accusatory and scornful gazes fixed on him. However, he had no intention of conceding easily. "So, are you admitting it then? All of this was arranged by the production team?" At the very least, Renly hadn't denied it moments ago.

"No," Renly's reply was straightforward, succinct, and decisive. There was no further defense, no flowery or evasive counter. Cornell's invisible attack had fallen flat. Such an unequivocal response utterly quashed the potential for any subsequent attacks, especially considering that Cornell lacked evidence to begin with.

The scene paused for a mere half-second before Renly turned to Drake. "Or perhaps our production team has secured a new budget, allowing for a substantial promotional push?"

Caught off guard, Drake scratched his head. "I haven't even had the chance to pay your fee, and my bank loan is about to expire. How could that be possible?"

This answer was indeed too sincere, too realistic. It lacked embellishment or disguise, contrasting sharply with the festive atmosphere of the premiere. However, it also provided a glimpse into the truth of the matter, resulting in collective laughter.

Yet, beneath the laughter, a faint sense of sorrow lingered. A brilliant work like this, despite its excellence, still hadn't found a distributor. There was a high likelihood it wouldn't meet North American audiences – such was the plight of independent cinema.

"Applause!" The claps began sporadic, then quickly merged into a chorus as the audience offered their support to the cast.

Tessa, however, was still indignant. "That journalist is spouting nonsense! He's insane! How could this be? What newspaper is he from? It's ridiculous!" Had Hope not held her back, she might have rolled up her sleeves and confronted the journalist physically.

Observing the resounding applause and cheers in the venue once again, Cornell couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache. The first question was just a foray; he had intended to continue probing Renly. However, he hadn't foreseen that the first question would dig a pit – not for Renly, but for himself. His subsequent chances to question were naturally extinguished.

As he looked at Renly, confidently smiling in the center of the stage, an unnamed fire ignited within Cornell. It made his teeth grind, and the decorum he upheld as a journalist was almost entirely depleted. That damn guy!

As expected, Cornell never got another chance. The audience's inquiries continued unabated, and the questions from fellow journalists followed suit. There was no opening for him. Even if he stood up, he'd be ignored by others.

The Q&A session, originally slated for thirty minutes, extended to a full fifty. If it weren't for the organizers stepping in to announce the upcoming screening and that it couldn't be canceled, the session might never have concluded.

Once the cast members left the theater, they were soon besieged by journalists in the lobby. Then came the departing audience members, surging forth like bees returning to a hive, forming layers upon layers. The scene was truly astonishing. The spirited questioning carried on for nearly another hour before reluctantly dispersing.

Without a doubt, this was the most successful, explosive, and fervent premiere of the Sundance Film Festival since its opening this year, second to none.

A film like "Like Crazy", with a meager budget of just $250,000, was hardly noticeable even within Sundance, and it was a small-scale romance film that had been criticized for its confined scope, similar to "Annie Hall". Such classics were scarce. Yet, against all odds, it had surged forward to become the most attention-grabbing dark horse thus far!

The enthusiastic applause from the audience marked merely the beginning of the premiere. The feedback from critics followed shortly after, propelling the film to the center of attention!