บท 501: Grand premiere
"Heir!"
A powerful shout echoed and spiraled above Hollywood Boulevard, overshadowing the tangerine hues of the evening sky and the scarlet carpet underfoot. Renly stood alone at the beginning of the red carpet, a solitary figure. Yet, that raucous cry became the most beautiful and grand backdrop, igniting the passion of the crowd.
The massive posters on both sides of the red carpet seemed to declare: this is Renly's domain. It wasn't a festival-like party, nor was it a star-studded affair like "The Pacific". It was his premiere, even though he was merely the third lead.
The other attendees were left in shock, and the journalists on the scene were equally astonished. The spectacle before them exceeded everyone's expectations.
"Fast 5" wasn't a fan-driven film like "Twilight", nor did it emphasize individual charisma like "Iron Man". Despite Vin Diesel and Paul Walker in the cast, its appeal to fans was limited, primarily drawing in male audiences interested in high-speed racing.
This was also the reason why Variety believed recent news events hadn't contributed to the box office success of "Fast 5".
Strictly speaking, today's premiere wasn't just about him—it was the main event for the entire film series. Even the most renowned stars would find it challenging to ignite the fans' enthusiasm. But now? The resounding cheers, the boiling waves of applause, the thunderous shouts made the late April Chinese theater feel like the height of summer.
When did this all begin? When did Renly amass such a loyal fanbase?
Though there were only two or three hundred people in front of him, in the midst of the surging crowd, they were but a small cluster. However, their fervor led one to speculate: how many fans like these existed in other cities? How many were willing to step into a cinema for Renly? In other words, what was Renly's box office draw?
It was indeed a ludicrous thought.
The term "box office draw" meant that, irrespective of the movie, director, script, or genre, audiences were willing to enter a cinema solely because of an actor. It wasn't like blind and frenzied fandom; these viewers were willing to offer objective and fair assessments, encouraging actors to produce better work. Such a title wasn't bestowed upon just anyone.
In simple terms, among the cast of "Fast 5" and "Thor", not a single actor could claim the title of "box office draw". The only one who came close was Natalie Portman, and even that was limited.
As for Renly? He was even further from it.
Regardless, today was the film's premiere. After the movie was released, it would be time to look at the critics' reviews, audience feedback, and box office results to find out.
The audience at the scene also began to join in the shouts, even though they didn't understand why everyone was calling out "Heir". But a premiere was a collective celebration, so they naturally didn't mind joining in. The cries only grew louder, more tumultuous, and continued to rise.
The journalists finally regained their composure. Silver flashes of light burst forth with the clicking sound of cameras, and in an instant, every color in their field of vision was bathed in a thin halo of silver. Even the unfamiliar faces appeared otherworldly, as if trapped eternally in the moment when the flashbulbs ignited.
"Renly!" The journalists' passionate and sincere shouts echoed one after another, but they failed to capture Renly's attention.
Renly turned and walked towards the opposite direction. Amid the crowd, he recognized some familiar faces and greeted them. This stirred up a fervent commotion, as the surrounding crowd converged in the same direction. Despite the short stretch of red carpet, Renly took a good twenty minutes to reach the photo and interview area.
The cheers of the fans grew distant, transforming into echoes reverberating in the square-like structure of the theater's courtyard. The journalists' shouts took over, each call more plaintive than the last, akin to lovers, tender and persistent, doing everything they could to capture Renly's attention.
Before Renly could even steady his steps, he spotted a figure approaching briskly. The person wore a radiant and excited expression, showcasing a set of immaculate, pearly white teeth. From seven or eight steps away, the person opened their arms wide, giving Renly a massive hug upon arrival. They patted Renly's back, and their sunny laughter rang in his ears, warm and bright.
"God! You're so slow, like an old man. Seriously, have you not been working out lately? How about we go surfing this time? The waves in Malibu are great." Such warmth upon arrival, and the teasing about surfing didn't stop. Only Paul Walker could jest in such a candid and affectionate manner.
Paul's cheerfulness infected Renly, and a hint of resignation passed through his eyes. He wasn't particularly fond of hugs, but around Paul, it seemed this rule didn't apply. Every time was the same. "Are you sure you want to keep hugging? Right now, the reporters' gazes are as though they're witnessing the reunion of Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter," he quipped, referring to the protagonists of "Captain America", lovers separated by time and space.
"Ha!" A nearby journalist overheard and couldn't help but burst into laughter. Upon reflection, it was indeed amusing. They turned their head away and laughed heartily.
Paul finally released Renly, scratched his head, and sent an apologetic look filled with smiles. Then, he took a step back, carefully surveyed Renly, and nodded in satisfaction. "You seem to be in good shape. All those random troubles didn't affect you."
In recent times, amidst the tumultuous news surrounding "Scriptgate", not only was Renly frustrated by being at the center of it all, but his friends were as well.
Before the "Scriptgate" controversy emerged, there were constant speculations about the relationship between Chris and Renly. Paul stepped forward to defend Renly, asserting that he wasn't the kind of person Chris described him to be. He firmly stood his ground, going against his usual discreet approach. However, Paul's proactive support did not attract much media attention at the time. Later events proved him right.
"It's just a bunch of crows," Renly said nonchalantly, using "crows" to describe the journalists.
Paul contemplated this description for a moment, then nodded emphatically, expressing his agreement.
Renly didn't say much and shifted the conversation, saying, "Thank you for the gifts you sent, but the problem is I didn't get to eat any of them; the crew devoured them. What did you send anyway?" Paul had sent a batch of gifts to the set to celebrate the completion of filming before "50/50" wrapped up.
Watching Renly's complaints, Paul once again burst into a radiant smile. The two of them stood in the photo and interview area, engaging in a lively conversation. Occasionally, they would respond to the journalists' calls by striking a pose, only to return to their conversation. If it weren't for the journalists shouting themselves hoarse, Renly might have skipped the interview altogether and left directly.
Seeing the group of red-faced journalists, each one breathless, Renly couldn't help but chuckle softly, nodding slightly to express his apologies. He had indeed forgotten, and in that moment, it seemed like it wasn't the premiere of "Fast 5" but simply two friends coming to watch a movie together, albeit coincidentally that movie being "Fast 5".
"Renly, we've heard that the filming process for this project was quite enjoyable, and you've made many friends, is that right?" This was the first question, gentle and friendly, perfectly in tune with the premiere's atmosphere.
"Yes, that's correct," Renly nodded, sincerely replying, "Jordan, Tyrese, Gal, Matt, and others. In fact, Tyrese texted me last night asking about the party arrangements for tonight." He listed a whole bunch of names but inadvertently left out Paul.
However, Paul stood beside him, unfazed, still wearing a beaming smile and occasionally nodding in agreement, like a curious bystander.
The journalists' attention gradually shifted toward Paul, and the atmosphere at the scene couldn't have been more apparent. Unable to resist, Renly spread his hands and said, "Well, and Paul." Laughter erupted among the journalists, and Renly turned to Paul with a mock-serious tone, "You didn't leave me much room for denial."
Paul couldn't help but scratch his head again, revealing a set of pearly white teeth, and broke into a radiant smile.
"Renly, can you share some anecdotes from the filming process? This time, your character has conflicts with Paul's. Did you have fight scenes?"
As expected, the journalists' questions were jovial, devoid of the previous tension, as if the recent explosive news had never happened.
Then, director Justin Lin appeared on the red carpet, pulled over by the two men. The three of them proceeded to engage in the interview, bantering and joking with each other, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Between their interactions, laughter continually filled the air. This delighted the fans watching the interview, and their screams and cheers were incessant, one wave after another.
The premiere was only halfway through, but thanks to Renly's arrival, the atmosphere had reached an unimaginable climax. In the distance, Renly spotted Gal Gadot walking down the red carpet. He realized that they had been standing here for quite some time and should move on, leaving the promotional duties to the "latecomers".
Seeing that Renly was gracefully ending the conversation, ready to depart, the journalists instinctively started shouting, "One last question, one last question." Evidently, these interviews were always lighthearted and could reveal plenty of behind-the-scenes tidbits, making them ideal for writing news articles.
Renly had originally intended to leave without much fuss. However, when he saw Paul and Justin both pausing with soft hearts, he could only shake his head in resignation and put his steps back in place. "One last question."
Then, a journalist suddenly stood up, raising their voice, "Renly, may I ask if you plan to go to the cinema next week to watch "Thor"?"
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