章節 286: Effervescent (1)
"Effervescent" had garnered attention from the moment it was announced.
Why, you ask?
Well, the director had quite the reputation.
As the fifth creation from the director known for raking in billions at the box office, each of his previous works had consistently scored above 6.5 on IMDb. "Fury" even achieved a formidable 6.8, albeit pushing the limits. But, you see, it was a time when the realms of art and commerce were in a transitional clash, causing an overly forceful approach. The characters still received praise, but the primary plot development left much to be desired, and many WWII enthusiasts pointed out numerous inaccuracies in the tactical command, causing the score to plummet from 7.1 to 6.8.
Apart from that, "Buried" received a 7.2, "Miscreant" an impressive 8.7, and "3 Idiots" a whopping 8.8 on IMDb, all earning their ranks on the ratings chart. The latter two even found themselves among the top twenty, with "3 Idiots" sharing the tenth position alongside "Fight Club" and "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly".
Couple all of this with the ubiquitous coverage in the tabloids, and it was hard not to be aware of it, especially for those die-hard fans who had been following Director Lyman's career closely.
The anticipation was palpable, as they eagerly awaited the film's release.
There's a saying that goes, "It's all about the company you keep."
After all, since the turn of the millennium, despite the era of blockbuster films and their dazzling visual effects, there had been a growing aesthetic fatigue. Some people simply loved a good story, a compelling narrative.
However, in this day and age, directors who could tell a story were few and far between. Apart from franchise films, adaptations from comics and novels, there were only a handful of new directors worth looking forward to.
And Lyman happened to be among the cream of the crop, and crucially, he was known for his quick filmmaking. Unlike some like Quentin, who took two or three years to make a single film, Lyman didn't waste time. Most of it was spent not on the shooting itself, but on crafting the story.
When the trailer for "Effervescent" was released, discussions on television and online platforms reached a fever pitch. Wealthy movie fans were already preparing to rally their fellow state residents to buy out theaters in support.
Paramount, meanwhile, was set to release "Effervescent" throughout March. Their resources were clearly tilted in favor of the film, after all, they were in it to make money, which aligned well with Lyman's intentions.
They had invested over $5M in promotional expenses, and after the release, they would assess the market performance before deciding whether to increase the budget. Of course, all of this was outlined in their distribution contract, outlining the responsibilities of the distributor.
In the final week leading up to the release, the groundwork was all set.
Floor advertisements, bus stops, subway stations, television broadcasts, promotional stickers...
They spared no expense in their efforts, and while it was uncertain how many viewers they would draw into the theaters, the heat of the online discussions was evident.
Yahoo's community forum.
1st Comment: I'm the first one here. Do we even need to talk about Director Lyman's works? I've already booked tickets with my girlfriend.
2nd Comment: Just watched the trailer. Even though I don't really know the female lead, I love her looks. Tickets are already bought; I'm going for the 5:30 pm show tomorrow.
3rd Comment: It looks like a romance movie, and there aren't any big-name stars. If it weren't for the fact that it's directed by Lyman, I wouldn't even consider it. Honestly, I prefer movies like "Miscreant" that focus on brotherhood. Will there be "Miscreant 2"? I'd love to see that.
4th Comment: Clearly, the person in the third comment doesn't read the news. The director has already said there won't be a sequel. The story is complete, and there's no need to delve into how they went from small-time hoodlums to high-ranking officials. Also, was that a cameo by Sophie Marceau in the final quick shot? I've heard she's in the film; can't wait.
5th Comment: If you want resources, you can add me to your community contacts. Feel free to message me. xxxxxxxx...
...
After the preview screening, Lyman transformed into a low-key, unassuming figure.
Anyway, he didn't bother with the publicity and such.
Back in the early days when he wasn't well-known, he had to appear on various variety shows and shout out loud about his work. But now, there was no need for that. He believed that post-release roadshow promotions were an effective way to boost box office sales.
He slept in until noon, and Eva wasn't around either. She was probably off filming outdoor scenes in Montreal, Canada.
After having lunch, he lazily sat on the balcony, enjoying the rare, bright sunlight.
A phone call came in.
"Heath? What can I do for you?"
"Will there be a premiere for the movie? Where's it going to be?"
It turned out this guy knew about Lyman's new film and wanted to come and show his support.
Of course, he appreciated the gesture. "I don't have any plans for that. The film will be directly released tomorrow."
Paramount wanted to arrange one to generate more buzz, but Lyman felt it was unnecessary.
"Well, I'm pretty busy over here," Heath sighed on the other end of the line.
Recently, "Brokeback Mountain" had undergone some reshoots, and it had taken a toll on the entire cast and crew.
Plus, because of the popularity of "Miscreant", as one of the main actors, he, like Nicolas Cage, had reaped significant benefits.
Many film companies had approached him with offers, and, after his agent's careful consideration, he had accepted roles in two films.
One was a sports drama titled "Lords of Dogtown", directed by Catherine Hardwicke and featuring a cast of young actors. The other was "Casanova", written by Michael Cristofer, and they hadn't confirmed the director yet.
Unlike Nicolas, his choices leaned more towards diversifying his acting portfolio. In other words, he willingly let go of some commercial projects and instead embraced roles in unconventional films with strange themes, completely different from his previous on-screen image.
This was also his agent's advice.
At present, he didn't lack accomplishments; what he lacked was experience. To build that, he needed to venture into the niche film circle, both for the sake of his acting and to adapt to a broader range of character images.
"If you ever need anything, feel free to call me."
After all, he had acted in "Effervescent", and during the upcoming roadshow promotions, he, as one of the main creators, couldn't easily escape.
"Okay. If there's nothing else, I'll hang up now." Lyman pressed the end call button and tossed his phone aside.
After taking a brief rest, he returned to the bedroom and turned on his computer.
After a quick search, he found numerous posts about the release of "Effervescent".
After reading through those comments, Lyman didn't know whether to feel surprised or how to react. The film hadn't even premiered yet, and fans were already comforting him or advising him to direct other types of films, saying his pace was a bit too fast.
Of course, there were also plenty of supporters, which provided him with some solace.
But then again, different people had different tastes when it came to movies.
Some liked more profound plots, some enjoyed intricate and mind-boggling stories, while others simply liked watching handsome men and beautiful women, indulging in eye candy.
No matter how he directed or what he produced, there would always be someone who wasn't satisfied, who couldn't grasp his intent.
Lyman had known this from the very beginning when he became a director.
After scrolling through the posts for a while, he felt generally satisfied with the feedback and closed his computer.
Now, he had to wait and see how things went after the film's release tomorrow.
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