The Greatest Showman #820 – very popular

The main venue of the Cannes Film Festival is the Film Palace, located by the seaside. The area surrounding it has been specially re-planned to allow each country to set up tents showcasing their film history and culture. Just outside the main venue is a famous shopping street, lined with high-end stores, luxury hotels, and beachside bars.

This small town was designed for movies.

The main venue of the Venice Film Festival is located on Lido Island, far from the bustling, commercial main island. Lido Island is a peaceful retreat, perfect for vacationing. The main venue offers a serene and quiet atmosphere, allowing visitors to easily decide whether to watch a film or relax on the beach.

The film festival is rooted in life, yet it feels like a paradise.

In contrast to Cannes and Venice, Berlin offers a different experience. Situated in one of the world's busiest cities, the Berlin Film Festival's main venue feels confined. The venue is located in the heart of Potsdamer Platz, surrounded by vibrant commercial streets, restaurants, shopping malls, office buildings, and even a luxury casino on the right side. The area is crowded and congested.

The venue is just two blocks away from the Grand Hyatt Hotel, but crew members can't walk there casually. Instead, they take official black BMW sedans, which circle a small block before slowly driving into the commercial street leading to the main venue, where they finally stop in front of the entrance.

The red carpet appears crowded and narrow. In a space only half the size of a basketball court, a red carpet less than fifteen meters long stretches from the edge of the street to the main entrance of the venue.

On the left, there are reporter boxes, with stairs allowing journalists to arrange their seats in layers, offering a view of the throngs of people lining up. On the right, the audience—some holding VIP passes—goes through security before entering the venue. The entrance is parallel to the red carpet, so audience members frequently stop to scream and cheer for the stars.

The space is so cramped that it feels almost suffocating.

Across the street, the other side is also lined with a red carpet, and traffic control is implemented on both sides. Movie lovers gather in a designated area, able to watch the celebrities walk the red carpet, even as vehicles move about in the background. Despite the commotion, life in the city continues uninterrupted. This vibrant, real-world setting gives the Berlin Film Festival its unique character.

The area, though small, can accommodate up to 300 spectators. At this moment, it's packed. On the street behind, people dressed in fluorescent yellow continue to pour in. Traffic officers do their best to maintain order as the atmosphere buzzes with excitement.

In terms of scale and grandeur, this premiere isn't particularly spectacular. It's a far cry from the grandiose premieres Renly has attended in the past. But it's the intimacy of the event, the sheer life and energy of the crowd, that gives it a distinct charm. It feels less like one of the major European film festivals and more like a spontaneous movie lovers' gathering. It's as if people simply stopped to watch a movie on their way home from work or during a quick break from their daily routines.

This palpable connection to everyday life, with its subtle but powerful influence, has become an integral part of Berlin—its culture, its people, and its way of living.

For Renly, attending the Berlin Film Festival for the first time, it was an experience full of new sensations.

Stepping out of the car, Renly looked at the reporters and fans on the left. Flashes from cameras converged into dazzling beams, lighting up the night sky. The neon lights of the nearby casino flickered in the distance, adding a surreal glow to the scene.

Turning to his right, he saw the audience's enthusiastic screams. Though they couldn't clearly see who was on the red carpet from the distance, those at the front of the line eagerly screamed and cheered. The excitement was palpable, growing louder by the second.

Recalling his arrival at the hotel two days earlier, Renly was reminded of the warm, welcoming faces. With a smile, he began walking towards the right side of the red carpet.

"Ahhh! Renly!" The crowd erupted into ecstatic shouts, arms flailing in every direction. Some weren't even trying to get Renly's attention but simply wanted to be noticed in the chaos. In their excitement, some jumped up and down like rabbits, making the moment feel even more electrifying.

Unable to suppress his smile, Renly stepped forward, scanning the crowd. A young girl, completely overwhelmed, screamed in excitement. "Renly! I like you so much! I love 'Love Crazy,' and 'I Am Fighting Cancer'—oh my God, you're so handsome! Did anyone tell you that? I can't breathe!" She rattled off words without pausing for breath, her excitement escalating.

Renly laughed softly and took a half step forward, only to see the girl shyly take a step back. It was as if she couldn't believe her eyes, stunned by how close he was.

The rest of the audience around them couldn't help but laugh too, their energy spreading through the crowd.

Renly chuckled and stopped, holding up his hands in mock apology. "Thank you. I was going to give you a hug, but..." He shrugged, and the crowd reacted immediately, calling out, "Me! Me!" The girl leaned forward again, asking, "Really? Really?"

Renly didn't respond with words. Instead, he stepped forward and embraced the girl.

The road was a gentle slope, with the main venue situated at the bottom. Fans followed Renly, moving upward, stretching toward him with open arms, creating a wave of collective enthusiasm. The barrier between them, like an icy cold picket fence, separated them physically, but the collective warmth of the embrace was undeniable.

"Renly! Renly!" The cries intensified as the crowd began to realize the star they'd been waiting for had finally arrived. The excitement swelled like a tidal wave, engulfing not just the front row but the streets behind as well.

In the distance, two traffic officers could be seen speaking before turning to look at the red carpet. They caught sight of Renly, having just let go of his group hug. Onlookers and pedestrians in the street began to gather, adding to the swelling crowd. Cheers, roars, and shouts filled the air, creating a chaotic yet thrilling atmosphere.

This was true popularity—the kind that exploded with energy and passion as soon as the Berlin Film Festival began, setting the stage for a frenzy that would carry throughout the event.

Rumble, boom. The sounds of the crowd roared like thunder, deafening Renly as he smiled and looked around. The overwhelming noise came from all directions, and within that raucous crowd, a familiar voice called out, "Renly! Over here!" Following the sound, Renly spotted the four faces he recognized from the previous night, their expressions a mixture of awe and disbelief.

He made his way toward them, only to hear one of them exclaim in disbelief, "God! God! God!" as they shook their heads in awe. The rest were equally speechless—one was tearing up, another was completely stunned. Their reaction was so vivid it felt almost surreal.

Renly smiled warmly and greeted them. "Hey, Mark, we met at the premiere, right?"

Mark scratched his head, embarrassed but smiling. Renly couldn't help but grin, "I'm glad I could help you out last night. How's your research report going?"

"Really well! Everything's great!" Mark turned to look at his friends, who were still in a state of shock, unable to speak. Katarina, usually so articulate, was speechless. Mark took the lead, saying, "Thank you, really. I can't thank you enough for what you did."

"We're all movie lovers," Renly replied, patting Mark on the shoulder. "I hope you enjoy the movie today. Whatever your opinion is, just be sincere about it."

Renly turned to move toward the other fans, but the staff on the other side of the red carpet hurried to catch up, whispering that the interview team was waiting for him.

Renly smiled but shook his head. "They can wait a little longer." He then walked to the edge of the street, where fans were waving posters and asking for autographs. He stepped forward, signed the posters, and made the fans' day.