Chapter 56: Trouble Brewing
[Chapter 56: Trouble Brewing]
The screening of Paranormal Activity commenced. The film opened with the Guess Pictures logo, no cast list or production company credits appeared.
The first shot plunged directly into the action. A young man, holding a camcorder, focused on the living room's television where a concert featuring the late Freddie Mercury of Queen played loudly amidst a chaotic scene. There was only a brief moment of footage visible.
All the ensuing scenes were filmed with a handheld camera.
Suddenly, the phone on the table rang. The protagonist, Micah, answered it and then wandered to the villa's entrance with his camera. A red sports car slowly cruised down the street.
"Hey, babe!"
"What's that?" the woman in the sports car asked, stopping to talk.
"Hey there," Micah replied.
"Is that what I think it is?" she continued.
"Yep, I'm not sure what model you wanted, but let's not delve into that; it works great."
"I assume that's a high-end camera. What did you do to that little handheld camcorder? Can it swivel around, or is it multifunctional?"
The woman, Katie, stood before the camera, engaging in conversation with Micah.
...
Due to the handheld style, the images flickered and shifted, reminiscent of a family video more than a professionally crafted film.
"Is this really a movie? Even children could film something like this!" shouted a middle-aged man, scoffing from the back of the theater.
A few heads turned towards him, recognizing the famous producer, Andrew Reiner. Some people murmured in agreement about the shaky footage being unsettling and unprofessional.
"Excuse me, sir, is everything alright? We have an ambulance ready if you need it," Lily approached him, maintaining a polite but expressionless demeanor.
"Damn it, I'm fine! But is this shaky camera style considered filmmaking? What professional would shoot it like this? We came here for a screening, not for this garbage!" Andrew Reiner retorted.
"Mr. Reiner, if you have any issues with the film, let's discuss them after the screening. Right now, everyone is trying to enjoy the movie, so I'd appreciate a bit of quiet from you. If you need a doctor, we can arrange that," Lily replied, her expression unwavering.
"Hmph! No need! Anyone keen on this trash can watch it. I won't waste my time here."
Andrew Reiner grumbled as he got up to leave, trailed by over ten other invited producers, creating a chaotic exit.
...
Link watched the crowd leave, indifferent, not letting Michael Leeson to intervene.
After they departed, only fifty-eight audience members remained.
"Boss, those guys went too far! The film just started, and they hadn't even seen the main characters yet before they criticized it. It feels like they were just looking to make noise -- I can't believe their hearts are so dark," Lily expressed, frustration visible on her face.
"It's possible. Danny, which production companies do Andrew Reiner and these guys belong to?" Link inquired.
"Andrew Reiner used to be a signed producer at Universal Pictures; after his contract ended last year, he joined Castle Rock Entertainment. He worked on films like When Harry Met Sally, Stand By Me, and Misery but was never an executive producer. His last film, Super Crooks, flopped, which resulted in Universal not renewing his contract. The other thirteen producers came from Universal, Castle Rock, Regency, and Carolco Pictures," Daniel DeVito explained.
[T/N: Andrew Reiner is OC based on Andrew Scheinman.]
"Michael, notify their companies of their behavior after the screening. Apologize to them -- our film might be novel, but it didn't resonate, and that's on us. Next time, we'll be more careful issuing invitation letters," Link directed.
"Sure, sir."
"Why should we apologize? We didn't do anything wrong! Doesn't that seem too weak? With how cutthroat Hollywood is, being this passive could backfire. We need to be bolder; you can't stand firm without being strong," Lily clenched her pale fist, shaking it slightly.
"Fair point -- next screening, we won't send invitations to those companies. If our movie hits big, the ones that worked with us will profit while they'll just regret missing their shot," Link replied.
"Sounds like a plan. You're pretty clever, boss," Lily chuckled, playfully tapping his arm. Suddenly noticing Michael and Daniel still present, her smile faded, and she settled back into a neutral expression, focusing on the screen as the movie continued.
...
After Andrew Reiner left, the remaining audience stayed silent, refraining from distracted movements, engrossed in the film. This was the allure of documentary-style cinematography -- like a live feed, it offered raw, authentic imagery to viewers, embracing realism.
Such footage often resembled surveillance or hidden camera footage. Many have a voyeuristic curiosity, and this approach could satisfy that urge.
Even scenes where people were sleeping, eating, or using the bathroom could capture attention.
...
"Steven, don't you think this filming style is interesting? It's like we're observing a couple's daily life," Quentin Tarantino mused, stroking his chin softly.
"Shh!" someone hushed him.
...
Suddenly, the theater's sound system crackled to life, amplifying the tension.
From the dialogue between the main characters moments earlier, the audience inferred the strange occurrences within the house: the female lead had seen a dark smoky figure as a child -- this shadow would sometimes stand by her bed at night, breathing at her. Once, a fire consumed her home, and the firefighters couldn't determine its cause. Throughout her life, the ghost had haunted her.
Connecting these pieces, the audience began to empathize with her plight, resonating with the unexplainable shadows, the house fire, and the mundane moments shared with her partner.
As the sense of identification deepened, the atmosphere thickened with suspense.
...
"Is a ghost about to appear?" Quentin asked anxiously, gripping his chair's arms tightly.
"Shh!" came the reply.
...
The male protagonist, assuming a sound was ghostly, set down his guitar and picked up the camera to investigate.
Searching the space, he discovered the noise stemmed from the ice maker.
The couple let out a breath of relief; so did the audience.
Later that night, the couple settled into bed, the mood relaxed until the lights turned off. The house grew eerily dark, like a dense, silent forest.
The camera pointed directly at their bed and the ajar bedroom door, where darkness loomed outside.
...
"Sleeping with the door open? I wouldn't be able to do that."
"Shh."
"Look, isn't something about to come in?"
"Shh."
...
Once asleep, the screen froze, the timer in the lower corner ticking relentlessly, quickly passing midnight and creeping towards 2 a.m.
A disconcerting noise echoed from the open door.
The audience held their breath, eager for what might enter.
The female lead turned in her sleep, but nothing else occurred.
The next morning, she discovered her car keys scattered on the floor.
...
"Link's got a knack for this. With a few lines of dialogue, a camera, an ajar door, and a sleeping couple, he can instill a sense of unease -- pretty impressive," Quentin noted.
"Did you notice the room felt like there might really be three people present?"
"There are exactly three of them, the male and female protagonists and Link. It's very economical to make a movie like this."
"No, not that -- did you feel as if even during the day, there seemed to be another invisible presence around the couple?"
"That must be the ghost."
"Exactly. Although unseen, it's almost palpable, powerful enough to be felt. How did Link achieve that?"
"That's the magic of mockumentaries -- they give a hint of haunting, letting our imaginations fill in the blanks based on our own frightening experiences. It's an effortless style; I want to make a film like that too, and I doubt I'd do any worse than Link."
"Shh!"
...
The following day, the female lead invited Dr. Frederick over to assess the couple's condition and discuss her childhood experiences. He agreed; the villa indeed felt haunted.
That night, the couple fell asleep again. Around 2 a.m., the bedroom filled with the chilling 'empty' sounds, even more intense than before.
Which echoed through the theater's surround sound, enhancing the heart-stopping suspense, making the audience's pulses race.
...
Quentin covered his eyes with his hands, peering through his fingers at the open door on the screen, eager for what might float in.
...
Creeeak--
The white door slightly swung open.
...
"Damn! There's a ghost! Steven, there's a ghost, it's coming!" Quentin shouted, gripping Steven Soderbergh's arm tightly.
Steven shot him an incredulous glance, bewildered that such a tall, strong man would be frightened by a horror film.
Realizing his display, Quentin's face flushed with embarrassment as he fiddled with his own again.
"I'm not scared! There are no ghosts! I know that! It's just that... Well," Quentin stammered.
"Alright, no need to explain. I get it -- you're just... let's just continue watching the film, shall we?" Steven said, struggling for a good excuse to save some dignity but deciding to drop it instead.
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.