Chapter 69: Audience Reactions
[Chapter 69: Audience Reactions]
"Link, don't make movies like this again. There wasn't even a premiere, and I couldn't find any stars to come out and support you," Sam Haskel said.
"There'll be a chance. My next film is a big one, and the premiere will definitely be lively."
"Is your next movie confirmed?" Sam paused, his dark brown eyes wide with surprise. "You're already set on your next project before this one even releases? Do you always work that fast?"
"I have a plan. I know what my next film will be about; it's just the filming schedule that hasn't been finalized."
"Is there a role suitable for Jennifer?"
Sam glanced at Jennifer Connelly, who remained silent beside him.
"No, the leads in the next movie are high school students."
"Jennifer is 22; she could easily play a high schooler."
"She looks too mature for that. But if Jennifer is interested, she could audition when the time comes."
Jennifer Connelly, at 22, was slender with a narrow waist and a bust that drew attention. She certainly didn't look any less curvy than Monica Bellucci. Her mature aura didn't quite fit the looks expected of the lead in a teen thriller. However, if she were willing to go along with it, trying her out for the lead might just work.
...
As they entered the audience area, Link bid farewell to Sam Haskel and Jennifer Connelly. He stepped up to the stage to thank the guests and viewers who came to the premiere, sharing insights on the film's creative journey.
The Art Cinema was one of the luxurious venues owned by AMC Entertainment, frequently hosting premieres. With Guess Pictures promoting it heavily, the 830-seat audience area was nearly full that night.
"It seems pretty good." Sam Haskel surveyed the surroundings once seated. He turned to Jennifer Connelly, saying, "Why don't you chat with Link a bit more? You're a woman, a beautiful one at that. Building rapport with peers is your forte. Why are you being so cold with Link?"
"What would I talk about? I don't know him well; we don't share common interests."
Jennifer maintained a stoic expression as she stared straight ahead, her blue-gray eyes calm.
"Jenny, you know how competitive Hollywood can be; you've been around long enough. If you want to successfully transition into a new phase in Hollywood, having strong connections is vital. Link is a director and a talented writer. Being friendly with him can only benefit you."
"A director who makes small-budget films for a few thousand dollars is able to help me?"
"Why wouldn't he? At 20, he made one of the highest box office revenue ratio films ever with just $20,000, something even the likes of Spielberg, Lucas, and Scorsese haven't done. You shouldn't underestimate someone like that."
Sam raised an eyebrow, clearly astonished.
"I'm not underestimating him. I just think the success of Buried was largely a fluke; no one can replicate that kind of success, not even him. Rumor has it the screening was a disaster. No studios wanted to work with him, and he ended up releasing it independently. I don't believe he'll continue to have good luck."
With her arms crossed, Jennifer's posture seemed more defensive.
"Who told you the screening was a disaster? On the contrary, it went really well. After the screening, it wasn't that no studios wanted to distribute his film, but that his expectations were too high. The deals they offered didn't meet his standards, which is why he chose to self-distribute. It wasn't a rejection from the studios."
Jennifer listened, briefly redirecting her gaze to the stage, though her expression remained unchanged.
"Furthermore, whether someone will succeed shouldn't be judged solely on their current projects' outcomes. It's more about whether they possess the qualities of successful individuals. Link is not just talented; he's capable, sociable, adaptable, tenacious, and unafraid of failure. Even if this film flops, it won't derail his career. He has the traits of a successful person and will undoubtedly find success down the line. You should show him more enthusiasm."
Sam's brows furrowed as he spoke seriously.
"Fine, I'll take your advice. I'll chat more with him the next time I see him and be warmer," Jennifer replied.
Sam regarded her for a moment, unsure of her true feelings, but chose not to press further. In Hollywood, opportunities needed to be grabbed; ignoring them meant risking being sidelined.
At that moment, Jennifer had the backing of a strong agency and plenty of resources. Thus, she didn't prioritize connecting with Link. However, if her career faced setbacks in the future and her resources dwindled while seeing her peers succeed, or if Link became more successful, then she might reconsider her stance.
...
Clap, clap, clap!
Link stepped down from the stage as the theater lights dimmed, signaling the start of the film.
It opened with the male and female leads discussing the camera.
The dialogue for the leads was pretty basic, and the camera shook around, giving more of a documentary vibe than a polished Hollywood film.
"Is this it? It looks boring," Milla Jovovich muttered, chewing her gum.
"Boring? Don't you find it fascinating? Typical films have elaborate sets and refined scripts, with actors putting on a performance. But in Link's movie, there's nothing -- no set, no script, no professionals. Just the male lead with a camera filming randomly. It's so cool! Who knew a film could be made this way?" Sofia Coppola cheered, clapping her hands in excitement.
"Are you serious? This is just like home video. Anyone with a camera can do it. How can you think this is cool?" Milla blinked, puzzled.
"That's exactly what makes it cool. I heard the screening went excellently, with many producers giving it high praise. If a movie filmed this way can earn that much attention from notable producers, it indicates it succeeded in some aspect," Sofia explained.
Milla scrunched her lips, unimpressed.
...
As the story progressed to the first night, the room's tone shifted to eerie, and the open door loomed dark, as if monsters might rush in.
The atmosphere in the theater turned tense, and many viewers dared not look at the entrance.
Silence fell -- a chilling sound echoed from the speakers, sending shivers down spines and provoking anxious heartbeats.
...
"Seems a bit scary," Milla said, unconsciously inching closer to Sofia.
Sofia, on the other hand, watched the screen with curiosity, eager to see how Link would create a terrifying atmosphere using a handheld camera.
...
"Ah!!" As the plot thickened, gasps erupted throughout the audience.
Initially, only a couple of whispers of surprise rang out, but as the film progressed, at around the 13th night, collective screams periodically filled the air.
By the 15th night, after the leads had left, a cold draft swept through the room, and an Ouija board on their table suddenly moved.
The seating area burst into gasps, "It moved! There's a ghost!" echoed from both men and women.
People shivered, clutching their arms, terrified.
...
"Is this a horror film? I hate horror films," Jim Carrey held his wife Melissa Wormer's arm, nervously eyeing the big screen.
"Come on, you're a man; can't you be braver?" Melissa retorted, dissatisfied.
"Bravery doesn't equate to masculinity; men can also be cowardly. Aah! This is terrifying! If I knew it was a horror film, I wouldn't have accepted Link's invitation," Jim admitted.
...
By the 17th night, the male lead sprinkled laundry detergent at the bedroom door to track the ghost.
Gasps rang out as white footprints appeared on the floor.
Many girls covered their eyes, afraid to look, yet unwilling to miss the thrilling storyline, peeking through their fingers.
Come the 18th night, eerie sounds echoed as the male lead woke up, only for the heavy door to slam shut behind him.
...
"Ah!!" Milla shrieked, burying her face into Sofia's shoulder.
Sofia felt the fear too, a chill running down her spine, but she didn't want to miss the chance to learn from Link and gripped her arms tightly, staring at the screen.
...
On the 19th day, as the leads were having dinner, stomping noises came from the street. They hurried upstairs to investigate, finding their photos torn.
Suddenly, the female lead sensed something breathing behind her.
A breeze rustled a piece of hair on her shoulder.
...
"Ah!!!" The audience collectively screamed, over eight hundred voices rising in alarm. Some leaped up in fright, fleeing like the lead character.
"There's a ghost! There's a ghost!" Jim shouted.
"Shhh!" Melissa scolded him, embarrassed, covering his mouth.
Among the terrified screams, besides Jim Carrey and Milla Jovovich, there were also actors like Billy Crystal, Aaron Kwok, Thomas Miller, seasoned filmmakers who had seen their share of horror movies and thought they wouldn't be afraid.
However, the way Paranormal Activity was filmed, akin to a live broadcast, capturing eerie sounds and everyday moments of the leads, drew viewers deeply into the story.
As the characters faced one frightening event after another, they empathized with the story, sharing the emotional rollercoaster.
So, whenever the leads were scared, they instinctively cried out.
As the commotion of screams threatened to drown out the film, the atmosphere in the venue was strange -- not exciting, but chilling. The cries sent shivers down every spine.
...
"Sam, you should have warned me this was a horror film. If I had known, I wouldn't have come! I hate horror!" Jennifer Connelly declared, jamming her fingers in her ears and tightly shutting her eyes.
"This is a new type of horror film; you're an actress, so you should know more about it," Sam Haskel smiled back.
Even as it was his second viewing, with more familiarity with the storyline, Sam still couldn't bear to look at the door whenever he heard those haunting sounds or saw the footprints; goosebumps persisted.
It thrilled him.
This was Link's second film and a crucial one at that. Its chilling nature meant it had delivered an excellent viewing experience, hinting at a solid box office performance after its release.
If successful, Link would establish himself in the film industry, becoming a notable young director.
As his manager, Sam stood to gain immensely.
...
"Ah!!"
"It's way too scary! I can't watch anymore!"
"Damn it, why do I always feel like something's behind me?"
"There's something wrong with this movie."
With many viewers shouting and some leaping in fright, the film, initially rated at eight out of ten for scare factor, intensified under the weight of their screams, pushing it to a full ten.
*****
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