Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 157: Overwhelming the Guest

At top-tier events like the Toronto Film Festival, each year's lineup consists of a vast number of films. Some opt for their global premieres here, some for their North American debuts, and others, having already screened at other festivals in the U.S., come to Toronto to further expand their influence. Naturally, not every film receives "equal treatment."

Aside from the main venue, there are a dozen or so screening venues scattered across different areas of the city. Film enthusiasts can choose cinemas based on their residential locations to watch their favorite movies.

For completely independent films like "Buried," it's unlikely to hold a premiere at the main venue, even if it's their first encounter with a global audience. After all, the festival only lasts for eleven days, with only nine days excluding the opening and closing ceremonies. Each day, only one film can host a grand premiere at the main venue. Therefore, "Buried" is scheduled at a sub-venue located in Toronto's entertainment district to formally meet the audience.

The sub-venue is a small theater that can only accommodate six hundred viewers. The entrance, corridors, and scale are all scaled down accordingly. Perhaps due to this reason, there is a bustling crowd gathered outside the venue at this moment, seemingly blocking the entire red carpet. The scene appears grand, especially with the still bright and serene sunlight at four in the afternoon, creating an illusion that this is the grand premiere scene at the main venue.

Approximately twenty to thirty journalists gathered in the narrow media interview area, jostling and pushing each other in close quarters, their shutters clicking in unison. Meanwhile, over a hundred faithful fans of the festival stand excitedly on both sides of the red carpet, shouting and screaming enthusiastically, elevating the atmosphere to a climax, vividly bringing out the essence of a movie premiere.

Subconsciously wiping the sweat from the back of his neck, Rodrigo realizes that the situation before him far exceeds his imagination. While the scenario he worried about hasn't occurred, he now frets about another issue—how to face so many media without feeling intimidated. His shirt is already soaked with sweat, and as he withdraws his hand from the back of his neck, he notices the sweat pooling in his palm. It's then he realizes: how will he wipe his hands?

Fortunately, Andy sitting opposite him hands him a tissue, which Rodrigo hastily accepts, wiping away the damp sweat from his palm and expressing his gratitude.

Renly carefully observeed the bustling scene on the red carpet, then amidst the flashing lights, catches sight of that elegant and composed figure. Adorned in a deep silver sequined deep V-neck top, paired with a black suit jacket and trousers, and stepping into a pair of bright red pointed high heels, with deep brown hair tied into a ponytail, revealing a clean and sharp face, blending fashion with a hint of casualness, effortlessly becoming the center of attention.

It's none other than Natalie Portman.

The clamor and noise on the red carpet immediately made sense as one of the most anticipated actresses of this year's Toronto Film Festival, Natalie, wherever she goes, is undoubtedly the center of attention. Today, she radiates charm and smiles gracefully, indicating her genuinely good mood.

At this moment, she's holding recording devices, chatting and laughing with reporters. The atmosphere is lively, and it seems as if she's the protagonist of this premiere. With just her appearance, she seizeed the central position on the stage, taking the initiative in this calculated event.

Turning his head, Renly's gaze meets Andy's, and the two exchange a smile, conveying everything without words. Then, without any hesitation, Renly pats Rodrigo's shoulder and signals with his eyes, "Open the car door."

Only then does Rodrigo snap out of his daze, quickly opening the car door and briskly walking down.

The excitement on the red carpet is like a sunflower, all facing towards the glowing figure at the center's end. So much so that hardly anyone notices another guest arriving at the premiere, which is quite awkward.

Gavin Hunter is the first to notice Renly's arrival, to be precise, he's been waiting for Renly's arrival at the scene. After much anticipation, finally awaiting the premiere of "Buried," he's eager to interview Renly for his opinions and insights, keen to delve deeper into the film.

Honestly, there aren't many media present today like Gavin, genuinely here for the film. It's either the official media of the Toronto Film Festival or gossip media focusing on the rising star Renly. Most are here to watch the excitement, and the majority of journalists sent aren't top-tier reporters.

So, Gavin immediately targets his subject, striding purposefully to the forefront of the interview area, loudly calling out, "Renly!" Overwhelmed by excitement, he even raises his right hand, waving vigorously, actively greeting.

Due to the venue's size, the red carpet is just under fifteen meters long, with widths of only about two meters on each side. Everything appears magnified, intensified, creating a sense of pressure, heightening the excitement and rush of the scene.

In the midst of the crowd, Renly spots Gavin's ecstatic figure, feeling both amused and helpless. Standing beside him, Rodrigo is puzzled, whispering to Renly, "Is he your fan?"

"No, he's an enthusiastic follower," Renly jokes, but Rodrigo takes it seriously, looking at Gavin with a horrified expression, much to Renly's amusement.

Bradley Adams from The New York Times immediately noticeed Renly's arrival as well. Unlike other reporters, he's genuinely curious about Renly's future career trajectory, having a strange and absurd premonition that "Buried" will be a remarkable and significant work. Without hesitation, he abandoned Natalie in front of him and turned to Renly nearby, pressing the shutter.

Daisy Lucas from Vanity Fair remained calm and composed, adeptly picking up her camera and aiming at Renly as he steped out of the car. With hardly any pause, she swiftly captured Renly's every move through her lens. Although "Buried" isn't on Vanity Fair's important interview list for this year's Toronto Film Festival, Daisy still used her personal time to attend the premiere.

Amidst Gavin's impulsive and frenzied voice, Bradley and Daisy both felt somewhat puzzled. They thought it was the shout of a crazed fan, but upon turning, they realize there's nothing particularly extraordinary about the fans' actions. It's their colleagues who are losing control, creating an unexpected but amusing contrast.

At this moment, a gallant voice calls out, "Hey, handsome, yeah, I'm talking to you, look over here."

More than ninety percent of the fans are cheering and shouting towards Natalie. Thanks to her role in the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy, Natalie has garnered a passionate fanbase, including here in Toronto. After Natalie's arrival at the sub-venue, the number of fans had doubled, and it's predictable that more fans are frantically rushing over.

However, this voice sounds abrupt, not fitting in with the frenzy of the fans nor the enthusiasm of the supporters. It's more like a flirtatious encounter on the street. With all the surprises happening at "Buried" premiere today—first Natalie, then the fervent journalists, and now an inexplicable girl—what's one more?

Bradley, Daisy, and Gavin all turn to look over, and other journalists also gradually sensed the unexpected behind them, turning their heads. The boiling atmosphere momentarily quieted down, and the focus of attention seems to be shifting gradually.

The roar of the crowd isn't exaggerated—it looks lively, but there's a difference in the number of people, which is evident in the shouts. Renly effortlessly heard the girl's voice amidst the clamor, looked up, and saw a tall blonde girl.

She's wearing a black T-shirt paired with a light blue denim jacket, exuding a youthful and energetic aura with a hint of boldness. Her golden hair is tied up high, and her overall style seems somewhat similar to Natalie's attire today, but compared to Natalie's dominant aura, she appears much more approachable, with a hint of girl-next-door charm.

Renly pauses for a moment, then shows a pleasantly surprised expression, changes direction, and strides over. "You're..." Renly recalls seriously for a moment, "Chanel Laurent!"

The blonde girl's smile blooms completely. "Hey, you actually remembered my name, and you didn't even mispronounce it. This is truly a huge surprise!" Chanel reaches out and lightly pats Renly's shoulder. "So, how do you like my surprise? I've kept my promise and personally came to watch the movie. You better not disappoint me, or I'll definitely hold you accountable for the travel expenses."

"Haha, no problem," Renly laughs heartily, then notices Rodrigo by his side—he seems a bit lost. Renly nudges him gently, following Renly's footsteps. "Director, don't you remember her?" Rodrigo looks puzzled. "She's the girl who mistakenly thought you kidnapped me during the audition and came to help. We had a brief chat, remember?"

Rodrigo's eyes widen, then he finally recalls, though still a bit bewildered. "Wow, you have a great memory." Apparently, his recollection is somewhat fuzzy.

Renly shrugs helplessly. "I'm just fulfilling a gentleman's duty. Of course, I absolutely won't admit that the real reason is because I've started to have the burden of being an idol."

Chanel burst into laughter at the witty remark.

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