Chapter 143: The Italian Job Premiere

Chapter 143: Chapter 143: The Italian Job Premiere

"Furthermore," Irene added, "Even if Pirates of the Caribbean proceeds smoothly, I still need more diverse projects to enrich Echo Pictures’ portfolio. Blockbusters can bring in box office revenue and influence, but these profound artistic works can also build our reputation and help the company go further."

Shelly nodded, no longer questioning her.

He knew that Irene’s business acumen had always been sharp, from Legally Blonde to Mean Girls, and now to the upcoming release of The Italian Job and the Pirates of the Caribbean project currently in negotiations.

None of these films were destined to be hits from the moment they were conceived. Pirate stories were even considered a frightening subject matter. Yet, she managed to achieve her current success, perhaps because she could always precisely capture those hidden gems that others overlooked.

The car sped towards Malibu, and in the night, the lights of Los Angeles shone as brightly as the Milky Way.

On April 15, 2001, the Los Angeles premiere of The Italian Job was held grandly at the Kodak Theatre.

Before night had fully fallen, the red carpet outside the theatre was already lit up by starlight. The reporters’ flashes were as dense as daylight, and the fans’ screams and cheers rose one after another, pushing the atmosphere of the premiere to a climax.

Britney appeared in a silver sequined miniskirt, arm in arm with Edward. Her arrival caused a sensation, and she waved and smiled at the cameras, shouting, "Irene, go for it! The Italian Job will definitely be a huge hit!"

Director Ang Lee also made a surprise appearance and gave Irene a warm hug. "I’ve heard for a long time that the action films you produce are very innovative, so I came specially to show my support today."

Even Julia Roberts, who had some friction with Irene, sent a flower basket through her agent with the note "Wishing for great box office success," which was enough to give face to Fox and Irene.

Irene stood in the center of the red carpet, calmly accepting interviews from reporters.

"Ms. Irene, from the teen comedy Mean Girls to a hundred-million-dollar action film, was this transition deliberate?"

Irene smiled and replied, "It’s more like the stories chose me. What moved me most about the script for The Italian Job was the emotional bond within the team of robbers. The action scenes are just a vehicle. A good action film must ultimately return to the characters."

"Some critics say it’s a risk for a new director to handle an action film. How do you ensure the balance between entertainment and professionalism?"

Irene continued to respond calmly, "I refuse to take the lazy route of ’stacking special effects.’ For the chase scene on 3rd Street in the film, we closed off the block and filmed for nine full days without using green screen compositing. The shot of Matt driving the Mini Cooper through the subway tunnel was completed by him personally. Real tension is always more penetrating than CG."

Facing the question of "Are you worried that the box office will not meet expectations?", she smiled and responded, "I have confidence in the quality of the film, and I believe the audience will like this story full of wit and adventure."

After finishing the interview, Irene returned to the lounge and saw Johnny Depp wearing a loose black printed shirt, his signature vintage sunglasses, and holding a fedora between his fingertips, his smile lazy and casual.

Irene’s eyes crinkled with a smile, and she took the opportunity to ask, "Johnny, long time no see. How have you been lately? Do you have any other work lined up?" Her tone was like that of an old friend making small talk.

Depp seemed to receive the subtext, took off his sunglasses, and a flash of cunning crossed his eyes.

"Life has been quite good. I have to thank the director. The income I earned from filming The Italian Job is enough for me to accompany my family peacefully for a while, so I haven’t taken on any new work arrangements for the time being." He deliberately emphasized the word "temporarily."

Irene understood and nodded. "Looking forward to our next collaboration."

Depp immediately understood and replied, "I am at your service at any time."

During the screening part of the premiere, the theatre was packed.

In the darkness, the breathing of the audience intertwined with the light and shadow on the screen, creating an immersive silence.

In the front row, a young couple sat side by side. The boy’s popcorn bucket hung in mid-air, his gaze locked tightly on the screen. When Charlie, played by Matt Damon, planned the treasure theft, he subconsciously whispered to the girl beside him, "This plan is brilliant. To think they’d use Mini Coopers to transport the gold."

The girl didn’t respond, just nodded gently, but her fingers unconsciously gripped the boy’s arm, clearly having her nerves tugged by the plot.

Beside the aisle, a young man who had come to watch the movie alone was leaning forward slightly, his hands resting on his knees. When the chase scene began, with the Mini Coopers weaving through narrow streets to evade police pursuit, his Adam’s apple bobbed once, and his fingers tapped lightly on the seat armrest.

As the camera accelerated, his breathing unconsciously sped up, and it wasn’t until the scene switched to a safe setting that he quietly let out a sigh of relief and took a sip of his drink.

A few young girls in the back row, probably fans of Matt Damon, couldn’t help but cover their mouths when the scene of him climbing a building with his bare hands appeared on the screen, letting out a very faint exclamation.

Immediately, she looked around, and seeing that no one was paying attention, she showed her best friend beside her a nervous yet excited expression and mouthed the words: "So cool!"

When the final chase scene reached its climax, with car headlights and explosive firelight intertwined on the screen, a collective gasp sounded in the theatre, followed by suppressed cheers.

As the end credits rolled to the last line, the theatre’s overhead lights slowly came on, and the warm yellow light spilled over the full audience. Applause rose like a surging tide, continuing for nearly a minute without stopping.

Irene adjusted her suit jacket and walked onto the stage side by side with Matt Damon and Charlize Theron, followed by several core creators, their silhouettes stretched straight by the stage lights.

"It was amazing! Director Irene, the chase scene was so stunning!" A young fan wearing glasses in the first row stood up first, his voice filled with hard-to-conceal excitement, though he deliberately controlled his volume to avoid disturbing others.

"May I ask, was the shot of the Mini Cooper fleet going through the tunnel actually filmed in the subway?"

Irene nodded with a smile. "It’s true. We communicated with the Los Angeles Metro for a long time before we were able to secure the opportunity to film in a closed-off area late at night. Matt and the other actors drove themselves, without using stunt doubles."

She turned to look at Matt, her eyes filled with a smile. "While filming, Matt almost threw up, saying the dust in the tunnel almost choked him out."

Matt immediately took over, spreading his hands towards the fan. "It’s true, but after seeing the finished product, I felt it was all worth it." His words triggered a burst of light laughter, and the atmosphere at the scene became even more relaxed.

At this moment, a young woman stood up holding a poster of The Italian Job and turned her gaze to Charlize Theron. "Ms. Theron, the Stella you played was both professional and brave, especially in some of the chase scenes, which made me very nervous. How long did you train for this role?"

Charlize walked to the edge of the stage, her smile gentle. "About a month. Every day, professionals helped us with relevant training, and Irene specially hired a medical team to follow the production to avoid any accidents."