Chapter 220: Audience Reaction

Chapter 220: Chapter 220: Audience Reaction

"That’s for sure." Reporter C paused, eyes sweeping over the scattered audience in the hall. "Most of them came for Irene. After all, her first three films, Legally Blonde, Mean Girls, and The Italian Job, were box office hits. She’s considered the box office lucky charm of Hollywood’s new generation."

"And she played the marketing game well too, offering free screenings to 9/11 victims’ families and rescue workers, and partnering with the Greek-descent community. It’s essentially trading low costs for exposure. The midnight screening results shouldn’t be too ugly. At least, it won’t be an empty house."

Reporter A scoffed, pulling out a notebook and doodling on the paper.

"What’s the point of trading for exposure? Giving away so many free tickets directly reduces the box office base. Even if word-of-mouth is good, whether the subsequent occupancy rate can hold up is still an unknown. ℴ

In my opinion, it will likely still lose money, at most earning some buzz and adding a footnote of ’trying different genres’ to Irene’s resume."

"You’ve got a point there." Reporter B leaned in. "A 5 million investment doesn’t look like much, but with theater revenue splits and marketing costs, it needs at least 15 million at the box office to break even.

For a family comedy without any explosive selling points, relying entirely on the director’s reputation, reaching this goal is too difficult. Fox is clutching at straws now, thinking they can turn things around by hitching themselves to Irene, but they’re likely to end up with nothing."

The reporters chatted back and forth, their tone full of pessimism. Their cameras rarely aimed at the film’s decorations. Instead, they were busy snapping shots of Irene, obviously not taking this low-budget comedy seriously.

Some reporters had even mentally drafted their headlines for the next day: "Irene Coppola Descends to Test the Waters: Can a 5 Million Low-Budget Comedy Replicate the Legally Blonde Miracle?" The skepticism between the lines was almost overflowing.

The streetlights at the cinema entrance stretched the two people’s shadows long. Bobby clutched the thin invitation, her fingertips turning slightly white.

She was wearing a slightly unraveled sweater dress with a stiffly pressed collar. It was the neatest outfit she could find. Beside her, Tommy had put on his brother’s old suit, the cuffs rolled up twice to barely fit. The boy’s face held unconcealed nervousness and excitement.

The siblings had transferred buses three times, bumping all the way from the suburbs to Century City, their shoe soles stained with dust.

The 9/11 incident had taken their parents. The government pension was only enough to barely cover tuition and living expenses. Bobby worked and studied at a community college, while Tommy, like Bobby, saved on everything to scrape together their daily expenses. Such a "premiere" should have been a distant scene with no intersection with their lives.

"Can we really get in?" Tommy asked in a low voice, eyes fixed on the staff at the cinema entrance.

Bobby took a deep breath, stepped forward, and handed over the invitation. "We are the lucky audience members notified by Echo Pictures."

After verifying the information, the staff member showed a gentle smile. "Welcome, please come in."

When walking into the screening hall, Bobby and Tommy instinctively softened their steps. The hall was already filled with many people, mostly ordinary folks dressed simply and looking reserved, just like them.

There were young mothers holding their children, elderly couples supporting each other, and students carrying backpacks. Everyone’s face held a touch of flattered anticipation.

They found empty seats in the back row. As soon as they sat down, they heard the undisguised discussion from the reporters in the front row.

Words like "loss," "earning buzz," and "clutching at straws" hit their ears like small stones.

Tommy frowned and whispered to Bobby, "Why are they saying that about Irene?"

Bobby shook her head gently, but there was no dissatisfaction in her eyes, only gratitude. "Don’t mind them. If it weren’t for Irene, we would rarely even come to the cinema, let alone attend a premiere."

She remembered an interview she saw in Rolling Stone magazine, where Irene said, "I want to let more families walk into the cinema, feel the warmth of the film, and let them find a glimmer of solace in life."

She had contacted Echo Pictures on a whim, never expecting to actually have their information registered and to be drawn for the premiere. For them, this wasn’t just a simple movie viewing, but a rare light in their lives.

Just then, a small commotion came from the entrance of the hall.

Bobby and Tommy looked up and held their breath instantly. Britney Spears, wearing a leather jacket and a short skirt, walked in on the arm of Edward Nelson, her smile bright. Beside her, Edward was dressed in a suit and tie, exuding a sunny temperament. Following closely were Henry Cavill and Keira Knightley, walking side by side, a beautiful couple, causing many in the audience to glance over quietly.

There was no red carpet, no entourages of bodyguards. These shining stars sat down in the middle seats just like ordinary audience members, and even greeted the audience members who recognized them in a friendly manner.

Tommy’s eyes were astonishingly bright. He tugged at Bobby’s sleeve, his voice full of longing.

"Sis, look! It’s Britney! And her boyfriend, they both came!" He stared at Bobby’s face and said seriously, "Sis, you don’t look any worse than those stars. Why don’t you try being an actress? Maybe you can participate in Irene’s films in the future."

Bobby was amused by her younger brother and shook her head helplessly, patting his hand gently. "There are too many pretty girls. Not everyone wants to be a star, and not everyone can be a star."

She looked at the slender figure in front of the screen who was whispering to the staff, her tone gentle but firm. "We are just ordinary people. Being able to have such an opportunity is already very satisfying. But your suggestion is indeed good. It would be nice if I could work under Irene in the future."

Tommy nodded, seemingly understanding, and his gaze fell back on the stars, the longing in his eyes undiminished.

Bobby looked at the screen, silently anticipating this film that the reporters were betting against. She believed that the work produced by Irene would definitely not be bad.

The lights in the hall gradually dimmed, the screen lit up, and the film was about to begin. The reporters stopped their discussions, the audience ceased their chatter, and all eyes were focused on the front.

On the screen, the film started directly with a scene of the heroine, Toula, standing in front of a mirror. Sunlight spilled onto her face through the window, and she was nervously adjusting her ill-fitting old clothes, her eyes filled with inferiority, yet also containing a glimmer of longing for the future.

The film’s opening was not the big logo customary in Hollywood, but the story was the opening. This way of presentation was very rare in the current market, even a bit bold.

Several film critics in the front row instinctively exchanged glances, and someone quietly took out a notebook, already prepared to record this unique opening.