Chapter 77: The Premiere

Chapter 77: Chapter 77: The Premiere

Time moved quickly, and soon it was April.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding began filming in Toronto quietly and wrapped up just as quietly in a warm, friendly atmosphere.

Like countless other independent productions in Hollywood, its arrival and departure barely caused a ripple in the entertainment news.

Irene Coppola returned to Los Angeles.

Under the contract, all post-production editing would be handled by Tom Hanks’s Playtone Company.

Looking back on the shoot, despite the small frictions with the production team, this was easily the most relaxed of the three films she had directed in terms of creative mindset.

The story was heartwarming, there were no complicated action scenes, and the core cast needed guidance more than strict direction.

She felt as if she had finished a pleasant piece of craftsmanship. She had carefully shaped a rough stone and could now hand it off with confidence to the next stage.

As soon as she got home, Lucky bounded over and gave her a wet, enthusiastic dog kiss.

"Was the shoot that short? How did it feel to direct someone else’s project for the first time?" Her mother, Eleanor, scooped Lucky up and welcomed her inside.

Irene thought about the experience. It hadn’t been perfect, but it hadn’t been painful either. "It was fine," she said lightly. "Just a simple independent film. No real trouble."

After taking her things to her room, Irene went out to the garden to play with Lucky.

Counting the Sundance Film Festival, she hadn’t spent proper time with him in over three months. She had heard that Border Collies need a lot of attention from their owners, and she knew she had been neglectful. Thankfully, her parents had helped take care of him.

As soon as Irene pushed open the gate, Lucky charged over like a cannonball.

His fur glowed orange in the sunset, and his white ruff sat a little crooked, like a napkin. He gently bumped his wet nose against Irene’s ankle, his tail wagging so fast it looked like a small fan.

"You want to play frisbee, don’t you?" Irene said, shaking the blue frisbee in her hand.

Lucky sat down immediately, though his backside wiggled from side to side. His amber eyes stayed locked on the frisbee, and he let out eager, impatient whines. The moment Irene raised her arm, he launched himself forward like a bullet.

He sprinted across the grass, his long fur streaming back in the wind, his legs moving so fast they blurred. He looked as if he were skimming the tips of the grass. He leaped at the perfect moment, and the frisbee landed squarely in his mouth.

"Woof!" He ran back with his prize, but when he dropped the frisbee, he played a little trick. He held it down with one paw and tilted his head to look at Irene, as if to say, "Again."

Irene crouched down and scratched behind his ears. Lucky immediately rolled over to show his belly, kicking his legs in the air and making happy, satisfied sounds.

After she had given him enough attention, she threw the frisbee again, and Lucky sprang up to chase it. The two of them played until the sun began to set.

Time with Lucky always passed quickly, and by the time it grew late, her father had returned home. He brought with him a premiere invitation from Fox Pictures.

Irene took it and glanced at it. Wasn’t Battlefield Earth the movie Shelly had mentioned earlier, the one likely to make Fox lose a lot of money?

"Dad, are you going?" Irene asked after reading it, setting the invitation on the coffee table.

Lucky rested his head on the coffee table and sniffed it curiously.

"I didn’t even go to the premiere of George Lucas’s Star Wars: Episode I, so I’m definitely not going to this one," her father said. "This is a night for you young people."

Irene nodded. That made sense.

When she went to put the invitation away, she realized it had vanished from the coffee table. After searching the house, she finally found it in Lucky’s dog bed.

By then, the invitation was a pile of drool-soaked paper, completely unreadable.

Irene could only take out her frustration by ruffling Lucky’s thick fur.

On the night of the premiere, the Hollywood Walk of Fame was brightly lit, and the guest list was impressive.

Fox was clearly going all out to promote what they hoped would be the sci-fi blockbuster of the year. They wanted to start the year strong. Even the stars of their other summer release, X-Men, including Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry, showed up to show support. Flashes lit the red carpet like daylight, and the screams of fans rose and fell in waves.

Irene walked the red carpet in a sharply tailored suit, but inside she felt a flicker of curiosity about this sci-fi epic starring John Travolta, with a production budget of 73 million dollars. She had no memory of this film at all, yet Shelly insisted it would be a disaster for Fox.

The cast and crew were being interviewed off to the side. Irene noticed that director Roger Christian and the actors still looked excited and confident. Director Roger even made a bold prediction, saying he expected the opening weekend box office to pass 100 million dollars.

The cameras captured that statement clearly.

As she walked inside, Irene spotted an actor she had admired for years: Hugh Jackman. She quickly composed herself, hid her excitement, and walked over.

"Good evening, Mr. Jackman."

Hugh Jackman stopped when he heard her voice. He looked down at Irene, a flash of unfamiliarity in his eyes that was quickly replaced by polite, gentlemanly warmth. "Good evening, miss," he replied with a smile, waiting to hear what she would say.

"Please forgive the interruption," Irene said, extending her hand with a sincere smile. "I’m Irene Coppola. I’m a director. I’m a fan of yours, and I’ve always admired how natural you are on stage and on screen."

"Irene Coppola?" Hugh Jackman repeated the name, then recognition dawned. "Ah! The director of Legally Blonde! I saw that film. It’s very funny. My wife and her friends all loved it. Congratulations on your success!"

"Thank you, that means a lot to me," Irene said, feeling his genuine friendliness. "I have another movie, Mean Girls, coming out the first weekend of June this year. I hope it earns your wife’s approval again."

"I’m sure it will."

"I wonder if I might have the honor of working with you in the future," Irene said. "I’d love to explore more possibilities together."

She didn’t name a specific project because she didn’t have a role for him yet, but a direct invitation based on professional respect was an effective first step.

Hugh Jackman looked surprised, but more than that, he looked pleased by the compliment.

In Hollywood, being praised in person and invited to collaborate by a young director who had already proven herself commercially was a strong affirmation of his work as an actor. His smile deepened, carrying the easy frankness that Australians are known for.

"Wow, I’m honored, Director Coppola," he said warmly. "I look forward to seeing more of your work. Let’s stay in touch. I’m sure my agent would be happy to talk with your team."

He took a personal business card from his inner pocket and handed it to Irene. She accepted it carefully and gave him her contact information in return.

"Looking forward to working together, Mr. Jackman."

"Just call me Hugh, Irene. I’m looking forward to your good news."

After that, Irene greeted Adelaide and made her way into the screening hall, finding a seat off to the side.

Once everyone had arrived, the lights in the theater dimmed, and the opening credits began to roll.