Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 277: Explosive Reaction

"Midnight screening sold out! The obscure independent art film ushers in the first wave of a golden autumn harvest!"

This article, written by Bradley Adams, was first updated on the New York Times website in the early hours of October 22nd.

"...Two hundred eager audience members flocked to the Landmark theater in downtown Los Angeles, marking the second midnight screening frenzy since 'Brokeback Mountain' in 2000... Meanwhile, ten other theaters in Los Angeles and New York also experienced an unprecedented rush of viewers...

This is a virtually unknown independent film. From the director to the cast, the entire crew is made up of complete newcomers. It is the director's second feature film and the leading actor's first appearance on the big screen. With a mere three-million-dollar investment, it wouldn't have made a ripple in the stagnant waters of Hollywood. Despite the praise it received in Toronto and the attention it garnered at Telluride, 'Buried' is still another gem overlooked by the North American film market.

...The successful limited release at eleven art-house theaters has once again solidified the belief that as long as the quality of a work is exceptional, the market is willing to offer corresponding support... The future market performance of 'Buried' is highly anticipated, as people wonder if independent art films can finally see a resurgence... Meanwhile, two other acclaimed independent art films, 'The King's Speech' and 'Black Swan,' are also eagerly awaiting a box office response...

It's worth mentioning that the entire crew of 'Fast & Furious 5' was in attendance. It seems that the filming progress under Hall's direction is going very smoothly."

At this point, less than three hours had passed since the midnight screening of 'Buried' concluded.

As the largest newspaper in the United States, the attention from the New York Times is not to be underestimated. Bradley's report can be considered an "exclusive"—no one could have predicted that the midnight screening would sell out!

Even Andy Rogers, who orchestrated the collective appearance of the 'Fast & Furious 5' crew, did not plan to invite reporters. After all, midnight screenings are too niche, and inviting the press would have seemed overly intentional. Andy hoped that theater staff or other midnight screening attendees would voluntarily share the news online; if not, perhaps some photos taken by the audience could be uploaded, leading to interviews with the 'Fast & Furious 5' crew members and sparking news coverage.

But the results far exceeded expectations.

It's clear that Bradley chose to forgo the night's biggest buzz—the 'Fast & Furious 5' crew—instead focusing entirely on the packed midnight screening. This undoubtedly maximized the promotional effect for 'Buried,' while downplaying the early promotion for 'Fast & Furious 5.'

In just a few short hours, this New York Times report garnered over a million clicks and was reprinted by sixteen different news sources. For an independent film with no promotional budget, this is a dream start!

Even the New York Times was somewhat surprised by the strong response to the article.

Meanwhile, the online reaction exploded like a powder keg, with the Yahoo community seeing sixty-three threads related to 'Buried' within twelve hours, attracting over twenty thousand replies, and with over sixty thousand active users online—a phenomenon that is almost unbelievable for the early morning hours, undoubtedly pushing 'Buried' to the top of the latest hot topics.

"I finally understand why this film caused such long lines in Toronto! Why countless viewers gathered in Toronto, calling for additional screenings! Why even the loyal audience in Telluride couldn't stop praising it! Why some have even compared it to '127 Hours'!

Because 'Buried' is a masterpiece! An undeniable masterpiece! The plot is thin, the camerawork is monotonous, and the themes are convoluted... These are all flaws, and they are all true, yet they still can't overshadow the brilliance of the work! The precise pacing captures the audience's attention; the suspenseful atmosphere, simple yet not dull, is intense from start to finish; and most importantly: the superb performance, with every acting detail shaking my soul! Amazing! Truly amazing!

I already want to watch it again, and I strongly demand more screenings!"

This post attracted 2,339 replies and over seventy thousand clicks, making it the hottest post so far.

"Absolutely gripping! It's hard to believe that in such a monotonous setting, with such limited material, the entire viewing experience felt seamless, and even after the film ended, I was left wanting more! This is the best movie of the year! Hands down!"

"The midnight screening in Los Angeles was completely packed. My friends and I almost missed the film—it was totally packed, absolutely packed, it's hard to imagine! How are you guys doing in New York?"

"Renly Hall! Truly talented, he completely elevated acting to an art form! Compared to him, James Franco's performance is just weak!"

"The movie was really, really, really good! This is what a true chamber piece should be, without dramatic twists or character conflicts, yet it brings out the full charm of cinema within a limited space. That kind of immersive suspense—I still feel my hands trembling three hours after the movie ended."

"Pure talent, absolute talent! I think Renly Hall deserves an Oscar! If anyone says he got there through connections, please go to the cinema, okay? It's a slap in the face!"

...

The posts about the movie and the performances are overwhelming, with one post even using a series of exclamation points as the title to express the writer's excitement and passion.

Almost everyone is fervently discussing 'Buried,' creating a strange illusion: as if this isn't an art film showing in just eleven theaters, but a commercial blockbuster released in four thousand theaters. The explosive attention and discussion are so intense that it's a little frightening.

This just goes to show how the past two months of build-up and the attention from film enthusiasts have reached a new high. Although only New York and Los Angeles held screenings tonight, there were plenty of sleepless fans keeping an eye on 'Buried.'

This is truly a sleepless night.

What usually happens only for films like 'Star Wars,' 'The Lord of the Rings,' or 'The Matrix'—movies that drive fan frenzy—is now happening for 'Buried,' albeit on a smaller scale, but still shocking. Add another stunning moment to newcomer Renly's list.

When William returned to his dormitory, he was too excited to sleep. His first instinct was to log onto the Yahoo community and start browsing the posts. As he read through the content, he couldn't help but recall the many details from the screening earlier that night. This feeling was so wonderful that he couldn't contain his excitement, replying to each post and sharing his thoughts.

The Yahoo community was buzzing, as if it were afternoon tea time, with no one noticing that the sky outside was gradually turning light.

Suddenly, William's scrolling hand paused. He took a closer look, thinking he had made a mistake. But after double-checking, he confirmed that the username of the poster was indeed "BrandoMania," and he became excited.

Clicking on the post, William was surprised to find that it wasn't a review or thoughts but rather a painting—a watercolor painting, no less.

The painting featured none other than tonight's star, Renly.

Gray shirt, black jeans, light brown trench coat, with his right hand in his pants pocket and a cigarette in his left hand. His deep features and lively eyes were vividly brought to life by the delicate brushstrokes, even more so than in a photograph. The vibrant watercolors heightened the contrast, with his ink-like brows gently arched, creating a powerful visual impact that seemed to struggle to break free from the screen.

William's mind flashed back to Renly's appearance earlier that evening, and a smile spread across his face. He had to admit, the painting captured Renly's gaze perfectly, as if it had brought his whole being to life.

Beneath the painting, BrandoMania wrote, "I attended the midnight screening of 'Buried' tonight and unexpectedly saw Renly Hall in person. Not only did he personally interact with the audience, but he also discussed various thoughts about the movie and his character with them. The scene was like a fan meeting!

To play the role in 'Buried,' Renly went through unimaginable effort and dedication. He even went so far as to experience the fear of being buried alive—he lay in a completely sealed coffin for a full eight hours. After walking the line between life and death, he truly understood the character's struggle and pain. This is what brought us the visceral experience we witnessed in the cinema.

I must admit, Renly is even more handsome in person than on screen. His indescribable charm and elegance make you want to scream. Cameras simply can't capture the fluid quality of Renly's presence that only the eyes can record.

An actor with outstanding acting talent and passionate dedication to his craft, who also possesses gentlemanly elegance and youthful vitality. It's impossible to feel jealous, only admiration and awe.

Unfortunately, out of respect and also unexpectedly, I didn't have a camera with me last night. So, I used a paintbrush to capture the fleeting moment."

BrandoMania's post was published just fifteen minutes ago, yet it had already attracted more than three thousand clicks and over two hundred replies.

Under the post, a crowd of fanboys and fangirls began screaming uncontrollably, "Renly is just too handsome! Marry me, Renly!" "A truly perfect man, I'm already head over heels!" "So jealous! I'm also in Los Angeles, why didn't I see Renly? Why?!"

In fact, this is just the beginning.