America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 443 Black Premiere

On Los Angeles' Hollywood Boulevard, near the Hollywood Theatre, a black carpet is laid out on the sidewalk.

Black is the theme today, and most of the guests attending the premiere are wearing black formal wear.

In addition to the main creative team, Warner Bros. also invited many stars to lend their support, such as all the Batman actors starting with Michael Keaton.

However, George Clooney declined to attend, and the A-list actor has publicly stated more than once that he deeply regrets taking on the role of Batman.

That invincible Batman suit is still used by the media to ridicule and mock Clooney.

Bell arrived directly in the Batmobile, his astonishing presence making it seem as if he had arrived in Gotham, and creating a frenzy on both sides of the black carpet.

In contrast, Martin, who arrived in a Cadillac, was unremarkable. Dressed in a black suit, he walked alone onto the black carpet, arrived at the red area where the Coca-Cola cult members were gathered, signed autographs, took photos, and drank Coca-Cola together.

This is Martin's routine project, and it has also become a promotional window for Coca-Cola.

Martin declined interviews, posed for a photo with director Nolan in front of the sponsors' backdrop, and entered the theater alone.

The hype has been built up enough, and the buzz is enough to attract casual viewers. Martin just needs to maintain the persona of someone who is too deeply immersed in the role and still can't shake it off. There's no need to say anything else.

To avoid a repeat of the incident at San Diego Comic-Con, the production team even canceled the group photo of the entire crew with the media, and the main creators only took individual photos.

Martin entered the theater's foyer, and Menez quickly approached him, saying, "Boss, are you alright?"

"It's nothing," Martin asked. "When did you get back?"

Menez said, "I wasn't involved in the publicity, so I stayed in Las Vegas for a few more days, mainly because Celine Dion wouldn't let me come back."

"You need to handle it yourself." Martin also admires Menez in this regard.

Menez caught up and said, "I'll stay with you tonight and be your bodyguard. If Bale dares to come near again, I'll teach him a lesson."

As soon as she finished speaking, Emma Thomas strode over from the side and stared directly into Menez's eyes.

Martin patted Menez on the shoulder: "Stay."

Menez could only stop and go aside to talk to Emma Thomas.

Emma Thomas asked, "Where did you go? I can't get in touch with you. My phone is always busy."

Menez said, "I also need to work, to fight for new jobs, to earn money to support my family. It's not easy for an actor like me to stay in Los Angeles and to make a name for myself in Hollywood."

Emma Thomas is a producer herself and knows that supporting actors like Menez don't actually earn very much.

It's perfectly normal for actors to be career-minded and make money. She sighed slightly and said, "Chris will have a new project next year, and the male lead will almost certainly be Martin. I'll compile your information and submit it to the casting team. With your abilities, landing a heavyweight supporting role shouldn't be a problem."

Menez nodded repeatedly: "Thank you, Emma. I don't know what to say. I will definitely thank you properly."

Emma Thomas added, "It's mainly because you have the talent; I wouldn't help you if your acting wasn't good enough."

The two made plans to go out for dessert together tomorrow.

Inside the theater, as Martin approached the front row, a tall girl waved to him; it was Taylor Swift, who had come with his invitation.

The latter's appearance seems to have changed slightly.

Martin didn't know if it was makeup or some minor cosmetic procedures.

Minor adjustments are common in Hollywood. The United States is one of the world's most advanced regions for plastic surgery, and Beverly Hills is known as the plastic surgery capital.

Taylor said softly, "I'll be spending some of the next six months in Los Angeles."

Martin asked, "Are you going to write a song for me?"

"You need to give me inspiration." Taylor was much more direct than when she was in New York: "If I don't get enough inspiration, I can't write."

Martin asked, feigning ignorance, "How can I give you inspiration?"

"This isn't the place to discuss this." Taylor reached behind his back, pulled out a card from somewhere, and handed it to Martin. "I'll tell you when you come."

Martin glanced at it; it was a Ritz-Carlton hotel room number. He immediately put it in his suit pocket and said, "I've always wanted to see firsthand how musicians create songs when they're bursting with inspiration."

Taylor smiled, her fox-like eyes particularly alluring: "You'll see soon enough, I promise, it will be a very special memory."

However, after not seeing him for several months, Martin felt that the rural mold seemed to have evolved a bit.

Come to think of it, the entertainment industry is a place where only the fittest survive.

Since releasing her debut album last year, Taylor has adapted remarkably quickly, and her unique songwriting style has ensured the vitality of both herself and her work.

Martin saw Kenneth Turan, Todd McCarthy, and other Los Angeles film critics coming in through the entrance, said something to Taylor, and went to greet them.

Like Daniel Day-Lewis, these film critics love actors who are either obsessed or dedicated to their craft.

They highly praised Martin's dedication to the role.

As the film crew and guests entered the theater one after another, it became lively. By the time the audience entered, the theater was as chaotic as a crowded supermarket.

Rachel, along with a large group of people wearing red T-shirts and holding clown statues, turned a large area of ​​black seats red.

Phoebe then shouted ahead, "I love the Joker!"

This shout had a significant impact; almost everyone in the Cola Cult chanted in unison, "I love the Joker!"

Everyone else in the theater turned their attention to it.

In the front row, Nolan looked at Charles Rowan and said, "See that? That's Martin's charisma and appeal."

Charles Rowan said, "Who would have thought that the Coca-Cola he casually tossed around at Burbank High School would have such a huge impact?"

Nolan now particularly admires Martin: "This is something Martin risked his life for."

"Are you sure you want Martin to star in the next project?" Charles Roven will still be a producer on Nolan's new project.

Nolan said, "No one is more suitable than Martin."

Martin then came over from the other side, greeted Nolan and Rowan, and sat down next to Nolan.

Nolan and he exchanged a glance and smiled knowingly.

With the Dark Knight project progressing to this point, Nolan has felt much less pressure, and the film is bound to be a commercial success. The only uncertainty is the extent to which it will be.

As the ceiling lights went out one by one, the IMAX screen lit up, and the theater immediately fell silent.

The premiere of The Dark Knight has begun.

From the very first minute, when the Joker robs the bank, everyone is immersed in the story.

The duel between two heroes is not uncommon in Hollywood movies, and there are quite a few that can be considered classics.

The unconventional showdown between Batman and the Joker is surprisingly captivating.

The former is still the same Batman full of justice. Apart from his weakened fighting ability, he is not much different from other versions of Batman.

The Joker is no ordinary villain; under Martin's guidance, he displays an extreme and insane evil from beginning to end.

Not for money, not for fame, not for profit, but simply to make Gotham more beautiful.

From the very beginning of the film, the Joker completely outclasses Batman in every way, whether it's the character's intensity or the plot design.

On one hand, the director deliberately gave the Joker a power-up.

On the other hand, Martin's performance imbued the character with a chaotic and insane charm.

It wasn't until the film's ending, when Batman took responsibility for everything and became the Dark Knight, that he truly won back some ground.

"This is a movie about the Joker."

Watching the scene on screen, where the injured Batman limps into the darkness, Kenneth Turan whispered to Todd McCarthy, "Martin delivers one of the greatest villain performances in film history."

Todd McCarthy nodded repeatedly, saying, "No wonder Jack Nicholson said Martin interpreted the role with his soul and his life. He wasn't exaggerating at all. Martin's performance was both incredible and terrifying!"

Kenneth Turan said, "Martin's performance is absolutely Oscar-worthy; many Oscar-winning actors can't even compare to the Joker!"

On the IMAX screen, the movie has reached its end. Gordon smashes the Bat-Signal, a fire axe falls, and the Bat-Signal and the light perish together.

The premiere screening of The Dark Knight has now ended.

An extremely enthusiastic round of applause erupted like a tsunami, resounding throughout the Hollywood Theatre and even reaching the Walk of Fame outside the theatre, like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

This is undoubtedly a masterpiece.

Applause erupted in waves throughout the theater.

In the red T-shirt section, an emotionally charged Phoebe suddenly stood up, ignoring Rachel's attempts to stop her, ran to the middle of the aisle, and shouted at the top of her lungs, "I love the Joker! I love the Joker..."

The applause drowned out her shouts.

But people around heard it, and more and more people in red T-shirts joined in the shouting.

"I love the Joker!"

The sound traveled further afield, and more people joined in.

Less than half a minute later, the applause gradually subsided, and the almost uniform shouts from the ordinary audience completely drowned out the applause.

Most of the audience members in the theater were shouting the same sentence.

"I love the Joker!"

Emotions are contagious; not only ordinary viewers, but even some guests joined in the shouting.

In the front row, Nolan panicked and asked Emma Thomas, "Where's the camera? Where's my camera? Quickly film this, it's such great promotional material!"

Emma Thomas quickly said, "Don't worry, someone's filming."

Nolan nodded, turned around, and hugged Martin tightly, saying, "Buddy, did you see that? We won the whole world!"

Martin laughed heartily: "We will definitely succeed!"

Compared to the commotion on this side, Bell remained expressionless on the other.

Hearing the crowd chanting "I love the Joker," he felt a pang of unease.

It's supposed to be a Batman movie, but the villain, the Joker, gets all the attention.

The shouts grew louder and louder until Nolan and the main cast and crew went on stage for a series of curtain calls, at which point the noise gradually subsided.

(End of this chapter)