In events as grand as the Toronto International Film Festival, the showcased works each year were numerous. Some films made their global premieres here, while others had their North American debuts. There were also films that, after being showcased at other film festivals within the United States, arrived in Toronto to further expand their influence. Naturally, not every film received "equal treatment."
Apart from the main venue, the festival also had over a dozen screening venues spread across different areas of the city. Movie enthusiasts could choose a suitable cinema based on their residential location to watch their favorite films.
For a completely independent film like "Buried", there was no chance of hosting its premiere at the main venue. Even though it marked its first meeting with a global audience, the festival spanned only eleven days. Subtracting the opening and closing ceremonies left nine days, with each day accommodating just one highly anticipated grand premiere at the main venue. Consequently, "Buried" was assigned to a subsidiary venue located in Toronto's entertainment district, where it would meet the audience officially.
The subsidiary venue was smaller and could only accommodate six hundred viewers. The entrance, corridors, and scale were all scaled down proportionately. Perhaps this was the reason why the entrance was currently bustling with a crowd, as if congested to the point of bursting. The scene seemed impressively large. If not for the radiant and serene 4 PM sunlight, one might even be led to believe that this was the grand premiere scene at the main venue.
Approximately twenty to thirty journalists gathered in the cramped media interview area. They jostled and elbowed one another, their shutter sounds harmonizing into a symphony. Meanwhile, fervent film enthusiasts numbered at least a hundred. They stood excitedly on either side of the red carpet's barricades, shouting and screaming, elevating the atmosphere to a crescendo. The genuine feeling of a film premiere pervaded the air.
Rodrigo subconsciously wiped the sweat from his neck. Clearly, the scene before his eyes far surpassed his imagination. The situation he worried about didn't arise, but he found himself worrying about another matter. Faced with such a multitude of media, how would he avoid stage fright? Sweat had seemingly soaked through his shirt. Extracting his right hand from behind his neck, he realized that his palm was drenched. It suddenly dawned on him: How was he supposed to dry his hands?
Fortunately, Andy handed him a tissue from across the table. Rodrigo quickly took it, wiping away the damp stickiness from his palm, repeatedly thanking him.
Renly earnestly surveyed the vibrant spectacle on the red carpet. Amidst the sea of flashing lights, his gaze locked onto that graceful and composed figure. She wore a deep silver sequined deep V-neck top, paired with a black suit jacket and trousers. Her feet were adorned with a pair of bold red pointed high heels, her chestnut brown hair pulled into a neat ponytail, revealing her entire face. Amongst the trendiness, there was an air of casualness; amidst the formality, a hint of relaxation. With ease, she became the center of attention.
It was none other than Natalie Portman.
The commotion and clamor of the red carpet were immediately explained. As one of the most anticipated actresses at this year's Toronto International Film Festival, Natalie was undoubtedly the focal point wherever she went. Today, she radiated charm, and her good mood was evident.
At this moment, her hands were laden with recording devices, engaging in lighthearted conversations with reporters. The atmosphere on-site was lively. It was clear that she was in excellent spirits. Holding the spotlight, she had occupied the central stage as if she were the true star of the premiere. Her presence had stolen the limelight, positioning her advantageously within this calculated scenario.
Turning his head, Renly's gaze met Andy's, and the two exchanged a smile that said it all without words. Then, without hesitation or trepidation, Renly patted Rodrigo's shoulder and gestured with his eyes, "Open the door."
Rodrigo finally snapped out of it and hurriedly opened the car door, swiftly getting out.
The boiling excitement on the red carpet was like sunflowers, all facing towards the central glowing figure. So much so that almost no one noticed when another guest arrived at the premiere. This was quite awkward.
Gavin Hunter was the first to notice Renly's arrival, or rather, he had been waiting for Renly to arrive. After countless calls and requests, he had finally awaited the premiere of "Buried". He was eager to interview Renly for his thoughts and perspectives, to understand the film "Buried" in depth.
Honestly, there weren't many media personnel at the scene today like Gavin who were truly here for the film. They were either Toronto International Film Festival's official media or gossip-hungry media focusing on the rising star Renly. Most had come to spectate with curiosity, and the majority of media outlets hadn't sent their top-tier journalists.
So, Gavin was the first to lock onto his target. With his head held high, he strode to the forefront of the interview area and shouted loudly, "Renly!" Irrepressible joy surged and erupted, causing him to raise his right hand, shaking it with force and greeting him enthusiastically.
Constrained by the venue's size, the red carpet was barely fifteen meters long, and the width on both sides was only around two meters. Everything was magnified two or three times, and the closeness felt as if the distance had suddenly been amplified in the line of sight. There was a palpable sense of oppression, making the boiling and surging atmosphere appear even more dramatic.
In the crowd, Renly spotted Gavin's face, brimming with excitement. It was both helpless and amusing. Standing beside him, Rodrigo was puzzled, whispering to Renly, "Is that one of your fans?"
"No, that's an ardent follower," Renly joked, but unexpectedly, Rodrigo took it seriously, looking at Gavin with a face of terror, which made Renly burst into bright laughter.
Bradley Adams from The New York Times also immediately noticed Renly's arrival. Unlike other reporters, his true curiosity lay in Renly's future career trajectory. He had a strange and absurd premonition that "Buried" would be an exceptionally remarkable and important work. Without hesitation, he abandoned the sight of Natalie Portman in front of him, turned around, and aimed his camera at Renly not far away, pressing the shutter.
Daisy Lucas from "The Scene" appeared composed and calm. She deftly picked up her camera, aimed it at Renly stepping out of the car, without pausing for even a moment, and swiftly captured every movement of his with her lens. Although "Buried" wasn't on "The Scene's" important interview list for this Toronto International Film Festival, Daisy still unhesitatingly utilized her personal time to specifically attend the premiere.
The impulsive and frenzied voice of Gavin Hunter reached their ears. Both Bradley and Daisy were somewhat taken aback, mistaking it for the shouts of a crazy fan. But when they turned their heads, they realized that the fans weren't doing anything out of the ordinary. The one who had lost control and shouted was their colleague. This contrast brought about an inexplicable sense of amusement.
Just at that moment, a spirited voice called out, "Hey, handsome! Hey, it's you! Look over here."
At this point, more than ninety percent of the fans were cheering for Natalie, thanks to her participation in the "Star Wars" prequels. She had garnered a fervent fan base, even in Toronto. When Natalie arrived at the secondary venue earlier, the number of fans at the scene had doubled. It was foreseeable that more fans were still rushing over in madness.
But this voice sounded abruptly. It not only seemed out of place, but also stood out for its novelty. It lacked the craziness of fans and the enthusiasm of followers, appearing more like the playfulness of street flirting. Today's premiere of "Buried" had already seen enough surprises. First, Natalie, then the zealous reporters. Now, add an inexplicable girl—what harm could it bring?
Bradley, Daisy, and Gavin all looked in that direction. Not only them, other journalists also gradually felt the unexpected presence behind them and turned their heads. The frenzy of the scene momentarily subsided, and the focus of attention seemed to be tilting gradually.
The clamor of the scene wasn't exaggeratingly loud, but the difference in headcount was apparent, reflected in the shouts. Renly effortlessly heard the girl's shout and lifted his head to look, seeing a tall blonde girl.
She wore a black t-shirt under a light blue denim jacket. Her youthful vitality was infused with a hint of boldness. With her golden hair tied up high, her overall style seemed somewhat similar to Natalie's outfit today. But compared to Natalie's overwhelming presence, she exuded a more approachable air, with a touch of mischievousness reminiscent of the girl next door.
Renly was momentarily taken aback, then a pleasantly surprised expression appeared on his face. He changed direction and strode towards her. "You are..." Renly seriously tried to recall for a moment. "Chanelle Laurent!"
The blonde girl's smile blossomed fully. "Hey, you actually remembered my name, and the pronunciation is correct. That's truly a huge surprise!" Chanelle raised her hand and lightly patted Renly's shoulder. "So, do you like my surprise? I kept my promise and came to watch the movie. You better not disappoint me, or I'll surely bill you for the travel expenses."
"Haha, no problem," Renly laughed heartily. Then he noticed Rodrigo by his side, who looked somewhat bewildered. Subconsciously following Renly's stride, he walked over. "Director, don't you remember her?" Rodrigo looked puzzled. "She's the girl who thought you kidnapped me during the audition and came up to help. We had a brief conversation, didn't we?"
Rodrigo widened his eyes and then finally realized, though still somewhat dazed. "Wow, your memory is really good." Evidently, his memory was a bit hazy.
Renly spread his hands in a helpless gesture. "I'm just fulfilling my gentlemanly duty. Of course, I won't admit that the real reason is because I've started to have the burden of being an idol."
That witty and humorous remark instantly earned a hearty round of applause from Chanelle.