The updates from the Toronto Film Festival were disseminated to every corner of the world through the internet at the first possible moment. Enthusiastic netizens followed attentively every day, even if they couldn't personally be present, participating in the festival frenzy through this virtual engagement.
Last night had initially belonged to "The Town". Both as the director and as an actor, Ben had generated numerous hot topics. After the film concluded, it had sparked lively discussions, as anticipated. However, the theme of "The Town" was relatively subdued; it could be considered an artistic crime work. Although crime-related, action scenes weren't the focus, and people's enthusiasm seemed to have met obstacles.
Subsequently, the official Toronto Film Festival reports were released: "After the premiere of "Buried", it received a standing ovation from the entire audience lasting a remarkable twelve minutes!"
In their report, the official media provided feedback on the premiere's circumstances. This previously unheard-of work had seemingly attracted no attention before its screening. However, after the screening ended, it garnered wild enthusiasm from the audience, its early word of mouth glowing with praise. Even the first batch of authoritative reviews didn't deviate from this trend. It had unmistakably become the most discussed work of the festival thus far.
"A standing ovation lasting twelve minutes—the audience's wholehearted support for "Buried" is mostly directed at the film's male lead, Renly Hall. This is his solo performance, and he seized his moment."
The conclusion of the official report was succinct yet powerful.
In comparison, "The Town" had received a five-minute standing ovation, highlighting a significant disparity. In a short period, the media's attention had instantaneously shifted toward "Buried".
Most media outlets hurriedly sought out the journalists who had attended yesterday's "Buried" premiere. The results, however, were disappointing—no one had received any real scoop. All the information revolved around how thrilling and exciting the viewing experience of "Buried" had been, along with Natalie Portman's unexpected appearance at the premiere.
The chief editors had no time for regret. Instead of regretting sending second-tier or third-tier reporters, it was better to initiate immediate follow-up coverage. Accidents like this often occurred during film festivals, almost once or twice every year. They had grown accustomed to it. Consequently, all the media outlets sprang into action. Compared to "The Town", "Buried" had clearly more scoops and talking points. Almost in the blink of an eye, the focal points of their reports and discussions reversed.
The production crew of "The Town" wore baffled expressions.
For the media, on one hand, they began digging into the work details of "Buried" and Renly. On the other hand, they started to delve into the rumors surrounding Natalie and Renly.
The "Black Swan" production crew was caught off guard. According to the original plan, fueling rumors about Natalie and Renly could have been pushed forward, which would have been the best scenario. They would have contacted the media, fanning the flames behind the scenes. Unfortunately, Renly's cunningness had caused things to go awry. So, the production crew had abandoned the plan and worked through the night to formulate a backup strategy.
"Buried" wasn't initially a highly anticipated work, and the media's actions wouldn't have been that swift. At the very least, they could have been given forty-eight hours of response time, with a minimum of thirty-six hours. However, who could have anticipated that merely twelve hours later, the media, much like a pack of wild dogs, after sensing the scent, would swarm in like a frenzy, catching the "Black Swan" production crew off guard and leaving them flustered.
The trial had only just begun.
A film titled "Buried", featuring Renly Hall, had ignited a commotion so intense that it left both the "The Town" and "Black Swan" prominent production crews restless. But who could have foreseen this? Yet, this was the Toronto Film Festival, a gathering of over a thousand media professionals, where news could transform in an instant; no one could predict what would transpire the next second.
All of these events simultaneously fermented across the internet. Discussions about Renly resurged within a mere two weeks, as the previous wave of excitement had yet to subside before another surged forth. However, this time, netizens directly engaged in discussions with those attending the film festival in Toronto—those who had participated in the "Buried" premiere—eagerly sharing their experiences.
Elf Who Stole Christmas: It's truly exhilarating! I held my breath throughout the entire screening, not even daring to blink. I was afraid that the tiniest movement might cause me to miss something exciting! Renly Hall doesn't seem like a newcomer at all, and certainly not just twenty years old. Bursting with power yet delicate and profound, his performance left me utterly astonished!
Chicago Cowboy: My goodness, what was I doing at twenty? Renly Hall's acting is truly masterful. That soul-penetrating impact is unforgettable even now. I can still close my eyes and see him lying in the coffin.
Tornado Gives My Hat Back: Shout out to Renly Hall! Jesus Christ, he's just too, too handsome!
Passerby in Toronto: Unbelievable. I got up at nine today and rushed to catch the first screening of "Buried". The scheduling of these screenings is terrible—there's one this morning and another tomorrow night. Shouldn't a work of such excellence have garnered more attention from the audience?
Dirty Socks: I want to watch it again for the third time! Astonishing! Astonishing! Astonishing! Renly Hall is my favorite actor! He's truly exceptional and flawless. I'm getting ready to watch it for the third time tomorrow night.
Ghostly Sensation: Honestly, the movie itself isn't that great because of its strong limitations. It can't even be compared to "Saw", but the male lead's performance is indeed splendid. Watching him is an enjoyment in itself. What's his name again?
Burning Bunny: Oh my God, Renly Hall is so darn captivating! I attended the premiere yesterday, and after the screening ended, I had a chance to get up close with him. Not only is he handsome and dashing, but he's also a gentleman. His London accent is just about enough to melt anyone. He looks so different in real life compared to the movie screen. It's hard to imagine how he pulled off the performance! Ahh! I want to marry him!
Julian14: I was practically scared out of my wits, quite literally. The story isn't complicated, and it's even a bit thin, but the director and actors are beyond praise. Without the traditional thrills of horror movies, the whole story is carried by the actors' performances alone. Once the movie ends, it lingers in your thoughts.
TinyD*ck: Who has tickets for "Buried"? Buying at a high price, willing to do a face-to-face transaction at the main venue! Tomorrow and the day after, any screening works! I've only seen three screenings of this film, and all of them were in small theaters. This isn't fair. What about us, the audience who want to watch but can't? Is the Toronto Film Festival starting to discriminate against independent films?
The Driver of the Car Crash: Renly Hall is undoubtedly the greatest discovery of the year! First, it was "The Pacific", and now "Buried". Both works showcased astounding acting skills. What's even more incredible is that the two characters in these works are completely different. I almost wouldn't believe they were portrayed by the same actor if it weren't for my online search confirming it.
Eminem's Delusional Fan: Hasn't anyone wondered why there are so few showings of "Buried"? Trying to line up for a ticket now is nearly impossible due to the exaggerated queues! What's going on here? Is it because this film was so obscure before and suddenly became too popular, or is it that the organizers don't value independent films enough?
...
The fervent discussions of netizens ignited the Yahoo community. Countless viewers shared their opinions as soon as they could.
Looking at these comments, William Taylor felt like his heart was bleeding! He knew, he just knew, "Buried" would be amazing. He knew he would regret not going to Toronto. And he was right. He should've skipped class and gone to Toronto. Even if it wasn't for Renly, attending the Toronto Film Festival was a rare experience, wasn't it? But now, he could only sit in front of his computer and envy others' comments, driving him mad.
Brandomania. When William saw this username, his eyes lit up and he continued reading.
"Renly Hall is an outstanding actor, there's no doubt about it. He had already proven himself in "The Pacific", and now "Buried" once again demonstrates his absolute strength. Those malicious speculations about him can come to an end now. If interested, everyone can check out The New York Times, Chicago Sun-Times, and Hollywood Reporter's reviews of "Buried". These professional and authoritative critics can't be bought. Their reviews are the best testament.
Due to personal reasons, I wasn't able to go to Toronto this time, a great regret now. I'm looking forward to "Buried" releasing in North America. I'm definitely going to catch it on the big screen."
William instantly got excited and quickly left a comment below, agreeing with Brandomania. At the same time, his phone suddenly rang, and upon answering, he heard Graham Hughes's excited voice, "I want to go to Toronto, I want to go to Toronto! Billy, did you see it? The first batch of reviews exploded, completely exploded! The media and the audience are both like that! Oh my God, I can't wait anymore!"
Even though Graham hadn't explicitly stated the topic, William understood what he meant. "I'm replying to posts right now, you should hurry up too. The Yahoo community has already blown up, and the discussion about the movie has surpassed "The Town" and is about to surpass "Blue Valentine". Hurry, let's put in more effort!"
Yahoo community had opened a discussion board for the 35th Toronto Film Festival, and every day, discussions unfolded. After the premiere of "Buried", this unassuming movie managed to surpass both "The Town" and "Blue Valentine" within just 24 hours, becoming the most discussed work thus far.
First the Emmy Awards, then the "Ophelia", followed by the Billboard, and lastly "Buried". Step by step, every move contributed to the present situation. But the fact remained that circumstances aligned, and Renly Hall had his first shining moment at the Toronto Film Festival!