This wasn't Renly's first time attending a premiere, but it was his first time attending a movie premiere.
Just a year ago, the premiere of "The Pacific" had taken place at the Chinese Theater. It was Renly's first true moment in the spotlight, thanks to introductions by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. However, that was merely a TV series premiere, and even though HBO had organized it with all the grandeur of a movie premiere, there was still a noticeable difference in the extent of its influence.
A mere year later, "Fast 5" had once again chosen the Chinese Theater for its premiere. This landmark building, filled with Chinese-style architecture, would serve as the stage for Renly's first appearance at a commercial movie premiere. It was also his first time participating in the competition of the summer season, although it was technically at the tail end of the spring season, not the official start of summer.
It was indeed a rather peculiar occurrence.
The crowds outside the car window were vast and dense, surging along Hollywood Boulevard. The entire street was packed to the brim, leaving only the central two lanes open for vehicles to pass through. The rest of the view was entirely occupied by the throngs of people. It resembled the scene of ants moving just before it rained, winding forward without a visible endpoint.
This scene far exceeded anyone's expectations.
Universal Pictures was known for being thrifty, cautious, and stingy. The promotional budget for "Fast 5" was a mere $20M, not even half of what "Thor", rumored to have a promotional budget of a whopping $45M, had spent. Given these circumstances, the premiere's budget was naturally limited, and it couldn't be as extravagant as one might imagine.
However, today's scene at the premiere made people think of the historic, globally synchronized premiere of "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace".
There were at least 1,500 people in Renly's line of sight, perhaps even 2,000 people. The excited cheers and shouts were incessant, pouring down like a torrential river, engulfing the entire street. The interview area in front of the Chinese Theater's entrance had already been completely overcrowded, with the barricades tilting and security personnel struggling to maintain order. Bright flashes of light intermingled with the orange-red sunset on the horizon. One could even see a jib camera swinging above, uncertain whether it was for a television broadcast or an official DVD recording.
The air was boiling, much like boiling water, gurgling and churning. At just a glance, the fiery and scorching heat of the summer season was palpable.
As Renly opened the car door, a wave of scorching heat rushed in, almost as if his eyebrows were singeing. The sweltering high temperatures instantly enveloped him, wrapping him tightly as if announcing, "My time has come!" Renly couldn't help but let a smile curl up at the corners of his mouth. He was certain this was Los Angeles, not New York.
His feet landed on the red carpet, and the softness of the carpet surprised him. It seemed even softer than the last time at the Golden Globe Awards, and his entire sole seemed to sink into it. He had to stand still momentarily, adjusting his stride slightly. He glanced around, and all he could see was the crowd—everywhere, people filled his line of sight.
Compared to the red carpets at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival, this one had a distinct, surging excitement, especially beneath the golden sunset. Every pore on his skin could vividly feel it, and even his blood seemed to start rushing faster. But aside from this, there didn't appear to be any significant difference.
Just as Renly was about to take his first step forward, he was suddenly hit by a wave of uncontrollable screams. "Ahhhh!" The fanatical and piercing cries erupted in his ears like thunder on a clear day, shaking his world in a way he had never experienced before.
In an instant, the world fell into silence. All the cacophony in his ears vanished, leaving only the steady and sharp sound of "beep" pulsating. Then, in another instant, the world roared back to life, with his ears filled with a chaotic and clamorous noise, a constant buzzing that was impossible to decipher, as if his entire brain was swaying.
It was something that happened in the blink of an eye, yet it felt like riding a roller coaster with sudden ascents and descents. The thrill of free fall was already dissolved in his bloodstream before the terrified screams could escape. And so, his veins began to boil.
After a moment of confusion, Renly snapped back to reality. He had witnessed the silver waterfall of media flashlights blinding his eyes earlier. Now, he was experiencing the deafening sonic boom of fanatical screams. At the Golden Globe Awards, he had seen Justin Bieber's slender frame engulfed by a tidal wave of fervor as a bystander. But now, he was the protagonist.
Turning around, Renly saw the surging crowd across the street. It stretched along the iron railings, like flickering flames and twinkling stars, with his line of sight filled with undulating waves. He had experienced such treatment back in January at the Sundance Film Festival, but compared to today's tempestuous storm, Sundance had been a mere drizzle.
"Young Heir! Young Heir! Young Heir!"
Amidst the tumultuous cheers, a particular shout rose above the rest, followed by two, then three, gradually increasing until there were more and more. They merged into one and then cascaded down like an avalanche, flooding the front and center of his field of vision. Though they were a small group, perhaps two or three hundred people at most, amidst the clamor of over a thousand others, they couldn't have held the upper hand. However, they didn't seem to care. They just kept shouting "Young Heir!" each utterance more resolute, more excited, more joyful than the last. These scattered shouts wove together into a powerful force that effortlessly drowned out all other shouts and screams.
The entire scene trembled.
Such grandeur, such enthusiasm, such a surge of emotion welled up, causing a feeling called "touched" to take root in Renly's heart. It bumped around inside his chest, causing a dull ache.
He was just an actor, diligently and wholeheartedly immersed in his performances. He hadn't contributed many works of note, let alone created any iconic characters. In his mind, he was an obscure, ordinary actor—there were countless actors like him in Hollywood. Only in venues like Toronto, Telluride, or Sundance could he find like-minded companions.
He had never imagined seeing so much cheering and shouting at the premiere of "Fast 5". He had never imagined receiving such a high level of treatment at Vin Diesel and Paul Walker's home turf. He had never imagined that leaving the set and the recording studio would reveal an entirely different world to him.
The surging emotions were so sudden and intense that they took Renly by surprise, making his nose tingle slightly. It left him somewhat disheveled, yet he didn't mind at all. A gentle smile began to trace his lips, and happiness and contentment rippled in the tranquil lakes of his eyes.
So vast, so grand, so magnificent. Renly stood still with a smile, taking it all in as if he were witnessing a magnificent performance.
It wasn't just Renly; the reporters on-site were also stunned. The other spectators who had been watching were equally amazed. Disbelieving eyes turned toward him. No one had expected that Renly, who had only appeared in two art films, who had only played the third lead in "Fast 5", who had been in the industry for only a year, would have such loyal and passionate fans. It was as if this wasn't a premiere but Renly's personal concert.
All the cheers were ringing out for one person.
Hope Bayes was shouting her heart out, giving it her all. She could even feel her vocal cords vibrating, every muscle in her body trembling slightly. She stared at the man in front of her, her eyes brimming with tears, and even Renly's figure became blurry. But she didn't care; she just shouted in happiness, using every ounce of her energy.
This was Renly's first public appearance after the Sundance Film Festival. This was his first public appearance after going through the hellish shoot of "50/50". This was also his first public appearance after enduring the recent waves of negative press.
So much had happened in just three months.
She wanted to tell him that his health was the most important thing, and his performances were always brilliant. She wanted to tell him to focus on his film work and not pay attention to the gossip. She wanted to tell him that she had always believed in him, never wavered for a second, no matter what rumors were circulating. She wanted to tell him that those insignificant clowns didn't matter; in her eyes, he had always been an actor and nothing more.
But she hadn't had the chance until today.
So, Hope screamed without hesitation. Seeing the smile at the corner of Renly's mouth, the emotion in his eyes, and his calm demeanor, that was enough. This was the light that illuminated the darkness, the guiding star she would follow steadfastly, no matter where it led. Even if it was to the ends of the earth, she would never give up.
"Young Heir!"
The shouts spread like a tidal wave, echoing through the skies. It wasn't just Hope; it wasn't just Graham; it wasn't just William. Every figure standing before him was shouting with unwavering devotion. No need for extra words or explanations. Just one simple word, filled with boundless enthusiasm, affirmation, and madness, landing softly on the tender spot in their hearts.
A smile slowly climbed its way up, finally blossoming fully. Renly couldn't help but sigh; he was indeed a lucky man.