After leaving the media area and entering the Chief Stone Theater, Matthew glanced at Brendan Fraser. By the end of the interview, he had noticed that Brendan's expression was somewhat gloomy.
"I don't understand fashion at all," Matthew explained proactively. "This was all done by hiring a stylist."
Brendan's gloominess disappeared in an instant, and he patted Matthew on the shoulder, "Don't take the reporters' words to heart."
Matthew nodded in agreement, "They're all folks who thrive on chaos."
"Exactly!" Brendan suddenly changed the subject, "There's an acquaintance ahead, I'll go say a word."
Without waiting for Matthew's response, he quickened his pace and soon entered the screening room.
Watching Brendan walk away, Matthew shook his head slightly. He wasn't naive.
Rachel Weisz approached from behind, apparently having seen something, and asked, "What's wrong?"
Matthew shook his head slightly, "It's nothing."
"Don't worry about it," Rachel said with a smile. "Brendan likes to be in the limelight and always sees himself as the boss of the cast."
Matthew smiled and didn't respond, entering the screening hall with Rachel.
Coincidentally, Matthew's seat was right next to director Stephen Sommers, and he was already seated when Matthew arrived.
"Hello, Director Sommers..." Matthew greeted him.
Stephen nodded at him, "Long time no see, Matthew." He paused briefly before adding, "Have you stopped your fitness and boxing training?"
"Not at all," Matthew instinctively wanted to flex his muscles, but remembering he was beside a director, he stopped and said, "After leaving the crew, I participated in Ridley Scott's 'Black Hawk Down,' playing a brave Delta Force sergeant..."
He suddenly realized Stephen might have an ulterior motive for asking, and exaggerated, "During filming, I continued military training until I left the crew in February. Since then, I've been working out five times a week and boxing training has been the same."
"Not bad," Stephen's words seemed to imply something else. "It's good for an actor, especially those inclined towards action roles."
Although Matthew didn't fully grasp Stephen's meaning, he went along with it, "I will keep it up."
Pure fitness could be monotonous, but combined with boxing, he easily found joy.
Sitting there, waiting for the film to start, Matthew pondered the meaning behind Stephen's words but couldn't figure it out. As the movie was about to begin, he temporarily gave up.
The Chief Stone Theater was packed. Looking back, even the general audience seats were full.
Given the success of "The Mummy," its sequel, "The Mummy Returns," attracted a large audience.
The lights on the ceiling gradually dimmed, and the big screen lit up, starting with the Universal Pictures logo, then the opening credits. Stephen Sommers' name was the first to flash, followed by the leads Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, and then the supporting actors. Matthew's name appeared eighth!
Compared to his previous roles, this was a significant improvement for Matthew.
The order and size of the names in the opening credits are not merely listing; they reflect the actors' status and importance in the film.
Matthew was well aware that his appearance in the opening credits marked his transformation from a character actor to a regular actor.
His next goal was to become a minor star.
However, the distance from a regular actor to a star is vast. Most actors in Hollywood, despite appearing in films and being recognized by audiences, never make this leap.
It requires ability and the right opportunity.
Where was his opportunity? Matthew had no clues. All he could do was enhance his skills, ready to seize any chance that came.
Hollywood is fiercely competitive. Opportunities don't just belong to you because they appear; one must have the ability to grasp them.
As the movie progressed, Matthew was the first major actor to appear on screen.
His role as the Scorpion King was mainly at the beginning and the end of the film.
In 3067 BC, the Scorpion King led his army to conquer the world but was defeated after a seven-year campaign. His dwindling forces entered the Am-Shehr desert, where harsh conditions led to many deaths. On the brink of death, the Scorpion King offered his soul to the god Anubis in exchange for victory over his enemies.
Thereafter, the Scorpion King and Anubis' army were unstoppable until the army returned to slumber.
Matthew also saw his longest appearance in a film so far, with over four minutes of screen time dedicated solely to his character. He was the sole focus, with numerous close-ups.
The purpose of his role, besides providing backstory, was to showcase his physique and combat skills. His physique looked impressive on camera, and a battle scene, after editing, was particularly striking.
The last scene of him consuming a scorpion was a memorable highlight.
However, these were Matthew's thoughts while watching the film.
How the audience perceived his role and performance was yet to be determined.
Overall, "The Mummy Returns" was a decent entertainment film. Perhaps because Matthew's role as the Scorpion King saved some budget, the special effects were quite good. The imagery of Imhotep, the Scorpion King, and his loyal followers was vivid.
The film's effects were top-notch for the era, including the Scorpion King's battles in ancient Thebes, a mummy chase through London streets, Imhotep using magic to lift river waters to chase a hot air balloon, and the final battle between the Scorpion King's army and the Egyptian cavalry.
To Matthew, some effects seemed a bit dated, having experienced an era of intense special effects in films.
Compared to the effects, the plot was average at best. Rachel Weisz had mentioned that storytelling was not Stephen Sommers' strong suit.
For a typical commercial film, the plot is rarely the main selling point.
Matthew's role was minimal in the middle of the film, reappearing only in the final battle as a scorpion-bodied emperor, which looked cool but was quickly defeated, serving as a backdrop for the protagonist's victory.
Commercial films often end with a happy resolution: the villains are defeated, and the heroes escape danger...
Even from Matthew's non-expert perspective, "The Mummy Returns" was above average and had its highlights as a mass-produced blockbuster.
As the lights came on and the screen darkened, applause filled the theater, with the crew standing up to clap.
Matthew also stood, glancing back to see that the regular audience was too far to see clearly, but people in the guest seats were also standing and clapping.
This applause was more out of politeness than a reflection of the film's excellence.
Yet Matthew clapped vigorously, both for the enjoyable film and for himself.
In this film, he had over ten minutes of screen time and numerous close-ups. Stephen Sommers had set aside past prejudices to give him ample screen presence.
Matthew hoped to leave a lasting impression on the audience and attract media attention.
This role was the most significant he had played, and he guessed that Ridley Scott and Jerry Bruckheimer wouldn't give him as much exposure in "Black Hawk Down."
Matthew felt uneasy, realizing such matters were beyond his control.
An actor, especially a minor one, has little say in the face of directors and producers.
As the applause died down and the theater quieted, the general audience began to leave, while most in the front stayed to congratulate the crew, a Hollywood premiere tradition.
However, the congratulations mainly targeted Sean Daniel, Stephen Sommers, and the leads. Matthew was largely ignored.
"Hey, Matthew!"
Paul Walker came over to shake hands, "Well done! The Scorpion King was memorable!"
He added, "Didn't know you had such a great body underneath."
Matthew smiled and patted him on the arm, "Thanks!"
"Don't mention it," Paul whispered, "Heard you had another run-in with Vin Diesel?"
Matthew sighed, "He came after me; I couldn't even avoid it."
Feeling Vin's growing resentment, Matthew knew he was powerless against him. What could he do, kill him and hide the body?
After chatting with Paul, Matthew followed the crew to the press room, surprised to find the media very interested in him.
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