From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Nicholas Flynn seemed rather listless, unable to muster any interest.

Frankly, premieres are all the same, monotonous, and rarely offer anything new.

The reason "Catch Me If You Can" achieved such success last year was primarily due to Anson's flash mob event, which was not only fresh but also had topicality and impact. That was an unrepeatable feat, even for Anson himself—

After all, the same event is fresh once, but boring the second time.

Moreover, these Hollywood film companies often lack innovative ideas, and premieres are just the same process, the same model, constantly copied and pasted.

Therefore, Nicholas had no interest in the "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" premiere.

"Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" VS "The Butterfly Effect".

Russell Crowe VS Anson Wood.

Los Angeles, same day, same time slot, two movies, two premieres.

So, where should one go?

Of course, top media outlets like "The New York Times" don't need to choose one; they can send two teams to each premiere.

But there are still differences.

Where do the senior reporters go? Which premiere does the elite team cover? Where should the reporting focus be?

After all, there's no shortage of reporting teams, but the news space is limited, so the media's reporting resources will inevitably be skewed. At this point, it depends on the public relations strategy.

Judging from the publicity resources invested by 20th Century Fox and New Line Cinema, "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" should easily occupy more resources. Russell Crowe's current momentum is no less than Anson's.

To be precise, it's even better.

The two films, "A Beautiful Mind" and "Gladiator", not only earned Russell nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actor for two consecutive years, but also won him a golden statuette; moreover, both films grossed over $100 million at the North American box office, a double harvest of box office and awards.

Such a position is far from what Anson can match.

But in Nicholas's view, precisely because of this, he felt there was no need to go to the "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" premiere. He estimated it would be similar to "Gladiator", with rainbow farts directly copied and pasted. There would be no problem writing the press release in advance at the hotel.

Moreover, key reporters from major and minor media outlets should all be present. 20th Century Fox had everything arranged, and even Anson had to stand aside in the face of capital.

So, one more of him wouldn't make a difference, and one less wouldn't matter. Why bother going to join the crowd?

However, Nicholas's appeal was rejected by the editor-in-chief—

"Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World."

This is also the reporting focus of "The New York Times", not just for the holiday season, but also seamlessly connecting to the awards season. No one wants to miss it.

And so.

Despite his reluctance, Nicholas dragged his heavy steps slowly towards the Chinese Theatre, but his mind was constantly thinking about "The Butterfly Effect".

Tonight, "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" rightfully occupies the best geographical location, taking the stage under the spotlight at the Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard; "The Butterfly Effect", on the other hand, is pitifully squeezed into the Wilshire Theatre in Beverly Hills.

In the past two months, New Line Cinema has twice ignited the box office market, uniquely capturing the audience's attention. This makes Nicholas unable to resist curiosity about what sparks New Line Cinema and Anson can create.

One can glimpse some clues from the premiere venue.

In Los Angeles, the Chinese Theatre, the Kodak Theatre, and the El Capitan Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard are undoubtedly the absolute focus of attention. All films aspire to take the stage here and hold a grand premiere.

But don't forget, this is Los Angeles, the home of Hollywood. There are countless film theaters of all kinds, with special theaters of different types and styles everywhere.

It's not just mega-blockbusters that hold grand premieres. Some niche films, independent films, and restored classic films also hold premieres. Perhaps the scale is not comparable to the lavish spending on Hollywood Boulevard, but they still have their own special market in the City of Angels.

The Wilshire Theatre is one of the more well-known premiere venues.

This theater is located in Beverly Hills, less than ten minutes' drive from the Chinese Theatre, and even walking on foot can reach it; but leaving Sunset Boulevard and entering Beverly Hills is a different world.

There are no tourists, no street performers, and it is not the vulgar stereotype of Beverly Hills being filled with expensive mansions. Instead, you enter the heart of the city, feel the rich atmosphere of life, and truly feel the footprints left by those film lovers.

The Wilshire Theatre officially opened to the public in 1930 and is known for its geometric patterns, symmetrical design, and luxurious decorations. Aside from the theater itself, the building is a landmark cultural classic in Los Angeles.

This theater is renowned for welcoming art films and independent films. When everyone is eager to go under the spotlight on Hollywood Boulevard, it quietly contributes to the Hollywood film industry.

Film lovers such as Quentin Tarantino and Paul Thomas Anderson often frequent here and are keen to watch movies here.

Although the Wilshire Theatre is far from famous among the general public, it is an important landmark among true film lovers.

Nicholas doesn't believe that "The Butterfly Effect" choosing the Wilshire Theatre for its premiere is a "compromise". He is more willing to believe that this is a proactive choice made after close discussions between New Line Cinema and Anson.

What really makes Nicholas curious is, what exactly is the scene there?

Amidst the surging thoughts, Nicholas had already smoothly entered Hollywood Boulevard. The familiar hustle and bustle and the rolling heat wave hit him, and the familiar scene layout and area division came into view. There was really no surprise at all—

Even the vintage sailing ship appearing on the red carpet was completely expected.

The crew moved the real props from the film set to the red carpet, which can not only attract attention but also highlight the characteristics. Almost every crew thinks this way; reporters can foresee this scene before going to the premiere.

Of course, it must be admitted that this ship is still quite spectacular. Not to mention the audience, many reporters are also looking for photo angles to leave a souvenir.

At least from a publicity perspective, this is a talking point.

Standing in the bustling crowd, waiting for the film crew to arrive, Nicholas felt more and more bored. It was no different from other premieres. After changing a batch of actors, the "The Last Samurai" premiere could be held here immediately, and their稿件 (gǎo jiàn, manuscripts) wouldn't even need to be modified.

Standing in place, hesitating, hesitating, struggling, Nicholas finally turned around and found his photography reporter partner for tonight in the crowd.

"I'll leave this to you. Take lots of photos."

After saying that, without waiting for a response, he turned and plunged into the crowd, disappearing just like that… … disappeared… …