"How many people came in total?"
In the cinema lobby, Brian, with the help of five or six companions, carried two large boxes towards the entrance. Daenerys, who had a backpack on each shoulder, replied, "One hundred and sixty-seven people. The two hundred seats are almost full."
Brian nodded, "That's not bad. I prepared two hundred T-shirts, which should be enough."
They arrived at the cinema's ticket counter. Since it was a private screening, the cinema staff just opened the boxes, briefly looked through them, and then let them in.
The group turned into Theater Seven, where the packed crowd almost filled all the seats.
Without a word, Brian quickly called people over to help distribute the T-shirts. The moviegoers who received them immediately put them on. The T-shirts were of good quality, printed with a close-up of Matthew aiming a gun from the 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' trailer.
"Brian, these aren't free, are they?" someone asked loudly.
"Don't worry!" Brian specifically raised his voice, "All the T-shirts are free!"
He briefly explained, "I know people from the film company. They heard about our spontaneous event and sponsored some T-shirts, but there was a condition."
With more people, it was easy for things to get chaotic, and someone immediately asked loudly, "What condition?"
Brian didn't keep them in suspense and directly said, "They need a group photo of us, and it's also good for Matthew! It shows the outside world that Matthew has us as a strong backing!"
"Good!"
"We'll take photos!"
"Yes, hurry up and take them!"
The screening room became chaotic. Brian called a few familiar people to maintain order, and then gathered over thirty people for a group photo. After all, the space in front of the screening room was limited and couldn't accommodate hundreds of people for a group shot.
Finally, as the film's screening time drew nearer, the theater gradually quieted down. Brian sat in an empty seat next to Daenerys, feeling utterly exhausted.
Organizing such an event was not easy for the young Brian.
But he had no intention of giving up. This contact with Bella Anderson could be considered a formal start.
At the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, the red carpet ceremony was coming to an end. The main cast and crew of 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' stood in front of the sponsor's backdrop, posing for a group photo.
After the photo, Matthew led Charlize Theron into the theater.
Charlize Theron quietly asked, "What did Akiva Goldsman mean when he spoke to you just now?"
Before the cast stood together for the photo, Akiva Goldsman had specifically called Matthew over for a brief chat.
"Nothing," Matthew said, lowering his voice when he saw someone passing by. "Akiva Goldsman has a new project, and he might be looking to work with me."
"Oh?" Charlize Theron asked curiously, "What project?"
Matthew shook his head, "I'm not entirely sure, he didn't say."
Due to their late arrival, the crew didn't go to the VIP lounge. Led by Akiva Goldsman, they went directly into the main screening hall.
Entering the front row of the cinema from a side door, Matthew specifically glanced back. The more than a thousand seats in the TCL Chinese Theatre looked completely full.
"Hi, Matthew!"
A familiar voice came from the guest seating area. Matthew stopped, walked a few steps over, and hugged James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, who had stood up.
"Aren't you going to introduce us?" James McAvoy looked at Charlize Theron.
Matthew called Charlize Theron over, pointed to James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, and said, "Let me introduce you to my two best friends."
He introduced them one by one, "The shorter one is James McAvoy, the taller one is Michael Fassbender. They are both actors."
Then, he introduced Charlize Theron, "James, Michael, this is Charlize Theron, my… um… fiancée."
Saying that title, Matthew still felt a little unaccustomed.
James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender greeted Charlize Theron one after another, and chatted for a few moments. Charlize Theron hadn't known them before, so she didn't say much, and soon whispered to Matthew, "I'll wait for you up front."
"Okay," Matthew nodded.
As soon as Charlize Theron left, and since no one was sitting nearby yet, Michael Fassbender quietly said, "Last time we were drinking, you said you had a fear of marriage. How did you propose now?"
"This…" Matthew didn't want to lie to them, but also couldn't just say it, so he vaguely said, "It's not something I can explain in a few words."
James McAvoy was more concerned about other things, "Matthew, you little rascal, you actually managed to get an Oscar-winning actress. How did you do it?"
Matthew didn't answer his question, but instead said, "You received the invitation, right?"
"Yes, we did," Michael Fassbender nodded and said, "Don't worry, I'll definitely be there."
James McAvoy also said, "I definitely won't miss it. I'm even going to speak on behalf of the groom."
Matthew patted James McAvoy's arm and said, "Don't badmouth me then, otherwise when you get married…"
James McAvoy interrupted Matthew, "You're thinking too much and too far ahead. I don't even know when I'll get married."
Matthew looked at his watch and said, "It's almost time. In a few days, after I'm done with this busy period, come over to my place for a drink."
Michael Fassbender showed his shark-like grin again, "No problem, James and I will definitely drink all your hidden liquor."
After waving goodbye to James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, Matthew turned and walked to the front row, sitting down next to Charlize Theron.
Charlize Theron curiously said, "I never heard you mention them before. I thought your best friend was Depp."
"I knew them when I first started in the industry," Matthew briefly explained. "James and Michael are both my best friends."
Unlike Johnny Depp, his friendship with James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender had been tested through fighting side-by-side.
As the movie screening approached, people continued to trickle into the cinema for the advance screening of 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith.'
In New York, at an Empire Entertainment cinema near Central Park in Manhattan, Rex Reed stood in the lobby, looking at the suspended poster. The striking image of a man and a woman holding guns was very eye-catching.
The woman was Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron, and the man was Hollywood's popular tough-guy actor, Matthew Horner.
As a professional film critic for 'The New York Observer,' Rex Reed naturally recognized these two, especially Matthew Horner, who had left a more profound impression on him.
Years ago, during a publicity stunt, he even kissed a donkey's butt because of Matthew Horner.
Although the two later reconciled for promotional purposes, this incident indeed left a very deep impression on him.
Even those guys in the NBA imitated his actions and created a special publicity stunt, instantly making Charles Barkley, that bald loudmouth, and another newcomer famous across America.
He had watched that event at the time and was quite emotion (moved/impressed). The management team behind it definitely had excellent public relations skills.
Rex Reed didn't find it strange, as the entertainment and sports industries are intertwined. Whether it's an entertainment star or a sports star, immense fame often means gaining a lot.
Back then, he deliberately clashed with Matthew Horner, using a war of words for publicity. Wasn't it all for fame?
After that, his reputation soared, and he became a highly regarded figure in the film and critical circles. This year, he even made it into 'The New Yorker's' list of the top ten professional film critics in New York!
Undoubtedly, the publicity stunt back then greatly benefited him, and now he could certainly be considered a successful person.
For the past half-month or so, all media outlets related to entertainment have been filled with various promotions for Matthew Horner, Charlize Theron, and 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith,' making it hard not to attract attention.
Rex Reed had also noticed this, so he specifically came today to check out his "old friend's" new movie.
Of course, as a professional film critic, he also had to critique the film.
Arriving at the cinema's ticket counter, Rex Reed didn't have a ticket. He pulled out his membership card from the New York Film Critics Association and handed it to the ticket taker.
"Hello, Mr. Reed." The ticket taker carefully looked at it, found a pen, and prepared to make a note in a notebook. "Which film are you planning to see?"
Rex Reed took back his Film Critics Association membership card and said, "'Mr. & Mrs. Smith,' distributed by Universal Pictures."
The ticket taker immediately wrote it down. "You may go in now, Mr. Reed."
Once Rex Reed entered the screening area, the ticket taker made a special mark. According to industry-wide rules, professional film critics' movie-watching activities are usually paid for by the distribution company.
Entering the screening room, Rex Reed took a look. As the screening time approached, the occupancy rate in the theater was quite good, with nearly half of the seats filled with audience members.
Based on past experience, if an advance screening of a summer commercial entertainment film reaches fifty percent occupancy, the film often becomes a big hit or even a super hit.
Rex Reed found a decent empty seat, sat down, and habitually pulled out a pen and notebook, preparing to take notes while watching.
"Such a purely chaotic entertainment film," Rex Reed was still quite clear-headed. "It's probably just a typical popcorn movie."
The ceiling lights suddenly went out, and light appeared on the big screen. Universal Studios' iconic opening logo was already displayed on the big screen.
The TCL Chinese Theatre was silent, everyone's eyes fixed on the huge screen opposite.)!!!