Chapter 64: The Issue of Rating

It seemed incredible.

It felt like waking up one morning to find that her first movie was about to premiere.

She had thought this day would be at least two or three years in the future.

Unfortunately, her parents couldn't see it immediately, as only New York on the East Coast had cinemas showing it.

Luckily, she had sent the posters back home early, along with the clip she used to pitch to the "Back to the Future 2" crew, which she had secretly copied. She had carefully instructed her parents in the letter not to let the videotape leak, especially keeping it from her sister Jessie, who was at an age where she loved to show off and was quite restless.

After wrapping up for the afternoon, she left Warner Bros. Studios and drove back to West Hollywood.

Keanu was already waiting for her on Santa Monica Boulevard, bustling with a mixed group of friends. Despite his years of experience in show business, "Run Lola Run" was Keanu's first theatrical film.

Of course, his role was quite the unlucky one.

After some introductions, they hurried to a cinema they had researched beforehand.

Perhaps because it was a Friday, the cinema was quite crowded, and lines had formed. Looking at the prominent "Run Lola Run" poster in the cinema lobby, she silently prayed that these people were here for her movie.

Her group of seven didn't need to queue up together, so she volunteered for the task. While waiting in line, she paid attention to the movies the customers ahead were buying tickets for.

"Platoon," okay, she knew this one; it was also distributed by Orion.

"Run Lola Run," add one.

"Run Lola Run," add two.

"Cliffhanger," huh? She glanced at the poster in the lobby; oh, Stallone's new film, not a competitor.

"Run Lola Run," ding, add three.

"Black Widow," huh, Spider-Man?

Soon, she was second in line, overhearing a middle-aged man with a boy asking, "Miss, what's the rating for 'Run Lola Run'?"

She perked up her ears, momentarily startled that she hadn't considered this.

The ticket seller noticed the boy at the window and replied, "Sir, it's rated R. Do you still want it?"

The man hesitated.

Noticing his father's reluctance, the boy protested, "Dad, I'm not a kid anymore."

The man glanced at his son and asked the seller again, "Miss, do you think there's anything particularly inappropriate in the movie?"

The seller shook her head and smiled, "Sorry, sir, the movie just came out today, I haven't seen it yet."

Standing behind, she was puzzled.

How could it be rated R? Even if it couldn't make PG, PG-13 was surely achievable?

Watching the father still hesitating, she wanted to assure him that it was fine, to trust her look.

Ultimately, she didn't speak out of turn.

The father and son chose Stallone's "Cliffhanger" instead.

Thus, she stepped forward and asked, "What's the rating for 'Cliffhanger'?"

To avoid being easily recognized and feeling awkward, she had deliberately worn a pair of black-framed glasses without lenses and had dyed her hair back to its original color.

The ticket seller glanced at her, feeling a bit of déjà vu but replied politely, "Miss, it's rated PG."

Sylvester Stallone's movie, full of blood and gore, was PG, and they were joking with her?

Seeing her bemusement, the ticket seller patiently asked, "Miss, would you like a ticket?"

Alright, fine.

Why make a fuss over a short name?

Arnold Schwarzenegger's next movie must be G-rated then.

Muttering to herself, she nodded and handed over a stack of bills, "Yes, seven tickets for the nearest showing of 'Run Lola Run'."

The seller hesitated, then smiled apologetically after checking, "Sorry, miss, there are only three tickets left for the 6:20 PM showing."

How would three tickets be enough?

She immediately asked, "When's the next showing?"

After checking, the seller said, "8:10 PM."

She was exasperated, "Why so long?"

The seller quickly explained, "Miss, our cinema only has one screening room showing 'Run Lola Run'."

Now even more upset, she questioned, "If the tickets are selling so well, why don't you add more showings?"

The seller remained polite, "Miss, that's not something I can decide. You might want to call our manager about this."

I definitely will.

She thought to herself, hurrying away from the queue.

Keanu, you fool, why rush to buy popcorn when we might end up sitting on the curb watching the street?

After learning the next showing wasn't until eight, the

 group left and switched cinemas twice before finally securing seven tickets.

They entered a large auditorium with about 150 seats, buzzing with chatter. They willingly took seats in the last row and waited patiently as the last few seats filled up.

She perked up again.

Given the recent lively media discussions, this turnout wasn't surprising.

Who wouldn't want to see what kind of movie an 18-year-old "madman" could create?

Then she thought of him.

It was surprising he had such a background. Normally, he seemed as normal as anyone else.

Or maybe not.

Who else could make a film like "Run Lola Run" at such a young age?

Occasionally, she could sense his aloofness towards them.

"He's too proud to be prideful, like a god from another world who has descended to conquer this one," she recalled Janet's words from the "Los Angeles Times."

Exaggerated, she thought.

People in love always see the best in each other.

But, pondering it...

Uh?

No, no, I'm not pondering; I'm not his girlfriend.

She regretted not joining the trip to Park City, which had reportedly been lively because of "Run Lola Run."

While she chatted casually with Keanu and the others, appearing unbothered, the theater lights dimmed, and everyone quieted down.

The usual commercials played first.

Then, with the ticking of a clock, the sounds of seconds passing, music, and shouts... the film gave no time to think, a frantic 80 minutes.

As the credits rolled, she surveyed the room, feeling a strange atmosphere engulfing the auditorium.

Who am I?

Where am I?

What did I just witness?

Ha.

Then she began to enjoy the credits.

While filming, she hadn't felt much, but watching the credits, she realized how much he had taken on.

As the lights came back on, it seemed everyone was still lost in the film's aura.

Then, the boy sitting next to Keanu suddenly shouted, "It's so facking cool!!!"

And he started clapping loudly.

Embarrassing.

Was he exaggerating?

Being noticed could get you beaten up.

But his shout seemed to ignite the atmosphere in the theater.

Everyone gradually began to applaud.

After the noise subsided, the audience slowly started to leave.

Following the crowd out, she lingered in the cinema lobby, noticing many were heading back to the ticket counter. The previously sparse queue quickly grew again.

Realizing something, she felt a deep satisfaction.

Leaving the cinema under the neon-lit streets of Los Angeles, the group went out to eat, jokingly thanking the loudmouth, who insisted he genuinely found it cool and planned to see it again.

Alright, I'll take you seriously.

Then, the issue of the film's rating came up again in conversation, still feeling unfair.

Her friends, more seasoned in Hollywood, discussed it and helped her understand that the MPAA, controlled by the Big Seven studios, often assigned unfair ratings to independent films to suppress competitors.

That must be it.

Hearing that the Big Seven were interested in "Run Lola Run" and that he had given the distribution rights to Orion, it made sense they'd want to throw a wrench in his works.

It was just so unfair.

However, considering that cinemas screening "Run Lola Run" three times in a row were packed, it seemed the rating hadn't had much impact.

Reassured, she stayed out with her friends until 11 PM. Back at her apartment, she washed up, intending to rest but suddenly remembered him.

He had gone to Arizona.

Alas, she didn't know his phone number, or she would have called to congratulate him and rant about the MPAA's rating for "Run Lola Run."

Sharing a common enemy.

Thinking this over, she found herself unable to sleep.

So, she picked up the phone and settled on the couch, turning the TV volume down. Picking up the receiver, she suddenly didn't know who to call.

Her parents on the East Coast were out; it was past 2 AM there. In Los Angeles, despite making many friends over six months, she wasn't close enough to anyone for late-night calls.

Hesitating, she impulsively dialed his number in the Montana district.

After several rings, naturally, there was no answer, followed by the voicemail tone.

That was expected.

Still, she started talking to herself: "Hi, Simon, it's Sandy. Keanu and I went to see 'Run Lola Run' tonight. Lots of people, we had to go to three cinemas to find seats. And what's with the rating? It's R, but I think PG-13 would have been fine."

After rambling for a few minutes, she pretended to remember he wasn't in Los Angeles, rounded off her message, and hung up.

Then she regretted it.

So silly.

Yet, after making the call, her sleepiness

 returned.

Whatever.

Sleep.

How does that saying go?

Right.

Tomorrow is another day.