Chapter 49: Donnie Darko's Premiere

The premiere, with its cheering crowd and media frenzy, was a perfect way to jumpstart and promote the film. But all of this required money—something Richard Kelly didn't have.

The entire production budget of Donnie Darko barely matched the cost of the premiere for Pearl Harbor.

As a result, the premiere was moved to the Sundance Film Festival, where independent film lovers could gather to launch the movie.

It had started snowing in Salt Lake City the previous night, and it had become heavy snowfall by morning.

By noon, the flakes had lessened, but two inches had already piled up, creating a crisp crunch beneath their boots as they walked.

Without a car or a red carpet, Evan Bell and Teddy Bell made their way to Park City just as they had two days ago, heading toward the theater hosting the Donnie Darko premiere.

The main street had been shoveled, but the persistent snow still made the ground slippery. Despite the cold, the enthusiasm of the fans was undeterred.

Everywhere Evan looked, people filled the streets, but no one paid him any special attention. It felt surreal, as if he were just another face in the crowd, even though today marked the release of his film.

At the theater entrance, Teddy Bell split off to line up for entry while Evan had to fulfill his media obligations. This setup felt strange—neither of them quite grasped their roles.

Teddy lacked the sharpness of an agent, and Evan the awareness of being an artist. Typically, an agent would stay close to the talent, ensuring everything went smoothly, but the brothers treated this like another casual day at the festival.

Watching Teddy head off, Evan glanced at the long line forming outside the cinema, and his spirits lifted a bit. At least, there were plenty of people coming to see Donnie Darko today.

Pulling up his collar to shield himself from the biting cold, Evan made his way toward the theater.

Richard Kelly, Drew Barrymore, Jena Malone, and Maggie Gyllenhaal had already arrived, and Evan quickened his pace.

"Looks like I'm the last one," he muttered.

"Don't worry, we just got here," Richard turned and flashed a smile. "Let's hope the film speaks for itself." His words hung in the air, unclear if they were directed at the crew or everyone who would be watching the movie.

Drew Barrymore, though, had her gaze fixed on Evan. She had thought the image of him had faded after months apart, but standing here now, she realized his charm lingered like a fine wine.

Very addicting and impossible to forget.

"I'll head out first. You come after, Bell," Drew said with a slight arch of her brow as if signaling something only they understood.

She brushed past Evan without touching him, but her scent—a light licorice—stayed with him, deepening her smile.

Ordinarily, the lead or director would step out first, but the Donnie Darko team was made up of newcomers.

Drew Barrymore, with her star power from Charlie's Angels the year before, was a smart choice to go first, creating buzz. Sure enough, the reporters had mostly come for her, with last year's Charlie's Angels still making waves.

The cheers from outside pierced the cold, jolting Evan into the present. He was about to step into the spotlight, for real this time.

Before —whether on Broadway or at the Eagle Rock Music Festival—Evan had never dealt directly with reporters.

Today marked his official entry into the entertainment industry. Was this his debut? Maybe not, but it was definitely his first big appearance.

He stood still for a moment, his thoughts tangled. Memories from this life and his past life overlapped—flashes of Harvard days, warm moments spent with someone close, then Catherine and Teddy's kind faces.

In contrast, there was the distant coldness of his former parents and the brilliance of Broadway colliding with the bloody scene of his car accident.

A loud cheer suddenly broke through, dragging him out of his fog. A chill ran from his feet to his heart, sending a shiver through him.

Stomping his stiff feet on the cold ground, Evan grounded himself. This wasn't a dream. He had lived in this world for eighteen years now, free and untethered.

Today, he was going to stand in front of the cameras and begin to carve out his own space.

It was as if everything suddenly clicked into place.

Perhaps, up until now, he hadn't fully integrated into this world. But starting today, that was going to change.

If Teddy had been watching, he might've noticed something shift in Evan's eyes—a deep shadow that had always lingered was starting to lift even if it's just by a little.

It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but after growing up together, Teddy had caught glimpses of it before. Now, that shadow was finally easing.

Richard Kelly saw the change too, though he couldn't put his finger on it. Evan's smile, still mischievous and full of swagger, had a new brightness to it.

It was a subtle shift, something intangible, and Richard let the thought pass, chalking it up to Evan's elusive aura.

"Bell, it's your turn," Richard's voice cut through, pulling Evan from his thoughts.

Evan took a deep breath, hopping in place to loosen his cold feet. Without thinking, his left hand reached for the ring finger on his right hand, rubbing at the base as if a ring should be there.

He quickly dropped his hand, smiled at Richard and the others, and turned to head outside.

The movie theater wasn't anything special, just one of the many on the main street of Park City. During Sundance, it hosted premieres for various films. But these "premieres" weren't glamorous.

The red carpet was barely twenty meters long, leading into the theater's entrance. On one side, a large banner displayed the 2001 Sundance Film Festival logo. On the other side, twenty reporters with cameras were ready to capture the moment.

There weren't many fans around either. Films that generated buzz might draw hundreds, but for Donnie Darko, attention was minimal. Fewer than a hundred onlookers were there and most of them was just curious passersby.

The lack of excitement wasn't surprising. Fans who were interested had already lined up inside the theater, leaving the premiere to be a quiet formality.

Still, Drew Barrymore's presence helped. Her appeal at least kept the mood from feeling flat. Even the fans waiting in line cheered, making the scene less awkward.

William Wood, a 28-year-old junior reporter for Entertainment Weekly, stood in the crowd. Five years into the job, he was still struggling for his big break.

This Sundance trip had been a grind, but Ryan Gosling's performance in The Believer the day before had been a highlight.

Now, Donnie Darko was on his radar, mostly due to Drew Barrymore's investment in the project.

He wiped his camera lens, frustrated with the snow that kept blurring his shots. Evan Bell was supposed to appear soon.

Though a newcomer, Evan had an intriguing look—handsome enough to stand out even in Hollywood.

William was curious to see if Evan would leave the same impression in person.

Then, a split-second later, the protagonist appeared.