Chapter 177: The Fans

In a North Hollywood apartment, Martin returned after finishing his styling. He took out a Coke from the box, applied olive oil to it, and placed it on the windowsill facing the premiere theater.

Removing his disposable gloves, Martin dialed Robert's number on his mobile phone.

In Atlanta, Robert responded, saying, "I understand, I'll take care of it immediately."

Martin went downstairs, got into the Mercedes-Benz parked in front of the apartment, and instructed Bruce, "Let's go to the hotel to pick up Annie."

Bruce, behind the wheel, inquired, "Does this really work?"

"It's worked a few times," Martin replied, seeking psychological comfort akin to a form of ritualistic faith.

Upon reaching the Hilton Hotel, Laura walked out with Annie, who was dressed up. Martin rushed over to open the car door and held it for Annie.

Seeing Martin's meticulous care in these small gestures, Annie smiled warmly at him.

Once Martin was inside the car, the Mercedes-Benz began moving, with Laura following in another vehicle.

Concerned, Annie asked, "What's Warner Bros.'s expected opening weekend box office?"

Martin looked stressed as he responded, "They're hoping for $25 million."

Annie grabbed Martin's hand and offered encouragement, saying, "I believe you can do it."

Martin nodded, saying, "It all depends on the first-week box office. Movie releases have changed a lot since before 2000. The strategy now is to attract audiences to theaters early on. The first two weekends are crucial for most commercial films in North America."

The premiere of "The Hills Have Eyes" took place at the El Capitan Theater. Rachel had gathered the core members of the fan group early in the morning to receive official materials and support tools like signs, posters, and banners from Jessica and Emily.

Jessica and Rachel also reached out to Anne Hathaway's supporters, providing them with lights and materials.

Before the red carpet event, fans were divided into three main groups: Martin's supporters, Anne's supporters, and a substantial group backing Wes Craven.

Wes Craven's horror films, starting with "A Nightmare on Elm Street" in 1983, had become a well-known brand in North America over the past two decades.

The film prominently featured Wes Craven's name in its trailer, posters, and promotional materials, a move fully supported by both director Alexandre Aja and actor Martin.

When Wes Craven walked the red carpet first, he received a thunderous cheer from the crowd. Angelina Jolie was also in attendance.

As Mene walked the red carpet, he was swarmed by fans seeking autographs, most of whom appeared to be over forty years old.

Then, someone unexpected appeared on the red carpet—Paris Hilton, who had made a return to the public eye.

After experiencing legal issues and a falling out with Kim Kardashian, Paris seemed to have mastered the art of attracting attention. She didn't linger on the red carpet for long and quickly caught up with Mene. She insisted on taking a photo with him.

Mene was taken aback, asking, "What are you planning?"

Paris whispered, "Take a photo with me now, and I'll talk to you later about compensation."

Mene's expression changed immediately, and he agreed, "No problem. How should I cooperate?"

When the two posed in the media area, reporters were taken aback by Paris Hilton's surprise appearance.

Paris was no longer as frantic as before, allowing Mene to hold her waist as they smiled for the cameras.

Meanwhile, at the front end of the red carpet, louder cheers erupted.

A black car pulled up, and Martin and Anne stepped out, arm in arm, onto the red carpet.

Unlike the Wax Museum premiere, Martin was now the unquestionable center of attention.

Fans lined both sides of the red carpet, holding posters with his name and chanting his name repeatedly.

Martin escorted Annie along, signing autographs for fans and even taking photos with them.

Bruce closely followed, vigilant for any potential threats.

With Annie's support, the fans were so enthusiastic that it would not have been wise for Martin to leave abruptly. He and Bruce had planned for this.

Bruce spoke to the security personnel, and four guards promptly approached Martin, citing safety reasons, and urged him to return to the red carpet.

Martin continued signing autographs for fans until he was escorted away by the security guards, with two of them holding onto his arms.

"Martin truly cares about us!" The fans were moved to tears, and one female fan exclaimed, "Martin, please go back. Don't let this delay your work."

Many fans echoed her sentiment.

Jessica, among the crowd, declared, "I want to buy five tickets to support Martin!"

Other fans joined in, showing their support for Martin.

"Yes! I'm planning to watch it three times," exclaimed one enthusiastic fan.

Another fan chimed in, saying, "If the movie is great, I'll definitely watch it at least five times!"

Jessica, who was the first to shout, garnered little attention initially, but her excitement quickly caught on, and soon, shouts of similar enthusiasm filled the crowd. Many in the audience expressed their willingness to watch the movie multiple times, even if economic constraints might limit their ability to do so.

Emily, however, had a different idea. Armed with a DV camera, she captured the passionate crowd's reactions and promptly uploaded the footage to the internet, further fueling the excitement for the movie.

The question arose: do good movies naturally lead to good box office success? The answer was complex, as the art of filmmaking sometimes yielded to commercial strategies.

As Martin continued down the red carpet and entered the media area, Jessica, Emily, and Rachel discreetly departed. They headed into the theater through a side entrance and quickly made their way to the reserved office on the second floor. There, they opened their laptops and began uploading photos and videos from the event to the internet, with a particular focus on the decryption website.

Their content was centered around Martin, in stark contrast to the promotional efforts of Warner Bros. and the show's publicists.

While Martin and Anne conducted interviews in the media area, Jessica, Emily, and Rachel worked diligently behind the scenes to keep the buzz alive.

In the theater's foyer, where many guests had gathered, Sophia and Vincent made their entrance. Sophia's imposing figure drew attention as she approached Anne and Martin.

With a cursory glance at Anne, Sophia turned to Martin and asked, "Is this your new girlfriend?"

Martin introduced Anne, saying, "This is Anne Hathaway, and this is my friend Sophia from Atlanta."

Sophia extended her hand to Anne with a faint smile. Anne, however, noticed Sophia's handshake felt as firm as stone.

Martin sensed Anne's unease and quickly pointed out Bruce, saying, "Bruce is right over there."

Sophia promptly lost interest in the conversation and headed toward Bruce, trusting in his ability to handle any situation.

Anne leaned in and whispered to Martin, "She doesn't seem like a very pleasant person."

Martin replied with a diplomatic tone, "She's a fitness enthusiast who has shed a lot of weight. She may appear intimidating, but she's actually quite nice."

Scott could vouch for that.

"Hello, Martin," Wu Maoting greeted, accompanied by his daughter Wu dant, who was starstruck by Martin.

"You're simply radiant today," Wu Dant exclaimed, admiring Martin.

Martin playfully turned to Anne and said, "Did you hear that? Miss Wu is praising you."

Anne graciously shook hands with Wu Maoting, who expressed his gratitude for the investment opportunity Martin had provided him.

Martin, somewhat impishly, asked, "Mr. Wu, may I make a small request?"

Wu Maoting, amused by Martin's straightforwardness, replied, "Certainly, if it's within my power."

Martin smiled and said, "Could you sell me a batch of jadeite at a fair price?"

Anne's interest piqued at the mention of jewelry. "Jade?" she mused.

Martin explained simply, "It's a precious oriental gem."

"Jewelry?" Anne's eyes sparkled with anticipation. Was this the beginning of her jewelry collection?

With jewelry in mind, luxury cars, and mansions were not far behind.

Wes Craven approached, guiding Martin to meet several film critics, including Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times, Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter, and Courtney Howard of Variety. These critics were members of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.

Martin greeted them with politeness and engaged in warm conversations, recognizing the importance of media and critic support.

Before departing, Martin asked Craven, "Should I prepare some small gifts for them?"

Craven advised against it, explaining that the crew had already made preparations. He also shared a valuable tip, emphasizing the significance of Los Angeles in awards competitions due to the concentration of Academy members living in the area.

Curious, Martin inquired, "Them?"

Craven offered insight, saying, "While they often emphasize fairness and justice, remember that all facets of Hollywood are driven by commercial interests."

Spotting Mene, Martin approached him, only to find Mene engaged in lively conversations and socializing, particularly with Paris Hilton.

Mene wore a somewhat pained expression as he confided in Martin, "Boss Martin, she's making quite a demand!"

Martin, aware of Mene's recent financial pressures, offered encouragement, "Hang in there, keep making those connections."

The Hills Have Eyes had drawn a substantial audience into the El Capitan Theater, with Ted and a group of fortunate viewers occupying prime seats in the middle row.

The theater, nearly full to its thousand-seat capacity, buzzed with excitement. Despite not being a peak season for releases, the film's compelling premise had attracted a substantial audience.

The moment of truth arrived as Wes Craven and Alexandre Aja led the cast and creative team into the theater amid applause.

Among the cast members, Martin stood out as the sole true star.

After a brief media interview, the premiere of "The Hills Have Eyes" commenced in earnest.