Chapter 108: Red Carpet

On Avalon Island, a multitude of vehicles congested the coastal road leading to the Avalon Theater. Dozens of actors and celebrities, like Martin, sat in their vehicles, eagerly awaiting their turn to grace the red carpet in front of the theater.

Bruce expertly navigated the car, inching it forward in the slow-moving procession.

Several hundred meters ahead, enthusiastic movie fans cheered and shouted.

Once again, the vehicles came to a halt, prompting Bruce to comment, "The atmosphere here is no less electrifying than the Oscars I've seen."

Seated in the co-pilot seat, Thomas chimed in, "Most of the Saturn Award nominees are from last year's big box office hits. High box office means a vast audience. People love these movies, and naturally, they have a lot of support."

Martin contemplated how to capture attention, expressing his frustration, "How can I stand out? It's quite vexing."

Thomas offered a suggestion, "Tonight's attendees include big stars like Keanu Reeves, Johnny Depp, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, and others. You should think of ways to shine on stage."

Martin acknowledged the reality, "There's quite a gap in star power."

Thomas shared a sobering fact, "You can't really be called a star just yet."

Bruce, looking to get back at Martin, playfully suggested, "Hey man, why not show your quirkiest side? You'd be the brightest star tonight."

Martin adjusted his clothing, stating firmly, "I'd prefer to maintain a sense of decorum."

As the car slowly moved along the single route to the Avalon Theater, those without seats had to wait patiently.

Feeling quite bored, Martin began to entertain some mischievous thoughts, "What if I were to trip on the red carpet?"

Before Thomas could respond, Bruce interjected, "You're a man, not a clown. People would just laugh at you."

Observing Martin's antics, Thomas realized he was trying to stir up trouble to gain attention. He offered more constructive advice, "You can't afford to act recklessly right now. If you want more exposure, take your time on the red carpet and make the most of the interviews."

Martin nodded, acknowledging that men didn't have the same freedom to create headlines on the red carpet. He mused on how female stars often resorted to bold fashion choices or outrageous antics.

Meanwhile, Royce, a reporter from the gossip daily "American Rumor," positioned himself behind a tripod, ready to capture the moments when stars exited their cars.

With years of experience, Royce had honed his skills and knew precisely how to capture unique shots of celebrities stepping out of their vehicles. For example, he could catch actresses wearing high-slit dresses as they inadvertently revealed too much.

However, when an Audi pulled up, Royce was initially disappointed. He shifted his camera toward the car, only to be taken aback by the sight of a strikingly handsome man exiting the vehicle. This man seemed even more dashing than young Keanu Reeves and the late River Phoenix.

The light seemed to radiate on his face, highlighting his charm. Martin stepped out of the car, waving enthusiastically, and the surrounding fans, already excited by the previous stars, erupted in cheers.

As Martin continued to wave and acknowledge the crowd, live TV cameras captured the moment. This was his first true red carpet, and he wanted to make it memorable.

With the Audi pulling away, Martin continued to wave to the photographers and media, basking in the attention. He then took a few more seconds in front of the live TV camera before finally stepping onto the red carpet, not rushing the experience.

His pace wasn't slow, certainly faster than a tortoise, but the fans and photographers along the way couldn't keep up.

As they neared the theater's entrance, a young woman in the crowd on one side of the red carpet pushed her way forward, shouting, "Make some room! Give me some space! The person I'm supporting is here!"

After squeezing through the crowd, she held up a poster promoting a DVD store and shouted, "Martin! Martin Davis!"

Among the posters of more established stars, one featuring a Stripper stood out, and Martin quickly noticed.

Despite the hundreds of attendees, he had finally found someone showing support for him. Martin, who could sometimes come off as cold, was genuinely touched.

Finding a reason to linger, he continued to wave and acknowledge the crowd. As he approached the woman holding the poster, he recognized her.

When the woman saw Martin approaching, she couldn't contain her excitement, exclaiming, "Martin, over here! It's me!"

Martin walked over with a warm smile, "Rachel, I didn't expect to see you here."

Tears welled up in Rachel's eyes as she replied, "I saw the news and rushed here when I learned you were nominated."

Martin extended his arms and gave her a gentle hug, saying, "Thank you! And thank you for your support. Remember when you wrote to me, 'Any congratulatory message?'"

Realizing he had forgotten to respond, he quickly added, "Your encouragement helped me through some of the toughest times in my career."

Rachel, deeply moved, expressed her unwavering support, saying, "Martin, I'll always stand by you!"

Martin extended his hand and gave her a warm hug, saying, "Let's work hard together."

As they separated, Rachel took out her mobile phone and asked, "Could we take a group photo?"

Martin called to a young man nearby, saying, "Hey there, buddy, could you help us with a photo?"

The kind-hearted man agreed and took Rachel's phone, capturing a picture of Martin and Rachel.

Martin resumed his journey down the red carpet, having been overtaken by the actors behind him. Unfazed, he continued on his path.

In the media area, the live broadcast by Warner TV included brief interviews with the nominees. Sunny, the female host, approached Martin upon his arrival. Initially unfamiliar with him, she quickly received information through her earpiece: "Martin Davis, nominated for Best Young Actor, known for his role in the horror film 'Zombie Stripper.'"

As Martin entered the media area and posed for photos in front of the sponsor's advertising board, Sunny greeted him, saying, "Good evening, Martin. Is tonight a dream come true for you?"

Martin, well-prepared for the interview, replied, "Good evening, Sunny. Walking the Saturn Awards red carpet has been a lifelong dream. When I watched Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Freddy as a child, I knew this was the path I wanted to take."

Sunny nodded, ready to conclude the routine interview as time was limited for lesser-known actors.

However, Martin realized he needed to seize the opportunity and take control of the conversation. If he could prolong the interview by just a few seconds, he might secure an additional moment on the live TV broadcast.

Seizing the moment, Martin added, "I apologize for my slight delay, Sunny. I encountered my only fan who supported me on the red carpet. She holds a special place in my heart, and I must express my gratitude."

Sunny, momentarily thrown off guard, inquired, "Could you share more about your connection with her?"

Martin went on to describe the fan event for "Zombie Stripper," mentioning several names. Sunny couldn't help but be intrigued by his tale of requesting fans' autographs and messages of encouragement.

As Martin concluded, Sunny realized the interview had exceeded its allotted time, stretching to nearly four minutes instead of the intended one-minute segment.

The director overseeing the live broadcast shouted, "This interview is engaging. The lead actor requesting autographs from fans is captivating. We'll air the entire interview." Following the Super Bowl incident earlier in the year, U.S. live broadcasts time had been extended by an additional ten seconds, allowing directors more flexibility.

Among those watching the live broadcast, some had attended Martin's fan meeting the previous year.

In a bar, Rick excitedly told his friends, "See, this is Martin! He asked for my autograph last year. Did you hear it? He mentioned my name!" His friends raised their glasses and toasted, "He's a great guy."

Rick continued, "Have another drink on me tonight! His movies are pretty good; I recommend checking out the 'Zombie Stripper' DVD."

Discussion about Martin's interview also buzzed on various movie forums. His attribution of success to his fans' encouragement left a strong impression, even on those who didn't know him personally.

Soon, someone uploaded the video of Martin's interview on the internet, attracting significant attention.

In Clayton Community, Elena went to work while Lily and Hall watched the live TV broadcast in their living room.

Hall commented, "He's still quite shameless."

Lily playfully punched Hall on the head, remarking, "That's called staying true to one's roots and remembering those who supported you!"

Hall turned to Lily, joking, "Something's different about you!"

Lily responded with a hint of superiority, "Because I'm smarter than you. You're just focused on digging holes!"

She juct clenched her fists, saying with confidence, "Martin will definitely win the award tonight."