Chapter 22: The Media and Fan Screening Begins

"Hi, Gilbert, long time no see…" Gwyneth Paltrow greeted Gilbert with a big hug.

For some reason, while other people saying his name didn't feel odd, hearing Gwyneth Paltrow say it made Gilbert feel a bit uncomfortable, as if there was some underlying implication.

"Long time no see, Gwyn, you look even more beautiful," Gilbert complimented.

"Thanks," Gwyneth Paltrow seemed more reserved, possibly because her family was also present today.

She looked around the small independent theater and remarked, "Universal Pictures is really stingy, choosing to hold the screening here and combining the media and fan screenings."

Seeing Gwyneth Paltrow's dissatisfaction, Gilbert defended Universal Pictures, "Whether the film will be profitable is still uncertain. What Universal Pictures did is a normal choice."

"I'm just feeling bad for you, and you're still defending them, hmph!" Gwyneth Paltrow pouted and then leaned in with a mysterious tone, whispering to Gilbert, "I heard that Universal Pictures is very optimistic about this film. President Akio Tani really likes it."

"Let's hope that's true!" Gilbert replied.

Before long, Levitt Gold, the head of distribution at Universal Pictures, arrived at the screening.

Gilbert wasn't familiar with him, and they just exchanged nods as a greeting.

The screening venue wasn't very large, with just over two hundred seats. The front rows were mostly filled with entertainment reporters and critics from small to mid-sized media outlets.

Major national media, weekly publications, and top critics would not attend a screening for a film with low visibility.

This is an unwritten rule in Hollywood: the level of media and critics attending a screening often relates to the film's investment scale and prominence.

Film companies wouldn't hastily offer large budgets to invite top industry figures who might not be relevant to the film.

Even if invited, they might not come, as such small benefits are not enough to attract them.

The praise and criticism from media and critics come after the screening. Universal Pictures will assess audience reactions and reviews before deciding whether to conduct media PR after the screening.

Universal Pictures invited 180 ordinary fans to sit in the back, ranging in age from seventeen to forty-five.

This age group represents the core moviegoing audience. Universal Pictures will observe their reactions to *The Shallows* to gauge the film's market acceptance.

To obtain frontline data, Universal Pictures deployed several observers among the fans, with Jackie Fore being one of them.

Jackie Fore sat next to a white couple in their twenties, who were chatting away with popcorn and soda in hand.

"Darling, do you know the director or any of the actors in this film?" the girl asked.

The young man shook his head. "I only know it's a shark movie produced by Spielberg. Other than that, I have no idea."

The girl said, "I'm interested in Hollywood trends, and this director, Gilbert Landrini, has no previous works. He's even only twenty-one, two years younger than me."

"Wow, Zoe, I'm starting to regret coming here. This better not be a bad movie," the young man worried.

"Doug, don't overreact. It's just a free movie with a survey. Let's just consider it as a way to pass the time," Zoe said, handing Doug some popcorn. "If it's not good, I'll just sleep through it. Wake me up when it's over."

"Right," Doug adjusted his seat. "If it's not good, I'll nap through it."

"Okay…"

The conversation between the couple left Jackie Fore speechless, but he understood that having no expectations for a lesser-known film was normal.

As more fans entered, the lively buzz of a market-like atmosphere didn't include much discussion about the upcoming film.

Most conversations revolved around what to do after the screening, such as going to a bar, attending a party, or heading home to sleep.

If the film was received with the same indifference, Jackie Fore thought, then *The Shallows* wouldn't be worth Universal Pictures' investment.

"It's starting," as the lights in the screening room dimmed and the screen lit up, someone called out, and the noisy chatter immediately quieted down.

However, the sounds of people drinking soda, eating popcorn, and whispering didn't disappear. The audience's attention was not yet on the big screen.

The white couple next to Jackie Fore was still swapping sodas, hardly paying attention to the screen.

"I don't want cold soda…" Zoe said.

"My soda isn't iced. Let's switch," Doug glanced at the screen but quickly became engrossed.

The reason was that the screen now showed the protagonist, Gwyneth Paltrow, removing her clothes, revealing her long legs.

Gilbert's cinematography skillfully concealed Gwyneth Paltrow's smaller chest and magnified her advantages.

"Wow, she's so sexy," Doug clearly found himself attracted.

Zoe, noticing her boyfriend's gaze, became a bit annoyed and pinched Doug's side, asking, "Is she sexy or am I?"

Doug winced in pain, drawing several angry looks. He quickly raised his hand in apology and whispered to his girlfriend, "You're the most sexy. She doesn't compare to you. But I think this movie might be interesting. Let's watch it!"

"Hmph, we'll discuss this later!" Zoe turned away and focused on the film.

Undoubtedly, showcasing Gwyneth Paltrow's sex appeal at the beginning was effective. At least the male audience's attention was firmly on the screen.

This also showed that Paul Collins was not entirely clueless; he knew what some male viewers liked.

But soon, it wasn't just the male audience; even female viewers, or rather all the ordinary viewers present, kept their eyes glued to the screen, not missing a single moment.

Gilbert's powerful cinematography and dazzling editing showcased a cinematic magic that captivated the entire audience.

When the shark's first-person perspective appeared, Jackie Fore could even hear the heavy breathing of the surrounding audience.

Some female viewers closed their eyes in fear of the shark attacking the protagonist.

Additionally, some viewers whispered encouragement to the protagonist, while others asked them to stop, saying, "Damn it, stop talking. I'm so nervous."

Jackie Fore knew that by this point, the film had already succeeded halfway because it had captivated the audience and engaged them with pure cinematic content.

He wanted to experience the film as an ordinary viewer but couldn't.

Jackie Fore had to observe the reactions of the ordinary audience and record them for reporting.

The surrounding audience no longer drank soda, ate popcorn, or whispered. They were just staring at the big screen, motionless, not wanting to miss a single frame.

Jackie Fore was deeply impressed. The young director, Gilbert, was a master at manipulating audience emotions, keeping their attention fixed on the film without straying.

For a moment, Jackie Fore felt he was witnessing history