novellhall Chapter 395 The Most Heartwarming Premiere
Chapter 395 The Most Heartwarming Premiere
Chapter 394 The Most Heartwarming Premiere
There are two weeks left until the global release of "Joker".
The press conference room at Warner Music's headquarters.
On the long conference table, there was a thick stack of promotional invitations.
From recording top-tier American variety shows like "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," to cover shoots for "Vanity Fair" and "VOGUE," and entertainment interviews and red carpet events in dozens of countries around the world—
The film's release date has been scheduled for a month after its theatrical release.
Warner's PR director was extremely excited as he held the proposal.
Warner Bros. has always been overshadowed by Marvel and nothing seems to go smoothly for them, but now they're finally showing signs of turning things around!
"Chen, the global buzz is at its peak right now. If you take on these variety shows and interviews, your pre-opening exposure will be maxed out, and the North American opening weekend box office prediction could increase by another $5000 million!"
Sitting in the main seat, Chen Xun shook his head and pushed the thick stack of invitations back: "I don't accept any of these variety show or entertainment-related interviews."
The meeting room fell silent instantly.
The Warner executives looked at each other in bewilderment.
Chen Xun's tough attitude is truly rare among other actors.
Especially in this office.
However, considering Chen Xun's historical record, it's understandable.
After all, almost half of the people in this house had left because of Chen Xun, and some had even gone to jail.
Although it has no direct connection with Chen Xun, the root of the matter is basically because of Chen Xun.
Now is a crucial time for Warner to turn things around.
Warner Bros.' investment in the film "Joker" was less than that of Chen Xun, and now the directors listen to Chen Xun.
It's clear that Chen Xun is in charge all by himself!
This is rare, not just in Warner Bros., but throughout Hollywood!
Robert, sitting next to Chen Xun, quickly smoothed things over: "Everyone, what Chen means is that we need to grasp the core of the publicity and distribution. 'Joker' is not a popcorn superhero movie. Entertainment-oriented exposure will only undermine the film's core message."
"But this is Hollywood!"
The marketing director panicked: "Which movie aiming for box office success doesn't rely on entertainment interviews to generate buzz?"
"If you don't accept these offers, are you going to rely on newspaper interviews to attract audiences to the cinema?"
That's exactly what I meant.
Chen Xun looked up at him, his tone devoid of any emotion: "The audience of 'Joker' has never been people who just want to have some fun. We made this movie not to create a Joker symbol for people to enjoy, but to let everyone see those people forgotten by society and hear those silent cries."
"The jokes and banter in entertainment variety shows only make this movie feel lighter."
He paused, then added, "I can accept in-depth interviews with print media, such as The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times—only discussing the social core of film, mental health issues, and the living conditions of the underprivileged."
"We won't talk about box office results, awards, or red carpet gossip."
Warner executives were in a huge argument.
Some people think Chen Xun has gone mad, giving up top-tier popularity to insist on doing some serious interview.
Some remained silent, recalling the social impact of the Venice roadshow and the ordinary viewers who were moved by the film.
Ultimately, it was Warner's CEO who made the decision.
After all, from the project's inception to winning the Golden Lion Award, Chen Xun's judgment has never been wrong.
A week later.
The full-page in-depth interview in The New York Times went viral worldwide.
The interview took place at a neighborhood coffee shop in Brooklyn that had been open for thirty years.
It wasn't some luxurious five-star hotel; it was just a place where Chen Xun would sit for a while after finishing work each day while filming "Joker."
The waiters in the coffee shop all knew him, and they would greet him with a smile when they brought him coffee.
In the opening of the interview, the reporter did not mention the Venice Golden Lion Award, but only wrote this sentence: "Chen Xun, who sat across from me, was not wearing a haute couture suit, but just a faded black sweatshirt, with a little coffee stain on his fingertips. He was not talking about the halo of celebrities, but about the homeless people sleeping in subway stations, ordinary people who are troubled by mental illness but have nowhere to turn for help, and people whose dreams have been crushed by life but who still have to smile and move forward."
In the interview, the reporter couldn't help but ask at the outset, "After winning the Venice Golden Lion, everyone thought you were the frontrunner for the Oscar for Best Actor. Do you have any expectations for this award?"
Chen Xun held his coffee cup, smiled and shook his head: "The award is recognition from the judges, but it's not the purpose of my making this film."
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"I made 'Joker' not to win an Oscar, but to remind the audience sitting in the theater of their silent colleague, the stranger sleeping under the bridge, and themselves who were crying but still trying to laugh when they saw Arthur."
"If this film can inspire more kindness towards each other and more attention to mental health, it will be more meaningful than any award."
He talked to reporters about his preparations before filming "Joker".
"Every morning during rush hour, I sit on a bench in the subway station and watch the people rushing to catch the subway. There are white-collar workers in suits but with tired eyes, deliverymen rushing to catch the subway after delivering food, migrant workers carrying heavy luggage, and homeless people huddled in a corner. Most of them have no expression on their faces, as if life has worn away all their emotions."
"Looking at them, I know what Arthur must be like—he wasn't born a madman, he's the ignored part of each of us."
He talked about the veterans he met in a Bronx shelter in New York, and the man no one wanted to talk to.
"Many people ask me why Arthur's laughter is so unsettling. It's not a happy laugh; it's his cry for help. In reality, so many people send out such signals, but no one hears them. We made this film because we wanted to be the ones who hear those cries."
Throughout the entire interview, there wasn't a single boastful statement about box office success; instead, one actor earnestly discussed the core essence of a film.
Within 24 hours of the interview's release, it was shared wildly on social media platforms worldwide, garnering over 5 million views.
On Twitter, countless netizens shared their thoughts: "I always thought 'Joker' was just a violent movie riding the superhero wave. After reading this interview, I apologize for my prejudice. I've already bought tickets for the premiere, and I want to see this movie."
"I suffer from depression, and I burst into tears. For so many years, no one has understood why I can smile when I'm sad, only he does."
I will definitely go see this movie.
"Hollywood stars are busy showing off their mansions and creating scandals, but Chen Xun is the only one who squats in the subway station to observe the lives of ordinary people and sits in the shelter to listen to the stories of the homeless. That's what a real actor is."
Weibo, a Chinese microblogging platform.
#Chen Xun Clown Interview# immediately topped the trending search list.
The full translation of the interview has been shared millions of times.
Countless netizens in the comments section expressed their resonance: "Office workers really broke down after reading this. Every day, we're overwhelmed by work, smiling obsequiously at clients, pretending everything's fine in front of our bosses, and when we get home, we don't even have the energy to cry. Isn't this everyone's 'Arthur's moment'?"
"I used to think that Chen Xun was far away from us, a big Hollywood star. It turns out that he has been watching the lives of ordinary people like us all along. It's so touching."
"From roadshows to interviews, he never talked about his own fame and fortune, but only about those who were overlooked. His vision is truly remarkable."
In the three days following the release of the interview, the number of people who wanted to see "Joker" on IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, Maoyan, and Taopiaopiao in China surged by 300%.
It has directly broken the record for the number of people who want to see an R-rated movie!
Those voices that had previously spoken negatively about Chen Xun almost disappeared overnight.
Countless passersby have gone from pessimistic to hopeful.
Some even said, "Regardless of whether the movie is good or not, just based on its empathy for ordinary people, I'm definitely buying a ticket!"
While the interview went viral, Chen Xun also completely scrapped the plans for the global premiere of "Joker".
Warner Bros.' original plan was to turn the premiere into Hollywood's biggest Vanity Fair of the year.
They booked the entire Dolby Theatre, laid out a hundred-meter red carpet covered with roses, invited half of Hollywood's stars and celebrities, sponsored the entire event with top luxury brands, and held a lavish dinner in Beverly Hills after the premiere. The budget alone was $800 million.
When the proposal was presented to Chen Xun, he glanced at it and rejected it immediately.
His final proposal to Warner consisted of only one sentence:
Let's turn this premiere into a charity event!
"The Dolby Theatre has a total of 1200 seats. 600 seats are reserved for homeless shelters, mental health non-profit organizations, and urban workers at the bottom of society across the United States—delivery drivers, cleaners, truck drivers, and single parents doing odd jobs. All are invited free of charge and will be provided with private transportation."
"The remaining 600 seats are reserved for the film's creators, core staff, and a few media reporters who will be covering the story in depth. We will not invite any unrelated celebrity guests, hold a red carpet event, host a banquet, or display any commercially sponsored photos."
The proposal caused another uproar at Warner headquarters.
"Chen, are you crazy?"
"This is a world premiere. Countless films are vying to have a grand premiere at the Dolby Theatre, and you're actually going to give up your seats to homeless people and sanitation workers?"
"Without celebrity red carpet appearances and media exposure, wouldn't all our previous publicity efforts have been wasted?"
"This is outrageous! Hollywood has never held a premiere like this before!"
Faced with everyone's opposition, Chen Xun said the following:
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"The movie 'Joker' is about ordinary people who are forgotten by elite society and the world of fame and fortune."
"If our premiere turns into a fame and fortune event where celebrities flaunt their wealth and flatter each other, that would be the biggest irony of this film. We made this film to see those who are overlooked, and the first ray of light at the premiere should shine on them first. They are the guests that this film should invite the most."
Warner ultimately chose to compromise.
They had witnessed Chen Xun's unconventional behavior countless times, but each of his attempts ultimately yielded unexpected success.
Chen Xun is simply a marketing genius.
Many of the operations are incomprehensible.
Joker global premiere.
Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
There were no overwhelming brand logos, no star-studded red carpets, no crowds of paparazzi and flashing lights.
There was only a simple red carpet at the theater entrance, with a sign next to it that read: "Welcome to every guest who is seen."
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The invited guests were dressed in clean old clothes, their work uniforms, and some were even holding unfinished sandwiches.
For most of them, it was their first time entering a place like the Dolby Theatre.
I felt a little awkward and nervous, worried that I would make a fool of myself.
As soon as I entered, the staff gently guided me to the best seats for watching the movie.
Each person's seat had a bottle of warm water, a light meal, and a small card.
It read: "Thank you for coming; your story deserves to be heard."
Chen Xun and Todd stood at the theater entrance, not under the spotlight, but shaking hands with each of the guests who came in.
A Black woman in sanitation worker's clothes grasped his hand, her voice trembling with nervousness: "I—I never imagined—that I could come to a place like this to watch a movie, especially a Hollywood premiere. Thank you, kid."
Chen Xun smiled and bent down to look her in the eye: "We are the ones who should be thanking you. Your lives are the most authentic backdrop of this movie. We hope you enjoy watching it."
A young boy from the shelter, his eyes red-rimmed, said, "I saw your Spider-Man in the shelter, and I also saw the roadshow in Venice. I just wanted to come and see for myself."
"After you finish watching, you can tell me your story if you'd like."
Chen Xun patted him on the shoulder.
As the lights dimmed and the screening began, Chen Xun walked onto the stage without a script. He simply stood in front of the microphone and addressed the packed audience, saying just three sentences: "Welcome everyone. Today we won't talk about cinematic art; we just hope that in these 122 minutes, you can see the breakdown and despair of an ordinary person."
"If watching this movie can make you a little more kind and patient with the people around you, then this movie has achieved its greatest meaning."
"Thank you for being willing to be seen."
As soon as he finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted from the audience.
The ordinary people who were invited clapped enthusiastically, and some even had tears in their eyes.
They had lived their entire lives in the shadows of society, and no one had ever treated them with such seriousness.
After the premiere.
Chen Xun and the main creators stood in the theater lobby, chatting with the guests who had finished watching the movie.
This premiere, which had no celebrities or commercial sponsors, was hailed by the Los Angeles Times as "the most heartwarming premiere in Hollywood's 100-year history."
"When all Hollywood movies turn premieres into a stage for celebrities to gain fame and fortune, Chen Xun points the spotlight on ordinary people who deserve to be seen the most. He perfectly interprets the core of the movie 'Joker' with a premiere."
Netizens around the world were completely captivated after watching the premiere coverage.
"I'm seriously impressed. This is incredible! Chen Xun turned the premiere into a charity event. That's amazing!"
"I used to think that celebrities' charity work was just for show, but Chen Xun is really doing it. He has always focused on ordinary people at the bottom of society. That's what a true idol is."
"Just for this premiere, I have to buy ten tickets for 'Joker'! An actor like that deserves to be at the top of Hollywood!"
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