Entertainment: Starting as a Succubus, Taking Hollywood by Storm

December 22, 2013.

Christmas season.

Gravity premiered in 4,236 screens across North America.

Among them, 2,300 were 3D screens.

And within these 2,300 3D screens, there were 700 IMAX-3D screens. These 3D screens would be the major drivers of Gravity's box office.

...

Outside the Chinese Theatre.

The premiere red carpet was laid out. Celebrities walked down the red carpet one by one, attracting countless flashing lights.

Inside the banquet hall.

Upon seeing Martin, James Cameron couldn't help but express his astonishment: "Kid, you're way too fast! A sci-fi film like Gravity—you finished it in less than a year and it's already premiering? Let me think, you started in February, right?"

Martin nodded: "Yes, in February. But the preparations started last year. So strictly speaking, it took just over a year."

"That's still incredibly fast. I can't even imagine it," James Cameron said, shaking his head.

A vice president from 20th Century Fox flatteringly added: "Martin's filming efficiency is well-known to everyone. And it's not just high efficiency; the quality is also excellent. That's what's truly unbelievable."

"I suspect you're taking a dig at me," James Cameron glanced at him sideways.

Recently, whenever James Cameron attended events where Martin was present, a senior executive from 20th Century Fox would inevitably follow. They were clearly afraid James Cameron might be "kidnapped" by Martin!

It couldn't be helped. Mainly because during the investment phase of Avatar, 20th Century Fox hadn't been as supportive as Martin, and James Cameron had repeatedly praised Martin's decisiveness and capabilities in public, making them a bit nervous.

Steven Spielberg also came over, accompanied by George Lucas, who had sold his company and was preparing for retirement.

Steven Spielberg said to Martin with a laugh: "I heard you used a lot of new technology in this film, so I dragged George along to appreciate it."

George Lucas shook hands with Martin and joked with Spielberg: "Old partner, you need to accept getting old. Can you still keep up with new technology? Why not learn from me and retire to enjoy life?"

"Go on, get out of here. I'm not old yet. I still have abundant curiosity and drive. I'm not even seventy yet. I'm not an old fossil like you," Spielberg retorted.

Spielberg was indeed a vigorous old man with an extremely strong ability to grasp new film technologies.

In the original timeline, this guy directed the sci-fi adventure film Ready Player One in 2018 at the age of 72, and it did quite well at the box office. After that, he remained active in the film industry as a producer, a true evergreen in Hollywood.

Christopher Nolan also arrived, accompanied by Bale.

Although these two hadn't connected through The Dark Knight Trilogy in this timeline, Nolan still chose Bale for Interstellar.

Perhaps there really is a kind of fateful affinity between people.

Put plainly, it's just clicking with someone.

Interstellar was released in August this year. At that time, Martin was in New York accompanying his babysitter, Jennifer Aniston, and didn't attend the premiere, but he heard it was very lively that day.

Normally, Nolan, being a renowned director, still commanded great respect within the industry.

Interstellar was released in early December, grossing $820 million worldwide, once again proving Nolan's strength and making Bale a hot property again.

Nolan brought Bale over.

"Hey, Martin, this is Bale. Bale, this is Martin."

"Hello, Bale."

"Hello, Mr. Meyers."

"Call me Martin."

"Okay, you can call me Chris too."

Bale seemed a bit shy.

As a artiste, Christian Bale actually held a decent status within the industry, but he always felt a bit awkward and not entirely at ease around Martin.

Martin smiled and shook his hand. "Dude, I saw your performance in The Machinist. My God, your weight loss was simply extreme! I thought to myself, this actor is truly dedicated; he's literally risking his life for the role."

Martin knew how to make conversation.

Bale revealed a smile.

The Machinist was one of his most proud works.

Although it didn't win any major awards, it was through this film that he gained approval from the Hollywood mainstream and more opportunities.

"You really lost weight to 110 pounds? In just half a month?"

"Actually, no. That was for publicity. It took me three months to lose the weight, eating just one can of tuna and one apple a day."

"Three months? Wow, that's still terrifying enough."

......

The time reached 8:30 PM.

The film began.

Bale had heard Nolan mention Martin's new film before, and every time Nolan brought it up, he couldn't stop praising it. However, Bale reserved his judgment.

Because Nolan's high praise was based on Martin's script and his use of technology, judging the film would surely be a classic.

But Bale had his own perspective.

He felt that whether a film is good or bad also depends on how the director shoots it—there are plenty of examples in Hollywood of good scripts being ruined by directors.

Bale had seen all of Martin's past films. His viewing range was very broad. What impressed him most about Martin was his unpredictable style.

Biographical films, superhero movies, horror films—he seemed to master them all. But Gravity should be his first pure sci-fi film.

In Bale's view, District 9 should be classified as a drama, with actor performance occupying a larger proportion; the sci-fi elements were actually just background.

He was curious about how Martin would perform this time with a changed genre.

Bale was quite curious.

And the curious ones weren't just Bale; they also included film critics scattered across major theaters.

Kevin Thomas, now promoted to Deputy Entertainment Editor of the Los Angeles Times, sat in the sixth row of the Chinese Theatre, watching the big screen with anticipation.

Martin's pure sci-fi film, it saids using a lot of new technology—I wonder what it will turn out like?

Several theater chain representatives who had attended the test screening mentioned that this film could make people feel deeply shaken and terrified.

"Shaken" is understandable, but why "terrified"?

Could it be a horror sci-fi genre?

Kevin Thomas was extremely curious.

The Meyers Pictures logo flashed by.

Then the screen darkened, and the vast, ink-black universe appeared before all the viewers.

Narration sounded.

"600 kilometers above the Earth. The temperature fluctuates between +258°F and -148°F. There is no medium for sound to propagate, no atmospheric pressure, no oxygen. Life cannot survive in space..."

The camera began to rotate, giving a sensation of floating, making viewers with 3D glasses feel as if they were right there in the vast universe.

Then, a blue planet almost occupied the entire field of view of the audience.