At the news hall of the Demon City Grand Theater, the film crew of Fast & Furious 5 was holding a post-screening press conference. Nini sat in front of a crowd of media reporters, still feeling the thrill and excitement that hadn't yet subsided.
She hadn't seen the final cut of Fast & Furious 5 before this. Though she had a fair share of scenes in the Chinese trailer, only second to Gal Gadot among the female roles and even above Jordana Brewster, Nini had been worried. She wondered if the production team had only used her as a promotional gimmick, leaving her character as a minor background role in the end.
Such things had happened before.
But now that the film was over, not only was she relieved, she was also thrilled.
She was truly a supporting actress, not just a fleeting appearance. Matthew Horner turned out to be as reliable as rumors claimed. Looking at Matthew Horner, seated across from her with Gal Gadot in between, Nini felt assured knowing that there would likely be a Fast & Furious 6, meaning she'd have the opportunity to continue in the series.
As soon as the press conference began, reporters flocked to ask her questions, another reason for her excitement.
Before the film's release, even with her scenes in the trailer, it had been tough to get the attention of these reporters. Some of them wouldn't have acknowledged her even if she'd sought them out for an interview. But now, with Fast & Furious 5 proving that she was indeed part of a top-tier Hollywood production and not just a minor role, their attitudes had completely shifted.
She could already imagine herself as an international star, pursued by entertainment media.
Becoming an international star, a part of a Hollywood blockbuster—just thinking about it elevated her status considerably.
All her efforts had paid off, and it was worth it.
At this thought, she glanced at Gal Gadot with a hint of envy. During pre-production and filming, the entire crew was aware of Matthew Horner's interest in Gal Gadot. She had even heard that he had tried pursuing her back when they were filming Fast & Furious 4, but had never succeeded.
Nini sighed internally. Gal Gadot hadn't put in nearly as much effort as she had, yet had still landed the female lead in the series. Was it simply because she was Jewish, given Hollywood's preference for Jewish talent? Or perhaps, was it the allure of the unattainable?
As Paul Walker answered a reporter's question, Nini glanced at Matthew again. Maybe, for a man like him, surrounded by women eager for his attention, the one he couldn't have seemed all the more special.
She recalled something she'd heard from the crew—that it was Gal Gadot and Matthew Horner who first encountered the Mexican drug dealer situation, which later led to the Burbank shooting incident.
That kind of shared danger might have created a unique bond between them.
If it had been her, she would have rushed into Matthew Horner's arms, using her charms to gain as many resources as possible, maybe even trying to get a hold of Matthew or his connections and wealth.
But could Gal Gadot really be indifferent to all of that?
Nini didn't believe the Israeli woman was deliberately playing hard to get with Matthew, because aside from filming and promotion, she always stayed back in Tel Aviv, Israel, avoiding Matthew entirely.
Moreover, if Nini could see it so clearly, then surely Gal Gadot, who had known Matthew longer, would as well—Matthew was the type who would lose interest quickly if he ever got what he wanted.
Who would willingly seek heartbreak if they wanted a long-term, stable relationship?
"Mr. Horner!"
A reporter's question brought Nini back to focus. She straightened up, listening attentively, as someone asked Matthew, "What was the biggest takeaway for you from this film?"
She looked at Matthew with a sense of admiration, knowing that, when it came to public relations, he was by far the most skilled of anyone in the room.
So, the person best at presenting a polished image was also the biggest star.
"I spent the past two years on Fast & Furious 5, putting my heart and soul into it. I turned down many other films because this one was worth it," he said.
Having been on set for so long, Nini could sense that Matthew's statement was mostly truthful, though with a hint of exaggeration. "Director Justin Lin and I discussed how to surprise the audience with this movie, and in the end, we decided to push the car chase scenes to the limit. Audiences will see the lengths we went to in creating these chase scenes."
He looked around at the other cast members. "Another special thing about this movie is that we became a family, united in pulling off something huge in Rio de Janeiro."
A ripple of good-natured laughter and applause followed in the press room.
Nini couldn't believe how well the "family" concept resonated. It was just a word, but it had a powerful appeal.
Soon, a question was directed at her.
The reporter, seemingly from the national TV movie channel, asked, "Miss Nini, your first film is a Hollywood blockbuster. Was this a huge challenge for you?"
"Yes!" Nini laughed. "Luckily, I managed to rise to the challenge."
Following Matthew's lead, she maintained a natural smile. "This is a film I'll never forget. Every car chase was shot on location, which was an incredible challenge for both the cast and the production team. The director told me from the start that this wasn't going to be easy. I told him I was ready and to bring it on!"
She couldn't help but laugh at that.
A reporter from Xiulang Entertainment then asked, "Can you describe your character?"
Nini continued smiling. "She's a determined person, with a fearless drive and always quick to jump into action."
As the interview went on, Nini noticed that every cast member of Chinese descent received significant attention, while the other actors—apart from Matthew Horner—were met with a more reserved response.
At the end of the press conference, Matthew stood up and said, "If Fast & Furious were a race, by the fifth lap, it would be time to settle things. Fast & Furious 5 brings a temporary conclusion to this story, but it doesn't mean the series ends here. Over the past ten years, this franchise has witnessed change inside and outside the film, and it will continue in its own way on the big screen. I hope the characters will keep appearing in future Fast & Furious films, even if they're not the main characters. They'll still bring new surprises for the fans of the series!"
A round of applause broke out, marking the end of the press conference.
Nini had initially wanted to leave with Matthew, but her agent approached her, explaining that a reporter from the national TV movie channel wanted to conduct a private interview and record a short video to be featured in the week's global movie report.
As a newcomer, Nini couldn't refuse.
She followed her agent to a nearby lounge, where the interview quickly began.
By the time everything was done, it was nearing midnight. Most of the cast and crew had already left, and Nini got into her car to return to her hotel.
"I have good news for you," her agent said, getting into the car with her. "Since the premiere, six different film companies have reached out to explore potential future collaborations."
Nini nodded with satisfaction, pleased that her hard work was finally getting noticed.
But her agent remained realistic. "This is just preliminary. Until we see the domestic reaction and the first-week box office numbers for Fast & Furious 5, they won't make any concrete offers."
"I understand." Nini nodded, then asked, "What's your recommendation for what comes next?"
"Stick with Hollywood and the Fast & Furious series for now. Don't rush into any domestic films. Hollywood offers more security. Once your fame grows and you have more Hollywood movies, domestic issues will be far less restrictive."
Nini trusted her agent's judgment. "Alright, I'll follow your advice."
After all, if she had to choose between having one powerful supporter or dealing with many less reliable ones, the choice was clear.
Plus, the former was an enjoyable experience, both physically and emotionally.
Thinking of the older directors in her home country, she shuddered.
"Oh, there should be online reviews by now, right?" Nini asked her agent.
Her agent handed her an iPad. "See for yourself. The response is fantastic."
Nini opened a famous movie rating site and browsed the audience reviews.
"After the movie, a group of excited kids were revving their engines in the parking lot!"
"Despite using Hollywood's usual formula, and staying true to the series' core, the chase scenes, destruction, action, and character development were amazing. Maybe it didn't transcend its genre, but it perfected it."
"Matthew and Paul Walker are captivating, Gal Gadot is stunning, and Nini's character is well-developed—a real surprise!"
"I'm speechless—go see it in theaters to feel the impact! Best of the series so far—a Hollywood action movie textbook."
"The final action scene is phenomenal! If I were the projectionist, I'd replay the last half hour endlessly. Also, Gal Gadot and Nini are gorgeous!"
Reading these, Nini couldn't stop smiling. The audience seemed to accept her and her character warmly, a perfect beginning for a newcomer like her.
Now, all that remained was to wait for the box office numbers.
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