According to Duke's suggestion, all members of the film crew and attending guests for the premiere tried to wear dark-colored clothing. Moreover, on the afternoon of the premiere, when Scarlett Johansson stepped out of the car, she noticed that the traditionally indispensable red carpet had been replaced with a black one.
She couldn't help but glance at Duke, who was holding her arm, and sighed inwardly without saying anything.
Whether or not it had to do with Heath Ledger, this was a film full of dark tones, and the black carpet was extremely fitting.
The guests attending the premiere, like the crew members, were also dressed predominantly in shades of dark green and black.
Knowing Duke's habits, Scarlett held his arm and quickly walked down the black carpet to the interview area in front of the theater. The most eye-catching things here were undoubtedly the Batmobile and the Batpod, with a large number of reporters swarming around the two vehicles taking photos frantically.
When Kim and Sally Ledger, representing Heath Ledger, stepped onto the carpet, fans on both sides simultaneously raised their Joker posters. The previously noisy IMAX theater front instantly fell silent, as if everyone was using this gesture to commemorate the departed Heath Ledger.
Even though he could no longer attend the premiere, Heath Ledger still stole the spotlight. Even Duke, the director, was overlooked by the fans.
But Duke didn't care at all. Compared to commercial interests, this was nothing.
Besides the crew members and the guests invited by Duke and Warner Bros., some people related to Heath Ledger also came to the premiere.
For example, many actors from the Australian group.
"Hey, Duke."
A blonde woman in a dark cyan evening dress walked over. Regardless of Scarlett Johansson standing nearby, she opened her arms and lightly hugged Duke. "Long time no see."
"It has been a long time," Duke lightly patted Naomi Watts on the back.
In recent years, the contact between the two had become less and less.
After they separated, Naomi Watts stepped back slightly and sized Duke up and down. "You haven't changed at all."
Duke just smiled without responding to that comment. Naomi Watts had obviously aged. Even with makeup on, the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes were visible.
There are no ageless actresses in Hollywood. This saying applies all over the world. As for so-called reverse-aging stars—if not for makeup and botulinum toxin—who would believe it?
Naomi Watts turned to Scarlett Johansson. "You've really grown up, Scar."
"Yeah, Nami."
Although she had disliked Naomi Watts in the past and even spit into her Gatorade, Scarlett now appeared calm and poised. "Let's grab coffee sometime."
"You're very lucky." Naomi Watts smiled and shook the hand Scarlett extended, then turned to Duke and said, "It's been a while since we've had dinner. When you have time, it's on me."
Duke knew Naomi Watts didn't mean anything else and said, "I'll call you when I get back."
"Then I won't keep you." Naomi Watts smiled. "I'll head inside."
She was well aware that the once-young director had become one of the world's top directors.
As Naomi Watts walked away, Scarlett's eyes twitched slightly, and she suddenly whispered, "Why don't you keep in touch with her? And Charlize Theron, Alessandra Ambrosio…"
Duke turned his head and looked at her.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Scarlett slightly shrugged and said, "Didn't I say before? Monogamy completely goes against human…"
Duke glared at her, and Scarlett shrank her neck and obediently shut her mouth.
Just then, an exceptionally tall blonde girl followed behind Nancy Josephson and walked over. She looked about eighteen and was very tall—comparable even to Uma Thurman.
"Duke, Scar." Nancy casually greeted the two, then pulled the girl beside her over and introduced, "This is a singer Warner Records signed last year. She's already released a single. I think she has great potential…"
While Nancy Josephson spoke, the girl just smiled sweetly, looking like a life-sized Barbie doll.
After Nancy Josephson stepped aside, the girl reached out her hand to Duke and introduced herself. "I'm Taylor Swift, from Pennsylvania. Just call me Taylor."
Duke shook her hand and nodded slightly. "Nice to meet you, Taylor."
Then she greeted Scarlett Johansson as well.
This girl had good sense. After saying hello, she took the initiative to leave. Duke's gaze followed her for a moment.
During that brief interaction, she gave the impression of being gentle, polite, and fresh. At first glance, she seemed like a pretty good girl.
But Duke never trusted first impressions—even he often misjudged people.
"Your new client?" Duke asked Nancy Josephson.
"Someone from Warner Records introduced her, and the company signed her." Nancy explained simply. "Warner Records acquired a small company in Nashville called Big Machine, then brought her to Los Angeles. Attending your premiere is also a way to gain some exposure."
At this point, she signaled toward Duke's back with her eyes. "Some media are coming over for interviews. I'll step aside."
Like most agents, unless necessary, Nancy Josephson usually avoided standing in front of the media.
"I'll go, too."
Seeing Duke nod, Scarlett Johansson followed Nancy Josephson into the IMAX theater.
Since it was an interview, it was inevitably related to Heath Ledger. This was also part of Warner Bros.' strategy—just two days before the film's release, they dredged up all of Heath Ledger's past TV interviews and specials for a concentrated media blitz, once again invoking the media and public's fond memories.
If it were a living person, it might come across as over-hyping and have the opposite effect. But society is always forgiving toward those who have passed away.
Even though he had said it many times before, Duke once again expressed his thoughts on Heath Ledger in front of the camera lens.
"Heath's performance was brilliant. When I watched the completed film, Heath wasn't an actor, wasn't my friend or coworker he was the Joker. He had already inhabited that role."
Seemingly full of emotion, Duke added, "He made the Joker into a completely insane and violent character, but he was still human—just terrifying. Because if he weren't human, we wouldn't believe him."
A reporter from Fox TV followed up with another question, "Is there any particular scene in the film that you're most eager to show the audience?"
Duke thought for a moment and replied, "I could say I treasure every frame I've shot. There are many scenes I'm excited to show, especially the action sequences shot in IMAX format. They're truly stunning—especially the life-and-death battle between Batman and the Joker."
IMAX Corporation invested heavily in The Dark Knight. The film would debut on 125 IMAX screens across North America. Fifty IMAX theaters would be running it all day, and at least 73 more IMAX theaters would be added worldwide in the following week.
This move would not only break the record for IMAX screens but also set a new historical box office record. Current conservative estimates place The Dark Knight's IMAX opening-weekend box office at over four million dollars.
In fact, the film had already broken a record—opening in 4,466 theaters, the largest-scale opening in North American history.
Likewise, according to statistics up to yesterday, The Dark Knight had reached $62.5 million in advance ticket sales, setting a new pre-sale box office record in North America.
The Fox TV reporter suddenly brought up another topic, "You once said that Superman represents how Americans view themselves, while Batman represents how other countries view America. Is that true?"
Glancing at Michael Caine in the distance, Duke intended to shift the reporter's focus to him. "That's quite accurate, but I wasn't the one who originally said it—it was Michael Caine. I was quoting his viewpoint, so some reporters may think I said it, but I believe what he said was absolutely right."
It was something Michael Caine had told him during a conversation about America's war on terror.
When applied to Batman—the "vigilante" who operates outside the law it was indeed quite fitting.
Sure enough, the reporter's attention shifted to Michael Caine. Duke then left the interview area and stood in front of the sponsor backdrop. After a short wait, the main cast and crew, as well as Heath Ledger's parents, Kim and Sally Ledger, arrived.
What followed were mostly routine procedures group photos with the cast, photos with sponsors, photos with guests. Not until the sun completely set beyond the horizon did Duke lead the entire production team, amid the cheers of countless fans, into the IMAX theater.
It was getting late, so they skipped the VIP lounge and went straight into the screening hall.
The moment Duke and the others entered, all the guests and audience members in the hall rose to their feet and gave a warm round of applause to the cast and crew.
Among them, in the front row, James Cameron was also applauding.
Even though he was busy preparing for Avatar, he had specially flown to Chicago because he was well aware that Duke Rosenberg was also continuously experimenting with new technologies technologies that could offer him great inspiration.
Despite working with IMAX Corporation, Cameron didn't yet know how IMAX technology would perform in commercial cinema.
This film, The Dark Knight, would undoubtedly test whether IMAX technology could be embraced by the commercial market.
In the row behind James Cameron, Taylor Swift was also clapping. Looking at the director leading the crew, her sapphire-blue eyes suddenly lit up.
Yes, that was the kind of effect she wanted—to become the center of everyone's attention!
Meanwhile, across the United States, countless audiences were streaming into theaters. A few lucky ones were walking into the limited number of IMAX theaters.
.....
Hi For access to additional chapters of
Director in Hollywood (40 chpaters)
Made In Hollywood (60 Chapters)
Pokemon:Bounty Hunter(30 Chapters)
Douluo Dalu: Reincarnated as Yan(40 Chapters)
Hollywood:From Razzie to Legend(40 Chapters)
The Great Ruler (30 Chapters)
Join pateron.com/Translaterappu