The convoy of stretch limousines and black vans drove mightily toward the screening venue of the Shanghai International Film Festival. Thousands of fans crowded behind barricades, screaming excitedly, tightly clutching their cameras, hoping to snap a shot of today's highest-paid stars.
But the ones they were waiting for weren't Hollywood actors not superstar Tom Cruise, not Oscar Best Actor winner Nicolas Cage, not the goddess-like Charlize Theron, nor Leonardo DiCaprio who is wildly popular throughout this land. Not even the lead actors of this film, Andrew Garfield and Amber Heard, or Duke, the director deeply loved by these fans.
Even though they are all talented, have superb acting skills, and are friendly in demeanor, they were not the main characters today. The ones that made these crazy fans risk everything to stay packed behind the barricades for so long—were not them!
If, at this moment, a few stretch limousines or Rolls-Royces gracefully glided onto the red carpet, and at the end of the carpet, transformed into 30-foot-tall robots; if they stood proudly in the air with laser cannons ready to fire at any time, delivering a speech about eliminating evil and saving humanity, then you'd truly see who these fans were obsessed with, who they would follow through fire and water!
The dazzling stars still shined brightly, but tonight—tonight belonged to the Transformers!
After a long period of fading away, the Transformers have finally returned in full force!
For every boy of that era and indeed a surprising number of girls Transformers were a beloved toy.
Brave Autobots battling the evil Decepticons; robots from outer space transforming into sedans, heavy trucks, airplanes, and all kinds of other vehicles.
These characters who were once wildly popular in this country from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s who appeared countless times in comic books, cartoons, sticker albums, and elementary school stationery were infused with so much passion back then!
Now, the Transformers have finally returned, following Duke, following Optimus Prime, following the entire crew, and have charged back magnificently!
The live-action stars began stepping onto the red carpet one after another, but they clearly understood that they were merely supporting roles even Oscar-winner Nicolas Cage willingly stood off to the side of the stage.
Everyone knew that the premiere had only one true protagonist. And that was the Transformers!
At the end of the red carpet leading to the Shanghai International Cinema, two rows of Transformers stood opposite each other, led respectively by Optimus Prime and Megatron. Their gigantic bodies and sleek, streamlined designs easily drew all eyes at the scene. Countless reporters stood in the nearby photo area, lenses pointed at these big guys, furiously pressing their camera shutters.
The flashbulbs lit up the darkening sky as if it were broad daylight. The continuous sound of shutters even drowned out the crazed cheers of the fans.
Wang Zhiming stood on the outer edge of the red carpet viewing area, raised his camera high, and stood on tiptoe snapping photos non-stop, wishing he could fit all the towering Transformers into his camera to take home and admire later.
"Even just touching one would be good!"
Because they were going into the theater soon, Luo Qinghua didn't squeeze up to the sides of the red carpet but watched from a distance. Looking at those two rows of seemingly alive giant models, he said to his companion, "Bi Jun, I think they're going to sweep the country. Won't be long before you'll see Transformers everywhere in front of factories and on roadsides."
The man called Bi Jun worked in the mechanical processing industry and knew very well that ever since the May Day press conference at the Oriental Pearl Tower, many factories had set their sights on these big guys.
"Good afternoon, viewers. This is a live report from Phoenix Television."
In front of the International Cinema, a female reporter stood near the two rows of Transformers, speaking to the live broadcast camera: "An unprecedented cinematic event is unfolding at the Shanghai International Cinema. Famous Hollywood director Duke Rosenberg has arrived in Shanghai with his new work Transformers for a grand global premiere…"
The camera panned to the red carpet, with dense crowds of people on both sides. The female reporter continued, "The scale of this premiere is astounding unlike anything ever seen in the country. According to on-site estimates, more than 10,000 fans have gathered near the cinema. This is not only a feast for movie lovers but also a gathering of many top stars from both sides of the Pacific."
The camera slowly moved, capturing not just Hollywood stars but also mainland celebrities and directors like Bald Ge Guangtou and Jiang Xiaojun.
The camera turned back to the Transformers and finally focused on Optimus Prime. Standing beneath him, the female reporter said, "Transformers were originally invented by a Japanese company and brought to the U.S. market by Hasbro in 1984, where they became a massive hit and quickly expanded into animation and comics. Transformers completely captivated children. Soon, what began as high-end toys evolved into a culture of its own, complete with its own story."
This reporter clearly did her homework to be on a live premiere broadcast. "The 1986 Transformers animated movie once caused a huge uproar, leaving countless fans furious over Optimus Prime's death, criticizing it loudly. But back then, Hollywood showed little interest. With Schwarzenegger and Stallone ruling the box office, who wanted to film robots? Year after year, new Transformer toys and comics kept the brand alive, but hopes for a live-action movie remained slim."
"Until finally, one director understood. And it just so happened he was a powerhouse in the industry his name is Duke Rosenberg!"
The reporter controlled her rhythm perfectly. Just as she said this, a black Rolls-Royce pulled up to the front of the red carpet. As the door was opened, Duke stepped onto the red carpet wearing a black tuxedo.
Many fans and reporters immediately shifted their attention from the Transformers to him. No one knows who shouted it first, but soon both sides of the red carpet echoed with one unified chant.
"Duke God! Duke God! Duke God!"
The chant went from scattered to coordinated with astonishing speed, so loud it seemed to pierce the sky and echo all the way to Chongming Island.
"Duke God! Duke God…"
The live broadcast captured every moment without missing a beat. Witnessing the amazing scene, the female reporter said, "I've never seen any director as wildly beloved by fans as Duke Rosenberg!"
However, despite the roaring chants, Duke didn't alter his usual pace or habits. He walked the red carpet at a steady pace and swiftly passed through.
The camera then shifted back, and the female reporter continued, "This is Duke Rosenberg, the best director in the world. When he decided to make Transformers, he got right to it. His and Warner Bros.' involvement immediately turned what could've been a simple nostalgic film into a lavish blockbuster."
Tall and slender, with firm and powerful strides, short hair standing upright, chin and shoulders slightly tilted, Duke entered the interview area in his usual form.
He was the last of the crew to appear. Many members were already being interviewed by reporters in the interview area.
African-American actor Tyrese Gibson pointed at the giant models of Optimus Prime and Megatron and said, "I don't mind being a supporting role, acting in the coolest movie of the summer what do I have to lose? In Titanic, the most eye-catching thing was the sinking ship, but that doesn't mean Leonardo and Winslet didn't act well. Now, me, Optimus Prime, and Megatron—we're bros. We bonded while filming!"
It seems Black people are naturally gifted with humor.
Of course, the media and reporters wouldn't let Duke go. Facing the microphones piled up in front of him, he also said a few words.
"This film took nearly a year to prepare and produce. Hundreds of film crew members devoted their efforts to it. Now that it's finally being released, I'm just as excited as everyone else…"
Being able to realize a long-held dream, Duke was also a little emotional. "My ambition is to rekindle the excitement and passion people felt when they first watched Star Wars or Titanic! By then, this whirlwind will blow people right into the back wall of the movie theater… My expectations for Transformers have far exceeded those I had for any of my past films. Some say Transformers will bring a visual revolution to the audience. What I aim for is more than that—I hope people can feel a kind of shock they've never experienced from any movie before!"
Time was running late, and there were many events to come. Duke only gave a brief interview before walking into the photo area, where he stood before the backdrop alongside other crew members and sponsors for the customary premiere group photo.
The sky grew darker, and as it neared 7:30 p.m., Duke and Tina Fey led the crew into the specially converted IMAX 3D theater. This massive hall, capable of seating over a thousand people, was packed to the brim. The moment they entered, all guests and audience members stood and gave the crew a round of thunderous applause.
"He's come here to cash in again."
Watching Duke lead the crew to the front row, Jiang Xiaojun clapped and said to Baldy Ge, "He really knows how to read the pulse of our market."
Baldy Ge nodded in agreement, "He's practically a China expert."
Unlike these concerned filmmakers, the audience came to the theater simply to watch a great film. After taking their seats, Wang Ziming and Luo Qinghua couldn't wait for the movie to begin.