Sandra Bullock -
Unbelievable.
It felt like I woke up and my first movie was about to be released.
I originally thought this day would take at least two or three years.
It's a pity that Mom and Dad won't be able to see it right away; there are only theatres showing it in New York on the East Coast.
Thankfully, I had already sent the poster back, along with the clip I edited for the 'Back to the Future Part II' crew. I secretly made a copy and carefully instructed Mom and Dad in the letter not to let the videotape leak, and to especially prevent my sister from doing so. Jessie is at an age where she loves to show off and is quite restless.
After work in the afternoon, I immediately left Warner Bros. Studios and drove back to West Hollywood without stopping.
Keanu was already waiting for me on Santa Monica Boulevard, bringing a lively group of men and women with him, a truly well-liked guy. Although he already had several years of acting experience, 'Run Lola Run' also happened to be the first theatrical film Keanu participated in.
Of course, the character he played was a bit too unlucky.
After everyone introduced themselves, we rushed to a nearby cinema that we had scouted in advance.
Perhaps it was because it was Friday, but the cinema was quite crowded, with people lining up. Looking at the striking 'Run Lola Run' poster in the lobby, I silently prayed that all these people were there to see my movie.
There were seven of us, so naturally, not all of us needed to queue up. She volunteered to take on this task. Blending into the crowd, she listened carefully to the names shouted by the people buying tickets ahead.
'Platoon', hmm, I know that one, also distributed by Orion.
'Run Lola Run', oh, plus one.
'Run Lola Run', tsk, plus two.
'Over the Top', huh? I turned my head to look at the poster in the lobby. Oh, Stallone's new movie. We're not competing with that one.
'Run Lola Run', ding, plus three.
'Black Widow', ugh, a spider?
Soon she was second in line, and she heard the middle-aged man in front of her, who had a boy with him, say, "Miss, what is the rating for 'Run Lola Run'?"
She was instantly taken aback.
That's right, why didn't I notice that? She quickly pricked her ears.
The ticket seller also saw the boy in front of the window and replied, "Sir, it's R-rated. Do you still want it?"
The middle-aged man immediately hesitated.
Noticing his father's indecision, the boy said unhappily, "Dad, I'm not a child anymore".
The middle-aged man looked at his son and had no choice but to ask the ticket seller again, "Miss, this movie, do you think, um, are there any inappropriate things in it?"
But the ticket seller shook her head and smiled, "I'm sorry, sir, the movie just premiered today, and I haven't seen it either".
She stood behind, listening, her mind a bit blank.
How could it be R-rated? Even if it couldn't be PG, PG-13 should definitely be fine, right?
Watching the father in front of her still hesitating, she really wanted to directly remind him, "It's fine, I can guarantee it. If you don't believe me, look at my face".
But she still didn't speak rashly.
The father and son ultimately chose Sylvester Stallone's 'Over the Top'.
So she stepped forward, but asked, "Um, what is the rating for 'Over the Top'?"
To avoid being too easily recognized and feeling awkward, she specifically wore a pair of black-rimmed glasses today, the kind without lenses, and her hair had already been dyed back.
The ticket seller looked her over. Although she felt somewhat familiar, she didn't think much of it and politely replied, "Miss, it's PG-rated".
Sylvester Stallone's movie is PG-rated, with all that gore? Are you kidding me?
Seeing her a bit stunned, the ticket seller patiently said, "Miss, do you want them?"
Alright, alright.
Who told us our name was short?
Arnold Schwarzenegger's next movie must be G-rated, right?
Muttering to herself, she still nodded and handed over a stack of small bills: "Yes, seven tickets for the next showing of 'Run Lola Run'".
This time, the ticket seller was taken aback, then smiled and checked, but then looked up regretfully and said, "I'm sorry, miss, there are only 3 tickets left for the 6:20 PM showing".
How can three tickets be enough?
She immediately asked, "Then when is the next showing?"
The ticket seller checked again and said, "8:10 PM."
Her eyes widened: "Why does it take so long?"
The ticket seller immediately replied, "Miss, our cinema only has one screening room showing 'Run Lola Run'".
She immediately became even more displeased: "Since tickets are selling so well, why don't you add more showings?"
The ticket seller still smiled politely and said, "Miss, that's not something I can decide. You can call our manager to report this matter".
I definitely will.
She muttered this to herself and then ran out of the line.
Hey, Keanu, you idiot, why are you in such a hurry to buy popcorn? Are you going to sit on the curb and watch the street scene with it?
Hearing that the next showing wasn't until after eight, the group of young people left in a flurry. After trying two more cinemas, they finally managed to buy seven tickets.
This was a large screening room for about 150 people. As soon as they entered, there was a buzz of voices all around, so many people.
The seven of them proactively sat in the back row. After waiting patiently for a moment, the last few seats in the screening room were also filled.
She immediately became happy again.
However, considering the lively discussions in the media recently, this didn't seem strange at all.
Who wouldn't want to see what kind of movie an 18-year-old 'madman' had cooked up?
Then she thought of him.
It was truly surprising that he had such an experience. Yet, normally, there was no sign of it; he seemed more normal than anyone else.
Think about it carefully.
No, that's not right, he's not normal at all.
What normal person could make a movie like 'Run Lola Run' at such a young age?
And, occasionally, one could indeed feel the aloofness in his eyes towards people like them.
"He's a guy so proud he disdains pride, like a god from another world suddenly descended to conquer the world".
His girlfriend Jenny's words from the Los Angeles Times inexplicably popped into her mind.
Tsk.
It's not that exaggerated.
Sure enough, people in love see their partner as the best in the world.
However.
Thinking about it carefully... hmm?
Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey, I'm not thinking about it, I'm not his girlfriend.
Suddenly, she regretted not being able to go to Park City together at the time. She heard it had become very lively because of 'Run Lola Run'.
While thinking about these things, she appeared nonchalant on the surface, chatting casually and laughing with Keanu and the others, as if she didn't care at all.
The lights in the screening room dimmed, and everyone instantly fell silent.
As usual, there was a short commercial first.
It started with the same opening credits. I felt like they could be cut; it was just trying to be mysterious. But then again, if they were cut, it would really feel like something was missing.
Then.
The sound of a pendulum, a second hand, music, shouts... not giving anyone time to think, just a rapid and compact 80 minutes.
As the credits slowly began to roll, she looked around, and the screening room seemed to be filled with a certain inexplicable emotion.
Who am I?
Where am I?
What did I just see?
Haha.
Then she also began to watch the credits with great interest.
She hadn't felt much during the filming, but watching the credits now, she realized how many things he had actually done.
Until the lights came on, everyone in the hall still seemed to be immersed in the atmosphere of just moments ago.
Then.
The boy sitting on Keanu's other side suddenly shouted very loudly, "It's so fucking cool!!!"
Then he started clapping enthusiastically.
So embarrassing.
Do you have to be so exaggerated?
You'll get beaten if someone finds out.
However, that guy's shout seemed to ignite the atmosphere in the screening room.
Everyone gradually started to applaud as well.
Clap, clap, clap.
After a lively moment, everyone began to leave, buzzing with discussions.
Following the crowd out of the screening room, I deliberately stayed in the cinema ticket hall for a moment and noticed that many people who had just come out were now heading back to the ticket counter. The previously uncrowded ticket counter immediately had a queue again.
Realizing what was happening, her heart was instantly filled with satisfaction.
Leaving the cinema, night had already fallen, and the streets of Los Angeles were aglow with neon lights.
Everyone went to dinner together, and jokingly thanked the guy who had shouted earlier. He, however, said he genuinely thought it was very cool and claimed he would make time to watch it two more times.
Alright, I'll take you seriously then.
Then she thought about the rating again and brought it up with everyone, still feeling it was very unfair.
Most of them had been in Hollywood longer than she had and knew more. After a brief discussion, she understood that the MPAA, responsible for movie ratings, was controlled by the seven major film studios. Those people often gave independent filmmakers' movies unreasonable ratings to suppress competitors.
That must be the truth.
She heard that the seven major film studios were all very interested in 'Run Lola Run', but he gave the distribution rights to Orion. It would be unreasonable for them not to suppress him a little.
It's just.
It's too unfair.
Then she thought again that all three cinemas showing 'Run Lola Run' tonight were full, so it seemed that it hadn't been too greatly affected.
Only then did she feel a little relieved.
After playing out with everyone until eleven at night, she returned to her apartment, washed up, and was about to rest when she suddenly thought of him again.
She heard he had gone to Arizona.
Alas, it's a pity I don't know his phone number, otherwise I would definitely call him at this time to congratulate him.
Of course, I would also protest the MPAA's rating of 'Run Lola Run'.
United against a common enemy, you know.
As she thought about it, she suddenly couldn't sleep.
So she picked up the phone, curled up on the sofa, and turned down the TV volume. She picked up the receiver, but then suddenly didn't know who to call.
Her parents and friends on the East Coast were definitely out; with a three-hour time difference, it was already past two in the morning there. Here in Los Angeles, she had made quite a few friends over the past six months, but none to the extent of having late-night phone chats.
After hesitating for a moment, she inexplicably dialled the number for his villa in the Montana district.
After a series of beeps, naturally no one answered, followed by the voicemail prompt.
That was to be expected, of course.
However, since that was the case, she began talking to herself: "Hi, Simon, it's Sandy. Tonight, Keanu and I went to see 'Run Lola Run.' There were so many people! We had to go to three different theatres to find seats. Also, what's up with the movie rating, do you know? It's R-rated! I think PG-13 would definitely have been fine".
She babbled on for several minutes, and finally, feigning sudden realization, remembered that he wasn't in Los Angeles. So she smoothly wrapped up her monologue and then hung up the phone.
Then she felt a little regretful again.
So silly.
However, after making that call, her lost sleepiness suddenly returned.
Who cares.
Time to sleep.
Anyway, how does that saying go?
Hmm.
Tomorrow is another day.