The Wolf of Los Angeles

[Chapter 16: Applause Resounded]

Entering the screening room, Bruce Richmond casually glanced around; the attendance was about half full.

He didn't choose a seat in the front but instead sat in the last row, telling Katherine and Eric, "You guys do whatever; you don't need to stay with me."

Katherine and Eric exchanged a few words before sitting on the opposite aisle.

Bruce Richmond took off his wool coat and noticed that several viewers in the front row were sipping coffee. He turned to his assistant and said, "Simon, go grab me a coffee."

Simon went to the concession stand, seeing some instant black coffee in paper cups on the counter, he asked, "Is this the only option?"

"That's all we have," Mason explained. "Coffee's on the house for the movie; the director's paying."

He picked up a cup. "How many do you want?"

Simon requested one cup of coffee, returned to the screening room, and handed it to Bruce Richmond, explaining, "The theater only has instant coffee, courtesy of the crew."

Bruce Richmond took a sip. "Trying to lure the audience in with coffee; that's a bit clever."

He issued his orders: "Hand out the surveys and collect them after the movie ends. No need to come back; just find your spots."

This was a routine practice, and the four subordinates left to carry out their tasks.

The door closed, and the screening began.

...

In the third row, Hawke also received a survey and a complimentary pen.

The survey was a simple post-screening rating system, with a maximum of five stars.

Hawke felt relieved; there were no unexpected occurrences so far.

Regardless of whether the deal could be made in the end, he had already guaranteed a profit this time around.

The audience who drank the strong black coffee seemed lively, motivated by the lunch to come and the cash bonuses. Even if the film was filled with Latino characters, most of them remained glued to the screen.

A teenage girl yawned in boredom, prompting the smaller girl next to her to glare as if her sister had stolen her spending money. The teenager quickly straightened up and paid more attention to the movie.

Across the aisle, a man with a beard noticed a person in front leaning to one side and gave a gentle kick under the seat. The person immediately straightened up.

...

Simon selected a spot, dividing his attention between watching the movie and occasionally scanning the audience.

He wasn't particularly interested in the film, which was heavily focused on Mexican-American culture. Surprisingly, the nearby white audience members were really into it, eyes fixed on the screen.

The other three in his group felt similarly, albeit not surprised; in the past, they had felt disinterested while many films had later gained favor with viewers.

...

After the film had started, Bruce Richmond hadn't touched his coffee cup again.

The film's storyline transitioned smoothly, adhering to a classic three-act structure, and dealt with themes that Hollywood and American audiences typically loved -- redemption, including elements of familial and platonic love. The production was somewhat rough around the edges, but the low budget explained that; even a Hollywood company wouldn't have fared much better.

The only issue was: Why was the lead not white?

It had been years since Bruce Richmond had seen a film like this, and he recalled the last time he watched one, many audience members left early.

However, contrary to expectations, viewers weren't getting up and leaving early this time.

Bruce Richmond observed from the last row; the majority of the audience was completely engrossed, with hardly anyone getting up to use the restroom. This was somewhat surprising.

As the movie reached its climax, still, no one left early.

Bruce Richmond pondered whether, with the advancement of the civil rights movement, audiences had become more accepting? Or perhaps the plot relating to prevalent issues facing lower-income communities -- drugs and dealers -- had resonated with them?

...

Approaching the film's conclusion, Katherine sighed with relief. The audience she had brought along hadn't left early, and neither had Bruce Richmond.

Though there wasn't an explosive atmosphere, the calm environment for viewing was genuinely pleasant.

Katherine's mind started racing; the film had a good shot at selling its rights, potentially recouping investment and even making a profit.

She couldn't help but sneak a glance at her boyfriend, who was proving that beneath the flattery, he had genuine talent that could help her step up her game.

...

As the film ended, the cast and crew credits rolled.

Hawke was the first to clap, and soon the surrounding audience followed suit; the applause echoed throughout the theater.

Every audience member was clapping.

Hawke was the first to stand up, rising to applaud.

After some prior discussions, everyone around him got up, standing and clapping.

From the left rear side, Larson rose, encouraging those nearby to join him in standing.

One by one, the other four deputy captains, Brandt, and the bearded man also stood up.

The people surrounding them all stood up, clapping.

The entire audience in the cinema was on their feet clapping!

The applause continued, half a minute, a minute...

...

Katherine recalled Hawke's instructions and pulled Eric's sleeve. "Come on, dummy, go take your bow!"

The cast of D.C. Heights had been entirely hired on a temporary basis; in reality, only the director had shown up for the crew.

Eric had never experienced such a scene; the applause filled him with dread as he got up and rushed to the front, almost tripping in his nervousness.

Hawke thought it looked convincing; the newcomer director was getting such recognition left him excited, shocked, and flustered...

Standing at the front of the screen, Eric faced the audience, bowing to take his bow.

Hawke continued clapping, putting more effort into it, and those around him also clapped harder.

Applause grew more fervent in the cinema.

Eric could only straighten up, bow again, and thank the audience.

Hawke glanced down at his phone resting on his cup holder; it hadn't even been four minutes yet; he wasn't worried.

So, the applause persisted.

...

The enthusiastic atmosphere spread to the back row as Bruce Richmond slowly stood up and gently started clapping his hands.

Everyone had their own standards for judging a movie.

As a commercial manager at a film company, Bruce Richmond's standard was simple: movies that the audience loved were good movies.

Because those were the ones that had commercial value.

In the past, films that received such fervent applause at film festivals often turned out to be successful.

...

Larson and the bearded guy exchanged glances, peering through the crowd at Hawke, and began to feel frustrated.

Nothing else mattered; the applause had gone on too long, and their hands were starting to hurt.

In front of the screen, Eric bowed again, internally grumbling, "Is this ever going to end? Do they want to clap their hands to pieces?"

Hawke had kept track of time and stopped clapping after six minutes, returning to his seat.

The applause gradually subsided, and people began to sit down.

In fact, Hawke was a bit conservative; in another five or six years, film festivals in Europe would turn this into a business, and applause lasting ten minutes wouldn't be uncommon.

"Thank you! Thank you!" Eric exclaimed loudly.

Applause erupted once more.

...

As the film screening concluded, the audience began to file out. Bruce Richmond's subordinates stood near the exit, trying to collect score surveys as quickly as possible to get the most straightforward first-hand data.

Simon was busy gathering surveys when suddenly a bearded man approached and whispered, "Quick question, since you came from Hollywood -- have you heard that Winona Ryder stole the pair of underwear that Bill Clinton wore in 'The Zipper Incident'?"

Simon was momentarily taken aback, thinking how he hadn't heard that at all; was he, an industry insider, not as well-informed as a fan?

...

Meanwhile, Hawke hurriedly handed another survey to someone else, trying to move away from that topic.

The audience exited the cinema in high spirits, heading to the High Mountain Pizza place.

They had done everything they could here; Hawke couldn't influence the aftermath, so he went to the pizza shop with everyone.

Keeping his word, he took out the $10 bills promised earlier and distributed it among everyone.

The party had just begun; these people would still be needed later on.

The bearded man weaved through the crowd, found Hawke, and handed him a beer, clinking glasses with him. "A toast to you, buddy!"

After taking a sip, Hawke bumped fists with him and then clinked glasses with the quiet Brandt.

Brandt suddenly recalled that the $1,000 spent on the gathering had fallen onto George Hansen's plate.

*****

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