To be honest, premieres should have been eliminated long ago.
The reason premieres appeared in the first place was purely because, during the era when film was booming, the channels for transmitting information were very limited, and each channel also had a limit on how much information it could deliver at one time.
When people living in that era got information by reading newspapers and listening to radio broadcasts, and newspaper space was only so large, while a single radio announcement could only last so long, how could people express more information within a limited broadcast?
That was the annoying problem everyone in publicity had to face!
Precisely because of this, the messy, information-packed "premiere"—including release date, cast members, supporting guests, celebrity comments, investors, and so on—suddenly appeared.
A certain film held its global premiere at a certain time and certain place. A certain cast member thanked a certain guest for coming. A certain famous film critic said after watching the movie that the film invested in by a certain company was extremely wonderful—
With one simple sentence, a film could display unlimited information within the limited space of a newspaper page!
And if the photos of the big stars on the premiere red carpet were also very beautiful—
then it could win even more favor from the media and make the front-page headline!
If one had to describe it, this was like Marilyn Monroe's skirt-blowing photo.
So-called accidental gains were all carefully packaged. In the eyes of capital, where was there any art?
People raised the banner of art only to make more money, okay?
Precisely because of this, as technology kept developing and media channels kept broadening—when media such as the internet and television could tell the public around the clock that a certain movie would be released on a certain date—this old-fashioned publicity method called the premiere should have been swept into the trash heap of history. Its publicity effect in the new era was already very poor!
But unfortunately, countless people's livelihoods depended on it.
When events like premieres had already become tightly bound to industries such as media, planning, design, and fashion, systematically cutting premieres would directly make countless people unemployed and cause traditional content companies to suffer boycotts.
So, before the old entertainment model of "going to the cinema to watch movies" was formally eliminated, everyone still had to embrace premieres—something that no longer had much use but still had to exist. And this—
"Ahhh—"
"Look this way—look this way!"
Leicester Square.
Odeon Theatre.
As with previous events, a long red carpet had once again been laid out in front of the theater today.
The inner side closer to the cinema belonged to radio livestream staff and media reporters.
Hundreds of reporters had set up their cameras and long lenses.
The outer side closer to the street was where supporting fans and movie fans gathered.
Countless people were holding all kinds of signs, cheering and shouting there.
The people everyone was currently welcoming were the main creative team of The God of Cookery. Leading them were the film's directors and executive producers, Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois. Half a step behind them were Elizabeth Olsen, the voice actress for the beaver Bella in the film; Kat Dennings, the voice actress for the groundhog; and Raymond Persi, the voice actor for the capybara.
Yes.
Although The God of Cookery was an IP Isabella had personally put together, she didn't voice Bella herself.
Because the current her was no longer an actor, producer, or film-industry practitioner, but capital.
So in terms of voice acting, she made the most commercial decision.
That was to accept the individual being bound to the character, but not accept the character being bound to the individual.
This sentence wasn't the product of the left brain attacking the right brain!
Even Arnold no longer did this now. Only cow warriors still did this!
Rather, it was a very objective fact in the commercial field.
The former meant there was a character first, then a person, letting the actor become bound to the character.
After doing this, once it succeeded, it would be a win-win. This was like Robert Downey Jr. and Tony Stark.
The success of Iron Man let Tony Stark and Robert Downey Jr. ascend at the same time.
The latter meant there was an actor first, then a character, and the two achieved each other.
After doing this, once an accident happened, it would be a double loss. For example, Johnny Depp and Jack Sparrow.
After Captain Jack's screen image became highly bound to Depp, the moment Johnny Depp was sued by his ex-wife, who could shit out something heavier than a Yorkshire teacup dog onto a bed, the entire Pirates of the Caribbean series directly exploded.
Disney couldn't reboot it even if it wanted to!
So this kind of thing had to be prevented.
Even if the mutual achievement between character and actor was very successful, the risks had to be guarded against from the very beginning.
Of course, this kind of prevention was very difficult for live-action films.
Live-action films couldn't easily replace actors.
But for animated films—
as long as the creator was excluded and not allowed to keep sharing the stage with the character, then it was okay.
Precisely because of this, Isabella let Olsen voice Bella in The God of Cookery.
Even though the current her didn't think there was any possibility of her public image collapsing.
Then, aside from all of the above, her letting someone else voice Bella in The God of Cookery also carried the hope that this IP could be like The Voice, able to keep developing without her participation.
Cough.
Capital really does alienate people.
Letting money make money by itself was something every capitalist who'd become capital would instinctively do.
Finally, the outside world had long known that Isabella wasn't voicing her own character, and the public was very supportive.
Because when explaining this matter, all the media said—
"According to reports, the filming work for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is extremely heavy. In order to properly portray Hermione Granger, Isabella had no choice but to hand the voice acting work for The God of Cookery to someone else."
"Regarding this, Isabella feels very regretful, while J.K. Rowling is extremely touched."
This is how you use your core fanbase~
Hehe~
"Click, click—"
"Elizabeth, as far as I know, The God of Cookery is the first film you've taken since your debut. What are your thoughts about this? What's the difference between voicing an animated film and acting directly?"
"Oh—my thoughts are that I'm too lucky. I'm very grateful to Isabella for giving me this opportunity. And perhaps because The God of Cookery is a very interesting movie? I feel that voicing an animated film is more interesting than acting directly—"
"Click, click—"
"Kat, The God of Cookery should be your second time working with Isabella, right? You previously filmed The Devil Wears Prada together? What are your thoughts about this?"
"Oh—before answering your question, I need to correct what you just said. The God of Cookery is my third time working with Isabella. Aside from The God of Cookery and Prada, I also appeared in Music and Lyrics, which Isabella produced. So, regarding this collaboration, I want to say I'm very happy, because The God of Cookery is an excellent film—"
"Click, click—"
"Hey, Raymond! Nice to meet you! After taking on the hosting job, I looked through your information, and I discovered that before today, you don't seem to have done any front-stage work in the entertainment industry? So how were you chosen?"
"Oh—thank you. Thank you for doing your homework on me beforehand. As for how I was chosen, it's actually very simple, because I'm a behind-the-scenes worker in Hollywood. I previously worked on a Batman short, later directed The Simpsons, and also voiced characters in it. Maybe Isabella thought I had decent ability? So she gave me a platform to show myself?"
Although Isabella didn't walk the red carpet with the film's creative team—
only useless people who can't even climb into relationships would say that the West has no social rules or personal connections.
No matter where Isabella was right now!
As long as there were microphones and cameras, someone would seize the chance to praise her!
After Isabella and J.K. Rowling appeared together—
the cheers that could stir up a tsunami and trigger an earthquake made everyone quietly breathe a sigh of relief.
Because they knew that next, they could relax a little.
Because they understood that next, all the spotlights would gather toward the true main character.
Although the success or failure of The God of Cookery was very important, this "success or failure" referred only to its box-office performance. As for the premiere—
for Isabella, it was just going through the motions.
So after briefly appearing at the entrance and finishing the process, she entered arm in arm with special guest J.K. Rowling.
She greeted Apple founder Steve Jobs, who'd specially come to support the event;
shook hands with Disney CEO Robert Iger;
thanked DreamWorks founder Steven Spielberg, who'd come to help;
smiled and raised her brows at George Lucas, the father of Star Wars, who'd come to join the fun;
and after giving friendly acknowledgments to her "employee" James Cameron, her former "older sister" Keira Knightley, her Harry Potter companions Harry, Ron, Malfoy, Ginny, as well as director Chris Columbus and the others—
Isabella indicated that the screening could begin.
They entered the theater and waited for a moment.
As the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, the venue gradually quieted down.
The Disney Pictures logo flashed past.
Beaver Entertainment' logo received a special upgrade because of The God of Cookery.
The original Beaver who opened the door and greeted people disappeared. In its place was a steaming pot.
A milky-white broth was boiling inside the pot.
The Beaver Entertainment logo floated up and down in the pot in the form of ingredients.
The colorful letters were truly beautiful!
After pausing for a few seconds, it was as if someone outside the scene had pressed the fast-forward button.
The ingredients in the broth seemed to have cooked through and sank into the pot.
Then a faint silhouette suddenly appeared, reflected on the broth like a reflection.
At first glance, that round little silhouette looked a bit like a crispy bagel with two small tufts growing on it.
But after looking closely, one could discover that the edges of the silhouette had irregular patterns, like animal fur.
Just as everyone's eyes were drawn to the silhouette and they wanted to distinguish who the owner of the reflection was, suddenly a spoon reached in from outside the screen. The silver-white metal utensil stirred through the pot and gently scooped up a spoonful from the flowing broth.
It was lifted and tasted.
As the scene flashed and cut, a beaver with a small round face, chubby body, light-colored fluff all over her body, a chef's hat on her head, and a small apron tied around her waist appeared before the audience.
She lightly sipped the broth from the spoon, and then—
Perhaps because the soup was delicious?
The beaver seemed to have been struck by an electric current. Her whole body trembled, and she narrowed her eyes happily.
"This is the taste~"
On the screen, she called out in sweet satisfaction.
Outside the screen, the audience raised the corners of their mouths with auntie-like smiles.
"Oh! This is Bella from the trailer, right? She really is so cute!"
"My God—is this an animation Isabella made herself? Why does it feel so textured?"
"Yeah, yeah! This picture doesn't look any worse than Disney or DreamWorks!"
"Oh~~~"
"What do you mean not worse than Disney or DreamWorks? This picture is clearly much more detailed than Disney and DreamWorks!"
"Exactly, exactly! This beaver is 3D, right? At first glance, I thought it was a Pixar movie! Not because the art style is similar, but because it's so detailed. It has that Pixar feeling."
"Right! This beaver is really well made!"
"…"
The discussion outside the screen didn't affect the person on the screen.
After opening her eyes again, the beaver excitedly picked up the pot and strode out of the kitchen.
At the same time, she shouted—
"Hehehehe~ here comes the chicken soup~"
Cough, cough, cough—
Sorry, wrong set.
After tasting the broth she'd personally made, the beaver immediately wagged her tail happily. The next second, she ran to the kitchen doorway and shouted to the people outside, "Does anyone want some freshly made clam chowder?"
The moment her voice appeared, snap—the scene cut.
In just one shot, the setting the beaver was in was clearly explained.
It was a tavern-style restaurant.
Stone walls;
a yellow earth floor that had only been basically tamped down;
wooden tables and chairs;
everything within sight was filled with a rich rustic atmosphere.
The people sitting at the dining tables were dressed like Victorian tenant farmers.
Some looked like farmers who'd just returned from working in the fields, wearing round hoods and coarse linen aprons wrapped around their waists.
Although their faces showed exhaustion, this didn't affect their mood while enjoying their meals.
Some looked like small landowners who'd just finished farm work, their long coats and small leather shoes covered in straw.
Although their faces carried a weather-beaten look, and their flushed skin even had the feeling of having been frozen by the cold, when they raised their cups to drink, a trace of liberated pleasure still flashed through their eyes.
Those dressed most elegantly were craftsmen who smelted iron and worked the forge.
Beneath their leather coats were white linen shirts.
Perhaps because they'd long engaged in heavy physical labor, their hands were much thicker and larger than other people's. Compared to their overall body shape, no matter how one looked at them, there was a sense of disharmony, as if they weren't in the same art style. But in their every movement, they were the most polite.
And the reason for this situation was perhaps—
they usually had more chances than others to come into contact with noble lords?
If they were dressed improperly, it would be seen as disrespect?
All kinds of people displayed the ecology inside the tavern restaurant.
And after hearing the beaver's question, the originally noisy hall immediately quieted down. Everyone looked toward her.
Their bright gazes seemed to be filled with surprise.
But the unified "Yes—" that came next brought the entire world to life.
After everyone accepted, the beaver happily carried the pot and distributed the clam chowder she'd made to each person.
Then—
"Oh—Bella, your cooking has improved again. My God, the clam chowder you made is so delicious!"
"Let me guess, did you add onions to it? And white pepper too? My God—this bowl of soup smells so good!"
"Bella! I think you already have the potential to take part in the World God of Cookery Competition! You might be the next World God of Cookery!"
"Exactly, exactly! If you get the chance, you must take part in the God of Cookery Competition! As long as you can win the championship—ah, no! As long as you can make it into the finals! Make it into the global competition! You can become the pride of Britain!"
"That's right—although there's still a lot of room for debate about where the best food in the world is, there's already a global consensus on which country has the poorest cuisine. Many people think our British food isn't delicious, so if you can push our cuisine onto the world stage, then—wow~ by then, I'll be able to become famous too."
"What? Why? John, why do you say that?"
"Because I'm the one who persuaded our God of Cookery to enter the competition! I'm the one who persuaded our God of Cookery to win glory for the country!"
"Oh—hahahahaha—John! You're insane!"
After blacksmith John craned his neck and emphasized that he'd shed blood and sweat for the development of the Empire, cleaned chimneys, and hatched eggs, a burst of joyful laughter immediately rang through the large tavern restaurant.
The cheerful mood also infected Bella. While distributing clam chowder to everyone, a smile appeared on her face too.
At the same time, a voiceover suddenly sounded, making everything around it feel ethereal.
"Hello~~~ good morning, good afternoon, and good evening, everyone! I'm Bella."
"What you're seeing now is my story."
"As for where we should begin?"
"First, I am a beaver, not a rat."
"Second, the place I live in is called the Cotswolds. It's a very beautiful English village."
"Finally, my profession is chef, because I love food. I super, super, super love it. And I also have a superpower that ordinary people don't have. My sense of smell and taste are fifty times more sensitive than a normal person's. This allows me to accurately find the most essential parts of all ingredients and discover the best cooking methods."
"I've always liked my talent, as long as—"
"Hey! Bella! Look what I brought you!"
Anyone who makes animation or understands animation should know: the storytelling method of animation and the amount of information in a single shot are completely different from live-action films.
Because the production cost of each frame of an animated film is usually several times, more than ten times, or even dozens of times higher than that of a live-action film.
Therefore, directly narrating when something happens and turning the sound and visuals of the same frame into two different sources of information is the most conventional skill, and also a skill that everyone working in animation must master.
And while the voiceover sounded, the picture on the screen also sped up wildly.
The people in the tavern restaurant quickly finished their meals. The sole chef, Bella, happily collected the dishes. Just as she wanted to properly embrace a bit of leisure after hard work, an orange-yellow figure suddenly darted into the restaurant.
It was a groundhog, holding up a mushroom.
The moment this fellow appeared, Bella, who'd originally been quite happy, immediately wilted.
After the other party excitedly brought the mushroom to Bella like offering a treasure, Bella said with a pained expression, "Oh, Atu, I know the back mountain is your territory, but can you please not find poisonous mushrooms every single time?"
"Don't you remember what happened the last time you ate a poisonous mushroom?"
"You threw up everywhere!"
"Did I?"
The groundhog named Atu scratched her head in confusion.
The next second, after reacting, she suddenly said, "You mean the mushroom in my hand is poisonous?"
"Yeah~" Bella nodded.
"So do you have evidence?" Atu didn't believe her.
"My nose is the evidence."
Bella shrugged and said, "My nose tells me that if you eat it, you'll see your great-grandmother."
"What? Really? Then that's great—"
Bella's words made Atu look excited, and then she swallowed the mushroom in one bite.
This scene made Bella's eyes widen!
As if she'd seen an idiot, her face was full of disbelief!
And while she was staring in stunned silence, the poisonous mushroom had already taken effect!
Atu's whole body suddenly trembled!
As if suffering from acute copper poisoning, her entire body fell straight backward!
But at the same time, her face still kept the excitement she'd had before eating the mushroom.
Her little feet twitched, and she murmured:
"Oh—"
"Bella—"
"You were right."
"I really saw my great-grandmother."