1512-1514

Chapter 1512: Grand Frenzy 

June 29, 2004. Tuesday.  

It was a special week. Sunday was July 4th—Independence Day—meaning a long weekend with Monday off, stretching the holiday vibes even further.  

On one hand, it was an extended break. On the other, it marked the official start of summer vacation for schools. Plus, after the movie mayhem of May and June, it was the last big hurrah for the box office before audiences fled for vacations and things cooled off in August.  

That’s why the Independence Day weekend was prime real estate in the summer movie season. Every major studio fought tooth and nail to dominate the slot.  

In 2002, it belonged to Men in Black II. In 2003, Terminator 3 took the crown. And in 2004? It was Spider-Man 2’s turn.  

Finally!  

After waiting and waiting, hoping and hoping, the Independence Day long weekend was just around the corner. Blair Miller couldn’t hold herself back any longer.  

Ten whole months. It wasn’t just about Spider-Man 2 hitting theaters. Ever since Anson got injured on set and Sony Columbia coldly turned their backs on him, Blair had been counting down to this moment—a chance to prove Anson’s star power and stick it to Sony Columbia. The day had arrived.  

She was ready. More than ready. Not a hint of nerves—just pure excitement bubbling up as she strode confidently toward the chaos about to unfold.  

They were locked and loaded. The question was: Was Sony Columbia?  

Tuesday morning, bright and early, Blair was up. She washed up, suited up in her battle gear, and headed out the door toward the subway, bound for Rockefeller Center.  

Normally, big commercial movie premieres were locked in for Los Angeles—especially at the Chinese Theatre. It was practically an unwritten rule. Just look at the past three summer seasons: every film with a budget over $100 million premiered in L.A., no exceptions.  

So what was wrong with New York?  

As North America’s biggest city, it had the venues, the gear, the vibe—everything. So why didn’t premieres happen here?  

The answer lay in New York’s popularity. It wasn’t just movies—sports, music, fashion, charity events—they all clambered to book the city’s spaces. Venues, big and small, were in hot demand, and movie studios had a tough time muscling their way in.  

Meanwhile, L.A.’s film industry was a well-oiled machine. The Chinese Theatre had the premiere process down pat—red carpet, facilities, year-round availability. Studios loved the ease.  

So even a movie like Spider-Man—a story rooted in New York—held its premiere at the Chinese Theatre two years back.  

But!  

This time, Sony Columbia switched things up—  

Or maybe it was Anson’s idea?  

Either way, Spider-Man 2 was breaking tradition with a premiere in New York—and not just anywhere, but at Radio City Music Hall in Rockefeller Center!  

Cue the gasps. Hollywood lost it—shock and awe all rolled into one.  

Radio City Music Hall? No question, it’s a North American icon. With room for 6,000 people, it’s hosted the Grammys, the Tonys, concerts, annual Christmas specials—you name it.  

Built in 1932, it’s been a beacon of hope since the Great Depression. Back in the day, it was a go-to spot for movie premieres too. But as Hollywood grew and shifted west, the premieres peeled away.  

These days, booking Radio City for a movie premiere wasn’t a walk in the park.  

You had to snag a date far in advance, syncing with the venue’s packed schedule. Then you needed city hall’s okay to shut down streets around Rockefeller Center—smack in the heart of Manhattan. For New York’s already gridlocked traffic, that was a nightmare waiting to happen.  

And don’t forget the red carpet setup for the stars. The hassle? On par with an awards show—  

The effort was one thing; the cost was another.  

A premiere with awards-show-level logistics? Filling all 6,200 seats at Radio City?  

You’d have to be nuts to risk it. No studio would dare.  

Until now.  

Boom! Shock! Hype!  

When Sony Columbia dropped the premiere plan, Hollywood erupted. The buzz wouldn’t quit, and expectations shot through the roof.  

Whispers floated around: Sony Columbia was banking hard on Spider-Man 2’s box office—simple numbers wouldn’t cut it for them.  

For Blair, though? Perfect.  

They knew Sony Columbia was setting Anson up to take a fall. If the movie tanked, they’d ditch him like it was nothing. If it exploded, they’d rake in the cash. Either way, Sony Columbia figured they couldn’t lose.  

But Blair’s crew wasn’t worried.  

This played right into their hands. They’d been waiting for Sony Columbia to back themselves into a corner with no way out. Now that they had, the question was: who’d outsmart who? Sony Columbia had taken the bait—next up, it was the audience’s turn. They weren’t about to let Sony win.  

The battle was on. They’d show Sony Columbia how ants could take down an elephant.  

Inside the subway, the clatter of the train on the tracks hummed like a lullaby. The sun had barely peeked over the horizon, but New York was already in rush-hour mode—crammed sardine-tight with commuters, weird smells swirling in the sticky air.  

Blair didn’t have time to care. She was locked in her own little world, running through her mental checklist for the day.  

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a few young figures nearby. She hadn’t noticed them at first—they noticed her. Whispering, nudging each other, their faces lit up with excitement and nerves. That’s what grabbed her attention.  

She glanced over. Young, vibrant, buzzing with energy—a stark contrast to the dead-eyed, soul-crushed commuters. You could tell at a glance they weren’t headed to some 9-to-5. They were dressed for a party, not a grind.  

And the clincher? They were all rocking white T-shirts—  

Yup, white T-shirts. Their signature. Their armor.  

Sure, it was summer in New York—white tees were everywhere. But that was the point. They wanted this effect. Even the random white-T wearers would blend into their ranks, swelling their numbers into a massive, endless wave. They’d flood the premiere with white shirts.  

The goal? A sea of white.  

After a moment’s hesitation, Blair weaved through the crowd, flashing a smile. “Hey, are you guys headed to Radio City?”  

“Ah!” One of the girls squealed, clapping a hand over her mouth.  

Next to her, a guy burst out laughing, smacking his buddy’s shoulder. “See? Told you!”  

Then he turned back to Blair. “We were just saying—you’ve gotta be going to Radio City too. We all spotted the sign.”  

Chapter 1513: Carnival Party 

“God, I’ve been looking forward to this day forever.” 

“I can vouch for that. She’s probably watched those three teaser trailers a hundred times by now. Every single second of them is burned into her brain.” 

“Who could say no to Anson? Tell me, doesn’t he look even hotter this time? Oh my gosh, do you think Anson’s going to throw another flash event? I heard he showed up at Washington Square last time, watching the movie with everyone. Jesus Christ, I’m so jealous!” 

“Oh, I was at Washington Square last time.” 

“What?!” 

Excitement, anticipation, energy, enthusiasm, and pure joy. 

Inside the subway car, where a gloomy cloud usually hung over everything, the little corner filled with laughter and chatter wasn’t loud, but it spilled out like a ray of sunshine. 

The lifeless office workers, trudging through their commute like zombies, didn’t care to notice. Still, every now and then, they couldn’t help but sneak a glance. 

Just then, the subway pulled into a station. A group of passengers got off, and another group hopped on, buzzing with energy—among them, a bunch of young people in white T-shirts. 

One second, two seconds. 

“Anson?” 

“ANSON!” 

This new group spotted the ones already in the car, deep in their lively conversation. A quick look of recognition passed between them—comrades found—and suddenly, they couldn’t hold it in anymore. 

Total strangers just moments ago, they were now high-fiving, hugging, and cheering like old friends. That faint ray of sunshine was tearing through more of the gloom. 

In New York, scenes like this weren’t rare. Every Halloween, the subway cars turned into a chaotic party. Film festivals, music festivals, concerts, St. Patrick’s Day, Independence Day—you name it, the city’s party spirit ran year-round. 

But today felt a little different: the white T-shirts. 

New York thrived on variety. At any event or party, people went all out to show off their unique style and personality, trying to stand out. Yet here were these young people, all decked out in matching white T-shirts, shining like a sun in the crowded subway car. 

What was going on? 

The train stopped again. More people got off, more got on, and—yep—another handful of white-T-shirt-wearing kids joined the mix. That little corner was getting livelier by the minute. 

At this rate, the whole car would soon be a white-T-shirt takeover. 

Standing in the crowd, Blair felt her blood pumping, her excitement impossible to contain. But she still noticed the looks from those around them—on this noisy, packed subway, they were still the loud ones. 

“Shh. Calm down, everyone, let’s chill a bit,” Blair said, trying to rein things in. “Save some energy, or you won’t have any voice left for this afternoon.” 

Heads nodded all around. “Right, right, gotta protect the vocal cords.” “It’d suck if we couldn’t shout when the movie starts.” “We need to stay cool.” 

But that calm lasted all of three seconds before someone whispered, “We haven’t even seen Anson yet, and we’re already losing it in here.” 

Pfft. 

A few muffled giggles broke out, though they kept the volume down this time. They exchanged looks, their eyes sparkling with barely contained glee. 

Finally, someone’s curiosity got the better of them. Breaking through New York’s usual bustle and indifference, they stepped forward to ask—carnival season wasn’t supposed to be today, right? 

“Spider-Man 2 premiere!” 

The group answered in unison, beaming from ear to ear. Realizing they’d all said the same thing at the same time, they high-fived and cheered again, perfectly in sync. 

Now the entire car was staring. 

Blair pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh. The group clutched their throats and blinked innocently, doing their best to look pitiful and harmless. 

Right on cue, the train stopped again. Someone huffed in annoyance and stormed off, leaving only an angry silhouette behind. 

But the moment the doors slid shut, the car erupted in cheerful laughter, the whole train seeming to sway with it. 

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Gloria Preston was dragging Elaine Cole through the crowd at top speed. 

“Slow down, slow down, Gloria!” Elaine panted. “The premiere’s still ten hours away!” 

Gloria didn’t even turn around. “But we’re about to see Anson—ha!” 

She threw her arms wide, embracing the blue sky, and let out a triumphant shout. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, Peter Parker is back!” 

Her voice rang out, cutting through the roar of traffic, radiating bold, unstoppable energy. 

Elaine quickly raised a hand to shield her eyes, groaning in mock frustration, worried passersby might recognize her. Then, a beat later, she realized—in a city like New York, no one cared. Their antics barely registered in the endless urban chaos. A grin tugged at her lips as she lowered her head and chased after Gloria, breaking into a run. 

Joy, happiness, pure elation—it all burst out, their laughter blooming in the sparse golden morning light as they dashed wildly down the street. 

Busy city folks glanced their way, caught off guard by the infectious vitality amid the morning rush-hour grind. A hint of envy flickered in their eyes: 

Youth sure looks nice. 

By the time they reached Rockefeller Center, Elaine had to admit Gloria was right. 

She’d thought they were early, but when they arrived, the plaza was already packed. Three hundred people, five hundred, eight hundred—too many to count. 

A dazzling, overwhelming crowd. 

Not just on the plaza, either—down below, the ice rink was dotted with people too. Everywhere they looked, there were bodies. 

And it was obvious they were all here for Spider-Man 2. 

When Sony Columbia announced the premiere location, some had worried. Radio City Music Hall could hold a whopping 6,200 people. 

That kind of screening scale was unheard of globally—movies weren’t concerts, after all. For comparison, Cannes’ Lumière Hall held 2,281, and LA’s Chinese Theatre fit 800. 

Those were already top-tier venues for global premieres, but they paled next to Radio City’s capacity. 

Speculation ran wild. Industry insiders figured Sony Columbia would pack the place with media, critics, and celebrity guests, turning the premiere into a fashion show or charity gala—something grand and flashy. Relying solely on regular moviegoers to fill 6,000 seats seemed unthinkable. Even Disney wouldn’t go that far. 

But Gloria, Blair, and their crew had other ideas. 

Ever since Sony Columbia dropped the premiere date and location, they’d been gearing up—posting nonstop on online forums, rallying the troops. After six months of waiting and building hype, the big moment was finally here! 

They were ready to turn this premiere into a full-blown carnival. A massive, magnificent celebration. 

Chapter 1514: Flooding the Golden Mountain 

Bright and early, Blair had already finalized the plans. They were set to transform the Spider-Man 2 premiere into a full-blown carnival—a celebration for Anson’s fans. 

Let’s be clear: the focus wasn’t on Spider-Man 2. It was on Anson. 

This was going to be a party—a wild welcome-back to the summer blockbuster season for Anson, a celebration of his return to genre films, and a moment just for his fans to revel in. 

Truth be told, anyone in the know understood that Radio City Music Hall wasn’t just any venue. Its 6,200 seats were only part of the equation. The surrounding Rockefeller Center facilities? That’s where the real magic happened. 

Picture this: the grandeur of the Oscars or the Grammys. The Spider-Man 2 premiere had to match that kind of top-tier spectacle. Anything less, and Radio City Music Hall would feel desolate—empty and cold, no matter how many people crowded the red carpet. It’d be like a party with blaring music but an empty dance floor. 

One wrong move, and the premiere could turn into a disaster. 

Of course, Blair and the team trusted that Sony Columbia wouldn’t let themselves look foolish. At the very least, they’d make sure the event looked impressive on the surface. 

But they weren’t about to leave it all in Sony Columbia’s hands. 

Since Sony Columbia had chosen Radio City Music Hall—whatever their motives—Anson’s fans saw it as an opportunity. 

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

Ever since Spider-Man burst onto the scene, followed by August Thirty-First’s dazzling Grammy performance, Anson’s influence had skyrocketed. Yet, his fans—both moviegoers and music lovers—had never really had a chance to get close to him, to experience his charm up close. 

In North America, the concept of a fan meet-and-greet barely existed. Forget 2004—even in 2024, it’s still not a thing. The closest equivalent was a singer’s autograph session, but compared to the vibrant, multifaceted fan events in Asia, those were small potatoes. 

So, moments like the surprise screening at Washington Square, the friendly gathering at the Butterfly Effect premiere, or the Elephant screening at the Angelica Film Center? Those were the closest Anson’s fans had ever gotten to him. They couldn’t even compare to the dreamlike fan gatherings at Cannes. 

Now, the moment had arrived. 

Blair and the team were ready to make full use of Radio City Music Hall’s massive space to give Anson’s fans—movie buffs and music lovers alike—a true celebration. 

A “meet-and-greet” dedicated to Anson. 

And in doing so, they’d turn the Spider-Man 2 premiere into Anson’s home turf. 

No question, it was a bold plan. A crazy plan. But also a groundbreaking one, a moment worth commemorating. 

The team was buzzing with excitement, diving in headfirst. For six months, they poured their hearts into spreading the word, planning, and preparing. 

Finally! 

The moment was here. Elaine had been part of the journey, watching it unfold online, hidden behind a computer screen. Forum posts and user replies had piled up, but the numbers felt abstract, lacking impact. Now, standing here, it was different. 

It was visual. Tangible. Real. The online data had transformed into a sea of actual people, bustling and filling Rockefeller Center to the brim. 

But it wasn’t enough. Elaine knew that. 

Radio City Music Hall could hold 6,200 people, but that was just a fraction of Rockefeller Center. 

Rockefeller Center was a sprawling complex of nineteen buildings, with a daily foot traffic of 250,000 workers and tourists. You can imagine the chaos and energy. 

Elaine lived in Los Angeles and had never experienced New York’s New Year’s Eve countdown, so she couldn’t fathom the annual spectacle of millions gathering here. But she’d seen the crowds at Rockefeller Center’s Christmas tree lighting on TV—the dense, feverish energy bursting through the screen. That image was seared into her mind. 

So, if they wanted to turn Rockefeller Center into a carnival, filling Radio City’s 6,200 seats wasn’t going to cut it. 

The scene before her was thrilling, but it was only the first step. 

In that moment, Elaine realized they were summoning a storm. 

Gloria turned to Elaine, taking a deep breath. Her smile was radiant. “So, Elaine, you ready?” 

Elaine’s lips curved into a shy smile. “You bet.” 

Gloria bounded forward with light steps, brimming with enthusiasm. “Hey, here for the premiere?” 

Elaine quietly clenched her fist, psyching herself up. Socializing wasn’t her strong suit, but watching Gloria’s example, it didn’t seem so bad. They needed more people—a lot more. More than they’d even dreamed of. 

When they were scattered, they were just individuals, powerless, no match for a giant like Sony Columbia. But together? They became a force—visible, audible, undeniable. Sony Columbia would have to respond, or face the consequences. 

Right now, Gloria and Elaine’s job was to gather the grains of sand into a towering castle. Then, they’d sweep through Rockefeller Center in a grand, unstoppable wave. 

Six months. For six whole months, they’d given it their all, pouring 120% of their energy into this. Today was the moment of truth. 

Elaine lifted her chin slightly, scanning the crowd. She’d been to premieres before—she knew there’d be a small group out there like her. 

People who longed to step out of their shells and find others like them, to know they weren’t alone. The problem was, leaving home had already drained most of their energy. Now, caught in the surging crowd, they were lost, unsure of what to do. They wanted to belong but didn’t know how, so they lingered on the edges, watching with envy. 

All it took was a spark to open their hearts, and they’d reveal the vibrant colors within. 

Being introverted didn’t mean being dull. 

“Aha, found one!” 

Elaine’s eyes locked onto a lone figure in the corner, watching the lively crowd with quiet longing. She stepped forward to greet them. 

When Karen Fox hurried to Rockefeller Center, the sun was already high overhead. Radio City Music Hall was surrounded by a packed crowd. 

As far as the eye could see, a sea of people stretched endlessly. Karen realized she was just a tiny drop in the ocean. 

Faces glowed with bright, beaming expressions, sparkling under New York’s rare clear skies, blending with the sunlight. 

She could only sigh in awe. 

(Chapter End)