The premiere of The Avengers was not held in Los Angeles, but instead took place in New York, the setting of the story.
Although Gilbert had experienced some unpleasant events the last time he came to New York for filming, which even triggered a prolonged battle in the stock market, New York remained the largest city in the United States, with enormous consumer power. Conquering New York was equivalent to conquering the East Coast.
Disney and Marvel planned, if opportunities arose in the future, to hold premieres of films in other locations, such as the rapidly rising Chinese market.
With the revenue-sharing ratio increasing to twenty-five percent, this market was significant enough to attract the attention of major Hollywood companies.
Most Hollywood giants adhere to one principle: more investment yields more output.
Currently, Chinese movie fans were entering the phase of "naïve but wealthy," and everyone envied how films like Avatar, Transformers 2, and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey dominated the Chinese box office.
Gilbert suggested at a Disney executive meeting that the board pay closer attention to the Chinese market, especially ensuring that Disney China's branch operated effectively.
A positive development was that Shanghai Disneyland was scheduled to open in 2014, which would be excellent for Disney's brand promotion in China.
When the timing was right, future Marvel film premieres could be held in China, and promoting films there would become a necessary part of the schedule.
On May 26, in typically rainy New York, the weather was unusually clear. The sun appeared in the sky, bringing a touch of warmth to the city.
The AMC Theatres 34th Street 14 in the Broadway district, under AMC management, was the venue for The Avengers premiere.
Several days prior, enthusiastic fans had already occupied nearby streets with tents and food, all to witness the red carpet show first-hand.
Hundreds of media outlets dispatched reporters to cover the event. Major television networks like ABC and NBC set up live broadcast antennas to deliver the premiere spectacle to audiences immediately.
At 4:00 p.m., with the sun slanting west and a cool breeze alleviating some of the heat, the premiere officially began.
"Hello, everyone, this is ABC reporting live from the scene. I'm your host, Abby."
A blonde reporter with a professional suit and a well-proportioned figure stood with her back to the red carpet, broadcasting the red carpet event live.
"This is the scene at The Avengers premiere. As you can see, both sides of the red carpet are already packed with enthusiastic fans. I have to raise my voice to be heard…"
After a brief introduction, Abby began interviewing the audience at the premiere.
One excited fan said, "Ever since I learned about The Avengers, I've been eagerly anticipating it. Today, the wait is finally over."
Another fan remarked, "When Marvel first announced this movie, I was still in high school. Now I've entered college."
Of course, the premiere audience was mostly composed of die-hard Gilbert fans.
"I'm a loyal Gilbert fan. I've never missed any of his films since The Shallows, and this time is no different."
Those nearby echoed the sentiment.
For these middle-aged fans, Gilbert's films had accompanied their youth. Talking about him was like a shared topic among peers.
From a genius director to a world-class filmmaker, if one were to represent Hollywood from the 1990s onward, it wouldn't be Spielberg or James Cameron. Although both were excellent, only Gilbert truly represented Hollywood from the 1990s into the early 21st century.
Though the 21st century had just begun, Empire magazine and Time magazine both independently listed Gilbert as one of the most influential people of the 20th century and one of the most influential people of the 21st century.
During the live interviews, a sudden roar arose from the starting point of the red carpet—the main cast of The Avengers had begun walking the red carpet.
Gilbert walked alongside Kevin Feige, while Naomi Watts and the others formed a "sisterhood" group. Scarlett Johansson and other superheroes gradually made their appearances.
As usual, Gilbert walked the red carpet at a measured pace, occasionally interacting with fans.
After signing autographs and taking photos, Gilbert briefly chatted in the red carpet interview area before entering the VIP room to greet sponsors.
The most eye-catching were undoubtedly the six superheroes. Robert Downey Jr. made a grand entrance in the vehicle from his film, perfectly fitting Tony Stark's character.
BMW, the sponsor, expressed great satisfaction, valuing this entrance at millions of dollars.
Previously, Audi had provided vehicles for films, but BMW simply offered too much money. Gilbert, ever practical, accepted, making BMW the official sponsor.
Following that, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and the Hulk all walked the red carpet.
Loki's entrance was particularly special. He wore his costume from the film and led a squad of thirty-two Chitauri soldiers.
Tom Hiddleston, known for his playful personality, recited his lines from the movie as he walked the red carpet, lines that had also appeared in the trailer:
"Earthlings, I am your king!"
Yet the earthling fans, who were "being ruled," were not angry at all. Instead, they responded with enthusiastic cheers and applause.
Watching this, Spielberg and Gilbert joked, "Serves the earthlings right for being ruled."
Gilbert smiled and invited Spielberg into the theater, casually asking about Spielberg's current situation.
Although the two hadn't been in touch for quite some time, Gilbert had always kept an eye on Spielberg's circumstances.
Chinese culture emphasizes gratitude and reciprocity. Strictly speaking, Gilbert was no longer a Chinese person, but Spielberg had been his guide; without him, Gilbert wouldn't have known how long he would have had to wait for an opportunity.
"So, you don't have high hopes for The Adventures of Tintin?"
"Steven, given our relationship, I won't bother flattering you with empty praise. In my view, Tintin is destined to fail culturally."
"Explain your reasoning."
Gilbert thought for a moment and said, "While the Tintin comics have had a profound influence in the Western world, the story of the film is not native to North America. Releasing the film without prior promotion is unwise."
This reasoning clearly didn't convince Spielberg. He replied, "The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter are also works outside North American culture, yet both achieved tremendous success."
"You're correct, but you're overlooking one point."
"What's that?"
"The Lord of the Rings' influence across the Western world is unquestionable; it is even considered one of the origin works of modern fantasy literature. Harry Potter inherited this influence, and with extensive media promotion, its reach extended from Europe to North America."
Gilbert paused and continued, "But Tintin is different. You can ask the fans outside—I doubt many of them even know who Tintin is."
Gilbert spoke the truth. For North American audiences who didn't pay attention to global stories, foreign content without extensive promotion is largely unknown.
People naturally resist what they don't understand, and the same applies to Tintin.
Coincidentally, Tintin had not been widely promoted and was not a story familiar to North American audiences.
..
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