Chapter 21: Acclaim.
The theater erupted in thunderous applause, and Ryan finally let out the breath he had been holding. During filming he had only a vague idea of how the finished movie would feel. Now, after watching a version every bit as powerful as the one he remembered, he felt rock-solid confidence in the path he had chosen.
He remembered someone once saying that even the most gifted actors had to grind for years to master their craft. So what does that make me? Ryan thought with a wry smile. Ten years sharpening one sword? Or has acting simply become second nature?
People kept coming over to congratulate the crew, and Ryan received more than his share of praise.
"Ryan, your performance was incredible," Arnold Schwarzenegger told him warmly.
"I never saw that coming, kid—you actually wrote the screenplay?" James Cameron's eyes glittered with obvious interest, as if he were already turning ideas over in his head.
"Congratulations, Nicole. Your acting is every bit as breathtaking as your beauty." Harvey Weinstein turned to Ryan with a grin. "And you, kid—are you ready to wake up famous tomorrow?"
Ryan knew exactly what he was hinting at; they had planned the publicity together. He simply rolled his eyes. "Harvey, since you're using me to sell tickets, don't you think I deserve a proper cut?".
"Hey, Ryan, don't put it like that." Weinstein gave a crooked smile. "I'm already starting to regret the contract I signed with you two."
"Trust me, Harvey—by the time this run is over, you'll be thanking me." Ryan was certain audiences would come back to see the film again and again.
Like every premiere, a press conference followed the screening. As the crew moved to the next hall, Pat Kingsley kept giving Ryan quiet reminders—what to say, what to avoid.
At the end she added, "If anyone tries to trap you, just pass the question straight to me."
"Got it." Ryan nodded. After surviving the red carpet, he felt much more relaxed. "Don't worry, Pat. I know how to handle these people. Besides, I've got you and Nicole watching my back."
The press conference was pure chaos—loud, messy, and more like a crowded market than a professional event. After the usual questions for the director, producers, and Al Pacino, almost every reporter turned their attention to Ryan and Nicole. The publicity campaign had made it clear that, aside from the supernatural parts, many scenes were taken straight from their real lives.
Especially the boy. His performance had been shockingly good, and now the press was being told a ten-year-old had actually written this deeply moving story. It just didn't seem possible.
"Ryan, is the screenplay really yours?"
"Of course." Ryan looked straight at the reporter. The New York Post badge stood out clearly.
"But the insights about family, communication, and life…"
"…are things a child couldn't possibly understand?" Ryan cut him off without hesitation and shrugged. "If you actually pay attention, those things are all around us every day. Or do you think kids are too stupid to feel love or notice how important family is?"
"Uh…"
The reporter froze. He had not expected the boy to flip the question so neatly—or to drop such a heavy accusation in public.
Answering badly could spark protests from every parents' and teachers' group in the country. He quickly backed off.
After that, most of the press behaved better. The questions stayed safe: "How did it feel to act in your first movie?" "Where did you get the inspiration for the script?" "What was it like working with Al Pacino?"
Nicole, sitting beside him, drew plenty of attention too. She looked stunning, and her performance had been just as strong. The media loved a beautiful actress who could actually act, so Ryan got a welcome break from the spotlight.
"Miss Kidman, we noticed you and Ryan arrived together. What exactly is your relationship? And in real life, is Ryan as withdrawn and unpopular as Cole?"
Nicole had been ready to answer the first question, but the second one made her eyes flash cold. Her elegant, icy aura turned even frostier. "No comment."
The chaotic press conference finally ended. In the back seat of the car, Ryan shook his head hard. It was still the early nineties—reporters and paparazzi hadn't gone completely insane yet. He could only imagine what they would be like once the age of total entertainment arrived.
"You okay, Ryan?" Nicole asked, concerned.
"I'm fine." He flexed his fingers. "Dealing with those people is more exhausting than shooting the movie."
"You handled it beautifully," Pat Kingsley said from the front seat. "First time facing that kind of pressure and you left the skeptics speechless. You know, Ryan, sometimes I really wonder if you have the soul of a thirty-year-old."
Ryan just shrugged and stayed quiet. In his previous life as Alex he had grown up in a culture where dodging questions and turning accusations around was practically an art form. Besides, right now his age was still protecting him. Once he turned eighteen…
The premiere was over. Everything else would have to wait until tomorrow. From the audience and early critic reactions, though, the word-of-mouth looked excellent.
Having lived through the information explosion of his past life, Ryan understood perfectly that movies were far more affected by the era than songs were. Making something like Brokeback Mountain or Juno right now would have been career suicide.
The genres least affected by social climate were horror-thrillers and romantic comedies. Sci-fi was safe too, as long as it stayed far from reality—but current CGI technology made big effects almost impossible.
Nicole picked up the newspaper and read aloud: "'The theme of The Sixth Sense is both deeply moving and profound. Though it is packaged as a thriller, beneath the scares it explores human relationships. Loneliness, family, and communication fill every frame. We worry for the lonely, we are touched by the love, and we gain new understanding of how vital real connection is. This is the best film of the 1990s so far—without question.'"
She lowered the paper and looked at Ryan, who was busy eating breakfast. "The rest is more of the same. Want me to keep going?"
"Please, Nicole." Ryan stuffed another forkful of eggs into his mouth. "Read a few more."
Nicole sighed, picked up the New York Times, and flipped to the entertainment section. "'The Sixth Sense blends horror and drama with rich, fully realized characters. The guilt-ridden doctor, the devoted single mother, and the lonely, helpless little boy all feel vividly alive.
"'The story is gripping, and the performances are outstanding. Al Pacino delivers the same towering work he gave in The Godfather. Nicole Kidman makes the emotionally complex single mother heartbreakingly real. But special mention must go to ten-year-old Ryan Jenkins. Through his expressive eyes and astonishing acting skill, he brings the boy's confusion, fear, and pain to life so completely that it is no exaggeration to call him the brightest spark in the entire film.'"
"That's it?" Ryan wrinkled his nose, clearly wanting more.
"What more do you want them to say?" Nicole shot him a look and dropped the stack of newspapers onto the table. "Some of the praise is downright embarrassing. Read the rest yourself."
"Come on, Nicole," Ryan muttered. "Don't you want to hear what they're saying about you? Half the reviews are calling you a muse who combines beauty, intelligence, and brilliant acting."
When she ignored him completely, Ryan finished his breakfast in a few quick bites, wiped his mouth, and started flipping through the papers himself. Of course there were a few negative voices—nobody wins over everyone—but he wasn't in the mood for abuse, so he tossed the tabloids aside.
The papers didn't only carry critic praise. Several quotes from last night's press conference had also made the front pages.
Al Pacino's words were printed in full: "'The Sixth Sense has an outstanding script. Honestly, when I first learned the writer was Ryan, my jaw nearly hit the floor. I feel incredibly lucky to have landed this role and to work with him. He is the most talented and brilliant boy I have ever met. You can never keep up with the way his mind works. In my opinion he is every bit as good as the finest adult actors.'"
David Fincher had also spoken about the three main performers: "'We all know how brilliant Al is—he gave a career-peak performance. Nicole's acting is every bit as stunning as her beauty. As for Ryan… honestly, before we started shooting I had never met him and I was afraid it would be a disaster. He had zero acting experience and made a lot of mistakes on the first day. But the kid is frighteningly smart. He adjusted almost instantly, and the results are there for everyone to see. He had the fewest takes of anyone. Yes, I can confirm the screenplay is entirely Ryan's work. He is far more remarkable than you can imagine—and that's all I'm saying.'"