Hollywood Road

Also released this weekend in North America, "Dark City" was also shown in theaters in more than 60 countries and regions in Europe, Latin America, and the Far East. This is also the rare global simultaneous release of Murphy's film, although because of the film In terms of genres, North America is the main market for this movie, but 20th Century Fox and Murphy will not ignore the overseas market. Before the first weekend in North America is over, let Gal Gadot lead some people to run. To the overseas market.

The post-screening publicity in North America is mainly based on Murphy and James Franco.

Due to the popularity of "Dark City", countless fans unconsciously acted as the role of tap water. Murphy and Twentieth Century Fox did not engage in any surprising actions in post-screening publicity, but basically used routines. means.

The only difference is that publicity takes more care of the youth group.

In fact, Murphy knows very well that the times are constantly changing, but the mainstream of the film market will not change. Teenagers will always constitute the backbone of the market, and they are willing to pay for their favorite films and peripheral products.

After all, movies are cultural products that are greatly influenced by the social environment.

On Sunday afternoon, Murphy and James Franco had just flown to Chicago. They participated in a fan meeting that night and accepted an interview with local media after the meeting.

The people who came to interview Murphy and James Franco came from the famous Chicago Tribune, which can be said to be the most influential print media in the entire Greater Chicago area and even in Illinois.

The interview was placed in the lobby of the hotel, and the Hilton Hotel specifically cleared an area for them to use.

""Dark City" successively set the highest Friday and Saturday box office records in North America..."

A female reporter with the rare long red hair put the tape recorder on the glass round table between Murphy and said, "Congratulations, Director Stanton."

"Thank you!" Murphy said with a smile.

Afterwards, the interview entered the main topic, and the female reporter asked, "Before the release, did you think that "Dark City" would achieve such good box office results?"

Although this weekend has not passed, it is now Sunday night. As long as you pay attention, it is not difficult to find that this film may create a very scary weekend box office number.

"I have thought of some." Murphy is not modest at all. "Stanton Studios and Twentieth Century Fox have expected the film's first weekend box office in North America to be around 170 million US dollars."

The female reporter deliberately made a slightly surprised expression, "You are so confident."

Murphy nodded, "Of course, otherwise we would not invest such a huge sum of money."

"Looking at it now, you are successful." The female reporter smiled and said, "Do you know that "The Dark City" has a very good reputation among the audience. Do many people even call the film a god-made film?

"Um..." Murphy knew of course, "I've heard of some."

Upon hearing Murphy say this, the female reporter immediately asked, "Do you usually watch some comments about the movies you made? What do you think about it?"

"I don't read the comments about the movie very much."

Sometimes, opening your eyes and telling lies is entirely for the purpose of propaganda. Without even thinking about it, Murphy said, "I learned a long time ago, don’t read reviews that praise you, and don’t read articles that criticize you. Basically, I don’t read the review articles of my films, because people are always affected by the environment. For the director, some comments are actually very scary. Once you are affected, when shooting the next film Changes may be made, but the consequences of such changes are often dire."

The female reporter asked, "Does it include articles by professional film critics?"

"Yes." Murphy still nodded. "You have to admit that sometimes comments and movies are completely separated."

These are of course not true. He sometimes accompanies Gal Gadot to read good reviews, and there are some articles by famous film critics such as Roger Albert or Kenneth Turan, but these articles are all read. It's just looking, not going to the heart at all, this can be said to be very important.

It's one thing for film critics to appreciate his style, but it's another thing to treat their so-called guidance and analysis as a movie bible.

One thing, even Roger Albert can’t deny that even Hollywood’s fourth- and fifth-rate directors are more professional than any film critic in film production.

There are certain things that Murphy would never say clearly, but he knew very well that in North America alone, Hollywood films have more than 150 million viewers and 600 film critics. For a commercial film director like him, Which part of the people will really pay for the film, it can be described at a glance.

Frankly speaking, it is welcomed and touted by film critics. On the one hand, there are public relations factors. Murphy never denies this. The Stanton Studio spends millions of dollars in this area every year; The style that Fei chose is just right to the appetite of quite a few film critics.

Of course, it is enough for him to know this kind of thing himself, and he will certainly not tell the media reporters.

"Then you like your current job very much?" the female reporter asked again.

Although this question is a bit silly, Murphy answered seriously, "Yes, I like it very much. Making movies makes me feel excited, like reuniting with a good friend after a long absence. I said to Robert Downey Jr. Once, “I feel so good to make movies on the streets of New York”, this is my opinion, it’s really cool. I always wanted to try a lot of things that can’t be tried in other movies in an interesting blockbuster, so there is "Dark City", we are the only film in the world that uses more than 70% of the IMAX screen. This is very rare and very exciting!"

The female reporter looked down at her notepad and asked, "James Franco gave a great performance in this film. You are not only working partners, but also close friends. What do you think of his work? "

"Very good!" Murphy will certainly not be stingy with his own words of praise, "James enters the state very fast, I like it very much. He is full of energy when he works, I like this kind of work attitude. To play a role, you must be fully prepared and familiar with the characters I like to make movies like this in every detail. James is amazing. He can improvise while shooting and always surprise people!"

Compared with the many entertainment names Murphy has encountered, the female reporter's ability is obviously worse, but this is also good, he is relatively easier to deal with.

"It is said that behind the script of each of your films..." The heroine finally asked a more professional question, "Is there a screenwriter team with a clear division of labor?"

"Yes."

This is not a secret in Hollywood, Murphy said generously, "Under normal circumstances, I will only write the outline, character and story direction of the script, and the specific content will be left to the screenwriter to complete."

The female reporter asked immediately on this topic, "Is there any benefit in doing this?"

"It's great when a group of smart people use their ingenuity to conceive a script."

Murphy thought for a moment, and said without hesitation, "These screenwriters think about how the duel between Chris Dann and the magician is connected. This process is very brain-intensive. It is too difficult for a screenwriter. They have to consider the previous film that has already been shot, and then closely link the plot of this one with the previous one to ensure that we do not break the coherence of the story. This is very complicated."

Compared to the previous lie, Murphy is basically telling the truth now, "They have a whole room of diagrams and various things, which is incredible. I put them and the art works in the movie in one room. It’s like a think tank. Many amazing works have been made in this room. For each movie, we imagine the possible difficulties, and then find a solution to the difficulties. The "Dark City" is now in hot screenings, which also proves our The work is worth it."

After answering a few more trivial questions, Murphy's interview came to an end.

Murphy did not leave immediately, but went to another resting table that was not too far away. James Franco was also being interviewed by another reporter from the Chicago Tribune.

Since James Franco's interview was not over yet, Murphy stood beside him and listened for a while.

"James, you said before that you want to be a director yourself in the future."

The reporter who interviewed James Franco was also a young woman. "What have you learned from Murphy?"

"Murphy is more familiar with all aspects of the entire process of filming than anyone I have worked with. It is a rare opportunity to have the opportunity to watch him work every day."

Similarly, James Franco will sing praises to his friends, “We have been familiar with each other a long time ago. When I understand his thoughts and ask him questions, I can ask him more carefully. For example, I asked. He, why use a specific lens to shoot a specific scene? This process is very interesting.

The reporter asked immediately, "Will you make a big movie like "The Dark City"?"

"I don't know." James Franco shook his head first, and then said again, "Maybe a little more personal movie, or it may be a blockbuster, I may or may not Acting. When I find the story I want, I decide the genre of the movie according to the plot. It will be clear by then."

At the end of the interview, it was almost eleven o'clock in the evening. Murphy and James Franco greeted him and went directly to the room to rest, with sufficient energy to welcome the first weekend box office of "Dark City"!

Not only them, but a large number of people in Hollywood are waiting for this weekend box office statistics.