The next day, upon returning to the company, Laila immediately called Louise into her office and asked her to gather information about Marvel, regardless of its size or significance. She wanted all the information available about the company.
"Louise, why the sudden interest in comics?" Louise was curious, as Laila didn't seem like someone who would be into that sort of thing.
Laila smiled, "I've met some interesting people, and it got me interested in comics. How much do you think we'd need if we were to acquire it?"
"Acquire Marvel?" Louise chuckled. Was this another "little gift" in preparation for her future siblings? Not too long ago, they had just started preparing for "big toys," and now the focus was on comics.
"I can't say for sure how much we'd need, but one thing is certain: we don't have any extra money right now."
Laila was well aware of that. But she was determined to acquire Marvel!
"It's just a preliminary intention. For now, help me gather some relevant information, and try not to let others notice," Laila said. She didn't want to create competitors.
Louise nodded, "Don't worry, I know what to do." As she was about to leave, she suddenly turned back, "Laila, when do we start the promotion for 'Pirates of the Caribbean'?"
Laila slapped her forehead, "I forgot to mention that. I secured a 90-second ad slot before the Super Bowl. I'll give you a call, and you can negotiate with them. Before the Super Bowl, I'll edit a trailer, and after the Super Bowl, we'll start the campaign."
"Advertising during the Super Bowl?" Louise was astonished by her plan.
Without a doubt, the 2000 Super Bowl made Roy and the Victoria's Secret Angels the most famous stars in the world. It was still considered by many as one of the most outstanding marketing strategies. But airing a movie trailer during it?
She had to admit that it was a place with the most attention, but the cost must be quite significant. Could the same amount of money be better spent on traditional media like newspapers and television?
Seeing her worried expression, Laila couldn't help but laugh, "Louise, you must remember that we are no longer a B-movie studio. 'Pirates of the Caribbean' is our first film to compete in the summer box office, and in my opinion, no amount of promotion budget is excessive. You should understand that what we're doing is not just finding a survival space in the gaps of major film studios; we're seizing our own territory from their hands."
Louise agreed, "You're right. Spending so much money for just 90 seconds does seem wasteful, but the effect is absolute. Can you imagine how many media outlets will come to us for free promotion after the Super Bowl? It's your first summer blockbuster, the first film for the whole family, and the first film to air its trailer during the Super Bowl. Think about the sensation caused by a single song, 'Baby,' during the Super Bowl. You can imagine how many media outlets will be interested in this."
"Alright, you're right. If I remember correctly, next year's Super Bowl is at the end of January." Louise thought for a moment. "Do you have any plans to go to the East for any programs around that time?"
"It depends on the situation. I don't remember the exact date. If there's a conflict, you can handle the media aspect at that time or delegate it to the PR department."
Laila decided to delegate the responsibility.
This surprised Louise a bit. The workaholic boss was letting go at such an important time? She thought Laila would seize every opportunity and work tirelessly to excel in both tasks simultaneously.
"Laila, have you encountered anything good recently? I heard you went shopping yesterday afternoon?" Louise was astonished to hear this from Demi. She almost thought her ears were playing tricks on her. After confirming that she hadn't misheard, she realized that Laila had voluntarily taken a break and gone for a walk.
This was great news, and she hoped such things would happen more often. Seeing Laila's dark circles and exhausted appearance, every time she worried a lot.
Laila heard her question and smiled, "Yes, I found a great coffee shop and met some people I could talk to."
Now, Louise was even more surprised, "I thought you didn't like coffee."
"Having coffee occasionally is nice, and I like the atmosphere there. No one knows me, and it's easy to talk to them."
"Hollywood still has people who don't recognize you?" Louise looked at her incredulously. "It's incredible."
Hollywood is the holy land of cinema, and it was unbelievable that there would be people in the holy land who didn't recognize Laila, the creator of cinematic miracles. She couldn't believe it, and anyone else would find it strange, no matter how they looked at it.
Laila felt happy thinking about it. Those young people gave her a sense of purity, and she could tell that Owen seemed to have some admiration for her. But it didn't matter; she believed it was just a momentary impulse. When he meets another girl who is willing to discuss comics with him, he realizes that it is just a feeling of friendship.
Just like... just like Roy.
Unintentionally, Roy's face popped into her mind. The incident that happened in his room still occasionally jumped out of her tightly closed memory box. The frequency of it happening was so high that she was a bit hesitant to look at him.
Blame her for having too little experience in romantic relationships between men and women. She didn't know how to handle such situations. When it came to Roy, from her visual perspective, he was undoubtedly top-notch in terms of looks and physique. He was an excellent choice for a boyfriend in every way.
But for her, he was too young, so young that she felt embarrassed to pursue him. Even though no one knew the age difference, she couldn't get past it herself.
Compared to Roy, she felt more interested in more mature men. They didn't have to be like Quentin, but they should at least exude the charm of a mature man. That way, she could feel more secure and not burdened with emotional stress. In simple terms, if she were to be with Roy, she felt she would be the one taking care of him. If it were an older man, she would be the one being taken care of.
Having these thoughts only meant that Laila truly didn't understand the dynamics of romantic relationships between men and women. Relationships were a two-way street. If only one side gave while the other side enjoyed the giving, the bridge connecting the two would eventually crack. When the cracks became too large and the bridge collapsed, that's when the relationship would break apart.