Jimmy continued the conversation by turning the focus to Roy: "Seeing you play a pirate in the trailer, can you tell us more about the character?"
Roy, experienced in interviews, responded without hesitation: "It's a charming character, probably the most enjoyable role I've ever played. He goes beyond the typical pirate image, and I think when the audience sees it for themselves, they'll understand. I can't explain it further."
Jimmy nodded in agreement and added humorously, "You're right; I'm more confused about the character now." Laughter erupted in the audience. He then turned his attention to their relationship, asking, "Tell us about you and Laila, how's your relationship been lately?"
The interview continued until other stars arrived. After entering the theater, Laila noticed that Janet was seated next to her in the designated position. To her surprise, her mother, Quentin, and her grandfather were also present.
"Mom? What are you doing here? Where's William?" Laila inquired.
"Don't worry, your grandmother and Claire are taking care of him," Janet replied, patting the seat beside her for Laila to sit.
Laila furrowed her brow, concerned. "You've just given birth to William; you shouldn't be moving around this much. Eastern customs dictate that new mothers should rest for a month, avoiding wind and water. But it seems like Western mothers don't follow these rules, judging by your behavior."
Laila, with an Eastern soul, disapproved of Western mothers moving around so soon after giving birth. It was customary in Eastern cultures to rest in bed for a month. However, some Western mothers, for various reasons, didn't adhere to these practices.
Laila couldn't help but glance at Quentin, who sat on her other side, looking a bit distressed. She could already guess the reason behind Janet's appearance. Regardless, she was happy to see Janet here.
Janet exclaimed, "I've been hearing your grandmother's nagging for ages. Please cut your poor mother some slack!"
Laila couldn't help but laugh, realizing her grandmother, being a traditional Eastern woman, would certainly emphasize the importance of following postpartum customs.
Laila asked, "How did you manage to escape?"
Janet proudly raised her chin and replied, "Well, I escaped with sheer determination. I've chosen to selectively forget about the consequences once I get back home."
Laila took a look at Quentin, who was sitting on her other side, looking miserable, and she had a feeling she knew the truth. No matter what, she was glad to have Janet here.
"In a little while, you'll get to see the clothes you designed to appear in the movie," Her eyes narrowed with a smile. "Do you have the confidence to win an Oscar?"
Janet blinked her eyes. "Darling, are you joking with me, or are you teasing me?"
Laila was speechless. Did it make a difference between joking and teasing?
"I'm serious! I might be too young for heavyweight awards, but I'm pretty confident about winning some other awards."
For movies like this, unless they achieve a record-breaking box office like "Titanic," major awards like the Oscars are typically out of reach. The Academy tends to favor a different style of film. However, other awards such as those for music, special effects, costumes, cinematography, and lighting are within reach.
All the costumes in this film were designed by Janet and her team, and even the captain's image that Laila had drawn from her memory underwent some enhancements. The result was a wardrobe that Laila was proud to claim as the best. If they focused on the costume awards, the possibility of winning an Oscar for Best Costume Design was not out of the question.
Janet shifted the conversation to William, and Laila could only shrug, waiting to convince her with actual results.
As time passed, the spacious theater filled with people. As the lights dimmed, the previously noisy atmosphere gradually quieted down.
Soon, the big screen displayed the logo representing Dragon Soul Pictures. Different from the Western-style dragon, the Eastern dragon image on the screen intrigued many viewers who saw it for the first time.
Laila's breathing quickened. Her dream, spanning two lifetimes, was finally coming true. Would it be a success or a failure? She was becoming less certain by the moment, even considering leaving at that moment.
Perhaps she shouldn't have come, and maybe waiting at home for the news would have been less nerve-wracking.
Suddenly, a warm hand covered hers. She looked up to meet Roy's smiling eyes.
In the dim light from the big screen, his eyes shone like the stars in the sky, filled with such warmth.
Laila's heart calmed down. With a relieved smile in return, she redirected her gaze to the big screen. What was she so nervous about? She was surrounded by people who cared for her, and even if it failed, it wouldn't change the fact that she had done her best.
Even in failure, she could proudly say, "No regrets."
The movie began with a scene on a foggy sea. A girl on a large ship sang a song and discovered a boy drifting on the sea. The people on the ship became anxious, thinking about rescuing the boy due to a burning ship in the distance. The girl noticed a skull pendant around the boy's neck but kept his pirate identity a secret, holding it close to her heart.
The movie had just started, and the plot hadn't progressed much, but the audience was already captivated by the stunning visuals. Whether it was the scenery captured on screen, the clothing and accessories worn by the characters, or the ships on the sea, everything was captivating.
Similar to "Kill Bill," this was a visually stunning film, with every frame looking like a desktop wallpaper worthy of a screenshot.
Compared to the somewhat dirty and rough original version, Laila's version was undoubtedly more refined in every aspect.
Soon, Roy's character, the captain, appeared on the big screen. This image had previously been seen in the trailer, and some critics had labeled it as "effeminate." However, as he stood before the audience, they discovered that this character was fascinating, unique, and charismatic, unlike any pirate they had seen or imagined.
Despite his somewhat cunning appearance and the playful mannerisms he displayed, the audience didn't find him unlikeable. On the contrary, his performance often elicited light laughter from the audience.
Hearing the faint laughter from the back, Laila discreetly clenched her fist. It meant the audience liked the character, didn't it?
As long as the soul character, the captain, was accepted, it meant they had already succeeded in a significant way!