The host hesitated as he glanced at Laila. He was aware that he had stumbled upon a sensational piece of news, but he belonged to the Moran Media family. If he reported such an intense comment, would it jeopardize his job? He didn't want to give up this career that he loved!
Seeing his concern, Laila smiled and added, "That's right. Compared to the uninteresting 'Pearl Harbor,' 'Fast & Furious' today is more entertaining. At least we're not checking our watches while watching it."
She deliberately mentioned the most criticized aspect of "Pearl Harbor," its long and boring three-hour runtime, to give it another kick.
The host was now sure that the interview could be broadcast, so he eagerly continued the conversation. After all, he had found a great news angle, and he couldn't miss the opportunity to exploit it. Furthermore, seeing their future boss passionately criticizing another big movie, he felt a sense of satisfaction too.
"Roy, do you also find 'Pearl Harbor' too dull?" the host asked.
Roy shrugged, "I haven't watched it, so I can't comment on its plot. But I've seen many people express similar opinions in their reviews. Perhaps they should have invested the money they spent on advertising in making the movie better."
He was mocking the aggressive advertising campaign of "Pearl Harbor," as it seemed that ads for the film were everywhere. The size of their marketing budget was evident.
Even though "Pirates of the Caribbean" had its share of advertising, if you added up all the expenses, it probably didn't even account for one-tenth of what "Pearl Harbor" spent. This illustrated the influence of the Super Bowl and Laila's ability to create massive impact with minimal costs, one of the reasons she was hailed as a world-class strategic planner.
The host, who had already obtained more exciting content than he had planned for, continued by shifting the focus back to the new movie, "What are your thoughts on 'Fast & Furious'?"
"It's a fantastic film," Roy pondered, trying to find an accurate word to describe his feelings after watching it. "You know, high-speed car chases, very cool, very exciting."
"Indeed," Laila nodded in agreement, "while the storyline may not be overly intricate, the film provides an exhilarating viewing experience with its intense collisions and high-speed car chases. I think it's a very entertaining movie."
The host laughed and said, "Listening to you both, I can't help but want to see it myself. Director Moran, I was planning to watch 'Pirates of the Caribbean' again, but your recommendation is making me reconsider. Aren't you afraid you'll redirect the audience who wanted to watch your movie to someone else's?"
Laila chuckled, "One of my goals as a filmmaker is to give the audience worthwhile movies to watch. If other directors create something exciting, why deprive viewers of the opportunity to enjoy it?"
The host silently admired her generous attitude. He knew that he wouldn't genuinely praise another movie like that. He was also impressed by the "Fast & Furious" franchise's good luck. He believed that once the interview aired, many people would become interested in the newly released high-speed car movie.
He then asked, "So, Director Moran, 'Pirates of the Caribbean' has already been released. Do you have any other filming plans coming up, like a sequel? Or perhaps the long-rumored superhero movie?"
Laila thought for a moment before responding, "There will definitely be a sequel; I have a lot of interest in pirate stories. But I'm not sure if I'll be the director. As for the superhero movie, I've always been interested in it. The challenge is that there are so many options, and every character is charismatic. I believe each of them would shine on the big screen, making the choice quite difficult. I might already have a case of decision paralysis." She concluded with a jest.
The host expressed his disappointment, "That's a shame. I believe many viewers, including myself, are very interested in your upcoming movie."
He then turned to Roy and asked, "Roy, your portrayal of Captain Jack has captivated almost everyone who has seen the movies. You've played different types of roles in several of your films. If Director Moran were to make a superhero movie, is there a specific character you'd like to play?"
Roy looked at Laila, smiled, and said, "I'll play whatever she wants."
The host was caught off guard by this sudden show of affection. After laughing a bit, he concluded the interview. He was intelligent enough to know that he shouldn't disturb the future boss during her date. It wouldn't be worth it if her husband decided to give him a hard time.
Watching the interview team leave with excitement, Laila couldn't help but smile meaningfully.
Roy, who had been watching her closely, didn't miss this smile. "Every time you smile like that, it makes me shiver. Who were you plotting against this time?"
Laila hesitated for a moment, touched her face, and replied, "Was it that obvious?"
"Very obvious!" Roy nodded seriously.
To be fair, he might have exaggerated a bit. Laila's smile was still quite friendly. Only those who were familiar with her could gauge her true emotions from her smile's warmth. Roy's talent was acting, and he had an almost intuitive understanding of others' expressions. He could see through her "disguises" and understand her true emotions.
Laila explained, "It's nothing, just thinking about what interesting reactions we might get once that interview is broadcast."
Roy added with a raised eyebrow, "What else could there be? 'Pearl Harbor' will likely protest, and 'Fast & Furious' will thank you."
"Well, I'm looking forward to it," Laila said with a smile. "I hope the final reactions won't disappoint me. Otherwise, it would've been in vain for me to stage this 'chance encounter'."
Yes, this interview had been orchestrated by her behind the scenes. To make it appear like a genuine encounter, she had also informed several people in advance, including the "senior" colleague who had shared his experience with the new host before departure, and the lighting technician who had reminded the host to interview Laila. The results had pleased her. She had promised to use these two movie tickets to add fuel to the currently turbulent box office.