On that evening, the segment of the cinema interview was aired on a movie-related program on NBC. It was a highly popular program that typically focused on the latest movie releases and related information. Today, their on-site interview team was interviewing the crowd as they left the movie theater to provide the audience with more information about the movie.
The reason they didn't opt for the audience's favorite live format was primarily due to the fear that some audience members might reveal spoilers in public. If that were to happen, not only would the movie producers protest, but the audience would also vent their frustration. Not many people are willing to spend money to watch a story when they already know the ending, as it would diminish much of the enjoyment.
Movie enthusiasts are usually young people, with a significant proportion being middle-aged individuals. The program also caters to the preferences of many homemakers who enjoy entertainment gossip, so the show is quite popular.
However, no one expected that while sitting in front of their television screens, as usual, they would suddenly see Laila appear on TV.
To create a "surprise," the program did not initially bring Laila and Roy on screen but began with interviews of regular pedestrians, asking them questions like, "What movie did you watch?" and "What are your feelings about the movie?"
Then, when the audience least expected it, the on-site host on TV rushed over to a couple holding hands. After the host stopped them, the audience, just like the host, displayed incredulous expressions.
"It's Roy and Laila!" The audience was excited and quickly called their friends and acquaintances.
The TV ratings skyrocketed at that moment.
The surprise displayed by the on-site host seemed quite genuine, so the audience could tell that this was not a prearranged interview but a "chance encounter."
Meeting the two people just as they exited the movie theater, what did that mean?
It meant they were caught red-handed while on a date!
It's hard to say how many viewers witnessed this scene with excitement.
This was so much fun! With the popularity of "Pirates of the Caribbean," one became the hottest global star, and the other became the most renowned director. Their relationship was as thrilling as a movie plot. Plus, very few people had seen them together, so their sudden appearance thrilled the audience.
On TV, the two individuals, who were heavily disguised, seemed somewhat helpless. They probably didn't expect to be discovered looking like this, especially by an interview team. Judging by their expressions, it seemed like the audience's delight at their "capture" was shared. They were told to hide, but now they had been caught in the act.
Delighted viewers watched as the two were questioned by the host. They had hoped to hear more gossip about them, but instead, they were bombarded with a series of questions about movies.
Come on! They had been caught with so much effort; how could they only ask such unimportant questions? How about asking where they go on their dates? What do they do when they're together? What sweet nothings do they exchange during their normal interactions? Why only focus on the movies?
Fortunately, this wasn't a live program; otherwise, the host on TV would have likely shaken under the collective wrath of the audience.
But then, viewers who had been criticizing the host for not asking the right questions began to be drawn in by the responses on TV. When the host asked the two about their thoughts on "Pearl Harbor," seeing Roy's sarcastic remarks made many who had watched the movie feel vindicated.
They rushed to forums or Facebook to write, "Roy is absolutely right. That's a regrettable movie that makes you wonder what you were thinking to endure three hours of agony in the cinema! It's not worth the attention!"
Some wrote, "If you want to break up with your girlfriend, just take her to see Pearl Harbor. I guarantee that you'll be single before the movie ends."
One sentence from Roy led to a wave of criticism against "Pearl Harbor" online. It was unclear if these critics had actually watched the movie or were just joining the bandwagon, but they all condemned the film. You whip it, I spit on it, each of them pouring scorn on it.
The TV interview wasn't over yet. Laila explained that the reason she hadn't chosen to watch her own movie was that she put her all into everything she did.
This statement also received a lot of praise online. Unlike the unanimous criticism of "Pearl Harbor," there was more acclaim for "Pirates of the Caribbean." The viewers' eyes were keen; you would understand if you watched the movie. From the box office figures, it was clear that more people had watched "Pirates of the Caribbean" than "Pearl Harbor," which meant that more people were there online to vouch for it. When these people praised the movie, it attracted more positive attention.
This was the result of word of mouth. If so many people were praising it, wouldn't you be curious about what made it so good? Wouldn't you want to go to the cinema to see what was so praiseworthy that everyone was talking about?
The discussion then shifted to "Fast & Furious," which Laila and Roy brought up. Some who had seen it immediately echoed their sentiments, saying it was an exhilarating movie that made your heart race even after it ended as if your blood was still boiling.
As a result, almost immediately after the interview had aired, the popularity of "Fast & Furious" on the internet soared. Many people wanted to see just how good this movie was to receive recognition from the esteemed director Moran. With her reputation, their film was bound to be well-received. To get this kind of free promotion on television, the filmmakers were elated.
Louise had been bewildered by Laila's previous comments about "two tickets affecting the box office," but the next day, she was shocked by the successive news reports. Only then did she realize that two tickets could indeed accomplish so much.
First, "Pearl Harbor" was under attack, and it was clear that its box office performance wouldn't be great in the future. Then, "Pirates of the Caribbean" received additional attention due to Laila and Roy's date, prompting many who had heard good things about it but hadn't seen it yet to make it their choice for dates and family outings.
Finally, "Fast & Furious" received a surprise boost from director Moran, and they hadn't anticipated that following the trend of another movie would gain her endorsement. With her reputation, their film couldn't go unnoticed. With the chance to receive such free promotion and publicity on television, the filmmakers couldn't be happier.