Just the thought of Laila and her film made his heart race. Mainly, it was Laila's formidable reputation and her impeccable track record of never having a failure. What made him most uncomfortable was her intentional decision to schedule the premiere date at the same time as his. It was clear she wanted to challenge him with her movie. Did this mean she believed she could beat him?
With these speculations in mind, he finally found an excuse to slip away to the theater where Laila's film was being screened after the lights went out. He wanted to see what kind of "children's" movie she had created, and how she could have the confidence to compete with his superhero blockbuster.
The movie begins with a child named Harry, who lives unhappily with his relatives. However, a ray of light shone into his life when an owl arrived, bringing him a letter from a magical school.
The more Joseph watched, the more he frowned. He realized that this children's film was nothing like what he had imagined. He had read the script and knew it wasn't a particularly rich narrative, and he didn't see the potential for success. But how had Laila transformed the story into its current form?
As he watched the magical scenes and enchanting props, he couldn't fathom how she had come up with all of this. If he had directed the movie... He wanted to believe he could produce such fantastic visuals, but he couldn't deceive himself.
"I want a pet owl too!"
"Mom, please buy me a flying broomstick."
"I want to go to the magic school!"
Excited children's voices periodically filled the air, as they were fully immersed in the movie. Even their parents were captivated by the magical world depicted in the film.
Everyone has a childlike heart; the only difference is that some people hide it better, while others let it shine through.
Hearing those childish words, Joseph knew he had a formidable opponent on his hands. This movie could be a real threat.
However, he still didn't feel he would lose. He knew that this movie had a critical flaw – it was a "children's movie." Anything meant for kids wouldn't bring in the same kind of box office revenue. Parents wouldn't take their children to see the same movie over and over, and they couldn't afford all the expensive merchandise either. "Catwoman," on the other hand, was targeted at adults, particularly dedicated comic book fans with significant purchasing power. When they got excited, they would eagerly buy not only merchandise but even limited-edition items, no matter how expensive they were.
From a spending perspective, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" was bound to fall short of his film by a significant margin. With such a natural advantage, he had no reason to be concerned about losing at the box office.
As long as he won at the box office, it didn't matter if some people criticized his movie for lacking depth. Everyone could see from the box office numbers who the real victor was.
When that time came, he could use his genius reputation to elevate himself to the top! He would soon have an abundance of great scripts to choose from, and large movie production companies would seek his collaboration. With his talent, and a few more good scripts under his belt, he would undoubtedly surpass Laila's position in Hollywood.
When he had made enough money, he could invest in producing art and indie films. With some awards under his belt, his name would be etched in the history of cinema forever!
The more Joseph thought about it, the more excited he became. He cast a cold glance at the big screen still showing "Harry Potter" and let out a snort before leaving the screening room.
What did it matter how well a movie was made or how imaginative it was? The box office was everything!
Unbeknownst to Joseph, Laila was unaware that he was eagerly waiting to beat her at the box office. She was still comparing the film playing on the big screen with her memories of the original.
Because she had started filming two years later, the special effects in the current movie were more advanced than the original version. Some of the previously awkward special effects scenes were no longer visible. Additionally, she had chosen slightly brighter and softer colors for the movie.
Laila had always felt that a story about magic should not make the entire film dark and gloomy. She preferred using softer and brighter colors to complement the liveliness of the children. She only adjusted the color saturation when it was necessary for the plot.
Filming in this manner allowed the movie to avoid feeling excessively gloomy and made it more enjoyable for the audience. At least, she believed her choices were correct when she watched the film's presentation on the big screen.
"I want to ride a broomstick to chase that ball." Roy watched her profile and couldn't help but lean in closer to whisper in her ear.
A warm breath brushed against her ear, making Laila smile. She pinched his hand and mimicked his tone, leaning closer to his ear, "You've grown up now; you'd break the broomstick."
"Are you calling me fat?" Roy raised an eyebrow.
"No, I'm saying you've become even more handsome. In the East, there's a saying to describe a very good-looking person – it's called 'sinking fish and falling geese.' It means that someone so beautiful appears as if they've fallen from the sky like a fish or a goose."
Unfortunately, she underestimated Roy's knowledge of the Chinese language; while he might not be clear on some things, he had studied this phrase in detail. Initially, he had wanted to learn some compliments about beautiful women to make his girlfriend happy, and he didn't expect to use it now.
"So, 'sinking fish and falling geese' means this? How about 'the moon and the shy flowers?" he recited another Chinese idiom fluently.
A mischievous grin froze on Laila's face, and then she turned her gaze forward, pretending as if nothing had happened. "Let's watch the movie. Please keep quiet."
Roy clenched his fist, clearing his throat to hide the laughter that almost escaped. It was rare to see her taken aback like that. It seemed like his decision to learn Chinese had paid off!
After the movie ended, the theater resounded with joyous cheers from the children and applause from the audience. Some film critics among the audience were quick to praise the film.
In their words, "This movie feels like a wonderful dream, leading everyone back into the magical world of childhood fantasies."
With both films engaging in a head-to-head competition, several media outlets like NBC had the foresight to station reporters in front of the theaters screening both movies. They waited for the movies to finish and intended to interview the audience members.
Outside the theater screening "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," they interviewed children, asking, "Kids, did you enjoy the movie?"
"It was amazing! Mom and Dad promised to bring me to watch it again this week if I help them with the dishes!"
The child was easily tempted, and their words drew laughter from the people nearby.
The reporters took the opportunity to interview the parents, asking, "What do you think of this movie?"