This weekend was also released in North America, "Dark City" was also released in theaters in more than 60 countries and regions in Europe, Latin America and the Far East. This is one of the rare global simultaneous releases of Murphy's films. Although North America is the main market area of ​​the film due to the film type, 20th Century Fox and Murphy will not ignore the overseas market. Before the first weekend of North America was over, Gal Gadot led some people to the overseas market.

The post-screening publicity in North America is mainly based on Murphy and James Franko.

Because "Dark City" has a huge reputation, countless movie fans have acted as tap water without realizing it. Murphy and Twentieth Century Fox did not make any surprising moves in post-screening promotions, and they basically used some conventional means.

The only difference is that publicity takes care of the teenagers more.

In fact, Murphy is very clear that the times are changing constantly, but the mainstream group in the film market will not change. Teenagers will always be the pillar of the market and are willing to pay for their favorite films and peripheral products.

After all, movies are cultural products that are greatly affected by the social environment.

On Sunday afternoon, Murphy and James Franko had just flew to Chicago and participated in a fan meeting that night, and were interviewed by local media after the meeting.

The people who came to interview Murphy and James Franco came from the famous Chicago Tribune in Chicago. It can be said that this is the most influential paper media in the entire Greater Chicago area and even Illinois.

The interview was placed in the hotel lobby, and the Hilton Hotel specially cleared an area for them to use.

"The City of Darkness sets the highest Friday and Saturday box office records in North America..."

A female reporter with relatively rare long red hair placed the recorder on a glass round table with Murphy, "Congratulations, Director Stanton."

"Thank you!" Murphy said with a smile.

Then, the interview got to the point, and the female reporter asked, "Before the release, did you think that "Dark City" would achieve such a good box office result?"

Although this weekend has not yet passed, it is Sunday night now. With a little attention, it is not difficult to find that this video may create a very scary weekend box office figure.

"Think of some." Murphy was not humble at all. "Stanton Studios and Twentieth Century Fox's expectation for the film's first weekend in North America is about $170 million."

The female reporter deliberately made a slightly surprised expression, "You are so confident."

Murphy nodded, "Of course, otherwise we wouldn't have invested such a huge amount of money."

"Now, you have succeeded." The female reporter smiled and said, "Do you know that the audience of "Dark City" has a very good reputation, and many people even call the film a masterpiece?"

"Well..." Murphy knew of course, "I've heard of some."

Hearing Murphy say this, the female reporter immediately asked, "Do you usually watch some comments about the movies you make? If you watch them, what are your thoughts?"

"I don't watch the video's related comments."

Sometimes, lying with your eyes open is for publicity. Murphy said without even thinking about it, "I learned a long time ago that you should not read comments that praise you, nor do you read articles that criticize you. Basically, I don't read comments that are very much in my videos, because people are always affected by the environment. For directors, some comments are actually very scary. Once you are affected, you may make changes when shooting the next video, but the consequences of such changes are often scary."

The female reporter asked, "Does it include articles from professional film critics?"

"Yes." Murphy still nodded, "You have to admit that comments and movies are sometimes completely separated."

Of course these are not the truth. Sometimes he will accompany Gal Gadot to read good reviews, and there are also articles from famous film critics such as Roger Albert or Kenneth Tulane. However, these articles are just read and will not take them to heart. This can be said to be very important.

It is one thing for film critics to appreciate his style, and it is another to treat their so-called guidance and analysis as the movie Bible.

There is one thing that even Roger Albert cannot deny that even the fourth or even fifth-rate directors in Hollywood are more professional than any film critic in terms of film production.

Murphy never said something explicitly, but he knew very well in his heart that in North America alone, Hollywood movies have more than 150 million viewers and 600 film critics. For a commercial director like him, that part of them would really pay for the film, which is clear at a glance.

To be honest, Murphy never denies this because of public relations factors, including Stanton Studio spends millions of dollars a year on this; on the other hand, the style Murphy chose is exactly the right appetite of many critics.

Of course, it is enough for him to know this kind of thing himself, and he will definitely not tell it to media reporters.

"Then do you like your current job?" the female reporter asked again.

Although this question is a bit stupid, Murphy still answered very seriously, "Yes, I like it very much. Making movies makes me excited, just like reuniting with a good friend after a long time. I said to Robert Downey Jr., 'I feel very happy in the streets of New York'. That's what I think, it's very cool. I always want to try many things that cannot be tried in other movies in an interesting blockbuster, so there is "Dark City". We are the only film in the world that uses imax images for more than 70%. This is very rare and exciting!"

The female reporter looked down at her notepad and asked, "James Franco has dedicated a great performance in this film. You are not only working partners, but also making friends. What do you think of his work?"

"Very great!" Murphy will definitely not be stingy with his praise. "James is in a very fast state, I like it very much. He is full of energy when working, and I like this working attitude. You must be well prepared to play a role and be familiar with every detail of the characters. I like to make movies like this. James is amazing. He can improvise during shooting, which always brings surprises!"

Compared to many famous entertainment reporters Murphy has encountered, this female reporter has obviously worse abilities, but this is better, and it is relatively easier for him to deal with it.

"It is said that behind the scripts of each of your films..." The heroine finally asked a more professional question, "There is a screenwriter team with clear division of labor?"

"That's right."

This is not a secret in Hollywood. Murphy said openly, "Usually, I only write out the outline of the script, the character design and the story direction, and the specific content will be left to the screenwriter team to complete."

The female reporter immediately asked on the topic, "Is there any benefit to doing this?"

“It’s great when there’s a group of smart people who use their ingenuity to conceive scripts.”

Murphy thought for a moment and said slowly, "These screenwriters thought together about how the showdown between Chris Dane and the Magician is very brain-burning. It's too difficult for a screenwriter to consider the previous film that had been filmed, and then closely link the plot of this film to the previous one to make sure we don't destroy the coherence of the story. It's complicated."

Compared to the previous lies, what Murphy said now is basically true, "They have a whole room of charts and various things, which are incredibly numerous. I put them and the art works in the movie in the same room. It was like a think tank, and there were many amazing works in this room. We imagined possible difficulties in each movie, and then found solutions to the difficulties. "Dark City" is now popular, which proves that our work is worth it."

After answering several irrelevant questions, Murphy's interview came to an end.

Murphy did not leave immediately, but went to another rest table that was relatively not too far away. James Franko was also interviewed by another reporter from the Chicago Tribune.

Since James Franco's interview was not over yet, Murphy stood next to him and listened for a while.

"James, you said before that you want to be a director in the future."

The reporter who interviewed James Franco was also a young woman, "What did you learn from Murphy?"

“Murphy is more familiar with every aspect of the filming process than anyone I have worked with, and it is a rare opportunity to have the opportunity to watch him work every day.”

Similarly, James Franco also sang praises to his friends, "We have been familiar with each other a long time ago. When I understand his ideas and ask him questions, I can ask more detailed questions. For example, I asked him why he had to use a specific lens to shoot a specific scene. This process is very interesting.

The reporter asked immediately, "Can you make big-name movies like "Dark City"?"

"I don't know." James Franco shook his head first, and then said, "It may be a more personalized movie made in a small production, or a blockbuster. I may or may not be a starring role. When I find the story I want, I will decide the type of movie according to the plot needs, and it will be clear at that time."

At the end of the interview, it was almost eleven o'clock in the evening. Murphy and James Franko greeted each other and went back to the room to rest. With enough energy to welcome the upcoming first weekend box office of "Dark City"!
Chapter completed!