The screening had just ended, and Fox’s staff were still collecting audience surveys. Some people were already in a hurry to leave. Mike Scott was among them. He needed to go back and quickly organize the relevant materials to submit to the sponsors. Getting paid to do a job was a basic rule in the industry.
This was something unavoidable at every screening. Just like how Warner Bros. and Fox could get someone to provide information about the screening of "Braveheart," the power of money knew no bounds. After the screening, no one really cared about it. Fox’s marketing and PR personnel were already busy because a large press conference would take place shortly.
The press conference was held in a grand ballroom of a hotel next to the theater. As Duke, Tom Hanks, and others stepped onto the stage, the room buzzed with excitement. The conversations in the crowd grew louder and more chaotic.
Everything was arranged for promotional purposes. After Duke, Tom Hanks, and Leonardo sat down, each of their PR representatives stood nearby to remind their clients when necessary.
After a long-winded introduction by the host, Charles briefly introduced the film’s basic information, and then it was time for the most anticipated part: the media Q&A session.
On stage, Tom Hanks naturally attracted the most attention.
As expected, many of the questions from the reporters had been coordinated by the event’s PR team.
When the host called on a reporter, they stood up and asked, "Mr. Hanks, if I’m not mistaken, you received many offers last year. Why did you choose this film?"
"I’ve always been fascinated by World War II history, and I’ve been searching for books and scripts that portray the war from a human or emotional perspective rather than just strategic actions."
Tom Hanks emphasized the film’s core, saying, "This movie masterfully captures that essence. It’s not just an epic war story; it’s a heart-wrenching exploration of human nature in war."
"What was your biggest takeaway from filming?" another reporter asked.
"I’d never experienced such an adrenaline rush before," Tom Hanks glanced at Duke, smiling before continuing, "During my collaboration with Rosenberg, I finally got a taste of it."
"Once filming started, the entire set was chaotic. People were constantly falling, and bombs were going off one after another near you. I could imagine soldiers dropping in the rain of bullets. Our eyes were filled with fear, even though we knew it wasn’t real. But that’s exactly why we were so scared!"
The room fell silent, with only Tom Hanks’ voice resonating, "We shot the battle scenes at the beginning of the film, and that completely changed our approach to the following combat scenes. No one could have predicted how terrifying the landing scenes would be. You really feel the life-and-death trials the soldiers faced."
Many reporters nodded. The opening battle was indeed incredibly realistic and shocking!
After Tom Hanks, reporters asked Leonardo a few questions. Some from Fox TV specifically inquired about his rumored relationship with a model. Movie promotions came in all forms as long as they caught the audience’s attention.
Finally, the reporters turned their attention to Duke.
"Director, how do you feel about working with Tom on this project?" the reporter’s question was still focused on Tom Hanks.
Of course, this was a prearranged question. Tom Hanks was the most marketable name in the cast.
"I’m thrilled to have worked with Tom. I’ve admired him for a long time. He’s one of my favorite actors, and I consider him my idol."
Since the promotion aimed to highlight Tom Hanks, Duke didn’t forget to praise him, "I’ve always wanted to work with Tom, and ’Saving Private Ryan’ made that dream come true. This experience deepened my admiration for both his character and his acting skills. Tom frequently offered valuable suggestions, and when I explained my vision for the characters, he was always open to listening."
Later, with some guidance from the host, the conversation shifted to the film’s realistic battle scenes. Several veterans and historians were also interviewed.
David, one of the veterans, didn’t hide his praise for the film when facing the reporters. His words were brief but powerful, "In my opinion, this is the most realistic and impactful World War II film ever made!"
Other veterans echoed his sentiments, "The film does its best to recreate the battlefield."
"I never thought I’d see such a realistic portrayal of war. It felt like being back on that beach."
As a renowned historian and expert on the Normandy landings, Stephen also sang the film’s praises, " ’Saving Private Ryan’ authentically recreates the events of the battle. Without a doubt, it’s the most realistic and accurate depiction of the brutal nature of war that I’ve ever seen. Whether it’s the combat strategies, the soldiers’ expressions, their conversations, their arguments, or their respect and love for one another, it all mirrors the soldiers of that time."
All of this was designed for publicity, to attract as much attention as possible.
The screening and promotional event lasted until the evening. As Duke drove home to Malibu, Tina Fey, seated in the passenger seat, received a call from Fox. The screening’s statistical results had been released.
"Fox collected 363 questionnaires. The A-grade approval rating is 92%."
In Tina’s view, this was an excellent audience response. Although some films, like "The Shawshank Redemption," had great reviews but poor box office performance, her employer’s previous three films had shown a terrifying conversion rate from audience feedback to box office success. Based on past performance, "Saving Private Ryan" was very likely to become another box office hit.
"What about the theaters?" Duke asked.
"The North American Theater Alliance sent 37 experts to the screening," Tina summarized, "23 gave it an A+, 12 gave it an A, and the remaining two gave it a B."
"The theater schedule shouldn’t be an issue," Duke sighed in relief. Without enough theaters and screenings, even the best films couldn’t perform well at the box office. He said, "Inform Zach, John, Mike, and Sophia about the results."
Tina nodded lightly and took out her phone to start making calls.
While Duke was driving home and Tina was notifying the team, the same results were being reviewed in an office at CAA in Century City.
Mel Gibson and Martin Bob sat across from each other, reviewing the materials related to "Saving Private Ryan."
"The film’s graphic violence is even more intense than we expected," Mel said as he flipped through the papers. "We could work with the Parent-Teacher Association, urging them to encourage students not to watch it. Although the film is rated R, no parent would want to take their child to see such a bloody film."
"Mel, did you notice another detail?" Martin tossed the papers on the desk. "Two reporters mentioned that the American soldiers in the film include white men and Jewish men, but no other minorities..."
"When the film is officially released," Mel Gibson caught on quickly, "we can push this issue a bit. Minority groups will definitely be dissatisfied, and they might even protest the film!"
"They’re denying the contributions of people of color in World War II." Martin smiled faintly.
Protests by some organizations might not seem like much, but once the media sensationalized the issue, it would certainly create problems for the film. It could even alienate many minority viewers.
"Martin..." Mel Gibson recalled something else, "Do you remember the suggestion I made about Sophie?"
"Let’s not act on it just yet," Martin shook his head. "These actresses won’t strip unless they see enough benefit, and if Duke gets involved in any scandal during the film’s release, it could actually draw more attention and boost ticket sales."
"Are we just going to let this slide?" Mel Gibson wasn’t ready to forget the trouble Duke had caused during filming. "He caused us unnecessary losses."
Martin looked at Mel, warning him seriously, "Mel, you’re still thinking like an actor. Directors are different from actors. The public is more concerned with their work than with scandals unless it’s something like Roman Polanski’s case. Otherwise, it won’t be a fatal blow to him."
"Roman..." Mel muttered to himself, "It’s always those people!"
Seeing Mel Gibson’s casual attitude, Martin knocked on the desk forcefully. This was an important client, so he reminded him again, "Don’t forget, Sophie isn’t an unknown actress. She won’t be easily manipulated, not even by CAA!"
Mel nodded, though he didn’t fully agree. Whether someone could be manipulated depended on how enticing the bait was. Thɪs chapter is updated by 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹⟡𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⟡𝙣𝙚𝙩
For now, however, his focus remained on "Saving Private Ryan." Duke wasn’t leaving Hollywood anytime soon. The anger Mel had accumulated in Ireland would have its outlet eventually.
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