Best Director in Literature Department of Huayu

Chapter 110 Promotion and Film Festival Premiere (4K, Requesting Monthly Tickets)

The first week of June.

While Hollywood was still reveling in the $3 million opening weekend success of "X-Men: The Last Stand," another set of data was quietly circulating within Fox's marketing department.

"The Devil Wears Prada" claims to have achieved an audience awareness rate of over 50%, and women's willingness to actively watch the film continues to rise.

For several consecutive days, the film's online discussion has ranked among the top three in Fox's internal statistics. In some sample surveys in certain cities, the film's popularity has even surpassed that of many large-scale commercial films released at the same time.

While the media and audiences were still discussing the special trailer, Fox's second round of promotional campaign had already quietly begun.

However, this time the battlefield is no longer the movie theater, but the shopping mall.

Fifth Avenue flagship store in Midtown Manhattan.

As the world's largest beauty retailer, Sephora, a French company, is experiencing a period of rapid and aggressive expansion in the North American market.

It broke away from the traditional department store's aloof counter-style sales, using open shelves and a black-and-white Gothic modern decor to become a mecca for young women across America to find their fashionable selves.

However, starting this morning, all 300 Sephora stores in prime commercial areas across the United States were given a uniform new look overnight.

Upon entering the store, the most prominent central display stand and the transparent window facing the street have all been replaced with giant concept posters for "The Devil Wears Prada".

"Ladies, welcome to Runway's exclusive makeup fitting room."

Professional makeup artists, dressed in matching black suits, smiled and handed specially made brochures to each customer who entered the store.

The brochure cover features a pair of bright red high heels, with the heel designed as a slender devil's trident.

Below it reads: "Every girl dreams of it. Not every girl survives it."

Many customers, upon receiving the brochure, didn't even realize it was a movie; it seemed more like a new feature from a top fashion magazine.

This is exactly the effect Lin Ruiyang wanted. In the past, movie promotions always told the audience to come to the cinema to watch movies, but he wanted the audience to feel that movies are something that is happening in the fashion industry.

At noon that day, all Sephora stores simultaneously launched the "RunwayWeek" event.

Customers who purchase designated makeup sets will receive a movie-limited edition makeup mirror, and some flagship stores have also set up a "Miranda's Office" themed photo area.

A huge desk, piles of fashion magazines, and that chair that represents power and has left a deep impression on countless viewers.

The girls lined up to take photos, which they then uploaded to MySpace, blogs, and forums. Within 24 hours, a large number of photos began to circulate online.

The New York Times also published a short article on the matter: "It's hard to tell whether this is a movie promotion or a fashion marketing campaign."

Meanwhile, the second wave of the collaboration began to roll out across US retail channels.

This time, the partner is even more unexpected: Galay, a high-end chocolate brand under Mars Foods.

In Hollywood's traditional fast-moving consumer goods collaborations, blockbuster movies often like to be associated with potato chips, cola, and high-calorie fast food, using flashy cartoon packaging to attract teenagers.

But this time, "The Devil Wears Prada" chose a completely different path.

Lin Ruiyang's reasoning was simple: "Our audience isn't twelve-year-old boys; they're twenty-, twenty-five-, and thirty-year-old women. They buy lipstick, perfume, and magazines, and they'll also secretly reward themselves with a piece of chocolate in the office at three in the afternoon."

So, after a lightning-fast negotiation, 400,000 limited-edition Galy chocolate bars were launched simultaneously and without warning at major supermarket chains, convenience stores, and gas station retail outlets across the United States.

The packaging for this batch of chocolates was completely redesigned, replacing it with the main visual from the movie "The Devil Wears Prada," with a classic line from the film printed on the back of each package.

That's all.

"Everybody wants this."

"Details of your incompetence do not interest me.

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Each box of limited-edition chocolates also includes a beautifully crafted metal bookmark resembling the Runway magazine.

This marketing campaign transcends traditional film promotion; it's more like a subtle, pervasive psychological influence.

Within just a few days, 400,000 limited-edition chocolates sold out in many parts of the United States, and posts on MySpace about "finding red shoe heel chocolates" remained popular.

The subsequent meeting was in the Fox Marketing Department conference room.

The latest survey data was displayed on a large screen, and Harvey looked at the numbers with a somewhat complicated expression.

He had to admit that Lin Ruiyang seemed to have made the right bet once again.

By mid-June, the Hollywood summer movie season had entered its most intense phase.

With Warner Bros.' "Superman Returns" and Disney's Captain Jack Sparrow sailing the Black Pearl from "Pirates of the Caribbean 2" sandwiching it from both sides, "The Devil Wears Prada" faced its first real test.

Unlike other films that choose to hold their premieres at venues like the Huaxia Grand Theatre, Lin Ruiyang unexpectedly chose the opening night of the 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival as the first stop for the global premiere.

As one of the most important independent film festivals in North America, the Los Angeles Film Festival, while not comparable to the traditional Big Three, enjoys a high level of attention within the Hollywood industry.

However, the commercial frenzy did not completely silence the traditional Hollywood capital and data agencies.

On the morning of the premiere, three major industry forecasting giants—MarketCast, NielsenNRG, and OTX—jointly released their latest summer movie season tracking report. Shortly after, data website TheNumbers also released its "box office potential analysis" based on historical models.

Amidst a sea of ​​cold data tables, major institutions have given "The Devil Wears Prada" an embarrassing opening weekend box office forecast of only $1500 million to $1800 million.

David Poland, a well-known industry columnist, wrote directly in MovieCityNews: "Although Fox has played new tricks in offline marketing, the hard currency in the market at the end of June is Warner Bros.' Superman Returns and Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean 2."

Caught between two blockbuster films, a fashion drama about women in the workplace lacking grand scenes simply had no chance of survival. Data models don't lie; Fox's aggressive marketing was merely self-indulgent.

Entertainment Weekly and the Los Angeles Times also cited data from Ehibitor Relations Co., suggesting that Fox's choice to premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival was more of a refuge due to a lack of confidence in mainstream cinemas.

This report, filled with pessimistic predictions, quickly spread throughout the industry, leaving Harvey, the head of marketing, with a dark expression on his face the entire way to the event in the van.

Evening, main venue in downtown Los Angeles.

When the extended Lincoln opened its doors at the start of the red carpet, Anne Hathaway wore an emerald green silk haute couture gown, while Emily Blunt wore a Balenciaga haute couture black velvet mini-dress.

Just like in the movie, the two of them acted as secretaries, following behind Meryl, who was wearing a white Saint Laurent haute couture smoking suit.

(The AI ​​is a bit slow, but please bear with it.)

"Snap, snap—!"

In an instant, the spotlights on both sides of the red carpet were so intense that they resembled a thunderstorm.

"My God! They brought the entire Runway magazine office to the venue!" The red carpet host's voice was almost out of control in the sound system.

"Look at Meryl's eyes! They're just like Miranda Kerr! Anne and Emily are even standing half a step behind her; this is definitely intentional!"

The host in the core interview area of ​​the red carpet was so excited that his face turned red. He hurriedly came forward with a mobile camera and stopped Lin Ruiyang, who was meeting with three female stars.

"Lin! Meryl! Please wait!" The host handed over the microphone.

"Tonight's red carpet was simply the most stunning fashion event in Hollywood this year! But director Chissano, as the absolute star of the night, we have to mention the latest box office predictions released this morning by the three giants MarketCast, NielsenNRG and OTX. Based on the monopoly of Superman Returns, they predict that The Queen will only take in $1500 million to $1800 million in its opening weekend."

"What would you like to say to these authoritative institutions at the premiere?"

Lin Ruiyang calmly took the microphone and looked directly at the camera: "I do not agree with the predictions of those institutions. In fact, I think their data models are as naive as elementary school math homework."

A low gasp rippled through the audience, and the host's eyes widened slightly.

But Lin Ruiyang didn't stop. He continued his attack: "In the eyes of those men sitting in Century City offices, female audiences are just people who drool over fancy clothes. This is merely a projection of their own arrogance and prejudice. We'll see after the movie's release!"

Seeing that Lin Ruiyang's speech was full of hostility, the on-site director frantically shouted into his earpiece for the host to follow up.

The host swallowed hard, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and quickly handed the microphone to Meryl Streep next to him.

"Oh my God! Director Lin's statement is practically a public declaration of war against Century City!" The host wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"So, Meryl, as the absolute queen of the night, what are your thoughts on the predictions from MarketCast and Nielsen? Also, what's it like working with such a young Chinese-American director?"

Meryl glanced at Lin Ruiyang, then said as if reciting the names of two unimportant interns, "MarketCast? Nielsen?"

"I worked with Lin for a few months and learned one thing: never show him a data report that you haven't even looked at carefully yourself. He'll just recite all the flaws in it to you on the spot."

A burst of barely suppressed laughter erupted from the reporters on both sides of the red carpet; everyone still remembered the incident involving the underwriter at Chubb Insurance last year.

"As for predictions? I've been in Hollywood for thirty years and have seen countless big-budget productions that were hyped up by data only to crash and burn; I've also seen projects that were initially overlooked but eventually became classics in film history. So I completely agree with the director's view."

A murmur of discussion erupted from the media section on both sides of the red carpet. The host quickly seized the opportunity and turned the microphone to Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt, who were standing to the side.

"Anne, Emily! In the movie, you two played the tormented first and second secretaries. But in reality, how did you manage to cope with such a demanding and absolutely controlling director?"

Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt exchanged a glance, and both let out a dramatic sigh.

"Get through it? Oh, to be honest, I was thinking about calling labor arbitration every day on set. Lin's obsessive-compulsive disorder when it comes to fashion is simply outrageous, to the point that I even dream about choosing high heels."

Emily couldn't resist joining in, adding in her signature dry, British-accented humor: "Believe me, Anne is lucky. As the first secretary, I not only had to memorize lines, but also had to identify different brands of clothing under the director's pressure. Lin even stipulated on set that anyone who dared to spill a latte on a sample garment would have to clean the crew's trash cans for a week."

"But—" she winked mischievously, "when I saw the final photos today, I thought I looked like I was shooting for Vogue."

When I saw the cover, I forgave this tyrant.

But what truly drove the more than two hundred fashion journalists and film critics in attendance into a frenzy was the woman who stepped out of another car—Anna Wintour.

This true fashion icon made a surprise appearance at the premiere, and to everyone's astonishment, she didn't wear her signature Chanel suit that night, but instead wore a Prada Spring/Summer 2006 haute couture gown.

"My God... Anna wore Prada to see 'The Devil Wears Prada'!" (Harper's Bazaar article on the red carpet)

The editor even forgot to take a picture, covering his mouth in shock.

This scene directly shattered all previous rumors from media outlets such as Variety that the fashion industry would boycott the film.

The host felt like he was about to stammer, so he quickly stepped forward and handed over the microphone.

"Ms. Wintour! My goodness... I mean, this is truly the biggest surprise in Hollywood this year! The entire American media had been reporting that the fashion world had shut its doors to this film, and you actually showed up in person today?!"

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Oversized black sunglasses obscured most of her face, but she was incredibly sarcastic: "Closed doors? Why would I close my doors to a free, two-hour-long global 'GG' movie that's made for Prada?" Miuccia Prada

Prada should award Lin a medal of honor, instead of leaving me to sit in Manhattan drinking tea.

The fashion reporters on both sides of the red carpet were taken aback at first, then burst into knowing laughter.

"To be honest, Meryl Streep's fashion sense in the show is much better than that of my high-paid senior editors who only know how to tuck plaid shirts into their jeans. At least, she deserves the title of 'devil'."

At this point, Anna gracefully smoothed out the wrinkles in her Prada gown and casually dropped the bombshell of the evening: "As for those so-called rumors and pessimisms outside... in the fashion world, only two kinds of people will choose to boycott and reject it. One is the penniless paupers who simply can't afford haute couture, and the other is those data analysts sitting in Century City offices who can't even match ties and socks properly."

"You'd be better off trusting Hollywood producers' marriage vows than those forms."

"My God! Anna Wintour wasn't angry at all; she even publicly denounced MarketCast's data giants as fashion idiots!"

This red carpet interview, filled with queen-like sarcasm and extreme exhilaration, is rapidly going viral on MySpace and major forums across the United States, thanks to channels and live streaming arranged by Fox News in advance!