Chapter 72

Please recommend this.

Because he was fully focused on preparing for a new project, Murphy actually forgot that his first film had already been released in theaters. On his way to the cinema, he specifically called Jones Butler to get a brief update on the situation.

Miramax had done a certain amount of promotion for Hard Candy, including placing posters and trailers in some theaters and airing TV commercials late at night on two public television stations.

Miramax was very restrained in promoting Hard Candy, and their investment could be described as frugal. After all, with the film's budget, it was impossible to invest too much in promotion, or it would inevitably lead to a loss.

The car drove to a relatively secluded cinema in Santa Monica. As soon as it entered the parking lot, Carey Mulligan's complaints sounded from the passenger seat, "Are you really a director? You didn't even know your film was released last Friday."

Seeing Murphy park the car, her doll-like face was full of indignation, "I wanted to see it in London, but it wasn't available there."

"Alright, dear." Murphy called her to get out of the car, "I was preparing for a new movie, wasn't I?"

Carey Mulligan closed the passenger door and turned to stare at Murphy, "What's the new movie?"

"Secret." Murphy locked the car and walked towards the cinema on the west side. When Carey Mulligan caught up and shook his arm, he added, "Wait a little longer, you can read the script once it's finished."

Carey Mulligan immediately grinned happily.

As soon as they entered the cinema, Carey Mulligan pointed to the poster board in front and said, "Look, Murphy, our poster."

In a corner at the front, the poster for Hard Candy designed by Miramax was posted. A little girl wearing a red hood stood in the front, while a photographer in gray clothes loomed behind her, eyeing her menacingly.

"I'll go buy tickets."

Murphy went to buy two tickets. They entered the screening room. Although Hard Candy was rated R, it wasn't difficult for Carey Mulligan to enter with Murphy, and it wasn't uncommon for minors to sneak into R-rated movie screenings in North American theaters.

"There are so few people." Carey Mulligan kept looking around, "The seats are all empty."

This was a small theater that could accommodate over a hundred people. Including Murphy and Carey Mulligan, there were probably fewer than fifteen audience members.

"That's normal." Murphy reminded her, "Don't forget it's Monday today."

Such a niche film wouldn't have many viewers.

In fact, when talking on the phone, Jones Butler had mentioned some related screening data to him. Hard Candy entered the North American theater circuit last Friday, and Miramax had arranged for it to be shown in ten theaters. On Friday, it earned $3,653, and the situation improved slightly on Saturday and Sunday. The total box office for the first weekend exceeded $100,000.

Thus, the per-theater box office for Hard Candy's first week exceeded $10,000, earning it the opportunity for a wider release.

It must be said that Miramax was indeed skilled in distributing films. Starting from this Monday, the number of North American theaters showing Hard Candy increased to 160.

The movie started, and Carey Mulligan became completely quiet, fully engrossed in the film. When Haley first appeared and turned around, Murphy saw her eyes turn red, tears streaming down her face, and her whole body trembling.

The moment a dream comes true is always so moving.

Murphy understood this feeling and reached out to gently pat Carey Mulligan's arm. She turned her head, wiped away her tears, and forced a smile, then lowered her head and hugged his shoulder tightly.

Murphy shook his head and continued walking, and Carey Mulligan followed him with a pitiful look. He added, "Your performance was better than James Franco's."

Carey Mulligan nodded her pointed chin, "I'll do even better in the future."

She followed Murphy out of the screening room and walked towards the lobby. As they passed the poster board, she turned to look at it again, the little girl in the red hood standing out so prominently.

The only thing that made her feel a bit disappointed was that there were really too few people in the audience just now.

If the entire theater had been full of people, and everyone had praised her performance, how wonderful that would have been.

Thinking about these things, Carey Mulligan followed Murphy out of the theater, looked up at the slightly glaring sunlight, and suddenly heard a puzzled voice from the right.

"Excuse me," a brown-haired girl of about twenty years old asked, "Are you... Haley?"

"Haley?" Carey Mulligan was taken aback.

Murphy also heard the question and turned his head, reminding her, "Haley from the movie."

Carey Mulligan suddenly understood, her eyes smiling, and she politely extended a small hand, "Hello, I'm Carey Mulligan."

After the brown-haired girl shook her hand, Carey Mulligan added, "I played Haley in Hard Candy."

The brown-haired girl looked surprised, "Really? You were amazing!"

...