"It's quite simple. Take our movie, for example. It's adapted from a comic, from the initial planning to the shooting, and then to post-production, the group that has been following it the most is the Batman fanbase. So, in the trailer, we need to include several shots of Batman being heroic, fearless, and handsome."
Yes, that's a must! Nolan nodded while jotting down every word.
Laila continued, "Without a formidable villain, there can't be a formidable superhero. Therefore, the villain boss should also make a few appearances, preferably in scenes that highlight his characteristics, like causing explosions or grinning menacingly. In short, we need to make the audience feel that he is a powerful and troublesome adversary."
Nolan nodded in agreement and then asked, "What about the second type of audience you mentioned earlier? How should we appeal to them?"
"The second type is fans of specific individuals, such as the actors, or even you and me. Although it's a bit unfair to the rest of the post-production team, they never become famous," Laila said, half-jokingly, with a shrug.
But she was telling the truth. Even someone who has won the Best Makeup Oscar two or three times isn't widely known among movie fans. At most, only people in related industries might be interested in them.
Janet is the same, but unlike the makeup artist, she is a very famous brand designer with a high status in the fashion industry. The Oscar award is more like the icing on the cake for her. Therefore, she is much more well-known than the average costume designer in a film crew.
"Fans like these are easy to attract. Just include the people they are interested in in the trailer. For actors with a large fanbase, give them a few more handsome close-ups in the trailer. As for you and me, it's even simpler—just put our names in it."
"You can do it, but I'll pass," Nolan said with self-awareness. He had brought her on board to create a new Batman series, so what would it mean to have his name in the trailer too? Who has ever seen a trailer that includes the name of an assistant director? It's not like the end credits of a movie.
Laila disagreed, "Why pass? Nolan, you're being too hard on yourself. Don't forget how outstanding your last film was, and your previous movies have also built up a considerable fanbase for you. Believe me, in the eyes of many, you're already a great director."
What she didn't say was that if his movie hadn't clashed with hers in the same release window, it would have garnered even more attention. And because it didn't face particularly strong competition, it left a strong impression on the audience.
But this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Through her, he can gain insights into future trends, which is a sort of compensation for him.
Nolan tilted his head, thinking her words made sense. Adding his name could attract at least a few more people.
After solemnly noting this down, he asked, "What about the ordinary moviegoers who aren't comic fans or fans of any particular individual? Don't we need to attract them?"
"Of course, we do!" Laila raised an eyebrow at him. "No matter how many fans there are, they can't outnumber the non-fans."
"...Then what you said earlier?"
"I was just saying that we should first attract the easier group before considering the broader audience." Laila pulled out a piece of paper from her desk drawer, drew a circle, and then a smaller circle within it.
"If this represents the entire box office pie, the most we can secure is about one-tenth. These are the hardcore fans. They don't care how the movie is made, its content, visual effects, or reviews. As long as their favorite superhero or idol appears in the movie, they will support it."
Nolan nodded in understanding. He was well aware of such people and knew that their existence allowed some bad movies to still earn some box office revenue, preventing them from being complete flops.
Then, Laila drew a slightly larger circle next to it: "This part represents the general fans. They like superheroes and idols, but they will judge whether to support the movie based on its quality. What I mentioned earlier was mainly to win them over."
Looking at the remaining blank space, which was about six-tenths of the circle, Nolan asked, "What about the rest?"
"These are the casual fans," Laila shaded the remaining area. "What I'm going to say next relates to them. These moviegoers enjoy watching films, not necessarily blockbusters or superhero movies, but as long as the movie is good, they will want to see it. Whether they are just into the hype or are more discerning, these are the people we need to win over."
"How do we win them over?"
"It's simple yet challenging," Laila smiled. "What kind of people do you think enjoy watching superhero movies?"
Nolan thought for a moment, "Young people?"
"Of course, young people! They will make up a significant portion. That's for sure." Laila shrugged. "We just need to give them the kind of movie they like."
"What kind of movie do they like?" Nolan was captivated. He had thought about these things before, but not as thoroughly and clearly as she had.
"Fun, cool, passionate, beautiful women, action, exciting..." Laila listed several words without hesitation. "They like these things, so we give them these things."
Nolan noted them down, but his personality was never the passionate type. So while he understood the meaning of those words, it would be a bit difficult for him to identify and edit the scenes that represented those elements.
"How do we do it?"
Laila smiled, "Here's what we'll do. I'll cut the trailer first. I think seeing it will give you a more intuitive understanding."
Nolan thought her suggestion made sense and left with his notebook filled with notes.
But he regretted it as soon as he got home. The matter occupied his mind, making it impossible for him to think about anything else. How would she cut the trailer? Which shots would she use? Where exactly would she find the fun, cool, and exciting elements she mentioned?
The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became. So when Laila informed him three days later that the trailer was ready, she was greeted by Director Nolan with heavy dark circles under his eyes.
"What happened to your eyes?" Laila was startled by his appearance. Was he cosplaying a panda, and failing at it? Or had he become a fan of smoky eye makeup?
"Nothing, just didn't get enough rest. Where's the trailer? Let me see it quickly!" Nolan was obsessed with it. If he didn't see it soon, he felt he would go crazy.
Laila looked at him for a moment, making sure he was okay, then opened her computer and played the edited trailer.