After hanging up the phone, though Edgar's expression remained neutral, internally, he felt nothing but disdain. He believed the marketing departnt at Sony Columbia lacked talent. They were missing out on a golden opportunity and didn't even know how to seize it.
Magazines. Screenings. Tours.
They had already gone through all these routines once. What was the point of doing it all over again?
However, Edgar was clever enough to realize that now was the crucial mont to shape Anson's public image. He could either take this chance to belittle Adam for so short-term satisfaction or, more wisely, forgive and forget to boost Anson's reputation.
When you're in the spotlight, scrutiny follows.
Right now, all of North Arica's attention was on Anson. Countless people were looking for any mistake he might make. A single misstep could lead to a swift downfall, even before he could fully enjoy his success.
Edgar's true aim was the sequel.
Given the current montum, it was clear that Sony Columbia was already planning sequels, likely not just one but a whole trilogy, with Anson at the very center. Edgar had already started laying the groundwork, stirring up hype for a big contract for Anson's participation in the sequels.
So, if Sony Columbia wanted to add more promotional activities, they would fully cooperate.
Edgar genuinely hoped that "Spider-Man" would smash box office records. The higher, the better—after all, Anson stood to earn a cut of the profits.
But was this the best strategy?
Then.
"Why not make the most of the buzz around 'Star Wars: Episode II'?"
Anson's voice broke through Edgar's thoughts, causing him to look up.
"What do you an?" Edgar asked. "Everyone wants to ride their wave, but if we're not careful, it could backfire. Their fans aren't just nurous—they're fanatical, and not exactly rational."
Anson chuckled. "I've never experienced it myself, but I've heard about it; don't worry, we won't offend those passionate fans."
Edgar didn't interrupt, trusting Anson and waiting patiently.
"Captain, what if I, Jas, and Kristen went to the theater and bought tickets to support 'Star Wars: Episode II'?"
Edgar: What? "You're competitors!"
Anson nodded. "If the dia keeps pushing the narrative that we're competitors, the audience will naturally see us as bitter rivals. In that case, die-hard 'Star Wars' fans would never buy tickets to see 'Spider-Man.'"
"But if we present the movies as friendly competitors, we can suggest that both films could succeed together. We could even remind Hollywood that this sumr is crucial—after breaking the ice together, it shouldn't just be our two movies reaping the rewards. Other films should also share in the success."
"Look at it this way."
"So far, our box office numbers are good, the montum is strong, and victory is within reach. But we're not suppressing our competitors to secure that win. On the contrary, we're encouraging audiences to return to the theaters and support the sumr blockbusters."
"What do you think the audience will make of that?"
Edgar was stunned.
Even though Edgar always knew Anson had a head full of wild ideas, he was still blown away by Anson's vision ti and ti again.
How did Anson even co up with this?
At that mont, Edgar's brain couldn't keep up. He just tried to follow Anson's line of thinking. "They'll think the three of you are 'Star Wars' fans, too. Those die-hard fans might be proud to see you have good taste and might start seeing 'Spider-Man' in a new light."
"They might also find the off-screen interactions between two rivals entertaining, and even people who weren't interested in the movies might hear about it, creating a situation where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts."
Edgar's mind was racing, bursting with ideas and inspiration. Even though he wasn't a marketing expert, he could see the potential chemistry at play, and he couldn't help but get excited.
When he looked at Anson again, his eyes were filled with admiration.
In truth, these ideas weren't entirely Anson's own—they were inspired by his past life.
In 2023, the North Arican sumr box office saw a slight recovery, showing so signs of competition, but overall, it fell short of expectations. As the sumr season was winding down, three major blockbusters were released back-to-back.
"Mission: Impossible 7," "Barbie," and "Oppenheir."
The marketing team behind "Barbie" ca up with a clever idea: the film's director, Greta Gerwig, and the lead actress, Margot Robbie, each bought tickets and took photos with the movie posters to show support for their competitors, "Mission: Impossible 7" and "Oppenheir."
This stunt quickly caught on. Tom Cruise, along with director Christopher McQuarrie, replicated the gesture, buying tickets and posing with posters.
Unfortunately, the "Oppenheir" team, led by director Christopher Nolan, didn't participate, as Nolan wasn't known for such promotional tactics.
Even so, the stunt sparked a huge wave of discussion on social dia.
In the end, all three movies succeeded together, dominating the box office.
"Barbie" and "Oppenheir," despite being vastly different in style, the, and tone, beca a viral sensation, coining the term "Barbenheir," which swept across the internet. This even led to the creation of a new movie project titled "Barbenheir."
Of course, the success of this promotional strategy heavily relied on the power of social dia, where images and short videos were shared and reshared, providing endless content and creating many iconic monts. The buzz wasn't just superficial—it was substantial.
But the original idea itself was indeed fitting for the current situation.
As Anson pointed out, they needed to capitalize on the "Star Wars" hype. However, the approach had to be adjusted for the tis.
Anson continued to brainstorm.
"We could even tweak the strategy—I could go with the director to so cult-favorite theaters, attend special screenings, and watch the movie alongside other hardcore 'Star Wars' fans."
"If the three of us young actors go, it shows that the younger generation also loves 'Star Wars.' If the director goes, it shows support from the artistic community and his generation."
"We could even have Kristen bring so girlfriends along, showing that 'Star Wars' has a strong female fan base too."
"The key is, while showing off our 'Star Wars' tickets, we should also display our 'Spider-Man' tickets, subtly suggesting that both films appeal to a wide audience."
If they stopped here, in 2002, without the amplification of social dia, the buzz might not reach "Barbenheir" levels. But even in different tis, the desire to chase trends and be part of the conversation was the sa.
So, to generate real buzz, the idea just needed a little tweak.
"And then, the final step is up to the marketing departnt—spreading the word."
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