Echoes of Hollywood

As the car took him to the Fox Television studio in Burbank, Murphy was still pondering the adaptation of "Fifty Shades of Grey." Thanks to early action, Stanton Studios secured the adaptation rights without the exorbitant costs Universal once faced. However, this valuable property couldn't be wasted.

The original film, despite generating buzz, wasn't a commercial success. Beyond the provocative scenes, the typical domineering CEO and Mary Sue storyline wasn't impressive. The movie's reputation was notoriously bad.

Frankly, after watching the film, Murphy found it boring aside from its R-rating shock value. It was essentially a love story between a Mary Sue and a CEO with some kinks—simple romance with adult elements, better suited for adult women.

Nowadays, this genre struggles to thrive. Romantic comedies no longer guarantee box office success in North America. The decline of Julia Roberts' career since the new millennium illustrates the trend in romantic comedy.

One of the most significant types within romantic comedies is the Cinderella and Prince Charming story, commonly known as a Mary Sue film.

Regardless of how the novel is adapted, it remains a Mary Sue film. This is unchangeable.

Murphy considered how to elevate this Mary Sue story to better fit the current era.

After thinking for a while, Murphy identified a fundamental point crucial to modern commercial films—spending money!

A high-quality Mary Sue film requires excellent packaging. Whether it's beauty or sex appeal, the film must be visually appealing to both male and female audiences.

Therefore, the art production, visual effects, and the heart-wrenching love story of the Mary Sue must all be equally "beautiful."

The beauty and appeal of a Mary Sue depend not only on the actors' natural attributes but also on the money spent on production.

As a director, Murphy knew the importance of packaging beautiful actors.

The "Princess Diaries" series was exemplary in this regard. To achieve stunning effects, real royal outfits were used, with Julie Andrews' necklace featuring Burmese rubies weighing 74 grams and diamond earrings totaling 104 carats. The lavish outfit alone cost $2 million. Anne Hathaway's prop wedding ring was also real, valued at millions of dollars.

Not to mention the flowers in the film, which were all real at Julie Andrews' insistence, adding a new task of "replacing wilted flowers" during filming.

Even renting these items required substantial money.

In the past, Murphy had seen many modern Mary Sue films, especially successful Disney series, which were archetypes in this regard. These successful films invariably sparked global trends.

Creating a world-leading Mary Sue film requires significant investment.

From the distant past, Murphy recalled how HBO's 2008 film adaptation of "Sex and the City" showcased grand Mary Sue production.

Starting preparations in 2004, the crew borrowed over 300 pieces of fine jewelry from H-Stern for authenticity. Even a large wreath of flowers in the film cost $50,000, not to mention the bridal gown by Vivienne Westwood and bridesmaids' dresses by Zac Posen.

From costumes to props, everything was genuine. The lead actress, Sarah Jessica Parker, even wanted to keep a red belt from the film, but it was so valuable that the crew had to reclaim it.

Recent successful Mary Sue films have proven that to create a high-quality Mary Sue film, the dream must be as realistic as possible. Spending money for the right effects is essential. Not just fantasy blockbusters need high-tech and heavy investment—Mary Sue films also require substantial visual impact to immerse the audience in the fantasy.

On this basis, adapting a bestselling book or TV series can further ensure a Mary Sue film's success.

Thus, despite E.L. James' urging, Murphy adhered to the plan: first, market and promote the novel online, then expand into physical books, making "Fifty Shades of Grey" a bestseller before adaptation.

Currently, the novel's e-book version was selling well on Amazon, with an average sale every two seconds.

Stanton Studios also signed a contract with Bantam Books to enter the physical book market.

Previously, Stanton Studios had licensed the physical book rights for "Gone Girl" to Bantam Books for $6 million plus royalties, contributing to the film's numerous post-release revenues.

As a man, Murphy didn't fully understand, but from observing the women around him, he knew that bestselling Mary Sue novels had a powerful base. The widespread "Mary Sue" obsession among women of various ages guaranteed its potential in the film market.

In today's era, films targeting women rarely perform poorly at the box office.

Finally, and most importantly, the heavy-taste element must be played well.

The key to "Mary Sue" lies in its appeal and romance. Adding a suitable "heavy taste" would be even better.

Undoubtedly, how to showcase the extreme scenes from "Fifty Shades of Grey" within an R-rating was crucial for the adaptation.

Murphy believed that "Mary Sue + heavy taste" was the future direction of Mary Sue films. Pure romance was not enough; some dark elements were needed for completeness. This required not only high-appeal actors but also significant investment in visual effects to elevate the artistic value of the "Mary Sue."

As a practitioner of the "heavy taste," Murphy recalled Gal Gadot saying that the "heavy taste" of whips and chains could be compelling, driving women's romantic fantasies to new heights.

With substantial investment, reader base development, and heavy taste, Murphy had a clear concept for the film's production. In the coming months, he could draft an outline, hire suitable screenwriters, and plan accordingly.

Whether to make it a trilogy or complete it in one film required careful consideration.

When Murphy arrived at the Fox Television studio, his public relations agent, Grace, was already there. He was set to appear on Fox News' flagship interview program, "Real Story," which was pre-recorded.

"The host of this show is Gretchen Carlson, a sharp woman."

Sitting in the makeup room, Murphy listened patiently to Grace's final reminders, "But don't worry. Fox executives have already spoken to her, limiting the scope of questions to your recent films."

This was the purpose of Murphy and 20th Century Fox preparing for this interview. With awards season approaching, increasing exposure was essential.

However, increasing exposure wasn't about participating in any random show. High-profile talk shows were acceptable, but established Hollywood stars or directors wouldn't easily join variety shows. Especially for those on the rise, appearing on frivolous shows could harm their image.

For awards season, increasing exposure on high-end talk shows or interview programs was best.

Murphy had just finished changing into a suit when someone knocked on the makeup room door. After inviting them in, a blonde woman in a red deep-V suit entered.

This woman exuded professionalism, but her age was apparent. Despite heavy makeup, the crow's feet around her eyes were visible, suggesting she was at least fifty.

"Hello, Director Stanton."

She introduced herself, "I'm Gretchen Carlson, the host of 'Real Story.'"

Murphy nodded and smiled, "Hello, it's a pleasure to work with you."

"Are you ready?" Gretchen Carlson scrutinized Murphy, "We'll start recording in fifteen minutes."

"No problem," Murphy shrugged slightly, "I'm ready."

Grace had provided detailed information beforehand. Gretchen Carlson was not just a host but also a producer. Before transitioning to hosting, she had won the title of 'Miss America' in 1989.

According to Grace's information, despite her appearance as a decorative host, Gretchen Carlson was not easy to handle.

Murphy wasn't worried. Even without Fox's support, he could handle reporters easily. After all, he had been in Hollywood long enough and experienced enough.

The fifteen minutes passed quickly, and the interview recording began on time.

_________________________

[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!] 

[w w w . p a t r e o n .com / INNIT]

[+50 PowerStones = +1 Chapter]