Chapter 79: Mutual Smearing
If he followed the habits and mindset of his past life, Duke would have had to be modest and cautious when faced with this kind of question. He would have been expected to offer a few words of praise for his competitors before appropriately downplaying himself and The Rock. Otherwise, he would inevitably draw criticism.
However, having lived in this country for over twenty years, even if his way of thinking wasn't entirely westernized, he had assimilated quite a bit. Appropriate humility was fine, but excessive humility would only be seen as a sign of weakness and a lack of confidence. Besides, this was the fiercely competitive world of Hollywood. The other side had already stepped on him; if he remained humble and cautious, he would only be treated as a pushover in the future.
"I watched Interview with the Vampire, but I didn't finish it."
In the morning, Duke had gone to the theater to briefly check out his competitor. "Maybe it's just not my favorite genre. The biggest impression the film gave me was its slow pacing and dull content..."
Bursts of laughter erupted below the stage, followed by applause. Most of the people sitting here were action movie fans and, to a certain extent, understood Duke's production style.
Spreading his hands, Duke shrugged again, silently interacting with the audience through his expression alone.
"It looks like I'm not the only one who thinks so," Duke continued. "In the theater screening Interview with the Vampire, I noticed a few things too. A lot of the audience were bored to the point of nodding off and letting their minds wander. Many even left early, just like I did, because they found it dull and uninteresting."
This wasn't just empty talk. According to data fed back from the research company, compared to a fast-paced popcorn flick like The Rock, Interview with the Vampire did indeed have a higher walk-out rate.
"Also, there are problems with the actors." Duke had no intention of stopping. "The vampires played by Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt are certainly cold and handsome enough, but their acting..."