Chapter 213: The Map Game

As they strolled along a palm-lined path towards the hotel, Lisa Hewitt consciously lagged behind, giving Murphy and Gal Gadot, dressed in sporty casual wear, space to talk about the city beneath their feet. "This place was once an Indian tribe's territory," Murphy shared. "It's said that the name 'Malibu' originates from an Indian language."

Gal Gadot, hands in the pockets of her sports jacket, matched her steps with Murphy's. "Indeed, sometimes I can hear the sound of the waves, especially during the quiet of the night. The waves here are quite unique."

Murphy nodded, gesturing towards the faintly visible mountains on their left. "Malibu backs onto the Santa Monica Mountains and faces the vast Pacific Ocean. I believe the sound of the waves crashing is amplified by the mountains, contributing to Malibu's fame for its resounding waves and beaches."

"You know a lot," Gal Gadot remarked with a hint of mischief in her eyes. "Did you do your homework before coming here?"

Murphy shrugged, not hiding his efforts. "How can I not be prepared when pursuing an outstanding woman like you, Gal?"

Gal Gadot glanced at Murphy but quickly steered the conversation elsewhere. "I heard many Hollywood celebrities live in Malibu?"

"Malibu used to be a low-key city occupied by wealthy, aging hippies," Murphy explained. "Since the mid-90s, it has become home to even more movie stars, directors, and producers than Beverly Hills."

He pointed around, "This city lacks Santa Monica's hustle, Manhattan's luxury, and Beverly Hills' diverse charm. But it offers a wild freedom, along with ubiquitous seagulls, ducks, and egrets."

Gal Gadot laughed. "Is every director as eloquent as you?"

"More or less," Murphy smiled. "Eloquence is necessary to attract investments for projects and to face the media and paparazzi confidently…"

They were nearing the hotel. Murphy suddenly asked, "You must have a day off on the weekend, right?"

After a moment of thought, Gal Gadot nodded, having enjoyed her interactions with Murphy so far.

Reaching the hotel's side entrance, Murphy stopped and turned to Gal Gadot, inviting her, "This weekend, my new movie is having a screening for media and critics. Would you like to come and see it?"

"'Sin City'?" Gal Gadot considered for a moment upon seeing Murphy's nod and replied, "I'll see if I can make it."

Murphy handed her a slip of paper with his number, gesturing a phone call. "I'll wait for your call."

Lisa caught up from behind, having overheard the invitation. "Can I come too?"

"Of course!" Murphy replied warmly. "You're most welcome."

Gal Gadot pulled Lisa along, "We should head back."

After exchanging goodbyes, they returned to the hotel. The roses in the lobby had disappeared. Passing the front desk, a waiter handed Gal Gadot a card from the person who sent the flowers. The name was unfamiliar to her. She glanced at it briefly and tossed it into a trash can, holding onto Murphy's slip tightly.

Reaching their floor, Lisa didn't go to her room but followed Gal Gadot into hers.

Gal Gadot closed the door and sat on the sofa, her gaze wandering over the numbers on the slip.

"Shall we go?" Lisa sat beside her, excited. "I've never been to a movie premiere!"

"It's a screening, not a premiere," Gal Gadot clarified. "It's not a place for showing off."

"But it still sounds great!" Lisa's eagerness was evident. "We might meet some Hollywood celebrities. Let's go!"

Gal Gadot turned to her, "Did he bribe you while I was in the restroom?"

"No, absolutely not!" Lisa raised her hands innocently. "I just think it's a pity…"

"What's there to pity?" Gal Gadot shook her head, reiterating, "After the competition, I'm going back to Israel."

Sighing, Lisa asked, "Are you going this weekend? If not, I might go alone."

Glancing at the slip again, Gal Gadot hesitated before finally deciding, "Let's go. Why not."

It would be like watching a movie, after all.

Like all upcoming movies, "Sin City" had a pre-release screening for media, critics, representatives of cinema chains, and a few select audience members. This Hollywood practice helped garner positive pre-release buzz, boosting the film's promotional momentum. Even if the film received poor reviews, it allowed the producers and distributors to make timely improvements, preventing complete failure. However, screening reactions were not always indicative of the broader audience response.

Ultimately, the film's success hinged on Miramax's promotional strategy for "Sin City," which had a robust $15 million budget for North American marketing. Taking advantage of various channels to create buzz, Miramax focused its latest promotional efforts on Murphy, following the global box office success of his previous films, "Saw" and "Planet Terror."

Thus, Murphy's newest work appeared on the latest "Sin City" posters, indicating his growing influence, especially among cult film fans, a key demographic for the film.

The era's diversified promotional methods, especially the rise of the internet, led to significant changes in movie marketing. Miramax partnered with a game company to release a "Sin City" map game as an interactive promotional tool. The game allowed players to explore every corner of Sin City, observe its inhabitants and their stories, and understand the complex web of relationships. It covered all the film's key locations, offering insights into the characters and events linked to those places.

This interactive map game marked a new phase in the pre-release promotion of "Sin City," focusing on both the game and the upcoming screening, to which numerous journalists and renowned critics were invited.

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