Starting from March, Disney Pictures gradually began to ramp up its publicity and marketing for the film. Towards the end of March, Disneyland held a carnival, and Disney Pictures, in conjunction with Disneyland, organized a grand media event in the plaza in front of California Disneyland, allowing the film's main creators to mingle with media reporters.
Prior to this, relevant promotional work had already been underway.
For example, after the New Year, a message gradually circulated in the North American media, saying that Johnny Depp had British royal blood and was a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II... "is this true?"
Inside a large makeup trailer in front of Disneyland, Keira Knightley, who had already finished her makeup, snatched the newspaper from Matthew's hand and read softly.
"Famous actor Johnny Depp is believed to be related to the British royal family, sharing the same ancestor as Queen Elizabeth twenty generations ago."
Even with Johnny Depp's thick skin, he was somewhat embarrassed by such news hype.
Matthew also scratched his head. Hollywood's publicity stunts to grab attention were truly unscrupulous. Compared to this news, the promotional plan for him and Keira Knightley, which hadn't even started yet, seemed like a conscientious plan.
Keira Knightley continued to read, "Nick Barratt, a researcher for an ABC television program, disclosed to the media that he found evidence proving Johnny Depp's genuine kinship with the British royal family. Nick Barratt, also the editor-in-chief of a magazine, stated: Johnny Depp and Queen Elizabeth share the same great-great-great... grandfather, making them twentieth-generation cousins. Nick Barratt added: 'Although I cannot prove it one hundred percent, I believe there is indeed a possibility of kinship between Depp and the Queen.'"
Matthew could see that Johnny Depp, who was gradually completing his Captain Jack Sparrow costume, was also quite helpless.
Keira Knightley then read out the last and most crucial sentence of the report, "Regardless of whether Johnny Depp is related to the British royal family, his new film will be released as scheduled on July 7th this year."
In fact, all the preceding content was meant to lead up to this final sentence.
"Depp!" Keira Knightley asked again, "is there any truth to it?"
"I don't know," Johnny Depp stood up from the makeup mirror, awkwardly walked over to Keira Knightley, "You'd have to go back 500 years and ask my great-great-great... great-grandfather."
Matthew, in his Will Turner costume, grabbed a prop cutlass from nearby and hung it on his waist, saying, "It's probably news carefully fabricated by the crew."
Johnny Depp also said, "They know more about my ancestors than I do."
At this moment, a staff member notified them that it was time to go out. Johnny Depp led the way, with Matthew accompanying Keira Knightley, who was dressed as an English lady, following behind.
They walked along a specially set up passage into the event venue and were immediately surrounded by media reporters.
According to the previous plan, Matthew, Johnny Depp, and Keira Knightley all acted individually to face more reporters and media, aiming to generate as much news as possible.
Matthew stood in front of a giant "Black Pearl" backdrop, surrounded by more than a dozen reporters. From the badges on their chests, it was clear that they represented various media platforms including newspapers, magazines, television stations, and the internet.
These reporters had communicated with Disney beforehand, so there were no issues with order. A reporter from first asked, "Matthew, before you entered Hollywood, you worked various professions such as construction worker and driver. What made you choose to become an actor?"
Matthew thought for a moment and gave a standardized answer, "If I were an actor, I could become anyone, play different roles, and experience different things. I'm very excited about this opportunity and prospect."
He smiled and added, "Perhaps it's because I'm too indecisive and don't know whether I want to be a driver, a construction worker, or something else. When I watch TV, movies, and plays, I often think that if I were an actor, I could be whoever I wanted to be. This might be my acting complex. I don't want to escape or hide. As a young person, I was very confident growing up and optimistic about my future life."
Another female reporter asked, "What does acting mean to you?"
Matthew answered without hesitation, "For me right now, acting is my life!"
Subsequently, the reporter's questions became somewhat sharp, "Why did you choose such a film? Don't you know that pirate movies are already in decline?"
"I've loved pirate movies since I was a child," Matthew began to ramble again, but according to the crew's publicity settings, " and are all movies I like. To this day, the charm of these pirate films remains as strong as ever. What we shot is not a traditional pirate movie, and I believe it will be more in line with the tastes of modern audiences."
These were all talking points set by the crew for publicity and promotion, and Matthew naturally adhered to them, continuing, "Screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio incorporated fascinating supernatural elements into the film's story, and during the filming process, both of them accompanied the entire production on set from beginning to end."
Such deliberate gimmicks to attract movie fans are expertly utilized by any crew. Matthew added, "In fact, as early as after completing in 1992, Elliott and Rossio wanted to create a pirate film script, but at the time, no film company was interested in the idea, so their concept brewed for a full 10 years."
If the previous statements had some basis, then claims like a film brewing and planning for ten years were purely fabricated nonsense to create a gimmick.
Hmm... Ten years ago, the two screenwriters thought they could write a pirate script, then did nothing. Ten years later, a pirate movie written by them was born, thus, it had been brewing for ten years.
In the few years he had been here, Matthew had also discovered that almost all Hollywood blockbusters, in their publicity and marketing, would claim the film had been planned for many years. Of course, these were all lies to fool people.
Why say that? Because the media and audience fall for it.
Hollywood has a complete market operation system, and publicity, marketing, and promotion are like Hollywood's film production pipeline, with a large number of effective templates.
For example, the planned but not yet implemented fake romance between Matthew and Keira Knightley. It's almost inevitable for the male and female leads of a Hollywood movie to have a rumored romance. Many couples are created this way, and even romance itself is sometimes treated as a business in Hollywood.
There are precedents for when a romance is exposed, when they publicly kiss, when they cohabitate, when they get engaged, and when they break up.
In fact, to achieve better publicity, a fake marriage is not impossible.
It is still rumored in the industry that the divorced Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were typical examples of a manipulated marriage.
What the truth of the matter is, probably only they, their agents, and the Church of Scientology know best.
The interview went smoothly. There were Disney press public relations personnel accompanying everyone to prevent any unexpected situations.
Then, Matthew, Johnny Depp, and Keira Knightley gathered in front of a giant advertising poster that Disney used to promote and for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. They allowed reporters to take photos and selfies, and the three of them consistently displayed their everlasting friendship.
Of course, compared to a typical film crew, the relationship between Matthew, Johnny Depp, and Keira Knightley was indeed much better.
After the event, the three of them walked around behind the billboard, where a huge tent had been set up. Jerry Bruckheimer and some Disney executives were all there.
With fewer reporters around, as they walked towards the tent entrance, Keira Knightley deliberately pulled Matthew, letting Johnny Depp walk ahead alone.
"Thank you for your Christmas and New Year gifts," Keira Knightley whispered to Matthew, "Do you often try to please girls like this?"
Matthew shrugged slightly, not denying it, "I've given gifts like that to my ex-girlfriend."
Keira Knightley looked at Matthew, "You have an ex-girlfriend?" She widened her eyes, "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I said she was an ex-girlfriend," Matthew spread his hands, "We broke up a long time ago, it won't have any impact on our upcoming plans."
Johnny Depp, who had just reached the tent entrance, suddenly stopped. Matthew and Keira Knightley also stopped and stood beside Johnny Depp.
Because inside the tent, Walt Disney Chairman Michael Eisner was complaining to Jerry Bruckheimer, and the main subject of his words was Johnny Depp.
"They can't accept this character! Movie fans definitely won't accept him!" Michael Eisner seemed not to notice the entrance. "Johnny Depp will ruin this movie! Do you know how I felt after watching the sample footage? What's wrong with this guy? is he a bit mentally challenged? is he drunk? is he gay?!"
Johnny Depp's face was very grim. Anyone would be unhappy being spoken of that way.
"Depp..."
Matthew anticipated trouble and tried to warn Johnny Depp, but before he could speak, Johnny Depp strode over to Michael Eisner.
Johnny Depp extended a limp wrist, swaying with an enchanting gait, and pointed at Michael Eisner, saying, "Madam Head of Disney, don't you know? All my characters are gay!"