Exploiting Hollywood 1980

The next morning, Universal's distribution department collected the audience feedback data and handed it over to the top management for a meeting to discuss the movie distribution plan for this summer.

"The special effects part of the alien is still in the process of production. We can finish the editing in early March and open the audience to test screening."

It was "et Aliens" producer Kathleen Kennedy. She represented Spielberg in negotiating the release date of the film.

"I'm very confident in Steven, and the aliens will start on June 4th in the summer vacation period?" As a loyal fan of Spielberg, Simberg also came to the meeting to put the beginning of the summer vacation period in the meeting. presented for selection.

"June 4th is the release date for another Steven-produced film, 'Poltergeist,' which we hope will be staggered from et." Kathryn Kennedy suggested Amberlin's production idea.

"That's an MGM/United Arts release," Tom Mount interjected disapprovingly. Amberlin wants to stagger the release times of his two films, but that conflicts with Universal's interests.

The weekend before the Veterans Day in May coincides with the scheduled release date of United Art's "Rocky 3". If United Art is connected to "Noisy Ghost" in early June, then Universal's Et level competitors.

The third film of the two consecutive big-selling "Rocky" will be headed up in advance, and the second film of Paramount's "Interstellar Snorkeling" series will be encountered in advance, all of which have already proved successful in the market. The sequel to the movie, et aliens are afraid they will smash their heads and break their blood.

Tom Mount was not optimistic about the box office performance of such low-level films as "et aliens", and now it seems that he will collapse under the pressure of powerful competitors, making Universal's financial report this year very ugly.

However, this also happened to be a blow to Simberg, who advocated shooting et, so he simply shut his mouth and let Simberg take all the responsibilities.

"Et can open a week later, June 11?" Simberg ignored Mount's response, and instead discussed with Katherine pleasantly.

Spielberg's "The Lost Ark of the Covenant," which has been in theaters for seven months, is still making nearly $2 million a week.

This result is contributed by less than 700 theaters, and the average box office of a single theater is 2,800 US dollars, which is higher than most new films.

After winning the summer box office championship in 1981 last year, and the Christmas and New Year box office box office championship, the film circle has begun to ridicule that the Lost Ark of the Covenant will also win the Valentine's Day weekend box office championship.

Such a director who made a big hit,

Not to worry about a studio without a partner, Mount has no idea what movies will sell.

Now is the time for the big seven studios to scramble for Spielberg, and he can negotiate any excessive demands.

"We are very satisfied with this release date. The next summer..."

"Universal can guarantee that before July 16, it will not compete with new films and et al." Simberg continued to answer.

Katherine Kennedy expressed her satisfaction, and after saying goodbye to several global executives, she went to report to Spielberg.

"But we also have 'The Best Chicken House in Texas,' starring Dolly Parton, how do you schedule her," Mount posed a question.

"I'll explain to Dolly that her film is a period cabaret and it's actually going to be better in August."

"And a 'Fast-Paced Richmond High' that could be released in July?" Ned Tanning interjected.

He remembers Ronald's courage to endorse himself with a cheque, plus the good feedback from the preview, and he has now become a "fast-paced" proponent.

"I remember that the movie was tested and the feedback came out? How did it perform?" Simberg asked.

"The audience gave it an average score of b+, which is very good in youth dramas." A female vice president said after reading the report sent by the distribution department.

"Very good, let's book it for July 16th, and make adjustments after seeing the box office situation of Alien." Simberg looked at the report prepared by the distribution department. release" conclusion.

He remembered that he and Spielberg had been there to support the young director and smiled. Spielberg admired him very much, and the test score was good.

It's a teen movie anyway, as long as the audience likes it.

Several high-level people have finalized the distribution of the summer file.

After the meeting, Ned Tanin called the secretary. He wanted to transfer Ronald's cut copy to look at it. He invested 300,000 in reshoots to see if it had improved the quality of the film.

If the quality is good, your support at that time will become a success.

"Mr. Tanin, you have a guest. Mr. Francis Coppola of the Diorama Company is looking for you. He said he has an appointment with you."

No sooner had he read the opening than Ned Tanin was interrupted by his secretary. He waved the projectionist to stop and asked the secretary, "So I made an appointment with him?"

"Yes, Mr. Coppola made an appointment to talk to you about the distribution contract of the new film."

Tanin stood up and said to the screening room, "Wait for me to come back and play again."

"Hi, Francis, long time no see, you're still so young and energetic." Tanin hugged Coppola. He used to be the executive producer of the film "American Graffiti" by Coppola's younger brother, George Lucas, and had a lot of dealings with Coppola.

"Is your new movie 'Old Love, New Love' premiering on the 17th of next month? I'll make time to watch it."

"Thanks, this is going to be a film that expresses my ideas thoroughly. I came today to talk to you about the distribution deal for the new film, Ned."

Coppola also kissed Tanin twice. He knew that the global executive was hot-tempered, but he seemed to be in a good mood today and was just talking about things.

"Tell me about your new film plan, I heard that you won the right to adapt se Hinton's best-selling book?" Tanin looked at Coppola and replied directly.

Coppola's financial situation is worrying. In order to make up for the financial shortfall of "Apocalypse Now", he rejected MGM's $2 million director commission, but insisted on his own "Diorama" company to produce "Old Love New Love". ”, trying to pay off the loan in one fell swoop.

The film was overrun, and Coppola’s editing was not favored by the studio. Three consecutive distributors were changed, and finally the distribution contract was settled by Frank Price, a Colombian Anglo-Saxon executive.

However, after being acquired by Coca-Cola, Frank Price could not protect himself, and was besieged by the vice president airborne by Coke. Combined with the poor test results of "Old Love, New Love," it's no secret that Coppola's efforts to find a distributor for the new film were fruitless.

In fact, everyone in Hollywood knew what Coppola's idea was. He wanted to make a new movie and avoid the bankruptcy of the diorama company, but he hit a wall everywhere.

As a qualified Jewish film company executive, Tanin knows that many people are like him, and would rather wait for Coppola to go bankrupt and sign a director contract with him, rather than pull him out of the woods and help Diorama out of the predicament.

"Hinton's is selling well right now. Last month, another 'Texas' adaptation of her film, which Disney has done post-editing, has done test screenings, has been well received. If the film can be a big hit in May, I don't think anyone would be happy to give you a distribution deal, Francis."

"I get it, you guys want to see the audience acceptance of Hinton's adaptation. But I can't wait that long.

I liked this book very much. After reading it at the airport for the first time, I thought it was Gone with the Wind for high school girls, or the godfather for high school boys. "

Coppola stopped circling around with Tanin, and he knew what the Jews were fighting for. I just want to wait for my diorama company to go bankrupt and get a bargain.

Coppola has found overseas distributors willing to release his new films in Europe and elsewhere. As long as North American distribution contracts can be signed, overseas publishers can make money.

Chase Bank will roll over its own loan and provide a new financing to film Hinton's most classic "Out of the World".

In this way, the financial hole created by Apocalypse Now will gradually fill up.

To finish Apocalypse Now, Coppola took out high-interest loans and drained his financial cistern.

Old love and new love shot to fill the hole are not looking good at the moment, and may create an even bigger hole.

In order that the mortgage of the vineyard and the house will not be recovered by the bank, only by continuing to use the diorama company to shoot new films can he solve his own problems.

Fortunately, the godfather gave all studios an expectation that he could still make films, and from time to time he could make blockbuster movies.

"Well, Francis, do me a favor and I will propose a project, but only Simberg can give the green light."

"What are you busy with?"

"Help me watch a movie and evaluate it."

"I don't have much free time." Coppola was very clear about the characters of these Jews and had to exchange everything.

Although there are a large number of Italians in the film industry, most of them are artists. Not many people occupy high positions in business and management.

"Just watch it for a while."

The projectionist continued to show, and Coppola watched it patiently for a while, and became interested, and watched the movie with Tanin.

Tanin asked Coppola how he felt, "How was the shot?"

Coppola smiled, "It's a very good movie, the technology is good, it reminds me of those movies that I made with Roger Coleman."

"If I'm not mistaken, he must have finished shooting on schedule."

"Yeah, how do you know? He didn't even run out of budget except for a few extra shots at the end."

"He's got the stamp of a Roger Coleman-esque low-budget movie. If it's a new director, he should get rid of that as soon as possible..."

Coppola shook his head.

"Some of the shots are very talented. It can be seen that he has watched a lot of classic old movies."

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