Exploiting Hollywood 1980

The latest website: In February, "Beautiful" was finally released in more than 930 movie theaters across the United States.

Twentieth Century Fox adjusted its marketing strategy as magazine critics across the country gave it extremely low ratings.

They didn't hold a formal premiere, and they didn't put the star and director who had just returned from Portugal for TV interviews to promote the film, or interviews for newspapers and magazines.

Quietly, the movie was quietly released in the second week of February in the Dan season.

"The few months after the New Year are the annual peak season for the film industry. But this week in February, because of the President's Day, is a small peak season in the dan season."

The speaker was Michelle Cannold, Ronald's deputy general manager of distribution at Daydream.

He came to Los Angeles this time to report to Ronald on the distribution progress of "Dancing Hot", and happened to accompany his boss to a movie theater to see the movies that are currently being released.

"Each year in February, the birthday of General George Washington, is a public holiday in many states, linked to the weekend.

Such a three-day weekend is very conducive to the fermentation of the box office and word-of-mouth spread, so many movies are selected to be released at this time. "

After half a year of hard work, Michelle Cannold has gotten started on the distribution of theatrical films and has mastered a lot of the focus of the work. He has also figured out the best schedules of each year.

The two sat on the restaurant floor of the department store, watching the movie theater box office sales.

"Among the old films that are still being released, the 'field platoon' is the dominant one. They use the old tricks that Lianyi Films used in those years. They are released in the last two weeks of each year, and they will be released in dozens of small theaters first. The scale has made it eligible for the selection of the Oscars for that year.

In the Christmas and New Year period, the scale of screening in several major cities is slightly expanded, and the overall size is still controlled at about 100 theaters.

Because December every year is a hot stage for the Oscar nominations selection, film critics from all walks of life are not stingy about the popular award-winning films released at this time.

This "Field Platoon" received very good reviews, with many critics hailing it as "The Deer Hunter" and the best response to the Vietnam War since "Apocalypse Now". "

Ronald listened to the other party's report and nodded yes. He was actually familiar with this method.

Control the scale of the screening in the early stage,

Not only can it attract the curiosity of the audience when it is well received. Because you can't buy tickets, it attracts more popularity and reputation.

At the same time, the average box office of a single museum has also been pulled to a very high position. This in turn further stimulated word of mouth and grabbed tickets with more audiences.

"After the New Year's Day last month, the movie began to expand, from 100 to more than 200. The Oscar nominations will be nominated soon. Depending on the situation, 'Field Platoon' will be nominated for several major awards. When the time comes, they will also be nominated. Expand the scale of the show."

"There will probably be seven or eight nominations including best film, best director, best screenplay and other important awards, and Woody Allen's 'Hannah Sisters', and the British film 'A Room with a View', both This year's winner."

Ronald spoke to Michelle about what he knew. This year's Oscars, the nominees for major awards, are probably the most lucrative of these three films.

Each one has the hope of getting seven or eight nominations.

From then on, it is the alien sequel of Ronald's friend Cameron. With a lot of special effects, makeup and other small awards, his heroine Sigourney Weaver is expected to win a best actress. nomination.

Ronald's commercial film "Top Gun" is even worse, not even nominated for special effects and makeup awards, only small awards for editing, original music, sound effects and so on.

Of course, the worst is Tom Cruise. Although he tried his best to cooperate with famous directors, the two films "Top Gun" and "The Color of Money" in 1986 were not nominated for his acting award.

On the other hand, Paul Newman, who also starred in "The Color of Money", is very hopeful to win the Best Actor nomination again with "The Color of Money".

Michelle Cannold continued to report, "This 'field platoon' is very strong, with more than 200 theaters showing a weekend box office of over 3 million. Last week, it expanded to 600 theaters, The weekend box office has exceeded 8 million."

"This kind of niche film, it is indeed better to use this method of word-of-mouth fermentation, but in order to succeed, the condition is that the film itself must be good enough."

Ronald knew that it was not ten years ago, and the theme of the Vietnam War had actually become a theme that did not have a mass market. If normal announcements are adopted, it may be difficult to find those missing middle-aged viewers.

On the contrary, it has gradually increased the scale of the release, allowing word of mouth to circulate among those who are interested in watching the Vietnam War theme. As long as people who have seen the movie tell more than one friend to watch it, the box office growth of the movie will be terrifying.

Director and screenwriter Oliver Stone, while filming, also asked Ronald about the acting of Charlie Sheen and his brother Emilio. Ronald remembers it as a small production with a production cost of less than six million, and now that the film has just been released in its eighth week, there are less than 800 theaters showing it.

As a result, relying solely on word-of-mouth and the recommendation of film critics, it has won a box office of 38 million. Looking at the trend of this movie, it will make a lot of money when it is released.

Apart from the reviews from critics, it has a very good reputation with the audience.

This weekend, there are two more movies coming out this little peak season.

"Stallone is still very appealing, and the cannon is 'Leaping the Peak', and it found about 1,750 theaters in the first weekend.

Critics have also given it good reviews. I heard Roger Ebert gave a recommendation on the TV show, although his fellow Gene Sisko disagreed. "

"So many?" Ronald was a little surprised. "It seems that Minahan doesn't want me to win."

Compared with the number of theaters that the other party has exceeded expectations, 20th Century Fox is quite satisfactory, arranging more than 900 theaters for "Spirit".

"Although there are no saucy movie reviews, the MV for the theme song from TV stations, 'Nothing can stop us now' is very popular. This movie is mainly aimed at teenage audiences. I think the box office of the first weekend, Not necessarily to lose to Leap Peak.”

Michelle Cannold looked at Ronald's face and said his judgment.

"In this case, the box office of a single hall with a high spirit is twice as high as that of Flying Over the Peak, so it is possible to overtake?" Ronald didn't want to listen to flattery, and wanted to know Michelle Cannold's distribution work. How is the judgment.

"I personally think there is hope. Anything can happen at the movie box office. Of course, to make a reliable judgment, you still have to look at ema's professional audience ratings."

Ronald nodded, this is the judgment method of a professional distribution manager. It seems that Michelle has learned a lot in the past six months.

"Look..." Michelle Cannold pointed to the audience in front of the box office who had lined up to buy tickets, and pulled La Ronald's arm.

"It seems that it is really possible to win the bet?"

Ronald watched it for a while, and the people who came to buy tickets for the show were all on a special trip to see the movie, and the TV station's propaganda was powerful.

Those who watched Stallone's "Leap to the Peak" were more attracted by his posters, and many people saw the content of the arm-wrestling competition described in the introduction, and temporarily bought tickets with a dashing spirit.

The number of people queuing on both sides was almost two to one. If this ratio can represent the national audience preference, Ronald may not necessarily lose to Minahan.

"Okay, your judgment seems very accurate. I'm very satisfied. Let's go to the office and talk." Ronald was very satisfied with the former manager of the videotape distribution business. Cannold's learning ability is good, he pays attention to details and scene, and his original business intuition is also good.

"The release of Hot Body Dance has been relatively smooth, especially in some states in the South, which, beyond our expectations, are very interested in the clips we show them. Their enthusiasm for ordering is higher than some communities on the east and west coasts. ."

Michelle Cannold went to Ronald's office and started reporting on the release.

"Very good. How many theaters do you think can be opened?"

"At least with the general small and medium production scale, 800-900 theaters will be opened, and the contract will be completed in the next month. It is not a big problem."

"Very good, I asked Eddie to work with you on budget allocation and marketing materials, including posters and station boards.

In addition, on Roger Albert's side, you can actually find him to accommodate a thing or two. I asked Eddie to prepare a budget, and we also learned how to let film critics, 'real', understand the depth of our films. "

"Hahaha, cheers." Michelle Cannold took the champagne Ronald gave him, and he fully understood the correct meaning of "depth" and "real".

"It seems that the Chicago Film Critics Association will have a good resort and conference hotel this year."

"Not only in Chicago, but also in New York and Los Angeles, especially New York, where the headquarters of America's national media is located. If I can get some good reviews, it will be effective."

Michelle Cannold agrees that a big problem with small and medium-sized film production is that it is difficult to find cheap channels to advertise to target audiences.

"Spicy Dance" is a story and dance from the 1950s and 1960s, and it has more serious adult content. After they have done research, the effect of advertising on TV may not be as good as the drama that is most suitable for teenagers.

Being able to learn the strategy of "field platoons" and let the word-of-mouth of film critics and early audiences bring some popularity to the film is a marketing strategy that they have high hopes for.

"What about the Cannes premiere?" Michelle Cannold asked Ronald's arrangement again.

"It depends on your judgment. If you are as feisty as you expected, and beat the theater at the box office and double its leap peak, then I can get a free Cannes premiere. qualifications."

Ronald told Cannold about his post-Golden Globe bet with Minahan Golan.

"Then I wish your new film box office success."

"I wish our new film more success." Ronald clinks glasses with him, and the two drank it.

"In addition, I have a suggestion..." Cannold put down the cup, and while Ronald was in a good mood, he said a suggestion that he had been thinking about for a long time.

"Spicy Dance is ready to be released in the second half of the summer season. During that time, many theaters did not have a good film successor. They were worried about several blockbusters originally prepared for the summer season, the latest 007 Dawn. Murder, Jaws' latest fourth installment - Revenge, and two special effects blockbusters shot by Cannon, 'Space Superman', and 'Superman Part 4', have little stamina, so we're very welcome to our hot dance.

I think there is still room for their schedule. If we can add a film distribution business, we can share the marketing and distribution costs. "

"Why, they don't give high marks to Cannon's two movies?"

"Not really. The box office of Superman III has made the theater chain less confident in the Superman series, and they are still waiting for the Cannon to come out. And Roger Moore, who played James Bond, who was very popular, is no longer there. Shot 007.

This Dead by Daylight is the first film of the latest Bond Timothy Dalton, and many theater buyers and theater managers who have seen the film say that they don't like the new Bond very much. He is not omnipotent like the previous two, but very inferior.

Ronald nodded. Said that he knew Cannold's plan.

The distribution business is inherently very expensive. Only large companies can maintain a distribution team year-round, maintaining the expensive overhead of distribution offices everywhere.

Roger Coleman once told himself that in order to maintain the distribution business without losing money, he was too busy to make and direct films by himself, which was the main reason why he sold New World.

So Ronald also set up a temporary distribution team at the beginning, and the first distribution business was mainly to train the team.

But Michelle Cannold's level is surprisingly good, and the distribution work has been done well. In this way, if there is a movie that can also hitch a ride and is released at this time, it can greatly share the distribution cost of "Spicy Dance".

Of course, the premise is that the film also sells, at least, not to lose money.

"I will pay attention to finding suitable movies." Ronald said he took down Cannold's suggestion and would use his contacts to see if there were any suitable ones.

"Ronald, very good, ema gave it a B+ rating, which is very good in a romantic comedy."

On Saturday morning, Ronald received an announcement call from Joseph Farrow, vice president of Twentieth Century Fox.

"Really? This rating is very good." Ronald was very happy when he received the call, "I thought the rating would not be good. Why do film critics dislike this movie so much, their ratings are converted, and they are only in high spirits. get a C"

"Some movies just don't please them. Especially romantic comedies, a lot of times rely on the chemistry between the hero and heroine. And this movie, in many places, is the complete opposite of the evaluation routine that film critics like.

In fact, the director has no deep meaning. He is like making a funny, funny, fairy-tale love story. "

"Tsk," Ronald felt that this evaluation was very accurate.

Film critics always want to read more deep meanings from the film, and sometimes, what the audience needs is just a good story. Even if it doesn't have any deep meaning, it doesn't prevent them from watching.

After all, it is very rare for a movie like "Field Platoon" to get high marks from critics and audiences.

"Can we be in the top three at the weekend box office?" Ronald recalled the bet with Minahan.

"Very close, very close. About Friday, we and Stallone's leap to the peak, only about a hundred thousand.

Maybe, when the big weekend of the Great Commander's Day is over, you can stand at six million. "

"Is there any hope of surpassing the Leap Peak?" Ronald didn't expect that he was so energetic that he could really beat the Leap Peak with twice the number of theaters at the box office.

"Well, we hit $6,400 at the single-hall box office, and we're in the mid-$3,000s over the top. So... it's possible."

"Fantastic." Ronald laughed, and couldn't wait to see the expression on Meinahan's face.

This guy, when he must be betting, wants to use the number of theaters that exceed the normal number to suppress himself, but he didn't expect that it is not as good as the movie he produced.

"I'm quite satisfied. Although the field platoon is really powerful, the box office of a single hall has exceeded 10,000 US dollars. It is expected that the big weekend will earn 12 million."

"That's really good." Ronald thought, Oliver Stone, this is not only a successful director at the box office, but also nominated for an Oscar for best director. Film reviews and box office take all, this is really over the top.

...

"Meinahan, I'm here to collect the bet."

Sure enough, the anniversary of the Great Commander passed. Vigorously received 6 million at the box office, while Minahan's leap peak, despite having twice as many theaters, only got 5.1 million at the box office.

Moreover, the ema score of Flying Over the Peak is only a poor C+, and the box office of the single hall has dropped further, only in the early 2900s. The poor box office results made some New York film critics who Meinahan did not manage to give also gave unrecommended reviews. Others scolded Stallone for just repeating Rocky clumsily. To make Ronald, who was reading the newspaper, happy for a while.

"I'm willing to admit defeat, you're still very good, and the film as a producer is so good." Minahan didn't deny anything.

"However, you will also go to the premiere of Cannes, and also to the premiere of my movie Incredibles IV?"

"Uh... well..." Ronald didn't expect that Minahan was waiting for him here.

"This Oscar, our cannonball, was nominated for the best foreign language film. It was our joint venture in the Netherlands, 'The Assault', can I count on your vote?"

Minahan would not suffer, and then asked to vote for Ronald's best foreign language film.

"No problem at all."

Ronald had no idea about this kind of small prize, so he just voted for him. In addition to the best actress, voted for his friend Cameron's Alien Part II, the best actor will give Scorsese's money, and the best director will be given to Woody Allen, who is kind to himself. ticket. The other awards, in fact, let the agent Nisita go to see if anyone is willing to exchange.

"Quack, we're best friends." Minahan was very pleased with Ronald's simplicity.

"Do you have any nominations for the Oscars? I can get all the signed actors and directors of Cannonball, who are eligible to vote, to vote for you."

"Hey……"

As expected by CAA, Top Gun was not nominated for any awards.

"It's the best movie original song, please help."

Among the four nominations for Best Editing, Best Soundtrack, Best Original Movie Song, and Best Sound Design, only the Best Original Song is a little related because I filmed the MV for "Take My Breath".

Ronald gave favor to the Berlin Band.

"In a word, we'll see you at the Oscars then."