Hollywood Director 1992

Jerome Preston didn't believe that this guy named Link would have a good way to increase the cinema's attendance rate.

In order to get rid of Link sooner, he decided to take a look, just one look, and then tell Link to get lost.

But after reading the first plan, his eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but sit up straight, taking the document in both hands to read it again.

After reading the first one, he continued to read the second and third.

His eyes grew brighter and brighter, with a feeling of sudden enlightenment. He looked at Link in surprise. Could this young man, who didn't look very old, come up with such a brilliant marketing plan?

"Mr. Link, did you come up with these ideas?"

"Of course, I'm not just a director, I'm also a waiter at a Burger King. Every week, fast food restaurants like Burger King and KFC have regular promotions. For example, Wednesdays and Thursdays used to be the worst days for business, but after the fast food restaurants started offering regular discounts, those days became the busiest."

While working part-time, he liked to connect many things with his main job.

"Every time I see long lines at Burger King, I think about whether I can use this kind of marketing method when my movie is released in the future to increase the box office."

"After a long period of investigation and research, I found that this method is completely feasible."

"This is also the source of inspiration for the first plan to increase attendance rates."

Link spoke eloquently in front of Jerome Preston.

This kind of film marketing method was proposed by Lionsgate Films, the future eighth-largest film company in Hollywood. It's similar to the film industry's 'Crazy Tuesday'. On this day, all films under Lionsgate Films are 50%, 60%, or free to watch.

This method sounds very simple, like copying the discount activities of KFC, McDonald's and other restaurants, but to successfully apply it to the different industry of cinemas, it is extremely difficult to implement.

The theater chains need to develop a more complete method based on market demand and big data calculations, to ensure that the audience will come and support it, and also to ensure that the film companies and theater chains can make a profit.

This is also the main reason why many people may get inspiration from KFC's marketing methods, but cannot flexibly apply them to movie theaters.

"Mr. Link, you are really a great marketing master. I often go to KFC and have participated in these activities. I even thought about using this marketing method, but the fast food industry and the theater chain have different profit models, making it extremely difficult to imitate. I didn't expect it could be done this way."

Jerome Preston flipped through the plan, clicking his tongue in admiration.

Besides the first one, the second plan was also good: watch enough movies at the same theater chain 4 times a year, and get a free ticket.

This method also doesn't seem new, but how to ensure the theater chain's profitability, how to attract the audience, and how to encourage the audience to participate are all relatively difficult problems to solve.

In Link's plan, he proposed a variety of solutions.

According to his method, not only can the cinema earn money from the audience, but it can also get more box office revenue from the seven major film companies.

The third plan was also good.

After reading these three plans, Jerome Preston completely reversed his view of Link.

Link was not a boastful liar, but a remarkable marketing talent, especially in film marketing, with an unusual talent.

If such a talent could be brought under his command, he might be able to become the head of the AMC theater chain in the Los Angeles area a few years earlier.

Clap!

Jerome Preston gently put down the folder, looked at the young man sitting steadily opposite him, and suddenly remembered that the other party had come to the cinema for a purpose, not specifically to bring him a brilliant plan to increase the cinema's attendance rate.

In order to prevent Link from asking for too much, Jerome Preston restrained the surprise on his face and said lightly: "Mr. Link, although these three plans have some obvious loopholes and unrealistic aspects, they are still a way to increase the cinema's attendance rate."

"What are your requirements? You can bring them up. As long as they are not too excessive, I can agree to them on behalf of AMC Entertainment Group."

"Mr. Preston, I am a director, and I have a very high-quality film in my hands. I hope it can be released here. My requirements are not high, give me three days and ten screening rooms."

"If the box office performance is below average within three days, I will voluntarily end the screening and give you the plan as a gift. Mr. Preston, can you accept this request?"

Link said, gesturing.

"Why not find a film distribution company to cooperate with? If your film is of high quality, a film company will definitely be willing to distribute it. If you don't know anyone at a film company, I can help you contact them."

Jerome Preston asked.

"This is a very niche art film. Film distribution companies don't see the film's box office potential, so they refuse to cooperate. I think, since they are not willing to make money, there is no need to cooperate with them, so I came directly to the cinema, found you to cooperate, and make a lot of money together, Mr. Preston."

Link said.

Jerome Preston leaned back in his seat, scratching his thick hair with his fingers, feeling a little embarrassed.

In Hollywood, although there have been a few big-selling movies that were not favored by film distribution companies before their release and could not find a distributor, there has never been a movie that was not favored by all film distribution companies but later became a big hit.

He could guess with his hair that Link's movie must not be very good.

Out of courtesy, he said: "Mr. Link, can I take a look at your movie first? I don't know if you brought a videotape with you?"

"Of course."

Link took a videotape out of his briefcase.

"That's very good, please come with me."

—

The Grove Shopping Center Cinema is one of the cinemas under the AMC theater chain.

AMC Theatres, owned by AMC Entertainment Holdings, is the second largest movie theater chain in North America, with 379 theaters and 5,260 screens across the United States, averaging 13 screens per theater.

There are a total of 18 screening rooms here, which is a relatively large cinema in Los Angeles, and new movies are often premiered here.

Link and Jerome Preston came to a relatively luxurious screening room.

The screening room was not large, with only sixty seats.

Jerome Preston handed the videotape to the staff in the movie projection room and asked the waiter to bring two drinks.

Link and Jerome sat in the front row watching the movie "Buried".

Link had seen this movie many times and didn't feel much anymore.

Jerome Preston kept asking questions while watching it.

While watching the opening credits, he asked if "Buried" was really made by him alone? He wrote, directed, acted, and edited it himself, and was responsible for lighting, props, sound recording, and so on?

While watching the movie, he asked if all the scenes were really in a small wooden box? One actor? A few simple tools supporting a ten-minute plot?

Link's answers were all 'Yes'.

After the 95-minute movie ended, Jerome Preston rested his chin in his hand, lost in thought.

From a personal point of view, this movie was indeed good, very novel, and eye-catching.

The movie's plot and rhythm were also good, maintaining a thrilling atmosphere from beginning to end.

After immersing himself in it, he would unconsciously feel nervous, depressed, and a strong sense of suffocation, following the changes in the plot.

Being able to achieve these points puts it in the upper-middle level of thriller movies.

But this movie's problems are also very big.

In a thriller movie, there are no ghosts, zombies, no blood splattering everywhere, no incomplete limbs, and no heart-pounding music.

The elements that mainstream thriller and horror movies regard as the main selling points are all absent here, with only a thrilling and suffocating emotion.

This kind of selling point is too monotonous, and there will definitely not be many viewers willing to spend money to support it after its release.

This is probably also the reason why Link was repeatedly rejected when he went to find film distribution companies to cooperate.

"Mr. Preston, after watching the movie, I wonder if you have changed your mind and will agree to my request."

Link asked.

"Mr. Link, your movie is of acceptable quality. I give it a score of 75 or higher, but my opinion is the same as those film distribution companies. 'Buried' is not suitable for theatrical release. Theatrical release is destined to lose money. I suggest you change your approach and distribute the movie through videotapes. If you are willing, I can also help you contact distribution companies in this area," Jerome Preston said.

Link had also considered the method of distributing videotapes, but the system gave him a 4x box office subsidy, not a videotape or peripheral subsidy.

Distributing "Buried" through videotapes would cause this movie to lose the protection of its magic halo, and the final results would be very average.

He also wouldn't be able to improve his life through this movie.

"Mr. Preston, what you said makes sense, but I still hope to release 'Buried' through theaters. My conditions remain the same. Give me three days and ten screening rooms. If the box office results are not ideal, the theater can voluntarily end the screening," Link said.

"Three days, ten screening rooms, that's impossible."

"My bottom line is 6 screening rooms," Link said.

Jerome Preston was stunned for a moment. So, discounts were possible?

Jerome Preston waved his hand and said, "6 screening rooms are also impossible. You are a director and also an insider. You should know that in the entertainment industry, the seven major film companies and numerous independent production companies are the upstream of the industry. They control a large number of film copyrights and determine the amount of theater revenue. Every time the seven major film companies release commercial blockbusters, the theaters need to take the lead and use preferential terms to obtain the film's screening rights.

The Grove shopping center cinema mainly distributes commercial films. It starts scheduling films at the beginning of each year, arranging the schedules. From the beginning to the end of the year, all the theater's screening rooms are scheduled, mostly with commercial films distributed by the seven major film companies.

This is the arrangement of AMC Entertainment Group. The theaters in various places must arrange the corresponding movies according to the schedule.

As the person in charge of the shopping center cinema, I have no right to change the schedules of other movies and free up six screening rooms for you."

"Mr. Preston, at least three screening rooms. This is my last bottom line," Link said.

Jerome Preston curled his lips. So, there was a final bottom line below the bottom line?

He spread his hands and said, "Link, three are also impossible. Three screens generate tens of thousands of dollars in revenue every day. The impact is too great. Within my authority, I can only allocate one screening room to you at most. What do you think of this screening room?"

Jerome patted the armrest of the sofa.

"Mr. Preston, one is too few. I'm sorry, I can't accept your conditions, but it was a pleasure chatting with you. I hope we have the opportunity to cooperate again," Link said, standing up and extending his hand to say goodbye.

Jerome Preston looked at him in confusion. "Being able to screen in one screening room isn't more in line with your expectations than not being able to screen at all? Why can't you accept my kindness?"

"Mr. Preston, you are the first theater manager I've met, but not the last. I'm glad you like my plan for increasing the theater's attendance rate. Besides these three plans, I have others. Next, I plan to talk to the managers of other theaters, hoping they can provide more screens for my movie.

Goodbye! Mr. Preston!"

"Wait!!"

Seeing that Link was about to leave, Jerome Preston grabbed his arm.

He originally thought that after reading Link's plan, he would be able to control Link and be in an advantageous position in this negotiation.

But he didn't expect that this cunning guy Link would use this method to counter him.

He knew earlier that he shouldn't have shown great interest in his plan in the office, letting Link know the value of this plan, and also giving him the confidence to bargain.

Jerome Preston secretly regretted it.

"Link, don't rush to leave. We can talk more," Jerome Preston said sincerely.

The plan that Link provided regarding increasing the theater's attendance rate was very valuable.

Submitting the plan to AMC Theater headquarters.

The headquarters will definitely see the value of this plan.

And he, the person who submitted the plan, will also receive recognition and attention from above.

If everything goes smoothly, he will have the opportunity to become the head of AMC theaters in the Los Angeles area or even the California area a few years earlier, with his annual salary increasing dozens of times.

How could he miss this opportunity for promotion and salary increase?

What made him feel annoyed was that in this negotiation, he seemed to be controlled by this young man who was only twenty years old.

Damn!