Exploiting Hollywood 1980

  Chapter 286 Assessments and Schedules

   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's season.

   "The special effects of ET aliens are still in the process of production. We can complete the editing in early March and open the audience to test screenings."

   Speaking is "ET Alien" producer Katherine Kennedy. She represented Spielberg in negotiating the release date of the film.

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

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

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

The weekend before the May Veterans Day coincides with the scheduled release date of United Art's "Rocky 3". If United Art is connected to "Noisy Ghosts" in early June, then Universal's ET will hit the weight no matter whether it is advanced or delayed. 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 to smash their heads and break their blood.

  Tom Mount was not optimistic about the box office performance of such low-level films as ET Alien, 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 was also 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 11th?" Simberg ignored Mount's response, and instead discussed with Katherine amicably.

   Spielberg's "The Lost Ark of the Covenant" has been in theaters for seven months, and it still maintains a weekly box office of nearly 2 million.

  This achievement 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 holiday 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.

   A director who makes a big hit like this doesn't have to worry about a studio that doesn't work with him, and Mount doesn't know what movies will sell well.

   Now is the time when the seven studios are vying for Spielberg, and he can negotiate any excessive demands.

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

   "Universal can guarantee that it will not compete with ET in new films before July 16." Simberg then replied.

  Katherine Kennedy expressed satisfaction. 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 there's a 'fast-paced Richmond High' that could be put in a July release?" Ned Tanin interjected.

   He remembers Ronald's courage to take out a check to endorse himself, coupled with the good feedback from the preview, and has now become a "fast-paced" supporter.

   "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 read the report sent by the distribution department and said.

"Very good, let's book it for July 16th, and make adjustments after seeing the box office of ET." Simberg looked at the report prepared by the distribution department, and the outline read "The audience has received positive feedback, and it is recommended to have a summer program." release" conclusion.

   He remembered that he and Spielberg had gone to the scene 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 work for the summer season.

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

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

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

   As soon as he saw the beginning, Ned Tanin was interrupted by the secretary. He waved the projectionist to stop and asked the secretary, "So I made an appointment with him?"

   "Yes, Mr. Coppola has 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 are 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 take time to watch it."

   "Thanks, this is going to be a film that thoroughly expresses my thoughts. I'm here 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 movie plan, I heard 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. Finally, the Columbian Anglo-Saxon executive Frank Price helped secure the distribution contract.

   But after being acquired by Coca-Cola, Frank Price could not protect himself, and was besieged by the vice president of Coke's airborne. 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 knows 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 the diorama out of the predicament.

"Hinton's novels are selling well right now. Last month, Disney has finished editing the film adaptation of her other novel, 'Texas,' and has done a test screening, and the response is very good. If the film can be a big hit in May I don't think anyone would be happy to give you a distribution contract, Francis."

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

   I liked this novel 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 no longer circled around with Tanin, and he knew exactly 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 novel, "The Outcast Boy."

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

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

  The old love and new love shot in order to fill the hole, the prospects are not good at present, and it may cause a bigger hole.

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

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

   "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 character of these Jews and had to exchange everything.

Although   Italians are numerous 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 the screening. 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 within the schedule."

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

   "He has the stamp of a Roger Coleman-esque low-budget movie. If it's a rookie 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."

   (end of this chapter)