Exploiting Hollywood 1980

  Chapter 503 Bundled Release

   "Is that how you dance?"

   "It seems like this, it's always wrong, hey."

After the    preview was over, a large number of selected college students began to imitate breakdance in the front hall of the cinema.

  Many viewers are trying to do the spacewalking action, but no one can understand why it seems that they are stepping forward, but they are stepping backwards when they jump out.

   "HipPop is such tension, such excitement,

   That pretty girl dances well. "

   Several audience members who watched the preview sang IceT's impromptu rap lyrics in their mouths. When they walked to the bathroom door and lined up, they discussed it.

   "Hey, did MJ dance like this at the Motown concert in the first half of the year?"

   "Indeed, but I watched the motor in the movie and danced more dashingly than MJ."

   "It's a pity that MJ didn't dance in the movie, otherwise you can watch him compete with Madara."

   "What, where is MJ in the movie?" An audience member just came out of the bathroom and was at a loss after hearing their conversation.

   "You didn't watch the ending? The one who came to dance with them on the street, wasn't that MJ?"

   "That's right, he said it so well, breakdancing is street art."

   "I...I came out early to go to the bathroom, I'm afraid the queue will be too long."

   "Then you are miserable, the last part is so wonderful."

   "Really? When will this movie be released again?"

   "This is a preview, idiot, you should wait for the official release."

Seeing the heated discussion in the hall and the audience trying to figure out how to jump into the spacewalk, Ronald was overjoyed, "This is no problem. This is the first time I have encountered such a warm response since I became a director. "

  Meinahan stood beside him, also very excited. I've never seen a cannonball movie so popular. Maybe the "Lemonade" I filmed in Israel five years ago has reached this level in Israel.

   But this is America! Dozens of times the market capacity of Israel.

   The highly anticipated remake of "Lemonade" "The Last Virgin of America" ​​failed at the box office in the North American market. If it succeeds this time, how much money will it make!

  Meinahan turned around and looked at the representative of the distribution department sent by MGM. He had jumped to the only coin-operated phone in the cinema and was calling the company:

"Yeah, I promise, it's a good movie. Cannonball has never made such a good movie. I don't care if their other movies are trash or not, this one will do. Aside from the plot and dance, this movie is amazing. Just guessed the pop craze breakdance.

  ...yes, that's the one that Orion invested 9 million in...yes, it's called Hot Street Guy...it's not a problem, it doesn't matter if their movie is better or not, the point is that this breakdance can be sent for MPAA rating right away.

Yes, I think we can preempt the release and catch them off guard... no, listen to me, I don't know how they did it, and MJ came in, which MJ... well, I'll let him bring a copy once. "

MGM's distribution representative, after the phone call, came back and said to Minahan, "My boss asked you to take the copy to MGM headquarters for a screening. I can't convince them immediately with words, but I think your film can do arrive."

   "Hahaha, then it's settled." Minahan shook hands with him solemnly.

   With the good news, Minahan began to ponder in his heart.

   Such a good movie, should MGM release it? Wouldn't it be possible to make more money if the cannon was released by itself?

   "Do you think our Cannonball distribution department can eat the release of Breakdance now?" After the preview, Minahan returned to the office car and asked Yoram, his cousin in the car.

   "No, even if the cannon has this ability, it has to be released by MGM."

   Yoram disagrees. "Breakdance" movies, without starring stars, rely on distribution channels to promote.

   The most important thing is to attract enough audiences to the set in the first week of release. The Cannonball distribution department has just been established, and there is no running-in project or familiar theater channel.

   On your own, you can never get more than 1,000 theaters. The final box office performance of the film depends on the scale of the first weekend and the audience's reputation.

  MGM is a company with distribution strength. Although they have to cut a large piece of meat, it is still very worthwhile compared to the many theaters and skilled marketing methods.

“Although MGM doesn’t make movies anymore, they are still on the board of MPAA. They go out and rate it, and they will pass the rating as quickly as possible. You forgot, Orion has a movie with the same theme in the pipeline. "

"You're right, we still have to let MGM publish it. This can also save our precarious cooperation with them. I'm just a little unwilling, obviously this is a good opportunity, and it is possible to pull up our own publishing team. Yes." Minahan shook his head regretfully.

Yoram touched his chin and said, "Actually, we can sign a joint distribution agreement with them. In this case, the first two months... I think this breakdance will definitely be able to stay for more time. The first two months are divided into two parts. Let them occupy it when it is high, and we can release it at the same time, and put the movie in the second-round theater chain, the township theater chain, and those old theater chains in big cities.”

   "Okay." Minahan nodded, "Any ideas?"

   Yoram was excited, "I still have some ideas. If the top management of MGM sees the movie and sees it really as the person in the distribution department said, we can bundle a movie for them."

   "Go ahead."

   "Aren't they unwilling to release the 'Sahara' of Brooke Shields in America? We insisted that the two films should be bundled and released, and we could only buy them together, or not together."

   "Hey, you kid, I like this idea." Minahan happily patted Yoram on the shoulder several times.

   Yoram's main responsibility at Cannon is distribution, and he also grinned, being able to distribute Brooke Xiaosi's movie can be regarded as a big problem.

   "Actually, I also have an idea," Minahan's eyes flashed, "We can start preparing for the sequel."

"That's what I want to say. We Cannon is a company that makes money by making sequels. It's not about buying sequels from other companies, like Chuck Bronson's sequel to 'Terrorist Hunt.' The Dou' sequels have brought huge profits to our European business. Since MGM likes breakdance so much, I recommend shooting as soon as possible."

   "No, we're going to start planning Breakdance 2 now." Minahan waved his hand, "The trend of breakdance is coming quickly, but I don't know when it will ebb. We have to launch a sequel in the shortest time possible."

   "What are you going to do?"

"Look for the lead first, all the lead, sign a contract quickly. Before they get famous and too expensive to release," Minahan said, "And the screenwriter, find the screenwriter, on the basis of the first film, in the Write the story of Ma, Cyclone, and Kelly continuing their dance careers."

   "You don't want Ronald to continue directing?" Yoram asked.

"I know him, this movie is just his play, it doesn't take much effort, and it's over while lying down. The movie he made in Colombia is the one he's crafted. If these two movies If they can sell well, he will definitely become the target of big studios, and we can no longer ask him to direct such low-cost exploitative films.

   I would love to work with him again, he is a person who cannot be bypassed. While there is no breakdance writer credited, he did most of the screenplay adaptations that were most critical to the film's success. The union will recognize his achievements, so the sequel must have his approval. "

Minahan couldn't help but hit his big head twice with his fist, "I'm so stupid, I should have signed an extra film contract with him at the time. Now we have to wait until we have raised the funds to shoot the next big production. He cooperates."

   A few days later, applause broke out in the screening room at MGM, and their head of distribution, and the vice president of the company, stood up to salute Minahan.

  Like the previous test screening, the audience for the test screening went completely crazy after watching the movie. They went directly to the investigators of MGM and asked them when it would be released. Be sure to come and watch it again with friends.

  Although MGM was very dissatisfied with the conditions of the bundling, in the face of the audience's average rating of A-, it pinched its nose and signed the "Sahara" distribution agreement, responsible for the first round of distribution of the two films in America.

   And the second round of distribution, and the distribution of some remote theaters, are handed over to Cannon Films themselves.

   "Mazeltov (congratulations), the next thing is to quickly submit it for review and get a PG rating." The vice president of MGM took the initiative to raise his glass and greeted with a Jewish toast.

   "Then wish us a big fortune!" For the first time, Minahan and the top executives of the seven major companies celebrated with champagne, "Hahaha!"

   "By the way, you found Ronald Lee to direct, which is a wise choice. He is especially good at making exploitative films. Are your sequels ready? Don't be surprised... Who in Hollywood doesn't know that you cannonballs are the king of sequels?"

   "We have this plan to add an ad at the end of the copy, Breakdance 2 - Electronic Boogaloo, coming soon, so stay tuned."

   "Electronic Bogalo?" MGM's vice president laughed, "It's a good name, and it's catchy."

   "Yes, it just so happens that we also plan to make Boogaloo the prawn the protagonist of the sequel. He is now MJ's choreographer. When the sequel is released, the most popular of the three leading actors should be him."

"That's right, his spacewalk is the best dance sequence in the movie," MGM's vice president raised his glass. "Director, do you still invite Ronald? If it's him, we'd like to book a distribution contract right away. "

   "Hahaha, he's currently working on another film in Colombia, and we're talking to him."

  Meinahan raised his glass happily, "L'Chaim! (Fortunate to be alive.

   Meinahan sent the copy for review, and then began to fully prepare and coordinate the release, as well as prepare for the shooting of the sequel.

   Several leading actors have successfully signed contracts, and the screenwriting team has already found them, but Ronald is very busy and has no time to discuss the shooting of the sequel with him.

  Because Ronald's vacation is coming, he has gone back to edit "Longwei Kid".

   (end of this chapter)