Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Thank you for coming, I hope to continue to cooperate with you..."

Ronald and Douglas Jr. stood at the entrance of the screening hall, shaking hands with the operators of the movie theaters one by one to see them off.

"Huh..." Little Douglas let out a long breath, "Fortunately, you reacted quickly, and asked that Aaron Russo before he made trouble. These operators now know that he and Steve Tishi failed to grab the script with you before, but now it's purely here to make trouble.

Not only that, some people also feel that our film has been competed by two companies, and they have more confidence in the box office. "

"Happy cooperation," Ronald and Douglas Jr. shook hands tightly. The two old friends of the wrestling team, who could see that they were here to make trouble this time, cooperated tacitly to control Aaron Russo and stop his attempt before the damage was done.

"The buyers in New York are very respectful of our film and have ordered enough copies. But..."

Daydream's release manager, Michelle Cannold, threw her coat back and stared at Ronald.

"Jr. Douglas is a shareholder of the company and a good friend of mine. I can say anything in front of him."

"So with all due respect, there were one or two Jewish buyers, and the number of copies pre-ordered was not optimistic. They seem to have received calls from some foundations, asking them to tone down their expectations for 'Dirty Dancing' .”

"Sit down and talk", Ronald pulled the two to sit down, snapped his fingers, and asked his colleagues to bring three cups of coffee.

"Thank you," Ronald took the coffee and shared it with the two, "So how about the order of 'Love Is Not For Sale'?"

"Basically proportional to Dirty Dancing." Cannold wrote two numbers on a piece of paper and handed them to Ronald and Douglas Jr.

The two circulated it, and both felt that it was better than expected.

"It seems that the Jewish circle still has opinions on Dirty Dancing? Didn't Michael Douglas say that it's all right?" Douglas Jr. looked at the pre-sale figures from other regions brought by Ronald, and he was very optimistic. Only if something unpleasant happens in New York, if the copies here don't sell well...wouldn't it make me unqualified as a director?

"We have done everything we can. Even if they want to make trouble, they don't know what to do to be the most effective." Ronald said that he didn't have to think about how those bedbugs in the dark would make trouble for him when they came back.

"Film critics,

TV commercials did what they were supposed to do. "Douglas Jr. also thinks so, "Movies are not fast-moving consumer goods. Whether the audience buys them or not, they are just a one-off sale." "

"Our sales journey has also come to an end, let our colleagues in the distribution department follow up in the next few places." Michelle Cannold organized the national theater screening for the first time, He followed Ronald all the way across America, and was also responsible for the organizational details of each place. He was much more tiring than Ronald, and it was appropriate to say that he deserved a lot of hard work.

"Wish us good luck."

Ronald stood up, nodded goodbye to his two companions, and waved his hands to prevent Richard from following him, expressing that he wanted to be alone for a while.

...

"The dice have been rolled, and it's up to God's preference."

Standing on the ferry to Staten Island, Ronald looked at the towering World Trade Center opposite him, and heaved a sigh of relief.

Douglas Jr. is right. Unlike those fast-moving consumer goods, short-term sales data can be roughly predicted by analyzing competitors' products, investing in distribution channels, and comparing the sales of their own old products.

Coca-Cola's new diet has new packaging, but compared with the launch of marketing advertisements, sales will not fluctuate much. After all, people who drink Coke will not have a major change in their taste in just one month, and they will all go to drink Pepsi.

But movies are another matter.

Every new movie is a huge unknown mystery when it is aimed at the market.

Will it do well at the box office? Will teenagers like the main character? Will you like their stories? Will other films released at the same time constitute direct competition. Everything is unknown.

After making a blockbuster movie, we have to do it all over again for the next one, completely guessing the audience's taste from the beginning.

Worse, even if you want to shoot a sequel, follow the recipe for success and keep going. The stars, writers, and directors who make up the formula will all see big pay rises. And their professional attitude will be greatly regressed.

Unlike companies that have successfully created a kind of cola or a kind of chewing gum, Hollywood products—movies, have to experience high risks and high failure rates of developing new products every time.

"Ronnie, are you under a lot of pressure for this movie?" Aunt Karen fried pork chops at home. Before watching Ronald's movie this time, she felt a little different.

"I don't want to talk about it, Auntie. I just came to enjoy your meal and biscuits."

"Oh, then you've come to the right place." Aunt Karen went to the kitchen and brought out the freshly baked biscuits, poured a little into a small basket, and handed them to Ronald.

"Well, the taste of the new recipe is even better." Ronald praised immediately after eating a piece.

"Ronnie, I'm proud of you. Your movie this time will definitely be as successful as in the past." The aunt still couldn't help it. She saw that Ronald was worried about the new movie this time, so she said a few words of advice .

"How's Donna?" Ronald wisely changed the subject. He didn't come here to worry his family, but secretly reminisced about the warmth of the family, trying not to think about the result of the dice roll.

"Oh, Donna, she's enjoying the hustle and bustle of Wall Street right now." Aunt Karen really changed her look when she talked about her daughter.

"Teresa Kate from the factory told me a lot about Wall Street. The competition there is crazy. I think the company in Long Island is suitable for Donna. She hasn't come back to see me for several weekends. It's okay On Wall Street she's just an intern."

"Relax, Long Island's investment fund is very good. It manages funds for Ivy League universities such as MIT, Harvard, and Yale." Now it was Ronald's turn to comfort his aunt.

In his own bedroom specially set aside by his aunt, Ronald could not fall asleep looking at the ceiling.

Since I entered the industry, all my money has been invested in this movie. Although there is a dream endorsement, it is impossible to say that I am not nervous.

The filming and editing of the film were done by the best people I could find. The journey of selling copies along the way, except for the last stop in New York, also exceeded expectations. A large amount of money was invested in TV station advertisements and on-site posters.

Most importantly, film critics everywhere have already arranged special film critic sessions. The private blending has also been done, in short, there is no omission.

The troublemakers Aaron Russo, Steve Tisch, and some powerful Jewish people looming behind them... Where else can they start to sabotage their plans?

Besides, the final box office of a movie does not depend on how many audiences it can attract at the beginning, but how many audiences it continues to attract through word of mouth, and how many weeks the movie can last in movie theaters across the country.

Ronald is very confident in his own work, even if there is something unexpected, it can only be postponed rather than destroy the success of "Dirty Dancing".

But why can't I fall asleep even if I have confidence? Several hours passed, and it was close to three o'clock in the morning. Ronald was still staring at the roof and ceiling, unable to fall asleep.

Spending my own money, I'm still really worried...

No way, Ronald got up, found a bottle of red wine and drank a glass, and then began to practice yoga breathing, "Exhale...inhale..."

...

"what……"

Ronald suddenly realized that he was dreaming. In the dream, he saw a panicked face on the screen, but there was no cry, and the electronic background music rendered this moment with a tense rhythm.

But Ronald was taken aback, as if the man was watching him in a dream. Close-ups of faces fill the entire screen.

The face is very big, and it doesn't look like the expression of an American. He opened his mouth wide, and his eyes changed from fierce to flustered... One, two, three... Under the rhythm of the electronic sound, it seems to be filmed in slow motion .

The bearded actor began to gradually move away from the screen.

"It seems to be on the top of a skyscraper." Ronald realized, and dreamed of the literary and slow-paced movie he dreamed about on the plane flying to Cannes.

The actor begins to flail his limbs, and the background is an endless void. This actor is acting in a jumping off a building scene. The camera switched to the distant scene, and two people in uniform looked at the person who fell from the building with a very unbearable expression.

The camera cut back to the building again, and the camera of the man falling took several seconds of slow motion.

"No way?" Ronald became even more nervous.

Why is the pace of this movie so slow?

At the beginning, it took more than a minute to discuss the secret of recovering the body on the plane. Here, at the end, he committed suicide by jumping off the building (should it be suicide?), and slowly fell from the roof, which took at least 30 seconds.

All the films I have directed before are very commercial and fast-paced. Why dream of such a slow paced movie?

Could it be?

Could it be that his "Dirty Dancing" failed at the box office? No one invests in making their own movies, and is forced to switch to making this kind of slow-paced movie with a strong literary atmosphere, and switch to the award-winning route?

"This is too tragic," Ronald broke out in a cold sweat. If this is the case, wouldn't he be laughed to death by those who attacked him for only making commercial exploitation films?

"No." The more Ronald thought about it, the more he felt uncomfortable. "I'd rather make low-cost exploitation films. Even if Roger Coleman has to work again, I can't make such films."

"Hey..." The character who jumped from the building was slapped on the concrete floor, and the two people in uniform showed an expression of unbearable expression.

"I hope that's not a hostage," said one of the black men.

"Wait...hostage?" Ronald couldn't figure it out. Could this be a reflection film about how the kidnapper was forced by life to sue the American system?

"Ronnie, Ronnie... are you awake? It's so late today? I prepared breakfast for you."

"Ah... I'll come, wait..."

Aunt Karen's cry interrupted Ronald's dream.

"What's the matter with you? You don't look very good." The aunt handed Ronald the orange juice and asked him with concern. This movie is different from before, Ronald has been under a lot of pressure. Maybe I didn't sleep well last night.

"It's nothing, I didn't sleep well last night." Ronald picked up the sandwich and gnawed it.

It's really terrible!

This is really a collection of all my nightmares. Do I want to make a movie that is contrary to all my previous ideas?

Certainly not, "Dirty Dancing" will definitely be a box office success, and I will not make that kind of terrible movie. Even if it fails...in fact, it doesn't necessarily fail...I don't need to make the movie I dreamed of.

But...if the box office is not good and I lose most of my personal property, is there a possibility that I will be forced to make the kind of movie I have always opposed?

"Ronnie... Ronnie..."

Ronald, who was thinking more and more worried, found that Aunt Karen was holding the phone receiver to him.

"Ah, I'm distracted."

"Your number is Douglas Jr."

"Doug", Ronald took the microphone, checked the receiver and the microphone, and then greeted the other side.

"Ronnie, the results of the film critics session are out. Those two bastards in Chicago have said a lot of bad things about us."

"What? Why the fuck do they not do anything after receiving money..."

"Ronnie..." Auntie gestured to Ronald with her index finger on her mouth, signaling him not to speak foul words.

"Sorry, Auntie." Ronald picked up the receiver and walked to the other side of the room.

"Tell me, what the hell is going on?"

...

"Here's the thing, Roger Ebert, and Gene Sisko's review faxed in and they lashed out at 'Love Is Not For Sale' and Ebert even said it was a morally corrupt movie. "

An hour later, Ronald, who hurried to Daydream's New York office, sat down with the release manager Michelle Cannold and Douglas Jr., and was talking with Los Angeles general manager Eddie Cohen on the speakerphone. Meeting by phone.

"What about the evaluation of Dirty Dancing?" Ronald was relieved to hear that the film review of "Love Is Not For Sale" had a big problem, and quickly asked about the evaluation of "Dirty Dancing".

Both films are scheduled for release in mid-July, but "Dirty Dancing" is the life and death stakes for Daydream's financial situation.

The first batch of original soundtrack albums have already been produced, workers have packed them, and they are already lying in the warehouse. After the premiere, they will be listed in a large number of retail channels in various places.

The commercial slots for the show have already been bought, and the trailers of the hero and heroine's wonderful dances have been edited and sent to the TV station.

Stars Patrick Schwytz, Jennifer Gray, and Cynthia Rhodes have already vacated their schedules, starting with Barbie Wygant's interview in Los Angeles, promoting Dirty Dancing all the way to New York for David Letterman's late-night show ends.

All the bullets have been loaded, just waiting for the last film critic to release the written film review after the two premieres in Los Angeles and New York.

This is how the chain of film marketing, film critics and TV commercials, attracts the first audience. Then the quality of the movie determines the quality of word-of-mouth and how many follow-up audiences it can attract.

At this juncture, the two most influential film critics in Chicago, who have their own film review program on PBS TV station, actually have a problem and release negative reviews on their films.

"What do they say about Dirty Dancing?" Cannold was also anxious, and asked Eddie on the phone.

"I'll fax it to you for the good reviews that are slightly over the passing line."

"You read it to me." Ronald couldn't help feeling anxious.

"Uh... well..."

Eddie was a little surprised by Ronald's anxiety, and took out a movie review and read it to the two of them.

"Sisko said he recommended the movie just past the line because he liked Jennifer Gray's great performance in it."

"Damn it, this guy was also bought by the Jews, so he boasted that the only Jewish protagonist in the movie." Ronald became angry when he heard it, why did he collect money, no, he received sponsorship from the Chicago Film Critics Association , Why don't you give yourself a good review for the most important members of the Film Critics Association and the high travel discount coupons for your family?

"Albert said that he gave it a thumbs down, not recommended. Because the plot is too boring, too predictable, a boring love story between two men and women from different classes and races."

"Fuck..." Ronald was about to curse again.

"Also, take it easy," Eddie continued, "but for those fans of musicals, or fans of Ronald Lee's previous breakdancing movie, this is a very recommendable movie, the dancing is great, The lead actor, Schwyz, has a toned body, a sexy dance, and the chemistry between him and Gray is great. Worth watching for men and women in love."

"Is this...a good review...or a bad review..."

Ronald was silent after listening.

Call it a bad review, but in fact, the two of them still said a lot of things worth watching the movie to the target audience—teenage couples.

You said it was a good review, but what about the clichéd attack on the plot?

...

"Ronald, you don't understand now"

After the discussion, Ronald and Kannold still made a long-distance call to Roger Ebert in Chicago, asking him why he didn't do things after receiving money.

"You don't understand, in the matter of movie reviews, it doesn't matter whether it's good or not, what I say is important. You said in the media kit used for film marketing that the target audience of this 'Dirty Dancing' is teenagers, Especially teenage women, I just pick them up and they like to hear and talk.

When they heard that it was a romance movie with a sexy male lead, how could they care about the artistic nature of the story and whether it reflected reality? For a girl who wants to enjoy a romantic movie with her boyfriend or sister on the weekends, the corny story is good news. "

"Is that so?" Ronald was a little unconvinced, "Then why did you give me a thumbs down."

"You have to ask yourself this. Preston Robert, the sponsor of the New York University School of Art, the chairman of the New York Giants, and the spokesperson of the Tisch family, personally explained it. How did you offend him?"

"I just had a little friction with his son, why did the old man invite you out?"

Ronald understood that this was scolding the younger one, and the older one came out to vent his anger on his son. The old Dishi sprinkled money everywhere to sponsor literature, art and sports, and everyone in the film industry wanted to sell face.

"Little Steve is his only promising son, and Preston Robert thinks highly of him." Roger Ebert continued. The Chicago Film Critics Association also received a lot of sponsorship from the Tisch Foundation.

"Okay, I counted your help." Ronald probably understood when he heard this. The Jews are still not satisfied with the plot of this movie, some old stubborn still want to mess up the movie. Jewish girls are cute, how can they be kidnapped by Irish gangsters?

"I have a good reputation in the industry, and I never talk nonsense against the facts. If you have a good movie in the future, you can also ask me to go to the film critics' special session. Ronald, we are old acquaintances, and I am looking forward to your next one. Movies. I hear Columbia likes your finished film."

"It's the end of the year," Ronald knew he meant "the moonlight is alluring."

"That's it?"

"Huh, huh?" Ronald was almost fooled by Albert.

"Dirty Dancing, you're helping out. That Love is not for sale. What's the matter with you? You still accuse me of having moral problems?"

"Am I talking about you? Look again..." Albert also raised his voice, "I'm talking about the director Rush, who paid to rent the cheerleader to be his girlfriend. What values ​​is this promoting?"

"This..." Ronald thought about it, and it was right. Film critics have to take into account the mainstream values ​​of society. This plot is a bit deviant. An accepted moral code in America is that between male and female couples, women can fall in love with each other for the success of the other (measured in money). But you can't collect money, if you collect money at a clearly marked price and then become the other party's girlfriend, that is sold.

"This is a movie," Ronald thought, and was almost confused by him again. "Besides, didn't you criticize this kind of value in the end?"

"Ronald, it's difficult for me too. Your film company has two films, and I'm just one short of the number of bad reviews..."

"You bastard."

"Don't be like this, I can comment, just to attract audiences. There are so many movies, I don't comment. I tell the plot, isn't there a lot of male teenagers who want to see how to spend money to rent cheerleaders to be themselves girlfriend?"

"Well, you're right this time." Ronald hung up the phone.

"Damn it, these movie critics have a point."

...

The film critics in Chicago, at any rate, derogatory and derogatory, are helping Ronald to attract the audience.

But unexpectedly, the film critics in Ronald's hometown actually launched a comprehensive criticism of "Dirty Dancing". In particular, "Time Magazine", a magazine with a huge readership in the whole country and even the world, can say that the film review of "Dirty Dancing" is very bad. It's almost obvious to scold.

"If we talk about Eleanor's script, the small mistake is that the ending is too tidy and inspiring. Then director Ronald's mistake is fatal. The low-level sexy singing and dancing in the film can indeed attract some audiences, but the original script should be Some reactions to reality are all eliminated. We can't help but start to wonder whether the director Ronald has enough rationality and judgment to direct this story from the JFK period. After all, he was still biting his pacifier at that time..."

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