Chapter 20: Click to open

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In April, his footsteps entered Duke's life unstoppably. It was almost a year before he started writing "Speed ​​of Life and Death", and the film still has not been released. Even if he has accumulated for two lifetimes, even if he lives again, he cannot get rid of the film industry. The most basic law.
It is very close to the time set by Fox in the 20th century, and Duke finally saw the news and advertisements of "Life and Death" in the media.
The family channel of Fox Television Network broadcasted a 15-second video clip advertisement for three consecutive nights; the entertainment section of the second- and third-rate newspapers in the Los Angeles area also showed interviews about Keanu Reeves and Uma Thurman; Some film critics’ columns are also trying their best to attract people’s attention through praise or criticism; News Corporation’s tabloids began to write lace news about the male and female protagonists, vowing to say that the two are in love with each other; On the screen, the trailer of the movie was played; in some remote locations of the theater, the poster of "Life and Death" is not very noticeable...
One million dollars is an astronomical figure for an individual, but for the marketing of a commercial film, it is really small.
Fortunately, the film will only be shown in 20 of the ten major cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, Boston, and Nashville. [↖ The theaters will be screened, and the publicity will mainly target these ten cities. In other words, this kind of publicity is not bad.
Although the audience's reputation for the trial screening is excellent, Twentieth Century Fox's strategy is still cautious. Even the film has only been printed for 50 copies.
Moreover, the focus of 20th Century Fox’s publicity is not on "Life and Death" at all. The summer file in May is coming soon. David Fincher’s "Alien 3" is Fox’s most important project, and has invested heavily in promotion and marketing. , You can see ads for this film almost everywhere.
Because "Alien 3" provides packaging services from the production to the director to the actors, etc., caa has also invested a lot of resources in this film. The past countless successes have also given them great confidence.
"Lovett."
In an office in Century City, Rick Solomon sat across from his agent, his mouth turning up and down, "Should we put pressure on 20th Century Fox? They should focus on "Alien 3" In terms of publicity, not to disperse resources for bad films like "Life and Death"!"
"Calm down, Rick."
Looking at the guy on the opposite side, Lovett felt a trace of impatience. This guy doesn’t look like a Jewish man with a simple mind. Let alone Duke Rosenberg, who was abandoned by him, I’m afraid most people in Hollywood are Smarter than him, if it weren't for his father Robert Solomon to capture Warner Bros., he would never sign this idiot and use his relationship to put him into the "Alien 3" crew.
"Pay attention to your image!" He reminded him again, "Life and Death Hour" is just a screening. The good reputation of the trial screening may not turn into a high box office. This film is likely to be a one-week tour of the theater.
"This is the best!" Rick Solomon shook his fist hard.
Although he said so, he didn't want "Life and Death" really to be a one-week tour of the theaters. The reason is simple. If this film can stay on the theaters until early May, then his "Alien 3" will be straightforward. Competing with each other, it must feel good to step on Duke Rosenberg!
"Life and Death", what is that? Can it be compared with the alien series?
Afterwards, Lovett, who was sitting opposite, hung up the propaganda department of Twentieth Century Fox, reminding them that they should concentrate their superior resources on "Alien 3"!
This is just a trivial matter for a strong caa, and it doesn't require big shots like Martin Bob and Michael Ovitz.
"Will he succeed?"
When he put down the phone, this thought jumped out of Lovett's mind uncontrollably, and he couldn't get it back anymore. Regardless of the idiot opposite, he slowly fell into thinking, and then came up with a countermeasure.
Even if Duke Rosenberg is lucky enough to take his shit, go find him and sign him again. If you want to be an agent, you can’t care about your face. As for whether Duke Rosenberg will agree to it, basically Is not within his consideration, can he or dare to refuse caa?
As a spring file, April is the traditional film off-season, and the summer file starting in May is reserved for commercial productions. Twentieth Century Fox will not consider "Life and Death Hour" at all.
On April 14th, a very ordinary Tuesday, Duke ushered in the most critical test of his life. "Life and Death Hour" landed on the North American market with a scale of 20 theaters.
There is no premiere, no media events, no large-scale publicity, only the questionnaires that 20th Century Fox requires theaters to cooperate with.
As an investigative observer for 20th Century Fox, Harry Dunn was in charge of the Los Angeles area. He came to this theater near the city hall early and sat near the ticket booth to observe the audience's choices.
At a glance, you can easily find the poster of "Life and Death" from the lobby of the theater. The bus that rushes out of the fire is also eye-catching. On the other side of the big screen, there are several trailers that also have "Life and Death". "", with explosions and speeding cars emerging in endlessly, it seems to be very selling.
However, Dunn sat here for more than half an hour and found that the audience who chose "Speed ​​of Life" was very limited. This was inseparable from the film's lack of big-name stars and overwhelming publicity, and it was also related to the workday.
Looking at the watch, the time for the screening was almost up. Dunn got up and walked toward the theater, checked the ticket and took the next questionnaire, and was about to walk into the theater of "Life and Death". Suddenly, there was a surprised sound next to him. sound.
"Huh, why are you?"
Looking back, Dunn found that the man who was talking was a blond young man. There were five or six people next to him. After a little recollection, he gradually got some impressions. After all, during the screening, the other party went back to the toilet in order not to miss the movie. It's too rare.
"Unexpectedly, you came to watch this movie again." The man said again, "What a coincidence."
"Yes."
Coincidence? It's not a coincidence that there are only two movie theaters in the entire Los Angeles area.
Beckoning, Dunn motioned to go in first. There were not many people in the theater. They all chose a position near the middle. After sitting down, Dunn asked again, "Didn't you watch this movie? "
"It's enough to watch a movie like "Life and Death Hour" once."
Jones, with long blonde hair, turned his head and looked at several companions next to him, "Alan and I told you that the film is very thrilling and exciting. You don’t believe me, did you see it? This gentleman also participated in the trial screening last time. Twice!"
"Indeed, Jones, we all watched the trailer. It was really exciting." said one of Jones’s companions. "But don’t forget, the trailer is wonderful, but the film is terrible, especially the director. None of us heard about it."
"I haven't heard of it either." Jones sighed, "I've been to the video tape market and I haven't found any works related to him."
"By the way, have you heard of the director Duke Rosenberg?" he asked Dunn.
"I understand a little bit." Dunn leaked some news at random, "The Speed ​​of Life and Death should be his first official feature film."
"Wow... for the first time!" Jones seemed to have discovered something amazing, "The first time you can shoot the film so well?"
"Okay, Jones, stop your mouth with Coke!"
The only girl among these people handed a large glass of Coke, and Jones immediately shook her head, "I advise you not to drink too many drinks. This movie will never give you time to go to the bathroom."
"Is it such an exaggeration?"
In the front row, a middle-aged man in his 30s turned his head and Jones solemnly said, "I promise!"
Seeing what happened, Dunn didn’t say much. After the last trial screening, "Life and Death Speed" had obviously been fermented among the audience, but the number of people participating in the trial screening was too small. With such success, the word-of-mouth of "Life and Death Hour" will quickly spread to the audience. It is necessary to know that no means of publicity can be as good as word-of-mouth.
"Okay, okay, stop making trouble."
Like a child eager to share his favorite toy with his partner, Jones stopped his partner's joking, "Pay attention, the movie is about to begin!"
On the screen, the opening film belonging to Twentieth Century Fox lit up.
Dunn's eyes quickly rolled around, not much as expected. There were less than twenty spectators in the huge theater, and the attendance rate was not ideal at all.
Cunites was one of the people who came with Jones. He didn't fully concentrate when he saw the opening of the movie. He kept throwing popcorn in his mouth. After the opening, there must be stinky long cast and crew. Subtitles, who would be interested in those things?
"What?"
The next moment, he opened his eyes. The film didn't have long subtitles and no verbose bedding. He went directly to the subject, and saw the elevator maintenance worker with a handicap, neatly stabbing the building security to the ground.
The plot unfolded quickly, and Cunites could see that in the corner of the film, a few lines of very small letters appeared, such as director Duke Rosenberg, actors Keanu Reeves and Uma. Thurman...
Not to talk about other content, at least this beginning aroused his goodwill, so that he has a strong desire to watch, instead of watching the long opening subtitles drowsy.
"A tricky guy!"
This is the opinion of Dunn, a professional. The Directors Guild has hard and fast rules for the opening credits. George Lucas even withdrew from the Directors Guild because of the Star Wars credits issue. He has not joined the Directors Guild until now. Association of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Putting the subtitles in the opening plot of the movie is also a good compromise.
Even Dunn could predict that if "Life and Death Hour" succeeds, this technique will soon become popular.