Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 286 Evaluation and Schedule

The next morning, Universal's distribution department collected audience feedback data and handed it over to senior management for their meeting to discuss this year's summer movie release plan.

"The special effects part of ET is still being intensively produced. We can complete the editing in early March and open the audience for trial screenings."

Speaking was "ET" producer Kathleen Kennedy.She represented Spielberg in negotiating a release date for the film.

"I am very confident in Steven, ET aliens will start the summer file on June [-]?" Simberg, as a loyal supporter of Spielberg, also came to the meeting and put the summer file on the beginning of the schedule. Present it for the other party to choose.

"June [-]th is another Steven executive movie 'Poltergeist,' and we wanted it to be staggered with ET." Kathleen Kennedy brought up the idea for Ann Bolling's production.

"That's an MGM/United Artists movie," Tom Mount interjected disapprovingly.Amberlin wanted to stagger the release times of the two films she produced, but this conflicted with Universal's interests.

The weekend before Veteran’s Day in May happened to be the scheduled release date of United Artists’ “Rocky 3”. If United Artists were to pick up “Haunter” in early June, then Universal’s ET would be hit hard no matter whether it was earlier or later. level competitors.

In advance, we will face the third part of the two consecutive blockbuster "Rocky", and later we will encounter the second part of Paramount's "Interstellar Submarine" series of movies, which have already proven successful in the market For the sequel to the movie, ET aliens are probably going to hit their heads and break their blood.

Tom Mount was originally not optimistic about the box office performance of low-level films such as ET, 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 happened to be a blow to Simberg, who advocated filming ET, so he simply shut up and let Simberg take all the responsibilities.

"ET can be opened a week later, June [-]?" Schinberg ignored Mount's response, and instead discussed it with Catherine in a pleasant manner.

"The Lost Ark of the Covenant" filmed by Spielberg has been in theaters for seven months, and it still maintains a weekly box office of nearly 200 million.

This result was contributed by less than [-] theaters, and the average box office per theater was [-] US dollars, which was higher than most new films.

After winning the box office championship in the summer and Christmas and New Year holidays in [-] last year, the film industry has begun to tease that The Lost Ark of the Covenant will also win the box office championship on Valentine's Day weekend.

In this way, a director who makes a blockbuster film does not have to worry about not having a cooperative studio. Mount has no idea what movies will be blockbusters.

Now is the time when the seven major studios are vying for Spielberg. No matter what excessive demands he makes, he can negotiate.

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

"Universal can guarantee that no new film will compete with ET before July 16th." Simberg then replied.

Kathleen Kennedy expressed her satisfaction, and after saying goodbye to several Universal executives, she went to report to Spielberg.

"But we also have 'Texas' Best Chick House' starring Dolly Parton, how do you schedule her." Mount asked a question.

"I'll explain to Dolly that her film is a period musical and it's actually going to be better in August."

"There's another 'fast-paced Richmond High' that could come out in July?" Ned Tannin interjected.

He remembered Ronald's courage to take out a check to endorse himself, coupled with the excellent feedback from the test screening, he has now become a "fast-paced" supporter.

"I remember the film was tested and the feedback came out? How did it go?" Simberg asked.

"The audience gave the average score of B+, which is considered very good in a youth drama." A female vice president said after looking at the report sent by the distribution department.

"Very good, let's book it on July [-], and make adjustments after watching the box office of ET Aliens." Simberg looked at the report prepared by the distribution department. release" conclusion.

He remembered that he and Spielberg went to the scene to support the young director, and smiled.Spielberg admired him very much, and the test results were good.

Anyway, it's a teen movie, as long as the audience likes it.

Several high-level people finalized the release of the summer file.

After the meeting adjourned, Ned Tanin called the secretary, and he wanted to call in Ronald's edited copy to look at it. He invested 30 in reshoots to see if the quality of the film had been improved.

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

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

No sooner had Ned Tannen read an opening than he was interrupted by his secretary.He waved the projectionist to stop the screening, and asked the secretary, "So I have 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 projection room, "I'll continue playing when I come back."

"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 film 'Old Love, New Love' premiering on NO.17 next month? I will find time to watch it."

"Thank you, it's going to be a film that expresses my ideas thoroughly. I've come today to talk to you about a distribution deal for the new film, Ned."

Coppola also kissed Tanin twice. He knew that this executive from Universal had a hot temper, but he seemed to be in a good mood today, just in time to talk about things.

"Tell me about your new film plan. I heard that 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 turned down a $200 million director's commission from MGM, but insisted on his own "diorama" company to produce "Old Love New Love" , want to pay off the loan in one fell swoop.

The shooting of the film was seriously overrun, and Coppola's editing was not favored by the studio. Three distributors were changed in a row. In the end, Frank Price, an executive of Anglo-Saxon origin in Colombia, helped to secure the distribution contract.

But after being acquired by Coca-Cola, Frank Price couldn't protect himself, and was besieged by the vice president of Coca-Cola.Add to that the poor test results of "Old Love, New Love" and it's no secret that Coppola's efforts to find a distributor for the new film came to nothing.

In fact, everyone in Hollywood knows what Coppola's idea is. He wants to make a new movie to turn around and avoid the bankruptcy of the diorama company, but he hits a wall everywhere.

As a qualified executive of a Jewish film company, Tanin knows that many people are like him. They would rather wait for Coppola to go bankrupt before signing a director contract with him, rather than give him a helping hand and help Diorama out of the predicament.

"Hinton's novels are selling well now. Last month, Disney has completed the post-editing of the film adaptation of another novel 'Texas Guy'. The response is good. If the film can be a big hit in May I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't be happy to give you a publishing deal, Francis."

"I understand that you guys want to see how well Hinton's movie adaptation works. But I can't wait that long.

I love this novel, after reading it at the airport for the first time, I thought it was Gone with the Wind for high school girls, or godfather for high school boys. "

Coppola stopped playing around with Tanin, and he knew exactly what these Jews were up to.I just want to wait for my diorama company to go bankrupt and pick up a bargain.

Coppola has found overseas distributors willing to distribute his new films in Europe and elsewhere.As long as the North American distribution contract can be signed, the money of overseas publishers will be in place.

Chase would roll over its own loan and provide a new round of financing to film Hinton's most iconic novel, "The Outer Worlds."

In this way, the financial hole created by Apocalypse Now will slowly be filled.

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

The old love and the new love filmed to fill the hole are not looking good at present, and may have created an even bigger hole.

In order that the mortgage of the vineyard and the house will not be taken back by the bank, the only way to solve my problem is to continue to shoot new films with the diorama company.

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

"Well, Francis, do me a favor, I will propose a project, but only Simberg can give the green light."

"What are you busy with?"

"Show me a movie and evaluate it."

"I don't have much free time." Coppola is very clear about the character of these Jews, and everything has to be exchanged.

Although there are a large number of Italians in the film industry, most of them are artists.Not many occupy high positions in business and management.

"Just watch for a while."

The projectionist continued the screening, and Coppola watched it patiently for a while, and became interested, and watched the movie with Tanin.

Tanin asked Coppola how he felt, "How did it go?"

Coppola smiled, "It's a very good movie with good technology. It reminds me of the movies I made with Roger Corman back then."

"If I'm not wrong, he must have completed the filming within the schedule."

"Yeah, how do you know? Except for a few make-up shots at the end, he didn't even use up his budget."

"He has the stamp of a Roger Corman-style low-budget film. If it is a new director, then he should get rid of this restraint as soon as possible..."

Coppola shook his head.

"Some shots are very talented. It can be seen that he has watched a lot of classic old movies."

(End of this chapter)