Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 503 Bundled Release
"Is that how you dance?"

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

After the trial screening, the selected audience of college students, many of them, began to imitate break dancing in the front hall of the cinema.

A lot of spectators were trying to moonwalk, but no one could figure out why it looked like they were stepping forward, but when they jumped out they were going backwards.

"Hip pop is such a tension, such a thrill,

That pretty girl dances well. "

A few viewers who watched the trial screening sang Ice T's impromptu rap lyrics in their mouths, and when they walked to the bathroom door to line up, they discussed.

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

"Indeed, but when I saw the motor in the movie, it danced more gracefully than MJ."

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

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

"Didn't you watch the ending? Isn't that the one who came to dance with them on the street, MJ?"

"That's right, he said it very well, break dancing is a 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 wonderful."

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

"This is a trial screening, idiot, you'd better wait for the official release."

Seeing the heated discussions in the hall and the audience trying to figure out how to spacewalk, Ronald was overjoyed, "It's all right now. This is the first time I have encountered such an enthusiastic response since I became a director. "

Minahan stood beside him, also very excited.Never has a cannonball movie been so popular.Maybe the "Lemonade" filmed in Israel five years ago may have 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 in America" ​​failed at the box office in the North American market. If it succeeds this time, how much money can it make!

Minahan turned his head and looked at the representative of the distribution department sent by MGM. He had jumped to the only pay phone in the cinema and was calling the company:

"Yes, I promise, it's a good movie. Cannonball has never made such a good movie. I don't care if their other movies are rubbish or not, this one will do. Apart from the plot and the dancing, this movie Just in time for pop craze breakdancing.

...yes, it's the one that Orion invested 900 million...yes, it's called Hot Street Boys...it's not a problem, whether their movie is better or not, the point is that this Breakdance will be sent to MPAA rating soon.

Yeah, I think we can get it out early and catch them off guard... No, listen to me, I don't know how they did it, and got MJ in a cameo, which MJ... well, I'll let him take Copy it once. "

MGM's distribution representative, after the phone call, came back and said to Minahan, "My boss asked you to bring a copy to MGM headquarters for a showing. I can't convince them right away, but I think your film can be done. arrive."

"Hahaha, then it's a deal." Minahan shook hands with him solemnly to finalize the deal.

With the good news, Minahan began to think about it.

Such a good movie, should MGM release it?Wouldn't it be possible to make more money if Cannon issued itself?

"Do you think the distribution department of our Cannon can eat the release of Breakdance now?" Minahan asked his cousin Yoram who was in the car when he returned to the office car after the preview.

"No, even if Cannon has this ability, it must be released by MGM."

Yoram disagrees. Movies like "Breakdance" do not have stars starring, and they rely entirely on distribution channels to promote them.

The most important thing is to attract enough audiences to the set in the first week of release.The distribution department of Cannon has just been established, and has not gone through the running-in of the project, nor does it have familiar theater channels.

On your own, you will definitely not be able to get more than a thousand theaters.The final box office performance of the movie depends on the scale of the first weekend and the audience's word of mouth.

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

"Although MGM doesn't make movies anymore, they are still members of the MPAA's board of directors. If they come forward to rate, they will pass the rating as quickly as possible. You forgot, Orion has a film with the same theme in preparation. "

"You are right, we still have to let MGM distribute it. This can also save our precarious cooperation with them. I am just not reconciled, obviously this is a good opportunity, and it is possible to pull up our own distribution team Yes." Minahan shook his head regretfully.

Yoram rubbed 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 of filming When the share is high, let them take it, and we can release it at the same time, and put the movie in the second round of theaters, township theaters, and those old theaters in big cities.”

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

Yoram got excited, "I still have some ideas. If the top executives of MGM really do what the distribution department said after seeing the movie, we can bundle a movie with them."

"Go on."

"Aren't they refusing to release Brooke Shields' 'Sahara' in America? We decided to release the two films in a bundle. We can only buy them together, or not at all."

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

Yoram is mainly responsible for distribution at Cannon, and he also grinned, being able to distribute Brooke Shields' movie can be regarded as solving a big problem.

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

"This is what I want to say, our company Cannonball is originally a company that makes money by making sequels. It's not about buying sequels from other companies, such as the sequels of 'Dare to Die' starring Chuck Bronson. It's our own filming of 'Ninja Tiger' The sequels of "Dou" have brought huge profits to our European business. Since MGM likes breakdancing so much, I suggest to start filming as soon as possible."

"No, we are going to start planning Breakdancing 2 now." Minahan waved his hand, "The breakdancing trend is coming very quickly, but we don't know when it will ebb. We want to release the sequel as soon as possible."

"What are you going to do?"

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

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

"I know him. This movie is just a play for him. It didn't take much effort, and he directed it while lying down. The movie he made in Columbia is his meticulously crafted work. If these two movies If he can sell well, he will definitely become the target of big studios, and it is impossible for us to ask him to direct such low-cost exploitation films.

I'd love to work with him again, he's a guy you can't get around.Although not credited as Breakdance's screenwriter, he did most of the script adaptations, and these adaptations played the most critical role in the film's success.The union will recognize his achievements, so the sequel must obtain his consent. "

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 that time. Now we can only find him when we raise funds to shoot a big production. He cooperates."

A few days later, there was applause in the screening room at MGM, and the head of their distribution department and the company's vice president stood up to pay tribute to Minahan.

Just like the previous test screenings, the test audiences were completely crazy after watching the movie. They went directly to the investigators of MGM and asked them when it will be released. They must watch it again with their friends.

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

The second round of distribution, as well as the distribution of some remote theaters, is handed over to Cannon Pictures.

"Mazel tov (congratulations), the next thing is to send it for review quickly 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 great fortune!" Minahan celebrated with champagne for the first time with the senior executives of the seven major companies, "Hahaha!"

"By the way, it was a smart choice that you hired Ronald Lee to direct. He is very good at making exploitation films. Are you ready for a sequel? Don't be surprised... Who in Hollywood doesn't know that you Cannon are the king of sequels? "

"We have this plan, and we are going to add an advertisement at the end of the copy, Breakdance 2-Electric Boogaloo, coming soon, so stay tuned."

"Electronic Boogaloo?" MGM's vice president laughed. "It's a good name, and it's easy to say."

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

"That's right, his moonwalk is the best dance segment in this movie," the vice president of MGM raised his glass, "Director, do you still invite Ronald? If it is him, we are willing to book a distribution contract immediately. "

"Hahaha, he is currently busy with the post-production of another Columbia film, and we are also talking to him."

Minahan raised his glass happily, "L'Chaim! (Lucky to be alive)".

Minahan sent the copy for review, and then went all out to prepare and coordinate distribution, as well as filming the sequel.

Several leading actors have successfully signed contracts, and the screenwriter team has also been found, but Ronald is very busy and has no time to discuss the filming of the sequel with him.

Because it happened that Ronald's vacation was coming, and he had already gone back to edit "The Dragon Boy".

(End of this chapter)