Exploiting Hollywood 1980

The next morning, Universal's distribution department compiled the audience feedback data and handed it over to the senior management for them to discuss the film distribution plan for this summer.

\u0026The special effects of "ET" are still being produced. We can complete the editing and open it to the audience for preview in early March. "

The speaker is Katherine Kennedy, the producer of "ET". She came to discuss the release date of the movie on behalf of Spielberg.

"I have great confidence in Steven. ET will be released at the beginning of the summer season on June 4th?" As a loyal fan of Spielberg, Sheinberg also came to the meeting and proposed the start of the summer season for the other party to choose.

"June 4th is the release date of another movie produced by Steven, "Peist", and we hope it can be staggered with ET. "Katherine Kennedy proposed Amblin's idea for production.

"That's a movie released by MGM/United Artists," Tom Mount interjected with dissatisfaction. Amblin hopes that the two movies he produced will be released at different times, but this conflicts with Universal's interests.

The weekend before Veterans Day in May is the scheduled release date of United Artists' "Rocky 3". If United Artists takes over "Poltergeist" in early June, then Universal's ET will face heavyweight competitors whether it is advanced or delayed.

If it is advanced, it will face the third part of the two consecutive hits of "Rocky", and if it is delayed, it will face Paramount's "Star Wars". The second film in the "Under the Sky" series of big movies, all of which are sequels to movies that have proven successful in the market, ET the alien may have a head-on collision.

Tom Mount was not optimistic about the box office performance of such a low-level movie as ET the alien, 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 is also a blow to Sheinberg, who insisted on filming ET, so he simply shut up and let Sheinberg take all the responsibilities.

"Can it be opened a week later, on June 11?" Sheinberg ignored Mount's response, but discussed with Catherine in a friendly manner.

"The Lost Ark of the Covenant" shot by Spielberg has been released for seven months and can still maintain a weekly box office of nearly two million.

This achievement is contributed by less than 700 theaters, with an average box office of 2,800 US dollars per theater, which is higher than most new films.

After winning the box office champion of the summer season in 1981 and the box office champion of the Christmas and New Year holidays, people in the film industry have begun to joke that The Lost Ark of the Covenant will also win the box office champion of the Valentine's Day weekend.

A director who makes a hit movie like this will never worry about not having a cooperating studio. Mount has no idea what kind of movie will be a hit.

Now is the time when the seven major studios are competing for Spielberg. No matter what excessive demands he makes, they can be negotiated.

"We are very satisfied with this release date. The summer season after that..."

"Universal can guarantee that no new movies will be released before July 16 to compete with ET." Sheenberg continued to answer.

Kathleen Kennedy expressed satisfaction, said goodbye to several senior executives of Universal, and went to report to Spielberg.

"But we still have "The Best Chicken House in Texas" starring Dolly Parton. How do you arrange her schedule?" Mount raised a question.

"I will explain to Dolly that her movie is a period musical, and it will actually achieve better results in August."

"There is also a "Fast and Furious Richmond High School", which can be released in July?" Ned Tanin interjected.

He remembered Ronald's courage to endorse him with a check, and coupled with the excellent feedback from the preview, he has now become a supporter of "Fast and Furious".

"I remember this movie has been screened, and the feedback is out? How is the performance?" asked Shinberg.

"The audience gave it an average score of B+, which is very good among youth dramas." A female vice president looked at the report sent by the distribution department and said.

"Very good, let's book it on July 16, and make adjustments based on the box office performance of ET." Shinberg looked at the report prepared by the distribution department, and the outline stated the conclusion "The audience feedback is positive, and it is recommended to be released in the summer season."

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

After all, it's a youth movie, as long as the audience likes it.

Several senior people finalized the summer season distribution.

After the meeting, Ned Tanin called his secretary. He wanted to transfer the copy that Ronald had cut to see if the investment of 300,000 yuan in reshooting shots had improved the quality of the movie.

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

"Mr. Tanin, you have a guest. Mr. Francis Coppola from Zoetrope wants to see you. He said he has an appointment with you."

Ned Tanin was interrupted by his secretary just after watching the beginning. He waved to the projectionist to stop the projection and asked the secretary, "So did I make an appointment with him?"

"Yes, Mr. Coppola has an appointment with you to discuss the distribution contract for the new film."

Tanin stood up and said to the projection room, "I will continue the projection when I come back."

"Hi, Francis, long time no see, you are still so young and energetic." Tanin hugged Coppola. He was once the executive producer of Coppola's younger brother George Lucas's film "American Graffiti" and had a lot of dealings with Coppola.

"Is your new movie 'Old Love, New Love' premiering on the 17th next month? I will make time to watch it."

"Thank you, this will be a movie that completely expresses my ideas. I'm here today to talk to you about the distribution contract for the new film, Ned."

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

"Tell me about your new film plan. I heard that you have won the rights to adapt SE Hinton's best-selling book?" Tanin looked at Coppola and replied directly.

Coppola's financial situation was worrying. In order to make up for the financial shortfall of "Apocalypse Now", he refused MGM's $2 million director's commission, but insisted on his own 'Peep Show' company to produce "Old Love, New Love" ", I want to pay off the loan in one fell swoop.

The filming of the film was seriously over budget, and Coppola's editing was not favored by the studio. It changed three distributors in a row, and finally Frank Price, a Colombian Anglo-Saxon executive, helped secure the distribution contract.

However, after being acquired by Coca-Cola, Frank Price was unable to protect himself and was besieged by Coca-Cola's airborne vice president. Coupled with the fact that test screenings of "Old Love, New Love" were abysmal, Coppola's efforts to find a distributor for the new film were fruitless.

In fact, everyone in Hollywood knew what Coppola was up to. He wanted to turn around by making new movies and avoid the bankruptcy of Peep Show Company, but he encountered obstacles everywhere.

As a qualified Jewish film company executive, Tanin knew that many people were like him and would rather wait for Coppola to go bankrupt before signing a director contract with him, rather than helping him out of trouble.

"Hinton's film is now a bestseller. Last month, her other film adaptation of 'The Texas Man' was edited and screened by Disney. The response was good. If this film can be a big seller in May, I don't think anyone would be happy to give you a publishing deal, Francis."

"I understand you want to see how Hinton's adaptation is received by audiences. But I can't wait that long.

I like this book very much. After reading it for the first time at the airport, I thought it was Gone with the Wind for high school girls or the Godfather for high school boys. "

Coppola stopped going around in circles with Tanin. He knew exactly what these Jews were planning. I just want to wait for my peep show company to go bankrupt and get a bargain.

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

Chase would roll over its own loan and provide new financing to film Hinton's most iconic film.

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

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

The old love and the new love photographed in order to fill the hole, but the future seems not good at present, and it may have created a bigger hole.

In order to prevent the mortgage of the vineyard and house from being repossessed by the bank, the only way to solve his own problems is to continue shooting new films with the Peep Show Company.

Fortunately, The Godfather has given all studios an expectation that he can still make movies, and he can make blockbuster movies from time to time.

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

"What's the deal?"

"Watch a movie for me and evaluate it."

"I don't have much time." Coppola knew the character of these Jews very well, and everything had to be exchanged.

Although there are many Italians in the film industry, most of them are artists. Not many people hold high positions in business and management.

"Just watch for a while."

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

Tanin asked Coppola how he felt, "How was the filming?"

Coppola chuckled, "It's a very good movie with good technology. It reminds me of those movies made by Roger Corman back then."

"If I guess correctly, he must have completed the filming within schedule."

"Yes, how do you know? Except for a few reshoots at the end, he didn't even use up the budget."

"He has the imprint of Roger Corman-style low-budget movies. If he is a new director, then he should get rid of this shackles as soon as possible..."

Coppola shook his head.

"Some of the shots were shot with great talent. It can be seen that he has watched a lot of classic old movies."