Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Is this how you dance?"

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

After the preview, many of the selected college students began to imitate break dancing in the front hall of the cinema.

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

"Hippop is so tense and exciting,

That pretty girl dances well. "

Several viewers who had watched the preview chanted icet's impromptu rap lyrics and started discussing it while queuing up at the bathroom door.

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

"Indeed, but when I saw Motor in the movie, he danced more gracefully than J."

"It's a pity that J didn't dance in the movie, otherwise we could have watched him compete with Motor."

"What, where is J in the movie?" An audience member just walked out of the bathroom and was confused after hearing their conversation.

"Didn't you read the ending? The one who came to dance with them in the street, isn't it J?"

"That's right, he said it very well. Breakdancing is a street art."

"I...I came out early to use the bathroom. I was afraid the queue would be too long."

"Then you're miserable. The last part was so exciting."

"Really? When can this movie be shown again?"

"This is a test screening, idiot. You'd better wait until it's officially released."

Seeing the hall full of lively discussions and the audience trying to figure out how to do the moonwalk, Ronald was overjoyed, "It's no problem now. This is the first time I've encountered such an enthusiastic response since I became a director." "

Minahan stood next to him, also very excited. Never seen a cannon movie so popular. Maybe the movie "Lemonade" that I filmed in Israel for five years 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" "America's Last Virgin" failed at the box office in the North American market. If it succeeds this time, how much money can it make?

Minahan turned around and looked at the distribution representative 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. Cannon has never made such a good movie. I don't care if their other movies are trash, this one will do. Besides the plot and choreography, this movie is awesome Just guessed the popular craze breakdancing.

...Yes, it's the one that Orion invested 9 million in... Yes, it's called Hot Street Boys... This is not a problem, no matter whether their movie is better or not, the key is that this break dance can be sent for a PAA rating right away .

Yes, I think we can release it first and catch them off guard... No, listen to me, I don't know how they did it. They also invited j to guest star, which other j... Okay, I'll let him take it Make a copy. "

After making the call, the representative of MGM's distribution department came back and said to Minahan, "My boss asked you to take the copy to MGM headquarters for a screening. I can't convince them right away with words, but I think your movie can do it." arrive."

"Hahaha, then it's settled." Minahan shook hands with him solemnly to confirm.

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

Should MGM release such a good movie? Wouldn't it be possible to make more money if Cannon published it itself?

"Do you think our Cannon's distribution department can handle the distribution of Breakdancing now?" Minahan asked his cousin Yoram who was in the car with him in the car after the preview when he was returning to the office.

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

Yoram disagrees. Movies like "Break Dance" don't have celebrities starring in them, so they rely entirely on distribution channels for promotion.

The most important thing is to attract enough viewers to the set in the first week of release. The distribution department of Cannon has just been established, has not been run-in on projects, and has no familiar theater channels.

On your own, you will never be able to get it to more than a thousand theaters. The final box office performance of the movie depends on the scale of the opening weekend and the audience's reputation.

MGM is the company with distribution capabilities. Although they have to take away a large piece of meat, compared with the large number of theaters showing it, the skilled marketing methods are still very worthwhile.

Gu Ling

"Although MGM doesn't produce movies anymore, they are still a board member of PAA. If they come forward to rate it, they will pass the rating as quickly as possible. You forgot, Orion has a movie with a similar theme in preparation. "

"You are right, we still want MGM to distribute. This can also save our precarious cooperation with them. I am just a little unwilling to do so. Obviously this is a good opportunity and it is possible to build our own distribution team. Yes." Minahan shook his head regretfully.

Yoram touched his chin and said, "In fact, we can sign a joint distribution agreement with them. In this way, in the first two months... I think Breakdance will be able to stay longer. In the first two months, let the film company take the high share, and we can release it simultaneously, and put the movie in the second-run theaters, town theaters, and those old theaters in big cities."

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

Yoram was excited, "I have some ideas. If the senior executives of MGM really see the movie as the person in the distribution department said, we can also bundle a movie for them."

"Go on."

"Didn't they refuse to release Brooke Shields' "Sahara" in America? We insist on releasing the two films together. We can only buy them together or not at all."

"Hehe, kid, I like this idea." Minahan patted Yoram's shoulder several times.

Yoram is mainly responsible for distribution at Cannon. He also grinned. Being able to release Brooke Shields' movie can be regarded as solving a big problem.

"Actually, I have an idea," Minahan said with a gleam in his eyes, "We can start preparing for the sequel."

"That's what I want to say. We at Cannonball have always made money from sequels. We didn't buy sequels from other companies, such as the sequel to "The Brink" starring Chuck Bronson. Or the sequel to "Ninja Fighter" we shot ourselves, which brought huge profits to our European business. Since MGM likes breakdancing so much, I suggest starting filming as soon as possible."

"No, we're going to start planning Breakdancing 2 now." Minahan waved his hand, "The breakdancing craze came very quickly, but we don't know when it will ebb. We have to launch the sequel in the shortest possible time."

"What are you going to do?"

"First, find the leading actors. All the leading actors should sign a contract quickly. Before they become famous and too expensive before the film is released," Minahan said, "and the screenwriter. Find a screenwriter to write a story about the three of them, Mada, Tornado, and Kelly, who continue their dance careers based on the first one."

"Don't you want Ronald to continue directing?" Yoram asked.

"I know him. This movie is just a hobby for him. It's not very hard. He just finished it while lying down. His movie in Columbia is his carefully crafted work. If these two movies can be a big hit, he will definitely be pursued by major studios, and we will never ask him to direct such low-cost exploitation films again.

I really want to work with him again. He is a person who cannot be avoided. Although the screenwriter of Breaking Dance is not signed, he did most of the script adaptation work, and these adaptations played the most critical role in the success of the movie. 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 another film contract with him at that time. Now we can only wait until we raise funds to shoot the next big production before we can find him to cooperate."

A few days later, applause rang out in the MGM film review screening room. The head of their distribution department and the company's vice president stood up to pay tribute to Minahan.

Just like the previous previews, the audience went crazy after watching the movie. They went straight to the MGM investigators and asked them when the movie would be released. They wanted to watch it again with their friends.

Although MGM was very dissatisfied with the bundling conditions, it signed the distribution agreement of "Sahara" for the sake of the average audience rating of A-, and was responsible for the first round of distribution of the two movies in America.

The second round of distribution and the distribution of some remote theaters were left to Cannon Pictures.

"azeltov (congratulations), the next thing is to submit it for review quickly and get the PG rating." The vice president of MGM took the initiative to raise his glass and greeted with Jewish toasts.

"Then I wish us great fortune!" Minahan celebrated with champagne for the first time with the top executives of the seven major companies, "Hahaha!"

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

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

"Electric Buffalo?" The vice president of MGM laughed, "It's a good name, it's easy to say Catchy."

"Yes, we also plan to let Buffalo Shrimp play the leading role in the sequel. He is now J'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, are you still going to invite Ronald? If it's him, we are willing to book the distribution contract immediately."

"Hahaha, he is now busy with the post-production of another movie in Columbia. We are also looking for him."

Minahan raised his glass happily, "l'chai! (It's a blessing to be alive)".

Minahan sent the copy for review, and then began to fully prepare and coordinate the distribution work, as well as prepare for the filming of the sequel.

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

Because Ronald's vacation period has just arrived, he has returned to edit "The Karate Kid".