Heads Up Hollywood

Rampage, of course Nina Jacobson knew.

This is a studio under Tang En Pictures, specializing in the distribution of low-budget B-grade films such as horror films and thrillers. The registration cost is only 5 million US dollars.

Indeed, Furious Pictures had completed the filming of a movie before, which was "Chain Saw", which was supervised by Tang En and written by himself.

However, can this small-budget horror film with a cost of less than 1.5 million US dollars compete with "Undead", which cost 75 million US dollars and joined by big stars?

Ten thousand doubts about Nina Jacobson!

Tang En laughed loudly, "Nina, it seems that you have thought of it, yes, it is "Saw"!"

Nina Jacobson gasped, and looked at Tang En with a strange look.

Boss, are you bloated?

Indeed, every film you have produced and directed in the past has achieved unprecedented success. Even the romantic comedies "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and "Wedding Crashers" had a North American box office of more than 200 million U.S. dollars. It has to be said that this is a remarkable achievement.

But……

This does not mean that as long as the movie has your name on it, it will definitely be a hit!

Back then, Christopher Nolan's first movie "Follow" was released by Lucasfilm, and the name of "Dawn Walker" was marked on the producer column, but the box office of the movie was less than 2 million. Dollar.

That's right, the box office of 2 million US dollars is also hundreds of times the profit, because the cost of "Following" is only 6,000 US dollars, and Tang En Pictures bought out the copyright, and it only cost 50,000 US dollars.

But this can only show that your name "Dawn Walker" can attract movie fans and keep the movie from losing money.

If you want a big box office hit, over 100 million or 200 million in North America, at least it is a well-produced mid-budget movie, like "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and "Wedding Crashers".

The cost of "Saw" was less than 1.5 million U.S. dollars. If you say it sold 10 million U.S. dollars at the box office, everyone will believe it. Because of the name "Dawn Walker", a group of hardcore fans can be attracted to enter the venue.

But it would be ridiculous to let "Chain Saw" and "Undead" compete in the ring.

How many diehard fans of Tang En are there? One or two million at most.

However, when a blockbuster movie is released, the number of fans it drives is usually in the tens of millions.

Not an order of magnitude at all!

Nina Jacobson looked at Tang En strangely, "With a new director who has only filmed a music video, can it compete with "Undead"?"

Obviously, she didn't believe it at all!

Tang En took a deep look at her, and said seriously: "Nina, don't underestimate him just because he used to only shoot commercials and MVs. Remember his name, Zack Schneider, I believe that within a few years, he will become One of the pillar directors of Marvel Studios!"

Nina Jacobson's face changed in surprise, "You mean...he will make superhero movies in the future?"

"must!"

Tang En paused for a moment, and then asked his secretary to notify the president of Rampage Pictures, Glenn Morgan, through the pager, asking him to come over to discuss matters.

Nina Jacobsen was still having a hard time convincing herself.

"Undead" has an investment of 75 million US dollars, joined by Samuel Jackson and Bruce Willis, the director is Nate Shyamalan, and with the lingering power of "The Sixth Sense of Spirituality", it will be followed in the summer file. The qualifications of the blockbusters are higher and lower.

Just relying on the B-grade horror film "Chain Saw", do you want to compete with "Undead"?

Twain is Nina's boss, of course she hopes that "Saw" will be a success, but is it possible? If he fails in the ring, Tang En's reputation will be ruined.

Now Tang En is invincible and invincible!

There's no need to bet your fame on a $1.5 million movie.

The producer and screenwriter of "Chain Saw" are both named "Twain Walker". Once they encounter "Undead", Disney will definitely not let go of this opportunity to "defeat" Twain.

However, Nina Jacobson's worries were obviously unnecessary, Tang En was as stubborn as a rock.

Soon, Glenn Morgan, the president of Rampage Pictures, arrived. Hearing Tang En's intentions, he had exactly the same expression as Nina Jacobson just now, and was speechless in surprise!

"Boss, this... this..."

Glenn Morgan's eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost during the day.

Tang En smiled and said, "What, are you scared?"

"No...not...I'm worried about ruining the company's major affairs."

Glenn Morgan is telling the truth, let "Chain Saw" and "Undead" compete, the box office loss is small, and the loss of face is big.

Who doesn't know in Hollywood now, Twain Films has continuously broken through, and the joint efforts of Fox and Disney are useless.

But put "Chain Saw" on the top, isn't this just escaping from the tiger's mouth and going back again?

Tang En waved his hands and said angrily: "Okay, I have already decided on this matter, and no one is allowed to question it! As I said, from now on, I will target every Disney movie!" What's wrong with "Jie"? Tang En Pictures has no cowards, even if it's a B-grade movie, they still wrestle with them!"

Glenn Morgan looked very embarrassed, "Boss, this will cause great difficulties for our work."

"What's going on? Is it a movie problem?"

"No, Zach is excellent. You can rest assured that the movie is handed over to him. I'm talking about the distribution issue."

Tang En glanced at him, but didn't make a sound.

Glenn Morgan is a good player in terms of content, but he is obviously lacking in management, communication, and networking. Niche films have a distribution model that is completely different from mainstream films, and the films of Berserk Pictures can only be distributed by themselves.

But from the sound of it, Glenn Morgan is a little bit powerless in terms of distribution.

Glenn Morgan said slowly: "The release process of B-level films is usually to order screenings first and then test screenings. After passing these two hurdles, it will be reviewed by the theaters to see if it is necessary to increase the scale of screenings. This process It usually takes about 15-20 days to go down.”

Tang En pondered for a while and nodded, "It's okay, let's do it this way, isn't Halloween on November 1st? We choose to release it on this day! After half a month of market review, it's time for the release date of "Undead". Just right."

...

After Glenn Morgan left, Dunn heaved a long sigh.

Tang En Pictures does not have a distribution department now, nor does it even have any relevant talents. Dunn originally planned to acquire Universal Pictures in the future and directly integrate Universal's distribution department.

But now it seems that a distribution department is not enough.

Take Disney, for example, with three distribution departments—Brave Films, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Miramax.

A large part of the distribution of Bowei Pictures and Disney Animation Studios overlaps. In fact, there are two distribution methods: one is a professional commercial film distribution model, and the other is an independent film distribution model.

However, the independent film distribution model does not mean that it must start with a small-scale trial screening, it depends on the distributor's network, channel resources and film presentation.

Just like Harvey Weinstein of Miramax is a god-level figure in the field of independent films. Not only is he a duck to water in Hollywood studios, but he is also very well-connected in major theaters across the United States.

For example, "Scream" in the summer file is obviously a niche independent film, but Miramax can operate calmly, just like a professional commercial film, canceling the process of order screening, trial screening, and review , Directly opened in 2912 theaters.

What's even more exaggerated is that, as an R-rated film, even the screening scale of "Saving Private Ryan" is limited to 2,800. However, "Scream", which is also an R-rated film, opened in 2912 theaters, because of the good box office, the scale of the second week's release directly changed to 3301 theaters!

3301 theaters are showing at the same time, what is this concept?

Throughout 2000, there were only three films with more theaters than "Scream": "Mission: Impossible 2" with an investment of 130 million US dollars, "Spiderman" with an investment of 150 million US dollars, and "Spider-Man" with an investment of 140 million US dollars. The Perfect Storm.

And "Scary Movie" cost only $19 million!

Last year's "Wedding Crashers" also sold well at the box office, and it was rated PG for all ages, but the number of theaters never exceeded 3,000. In contrast, it better reflects Harvey Weinstein's connections and abilities.

Tang En never expected to find someone as powerful as Harvey Weinstein to help, but the idea of ​​creating a publishing department has been lingering in his mind.

Nina Jacobsen got up to leave. Seeing that Tang En was still in deep thought, she smiled and said, "By the way, I may ask you for leave after a while."

"Um?"

Tang En came back to his senses and smiled, "Sure, the box office trend of "Spider-Man" is very healthy. After you've been busy for a while, you can go on vacation and relax."

Nina Jacobsen shook her head with a smile, "I didn't mean that, I meant...well, I'm pregnant, Dunn!"

"puff!"

Tang En stood up at once and laughed loudly, "Nina, what you say is as if you are pregnant with my child."

Nina Jacobsen pursed her lips for joy, then laughed and cursed, "Don't talk nonsense! Be careful that my husband beats you!"

Tang En smiled, walked over to her, and hugged her gently, "Congratulations, Nina, it is conceivable that you must be very happy. Oh, how many months?"

"It's been more than four months."

Nina Jacobsen stroked her belly, her motherly radiance on her face.

"Okay, okay! Let me just say, no wonder you feel out of shape recently. It turns out that you are pregnant. It's great! By the way, what's the due date?"

"It will be January next year. I plan to take a half-year vacation starting in September, but I don't know if it will delay the preparation of the sequel of "Spider-Man."

Tang En smiled and said, "That's fine. You don't have to worry about the movie. The new project will definitely be after the Oscars. It's time for you to come back."

Nina Jacobson breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "During my vacation time, Marvel Studios' major events can be explained to Kevin by phone, so Marvel Studios, you don't have to worry."

"very good!"