Chapter 26 Schedule Settling
Movie box office revenue is closely related to the schedule - the schedule is like playing mahjong. How much you win depends not only on your skills, but also on which table you play.
Just like at this stage, there are only three schedules: Lunar New Year schedule, summer schedule and National Day schedule...
Only during these three major schedules will audiences go to theaters to watch movies!
After signing the distribution contract with the Rays, all that’s left is to wait.
Zhang Chen took the time to cut out a few versions of the trailer, which will be needed for publicity.
He also cut out a version of the behind-the-scenes. When the time comes, Guangguang publicity will be Guangguang publicity, and Zhang Chen himself is not ready to be idle.
He is planning to spread the trailer of "Dark Invasion" in the forums of major universities.
This version of the trailer is still very attractive, with bloody handprints, the first appearance of the monster in the DV, the rushing bloody mouth, the scene of Shara emerging from the blood pool and the scene of Juno wielding a mountaineering pickaxe. The shots are all cut out, making people nervous just looking at them.
The phone rang, it was Zhang’s father calling.
"You brat, I heard your Uncle Li say that the movie is finished filming?"
"Well, it's finished filming, and it's just waiting to be released."
"When it will be released, I will inform the surrounding people "
"It is expected to be May Day, but it has not been finalized yet."
After hanging up the phone in Longcheng Dayuan, Father Zhang took out a piece of paper and started. List names above.
Zhang's mother came over curiously: "What are you writing about?"
"I am writing a list of people to be notified. Our son's first movie is released. I must notify relatives and friends to support it. Where else? I can’t control it. Our box office in Dayuan must not be ugly.”
Father Zhang has already thought about it. Not only his relatives, but also his colleagues in his workplace and the bosses he knows must mobilize. Not only them. , they also have to help mobilize the people around them.
Those coal bosses, whoever doesn’t have dozens of people under their command, all go to the cinema to watch the movie, otherwise don’t blame me, Lao Zhang, for not giving you the note.
Next to her, Zhang’s mother also ran to make a list. Although she was just an ordinary worker, she also had many colleagues and classmates. Anyway, it was for the sake of her son, so it was not shameful to open her mouth to ask for help.
Zhang Chen, who was far away in the capital, didn't know that his parents were preparing to start a storm for him in his hometown. He was thinking about one thing. Why hasn't the Longbiao application been approved after so long? Could something have gone wrong?
It’s true that good things don’t work but bad things don’t work. The next day he received news that the film had been withdrawn because some scenes were too bloody and violent.
The film is also in a hurry and is ready to be released on May Day, but it is already early April and the film has not been approved yet.
Zhang Chen was dumbfounded, how could this happen? He had obviously paid great attention to it. The version he submitted was a deleted version. How come he still failed?
However, Teacher Fu immediately brought good news: "The school came forward to make peace, and the film review team promised not to make things difficult again, but the film has been rejected, and they also want to save face. How about you put those few A symbolic change in the shot, it will definitely be fine this time.”
Zhang Chen revised the video according to Teacher Fu's suggestion and resubmitted it. Sure enough, the dragon mark came down within a few days.
As expected, there are people in the DPRK who are easy to get things done.
But I will definitely not be able to catch up with the May 1st stall.
In the Guangguang office, Zhang Chen discussed the screening time with Manager Dong again.
"Why don't we go on National Day? It's also a holiday."
Zhang Chen shook his head. He would definitely not be able to accept the National Day. There is still half a year left.
"How about July?"
"You want to compete for the summer slot?"
Zhang Chen nodded.
"5.28 "The Day After Tomorrow", 6.10 "Big Event", 6.12 "Troy", 7.16 "House of Flying Daggers", the main opponents are these four, the others are just some motley crew."
Manager Dong spread his hands, that means no matter what choice you are going to make, you will be dead.
Zhang Chen fell into deep thought. He didn't care about Hong Kong movies. The reputation of "Big Event" was not good. It was useless except for the long shot of 6 minutes and 55 seconds. This film was used by Johnnie To to show off his skills.
But Hollywood blockbusters should pay attention. "The Day After Tomorrow" is a special effects blockbuster. At this stage, people in China believe that special effects will kill you if you encounter them.
"Troy" is a big-scenario war movie. The scenes are grand and the box office may not be bad, but the level of danger is definitely not as high as "The Day After Tomorrow". In comparison, the best one to bully is "House of Flying Daggers".
Although "House of Flying Daggers" is another commercial blockbuster released by Zhang Yimou after "Hero", Zhang Chen knows that the reputation of this film is not good. It is said to be the second to last among Zhang Yimou's movies. The first to last is "Three Guns".
It may not make sense to say this. An example is more intuitive: Zhang Yimou's first commercial blockbuster "Hero" had a box office of 250 million, which was also the annual record of the year. Two years later, the box office of "House of Flying Daggers" was only 150 million, and this was after increasing the box office share.
"We will choose July 2nd to be released between "Troy" and "House of Flying Daggers"." Zhang Chen finally made up his mind.
“Are you crazy?”
“I’m not crazy.”
He already knew that the other party would not understand, so he pointed to the film schedule and explained: "On July 2nd, "Troy" will be released for exactly three weeks, and its box office potential is almost over. "House of Flying Daggers" has not been released yet, so it happens that we "But "House of Flying Daggers" will be released on the 16th. You have less than half a month to plan. Once "House of Flying Daggers" is released, you probably won't even have a movie schedule. . ”
“That’s enough, don’t forget, the cost of my film is only 2 million, and within two weeks, those pirated discs must have flooded, which may not have much impact on the blockbusters, but it will have little impact on my film. , Those who have watched the pirated version will definitely not go to the theater to watch it again."
Zhang Chen also had no choice but to do so.
No matter how bad "House of Flying Daggers" is, it is still a blockbuster. As long as it is released, "Dark Invasion" will definitely not even be able to drink soup.
And once the pirated version comes out, the harm to "Dark Invasion" will be fatal, because there is not much difference between watching the pirated version and going to the cinema.
If it is a blockbuster like "The Day After Tomorrow", even if people watch the pirated version, they may go to the theater to watch it because of the special effects, but "Dark Invasion" will definitely not.
“Okay, since you insist, I’ll do as you say.”
Manager Dong also felt that what Zhang Chen said made sense, but Zhang Chen asked about another thing: "How are you considering my last proposal?"
"Well, the headquarters is still considering it."
"Okay."
Zhang Chen did not continue to ask. Anyway, he had already provided the method. As for whether to use the light, he couldn't decide.
After Zhang Chen left, Manager Dong fell into deep thought again, whether he should risk his life or not.
......
Time flies by in June, and the promotion of light has begun. People who are accustomed to taking the subway to and from get off work suddenly find that the banner advertisements on the subway platform have been changed overnight.
"Dark Invasion"?
What is this?
The rolling advertisement on the big screen at the entrance of the cinema also started to play the trailer of "Dark Invasion", dark caves, sudden monsters, bloody mountaineering pickaxes...
People's eyes Being attracted, curiosity arose in my heart.
Zhang Chen himself is not idle either, spreading the trailer of "Dark Invasion" like a virus in major forums every day.
The publicity had some effect and indeed aroused the attention of some people. Zhang Chen noticed that people were already talking about "Dark Invasion" in some forum posts.
Unlike other universities, the hottest topic on Nortel’s campus right now is the ban on dramas involved in the case.
The so-called ban on the dramas involved in the case is the 'screen purification' project. Specifically, all channels of TV stations at all levels must broadcast the subject matter involving violence, murder, terror, etc. after 23 o'clock. Once discovered, Violations will be dealt with seriously...
That is, this type of drama is not allowed to be broadcast during prime time.
The drama involved in the case has been a popular subject in the past two years.
Movies like "Black Hole", "Black Ice", and "Conquest" are all involving dramas, and almost every company is filming this kind of drama!
This has directly blocked some domestic film and television companies, not even giving them time to transform. This has directly led to the abort of a large number of dramas being filmed, and some that have been filmed can only be sold at low prices.
Nortel students are talking because it has a great impact on them.
The failure of a large number of drama series resulted in many acting students being turned back, and the scripts being written by the literature department were also rejected.
Everyone’s internship opportunities are gone, and the small treasury has also been affected.
(End of this chapter)