Chapter 203： B-movies are crazy

Furious Pictures, of course Nina Jacobson knows.

This is a studio owned by Dunn Pictures, which specializes in the distribution of low-cost B-level films such as horror films and thrillers. The registration cost is only 5 million US dollars.

Indeed, Furious Pictures had previously completed the shooting of a film, "The Chainsaw", which was supervised and written by Dunn himself.

However, this small-budget horror film that costs less than $1.5 million can compete with the $75 million "Undead Robbery" with a big star?

Nina Jacobson 10,000 in disbelief!

Dunn laughed, "Nina, it seems that you have thought of it, yes, it's "The Chainsaw"!"

Nina Jacobson took a breath and looked at Dunn with a strange look.

Boss, are you inflated?

Indeed, every film you have produced and directed in the past has been an unprecedented success. Even the romantic comedies "My Big Greek Wedding" and "Wedding Cracker" have grossed more than $200 million at the North American box office, which I have to say is a remarkable achievement.

But…

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

At the beginning of Christopher Nolan's first film "Follow", Lucasfilm helped to distribute it, and the name of "Dawn Walker" was marked on the producer column, but the box office of the film was less than 2 million. Dollar.

That's right, the box office of $2 million is also a hundred times the profit, because the cost of "Follow" is only $6,000, and Dunn Pictures bought the copyright, and it only cost $50,000.

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

If you want to sell well at the box office, it will be over 100 million or over 200 million in North America. At least it is a well-made mid-budget movie, like "My Great Greek Wedding" and "Wedding Cracker."

"Chainsaw" cost less than $1.5 million. You said it sold for $10 million at the box office, and everyone believed it. Because of the name of "Dawn Walker", it can attract a group of iron fans to enter.

But it would be too much to make "Chainsaw" and "Undead" fight in the ring.

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

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

Not an order of magnitude at all!

Nina Jacobson looked at Dunn with a strange look, "Can you compete with "Undead" by relying on a work by a new director who has only made MVs?"

Obviously, she doesn't believe it at all!

Dunn took a deep look at her and said sternly: "Nina, don't underestimate him because he only shot commercials and MVs before. Remember his name, Zach Snyder, I believe that in a few years, he will become a One of the mainstay directors of Marvel Studios!"

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

"must!"

Dunn paused, and asked the secretary to notify Glenn Morgan, the president of Furious Pictures, through the phone call machine, and let him come over to discuss the matter.

Nina Jacobson still has a hard time convincing herself.

"Undead" invested 75 million US dollars, joined Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis, and was directed by Nate Shyamalan. With the help of "The Sixth Sense", there was a follow-up in the summer. Many blockbusters have high and low qualifications.

Just relying on the B-level horror film "Chainsaw", also want to compete with "Undead"?

Dunn is Nina's boss, of course she wants "The Saw" to succeed, 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 risk your reputation for a $1.5 million little movie.

The producer and screenwriter of "Chainsaw" has the name "Dawn Walker" written on it. Once it meets "Undead", Disney will not miss this opportunity to "defeat" Dunn.

But Nina Jacobson's worry is obviously superfluous, Dunn is stubborn like a stone.

Soon, the president of Furious Pictures, Glenn Morgan, arrived. Hearing that Dunn's intention was exactly the same as Nina Jacobson's expression just now, he 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, "Why, are you afraid?"

"No... No... I'm worried about breaking the company's major events."

Glenn Morgan is telling the truth. Letting "The Saw" and "Undead" fight, the box office loss is small, and the loss of face is big.

Who does not know in Hollywood now that Dunn Pictures has continuously broken through, and the joint strangulation of Fox and Disney is useless.

But when you put "The Chainsaw" on top, didn't this just escape the tiger's mouth and then drill back?

Tang En waved his hand and said in a grand manner: "Okay, I have decided on this matter, and no one is allowed to question it! I said that from now on, I will target every Disney movie! "The Undying" What happened to "Jie"? Dunn Pictures has no cowards, even if it's a B-grade film, it's still arm-wrestling with them!"

Glenn Morgan looked very embarrassed, "Boss, this will make our work very difficult."

"What's the matter? Is it a problem with the movie?"

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

Dunn glanced at him and said nothing.

Glenn Morgan is a good player in content, but he has obvious deficiencies in management, communication, and connections. Niche films have a completely different distribution model from mainstream films, and Furious Films films can only be distributed by themselves.

But listening to the tone, Glenn Morgan is a little powerless for the work of distribution.

Glenn Morgan said slowly: "The process of releasing a B-level film is usually to show first and then try it out. After passing these two levels, the theater chain will review whether it needs to increase the scale of the show. This process It usually takes about 15-20 days to walk down.”

Tang En pondered a little and nodded, "It doesn't matter, let's do it like this. Isn't Halloween on November 1st? We chose to release it on this day! After half a month's market review, it was the release day of "Undead". Exactly."

…

After Glenn Morgan left, Dunn sighed for a long time.

Dunn Pictures does not have a distribution department now, or even related talents. Dunn originally thought of acquiring Universal Pictures in the future and directly integrating Universal's distribution department.

But now it seems that a set of distribution departments is simply not enough.

Disney, for example, has three distribution divisions—Bloomberg Films, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Miramax.

A large part of the distribution of Bubba Films and Disney Animation Studios overlaps, which is actually two sets of 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 be a small-scale trial screening, which depends on the distribution party's contacts, channel resources and film presentation.

Just like Miramax's Harvey Weinstein, who is a god-level figure in the field of independent film, not only in Hollywood studios, but also well-connected in major theaters across the United States.

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

What is even more exaggerated is that, as an R-rated film, even the release scale of "Saving Private Ryan" is limited to 2,800. However, "Scream", which is also an R-rated film, opened with 2,912 theaters, and because of the good box office, the scale of the second week's release was directly changed to 3,301!

What is the concept of 3301 theaters showing at the same time?

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

And "Scream" cost only $19 million!

Last year's "Wedding Cracker" was also a big box-office hit, and it was PG-rated for all ages, but it never had more than 3,000 theaters. In contrast, it better reflects Harvey Weinstein's connections and abilities. UU reading

Dunn never thought that he could find a person with such great energy as Harvey Weinstein to help, but the idea of ​​creating a distribution department was always in his mind.

Nina Jacobson got up and said goodbye. Seeing that Dunn was still thinking, she smiled and said, "By the way, I may have to ask you for leave after a while."

"Um?"

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

Nina Jacobson smiled and shook her head, "I don't mean that, I mean... well, I'm pregnant, Dunn!"

"puff!"

Tang En stood up and laughed, "Nina, you said it as if you were carrying my child."

Nina Jacobson pursed her lips, then laughed and scolded, "Don't talk nonsense! Be careful my husband beats you!"

Tang En smiled, walked over, and hugged her gently, "Congratulations, Nina, as you can imagine, you must be very happy. Oh, how many months?"

"It's been more than 4 months."

Nina Jacobson stroked her stomach with a motherly glow.

"Okay, okay! I'll just say, no wonder you've been feeling out of shape lately. It turns out that you're pregnant. That's great! By the way, what's your due date?"

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

Tang En said with a smile: "Yes, you don't have to worry about the movie. The new project will definitely be after the Oscars. It's time for your return."

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

"very good!"