Chapter 115： Redemption (please subscribe!)

Across the long corridor, Holt pushed open the door and walked in. He went straight to the balcony and saw his biggest customer, Roger Albert, who was wearing glasses, sitting behind a small round table drinking afternoon tea. , First gestured to him to sit down, then picked up the teapot and poured a cup for him.

"An invitation?" Albert asked his agent.

Like Hollywood, the summer file and the Thanksgiving Christmas file, which is closely linked to the awards season, are also the peak income season for professional film critics. Although the influence of professional film critics in the summer file is far weaker than the awards season, the commercial production of film companies is often required. Borrowing their fame and shouting for the promotion of the film, the two industries have been closely linked over the past few decades, namely targeting and cooperating, which has long formed an unwritten rule.

In particular, large investment in commercial blockbusters require higher publicity and public relations costs, and they also need to be flattered by top film critics. Producers and distributors can sometimes even set up seven-figure public relations budgets.

The income of professional film critics seems to be columns, feed comments and books, some top ones, and TV shows invited by TV stations, these are enough to guarantee a high income every year.

However, this is only a tangible income. Last year, Roger Albert’s columns and TV shows only brought more than 800,000 U.S. dollars in remuneration, but in a summer vacation, his income was as high as ≈ Seven digits!

Although on the surface they continue to criticize Hollywood’s increased investment in commercial production and scream for independent films, in fact, this is just a demonstration of their non-vulgar and popular attitude. It took these top film critics 20 years or even longer to have the present. I don’t understand that only commercial productions with a high enough investment amount will bring huge income.

Since last year. Roger Albert got the list of films that might be released in this summer's archive, and he focused early on projects with huge investments such as "The Lion King", "Independence Day" and "True Lies", following the usual practice of previous years. The producer and distributor will definitely invite him to the audition.

The U.S. dollar is depreciating. Roger Albert has long planned to increase prices, and Walt Disney is also on the road. He received a check for 300,000 U.S. dollars for just the movie "The Lion King."

Collecting money to do things is the most basic principle of the industry. Roger Albert is still very professional. He not only scored 9 points for "The Lion King," he also gave a thumbs up. The film has a high reputation and a hot box office. It seemed to prove his vision, and even made him feel that his film reviews played a key role as if they had once saved "The Male and Female Thief".

Film reviews are difficult to quantify with box office numbers. The last two years. Maybe it’s really unique vision, or maybe it’s good luck. Roger Albert gave a thumbs up, such as "Terminator 2", "The Silent Lamb", "Brave to Death Island", "The Lion King" and other films. It's very popular, which can easily cause illusions-his film reviews have a directing role in the entire film market.

Even an industry leader like Roger Albert has the emotions of ordinary people, being proud, delusional, overestimating himself, and greedy.

The income of "The Lion King" has been firmly secured. Roger Albert has been waiting for the invitation of "Independence Day". If time counts, the trial screening should also be held. After all, it’s mid-June, and it’s only half a month since the film was released.

Of course he has seen the commercial and the two trailers released one after another. Without any suspense, Duke Rosenberg, as he expected, was unable to control his own desire for destruction, and finally embarked on a crooked road. Apart from the inferior sensationalism of the trailer, it would explode one after another. If the whole film is This rhythm is definitely a bad film!

If he wants him to say good things about such a bad movie, the other party must pay a sufficient price!

"Received several invitations."

Putting down the tea cup, Holt understood what Albert meant and said directly, "There is no invitation for "Independence Day."

"I remember their preview will be held soon, right?" Albert's eyebrows hidden behind his glasses slowly frowned.

"acquired."

Hearing what the agent said, Roger Albert flicked his fingers on the table, "They didn't invite me?"

"No." Holt shook his head. "Warner Bros. and Twentieth Century Fox did not invite any critics!"

"What?" Roger Albert looked up at the agent.

Holt said very confirmingly, “The producer has invited fans, the media and the cinema, but has not invited any professional film critics to participate.”

Roger Albert's face gradually became serious, "What do they want to do?"

Since the 1960s and 1970s, film critics have reached a tacit agreement with Hollywood film companies. As long as the film is being screened, professional film critics are an indispensable link. This kind of non-regular rules has also fundamentally reversed film reviews. The dilemma of low income.

Although over the years, there have been frequent box-office losses that have been favored by film critics, and films that have been vilified by film critics but super-sellers like "Star Wars" have appeared, but the situation in which film critics can profoundly influence the film industry has not changed. Most of the time, film critics are the objects that movie stars, directors and production companies need to please.

Until now, professional film critics and the film industry can be said to be inseparable.

At least, from Roger Albert's point of view, this is indeed the case. In the past, present and future, professional film critics will have a profound impact on the entire film industry.

Picking up the teacup and slowly tasting the black tea, Roger Albert was lost in thought. If he was just not invited to participate, it is normal. Now he has not invited any film critics. Could it be that Warner Bros. and Twenty Century Fox’s publicity budget is insufficient?

This is certainly not the case. The publicity of this film is so strong that funding will not be a problem.

Although unable to think of the reason why Warner Bros. and Twentieth Century Fox did this, Roger Albert suddenly discovered another problem after thinking about it for a few minutes, which may affect the entire film critics.

If there are no film critics to play a role in it, "Independence Day" can be a big hit when it is released, then how will the whole Hollywood view the film critics? Will it affect the position and income of film critics in commercial blockbusters in the future?

Suddenly, Roger Albert discovered that this matter not only concerns himself, but may even concern the interests of the entire film critic industry.

Touching interests are like cutting meat from people. Duke’s propaganda suggestions that are more in line with the actual situation may touch the interests of the film critics industry.

But he doesn't care. As long as he can drive the film's income and bring his own benefits, it is not a big deal to stand up and confront the film critics.

The most influential place for film critics is the awards season, especially the academic awards represented by Oscars. For Duke, who first positioned himself as a commercial director, the awards are of course good, and they will not be too deliberately pursued. .

In the history of Hollywood, there are so many directors who have won the best director statuette, how many are more influential than Hitchcock, who has never won? The reputation left is stronger?

Of course he wants to take the Oscar statuette, but he will not deliberately greet him, let alone make a special award-winning film.

Of course, "Independence Day" will not be used to promote the film, and the theaters will not take it so seriously. Sending the chief filming team of their respective companies at today's preview will only have this kind of big investment. Large-scale productions and movies that may have a huge box office are the most popular types for theaters.

Sitting in the front row of the theater, Duke was in a calm mood. He was far less nervous than in the first two screenings. Behind him were representatives of the theaters. When he first entered the theater, these people looked at him as if they were watching. The green dollar bills have been sold in two consecutive summer files. As the cinema chain closest to the market, he obviously has a certain degree of confidence in him.

Just as Duke was thinking about this, Sophia Coppola walked in from outside, searched for a moment, and came and sat next to him.

"Just got a piece of data." She whispered to Duke.

"It's about us?" Duke turned his head to look at her, Sophia nodded, "The news of the competitor, "Interview with the Vampire" is basically down from the world, the global box office is 221.57 million US dollars."

"Not bad." Duke laughed, "Profit shouldn't be a problem, presumably CAA still has the opportunity to package and produce on commercial masterpieces. Tom Cruise's appeal is still amazing."

"It's fine if you understand." Sophia's legs crossed, "Even if Michael Ovitz leaves this year, Caa is still a behemoth."

Caa will only grow bigger. Duke knows this. Even if Caa’s packaging service fails in commercial production, it continues to attract new stars to invest in it. In the future, it will occupy half or more of the Hollywood actor market. Tom Cruise, who discredited each other, was defeated in the market competition, but the road to superstars showed no signs of delay.

"And..." Sophia said again, "I just got news from Warner that "The Shawshank's Redemption", which was released a week later than us, received a super high score of 9.8 in the critics' special last year."

She looked at Duke, "I know you don’t pay much attention to film critics, thinking that their influence in summer vacation is very low, but don’t forget that people who can stand at the top of the film critic industry have gone through decades of hard work. , There are many supporters in itself, it is hard to say that their high scores will not bring a sensational effect to "Shawshank's Redemption", which will have an impact on our second weekend box office."

"Don't worry, Sophia." Duke was still indifferent. "Instead of worrying about "Shawshank's Redemption", it is better to worry about whether the residual heat of "The Lion King" and "Forrest Gump" will affect us."

"The Shawshank Redemption"? Even if God is here, there is no way to redeem this film in the theater.

Seeing that Duke didn't care at all, Sophia didn't say anything any more, and her energy shifted to the big screen that was gradually lit up. (To be continued...)

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