Chapter 97： Virus source

The re-edited "Blair the Witch" has just been released in the drawing room of Embassy Pictures.

Garcia rubbed his eyes again, watching this kind of film is simply a sin.

Terry and Thomas beside 　　 were not much better, they closed their eyes and slowly adjusted their emotions.

Robert was a little better, and quickly got up and opened the curtains. David Villa, the propaganda director behind him, seemed to have the urge to vomit.

"This is the final edited version." Ronan stood up and walked to the front, facing everyone, "The effect is much better than last time."

Several other people have participated in the last meeting. Knowing Ronan's plan, they can't help but nod slightly. The film has fewer loopholes than the previous version.

Ronan looked at a few people, and asked, "Robert, how is it with you?"

Robert looked down at his notebook and said: "I signed a contract with all the cast and crew in the film, including extras who played small town residents, with confidentiality clauses, but each paid an extra $3,000. These people are right. We are satisfied with our generosity and will cooperate with our publicity and marketing plan."

Money and fame are the most moving rewards in this industry.

"Also, the director Daniel Malick set up a website for this film last year. The website has a lot of information about witches he collected." Robert continued, "I gave him another three thousand dollars, and he directly paid The website was transferred to us."

Ronan came interested: "Does anyone follow the website?"

Robert directly shook his head: "This website was established last year, and now it has only a few hundred visits. It is a simple website."

Ronan thought for a while, and said to the publicity director: "David, you take over this website and merge the parts you prepared earlier into the website, and the rest proceed as planned."

Robert answered, "The witch information I collected has been given to David."

David Villa said at this time: "The information is very detailed, which is conducive to our publicity."

"Very good." Ronan turned to ask, "Garcia, where is your side?"

Garcia replied: "I have communicated with dozens of independent theaters that I often cooperate with. The screening will not be a problem at that time, but the chain theaters are not very smooth. Our sales staff are still communicating. The attitude of the top five theaters in North America They are all very determined, and we have to try it before considering it."

The purpose of the establishment of the theater is to make a commercial profit. For small productions like this kind of three nos, unless the theater sees that there is a real selling point, it will not easily invest resources.

Ronan understood this and said, "You continue to communicate with the commercial chain theaters. The trial will be okay, not now. We have to wait for the promotion and marketing plan to see the effect, otherwise the film alone will not be convincing."

Such a film, without the rhythm of promotion and marketing, it would be a strange thing for those commercial chain theaters to spend a lot of resources to show it.

Garcia answered: "I suggest it be placed half a month before the release."

"Okay." Ronan responded, "Just do what you said, and then you will be responsible for inviting film experts from the theater."

Garcia nodded: "No problem."

Ronan raised his voice: "The Internet is the key to the publicity of this project. The plan made last time can be further improved if you have new ideas."

"I think we should test the social response first." David Villa is relatively cautious: "If the response is not good, we should stop losses in time."

No one can guarantee that a movie will be successful, and this is a plan that has never been done before.

David Villa raised his voice slightly: "I have made a budget to achieve the ideal publicity effect. The investment in publicity alone will not be less than 8 million US dollars, or even more than 10 million US dollars."

Despite the memory of his previous life, Ronan knows that he can't make a desperate move: "David, let's advance the first part of the propaganda plan for now. If no one pays attention, there is no time to turn around."

The cost of this film seems to be very low, but if you really want to get a high box office, you need a huge investment.

Not to mention anything else, the cost of transporting a movie copy to the theater, including printing, insurance, and transportation, costs an average of US$1,500.

The theaters of commercial chain theaters are mostly multi-screen theaters, and they need to be distributed on a large scale. How can they have 3000 copies.

This is 4.5 million dollars.

If it hadn't been for buying out the copyright, Ronan would have invested heavily in such a film if he was crazy.

In today's communication context, if a movie is to be successfully distributed and screened, it must be marketed and promoted in the most reasonable way, with the help of various media.

As a person who has experienced the Internet wave, Ronan is very clear that the cross-media phenomenon of film and the Internet will re-establish the marketing form of film.

This is a crazy plan, and it is also a great risk, tens of millions of dollars in funds, it is impossible to drop it casually.

Ronan also needs to look at the social response, not just fooling around.

"What about the schedule?" He asked Garcia: "Which time period do you think is the most appropriate?"

Garcia had already planned: "This project should not be delayed for too long, it will affect the promotion and distribution of "Reaper is coming", so I think the summer vacation is the most appropriate."

Ronan frowned: "The summer competition is very fierce."

"In mid-to-late July." Garcia said: "In this time period, the hot summer movies have basically been released for a long time. We are not using the traditional propaganda model and are less affected by the schedule."

Ronan pondered for a moment and said, "Yes. Garcia, I have asked someone to cut a short documentary with a long shot. You can find someone to add the website address, and send them to the Discovery Channel together with the missing persons notices of three college students. If the Discovery Channel refuses to broadcast, we will find another TV station."

He then turned to the director of publicity: "David, before Garcia, you have to get things done on the website. The website has to provide a lot of historical data, witness evidence, and diary records about Blair the witch; Kind of news reports and related items; continue to publish handwritten notes, life photos and family information of the missing before the disappearance...Well, Robert, you have dealt with those actors, and you assisted David in making interview records of the missing relatives and friends. "

David Villa nodded.

Robert replied: "No problem Ronan further emphasized: "The most important point, whether it is a documentary for Discovery Channel or on the website, you must mention the video tape that was discovered by accident. It is said that the video tape is being repaired and will be released soon. "

These are not difficult to do.

David Villa added at this time: "I suggest that you don't do it offline. The advertising costs of newspapers, periodicals and video chain stores are high."

Ronan agreed: "Okay, now it's mainly on the Internet. David, find someone to post on the most popular websites and forums."

He added: "If it can arouse a certain response, we will increase our promotion efforts. Especially offline, contact the printing factory, and if the plan goes well, we have published missing articles in major weekly magazines, magazines and video stores in the past few months. People’s missing persons notices, various news reports of missing persons, as well as handwritten notes and photos of missing persons are distributed on the streets."

This is not just an Internet marketing, Ronan will not ignore the role of traditional media channels, and will promote both online and offline.

Then, Ronan focused on the David Villa and Robert website, which was the source of the virus.

"This website is very important." Ronan emphasized: "It is necessary to allow people to enter a mysterious world of witchcraft by obtaining various materials and evidence on the website, and immediately act as an agent and continue to play an active role. , Spread to the periphery."

Ronan knows very well that as long as this plan allows most of the people who are concerned to become a source of virus spreading outwards, it is very close to success.

"That's right, Robert." Ronan said: "For the time being, we can gather the main creators, we can provide them with a fee to send them to Africa, so as not to let the media dig it out."