Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 335 Roger Coleman is only willing to invest 50
Several major studios were not interested in new scripts, and Ronald thought of former boss Roger Corman.He got rid of his agent, called Roger secretly, and asked him to talk about the "Night of the Comet" project.

"Congratulations, Ronald. With a box office of 4000 million, it will definitely be among the top [-] in North America this year." Roger Coleman warmly embraced Ronald in the office.

"How much did your production cost?"

"360 million, some of which are the cost of placing advertisements."

"Implantation, is that the shoe?"

"Yes, there is also the All-American Burger." Ronald took out several Vans canvas shoe coupons and handed them to Roger Coleman. "This is a gift for the children. I don't know their shoe size. Based on this You can exchange for the style you like.”

"Oh, thanks. Last time Julie said she couldn't get shoes like that."

The two chatted about something "fast paced" before Ronald pulled out the script and handed it to Coleman.

"This is a new script I wrote. I remember the last time we met, I said that I would make a movie for the new world. You can read the script."

"Oh, there's another new work? Science fiction?"

Roger Corman saw the title "Night of the Comet" on the cover and blurted it out.

"Well, there are some science fiction backgrounds. The story is that the valley girl used the military knowledge taught by her father and learned some knowledge from watching TV to defeat the mutated zombies and lead the survivors after the catastrophe."

Ronald touched his ears, it seemed that it was really necessary to consider Tanin's suggestion and change the title of the film to "Comets, Maidens, and Zombies".Even Coleman blurted out that it was a sci-fi film, and such a title might be bad.

The title of a movie is a very important marketing tool, it can attract viewers who are interested in seeing the title.But the name Night of the Comet is clearly a sci-fi film. Don't attract a group of science documentary lovers instead of the teenagers you want to attract.

Roger Coleman read it quickly, he closed the script, and then said, "This movie is suitable for an investment of about 50. If you are willing to let New World invest, you need to change the script and delete the big scenes. , adapt to this investment.”

"why?"

Ronald did not expect that Coleman would only invest 50 yuan.

"Who are you looking for to play the hero and heroine?" Coleman asked again.

"I didn't think about it, let's choose the role normally."

"In this case, if there are no stars, the TV station will not buy it. We have no pre-sale funds, so we have to rely entirely on theatrical distribution. But if the investment of this kind of sci-fi film is less than 1000 million, it is impossible for the mainstream theaters to sign a contract to buy it."

"We don't need such a high investment at all, right? An investment of two to three million yuan can save a little money, and you can also shoot scenes such as explosions. 300 yuan is too little."

"Ronald, you are a very good director, but you don't know enough about production and distribution. You have known me for a long time, do you know why I never make high-budget blockbusters?" Roger Corman asked road.

Isn't it you picking it?Ronald complained secretly in his heart.

"I don't know, maybe you're more cautious, Roger."

"What do you think movie distribution is?" Coleman asked another unrelated question.

"Just find a movie theater to show your movie."

"Yes and no." Coleman adjusted his glasses, like a college teacher, and began to talk, giving Ronald a lesson in American film distribution.

"I say yes, because that's what distribution is all about. Find cinemas that are willing to show the movie, and then charge a rental fee for the copy, or, like the way that has emerged in the past few years, divide it according to the box office.

It is not because theaters are willing to pay different distribution costs for films of different production scales.They consider whether to show your film, not entirely from the quality of the film itself.

If it is a small production of 50 million yuan, the general theater chain will simply release it in a slot, and find an opportunity to show it during the year's schedule.The rent of copies of these films is low, and when the box office of the originally expected film is not good, or when the copy of the blockbuster film has not yet been released, it is used to show it.

However, for major productions by major studios, the schedule is usually set in advance at the Las Vegas distribution meeting in April last year, and buyers from theaters will bid for them.

So for this kind of sci-fi film, when the theater buyers sign the agreement, the film has not yet been edited. In many cases, there is only one star, and the filming has not yet started, and sometimes the script has not been finalized. "

Ronald listened carefully, and Coleman came to teach him again after a long time.

"After Lucas's Star Wars and Spielberg's Jaws, science fiction films are no longer the era when I was a director, and the audience loved watching them with some blue lasers.

Audiences have seen lightsabers and TIE fighter battles on the screen, and scary sharks in the sea. They are not satisfied with the cheap sci-fi films I made before and shown in drive-in theaters, so if they want to distribute them nationwide, Big investment is required.

But if there are no celebrities to help out, how can theater buyers be willing to pay the best schedule and advance payment? ...Ronald, I'm not saying you're not good enough to make a big blockbuster, but your name hasn't reached the point where it's guaranteed box office with the studio.

If you can find most of the investment, I am willing to help you produce and distribute, prepare this year, shoot next year, and release the year after.If not, then we have to take a step back and make this movie well within a budget of 50.Take the path of simple distribution, and it will be released next year. "

"Thank you, Roger. I see."

Ronald listened carefully to what Coleman said, and he kind of understood why the seven major studios were not so interested in their scripts.

Unlike small productions like Coleman, you can get advance payments from movie theaters, TV stations, etc.Large-scale productions must be financed and shot, and then within the time of release, the cost will be recovered by the share of the theaters.

This kind of gamble is a huge risk, and the average number of TV sets in America is now close to one per family.If the audience can't see something in the movie theater that they can't see on TV, it will be difficult to make up for the box office.

The seven major studios are known as the seven major studios, but in fact, the number of films they invest in and shoot may not be as many as Coleman makes each year.

Every movie needs star actors and directors. On the one hand, it is for financing, and on the other hand, it is also because the theaters only believe that the movies they make are good-looking and can attract audiences to come out of their homes and drive to the cinema to watch them.

The blockbuster movies of the past two years are either Superman or Star Wars, which cost tens of millions of dollars. The audience knows that they can see some interesting things, such as space wars, Superman flying into the sky, and so on.

Either it is a relatively medium-sized production, with stars participating, winning by plot and touching emotions, such as the best picture Oscar in the past two years, "Kramer", "Ordinary People", and "Golden Pond" all belong to the This kind of family drama.

And this sci-fi film of mine just falls into the category of neither top nor bottom.For a large investment, his own name does not have such a strong appeal.

With a small investment, mainstream theaters cannot attract audiences with simple special effects.

In addition to being made into a low-cost film like Coleman, it was shown in some second-round theaters and old theaters.There are only two ways to keep looking for producers to promote and try your luck, or to find big-name stars willing to act.

And a big star means a big investment, so instead of taking risks on Ronald, the studio might as well ask him to make some youthful comedies that have been proven by the market as insurance.

Ronald would not continue to sell Coleman, it was mission impossible.Coleman, who has been picking for half his life, cannot bet on himself just because of the success of one of his exploitation films.

"Then how should I reduce the scene to suit your small investment?"

Ronald simply explored the possibility of making the film a small-budget exploitation flick as a backup option.

"First of all, your big explosion scene, you have to cut it down, or don't shoot it at all, and let the characters relay it."

Ronald took out his notebook and began to take shorthand notes.

"Then there are some special effects scenes, you have to find a cheap solution. For example, an empty city, you have to reduce the scale of the scene, don't shoot the city, shoot an empty school, so that you can use it during the holidays."

"And those zombie special effects, you have to find a particularly good special effects model and special effects makeup."

"It's cheap, isn't that Jim?" Ronald laughed, "Is he still working for you?"

"No, he poached my best special assistant away, and now Gail is working as a producer for him and is promoting his script. I just found me two days ago, and I also listened to some reasoning."

"Hahaha", Ronald didn't expect that he was not the first student to listen to Coleman's distribution class.

"Speaking of it, you are a bit similar. His script is also a sci-fi theme."

"The story of the metal robot?" Ronald thought of those metal robots that Jim had drawn in Italy.

"Yes, it's a robot. A robot from the future fights against humans. His imagination is as wild as yours."

"Hahaha." Ronald smiled happily. In fact, Coleman is also a director with a wild imagination, and he often makes movies with a lot of imagination.

This time I didn't make an appointment with Jim and Gale, and I was focused on selling to the big studios.Looks like it's time to chat with old friends.

(End of this chapter)