Chapter 244 Las Vegas Expo

The Western Film Expo in Las Vegas, held once a year at the Bellagio Hotel. Named The West, it's actually America's largest domestic movie order fair.

The fountain in front of the hotel's gate is very famous, and many tourists make a special trip to take photos here.

The promotion meeting of "Top Gun" was held on the second night of the opening. At the on-site promotion meeting, Tom Cruise, and Val Kilmer, the three biggest stars of Kelly McGillis, all appeared on the podium.

But they are not facing enthusiastic movie fans, but hundreds of movie theater buyers across the country who come to order.

Although Ronald is already well-known in the industry, for these film buyers, it is the actor who is more attractive.

This is not only because the audience likes to watch stars star in movies, but they can also take the opportunity to take photos with the stars for autographs, which are good gifts to bring home to the children.

"You're also from the Paramount crew? How about this movie? I heard it's a fighter jet. I've seen Clint Eastwood's 'Firefox' the year before, and air combat is always boring. "

A very young buyer, chewing gum, mused to Ronald sitting in the auditorium.

"Let me tell you a secret, this movie looks like an aerial battle, but it's actually a hot-blooded sports competition movie. It's very good."

"Oh yeah? How did you know that?" The young buyer looked at him in amazement. Usually, the actual content of such movies is not in line with the propaganda. The one who knows the truth is a high-level executive from Paramount. Tube relatives?

"Thomas, Thomas Stephenson," the buyer reached out and shook his hand.

"My name is Ronald, are you a buyer of the theater at such a young age?" Watching the 30-40-year-old who started off the stage, and there were also more than 50 employees, Ronald was very impressed with this seemingly 20-year-old man. Young people in their early years are also curious.

"My dad runs a movie theater. I grew up selling tickets at the box office and cleaning the movie theater. Hey, man, that's the worst job ever."

No wonder it turned out to be a family business. Ronald understood.

Stephenson was a familiar one, and soon had a good time chatting with Ronald.

He told Ronald about his situation. He is now the buyer of Dad's chain of theaters. The father and son own less than ten movie theaters in New Jersey. They also represent other movie theater owners in Las Vegas. Watching movies at the Vegas show is a big buyer.

"Next, I invite Ronald Lee, the director of this film, to answer questions."

"I have to go up."

Ronald and Stephenson greeted each other, took the stage, and began answering questions from buyers. For example, how many aerial combat scenes are there, how long the movie is expected to be, and whether there are any love scenes between the male and female protagonists.

"Ah...I remembered." Stephenson suddenly called out when he saw Ronald. Isn't this the first two movies that have been showing for seven or eight months in the latest multiplex theater that he owns at home? The director of "Long Wei Kid", and "Break Dance"?

When I came here, my father, Thomas, specially told his son that such a director must keep an eye on him to see what films he will make this year. Many directors will have a period of time when their skills are smooth. During that time, no matter what the auction is, they sell well, and the audience just loves to see their works.

I just didn't expect to be so young, it seems to be about the same age as myself.

"Hey Ronald, I didn't expect you to be able to direct a Paramount hit at such a young age. I didn't recognize you just now because I didn't know you were so young. Can I invite you over for a beer and chat? ?"

Little Stephenson took the initiative, wanting to know more about the inside story of the movie.

"No problem, we'll have time to chat together at night when I'm over here." Ronald also wanted to chat with these grassroots practitioners, who are a group of practitioners in the film industry who are closest to the audience.

"How is your business? Now that the movie box office is booming again,

Should be profitable, right? "

In the evening, Ronald came out to meet with Stephenson Jr., and the two found a bar, drank beer and chatted.

Although Paramount spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to build marketing materials for the exhibition, specially edited the preview trailer, and invited three stars to join in, most of the actual release signings were resolved in private chats in bars and cafes.

"Actually, our profit margin is very low. The gross profit will not exceed 10% from the ticket revenue of the screening alone."

"Indeed, before film and television became commonplace, there were literally two markets." Ronald believes the number, which matches his previous settlement with Atlantic. Many movie theaters will default on their box office revenue for one year, and they will spend a year to renovate the movie theater, and they will grab a little interest.

"You're so right, you're the only one I've dealt with in so many studios, directors and actors who understand our business. They always think we're making a lot of money and deducting their profits. We rely on the box office, and if you buy the wrong one or two movies that don’t sell well in a year, it’s easy to do it for nothing.”

"Then do you have other ways to make money?" Ronald thought, no one would do anything for the love of movies.

"I like your movies very much. My dad said that as long as they are directed by you, we will sign distribution contracts unconditionally. Our six old-fashioned theaters and the latest multiplex will buy a total of eight copies. , plus my colleagues in the surrounding towns, I can buy fifteen copies here this time."

"Then I'll thank you." Ronald shook hands with him. Under the current distribution model, the country is divided into more than 1,000 "regions", each with a population ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands. In one region, a studio has an exclusive distribution deal with only one movie theater.

This drastically reduces the number of film copies required. Nationally, an average movie only needs about 1,000 copies to meet the needs of national distribution. Even the most popular sequel blockbuster only needs less than 1,500 copies to satisfy the national audience.

Expensive film copies are also a huge expense to distributors. Naturally, the less the better, so this mode of exclusive theatrical release has been retained to this day.

"In addition, I have a sequel to Longwei Kid, and there will be a press conference tomorrow. You can also come and see it."

"Are you directing the sequel? If it is you, then I will definitely buy it." Little Stephenson is very straightforward, and I am here for your name.

"I haven't agreed yet, but it is very likely that I will participate. Even if it is not my director, the story will develop according to my ideas." Ronald replied.

"Very good, I'll go to the platform to order." Little Stephenson gave him a high five again, "Last time, breakdance 2 was not directed by you, so it was almost a bad thing if I bought it. Fortunately, the trend of breakdance has not passed, it is considered a bad thing. No loss."

"There will be no problem with the sequel to Longwei Kid. Mr. Weintraub and I will bring the story to Ryukyu this time. It will definitely look good. You can still buy more than a dozen copies, and you will not lose money." Ronald Just in time to promote his work, he also wanted to see how the other party reacted.

"I will definitely buy it, but it's impossible to buy the same amount. My family only needs five or six copies of Longwei, and the others have to make long-distance calls to see what the old men mean."

"Oh, why? Aren't you optimistic about my sequel to Long Wei Kid?" Ronald was a little surprised. The buyer's confidence in Top Gun was obviously greater than that of Long Wei Kid sequel.

"No, it's actually our trade secret. Hi... But you're the director, you know what I said, it's okay to chat with you."

Little Stephenson took a sip of beer, "Originally, I didn't have that much confidence in Top Gun, but on the one hand it was directed by you... On the other hand, I read your brochures and edited clips, and I found that This movie is very suitable for fathers to take their children to see."

"Father take the child to see?" Ronald repeated. There is a lot of business wisdom in this short sentence.

"Yeah, we always like this kind of movie that the whole family can send out. The last time Spielberg's et, we saw that we bought too many copies. In addition to the full box office of the show, we can rent it to the industry to make more money. a sum.

This time your movie is suitable for fathers to take their children to watch. They buy coke and popcorn more generously than mothers. "

"There is really knowledge everywhere. It seems that this kind of action, sports, and competition-themed movies really attract audiences."

...

The next day, Ronald came to the "Longwei Kid 2" booth again and gave Weintraub a platform.

"You know, Ronald, this hotel used to have shares of Frank Sinatra, and he made a lot of money. Later, FBI targeted him and said he was involved in..., and he quit the stock. It was only after the commander-in-chief came to power that he completely escaped from the investigation."

"Forgiveness of the Grand Commander?" Ronald was talking about a privilege of the Grand Commander. He could forgive the crimes of anyone who committed a crime when he was in office.

"It's not that far. Sinatra is a star in Hollywood and the music world. It's not that easy for the fbi to move him. The commander awarded him a medal, and they automatically withdrew the investigation."

Because the heroine candidate for "Longwei Kid 2" has not yet been determined, and the actor Ralph Mazio is still filming, this time only Morita Noriyuki, who was nominated for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, and Ronald came to the platform.

"Why do you want this imported Mineral Water from the hair country? Just use our own Wrigley."

Weintraub was in a hurry to arrange the press conference by himself, which seemed to save a lot of money.

"Your big boss, can't you just tell your subordinates to do these things?" Ronald looked at him puzzled. Weintraub is not like Roger Coleman's business philosophy, he is also like a big production.

"Probably because I'm Jewish, I see this kind of small place, obviously it can save money, but I don't know why I'm talking about pomp, so I'm going to talk about it." Weintraub himself laughed.

"However, I may be running out of these things soon."

"What?" Ronald felt there was something in his words.

"I tell you quietly, you don't tell anyone else. The owner of MGM Studios and the owner of the MGM Hotel Group in Las Vegas, Kerkorian, has been talking to me for the past two days to restore 'Lianyi' ' brand, leave it to me to take care of it."

"Oh? Do you want to restore the configuration of the eight major studios?" Ronald raised his eyebrows. This is a major event. After United Art was acquired by MGM, the distribution channel was merged into MGM, but many experienced The old staff are still there. More importantly, United Arts is also a member of the mpaa agency in charge of grading, and a member of the Producers Association that negotiated with major trade unions.

Both of these institutions are established institutions with great power. Outsiders, like Minahan Golan, take a long time to squeeze in. In particular, mpaa is still dominated by the old eight, and their films tend to receive more relaxed rating standards. "

"Kerkorian hopes that United Artists will restore the tradition of artists making films. Ronald, no one is worried about a director like you who spends all his money on the screen.

After you finish making these two films, you can sign a long-term film contract with United Art. Then you can shoot whatever theme you want, whatever you want, and you can shoot whatever you want. If you want the actor to come, I will find it for you. How about it? "

"Very good terms, Mr. Weintraub. However, I have to discuss this kind of important matter with my agent first." Ronald remembered that Eisner, who was originally from Paramount, also told him this, but unfortunately he now Went to Disney, but still haven't sorted out the relationship. The so-called shoot whatever you want has become empty talk.

"Of course, when the dust settles on this matter, our Longwei Kid 2 will basically be finished, and we can talk slowly at that time."

Ronald thought it was a big deal, so he went back to his room and called his agent as soon as possible.

Nisita and Richard also heard rumors that Lianyi was going to return to the arena, but they didn't expect Kerkorian, a gambling tycoon, to choose Weintraub to run the game.

The three decided on the phone that they should wait until they return to Los Angeles to discuss the impact of this incident on the industry and whether to accept Weintraub's film contract.

In the evening, Ronald went downstairs again and started strolling in the Bellagio Hotel. Many movies that will be released in the second half of this year and next year will take the opportunity to promote it.

Paramount's "Star Trek Movie 4", Fox's "Alien 2", and Weintraub's "Longwei Kid 2" and other movie posters hang on both sides of the entrance avenue.

Many movies have not yet decided on the main creator, so they are just conceptual posters. For example, "Longwei Kid 2", there is only a big face of Mr. Miyagi played by Morita Noriyuki, and the following line is just the title of the film.

However, those buyers, with the help of this information, can make an inseparable judgment about the box office prospects of the movie, and thus sign an intentional contract first.

"What movie is this?" Ronald saw a poster for the mid-sized producer Orion, featuring only a soldier in military uniform, with his back to the audience, and a helmet occupying the center of the frame.

"Field Platoon ()", Ronald stood on their platform for a while, picking up the pamphlet and looking at it.

"It turned out to be the work of Oliver Stone," Ronald knew that the director who once wrote Conan the Barbarian was now directing and acting.

"Nobody has made a Vietnam War movie in the past two years," Ronald muttered softly. However, Oliver Stone has never followed suit, and he may make a good work. He didn't miss much.

"Cannon, cannon, ninja, breakdance, karate."

Two young dancers, dressed as bunny girls, danced and gave out an introduction to Cannonball to passersby.

"Meinahan," Ronald went up and called his old friend.

This Israeli still likes this kind of vulgar but effective propaganda tactics, making it look like a big one.

"Ronald!" Minahan rushed over and hugged him fiercely.

"How's the runaway train going?"

"Hey, Konchalovsky is so slow, if only he could be as fast as you." Minahan waved his hand and said regretfully, "It won't be released until the end of the year, only in time for next year's film festival. already."

"But we also have a lot of new films," Minahan shoved several posters into his hands,

"This is America's Ninja, this is Invasion of the USA, The Adventures of Hercules, this is Vietnam Vanguard, remember? Chuck Norris."

"It's that imitation..." Ronald laughed, isn't this the copycat version of Stallone's "First Blood 2" filmed by Meinahan.

"It's him, quack. We'll probably be out before his movie."

－－－－－－off topic－－－－－

Today's video conference is delayed, and there is another chapter to make up tomorrow.

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