"Is this how you dance?"
"It seems like this, it's always wrong, hey."
After the preview, many of the selected college students began to imitate break dancing in the front hall of the cinema.
Many spectators were trying to do the moonwalk, but no one could figure out why it looked like they were stepping forward, but when they jumped out, they were going backwards.
"Hip pop is so tense and exciting,
That pretty girl dances well. "
Several audience members who had watched the preview chanted Ice T's impromptu rap lyrics and started discussing it while queuing up at the bathroom door.
"Hey, at the Motown concert in the first half of the year, did MJ dance like this?"
"Indeed, but when I saw Motor in the movie, he danced more gracefully than MJ."
"It's a pity that MJ didn't dance in the movie, otherwise we could have watched him compete with Motor."
"What, where is MJ in the movie?" An audience member just walked out of the bathroom and was confused after hearing their conversation.
"Didn't you watch the ending? The one who came to dance with them in the street, isn't it MJ?"
"That's right, he said it very well. Breakdancing is a street art."
"I...I came out early to use the bathroom. I was afraid the queue would be too long."
"Then you're miserable. The last part was so exciting."
"Really? When can this movie be shown again?"
"This is a test screening, idiot. You'd better wait until it's officially released."
Seeing the hall full of lively discussions and the audience trying to figure out how to do the moonwalk, Ronald was overjoyed, "It's no problem now. This is the first time I've encountered such an enthusiastic response since I became a director. "
Minahan stood next to him, also very excited. Never seen a cannon movie so popular. Maybe the movie "Lemonade" that I filmed in Israel for five years may have reached this level in Israel.
But this is America! Dozens of times the market capacity of Israel.
The highly anticipated remake of "Lemonade" "America's Last Virgin" failed at the box office in the North American market. If it succeeds this time, how much money can it make?
Minahan turned around and looked at the distribution representative sent by MGM. He had jumped to the only pay phone in the cinema and was calling the company:
"Yes, I promise, it's a good movie. Cannon has never made such a good movie. I don't care if their other movies are trash, this one will do. Besides the plot and the choreography, this movie is awesome Just guessed the popular craze breakdancing.
...Yes, it's the one that Orion invested 9 million in... Yes, it's called Hot Street Boys... This is not a problem, no matter whether their movie is better or not, the key is that this break dance can be sent to MPAA rating immediately .
Yes, I think we can release it first and catch them off guard... No, listen to me, I don't know how they did it. They even invited MJ to make a cameo. Which other MJ... Okay, I'll let him take it. Make a copy. "
After the MGM distribution representative made the call, he came back and said to Minahan, "My boss asked you to take the copy to MGM headquarters for a screening. I can't convince them right away with words, but I think your movie can do arrive."
"Hahaha, then it's settled." Minahan shook hands with him solemnly to confirm.
With the good news, Minahan began to think about it.
Should MGM release such a good movie? Wouldn't it be possible to make more money if Cannon published it itself?
"Do you think our Cannon's distribution department can handle the distribution of Breakdancing now?" Minahan asked his cousin Yoram who was riding in the car after the preview as he returned to the office.
"No, even if Cannon has this ability, it has to be released by MGM."
Yoram disagrees. Movies like "Break Dance" don't have celebrities starring in them, so they rely entirely on distribution channels for promotion.
The most important thing is to attract enough viewers to the set in the first week of release. The distribution department of Cannon has just been established, has not been run-in on projects, and has no familiar theater channels.
On your own, you will never be able to get it to more than a thousand theaters. The final box office performance of the movie depends on the scale of the opening weekend and the audience's reputation.
MGM is a company with distribution capabilities. Although they have to take away a large piece of meat, compared with the large number of theaters showing it, the skilled marketing methods are still very worthwhile.
Gu Ling
"Although MGM doesn't make many movies anymore, they are still a board member of the MPAA. If they come forward to do the rating, they will pass the rating as quickly as possible. You forgot, Orion has a movie with a similar theme in preparation. "
"You are right, we still want MGM to distribute. This can also save our precarious cooperation with them. I am just a little unwilling to do so. Obviously this is a good opportunity and it is possible to build our own distribution team. Yes." Minahan shook his head with regret.
Yoram touched his chin and said, "Actually, we can sign a joint distribution agreement with them. In this case, in the first two months... I think this Break Dance will definitely be able to stay for more time. In the first two months, the film will When the share is high, let them occupy it, and we can release it simultaneously and put the film in second-tier theaters, rural theaters, and old theaters in big cities."
"Okay." Minahan nodded, "Any other ideas?"
Yoram got excited, "I also have an idea. If the top executives at MGM really do what the people in the distribution department said after seeing the movie, we can bundle a movie with them."
"Keep talking."
"Aren't they refusing to release Brooke Shields' 'Sahara' in America? We decided to bundle the two films together, and we could only buy them together, or not have them together."
"Hey, you boy, I like this idea." Minahan happily patted Yoram's shoulder several times.
Yoram's main responsibility at Cannon is distribution. He also grinned. Being able to distribute Brooke Shields' movie can be regarded as solving a big problem.
"Actually, I also have an idea," Minahan's eyes flashed, "We can start preparing for the sequel."
"This is what I want to say. Our company, Cannon, is originally a company that makes money from sequels. It's not about buying sequels from other companies, such as the sequel to 'Die Hard' starring Chuck Bronson. It's our own production of 'Die Hard' Fight' sequel has brought huge profits to our European business. Since MGM likes break dancing so much, I suggest starting filming as soon as possible."
"No, we are going to start planning Breakdancing 2 now." Minahan waved his hand, "The breakdancing trend is coming very fast, but we don't know when it will subside. We have to launch the sequel in the shortest possible time."
"What are you going to do?"
"First find the leading actors. All the leading actors sign a film contract quickly. Before they become famous and too expensive for release," Minahan said. "And the screenwriters. Find the screenwriters. Based on the first film, Write the story of Motor, Tornado, and Kelly as they continue their dance careers."
"You don't want Ronald to continue directing?" Yoram asked.
"I know him. This movie is just a casual work of his. It didn't take much effort. He directed it while lying down. The movie he made in Colombia is his masterpiece. If these two movies If everything is a hit, he will definitely become the target of big studios, and we will no longer be able to ask him to direct such low-budget exploitation films.
I'd love to work with him again, he's a guy you can't get around. Although there is no credit as the screenwriter of Break Dance, he did most of the script adaptation work, and these adaptations played the most critical role in the success of the film. The union will recognize his achievements, so the sequel must obtain his consent. "
Minahan couldn't help but hit his big head twice with his fist, "I'm so stupid. I should have signed one more film contract with him at that time. Now we can only find him when we raise the funds to make another big production." He cooperates."
A few days later, the MGM screening room burst into applause. The head of their distribution department and the company's vice president all stood up to pay tribute to Minahan.
Just like the previous test screenings, the invited test screening audiences went completely crazy after watching the movie. They went directly to MGM investigators and asked them when it would be released. They must watch it again with their friends.
Although MGM was dissatisfied with the conditions of the bundle, in view of the average audience rating of A-, it pinched its nose and signed a distribution agreement for "Sahara", responsible for the first-round distribution of the two films in America.
The second round of distribution, as well as the distribution of some remote theaters, is left to Cannon Pictures itself.
"Mazel tov (congratulations), the next thing is to quickly submit it for review and get a PG rating." The vice president of MGM took the initiative to raise his glass and greeted the film with a Jewish toast.
"Then wish us a fortune!" Minahan celebrated with champagne for the first time with the top executives of the seven major companies, "Hahaha!"
"By the way, you guys made a wise choice in hiring Ronald Lee to direct. He is particularly good at making exploitation films. Are your sequels ready? Don't be surprised... Who in Hollywood doesn't know that you cannons are the king of sequels? ?”
"We have this plan to add an advertisement at the end of the copy, Breakdance 2 - Electronic Boogaloo, which will be released soon, so stay tuned."
"Electronic Boogaloo?" MGM's vice president laughed, "It's a good name, it's catchy."
"Yes, it just so happens that we also plan to let Boogaloo Prawn play the leading role in the sequel. He is now MJ's choreographer. By the time the sequel is released, he should be the most popular among the three leading actors."
"That's right, his moonwalk is the best dance sequence in this movie." The vice president of MGM raised his glass. "Do you still want Ronald as director? If it were him, we would be willing to book a distribution contract immediately. "
"Hahaha, he is currently busy in the post-production of another film in Colombia, and we are also talking to him."
Minahan happily raised his glass and said, "l'chaim! (I'm lucky to be alive)."
Minahan sent the copy for review and then began preparing and coordinating the release, as well as filming the sequel.
Several leading actors have successfully signed on, and the screenwriting team has been found, but Ronald is very busy and has no time to discuss the filming of the sequel with him.
Because it happened that Ronald's vacation was coming, and he had already gone back to edit "The Dragon King".
multiple copies
