In the Burbank Theater, hundreds of representatives from the media, theater managers and ordinary movie fans enjoyed the screening of "Wanted" on the screen.
This is a preview version, but no opening or ending credits have been added yet.
In the private room on the second floor, Louise Meyer, who had returned from an overseas vacation, was a little nervous.
Pacific Pictures, like Gray Pictures, poured all the profits from "The Hills Have Eyes" into this film.
Louise couldn't bear another tragedy similar to "Alexander the Great".
Martin was sitting on the sofa chair and saw her moving back and forth and said, "My dear, you are making me dizzy."
Louise straightened her lady's suit and pushed up her black-rimmed glasses: "If this one is screwed up, I will go to South Korea and Japan to invest."
Martin said casually: "Isn't the purpose of fattening pigs to kill them for meat?"
As gunshots rang out in the theater, the screen focused on the male protagonist Martin, and the test screening ended.
The audience's seats in the back seven or eight rows were the first to burst into extremely warm applause.
Many people even shouted: "Cool!"
The best thing about this movie is that the action scenes are cool enough.
The theater managers also applauded. This film has a strong commercial flavor and is cool enough to meet the public's taste.
This is the movie they like, and they won’t lose money by arranging it on a large scale.
In contrast, the reaction from media reporters and film critics was slightly muted.
Todd McCarthy of "The Hollywood Reporter" frowned slightly: "Martin is obviously very talented, so why did he star in another movie that focuses on being cool and handsome?"
"Actually, he played pretty well."
Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times had a different view: "It shows the transformation process of the male protagonist from a loser to an avenger. The performance can be scored 65 points."
Todd McCarthy nodded: "Much better than Angelina Jolie. Jolie... ugh, it's hard to be an actor with peace of mind."
Kenneth remembered what Martin had said: "Actors have to make a living. Business and art are not completely in conflict. Martin's next film will be Scorsese's "The Departed." I asked specifically about Scorsese's and Nicholson rated him extremely highly.”
McCarthy said: "This shows that he is still a young actor with artistic pursuits."
After the preview screening, general audience members returned the questionnaires and were the first to leave.
The media reporters and critics then entered the adjacent lounge, and the crew gave them a gift.
Martin joined the crew and creative staff to see these people off.
Various statistics were compiled as quickly as possible, and half an hour later, Daniel, Louise, Martin and director Leterrier gathered together in the theater's office.
Louise urged: "There are no outsiders, let's get started."
Daniel, the representative of the publisher, picked up the statistics of the trial audience: "The average audience score is A."
Martin nodded: "A good start."
Daniel picked up a second copy: "The theater managers give it an average A+ rating!"
Louise laughed immediately: "It seems that our film schedule will not be bad. 3,000 theaters will not be a problem, right?"
"Although it is R-rated, based on today's test screening reviews from theater managers, I can guarantee that there will be 3,300 theaters." Daniel is very confident: "A+ shows that the business managers who are truly on the front line of the film market are very optimistic about Wanted. prospect!"
Louise asked: "Where are the critics and the media?"
Daniel took a look and said: "It's not bad, there are mostly positive and neutral reviews, and there are few negative reviews."
Martin also held the title of executive producer and had a say in many matters. He asked, "Can we do word-of-mouth marketing?"
"Of course!" Daniel said, "Start today."
A film's good reputation is related to its quality, but its operation is also key.
The best so-and-so movie can be said to be a masterpiece.
Louise breathed a sigh of relief, and when walking out, she came to Martin: "Will you come to my house tonight?"
Martin originally wanted to take a break from work tonight and give himself a holiday. Is this going to lead to another round of war?
He had a headache and said, "Don't worry about it at night. Let's go now."
Louis was unambiguous: "Let's get in the car."
Martin looked at Bruce, who made a phone call and shook his head slightly.
The two bodyguards hiding in the dark did not notice the paparazzi following and waiting.
Martin took Louise's Mercedes and drove her to the southern slopes of Sherman Oaks.
On the way, passing by the Olson sisters' house, Martin saw the closed door and asked, "Have they moved away?"
"No." Louise said simply: "The whole family went to New York for vacation."
Martin didn't ask any more questions and drove into Louise's mansion. As soon as he entered the living room, Louise dialed Kelly's phone.
Kelly Gray came online cursing, but did not hang up the phone.
Just this afternoon, while the crew and Warner Bros. were hyping up the male and female protagonists of "Wanted," they also launched a word-of-mouth marketing campaign.
Rotten Tomatoes released the ban immediately, with a freshness rating of 84%.
MTC also announced the comprehensive media score of the film - 75 points!
This is a pretty good media reputation among R-rated action movies.
In fact, judging from the reputation of the media, there is a general standard for judging whether a film is good or bad before the screening.
Those films that open various ratings and publish various review data early after test screenings are usually not bad.
On the other hand, for some films that wait until Rotten Tomatoes and MTC release the ban after the film opens in the United States, the chance of being a bad film increases exponentially.
Hollywood is particularly skilled at using methods such as controlling reviews.
As a result, all kinds of favorable comments about "Wanted" flooded into traditional paper media and the Internet.
Entertainment Weekly published a soft article with a large black title.
"Wanted is definitely one of the best action movies of the year!"
On the Internet, there are similar articles published: "Wanted is Martin Davis' best action movie!"
Kenneth Turan praised the film in a column in the Los Angeles Times.
"I think "Wanted" has set a new benchmark for violent aesthetics. The performance of the leading actor Martin Davis has always been outstanding, successfully interpreting the character's personality transformation from weak and repressed to explosive..."
At the same time, Jolie appeared on Oprah's talk show. When the two pretentious women hugged each other, the poster of "Wanted" was in the background.
Martin has participated in many road shows at the University of California, the University of Chicago, and Las Vegas. He often drags Blake out to go shopping and show affection, gaining attention for the film.
Every bit of exposure of the male and female protagonists before the screening, and every bit of attention attracted, may be converted into actual box office figures after the release.
The male and female combination of the Hero and the Virgin is attractive enough, at least in North America.
At the end of October, the North American Theater Alliance announced the opening number of theaters for "Wanted", which was as high as 3,350!
Theaters are extremely optimistic about the film's box office prospects.
On Martin's blog, the fan groups that Jessica and Emily joined were all mobilized to call on Martin's fans to go to the theater to watch the movie as soon as possible.
Jolie has also won the support of a large number of people in the past six months, which also has a positive effect on the box office.
Even Morgan Freeman has some appeal, especially among middle-aged and older audiences.
Based on Hollywood's mature operating model, the success or failure of a film can basically be determined during the period before its release.
"Wanted" received all positive feedback from the market.
…………
The Grapevine Manor Bar has very few people at the moment because it’s not dark yet.
As soon as Brad Pitt walked in, he saw Matt Damon, his co-star in the Ocean's movie series, sitting at the bar drinking.
He strode over, pulled out a high stool and sat next to it, asking, "Why are you alone?"
Damon turned to look at him and said, "I suddenly wanted to drink, so I came here. What about you?"
Peter asked for a drink and raised his glass to Damon: "I am a happy bachelor now."
Damon was curious and asked: "Julie really broke up with you?"
Pitt pointed to the TV hanging on the wall. The TV was showing Jolie being interviewed. She was talking about refugees, children and war, and her words were full of humanistic care, as if the Virgin Mary was alive.
Damon looked at it for a while and suddenly said: "I've heard some bad rumors."
Peter was confused: "Huh?"
"About Julie and Martin Davis." Damon simply described: "They filmed "Wanted" together. Many people said that during the filming, Julie and Martin..."
He shrugged and said nothing further.
But Pitt understood what Damon meant: "There were rumors in the gossip media." He thought of Jolie's transformation and unfeeling: "It's not just rumors, it turns out to be that."
Damon persuaded: "We don't lack women, and the next one will be better."
Pitt looked up at the TV again: "I gave up Aniston for her and divorced her!"
Damon said no more.
Pitt subconsciously rubbed his head, always feeling awkward, and happened to see the wanted poster for Martin and Jolie on the TV screen, and said: "This is a bad couple!"
Compared to Pitt, Damon is much more conservative in the relationship between men and women. He couldn't help but cursed: "Are you scolding yourself?"
Pitt said softly: "I acted as a stepping stone to Jolie's hype, allowing her to successfully turn around from a loser."
Damon pointed to the TV series: "Now it seems that she and Martin Davis are going to succeed again."
Peter very much hopes that the wanted order will pay off until the investor goes bankrupt, but looking at the current situation, it is difficult.
Damon said at this time: "I don't like Martin Davis and I hope their film is finished."
The film was released by Warner Bros., and Pitt's biggest partner was Warner. He could do nothing but pick up his wine glass and clink it with Damon: "I wish them all the best!"
Damon had a drink with Pete, thought for a moment, and then said: "There will be a party in a few days, sponsored by Harvey Weinstein, and Ben Affleck and I will attend. In addition, Quentin Taranti Novo Robert Rodriguez will also be there, if you are interested, you can come and play.”
Hearing the name Quentin, Pitt did become interested: "I'll be there."
(End of chapter)
