America gains both fame and fortune

Chapter 252 The next one will be better
In the Burbank Theater, hundreds of representatives from the media, theater managers and ordinary movie fans watched "Wanted" playing on the screen.

This is a preview version, and the opening and ending credits have not been added yet.

In the private room on the second floor, Louise Mayer, who had just returned from an overseas vacation, was a little nervous.

Like Grey Pictures, Pacific Pictures invested all of its earnings from The Hills Have Eyes into this film.

Louise couldn't afford another tragedy like "Alexander the Great".

Martin was sitting on the sofa, and seeing her moving back and forth, he said, "Honey, you're making me dizzy."

Louise straightened her suit and pushed up her black-rimmed glasses: "If this movie fails, I will go to Korea and Japan to solicit investment."

Martin casually said, "Aren't fattened pigs meant to be killed and eaten?"

As gunshots rang out in the theater, the picture froze on the male protagonist Martin, and the preview ended.

The audience seats in the last seven or eight rows were the first to burst into extremely enthusiastic applause.

Many people even shouted, "Cool!"

The best thing about this movie is that the action scenes are cool enough.

The cinema managers also applauded, saying that the film was commercial and cool enough to suit the tastes of the general public.

This is the kind of film they like, and they won’t lose money by scheduling it on a large scale.

In comparison, the reactions from media reporters and film critics were a little bland.

Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter frowned slightly: "Martin is obviously very talented, why did he play another movie that is mainly about being cool and handsome?"

“He actually played pretty well.”

Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times had a different opinion: "The film showed the transformation of the male protagonist from a loser to an avenger, and the performance deserves 65 points."

Todd McCarthy nodded: "Much better than Angelina Jolie. Jolie... Oh, it's hard to be an actor."

Kenneth remembered what Martin had said: "An actor has to make a living. Business and art are not completely in conflict. Martin's next movie is Scorsese's The Departed. I have specifically inquired about it. Scorsese and Nicholson both rated him very highly."

McCarthy said: "This shows that he is still a young actor with artistic aspirations."

After the preview, the general audience returned the questionnaires and left first.

The media reporters and critics then entered the lounge next door, where the crew presented them with a gift.

Martin joined the main creative staff of the crew and saw these people off.

Various statistics were compiled as quickly as possible, and half an hour later, Daniel, Louise, Martin and director Leterrier gathered in the theater's office.

Louise urged, "There are no outsiders here, let's get started."

Daniel, a representative of the distributor, picked up the statistics of the trial audience: "The average score given by the general audience is A."

Martin nodded: "A good start."

Daniel picked up the second copy: "The average rating from theater managers is A+!"

Louise laughed immediately: "It seems that our film schedule will not be too bad. 3000 theaters should not be a problem, right?"

"Although it is rated R, based on the word-of-mouth of the theater managers today, I can guarantee that 3300 theaters will be able to accept it." Daniel is very confident: "A+ shows that the business managers who are truly at the forefront of the film market are very optimistic about the prospects of Wanted!"

Louise asked, "What about the critics and the press?"

Daniel took a look and said, "It's not bad. Most of them are good or average, and there are fewer bad reviews."

Martin also holds the title of executive producer and has a say in many matters. He asked, "Can we do word-of-mouth marketing?"

"Of course!" Daniel said, "Let's start today."

A film’s good reputation is related to its quality, but operation is also key.

The best movie of a certain period of time can be said to be a masterpiece.

Louise breathed a sigh of relief, and as she walked out, she came to Martin and said, "Will you come to my house tonight?"

Martin originally wanted to take a break tonight and have a day off, but now he's going to have to do it again?

He had a headache and said, "Don't wait till night, let's go now."

Louise said without hesitation: "Let's go, get in the car."

Martin looked over to Bruce, who made a phone call and shook his head slightly.

The two bodyguards hiding in the dark did not notice the paparazzi who were following and waiting.

Martin drove Louise's Mercedes to the south hillside of Sherman Oaks.

On the way, passing by the Olsen 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 called Kelly.

Kelly Gray came on the line cursing but didn't hang up.

That afternoon, the crew and Warner Bros. not only promoted the leading actors and actresses of "Wanted," but also launched a word-of-mouth marketing offensive.

Rotten Tomatoes released the ban immediately, and the freshness reached 84%. MTC also announced the film's comprehensive media score - 75 points!
This is a very good media reputation among R-rated action movies.

In fact, based on media reputation, there is a rough standard to judge whether a movie is good or bad before it is released.

Those films that have their ratings and review data released early after the preview are often not bad.

On the other hand, for some films that wait until the film is released nationwide before the Rotten Tomatoes and MTC are released, the chances of being a bad film increase exponentially.

Hollywood is particularly adept at tactics like controlling comments.

As a result, various positive reviews about "Wanted" flooded into traditional paper media and the Internet.

Entertainment Weekly published a soft article with a large bold headline.

"Wanted is definitely one of the best action movies this year!"

On the Internet, similar articles were posted: "Wanted is Martin Davis' best action movie!"

Kenneth Turan praised the film in his column for the Los Angeles Times.

“I think Wanted has set a new benchmark for the aesthetics of violence. The leading actor Martin Davis’ performance is consistently outstanding, successfully interpreting the character’s transformation from weakness and repression to outburst…”

At the same time, Jolie appeared on Oprah's talk show, and when the two pretentious women hugged each other tightly, the background was the poster of "Wanted".

Martin participated in many roadshows, including at the University of California, the University of Chicago and Las Vegas. He often took Blake out shopping to show their love and to attract attention for the film.

Every bit of exposure of the male and female protagonists before the screening, and every bit of attention they attract, may be converted into real box office figures after the screening.

The male and female combination of hero and saint is attractive enough, at least in North America.

At the end of October, the North American Theater Association announced the number of theaters where "Wanted" opened, which was as high as 3350!
The cinema is extremely optimistic about the film's box office prospects.

On Martin's blog, all the fan groups that Jessica and Emily joined were mobilized, calling on Martin's fans to go to the theater to watch the movie as soon as possible.

Jolie has also won a large number of supporters in the past six months, which also has a bonus effect on the box office.

Even Morgan Freeman has some appeal, especially among middle-aged and older audiences.

With Hollywood's mature operating model, the success or failure of a film can basically be determined during the period before its release.

"Wanted" received nothing but positive feedback from the market.

…………

There are very few people in the Grapevine Manor Bar at this moment because it is not yet completely dark.

As soon as Brad Pitt walked in, he saw Matt Damon, with whom he had worked in the Ocean's series of films, sitting at the bar and drinking by himself.

He strode over, pulled out a high stool and sat next to it, and asked, "Why are you alone?"

Damon turned his head and looked at him, then said, "I suddenly felt like drinking, so I came here. What about you?"

Peter ordered a drink and raised his glass to Damon, "I am now a happy bachelor."

Damon was curious and asked, "Did Julie really break up with you?"

Pitt pointed to the TV hanging on the wall, which was showing Jolie being interviewed. She was talking all about refugees, children and war. Her words were full of humanistic concern, as if the Virgin Mary were alive.

Damon looked at it for a while and suddenly said, "I've heard some bad rumors."

Pete was puzzled: "Huh?"

"About Julie and Martin Davis." Damon described briefly: "They filmed Wanted together, and many people said that during the filming, Julie and Martin..."

He shrugged and said nothing more.

But Pitt understood what Damon meant: "There were rumors in the gossip media." He thought of Jolie's transformation and ruthlessness: "It's more than just rumors. That's it."

Damon persuaded, "We have no shortage of women. The next one will be better."

Pitt looked up at the TV again: "I gave up Aniston for her and divorced for her!"

Damon said no more.

Peter subconsciously rubbed his head, feeling awkward. He happened to see the wanted poster of Martin and Julie on the TV screen and said, "What a pair of bastards!"

Compared to Pitt, Damon is much more conservative in relationships between men and women, and he couldn't help but complain in his heart: "Are you scolding yourself?"

Pitt said softly: "I f*cking served as a stepping stone for Jolie to hype herself up and help her turn herself from a loser into a winner."

Damon pointed to the TV show: "Now it looks like she and Martin Davis are going to succeed again."

Pete really hopes that the wanted order will make the investors bankrupt, but looking at the current situation, it will be difficult.

Damon then said: "I don't like Martin Davis and I hope their movie fails."

The film was distributed by Warner Bros., Pitt's biggest partner. There was nothing he could do but raise his glass and clink glasses with Damon: "I wish them a happy ending!"

Damon shared a drink with Pitt, thought for a moment, and then said, "There's a party in a few days, initiated by Harvey Weinstein. Ben Affleck and I will attend. In addition, Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez will also be there. If you're interested, you can come and join us."

Hearing the name Quentin, Pete did become interested: "I'll be there."

(End of this chapter)