Hollywood Road

Three more today! Tomorrow we will start the sprint practice before subject 3, and we don't have time to code words for the time being, so we will change it twice tomorrow! In addition, ask for monthly tickets and recommended tickets!

Sitting in the study and office on the second floor, Murphy carefully reviewed the budget report sent by Fox Searchlight. There are not only big productions in Hollywood, but also countless low-cost films under a million dollars. After coming out, if you want to get back the investment from the market, publicity and marketing is a must.

The film industry is not what it used to be. It is no exaggeration to say that publicity and marketing play an increasingly important role in the success of a film, and it is not an exaggeration to say that it is a key factor.

The larger the publicity, the more people will know about the film, which means more money will be spent.

The promotional and marketing expenses of a film like "Saw" will definitely not be high, and Murphy has known this for a long time, but the figures released by Fox Searchlight are still lower than expected.

In front of Murphy was a film marketing plan totaling 260,000 US dollars, which listed various estimated expenses in detail.

"Print media and newspapers - $50,000."

"Television Promo and Trailer Telecast - $100,000."

"Outdoor posters, materials plus labor - $30,000."

"Outdoor billboard rental and printing - $20,000."

"Official website and online promotion - $10,000."

"Publicity campaign, press release and preview screenings - $30,000."

"Other expenses - $20,000."

The total was $260,000.

These do not include the cost of making and shipping copies of the film.

After reading this, Murphy frowned immediately. Although he didn't expect Fox Searchlight to offer a million-dollar publicity budget, half a million dollars isn't too much, right? This is too little too.

What can two hundred and sixty thousand dollars do?

He picked up the phone and dialed Tony Guzman's number.

"Tony..." Murphy suppressed the trace of impatience in his heart,

He said calmly, "I just saw the marketing budget of "Chain Saw". Is it a little less?"

"Less?" The voice on the other side was puzzled, "How could it be less? This is a budget carefully prepared by the company based on market estimates."

He probably understood what Murphy meant, and said very quickly, "Murphy, you should know that each company's budget formulation has strict systems and audits, which are the basis for ensuring the smooth progress of the project, and this is also the company's Regulation."

"This is just a preliminary budget." Tony Guzman's voice continued to come out of the receiver, "If word-of-mouth or market response exceeds expectations after the pilot screening of the film, the company will definitely increase the cost in this regard."

After negotiating with Tony Guzman, Murphy hung up the phone. After this time buffer, he completely calmed down. Isn't this normal? There must be risks in releasing such an independent film, so that Fox Searchlight can avoid risks as much as possible. Although it is optimistic about "Saw", there are countless films that are optimistic about the film company and have high hopes.

In the early stage, only a small amount of publicity and marketing expenses were invested, and the film was screened in a small number of theaters. As Tony Guzman said, if the situation is good, we can increase the publicity. much loss.

Few of these issuing companies are fools, and risk control is also one of the foundations of a company's survival.

Murphy looked at the figure of 260,000 again, and suddenly realized that the publicity budget set by Fox Searchlight is indeed the practice of distribution companies to release independent films. Isn't $260,000 exactly ten percent of Fox Searchlight's expected income? Is it about a quarter?

This kind of budget is the most reasonable situation in the eyes of the distribution company. Of course, Murphy doesn't think so. He checked the specific expenses again. In other respects, it's okay to say that the 10,000 US dollars in network expenses is too little, right?

He didn't know anything about Lionsgate's publicity investment and publicity methods, but he thought it would not be so low. The success of a film, the publicity link is really important, Murphy leaned back in the chair On the back, staring at the promotional budget, I kept thinking.

"Chain Saw" has placed a lot of hopes on him. He doesn't expect the previous box office figures, but in the end, the income he brings to himself must exceed the asking price of Miramax, according to Bill Rosses. According to the news, Harvey Weinstein was quite dissatisfied after learning that he signed with Fox Searchlight, and angrily accused Bill Rossis of lack of sincerity...

The line he established with Miramax should have ended there, too.

If you want the future road to be smoother, "Chain Saw" must be successful, and it is best to exceed the success expected by Fox Searchlight.

Patting the armrest of the chair lightly with his right hand, Murphy couldn't help lamenting, why did he enter Hollywood, and none of the film company executives he met was an idiot, but instead they were all trying to fight for their own interests? Why isn't Hollywood like what we used to see on the Internet, as long as a good movie comes out, the box office and word of mouth will automatically come, and the producers will smoothly embark on the road of fame and fortune?

He shook his head, discarded these thoughts, and continued to think about the possible situation of "Chain Saw". Insufficient publicity may bring some unexpected difficulties, which will directly affect the final results of the film.

In the final analysis, it is still a matter of money. If he has money, he can hire a publicity and marketing team by himself.

Especially for Internet marketing, the current network in North America is developing much faster than the same period on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, with a large number of users.

Thinking of the Internet, Murphy called Bill Rosses and made an appointment to meet in Century City.

Hanging up the phone, he left the studio and quickly arrived in Century City. He met Bill Rossis at the coffee shop he had agreed upon. After ordering a cup of coffee, he didn't talk nonsense. Opinions are spoken.

"The low-budget movie marketing plan focuses on advertising on TV and print media in different regions." Bill Rossis believes that this budget is normal. "Increasing the number of promotional media will directly lead to an increase in the budget."

"They ignored the Internet!" Murphy knocked down the table, emphasizing, "Internet media has grown and grown, and it plays a role that cannot be ignored in movie promotion. "The Blair Witch" is the best example."

Bill Rossis nodded slightly.

Murphy had already had an idea before he came, and suddenly changed the subject, "Bill, do you know a company that specializes in network information?"

Bill Rosses shook his head first, then thought for a while and said, "I may know friends who are in public relations."

"That's it," Murphy said after pondering for a while, "Can I get in touch? It's best to ask about the specific aspects."

Taking out his mobile phone, Bill Rossis made a call, wrote down the number provided by the other party, dialed again, chatted with the person on the other side for a few minutes, and then put away the mobile phone.

"This is a company that specializes in online public opinion. I don't know if it suits your requirements?"

As if afraid that Murphy would not understand, Bill Rosses simply explained, "This company cooperates with several public relations companies in Hollywood to delete comments on the Internet that are unfavorable to some celebrities, or online reports on celebrity activities. Reply some compliments later, in short, it is to help the public relations company maintain the image of the client."

Murphy nodded slightly. Isn't this the navy or the embryonic form of the navy?

Thinking about it, the North American network is developing so fast, and the navy is not a secret job or a difficult job. It must have appeared earlier than the other side of the Pacific Ocean. The viral marketing of "The Blair Witch" on the Internet can be regarded as strictly speaking. Into the ranks of the navy type.

"What are you trying to do?" Bill Rossis thought again, "Wouldn't it be targeting Lionsgate and Miramax?"

"Don't worry, Bill," Murphy made a downward gesture, "Just put your heart in your stomach, I'm too busy with my own work, so I don't have time to take care of them."

He sorted out his previous thoughts a little bit, and said, "I want to hire some people who specialize in network work, and send messages on major film and television websites. About "Chain Saw", we don't need to tout for the movie. Let's intercept some Let them post the large-scale pictures of the killing mechanism on several websites where movie fans gather, and then make some topics such as the complete collection of killing mechanism to attract people's attention."

"Hmm... For example, the statistics of perverted killing agencies," Murphy said while thinking, "The stories that serial killers and killing agencies have to tell, and then connect these with the film to make the target audience interested in "Chain Saw" .”

Perhaps doing so will arouse the resentment of some people who see the pictures, but those who like horror movies will not. Those perverted killing mechanisms are likely to arouse their curiosity, and curiosity is often the driving force for buying tickets.

These large-scale things cannot be used on public channels such as TV stations and print media at all, but the Internet is no problem. Although this is not the biggest selling point of the film, it will undoubtedly bring considerable benefits compared to the simple and brutal killing of traditional plasma films. Much freshness.

"It's feasible." Bill Rosses frowned. "However, Murphy, it's hard for you to persuade Fox Searchlight. The film company has a strict review of every budget."

"We won't go through the channel of Fox Searchlight." Murphy shook his head, "I still have a sum of money in my hand, and this part of the cost can be borne by Stanton Studio."

"Bill..." he said, "you ask the person in charge of that company to meet with me as soon as possible."

When it comes to expensive expenses, Murphy is also cautious, and he can determine whether it is suitable after a detailed discussion with the other party.

"Chain Saw" will be released soon. Bill Rosies, like Murphy, has high hopes and his work efficiency is very high. One day later, Murphy met with the person in charge of an Internet opinion company that specializes in cooperation with public relations companies. To be exact Said that they are not companies, just like freelance journalists, they are a group of freelancers who rely on certain means to make a living.

The two talked for a long time, and Murphy finally finalized a $40,000 cooperation agreement with him. (To be continued.)