Chapter 24

If Friday's skyrocketing box office only further aggravated the status of "Life and Death" in the eyes of 20th Century Fox, then the soaring box office numbers on Saturday became the best basis for them to expand the scale of the screening.

In a single day on Saturday, the box office of "Life and Death" skyrocketed, with a box office of $106,254 in 20 theaters, and a box office of more than $5,000 in a single store!

This is the result of the day. If you only look at the box office of a single day, it is completely data that the big-selling movies will have.

On Sunday morning, Twentieth Century Fox made a thorough decision to expand the scale of publicity and screening after a meeting and discussion!

Although after the announcement of this decision, caa called dissatisfaction with the dissemination of 20th Century Fox's propaganda resources, it did not play much role. The 20th Century Fox cooperated with caa because cooperation can bring benefits, and "Life and Death" "Speed" can also bring benefits, and commercial companies will never go against benefits.

"These short-sighted guys!"

Lovett put down the phone and snorted heavily, "After "Alien 3" is released, 20th Century Fox will definitely regret today's decision!"

"Do we need to do something?, do we?"

Rick Solomon on the opposite side gave a whispered suggestion, "Based on our relationship with the media, it is not difficult to discredit "Life and Death".

"Is your head full of rust?"

The guy on the opposite side is a fool. Lovett understands this completely, "This is doing free publicity for Duke! Caa is very strong against Twentieth Century Fox, because we can benefit them. ..."

He couldn't help but warn, "If we move the interests of 20th Century Fox, they will also be ruthless. Caa is not afraid of Fox, but... what if it alarms the News Corporation behind them?"

Although facing Fox always appears to be very strong, but Lovett does not understand that Caa is facing a behemoth like News Corporation, in fact, nothing.

Expand the scale of publicity and screening?

Thinking of the news that he had just received, Lovett slowly turned the pen in his hand, as if it was really time to reassess Duke Rosenberg.

Because Duke went to New York with his mother on Saturday, it was already a new week when Duke himself returned to Los Angeles. After leaving Los Angeles International Airport, he did not go home and rushed to the 'Speed' studio in West Hollywood.

Robin Grande was not here. He went to the Fox Tower in Century City. However, as the director, Duke easily got the relevant information, and he could find that the left-behind staff in the studio looked at him with the same vision as before. It's obviously different.

However, Duke doesn't care about this. For the director, success and failure are often only on the front line. It is not certain that the eyes of these people will turn into sympathy and disdain one day.

Walking into his director's office, Duke's first concern was the expansion of the 20th century Fox's screenings.

In this new week, Fox will expand the screening of "Life and Death" to 500 theaters, and will continue to invest US$2 million to US$3 million in publicity funds depending on the situation.

This number does not seem to be much, but Duke will not forget that this is the early 90s, and even the "Terminator 2" released last year in North America only invested more than 9 million US dollars.

Of course, as a contract that must be fulfilled by the crew, starting from this weekend, including Duke, Uma Thurman, and Keanu Reeves and other major cast and crew members, they must also cooperate with the 20th Century Fox plan to start to promote the film. .

After reading these, Duke turned his attention to the first weekend data of "Life and Death".

After achieving good results on Friday and Saturday, the film won US$112,566 on Sunday, which pushed the film's first weekend box office to US$281,598, and the box office of the single venue on the weekend successfully exceeded 10,000!

After taking a sigh of relief, Duke felt that the heavy pressure he had on his body like the Rocky Mountains in the past year had been reduced a little, and finally saw the dawn of victory and success. It was so difficult, like The American dream seems to be realized at any time, but never touched.

If success is raging like a storm, let it be more violent!

With the ability of 20th Century Fox to print copies and contact theaters, these are not problems. "Life and Death" finally appeared in mainstream commercial theaters in the second week of its release, with a total of more than 750 yuan in 500 theaters. Large-scale screenings on the screen, corresponding propaganda efforts have also been increasing, and they have appeared on many TV stations of Fox Television Network.

In terms of print media, in addition to the advertisements and reports in second- and third-rate newspapers, it also appeared in journals such as Variety Show and The Hollywood Reporter. Even the three major newspapers in North America can see "Life and Death Hour". Name and related pictures.

"Keanu Reeves and Uma Thurman stage a thrilling love journey..."

Of course, apart from the film itself, the focus of publicity is still on the male and female protagonists.

Large-scale intensive publicity, coupled with the film's continued reputation of the audience above a, has finally made the box office numbers of "Life and Death" increased significantly.

$750,000 on Monday, $760,000 on Tuesday, $730,000 on Wednesday, $770,000 on Thursday...

When a new weekend arrived, the North American box office of "Life and Death" broke through the $3 million mark in one fell swoop.

In response to the publicity activities in the Los Angeles area on Saturday and Sunday, the crew and the 20th Century Fox publicity department specially held a meeting in the Fox Tower on Friday. The main cast and crew including Duke and their agents participated in it. .

Fox's propaganda department is the professionals, and the propaganda plan is naturally drawn up by them. If the crew has no objections, it just needs to proceed as planned.

Only then did Duke realize that it was too inconvenient to have no agent. If he had objections to Fox's plan, he could only raise it himself, so that there would be no necessary buffer between the two parties.

In fact, there is nothing special about the publicity plan. Fans meet, receive interviews from newspapers and TV and other media, interact with the audience, and share secrets and tidbits during the shooting...

"Mr. Rothman, Mr. Wilson."

Towards the end of the meeting, Duke said to the two Fox executives who presided over the meeting, "I have a personal suggestion..."

"please say."

David Wilson made a gesture that he said, and Duke looked at the meeting room with nearly twenty people, "I hope there are as few people as possible."

Townsend Rothman and David Wilson looked at each other and nodded. The people sitting at the conference table got up and prepared to leave.

"Can Mr. Reeves and Miss Thurman and their agent stay?"

After Townsend Rothman agreed, all four of them stayed.

Several people were sitting close together, and Townsend Rothman looked into Duke's eyes with a hint of appreciation. As a project he advocated for introducing, "Life and Death" would definitely help him if it continues to maintain its current momentum. Fighting for the position of the CEO brings a lot of capital.

He certainly appreciates those who can benefit himself.

Noting Townsend Rothman's eyes, Duke nodded slightly to him. After all, this is the executive who most supports "Life and Death" within Fox. After he gestured to please say, he said, "I will enter separately. I went to the spot screens in Los Angeles and New York to understand the reactions of some audiences.

Having said that, Duke looked at Reeves and Thurman. "They love Keanu and Uma very much..."

"Thank you..." Uma Thurman smiled at Duke, while Keanu Reeves, who was in the most **** in his life, raised his chin slightly.

"I have an idea, this is just a suggestion."

This is extremely beneficial to the promotion of the film. Duke did not hesitate, "Many viewers hope that Keanu and Uma can come together!"

He raised his finger, "Not only in the movie, many people hope they can come together off the screen."

"You mean..." Uma Thurman clearly understood.

However, without waiting for Duke to say anything, Townsend Rothman spoke first, "According to the feedback mentioned by the observers, this voice is not only there, but also relatively strong."

At this point, Duke is no longer needed. Twentieth Century Fox obviously agrees with his suggestion. In order to promote the creation of fake couples in movies, they are not the first and will definitely not be the last.

Uma Thurman and Keanu Reeves and their agent then went to the lounge provided by Twentieth Century Fox. This is not a trivial matter. They also need to discuss it, but Duke knows that they are single and they may refuse. Sex is not great. "Life and Death" has already revealed the potential for big sales. The two will definitely become the target of the media in the future. If they come together temporarily, the media will inevitably mention the other when reporting on one person. This is completely one. A propaganda strategy that adds one far greater than two.

As long as this couple can attract attention, their starring "Speed ​​of Life and Death" will naturally not lack attention.

In the twentieth century, Fox was very interested in this kind of propaganda method that greatly increased his head. Townsend Rothman's assistant also went to the lounge. More than half an hour later, there was good news. The two actors and Their broker has reached a consensus.

Duke is not interested in what kind of agreement the two parties finally reached. Even if Uma Thurman and Keanu Reeves do the final fake, it doesn't matter to him. The only thing he cares about now is the "Speed ​​of Life and Death". "Will the next box office explode?

On Saturday afternoon the next day, the film crew and the publisher held a media and fan meeting in Santa Monica Plaza, when Keanu Reeves and Uma Thurman stepped on the red carpet. , Immediately detonated the emotions of the media and movie fans on the spot, especially those young men and women who had watched "Life and Death". The high-decibel screams almost reached the Pacific Ocean.

Fans, reporters, paparazzi and camera lenses have always been around the "couple". Keanu Reeves and Uma Thurman stole all the limelight and pushed the entire event to a climax.