The Wolf of Los Angeles.

Chapter 10: Are there professional audiences for movies?

After running around for the entire afternoon and half a night, contacting dozens of film crews, I finally found the opportunity.

Hawke reviewed the situation in "Special Zone Heights" and his eyes fell on Brand. Combining his memories from his previous life, he gradually planned a plan.

Brand, with his local background and good connections, is crucial.

Hawke patted Brand on the shoulder: "I have a plan, let's make some money together?"

Brand was still a college student: "I help you, you treat me to a meal, that's enough."

Just helping out wasn't enough, Hawke needed him to go all out, and said, "If the plan doesn't work, we'll be broke. If it does, I'll give you 20% of the income."

Brand doesn't think making a Mexican-American movie can make money and is still hesitant.

Hawke used his trump card: "Next time you date that girl, bring Tiffany jewelry or a Chanel bag. The effect will be different. Maybe she will take the initiative to pursue you."

Brand immediately became excited: "I'll do it!" He rubbed his hands and mobilized his subjective initiative: "Tell me, what do you need me to do?"

Hawke turned his head and looked at the Great Salt Lake Cinema: "Tomorrow morning you go to the organizing committee and make a copy of the application materials for "D.C. Heights". By the way, ask for the film transaction data of the last three sessions and the ethnic statistics of foreign audiences, if any."

Brand couldn't keep his words to himself: "For my goddess' sake, I'll go block the door tomorrow morning!"

At the entrance of the Great Salt Lake Cinema, Eric and Catherine came out. The former opened the car door for the latter, and the two got in the car and went to a nearby hotel.

Hawke checked the time and said, "Let's go have dinner."

Brand was indeed hungry.

In front of us is the Alpine Pizza shop. It’s a little late, and there aren’t many people in the huge shop, so it seems a bit deserted.

Brand led the way, pushed open the glass door and went in. Two people who were eating at a table near the door took the initiative to greet him.

One of them even hooked his finger and called Brand over: "I heard a shocking gossip in the film industry."

Hearing this, Hawke suddenly felt a pain in his balls.

Sure enough, the man said, "Renona Reid has a kleptomaniac habit and specializes in stealing the underwear of male stars."

Another added: "Johnny Depp broke up with her because she stole Tom Cruise's underwear."

Hawke and Brand looked at each other, not knowing what to say, and quickly sat down away from them.

Brand is still horrified: "The speed at which the scandal spread was terrifying."

"What's even scarier is that it will evolve into various versions during dissemination." Thinking of Brand's inability to shut up, Hawke decided to lock him up: "Our plan must not be revealed to anyone, otherwise we won't make any money. You won't have money to date girls, but your girls will jump for joy on other people's bodies!"

He destroyed the key to the lock: "Just imagine, she plays poker with one man after another, and you can only watch!"

People who talk a lot have active minds. When the picture flashed through Brand's mind, he was so scared that he quickly shut his mouth.

Hawke ordered the meal. The owner, Bill, was very familiar with Brand and chatted with the two of them when the meal was delivered.

Brand asked, "The film festival has started, how is business going?"

Bill shook his head. “Same old. The people who come to eat here are regular customers from the community.”

"I'm from out of town." Hawke said as he tried to get to know the man: "Your pizza, fried chicken, and French fries are great."

Bill smiled happily: "Young man, you really know how to appreciate delicious food."

After the old man left, Hawke ate while talking to Brand about community theater and parties, as well as Brand's family situation.

Brand has a lot of words in his mouth.

…………

The next morning, Hawke got up on time to exercise in order to get his body into the best condition as soon as possible.

After a simple breakfast, Brand rushed to the organizing committee to find someone to copy the documents.

As soon as he went out, he met Lewis.

The latter asked, "Did you and Hawke discover anything yesterday?"

"Yes..." The words came to his lips, and the lock took effect. Brand seemed to see the goddess wailing in the tossing of several people, and changed the subject abruptly: "Not yet... yet..."

Because the turn was too abrupt, he started coughing, waved to Lewis, and rushed to the organizing committee.

In the house, Hawke borrowed Brand's laptop and searched the Internet for information about Castle Rock Pictures and Robert Reiner, the composition of North American movie consumers, Hollywood public data, etc.

After a while, Brand brought back a large stack of photocopied materials.

Hawke first looked at the general background of Eric and the other man, then sorted the information into categories and wrote down all the relevant data.

Understanding your goals and making targeted preparations can increase your chances of success.

After Hawke finished doing all this, he took out the business card he got last night and dialed Eric's number: "Director Ethan, we met last night and exchanged business cards. Can I help you solve the problem of the audience leaving early? Can we talk in person?" The other party hesitated for a moment and agreed.

Seeing that the call was over, Brand asked, "What else should I do?"

Hawke packed up his briefcase and said, "Give advance notice to the lawyer your family used before. We may need him today."

…………

In the hotel's business suite, Eric had been in a state of anxiety since returning last night, and he wasn't even in the mood to lick Catherine's ass.

Catherine, who had incurred sunk costs, attached great importance to her director boyfriend and comforted him, "Robert from Castle Rock Pictures will come in person. He has the independent right to purchase the film, and our film will definitely be released in theaters."

Eric said, "Did you see the DV I shot last night? Many viewers left early. I can't imagine if this happens again on the day of the screening."

Katherine recalled Castle Rock's request: "Robert asked for a public release."

Eric understood why: "I heard from my colleagues that Robert attaches great importance to the reputation of first-line audiences."

Catherine was also worried: "The movie was well made, what's wrong with the audience's brains? Why did they leave early?"

"The guy just now said he could solve this problem." Eric checked the time: "I should go down now."

He took the elevator downstairs and waited for Hawke in the cafe on the second floor.

Eric also remembered Hawke, and the two did exchange business cards.

Hawke got straight to the point: "I got news from the organizing committee that Robert Reiner, the vice president of Castle Rock Pictures, will arrive in Park City the day after tomorrow morning. The screening of D.C. Heights the day after tomorrow morning is on his schedule."

Eric didn't need to deny it: "Yes."

"Excuse me, based on the screening last night, he will reject your film." Hawke found some information: "He attaches great importance to the reputation of the audience in the first-tier market."

His words were half true and half false: "If a large number of audiences left the movie early, he would also leave early."

Eric looked expressionless, but still had a fantasy: "The next one may not appear."

Hawke was confident: "100 percent showing up."

"I don't think so!" Eric was trying to be clever and get some information out of her.

Hawke heard it, but didn't care: "You can't solve this problem at this time in a place like Park City."

Eric asked, "Are you here to help me solve the problem?"

“I’m a media professional and I’m good at problem solving,” Hawke said.

Eric added: "He's also good at charging."

Hawke was noncommittal.

Eric refused to give up: "If you don't tell me the specific problem, I won't pay."

Hawke took out the first piece of information and handed it to Eric: "In the past three years, Mexicans accounted for less than 3% of all movie consumers in North America. The largest consumer of North American movies is white people, followed by black people."

Eric looked at the data carefully, thought of the audience who left early last night, and asked, "Blacks and whites don't like my movie?"

Hawke said bluntly: "They are not interested in watching movies about the Mexican community and Mexican people."

He took out a second file: "This is the audience composition of the past three years. There are very few Mexicans in Park City. Foreign Mexicans account for less than 2%. The audience of the next show will still be mainly white..."

Eric thought he had hit on the point: “I try to attract Mexicans as an audience.”

"The film will die even more miserably." Hawke pointed to the first document.

Eric looked down at the pitiful percentage of Mexicans in the consumer statistics and muttered to himself, "The movie companies won't pay for a small group of people."

Hawke added weight: "The Mexican director Rodriguez did not dare to use Mexican actors as the protagonists in the Mexican-style movies he made in Hollywood. As for your film, Eric, you are a new director, there are no stars among the actors, the film cost is low, and the production is a bit rough..."

Eric found that the problem seemed to have no solution.

Hawke said slowly, "I can help you create the best audience environment, ensuring that no one leaves, and that everyone watches the movie with the greatest enthusiasm, so that Robert and his party can feel the audience's love for the film."

Eric's heart moved. This matter...

"I know what you're thinking. You can find it yourself, right?" Hawke dared to say it out loud, naturally not worrying about these things: "Will the movie enthusiasts you hired with money watch a movie peacefully? How much money do you have to spend to offset the discrimination engraved in the bones of white people? Do you think those free and undisciplined people can compare with organized groups?
He changed the subject: "I can bring you a group of highly professional audiences who have watched a lot of films, have rich acting experience, know what kind of emotions to release in what kind of plots, and give the warmest applause when it is most needed."

"You mean... professional audiences?" Eric was skeptical. Movies are so commercialized? Even the audiences are professionalized? He asked, "Isn't this your first time? How come I haven't heard of it?"

Hawke looked up and smiled: "Because we succeed every time. The crews or directors who successfully sell their movies will certainly not mention our names or acknowledge our help to them. They will only say that their movies are good enough and call it a victory of film art."

He lowered his voice and said, "This is the 18th Sundance Film Festival. If we messed up, the criticism would have spread throughout the film industry."

Eric was led by the rhythm, and after careful reflection, he realized that there was indeed no such criticism in the film industry.

(End of this chapter)