Hollywood Director 1992.

Chapter 63 Journalists in Action
"Link, we need to discuss the filming of the scene with the parties involved and spend money on public relations with them. Wouldn't that be too much trouble?"

"It's not a big deal. A video clip is only two or three minutes long and only uses the footage of 40 viewers at most. It doesn't cost much. When the movie becomes popular in the future, many viewers may actively cooperate with us in promoting it in order to appear on TV."

"You are making an assumption. Assuming the movie is a big hit, the audience is willing to cooperate. If it is not a big hit, all this work will be in vain."

Chris Bauer uses a crystal ornament on his desk as a dumbbell to do arm curls.

"Don't worry, it won't be in vain."

After Chris Bauer left, Link continued reading the newspaper.

These newspapers were selected by Liu Xiaoli from dozens of newspapers and magazines, and they contain information about Guess Film and new movie previews.

After the preview of the new movie, many media mentioned this incident in their reports, most of which were negative news.

The third-rate entertainment tabloid News of the World reported the news on its front page.

It was claimed that Link held an internal screening of his new movie yesterday, and many famous Hollywood producers were invited to participate, including Scott Rudin, Richard Nuzak, Robert Shea, Harvey Weinstein, Fred Olin and others.

The newspaper's reporter interviewed the famous producer Fred Olin on the spot.

He told me that Link's new film was of very poor quality, shot with a handheld camera and with shaky footage, like a videotape shot by a few-year-old child.

Fred Olin and others said the movie was bad and they didn't want to waste their time, so they left early.

Along with Fred Olin, 13 famous producers also left, from Universal Pictures, Carlock Pictures, Regent Pictures, Castle Rock Pictures, etc.

These producers support Fred Olin's view that the level of Link's new film needs to be improved.

In addition to Fred Olin and 14 others who left early, several producers including Sarah MacArthur from Walt Disney also left midway with serious expressions.

It can also be seen from here that the preview of Link’s new movie is not optimistic.

The third-rate tabloid Los Angeles Chronicle also mentioned the release of Link's new movie in today's news.

According to reliable information, due to the poor performance of the film's previews, no film company is willing to pay a high price for the distribution rights of Link's new film. Link may have to face the path of self-funded distribution again.

It remains unknown whether Link can continue the box office miracle of "Buried" as he is distributing the film at his own expense this time.

In addition to the Los Angeles Chronicle and the World News, seven or eight other newspapers also mentioned this incident in today's news, and most of the reports were negative.

"Link, there are a lot of tabloids that are badmouthing our movie. Should we increase our public relations efforts?"

Liu Xiaoli poured a cup of tea and placed it on the desk.

"No, these reports will not affect our movie for now."

The work done by the entertainment industry's media, big and small, is actually similar to extortion.

After getting negative news about a company or public figure, they will release the news and ask companies or individuals to pay to publish the article. If they don't pay, they will report the negative news.

After paying, the tabloids will not only not stop, but sometimes even go further, treating companies and public figures as their servants, repeatedly sucking their blood until the companies and public figures go bankrupt.

Dealing with these media is actually simple and can be done through an agency.

the reason is simple.

No matter how many media outlets there are in the United States, 90% of the media that control mainstream public opinion belong to six major media groups, including Comcast, Disney, AT&T, Paramount, Sony and Fox.

The media groups cooperate more closely with the brokerage companies.

For example, a big-name star under CAA had an improper relationship with a married man, and was chased and beaten by the woman's husband in the street and filmed. Fox TV station obtained the video and prepared to report it.

After receiving the news, CAA President Michael Ovitz called Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corporation, the parent company of Fox TV, and asked him to remove the news.

Ovitz once introduced Murdoch to a good internist, and the two of them became friends.

Therefore, the news was not exposed.

However, there are still rumors in the Hollywood circle that the big star seems to be Oscar-winning actor Dustin Hoffman.

Now that there are some negative news about Link and Guess What Pictures, he can also ask WMA agency for help, which can be done with WMA's connections in Hollywood.

But everything has a price. He asked WMA for help. Afterwards, WMA asked him for help, and he couldn't refuse.

Considering that there is not much negative news at present, the impact is not great.

Guess what, the film studio's public relations department is capable of resolving these issues.

Link has no plans to request external assistance for the time being. He asked the three executives not to be affected and to continue promoting the movie as originally planned.

-

The Herald Tribune editorial office in Burbank, Los Angeles.

"Max, you look for me."

Veteran reporter Thomas Miller knocked on the door of editor-in-chief Max Blumenthal's office.

"Thomas, I remember you submitted a detailed investigation report on the 'Connecticut Haunted House Incident' a few weeks ago?"

Editor-in-Chief Max Blumenthal asked, putting down his pen.

"Yes, you did not pass my report and the opinions given are outdated and no one will be interested." Thomas Miller shrugged.

"Is that report still available?"

"Of course it's there. I spent two weeks investigating in Connecticut to write this report. How could it be lost?"

"Very good. Please reorganize the investigation report and divide it into three to five social news articles. We will publish them serially in the newspaper in the next few days."

"Really? Why is it suddenly being serialized in the newspaper again? Can I know the reason?"

"You don't need to know why, you just need to know that you're going to get a nice bonus this month."

"Haha, great, I like the bonus, I will go and prepare the investigation report now."

Thomas Miller happily said goodbye to the editor-in-chief, closed the door, and hummed a song all the way to the cubicle to revise the manuscript.

Ding-ling-ling~

The phone on the table rang and Thomas Miller answered the call.

The caller was Al Simmons, a Los Angeles Times entertainment reporter who was desperate for fame, and they had met for drinks at The Edison bar.

"Good morning, Al, what's up?"

"Good morning, Thomas. I heard that you have a lot of reports on supernatural events. Can you share a few with me? I can buy them. How about $50 a copy?"

"supernatural event?"

Thomas Miller took a look at the investigation report in his hand and suddenly felt that what was happening before his eyes was a little "supernatural".

A few minutes ago he was asked by the editor-in-chief to rewrite the report on the "Connecticut Haunted House Incident", and now Al Simmons suddenly called him and asked him to buy this kind of manuscript.

There must be something wrong here.

"I have a lot of supernatural stories here, but what do you want them for?"

"This is a task assigned by our superiors. We are required to write some news about supernatural events in the next few days. Damn it, I'm an entertainment reporter, not a writer of ghost stories. Where can I find ghost stories at this time? I heard that you have in-depth research in this area and have a lot of experience, so I called you for help."

"Is that so?"

Thomas Miller stroked his chin, "I'm sorry Al, I'm afraid I can't help you."

"Thomas, don't you have any such manuscripts?"

Al Simmons asked, disappointed.

"Yes, but Charlie and Michael just called and asked me for this kind of manuscript. I'm afraid I don't have enough reports on supernatural events."

"100 bucks, I'll buy you drinks this weekend, okay, plus a ticket to Venus strip club, Thomas, help me out."

Al Simmons said excitedly.

"Emm, okay, for the sake of our friendship, I'll look through the manuscripts at home to see if there are any extra manuscripts. I'll let you know tomorrow."

"OK, I'll wait for your good news."

"Bye Al!"

After hanging up the phone, Thomas Miller smiled triumphantly and continued to revise the manuscript.

Jingle bell bell bell!

Before he finished revising the manuscript, Charlie Munger, a reporter from the San Francisco Chronicle, called and made the same request as Al Simmons.

Thomas Miller also used the same excuse.

Charlie Munger offered to buy his manuscript for $150.

Thomas Miller agreed with great reluctance.

Thomas enjoys tracking down paranormal activity.

However, there are not many readers for this type of article, and reporting it will not increase newspaper sales, so newspapers are not very willing to report this news.

Whenever newspapers have no good news to report, they use this type of article as filler.

But today is different. Not only did the editor-in-chief take the initiative to find him to ask for manuscripts, but many colleagues in the circle also came to him to buy manuscripts.

He, who was originally a neglected person in the newspaper office, suddenly became a hot commodity.

Based on these anomalies, he speculated that someone might be using these supernatural news for marketing purposes and guiding public opinion in order to launch a certain product, such as a movie, a horror novel, or the opening of a supernatural museum.

Whatever the reason, this is good news for him. He plans to distribute all the manuscripts he has accumulated during this period and exchange them for tangible benefits.

He also believes that with these supernatural stories, he can attract more people's attention to supernatural events, and perhaps even become a big star.

Thomas Miller looked at the manuscript in his hand, nodded with satisfaction, stood up and walked towards the editor-in-chief's office.

(End of this chapter)