America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 252 The Next One Will Be Better

At the Burbank Theatre, hundreds of representatives from the media, theater managers, and ordinary moviegoers enjoyed watching "Wanted" on the screen.

This is a test screening version; the opening and closing credits have not yet been added.

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

Like Grey Pictures, Pacific Pictures poured all the profits from "The Hills Have Eyes" into this film.

Louise cannot bear another tragedy like the one depicted in "Alexander the Great".

Martin, sitting on the sofa, watched her pacing back and forth and said, "Honey, you're making me dizzy."

Louise straightened her suit and pushed up her black-rimmed glasses: "If this project goes wrong, I'm going to go to South Korea and Japan to get investment."

Martin casually remarked, "Aren't fattened pigs just meant to be slaughtered and eaten?"

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

The audience seats in the last seven or eight rows erupted in 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 commercially viable, cool, and appealing to a wide audience.

This is the kind of film they like; large-scale screenings won't be a loss.

In contrast, the reactions from media reporters and film critics were somewhat muted.

Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter frowned slightly: "Martin is clearly very talented, so why did he star in another movie that's mainly about looking cool and handsome?"

"Actually, he performed quite well."

Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times, however, had a different opinion: "He portrayed the protagonist's transformation from a loser to a vengeful figure, and I'd give his performance a 65 out of 100."

Todd McCarthy nodded: "Much better than Angelina Jolie. Jolie... sigh, it's hard for her to be a good actress anymore."

Kenneth recalled Martin's words: "Actors always have to make a living. Commercial and artistic are not entirely in conflict. Martin's next film is Scorsese's 'The Departed.' I specifically inquired about it, and Scorsese and Nicholson both gave him extremely high ratings."

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

After the preview screening, ordinary viewers handed in their questionnaires and left the theater first.

The media reporters and critics then went into the adjacent lounge, where the production crew presented them with a gift.

Martin joined the main cast and crew to see these people off.

The statistics were compiled at top speed, 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 begin."

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

Martin nodded: "A good start."

Daniel picked up a second copy: "The theater managers gave it an average grade of A+!"

Louise laughed immediately: "Looks like our screening schedule won't be too bad. 3000 theaters shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"Although it's rated R, based on the feedback from theater managers at today's preview screenings, I can guarantee it will be shown in 3300 theaters." Daniel was very confident: "An A+ rating shows that the business managers truly on the front lines of the film market are very optimistic about the prospects of 'Wanted'!"

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

Daniel glanced at it: "It's alright, mostly positive and neutral reviews, with relatively few negative reviews."

Martin, who also holds the title of executive producer and has a say in many matters, asked, "Is word-of-mouth marketing possible?"

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

A film's good reputation is related to its quality, but its operation is equally crucial.

The phrase "the best [movie name]" is arguably a classic example of this kind of meme.

Louise breathed a sigh of relief and, as she walked out, stopped beside Martin: "Want to come to my place tonight?"

Martin had originally planned to take a day off tonight and give himself a break, but now he's going to have to put up another round of intense work?

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

Louise didn't hesitate at all: "Let's go, get in the car."

Martin looked at Bruce, who was making a phone call, and shook his head slightly.

The two bodyguards, hiding in the shadows, did not notice the paparazzi following them.

Martin drove Louise's Mercedes and took her to the south slope of Sherman Oaks.

Midway through their journey, passing the Olsen sisters' house, Martin saw the tightly closed door and asked, "Did they move away?"

"No," Louise said simply. "My whole family went on vacation to New York."

Martin didn't ask any more questions and drove into Louise's mansion. As soon as they entered the living room, Louise dialed Kelly's number.

Kelly Gray went online grumbling, but didn't hang up the phone.

That afternoon, while the production team and Warner Bros. were promoting the male and female leads of "Wanted," they also launched a word-of-mouth marketing campaign.

Rotten Tomatoes immediately released the data, showing a freshness rating of 84%.

MTC also announced the film's overall media score – 75 points!

This is considered quite good media reviews for an R-rated action film.

In fact, there is a general standard for judging whether a film is good or bad before its release based on media reviews.

Films that release their ratings and reviews early on after test screenings are usually quite good.

Conversely, some films that wait until they are released nationwide in the US before being unbanned on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic have a significantly increased chance of being bad films.

Hollywood is exceptionally adept at using tactics like controlling public opinion.

As a result, a flood of positive reviews about the "Wanted" notice poured into traditional print media and the internet.

Entertainment Weekly published a sponsored article with a large headline and bold text.

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

On the internet, similar articles have also been published: "Wanted is Martin Davis's best action movie!"

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

"I believe that 'Wanted' sets a new benchmark for the aesthetics of violence. Martin Davis's performance as the lead actor is consistently outstanding, successfully portraying the character's transformation from weakness and repression to outburst..."

Meanwhile, Jolie appeared on Oprah's talk show, and when the two pretentious women embraced tightly, the background was a poster for "Wanted".

Martin participated in numerous roadshows at universities such as the University of California, the University of Chicago, and Las Vegas, frequently taking Blake out for walks and displaying their affection to garner attention for the film.

Every bit of exposure and attention garnered by the male and female leads before the film's release could translate into substantial box office numbers after the film's premiere.

The pairing of a hero and a saint is appealing enough, at least in North America.

In late October, the North American theater chain alliance announced the opening theater numbers for "Wanted," which reached a staggering 3350 theaters!

The cinema is extremely optimistic about the film's box office prospects.

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

Jolie has also gained a lot of support in the past six months, which has also boosted the box office.

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

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

The "Wanted" notice received only positive feedback from the market.

…………

The Grapevine Manor Bar was unusually quiet at this time of day, as it wasn't quite dark yet.

As soon as Brad Pitt entered, he saw Matt Damon, with whom he had worked on the Ocean's series of films, sitting at the bar, drinking alone.

He strode over, pulled out a high stool, sat down beside him, and asked, "Why are you alone?"

Damon turned and glanced at him, saying, "I suddenly felt like having a drink, so I came over. What about you?"

Pete ordered a drink, and Damon raised his glass to him: "I'm a happy bachelor now."

Damon, curious, asked, "Did Jolie really break up with you?"

Pitt pointed to the television hanging on the wall, which was showing an interview with Jolie. She talked about refugees, children, and war, and her words were full of humanistic concern, as if the Virgin Mary had come to life.

Damon looked at it for a moment, then suddenly said, "I've heard some not-so-good rumors."

Pete asked in confusion, "Huh?"

"Regarding Jolie and Martin Davis," Damon briefly described, "they filmed 'Wanted' together, and many people say that during filming, Jolie and Martin..."

He shrugged and didn't continue.

Pitt understood Damon's meaning: "There have been rumors in the gossip media." He thought of Jolie's change and ruthlessness: "It's not just a rumor, I see."

Damon reassured him, "We don't lack women; the next one will be better."

Pete glanced up at the TV again: "I gave up Aniston for her, I divorced my husband for her!"

Damon said no more.

Pete subconsciously touched his head, feeling awkward, and just then he saw the wanted posters of Martin and Julie on the TV screen and said, "That pair of scoundrels!"

Compared to Pitt, Damon is much more conservative when it comes to relationships, prompting him to wonder, "Is this a self-deprecating remark?"

Pitt said softly, "I fucking became a stepping stone for Jolie's publicity stunt, allowing her to successfully turn her life around from a loser to a winner."

Damon pointed to the TV series: "It looks like she and Martin Davis are going to succeed again."

Pitt desperately wants the arrest warrant to bankrupt the investors, but given the current situation, that seems unlikely.

Damon then said, "I don't like Martin Davis, and I hope their films are doomed."

The film was distributed by Warner Bros., and Warner Bros. was Pitt's biggest partner. There was nothing he could do but raise his glass and clink it with Damon's: "May they be finished!"

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

Upon hearing the name Quentin, Pete was indeed intrigued: "I'll be there."

(End of this chapter)