According to the general understanding, a film with such a strong reputation should also be a big hit at the box office, but since the 90s, the film's professional reputation and box office figures have become two different things that are almost not related to each other, and "Bomb Disposal Unit", a cold theme specially made to cater to the Oscars, is indeed not very popular with ordinary audiences.

The film was screened in North America in a pitiful 4 theaters, and earned $145,352 at the box office in the first three days, with a single theater box office exceeding $30,000.

This number seems to be not bad, but most of the independent theaters in North America that specialize in showing literary films are large theaters that can accommodate more than 500 people, and Natalie's last film "Black Swan" opened in North America on a larger scale, but it got a single theater of more than $90,000.

By the second weekend, "Bomb Disposal Unit" had expanded to 60 theaters, and the box office had quickly slipped to about $10,000, earning just over $620,000 from North America in the three days of the weekend.

This can be said to be the biggest sorrow of the Olympic film, if you want to recover your investment, then rely on the accumulation of a long time.

After two weeks of box office observation, Disney and Miramax also roughly estimated the final North American box office figure for the film - between $15 million and $20 million.

If they want to count on the box office to get their investment back, Disney and Miramax can die of this heart.

"What else do I need to do?" Natalie asked Ryan.

Pouring black tea for Natalie's cup, Ryan leaned back on the single sofa and looked at the other side, "Alison, don't you claim to be very good at public relations?" You can talk about it. ”

"Of course."

Taylor put down the text that he was looking at in his hand, smoothed the curly hair of Honey Gold to the back of his head, and said unhurriedly, "Nat." I'm going to be your teacher. ”

"Honey."

Picking up an orange from the fruit bowl on the coffee table, Natalie threw it over, "You can say it." ”

"Thank you."

Taking the orange, Taylor threw it to Ryan casually, "This is the beginning." ”

"The biggest taboo in competing for awards is to think very highly of yourself, and don't say how high-end your film is, but to show a confident, amiable and humble side throughout the whole process, so that you can best win the hearts of the academy members."

Ryan and Natalie were unmoved, and this kind of thing was basically known to everyone in the circle.

"I also want to frequently attend various parties and events in Los Angeles to increase my exposure." Taylor continued. "Although we have an absolute advantage, we must brush our faces and save our sense of zài."

It wasn't difficult for Natalie, who lives in Los Angeles.

This can also be regarded as one of the basic conditions for wanting to win awards, and movie stars from other places often temporarily settle in Los Angeles during the awards season, such as Daniel in the past few years? Wear? Lewis will win Best Actor, and his advantage is indeed great, but even if he has a withdrawn personality, he is almost inferior to Hollywood. The gangster still moved to Los Angeles during the awards season, where he attended various awards ceremonies to show his competition and desire for the awards, and finally won the award.

"In addition, we need to prevent others from splashing black water."

Speaking of which. Taylor looked at Ryan, "Although few people are willing to risk his anger to do this, they have to be guarded against, after all, the lure of this award. The confusion is too great. ”

"I'll take care of that." Ryan took the initiative.

If it is said that relying on one's own sales and hard work to brush one's face can be regarded as a conscientious competition. No PR would admit that he had done the trick - throwing dirt on his opponent, which is something that has often happened in the process of competing for the Oscars in recent years, and there are many victims in it.

Although few people in this world dare to directly challenge Disney's films. But Ryan had seen a lot of rumors in his previous life.

Like Eric, a member of the academy? Patterson published a book in 2008 to reveal the secret, saying that the best picture journey of "Brokeback Mountain" was ruined by two veteran filmmakers, Tony? Curtis and Ernst? Bognier's hand, the two of them told the audience on Fox News that we don't want to see this kind of gay cowboy story, I believe that if Howard? Hughes, John? If Wayne were still alive, he would definitely not watch this kind of movie. ”

Although this is not the main reason for the defeat of "Brokeback Mountain", it must have affected the result.

There is also the dispute between "Bomb Disposal Unit" and "Avatar" in the previous life.

Although James? Cameron has little interest in competing with his ex-wife for best director, but the two producers have made many tricks in order to compete for best picture.

Megan, the producer of "Bomb Disposal Unit"? Regardless of the risk of violating the rules, Ellison wrote canvassing emails to send to a large number of academy members, urging them not to vote for "Avatar" — the industry needs to give credit to small-budget independent films like "Bomb Disposal Unit," not to blockbusters that grossed billions of dollars worldwide.

At the same time, there were a lot of reports circulating in the media about the untrue combat methods of the soldiers in "Bomb Disposal Unit", and although Twentieth Century Fox never admitted that this was their material, anyone with a discerning eye knew who was making waves.

Also, the last Oscar he watched in his previous life, Woody? Aaron's ex-wife Mia? Farrow and his son Ronan? Farrow brought up the old story again in the media, saying that Woody? Alan had molested many years ago. Blasphemy Mia? Farrow's daughter, why did the old affair that had been sealed decades ago suddenly make a big splash?

Never underestimate the appeal of fame and fortune!

Ryan has always kept this in mind, and his PR team won't let up during awards season.

"Then there's the targeted PR target." Taylor picked up the document he had just flipped through, "I have the latest statistics here, 95 percent of the members of the academy are white, 81 percent are male, no more than 11 percent are under the age of 50, and the average age of the academy members is sixty-four. ”

She pursed her lips, but still said helplessly, "This is the crowd that decides the Oscar nominations and awards." That is, the old men in the academy are the main determinants of the Oscar results. ”

"They're what we're trying to woo."

"Honey." Ryan peeled the orange and gave it to Taylor and Natalie, "You're right. ”

"I heard that in addition to our PR team," Taylor threw a clove of orange into his mouth, "Harvey also hired Lisa?" Tabek PR for Nat? ”

"That's right." Ryan nodded, "It's true that we have a perfect advantage, but we can't afford to relax. ”

The most prestigious awards season PR in Hollywood at the moment is Lisa? Tabek, and her previous position was the head of the public relations department of Miramax Films, using a series of means to help Miramax make "Shakespeare in Love" defeat "Saving Private Ryan" and win the Oscar for Best Picture that year, creating fans to recognize the biggest "unjust case" in the history of the Oscars in the last 20 years. One of Tabek's most exemplary achievements.

She used to be Harvey? Weinstein's right hand and direct executor in public relations.

Although she later founded her own public relations agency, she worked most often with the Weinstein brothers, who and her team have helped Miramax Films win nearly 30 Academy Award nominations over the past few years.

Lisa? Tabek and her PR agency can be regarded as another insurance policy that Ryan has added for next year's Oscars, after all, he has a record-breaking thing to do.

For the elderly conservative Oscar, change is sometimes really the most difficult option, and the power to convince them must be strengthened.

Subsequently, PR sends duì and pulls the ball and the like, Ryan completely hands over to Natalie and her PR team, and Mrs. Shelly also flies to Los Angeles again, although she is extremely dissatisfied with her daughter, Natalie is her only daughter.

At Ryan's behest, the 100,000 deluxe CDs prepared by Disney were sent to the academy judges and all those involved in the Oscars early.

Of course, small gifts such as champagne, flowers, and souvenirs are endless.

Even so, there's no guarantee that the judges, who like Ryan to vote with their feet, will actually watch "Bomb Disposal Unit."

In this matter, Lisa? Tabek and her PR agency came into play.

Lisa was one of the first in Hollywood to use the "Phone.banks" method, and Lisa and her team would call members of the academy almost every day, "Have you seen the DVD of 'Bomb Disposal Unit' that I sent you?" You really have to hurry up and take a look, this film is really good. ”

After confirming that the members of the academy had seen the movie, Lisa would continue to bombard her phone calls, "Everyone thinks this film is very good, don't you think Natalie?" Does Portman deserve an Oscar? ”

Moreover, Harvey? Weinstein also hired the public relations manager who served as the presidential assistant of O'Black Carbon to coordinate the public relations of Miramax, and sent an email to the media outside of Disney for "Bomb Disposal Unit", which was full of all kinds of information about how good Natalie was directing, how talented she was in normal times, etc., so as to "brainwash" the members of the academy through the media.

And that's not all, Miramax Films even invited Charlie? Chaplin's two granddaughters hosted a party to entertain industry insiders and convey to the industry how good the film was.

At the same time, Ryan's side is also on the move, and he has brought in George? Lucas, James? Cameron and Stephen? Spielberg held a big party together, entertaining many directors, movie stars and producers to build momentum for the film, and also invited Somer? Lei Shidong, Rupert? Murdoch and Don? Logan and other people who have the right to speak in the media come to watch the movie,

is completely different from the box office that has been declining all the way, the publicity and public relations of "Bomb Disposal Unit" are amazing, and even the exposure in the media is almost comparable to "Avatar".

The latter has entered the final preparation period and is about to land in major theaters around the world. (To be continued......)