Paramount Headquarters, Melrose Avenue, May 13th.
James sat at the end of a shorter conference table, Across were three people, Harvey Cohen, mid-30s, distribution executive. Patricia Reynolds, marketing department. Alan Becker from finance department.
Harvey started, flipping through a calendar. "Alright. First thing's the date. There are three possible option right now, we have slot for June second week. Slot for July or wait till october. If we rush, June 8th is possible, but it's tight. July you are in middle of summer heavy hitters, October is best possible one giving us time for marketing and best month for horror movies with halloween.
Patricia cut in. "July, Any Horror or Thriller after Jaws 2 and Grease with john travolta. Forget it."
James nodded. "June 8th works, October is certainly ideal but too long a wait of four months. I can't wait that long. Plus, people attention span is small, Marketing will lose any effect. We have to fight with other horror movies. Instead of waiting let's do a short fast marketing it can bring the cost down."
Alan looked up. "Four weeks is too tight, Distribution, paperwork, Marketing. Logistic Nightmare of making and delivering the prints, plus, how many screens are you looking at here ?"
Harvey cut in. "Screens... Prints alone eat most of the budget. Why not six hundred and scale up if it hits?"
James tapping the table," I think it should be at least a thousand, Because scaling up loses the shock value. This film lives on opening weekend."
Harvey folding his arms, "A thousand means thirty-five prints per region. That's a lot of metal cans to ship."
Patricia tapped her pen. "He's not wrong. Plus, That Title is powerful Marketing tool, Friday the 13th as ominous day and few articles will get this movie running."
Harvey frowned. "Fine, A thousand."
Alan seemingly annoyed, "But then we're talking three million P&A, minimum. And I want to be clear where it goes?"
James gestured. "Break it down."
Alan flipped a page. "Half on prints and shipping, That's one-point-five. One million for media, TV spots, Variety, LA Times, radio. Leaves half a million for posters, theater campaigns. That's tight."
Patricia disagreed immediately."We don't need many Theatre Campaigns just few in L.A will do, Invest it in T.V. Trailer, Talk shows."
Harvey looked at James. "What's your view?"
James answered, "Spend heavier on TV and papers. Posters everywhere that's more effective."
Alan skeptical. "You're gambling money."
James smiled, " We are gambling nothing. this movie doesn't need critics, it needs teenagers lining up on opening night."
Harvey turned back to James. "And what if it collapses second weekend? These films burn fast."
James shrugged. "Then why are you in movie business, There is risk in every movie, But if it hits…" He spread his hands. "You've opened a new revenue stream."
Alan muttered, "Or a pile of garbage films we waste campaigns on."
James looked at him," Major Studios already lose money on half their movies."
Harvey said, "Alright. June 8th. We will try to secure thousand screens. Three million P&A allocation to be argued, but with a heavier tilt toward TV and posters. We'll draft it."
Alan tapped his pencil. "But some add-ons. Paramount takes first right of priority on overseas distribution. If you sell Europe or Asia, we get the first look."
"And same with sequel rights. If this thing somehow spawns another, Paramount gets first priority."
James nodded, "Overseas, fine. You get first look, not automatic rights. Same for sequels first priority, not ownership. copyright stays with me."
Harvey leaned back. "Then that's the framework. We'll draft. If lawyers clears it, we're in business."
Alan with nasty smile, "Assuming anyone shows up."
James said, "They will."
The meeting dragged on longer than expected.
Harvey clapped it once with both hands. "Alright. That's it."
James shook his hand, firm.
Fantasy Pictures office.
James and Linda alone sitting at their desks.
James smiling,"We still need to inform the main cast for promotion activities."
"I'll make the calls, Have them set the time for exposure."
The deal was signed in next few days. Lawyers from both sides checking every details.
James hired two accountants from Arthur Young & Co well versed in hollywood accounting to keep an eye on everything.
By the end of the week.
James leans back on his chair "Did paramount send the list of of the promotion yet?."
Linda Picking up the fax sheet told james,"First is T.V shows local one's, Interview with Hollywood reporter, A local radio talk show at Kmet, Then some Q&A with Audience during the first week at Manns Theatre."
James scratching his head said, "This is going to be hectic, Have you got informed the cast yet?"
Linda put down the fax sheet and said, "I have notified them to keep free dates for June."
"That's all we can do for now."
By the first week of June, the posters were everywhere.
Linda tapping the desk."Feels like people are already talking about it."
Linda spotted the first one outside a corner theater in Glendale
Linda pulled a stack of magazines from her bag Variety, Fangoria. The ads were full-page spreads release date stamped at the bottom.
When she got to the office, she dropped the folded Variety on James's desk. "Page five."
James skimmed the ad
Beneath it, the date: June 8th.
"They didn't waste time," James muttered.
Linda with a smile said,"That's not all. My roommate said she saw the trailer during Happy Days last night."
James smiling said, "Good, Many Families watch Happy Days."
The phone rang that afternoon. Linda picked up, listened, then covered the receiver. "It's from The Hollywood Reporter."
James took the call,"Yes, it's called Friday the 13th. Yes, it's horror. Yes, it's violent. No, it's not based on a true story. Interview with cast on 4th evening, Alright."
When he hung up, Linda was watching him,"Who is doing the interview? I hope it's not that creep John from yesterday, He was looking at sam weirdly."
James leaning back on his chair said,"Don't worry, They changed the host to a female reporter at my request after yesterday's incident."
Linda relieved,"Thank god, Sam was terrified yesterday, That creep what happened to him later?"
"Nothing Apparently, He is son of minority shareholder of hollywood reporter doing internship, Plus, he did not do anything to sam yet."
Linda annoyed slammed the table,"Scum, I hope he gets castrated."
James amused,"Sadly, We don't have power to do anything to second generation scum like them. Just bear with it for now and avoid these kind of people."
Linda sighing sat down on her chair.
The days keep passing with increased exposure of the movie, Interview went without any incident, Trailer's poping during popular shows, radio talk shows increasing horror short stories.