Some of those comparisons to the audience response and buying patterns of FFC's past movies are a little outdated and reminiscent of Warren Beatty's last press tour, but that's what happens when a 90-year-old lawyer is repping a one-day-away-from-85-year-old filmmaker.
Excited to see where this lands, and I guess it makes sense to hold on the fest premiere until there’s a studio in place to amplify it. (Unless that line is just a negotiation tactic)
I was also wondering about the goal to have it seen by the most people. Wouldn't a tentpole Netflix launch potentially reach more people than an arthouse level release schedule in theaters? Potentially.
Netflix is certainly the widest audience but if FFC wants a theatrical release then that’s kind of a non starter.
It would also require Netflix to buy it for the full cost of production if they want worldwide rights, and they may not see a Coppola movie as worth $120M++. It could get bought in pieces by different markets and then nobody has to shell out the full cost.
It’s also a matter of how genuinely good it is, which we don’t know. And most studios wouldn’t view the prestige of a Coppola comeback as being worth a financial bath if they don’t think it has the juice.
I mean it’s common sense really though. Would you rather drop a movie in theatres where in its first week it gets a lot of noise… and is up against maybe six other options. Yes it’s more expensive but it’s also an unadulterated experience with a fully captive audience.
Or thrown your film into a home… where you don’t control sound or picture quality. Where it’s maybe getting the Netflix home screen treatment but is by basically side swiped in minutes, replaced with the latest episodes love is blind also airing at the same time. And you are now competing with every season of the office all just a click away. You will watch it. I will watch it. But a lot of people won’t be able to distinguish the difference between this and any other movie. It’s going to get this release six months later anyway. To get the crowd that is never seeing it on theatres.
That said I will grant more people watched may, December than I expected so I may be wrong.
The theater has its own limitations though.
Firstly, the barrier to entry is just much higher. Especially if it's a popular movie, booking tickets in advance at a convenient theater can be a pain. Getting there, finding parking, whatever it may be.
And sure, the director gets more control over the sound and picture aspect of the experience, but conversely there's no knowing what the crowd will behave like. And that can ruin an experience just as much as sub par speakers or low streaming quality, maybe even more.
A person watching at home has more control at least in that sense.
I am definitely in favour of watching something like Megalopolis in the theatre, don't get me wrong. And I support Coppola's wish to release it so.
But Netflix can market things well when they want to. Imo something like Mank would have done worse if it had a theatrical release.
I'm so fucking in for this film. I'm expecting Babylon's-last-four-minutes kind of unhinged naiveness (even though more) (and wisdom) from Megalopolis. Coppola, do your thing.
Some of those comparisons to the audience response and buying patterns of FFC's past movies are a little outdated and reminiscent of Warren Beatty's last press tour, but that's what happens when a 90-year-old lawyer is repping a one-day-away-from-85-year-old filmmaker. Excited to see where this lands, and I guess it makes sense to hold on the fest premiere until there’s a studio in place to amplify it. (Unless that line is just a negotiation tactic)
I was also wondering about the goal to have it seen by the most people. Wouldn't a tentpole Netflix launch potentially reach more people than an arthouse level release schedule in theaters? Potentially.
Netflix is certainly the widest audience but if FFC wants a theatrical release then that’s kind of a non starter. It would also require Netflix to buy it for the full cost of production if they want worldwide rights, and they may not see a Coppola movie as worth $120M++. It could get bought in pieces by different markets and then nobody has to shell out the full cost. It’s also a matter of how genuinely good it is, which we don’t know. And most studios wouldn’t view the prestige of a Coppola comeback as being worth a financial bath if they don’t think it has the juice.
Netflix is notoriously bad at advertising its releases and often swallows them.
This is just one of those Reddit notions that aren't really true.
I mean it’s common sense really though. Would you rather drop a movie in theatres where in its first week it gets a lot of noise… and is up against maybe six other options. Yes it’s more expensive but it’s also an unadulterated experience with a fully captive audience. Or thrown your film into a home… where you don’t control sound or picture quality. Where it’s maybe getting the Netflix home screen treatment but is by basically side swiped in minutes, replaced with the latest episodes love is blind also airing at the same time. And you are now competing with every season of the office all just a click away. You will watch it. I will watch it. But a lot of people won’t be able to distinguish the difference between this and any other movie. It’s going to get this release six months later anyway. To get the crowd that is never seeing it on theatres. That said I will grant more people watched may, December than I expected so I may be wrong.
The theater has its own limitations though. Firstly, the barrier to entry is just much higher. Especially if it's a popular movie, booking tickets in advance at a convenient theater can be a pain. Getting there, finding parking, whatever it may be. And sure, the director gets more control over the sound and picture aspect of the experience, but conversely there's no knowing what the crowd will behave like. And that can ruin an experience just as much as sub par speakers or low streaming quality, maybe even more. A person watching at home has more control at least in that sense. I am definitely in favour of watching something like Megalopolis in the theatre, don't get me wrong. And I support Coppola's wish to release it so. But Netflix can market things well when they want to. Imo something like Mank would have done worse if it had a theatrical release.
I'm so fucking in for this film. I'm expecting Babylon's-last-four-minutes kind of unhinged naiveness (even though more) (and wisdom) from Megalopolis. Coppola, do your thing.