"Bruce, I need a section in the magazine."
Getting a section in a media magazine may be difficult for other women, but it is just talking to Bruce for Levi. However, when Levi found Bruce, things didn't go as smoothly as he had imagined.
"Nick, I thought your brain was improving a few days ago. But why is your brain getting worse and worse now? Even if you messed around in the past, at least you knew that film reviews are the basis of our family, so you didn't mess around with the magazine. Why do you want to take the panel from me to chase women? What are you thinking? You still need to use these methods to find a woman; you are worse than before. Don't you know how to cheat?" Looking at this brother who told him without hesitation that he should lie to women, Levi was also a little speechless.
However, the purpose Levi was looking for him was not for women, but more for being happy today and wanting to help others, so he was pretty persistent about it.
"It's just a section..."
"Our magazine, the price of a section is 300,000; how good is your girl? Can she be worth 300,000? Stop talking nonsense, Nick. Don't embarrass me. My work is also not easy, that you can do whatever you want."
"Your job is collecting money and writing reviews; what's so difficult?"
"Do you think reviews are easy to write? Besides, the most important thing about my job is maintaining the status of critics." Bruce was a little restless, "You also know that in recent years, with the rise of the Internet, the status of critics has declined. 'Variety Show' has just been acquired recently, and it didn't start very smoothly on the Internet. I have been in a lot of trouble recently. Don't add to the mess, okay?"
Levi looked at Bruce and realized something: Bruce was anxious because the print media seemed to be dying. Bruce has considerable status and influence among film critics. Perhaps, he should advise him to do something else.
"Bruce, I don't know much about the industry of film criticism. Some words may be wrong, but you can use them as a reference." Levi pondered for a while before speaking, "Since your paper media has come to an end, you also realize the future is the Internet age. Why not set up an online review agency directly?"
"Our magazine has online reviews."
"I'm not talking about the magazine's website, especially the 'Variety Show' that needs payment to read reviews. Fee-based websites are outdated; who would pay ten dollars to read a movie review?" Levi immediately pointed out the problem of his magazine, "The reason why the Internet age is more popular than paper media is that it is more free, everyone can talk nonsense irresponsibly, and everyone can express their opinions. In this era, insisting on charging a few high-end reviews will not succeed. Why don't you think about running a website where anyone can comment on movies? After the movie is released, if fans have a special place where they can write movie reviews, read other people's movie reviews, and rate movies, such a website will be very popular."
After the advent of the Internet age, Internet media quickly replaced other media and became people's favorite media model, which naturally has its reasons. When people search for reviews about a movie online, they naturally hope to see more different opinions, and, as movie fans, many people also want to express their views. Whether their opinions are professional or not, people are willing to share them anyway. Professional media has had the advantages of professional media for a long time. They are much better at understanding various shooting skills, acting skills, and technological means in movies than ordinary people.
Simply put, seeing Superman flying in the sky, ordinary people will think that it is good-looking, but professionals may be thinking, what kind of technology is used for this flight? As an actor, how long does it take to be suspended in mid-air if you want to shoot for such a scene? This seemingly simple thing is where professionals are proud. They understand movies better than others and hold the right to comment on films, making them even more influential in Hollywood.
Only now, that era is about to pass. The entertainment industry is always an industry that requires the audience's participation. When the Internet becomes popular and people can express their opinions more, this kind of online comment will inevitably become a future trend. Compared with professional magazines, such comments may not be professional enough, but a variety of opinions and attitudes will make this model popular. In addition, everyone can upload videos and pictures. It is a trend. If you want to rely on the Internet, there is no hope for paid websites, paid-to-read movie reviews, or hard photos to compete with this model.
IMDB, which was in operation in 1990, has now started to be commercialized. Levi knew this, and he knew how big the future of the web would be. He didn't come in time to catch up, so he perhaps wanted to take another review-based website, Rotten Tomatoes, into his own hands.
As a filmmaker, it never hurts to be on good terms with the critical press - look here at people who are trying frantically to please magazine editors for a cover for a short story, and tomorrow, when the Internet hits, they'll do the same. The owner of the network media will be infinitely flattered.
It is vital to have the right to speak. Now he is just a little director with nothing, but what's wrong with paving the way early and thinking about his future?
Levi's words made Bruce fall silent. He drank the wine in his hand, then licked his lips and thought carefully before speaking again.
"Such a website may be very popular, but what's the point?" Bruce didn't deny that such a model would indeed make more money. He knew that the more engaging entertainment, the more it would attract people to participate, "A website with a lot of page views, you don't have to worry about having no advertising fees to earn-but such a website is nothing to the professional film critics. There must be many idiots on websites expressing opinions, which means the industry will never look at this kind of shit website."
Bruce was keenly aware of the problem, making Levi admire him. Indeed, a website like Rotten Tomatoes is really easy to become popular, and it is easy to gain the popularity of the public. It is a perfect platform to promote a particular commercial movie. However, such a website also has a big problem: everyone can express their opinions, which can naturally attract customers, but it will also make professionals dismissive of it.
In Levi's memory, the correlation coefficient between Rotten Tomatoes and movie awards never seems to be high, not only Rotten Tomatoes but also IMDB. In the eyes of professionals, this kind of website has no weight at all. The taste of the public is very different from that of filmmakers. For example, on the IMDB list, all superhero movies have high scores, and these movies are no different from the dust in the eyes of Oscar judges.
Bruce is a professional film critic—spontaneous amateur film critics were not prominent in previous years—and he doesn't realize the significance of this private comment that has no place in the professional film critic circle.
However, this is not a problem at all.
"Bruce, is your brain really not working enough?" Levi sighed, "Whoever said that you need to use this kind of thing to maintain your status? This is just to make online comments flourish, and at the same time, it's just income. With this income, you can invite the most professional film critics to write articles for your website and expand your influence. When you have enough money and influence, you can start an online film critic award on the Internet—when you judge the awards, as long as you invite only professional film critics, won't your status be improved?"
Levi slightly disdained Bruce's dullness, "Every new media appears, there will be some people who will benefit from it. Just a few years ago, people did not have the concept of the North American Broadcast Film Critics Award, but now, it has become popular. After a few years, it may be able to compete with the national film critics. People choice award - this award is not transparent at all, there are no nominations, and it is awarded directly. If you can create an award for online film critics, who else do you need to look at that time?"
The best way is to have the right to speak. It is good to help others win awards, but it would be even better if it is fundamentally able to present awards by yourself. In Levi's memory, Rotten Tomatoes later organized the selection of the Golden Tomato Awards, but it was not very popular because of its low professionalism. However, if such a website is placed in the hands of a professional film critic like Bruce, it may be another matter.
If film critics can open up the network, they will help themselves even more.
Moreover, even if you fail, you have nothing to lose!
"Your idea may be right. I should consider whether I should make some articles from the Internet." Bruce's eyes lit up, and he nodded with satisfaction, very satisfied with Levi's approach, "Your idea is excellent... You have much bolder thinking and a clearer understanding than my group of men. Are you really sure you don't want to come and help me? If your film is a mess, come back and help me."
"My movie will get better and better." Levi rolled his eyes at him, "Even if I really can't get better, I won't need help from you. I have my ways."
"As you like. Oh, there are new guests here, and I'm going to entertain them. Anyway, I'm always happy to help you. Do you have anything else to do?"
"Of course, you forget my original purpose—give me a magazine section."
"Okay," Bruce replied immediately, "but is one section enough? I'll give you an inside page—you gave a good idea; what are these things worth?"
*********
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