Chapter 70: All Saints' Day Strategy

  In fact, since the filming of "Buried", "Cruise of Terror" and "Paranormal Activity", Yi Feiyang has been worried about the promotion of these three plays.

  Don't forget, this is America, this is Hollywood.

  The water in the film industry is deep enough to drown any big fish that wants to turn the world upside down.

  Yi Feiyang deeply understood this truth, and he even more clearly knew that if he couldn't make his own movies like a brand name, then waiting for the Halloween release date would only lead to a dead end.

  Yes, it's definitely going to die!

  Not to mention anything else, just talking about the following few plays, for Yi Feiyang, it is an insurmountable mountain.

  First up is Dimension Films' Halloween-themed movie "Halloween H20: 20 Years Later".

  Needless to say, as the longest-lived horror movie in Halloween history, the "Halloween" series is about to break the record and become the most bloody, the most dog-tailed, and the most "enduring" horror movie.

  UK authority sci-fi magazine SFX conducted a poll for the scariest movie of all time this year, and the 1978 film "Halloween" won first place as the scariest movie, officially declaring its king status in the world of horror movies.

  SFX magazine editor Steven O'Brien said: "Halloween is the granddaddy of all slasher films, and it's a seminal work that spawned 20 years of imitators. Steven also added: "Horror doesn't have to be gory; the best horror is tied in with tension, atmosphere, and a sense of unease, where plot developments are completely unexpected, even to the director."

  This low-budget horror film, released in late 1978, changed the face of the genre. Initially, many serious critics thought the film was worthless or praiseworthy trash, and it seemed destined to be relegated to obscurity with no hope of recouping its paltry $300,000 investment.

  But a few months later, Tom Allen's insightful praise in "The Village Voice" changed the film's fate. Suddenly, critics discovered many things that they had not found in the movie at first.

  Because of the film's title, it was often confused with other "blood films" in immigrant neighborhoods' theaters in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but after being considered a modern "slasher film", it was separated from this type... while its sequels belong to "blood films"... This is not a despicable action movie - the violent scenes are surprisingly few, and almost no blood can be seen. Halloween is based on suspense rather than gore, and inspired a large number of mediocre horror/thriller films that followed, becoming the object of innumerable serial murder film rip-offs.

  It's because of that, this long-lived "Halloween" has shot out 6 sister sequels so far, with a total box office of over $300 million, and it has been thriving for 20 years. This year, the cold-blooded killer wearing a white mask is back on Halloween.

  Right on the heels of I Know What You Did Last Summer, another attention-grabbing horror film is Dimension Films' Scream 2.

  Sequel, see also sequel.

  Undoubtedly, the 1996 film "Scream" is a representative work of youth horror films. The film uses horror movie patterns while constantly mocking these patterns. The jokes about horror movies in the film are numerous.

  Although the plot of Scream still follows the old formula of a psychopathic killer committing a series of murders, this has become a hallmark of thriller films and is therefore forgivable. Like psychological horror movies, it keeps the audience in suspense from start to finish, even using the actors' own summaries of horror movie plot rules to increase the terrifying atmosphere. When college students sit together to watch a horror movie, and the killer really does what they say when killing, the audience's tense psychology is immediately hooked.

  If that's all, Scream can only be said to be a watchable entertainment film, but in fact, it has already played a role that is not just a general horror film that makes people tense and pursue sensory stimulation. When it comes to crime, the language often used is what its motive is. Why do criminals go kill people, there must be some purpose, but this film undoubtedly surprises the audience greatly. Two murderers, one of whom has a barely sufficient reason, while the other is simply unmotivated.

  As university students, the education they received cannot be said to be inadequate, but they simply imitated the techniques of horror movies, pursuing a thrill and novelty, and killing people without any purpose. They designed intricate traps that left no room for escape; they used intelligence combined with brutal violence, making murder an entertainment; their minds were twisted and distorted, even resorting to self-mutilation. All this was meant to make the audience tremble with fear while also provoking deep reflection.

  Now that Halloween is here, Scream 2 has just been released and Ghostface Killer is once again wreaking havoc on the big screen. Everyone is eagerly waiting to see how it will do at the box office.

  The Halloween file is ranked third, and what people are paying attention to is the Italian BIM film company's "Child's Play 4".

  Since the first appearance of "Child's Play" in 1988, it has frightened countless audiences on the big screen. Who would have thought that a naive and innocent-looking toy could hide an evil spirit of a psychopathic killer? The image of Chucky, a possessed doll, quickly became a symbol of evil. Chucky won huge success with its combination of childishness and horror, earning $40 million at the box office in 1988, making it a well-deserved horror star. Later, other films in this series were also made and released, all achieving impressive box office results.

  In fact, the Annabelle series should have its own place in horror movies. The creativity alone is enough to shock people. Even if you don't watch the movie, seeing abandoned dolls in everyday life can evoke inexplicable fear. What more when it comes to this ghost doll with a scarred face, ferocious appearance and an evil grin? Now that Annabelle Comes Home 4 has started filming again, this terrifying toy doll is bound to wreak havoc on Halloween once more.

  These three horror movies alone are enough to dominate Hollywood's Halloween box office and compete for the top spot.

  While Easy Fly's arch-nemesis, Dennis and Edyad two people under the support of Liongate Films shot so-called orthodox "Blair Witch 2" will also be released on Halloween.

  If you observe carefully, you will find that all of the above film companies belong to mid-level Hollywood studios.

  It's true that these small and medium-sized film companies have become the main players in the National Day holiday period, while films produced by major film companies will not be released during this time. The reason is that their targets are set on the Christmas season, which is several dozen times stronger than the National Day holiday period.

  That's why major film companies like MGM and Fox rarely release new films on Halloween, giving Dimension Films, Lionsgate, Miramax and Blumhouse a stage to compete.

  These several not very famous film companies, although they can't compare to the big shots like MGM and Fox, each have their own brand Halloween projects... Haven't you seen that basically all of them are sequels? These movies already have a fixed audience, if they put more effort into promotion, then without a doubt, it will bring about a peak in movie-going.

  For this, the recently popular Lionsgate, this time in order to make a big splash with "The Witch" sequel, it is said that the promotional budget for the prequel has already reached $3 million. Not to mention the other three companies, which are also sparing no effort to strongly promote their own upcoming movies.

  For a period of time, North American newspapers, magazines and mainstream TV stations, news media, front-page headlines took turns promoting their respective films.

  "Fight your way out! What are you watching on Halloween? Only watch 'Halloween 7'!"

  "Ghost Bride is back, 'Bride of Chucky', it will make your liver and gallbladder burst!"

  "Halloween is coming again, if you want to scream, watch Scream 2!"

  "The Witch is Back! Stay Tuned for Blair Witch 2!"

  ……

  And on various TV stations' variety entertainment programs, the wonderful clips and trailers of these movies that are competing for the Halloween slot are being played in rotation.

  Under such a strong offensive, low-cost films like those shot by Yi Feiyang have undoubtedly become cannon fodder in the mouths of many film critics.

  "Yes, we are not optimistic about the three horror movies shot by Yi Zhi in China. Not only because these three films were previously unknown, nor a sequel or a second installment, but more importantly, it is said that all three films belong to low-cost small productions. Of course, after being baptized by Yi Zhi's "The Witch", we will not easily look down on such small production movies, but a dark horse is still a dark horse, rare and few, it's impossible to say that as long as it's a movie produced by Yi Zhi in China, it will definitely create miracles and become a dark horse! Unless he is not Yi Zhi, but Magic Yi or Magician Yi!"

  A commentary article from Time Magazine in Los Angeles, USA.

  "It's obvious that this Halloween season is a paradise for sequels, anyone with eyes can see that everyone is 'reheating old rice' and 'selling old goods'. The most eye-catching one is the "Halloween" series, my god, it's already the seventh installment! In comparison, these few horror movies that have already gained a fixed audience, as well as China's easily-made three low-budget films, will undoubtedly become cannon fodder for this season. As they say in Chinese, they will 'die with their eyes open'!"

  Los Angeles Weekly Entertainment Magazine Reviewer Article.

  "We don't want to make too many predictions about the upcoming Halloween file's strengths and weaknesses. All we can say is that from a promotional perspective, whether it's 'Moonlight', 'Scream' or 'Ghost Baby', they all invested heavily in advertising expenses beforehand, even 'The Witch 2' spent $3 million on ads! In comparison, what did China's newly established Dream Illusion Pictures do? Poor newbies, new play, new company... perhaps waiting for them is a fate of being at the bottom!"

  Los Angeles "Entertainment New Line" commentator article.

  ……

  Just when all the media thought that Yi... Yi Feiyang would respond to the Halloween promotional period with silence and indifference, a short and concise "Ghost House Real Record" was published in an entertainment newspaper.

  This article, like a sharp awl, broke through the tight blockade of the four horror movies on newspapers and magazines, occupying a small space, appearing in front of everyone.

  October 21, 1998.

  The Legend of the Haunted House

  "America, where there is no shortage of mysterious haunted house legends, from the Edland Haunted House to the Sloane Villa; but this time I want to introduce you to a place located in the eastern part of California called 'Burial Ground'. Why does this haunted house have such a frightening name? Because there's a very scary legend about it... They say that years ago, a Mexican drug lord who had sneaked into America died, and after his death, the large sum of US dollars he had hidden away, as well as his own corpse, mysteriously disappeared within this eerie house."

  "This time, China Yi unexpectedly didn't hesitate at all... I heard that Chinese people are very respectful of ghosts and gods... Renting this old building full of eerie atmosphere to film 'Ghost Shadow Record', it makes me curious, how did they do it?!"

  ……

  Although, as a reporter, Ingr didn't make the "Ghost Recording" shot by Yiyang the focus of this article's promotion, indirectly, through his report on ghost stories, people became even more curious, what kind of miracle and effect would there be in shooting a ghost movie here?

  What is "half-covered face"?

  What is "desire to cover up and desire to conceal"?

  What is "you have no choice but to be seduced"?!

  Americans are also very fond of this kind of topical farce.

  "What is the content of China E's 'Ghost Record'?"

  "We're really curious about China's new play, I heard there are three episodes, haha, this time we have something to watch!"

  "Waiting, we are very curious about what kind of new play China Yi has, is it a ghost film? 'Horror Cruise', 'Buried Alive', 'Ghost Shadow Record', haha, just listening to the name is quite special!"

  ……

  Undoubtedly, Yi Feiyang's "New and Wonderful" moved the hearts of many spectators.

  You're not relying on your old reputation, are you? Making a sequel, I'll give you three new plays to widen your horizons!

  It has to be said that Yi Feiyang is very cunning and good at exploiting loopholes, also very understanding of people's "liking new things and getting tired of old ones" psychology.

  Not bad, making a sequel has a stable audience, but for the audience, new plays are more attractive.

  With the release of Ingel's "accidental" haunted house news, a small wave was immediately set off in Hollywood. At least, Yi Feiyang has returned to everyone's sight again, and people haven't forgotten him yet.

  Of course, relying solely on this report, it is impossible to make Ye Feiyang's three plays hot and popular, the investment is too small, there are no highlights.

  But Yi Feiyang was not anxious, because in his view, rather than facing the pressure of many publicized films now, it's better to avoid their edge and wait for the film to be released, after the momentum of the opponents' public opinion has fallen, and then make plans.

  Endurance

  This is Yi Feiyang's strategy and also part of his plan for the final battle on All Saints' Day.

  "Just you wait, it will be even more wonderful later!" Yi Feiyang said with a confident smile.

  But compared with Rabbit Bill and Fat Jack, this kind of publicity is really not enough.

  Alas, Yi Feiyang told them that he still had two great tricks up his sleeve and when the time came, they would see a good show!

  Desperate move?

  What's your special skill?

  Is there anything else up Yilao's sleeve to make these three plays explode?!

  Geez, he's really unpredictable!

  I'll be spending this holiday with my mom in the hospital, but I still wish everyone a Merry Christmas!