Chapter 16: Public opinion

As time entered the end of March 1994, notices of missing persons suddenly appeared in the streets and alleys of several major cities in North America.

Immediately afterwards, a number of newspapers and magazines under News Corporation searched for the three missing college students almost at the same time, claiming that their family members were very worried about this.

At the same time, Fox Television received an anonymous package containing a videotape and a notepad.

The notepad clearly recorded a shocking content. Three film students disappeared in the jungle near the small town of Butzidsville, Maryland, USA. After days of searching, the search and rescue team only found some of their belongings. and a video camera.

It's a pity that the camera itself suffered some damage, and some video clips could barely be cut out and mailed over. I hope Fox TV can help find the missing person.

It is said that the three of them were looking for a rumor about a witch at that time, but they suddenly disappeared collectively when they didn't want to.

With the videotape in front of them, and the missing person notices in many newspapers and magazines, the staff of Fox TV station suddenly felt that something was wrong with the matter in front of them, and it seemed too coincidental.

However, the top executives of Fox TV agreed that this video tape was very valuable, and immediately asked people to make a special program to broadcast it.

With such a quick response from the top management, some employees inevitably showed strange emotions.

But the TV station likes true and false reports the most, and only when there are topics can there be enthusiasm.

What's more, the footage on the video tape is very valuable.

The rumors of witches spread widely throughout the western world, especially in some small towns in the eastern United States, there are more or less rumors related to witches.

So in a word, witches have a huge market in North America.

The contents of the tape are true and false!

It's not in their consideration at all. Anyway, this is something that the top management agreed to.

As for whether there will be any problems when it is played out!

As long as you think about it for a while, it is not difficult to find that the three college students in the video seem to have some problems. When you think about the relationship between the TV station and 20th Century Fox, it is not difficult to draw a conclusion.

The next night, a popular program on Fox TV released the images from the video tape.

"We found an incredible video some time ago. It seems to be three missing college students. The items they left behind. After many investigations by the program team, we finally confirmed the whole incident."

"It is said that these three college students went to find the legend about the witch Blair during the vacation time. In the end, the whereabouts of the three were unknown and only some items were left behind."

"It's a pity that the camera in the item is seriously damaged. For the time being, only a small section of the picture can be repaired, and the rest of the picture is still under urgent repair."

After speaking, the scene on the TV screen changed, and some very shaky scenes began to appear.

"In October 1993, three film students disappeared in the jungle near the small town of Buzizville, Maryland, USA. At that time, they were filming a documentary about the ancient local legend "Blair the Witch."

"A few months later, their backpacks were found, containing audio tapes, Hi-8 cameras, 16mm cameras, recording the final journey of the three."

The video tape is not very long, only four or five minutes long, but it clearly records that three college students are looking for some images of the witch Blair.

"Then I would like to ask, why the search and rescue team has been indifferent since the three college students disappeared for half a year!"

"Is it incompetent? Or don't care at all!"

The host's tone suddenly became very excited.

Next, the host called on the audience to provide valuable clues while talking about the incompetence of government departments.

For a while, the audience in front of the TV was all talking.

"God, do witches really exist in the world!"

"I really hope they are safe and sound."

"Damn the search and rescue team, they are literally committing a crime."

"We must act to prevent the three college students from disappearing for no reason."

"That's right, everyone can go to the relevant departments to parade."

After Fox TV's report, coupled with News Corporation's newspapers, magazines and other media, it was hyped on a large scale.

In just a few days, no matter whether it is a large regular newspaper or an unscrupulous third-rate tabloid, they are competing to report on the three missing college students and the Blair witch, which has become the hottest topic in North America.

For this publicity and marketing, 20th Century Fox has spent a lot of effort. The media under the News Corporation are spending a lot of effort to promote it. The entire North American street is talking about this topic, and even some charitable organizations have begun to post spontaneously. Search notices.

The investment in the publicity budget alone is as high as several million dollars.

Fortunately, the distribution department of 20th Century Fox only needs simple guidance for the next matter, and releases some true and false news from time to time, and the rest will naturally be reported by countless media.

In the Fox Building, inside the 20th Century Fox distribution department, Colette Singer showed an unbelievable expression when he saw the data in his hand.

"It appears our publicity program has been so successful it's unbelievable."

"Next, we still can't relax in the slightest. All the members of the distribution department should move for me. Any place where people gather in North America must be filled with missing person notices."

"By the way, the Fox TV side, can it be repeated several times!"

A distribution staff member said: "Fox TV has repeated the show four times, and at least five million people have watched the show. Unless there are new images, it will be difficult to get more viewers if it continues to repeat the show."

"Then let someone cut out a short scene." Colette-Singer said firmly.

Perhaps when the film is released, he may become the head of the distribution department, not just a person in charge.

"Okay, I'll do it now." After finishing speaking, he immediately stood up and left the meeting room in a hurry.

Regardless of the country, the credibility of the TV station is very high.

"By now, a lot of people have believed it, at least a bunch of my son's friends."

"There are still many college students who spontaneously set up search organizations, which shows that the disappearance of the three college students and the witch Blair have become the hottest topic in North America."

"However, once things really come to light, it will be just as bad."

In this regard, Colette Singer was not worried at all, and said very relaxedly: "I have already talked with Helen, the manager of several leading actors in the film. All the people who are related to the film are now in a country in the middle of Africa. Relax."

"When the film is released and the matter is finally exposed, it is completely possible to bring back several leading actors in the film and let them accept the pursuit of the media and movie fans."

As soon as he mentioned this matter, he couldn't help feeling a little bit pained, all the expenses for going to Central Africa to relax, but UU Reading www.uukanshu.com was paid by 20th Century Fox, and Helen didn't need to spend even a penny.

But he still had to agree.

"By the way, try to downplay the topic of the film director and the heroine."

Downplay the director and heroine!

Everyone nodded thoughtfully, a very smart decision.

"There is also the matter of the film's release. It must be released before April 1st. It must be negotiated with the major theater companies. I want at least 1,200 screens."

Colette-Singer is very clear that the popularity of the film will not last long, and it must be released as soon as possible, and the more theaters the better.

"I'm afraid this is a bit difficult. The theater company thinks it's better to be safe and hold a small-scale screening first." The person in charge of negotiating with the theater said helplessly.

"Then order screenings as soon as possible. Once the box office results are satisfactory, immediately contact all theater companies in English-speaking countries to strive for simultaneous release as soon as possible."

"At the same time, don't stop in terms of publicity. In addition to Fox TV, other national TV stations must contact each other, and don't let go of any publicity channels."

"On the eve of the film's release, we must pay attention to confidentiality, and all relevant personnel must be forced to sign a non-disclosure contract."

Colette-Singer has always attached great importance to confidentiality, and even some senior executives of 20th Century Fox are not aware of this matter.

The more the movie is in the early stage of release, the more it needs to be kept secret, so that the curious public can enter the movie theater willingly.

Of course, it is impossible to keep this matter a secret. Sooner or later, people will know that this is just a publicity scam.

But the box office obtained in the early stage is enough to make people dumbfounded, and there is no need to consider long-term screenings.