show the movie to people just to see if the movie is gonna "work".
If so, how do they do it? Do they choose people randomly?
can the movie be drastically changed by the opinions of these previewers?
2007-01-29 11:45:17 · 5 answers · asked by whoknows 3 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Movies
Yes, this is true. It's called "screening"...They do it by randomly choosing people, usually the studio hires people to go pass out fliers in the streets of big cities, and the flier says "come preview this movie, give your opinions".
The movie can be drastically changed...if the ending doesn't test well the studio will demand that the director change it. A good example of this is from the movie "The Breakup" with Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn. Originially, the ending was very bitter, and they weren't going to be friends..but test audiences didn't like the ending, so they re-shot it to where it was a little friendlier.
If you are looking to be in a test audience I am sure you can find somewhere online to join! :)
2007-01-29 11:53:04 · answer #1 · answered by Swanky1 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes they do, and if you find that annoying, I'm with you all the way. There was a time when a book or movie was a reflection of someone's thoughts, written and produced because there was a story worth telling. That's no longer true - now the plot is tweaked and massaged to please the fancies of the viewing public.
Heck, they might as well just ask the public to write the movie for them. Oh wait, they've already tried that - "Snakes on a Plane". The movie bombed.
2007-01-29 12:09:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's absolutely true....it's called a screening. And if audiences react negatively the entire story can be changed. Sometimes the film will get less promotion.....maybe not even finished. Watch the movie "The Player"....it gives you a great feeling for how this works. Plus it's an awesome movie.
2007-01-29 11:51:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe they show to certain group people who will rate the movie. I'm not sure how they're chosen. Some theaters also show a movie at night a few days before it's officially released in all of the theaters. I remember they did this with the Matrix series and both POTCs (Pirates of the Caribbean and Passion of the Christ).
2007-01-29 11:54:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, test screenings are very common. The movie "Pretty Woman" was going to end with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere going their separate ways, but the test audiences hated that so much, they tacked on the ending where he comes back for her.
2007-01-29 12:05:41 · answer #5 · answered by Yogini108 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋