October 29th, Friday.
Page Pictures' long-planned new work, final destination, officially premiered in major North America theaters starting today.
Immediately upon release, it seized a large amount of screen time from dozens of film companies, fiercely occupying over 25% of the total screening slots in major North America theaters that day.
The heads of many small and medium-sized film companies were stamping their feet in anger, yet they were helpless.
"That damned Kyle Page, to have such a high screening rate~"
Gustav, the boss of Lionsgate Films, gritted his teeth alone in his office.
"Hmph~"
"These damn theaters aren't any better; they all favor the strong and step on the weak. They just see that Lionsgate Films was established recently and is a bit smaller. Fine, then! In the future, Lionsgate Films will inevitably grow strong enough that major theaters won't dare to ignore us."
It must be said that Gustav indeed possessed great ambition.
In the trajectory of the original timeline, Gustav's Lionsgate Films did indeed rapidly develop and expand, successively acquiring Summit Entertainment, parts of MGM Film Company's assets, and more, instantly becoming one of North America's top ten major film companies. Furthermore, it spent ten years cultivating an overseas distribution channel second only to The Big Six in distribution power.
You must know, this was something even DreamWorks failed to achieve!
Moreover, aside from the lack of media influence, Lionsgate Films, founded by Gustav, was extremely powerful in the production field, almost matching The Big Six.
However... his current strength was still weak, and he could only swallow his anger.
How frustrating~
Of course, the North America theater owners were not easy to deal with either!
"It's not like Gustav can just take revenge whenever he decides to in the future!"
In the late 90s, although the North America theater market was fragmented with many independent theaters, putting the theaters at a slight disadvantage against production companies, the emergence of the three theater giants—AMC, Regal Entertainment, and Cinemark—meant the trend of big fish eating small fish was unstoppable.
These three major theater giants completely integrated the North America theater market in just a few years, dominating 92% of the theaters in North America. This ended the period of warring factions, and ushered in an era of three-way dominance.
The theater owners began to become extremely powerful!
At that time, the three major theater giants would possess immense confidence when facing the numerous Hollywood studios.
Even The Big Six would not dare to hide their edge!
Furthermore, the three major chains—AMC, Regal Entertainment, and Cinemark—even brazenly seized more revenue from the production companies, increasing the profitability of the theaters.
Theater owners are difficult to provoke now, and they will be unmatched in strength in the future~
...final destination has premiered!
Warner Bros. Pictures' new work, the haunted house, also premiered today, occupying over 24% of the screening slots.
"Everyone, we must clarify one fact!"
Barry Meyer, the new President of Warner Bros. Pictures, spoke loudly to a group of executives: "No matter how we compete or fight with Page Pictures, that is for later. Our primary task is to first unite with Page Pictures, suppress the small and medium-sized film companies, and divide up the entire Halloween schedule!"
Unite with Page and divide the schedule?
Hearing this, everyone was amused.
An executive laughed, saying, "Although I'm a bit unhappy and unwilling to unite with Page Pictures, if the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman profits. It is absolutely delusional for those small companies to try and seize market share."
Profit!
Everything is for profit!
As one of The Big Six, Warner Bros. Pictures, backed by the World's largest media company Time Warner Group, naturally does not fear Page Pictures.
However, engaging in a relentless battle with Page during the current schedule would be unwise~
If Warner Bros. Pictures defeats Page Pictures, what will it gain?
Nothing but empty fame!
A large company like Warner always prioritizes profit. Even if they defeat Page Pictures, the cost would be substantial, and it would instead allow the small and medium-sized film companies to profit from the conflict, which does not align with Warner's interests.
"Hmm, there is something called tacit understanding!"
...At the same time.
Page Pictures.
"At this critical juncture, of course we cannot attack Warner and their new work, the haunted house!"
Kyle laughed: "I'm not stupid. Naturally, we should first kick some films out of the game, acquire more screening slots, and reap the maximum profit. As for the conflict and war with Warner... in a few days, even if we don't make a move, Warner will."
Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.
Old Bill laughed: "In the realm of Hollywood, the boundary between friends and enemies is blurred, or perhaps nonexistent."
The flashpoint of all conflicts will always be the struggle for profit!
...Following the tacit cooperation between Page Pictures and Warner Company—which was the plan to "first unite to sweep away the small and medium-sized film companies, and then contend against each other."
Once the tacit action began, the power of the two major media groups was unleashed. Their overwhelming publicity was something the small and medium-sized film companies simply could not resist; it was like the autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves!
Films released in the preceding days saw their box office revenue plummet!
The heads of the various companies were crying out in misery!
"That damned Page Pictures, that bastard Warner Bros. Pictures~"
Shea, the boss of New Line Cinema, cursed loudly: "These two utterly shameless companies already occupy over 50% of the screening slots, yet they're still not satisfied and are aiming their attacks directly at us poor wretches?!"
He had a premonition... that after tomorrow, the screening slots for the new works from Page and Warner would very likely exceed 60%, 70%, or even more!
Sure enough!
When the second day arrived, the screening slots for the two film companies, Warner and Page Pictures, had increased significantly.
The screening rate for final destination reached 31%;
The increase in screening rate for the haunted house was even more astonishing, surpassing Page Pictures in one fell swoop, reaching 33.7%.
Even Kyle was astonished.
"Whoa~"
Kyle looked at the report and couldn't help but sigh: "The Big Six truly are The Big Six; their methods are definitely beyond what we can currently match. Look, on October 29th in the North America market, our film final destination's box office revenue was clearly over 3 million U.S. dollars higher than Warner's the haunted house, making it the number one film at the box office yesterday. Yet, the increase in our screening slots is still less than Warner's!"
Logically, since final destination was number one at the box office yesterday, its screening rate increase should have been the largest;
However, the reality was that Warner's film the haunted house was the biggest beneficiary.
"Boss, relax."
Old Bill chuckled: "If Warner didn't have tricks like this, then it wouldn't deserve to be called one of The Big Six!"
Kyle nodded.
Page Pictures could compete with Warner for a brief period now, but it could only be a short-term contest. In a prolonged struggle, Page Pictures would surely lose.
The lack of talent reserves, funding, foundation, historical factors, and political backing... these missing elements are why Page is inferior to The Big Six.
Old Bill chuckled again: "Boss, even if Warner is the biggest beneficiary this time, we aren't doing badly, and we might even surpass them later. But as for the rest of the small and medium-sized film companies, they are in a miserable state~"
Are the small and medium-sized film companies miserable?
Miserable!
Very miserable!
The bosses of many film companies were cursing angrily~
"Shameless!"
"The way those two film companies are eating up the market is truly repulsive!"
"Exactly! They are collaborating to divide the market and the schedule. They are completely denying us a path to survival!"
"Look, just look! In just one day, the revenues of our various film companies have either plummeted by 30% or dropped by half. Some companies even had their films pulled from the schedule directly by the theaters, how hateful~"
Was the joint effort by Page Pictures and Warner Company to divide the market and suppress the other film companies despicable?
Yes!
It was very despicable!
But, this is reality!
It is no different between nations or between individuals!
Gustav, the boss of Lionsgate Films, was undoubtedly a very astute person. While many film companies struggled, he did not give up resisting or surrender, choosing instead to increase financial investment.
"Withstand this wave of attacks~"
"Don't look at Warner and Page as if they are currently tacitly cooperating and jointly dividing the market. They have many internal conflicts. Just wait and see, I guarantee that in a few days, the two companies will start fighting, and then we won't have to worry about lacking an opportunity to rise again."