There is a lot of talk about creating demand for indie films. How do you do it? Yes it helps to have Paramount backing you, but you need something else. A little thing called "word of mouth."
My barber told me yesterday that he was going to see this "crazy-looking flick." I asked which one, and he told me Paranormal Activity. He demanded it in NYC, and its here this weekend, and he is taking his all-too reluctant girlfriend. Of course, as an urban male, he wont admit that he might come back with less of an ability to sleep. But it doesnt matter. His friend told him about how scary it was, told him to demand it, he did, and now he is getting what he asked for. Slow roll-outs work, if your film is that good, or at least gets audiences going. They want to share in that experience.
This story continues to amaze. And when this film becomes one of the most successful slow roll-out films of the year, if not in the last several years, I will try hard not to say "I told you so." - After the jump:
'Paranormal Activity' To Open Nationwide After 1,000,000 Demands Are Received
Posted 10/6/09 10:00 am ET by Adam Rosenberg in News
"Now you've gone and done it, fanboys and fangirls. First you weren't happy with director Oren Peli's "Paranormal Activity" only opening in 13 locations, so you demanded more. The movie then opened wider but it still wasn't enough, so your demands grew louder and more numerous. Now, Paramount has a message to share:
"WE HEARD YOU!!"
What does this mean? "Paranormal Activity" is only a few breaths away from opening across the country. The veritè-style ghost story about a couple being taunted by a demonic spirit will open nationwide as soon as one million demands are reached on the movie's Eventful.com request page. The number currently rests at ~373,000 so there's still a ways to go.
I finally saw "Paranormal Activity" last week in New York City. It's the sort of movie that messes with you after the fact. There are a fair number of jump scares, but the winners are the standout moments that just linger. Even when the fairly horrendous crowd I caught the screening with sucked the suspense out of the room, I still found myself lying awake later that night with visions of demonic, chicken-footed specters and self-propelled Ouija boards in my head."
Read the rest of this incredible story HERE.
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