Prompt Cast
The Pros and Cons of Audience Testing for Movies and TV Shows
TLDR Audience testing for movies and TV shows can be a valuable tool for filmmakers to gather feedback and gauge audience response, but it can also be a terrible experience and lead to changes in movie titles and endings based on audience feedback.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
This episode discusses how audience testing works for movies and TV shows, with some filmmakers finding it valuable while others find it to be a terrible experience.
04:38
Audience testing for movies and TV shows can be a terrible experience, even for filmmakers who believe in the system, and some notable directors, like Robert Altman, are not fans of it.
09:12
The National Research Group, a company that specializes in audience testing, was formed by Joe Farrell and Catherine Para during the making of Apocalypse Now and is still one of the top companies in the industry.
14:12
Audience testing is used to gather feedback on movies, including testing jokes in comedies and determining the appropriate level of violence in a film.
18:40
Test audiences for movies are typically recruited in Los Angeles and are often attended by people working on the film to gather feedback and gauge audience response, with a focus on pacing and overall audience experience.
22:55
Test audiences for movies gather feedback and gauge audience response, focusing on pacing, overall audience experience, and whether or not viewers would recommend the movie to a friend.
27:42
Audience screenings can be influenced by the presence of celebrities, making it less likely for attendees to provide negative feedback.
32:24
Test audiences have influenced changes in movie titles and endings, such as suggesting the removal of the song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz and changing the title of James Bond's movie License Revoked to License to Kill.
37:19
Test audiences have influenced changes in movie endings, such as suggesting that Glenn Close's character be killed off in "Fatal Attraction" and that the protagonist in "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" end up with his love interest instead of his dream girl.
41:57
Some movies, like "Sunset Boulevard," "Heathers," and "Blade Runner," had their endings changed based on audience feedback.
46:30
The hosts address a listener's struggle to find the right time to listen to the podcast and suggest different solutions.
Categories:
Society & Culture
