Test screenings...any books?

[OABJYU]

Are there any specific books/essays on the subject of test screenings? It would be a fascinating subject to look into how studios/directors/censors changed films for success...or failure?

[mwynn]

Originally Posted by OABJYU

Are there any specific books/essays on the subject of test screenings? It would be a fascinating subject to look into how studios/directors/censors changed films for success...or failure?

Not sure anyone has compiled anything into print. I did find some articles, lists, podcasts and youtube videos.

https://indiefilmhustle.com/film-test-screenings/

[chip75]

Might be worth searching for audience reation cards online. It would show you the concerns the studios have for each picture.

[BudBaxter]

Every once in a while test screenings get mentioned in extra features on a DVD or blu & it's usually quite fascinating, but I'd imagine a lot of it is very deeply buried as most filmmakers wouldn't want their 'mistakes' made public.

The test cards on the Arrow blu of Eaten Alive are hilarious. Even back then they knew it was a stinker.

It's a great idea for a book though. If one doesn't exist, some talented scribe out there should look into writing one...

[BigPudge]

I take credit for the ending of Ted!

Went to a test screening of it in L.A about a year before it was released. Alot of the CGI was unfinished and all of that (some scenes just had Wahlberg talking to nothing)

At the end, the people running the screening ask a select group of people to stick around and give extra thoughts (everyone in the theater gets the paper to fill out that has questions like "did this remind you of any other movie" "what did you like" "what didn't you like" "was anything confusing")

So my friend and I got asked to stay after the screening.

We sat in front of theater with about 15 other people and then I notice Seth McFarlane take a seat behind us (I knew what he looked like just cuz im a movie nerd, back at this time I don't think many people did)

So they go through the sheet and get to the "was anything confusing" question. At the time, the film had the scene at Fenway and then it cuts to the scene where we think Ted is dead before he pretends to be "messed up" cuz his stuffing got put in wrong. And then it ends.

So when they asked, I said that it was a bit confusing as to what happened to Giovanni Ribisi's character and all of that. Didn't feel like any closure. They asked if anyone agreed and most everyone else did.

Cut to a year later, I see the movie again, and the ending now has the part where they tell you what happened to the characters.

I take full credit for that! (Whether I actually deserve it or not!!)

[MazeRunner]

Originally Posted by BigPudge

Went to a test screening of it in L.A about a year before it was released. Alot of the CGI was unfinished and all of that (some scenes just had Wahlberg talking to nothing)
!)

I don’t think I could watch that for 2 hours

[prkprkprk]

Originally Posted by OABJYU

Are there any specific books/essays on the subject of test screenings? It would be a fascinating subject to look into how studios/directors/censors changed films for success...or failure?

Read "Audienceology: How Moviegoers Shape the Films We Love" by Kevin Goetz, he's got tons of experience with test screenings through operating a testing firm. Terrific and insightful book, I think it should be what you're looking for.

Your post flag seems to indicate you're in the UK, so you may need to get it from a different link than Amazon US, but I hope people on here check it out.

[OABJYU]

Originally Posted by prkprkprk

Read "Audienceology: How Moviegoers Shape the Films We Love" by Kevin Goetz, he's got tons of experience with test screenings through operating a testing firm. Terrific and insightful book, I think it should be what you're looking for.

Your post flag seems to indicate you're in the UK, so you may need to get it from a different link than Amazon US, but I hope people on here check it out.

Nice one, thanks so much!

[BigPudge]

Originally Posted by MazeRunner

I don’t think I could watch that for 2 hours

It was a unique experience! All the audio work was done, so you would hear all of Ted's lines, just either no animation done or half way complete animation.

I went to quite a few test screenings when I lived out in LA.

Biggest regret was when I saw a test screening of End of Watch and Anna Kendrick sat 4 rows behind me and I didn't shoot my shot! I'm sure she would have said yes to a a bald fat dude!

[oubukibun]

The original Final Destination DVD release under the Platinum Series for New Line had a featurette on test screenings that goes into some of the things you're wondering about and fascinated by.

It's been carried over to all releases of the film since, and it's a great, breezy watch.

[RFK]

Test Screenings aren't always accurate. When Fox ran test screenings for Altman's MASH they did nothing to prepare the audience for what type of picture they were about to see.
When a movie is as different as MASH was, the audience needed to know what to expect because seeing it cold, their responses could be very cold in return.

It was only because the studio decided to get some prominent New York critics opinions which were all positive that MASH got released at all. Without that critical screening MASH would have never been released which would have ended Altman's career before it ever got started.

[BluBonnet]

I wonder if they held any test screenings for Altman's HEALTH

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by OABJYU

Are there any specific books/essays on the subject of test screenings? It would be a fascinating subject to look into how studios/directors/censors changed films for success...or failure?

Not test screenings per se but check out Paul Hirsch's book, it's all about editing and into that comes stories about test screenings of some verr famous films.

[RFK]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

I wonder if they held any test screenings for Altman's HEALTH

That I can't answer but I doubt the critics would have saved that one, not that Altman would have ever allowed a test screening since he had total control of his films after MASH and didn't approve of marketing his movies like a McDonalds sandwich.

They did however pass out a flyer to audiences for Quintet trying to explain the game.
Didn't work.