Summary
In this engaging episode of Stuff You Should Know, hosts Josh Clark and Charles W. Chuck Bryant dive into the fascinating world of audience testing for movies and TV shows. They take listeners on a historical journey, revealing that audience testing dates back as far as the 1930s, with the iconic movie "The Wizard of Oz" as an early example of utilizing this practice. The hosts also discuss how focus groups were employed by Francis Ford Coppola for his groundbreaking film "Apocalypse Now" and explain the significant influence of Joe Farrell, who later founded the National Research Group (NRG) that has dominated the audience testing industry for decades.
Audience testing serves various purposes, such as gauging the success of jokes in comedies, the desired level of violence in action-packed films, and the overall pacing and comprehensibility of a movie. As part of this process, audience members complete comment cards to provide feedback, and their likelihood of recommending the film to friends is considered a crucial indicator of its potential success. Delving into demographics and location, the hosts reveal how the majority of test screenings take place in Los Angeles and primarily target people aged 18 to 34. Assistant editors and the editing crew play a vital role in preparing rough cuts for these test screenings.
One interesting anecdote shared by the hosts involves Tom Cruise crashing a test screening of "Mission: Impossible 3" and sitting with the audience. Some believe that Cruise's presence may have influenced the viewers' opinions, thus skewing the test results. A variety of films have been altered based on audience feedback, such as The Wizard of Oz, License to Kill, Pretty Woman, and Fatal Attraction. The episode also covers famous changed endings in movies like Sunset Boulevard, Heathers, and Blade Runner. As the episode wraps up, a listener shares his love for the podcast and the challenge of finding time to listen due to a shorter commute, hinting that he may save episodes for longer bike rides. This enjoyable episode not only educates listeners on the process of audience testing but also offers a glimpse into how it has shaped the filmmaking industry and some of our favorite movies.
