Feedback:
BOP Answers Its Mail
By Calvin Trager
August 5, 2004
BoxOfficeProphets.com

Why the pith helmet? For that matter, why the track suit? Don't get me started on the saddle shoes.
There's a saying, "Beware of those who ask for feedback". It means people usually only want to hear the good things. Most people want to play it safe, keep doing the things they already know how to do. Reinforcement is a critical element to taking the easy way out; tolerance of mediocrity begets mediocrity. The problem with that little scenario is, where's the growth? Where's the satisfaction that comes with improvement, achievement?

Well, we at BOP love all the feedback, good and bad. We're all about continuous improvement, knamean? And there's no doubt that sometimes we are going to follow our own muse, even in the face of negative feedback. But having said that, we're also not afraid to embrace good suggestions, as we've shown throughout our tenure here. For that we say thanks. Thanks for helping make BOP the kind of place we can be proud of, and the kind of place you can be proud of too.

Here then is some selected feedback and response from May 28 - June 5, 2004:

Yan has an idea that seems good on paper:
First of all, BOP rules. I've been a fan for over a year and try to read pretty much everything you publish. I like the new look and the various new columns that have appeared recently, especially the one where you answer feedback, which is prompting me to send you this comment. I have a suggestion for something you could put up BOP which would be both interesting and useful for those of us who are interested in box office numbers and the film industry. You already have a section that deals with box office numbers by studio, which is great. But what I have been looking for recently (and haven't been able to find anywhere) is a list of all the major production and distribution companies (North American mostly, but worldwide also if possible), arranged to show who owns what, and who is independant. What would be really great, is if you could give some information about how studios handle the films they own. For example, why does Sony release some films through Sony Pictures and others through Sony Pictures Classics. I'm not sure what format would be best to provide this information, but if anyone can figure out a way to make it useful and interesting, you guys can. Thanks.

This reminds me of a similar letter that I recently wrote. It goes like this: Dear Mr. Bob Evans. I sure do love your tasty sausage products. They make my breakfast complete. Hey, you know what would be a great idea? You should give tours so people can see how sausage is made! Because if there's one thing that would enhance the sausage eating experience it would be seeing - and hearing and smelling - your company in action. I'm not sure the best way for you to do this, but if anyone can take the process of grinding leftover animal parts into breakfast meat and make it not disgusting, you can.

In retrospect I can see my idea was not a good one - lots of people like sausage, but very few would like to see how it is made. And hopefully you're getting my analogy here, Yan. Some things are better left unexposed to the harsh light of day. Or at least held in reserve until the right offer from Mark Burnett comes along. Thanks for the feedback.

Sean has a minor quibble:
This is a minor quibble but the weekend forecast says Dean Devlin was involved with TDAT, but he is not listed on any of the posters or promo material on anything regarding TDAT, so am I safe to assume you were assuming he was involved or am I missing something? I even checked the film credits at the official Fox site and nothing concerning him. I thought he and Emmerich parted ways and he formed Electric Entertainment which made the flop Eight Legged Freaks and is doing Mech Warriors for Paramount.

Sean, I didn't write that piece, so I'm just assuming here that you are safe to assume that we were incorrect in assuming Devlin was involved with The Day After Tomorrow. Am I to assume from reading your feedback that he wasn't involved? Assuming you are right on that point, I don't think it is safe to assume Devlin and Emmerich will never partner on a project again. With Hollywood, you never know. I assume you already know this, but I will say it anyway: Thanks for your feedback.

Tom sees his theory blown to pieces:
I just had a very interesting idea about the amount that movies targeted at teenagers make on weekends that the SATs are taken. My theory is that such movies will make less than expected on the Friday before because a number of teenagers are cramming for the tests, and a larger number the Saturday of the test because all of the teenagers will just want to relax and not think. The next SATs will be on June 5th, and I am going to check and see if my theory is correct. What do you think of my idea?

I think you should expect to see a spike in state school applications next year, Tom. Teens chose Harry Potter over ivy on June 4th as the opener raked in $41.2 million, the fourth largest single day ever (before Spider-Man 2). How did your theory do on Saturday when teens were blowing off that post-SAT steam? HP3 earned $33.5 million. In other words, the exact opposite of what your theory stipulated.

Not to be a wet blanket here, but the broader truth is that your theory is marginally interesting but unprovable. Did high school sophomores and juniors stay away from movie theaters on June 4th? Did they flock to HP3 on June 5th? Your guess is as good as mine. Your theory attempts to isolate a segment of the audience demographic that is too narrowly defined and therefore too small a portion of the overall box office pie to matter. Thanks for the feedback.

Scott prefaces his request to borrow money with some shameless butt kissing:
BOP Staff, First of all, I want to compliment all the contributors to the "Movieball" article. The studio 'suits' couldn't have explained "Movieball" any better than you guys have done. It was excellent and right 'on the money', so-to-speak! Second of all, the BOP Site is one of the best sites anywhere!! I love the articles, and I depend on it each weekend for the Box Office Forecasts as well as the Weekend Wrap-ups. Even IMDB only gives numbers at the end of each box office weekend, but you guys give the 'box office analysis', which is not only critical to read, but fun as well. I also love the new look to BOP. KEEP UP THE EXCELLENT WORK!! Sincerely, Scott

Scott, thanks for the shameless, butt-kissing feedback. Is $20 enough? I know a guy who can help you spend it.

Wei writes in with a serious question that doesn't deserve to be joked about, even if he did say CD when he meant DVD:
when the movie "to live is better than to die" will be on tv? I really want to watch it. or do you know where I could buy that cd?

Current searches of Sundance Channel and IFC reveal it isn't showing there any time soon. Make sure you read John Seal's TiVoPlex column weekly, Wei, for he's always on top of stuff like this. I'm sure the next time the powerful documentary airs he will mention it. Additionally, the Peabody winning film is not yet out on DVD, but reading How to Spend $20 each week will clue you in when it is. Thanks for your feedback.

Bernard heard Stellan Skarsgård got his start by writing to BOP:
Hey, I'm Bernard, living in Belgium. What's your advice if i want to act in cool films like Donnie Darko, Pulp Fiction or American Splendor? How do i get a deal from where i'm living? Thanks. Bernard

Hey, Bernard! Get your ass to Hollywood. And bring kneepads.

Chris needs his news fix:
What's happened to the Daily News? It's rarely updated daily, and when it is, the front page usually isn't update to reflect the current date. I love the new site and design, but I miss the news. -Chris

That's a two-part question, Chris; let me address the second part first. Daily News (like its partners in crime BOP Movie of the Day and This Day in Film History) has a permanent place on the front page, just below the fold. When it updates, that's where you'll find it.

Now, we did come up with a compromise for our lazier readers. I'm not saying that's you necessarily, Chris, I'm just saying some others out there have apparently never before had to use a scroll bar or the page down button on your keyboard. Yay Internet! Anyway, right under the BOP logo and right above the BOP Poll on the front page is a rollover icon that shouts "New!" at you. If you roll over that, the link to BOP News will take you to the latest edition of the Dailies.

Now, as to why Daily News isn't updated each and every single day, I can only say that we do the absolute best we can. Sometimes the news or the muse just isn't there, sometimes real life or other jobs intrude, and a dealine gets missed. And sometimes we put Daily News on hiatus for longer breaks to focus on other things or recharge the automated joke generator. In the early part of 2004 we were working on the site redesign. Since May, though, we've kicked the Dailies into gear with about 16 updates a month. All for you, Chris, for you! Thanks for the feedback.

Bill nails us to the Slimy Wall:
Hey. I always enjoy this column, both the choice of films and the commentary, but -- at the risk of being painfully pedantic -- every time I get to the end of the column and see the "bust of Pallus, " I wince. Unless you know something I don't (VERY possible), I think the phrase should be "bust of Pallas" -- at least that's how Poe and most transcribers of Greek spell it. I look forward to future offerings.

Bill, when you're right, you're right. By now have surely noticed that the change has been made in Star's newer Beyond the Slimy Wall offerings. Thanks for the feedback.

Juliet offers some helpful suggestions:
I think this site is ok. However, you could inlude the following points: 1. More pictures of Johnny Deppalicious 2. Phone numbers/addresses of Johnny Deppalicious 3. The longitude and latitude of Johnny Deppalicious's exact position within the world. Thank you for your time, I hope you take my suggestions seriously. Lots of love, Juliet

Juliet, thanks for the rad suggestions and good luck this year in ninth grade. We want to take your suggestions seriously, but we are having trouble identifying the exact longitudinal reading of "up Tim Burton's butt". Thanks for the feedback.

Luke is one persistent son of a gun:
I cannot find links anywhere on your site to the individual staff member's Calvin Awards choices for 2004, 2003, or 2002. I'm assuming they exist, though, as I accidentally came across one (www.boxofficeprophets.com/calvins/ kollathtopten2002.asp) on a google search.

Here's the deal, Luke. We didn't publish individual lists for 2002. We did publish individual lists for 2003. At this point in the year, we aren't likely to get the lists up for 2004. Sorry man, we've just got too much current stuff on our plates to retrace our steps like that. We'll make it up to you, though, with The Big Board, which shows how David Mumpower, Dan Krovich, Kim Hollis, and Reagen Sulewski rank the films that will be eligible for the 2005 Calvins. Thanks for the feedback.