Audience-ology

How Moviegoers Shape the Films We Love

By: Kevin Goetz, Darlene Hayman

Narrated by: Kevin Goetz

Discover the fascinating and secretive process of audience testing of Hollywood movies through these firsthand stories from famous filmmakers, studio heads, and stars.

Audience-ology takes you to one of the most unknown places in Hollywood—a place where famous directors are reduced to tears and multi-millionaire actors to fits of rage. A place where dreams are made and fortunes are lost. From “the best in the business” (Sacha Baron Cohen), this book is the chronicle of how real people have written and rewritten America’s cinematic masterpieces by showing up, watching a rough cut of a new film, and giving their unfettered opinions so that directors and studios can salvage their blunders, or better yet, turn their movies into all-time classics.

Each chapter informs an aspect or two of the test-screening process and then, through behind-the-scenes stories, illustrates how that particular aspect was carried out. Nicknamed “the doctor of audience-ology,” Kevin Goetz shares how he helped filmmakers and movie execs confront the misses and how he recommended ways to fix the blockbusters, as well as first-hand accounts from Ron Howard, Cameron Crowe, Ed Zwick, Renny Harlin, Jason Blum, and other Hollywood luminaries who brought you such films as La La Land, Chicago, Titanic, Wedding Crashers, Jaws, and Forrest Gump.

Audience-ology explores one of the most important (and most underrated) steps in the filmmaking process with enough humor, drama, and surprise to entertain those with only a spectator’s interest in film, offering us a new look at movie history.

How to fix a broken Movie

this book is really good but I'll tell you what I don't like in a little bit. first of all, the narration is really good. it's surprising that the author doesn't do voiceover work. very intelligent yet, compassionate and not over the top. The stories about how top Hollywood hits are fixed before they are released to the public is really fascinating, especially the details he gives, and I'm not really a movie buff either. now- here's what I don't like. The title should have been named," how broken movies are fixed", subtitle-" the power of the audience".
To me that gives a complete description of what you're going to read and it sounds a whole lot more interesting. also what I don't like is in most books I read is the story always has to begin when the author is five or six years old and visiting their aunt viola or whatever. I just wish the story would start where it's interesting. we don't really need the other story. it's kind of confusing and no matter how cleverly written it just doesn't add really to the story in my opinion. anyhow, I enjoyed it.

A must read for film lovers

I loved hearing all the behind the scenes stories of so many of my favorite movies. The author is a terrific reader and makes you feel like you are there.

Kevin is the Michael Jordan of Movie Research

I have had the pleasure of spending many hours in a dark theatre with Kevin over the years. Almost every director I worked with asked for him by name. He truly is one of a kind. I am glad that he found his way to the place and the person he became. This book is for those that are interested in what goes on when the lights go down and the audience sees something for the first time. Kevin's reading of his book is fantastic. I'd recommend this to anyone that is interested in marketing research and how movies are truly made.

Fascinating and entertaining!

I’m a data scientist by day and filmmaking enthusiast by night, so the Audience-ology intersection of art and science was right up my alley. I particularly loved the growth mindset way the deeply insider anecdotes are all framed as lessons. What a wonderful job Goetz has!

A Must Read for Movie Lovers!

A thoroughly enjoyable ‘behind the scenes’ look at how audiences shape the outcome of a movie.
I felt like I was experiencing my favorite films all over again with greater insight.
Brilliantly written in a way that will thrill movie lovers to their core.