The Audience is Never Wrong with Kevin Goetz

What makes audiences fall in love with a movie—and what makes them walk out? Kevin Goetz is the founder and CEO of Screen Engine/ASI, the research and strategy firm trusted by major Hollywood studios. Nicknamed “The Doctor of Audience-ology,” Kevin has built his career helping filmmakers and studios understand their audiences. In this episode, Jacqueline Coley sits down with Kevin to explore his unexpected journey from child actor to the world’s leading voice on audience testing, work that continues to influence some of Hollywood’s films, from Fatal Attraction to the most recent blockbusters. He shares stories behind test screenings that changed movie history, the art of interpreting data without losing emotion, and his newest book, How to Score in Hollywood: Secrets to Success in the Movie Business. In the end, Kevin reminds us that the audience is never wrong—and that listening may be a creator’s most valuable skill.