AllMovie

The team learns from Miramax that The Battle of Shaker Heights will be released in New York and Los Angeles, and will only expand if it makes an astronomical 20,000 dollars per screen the opening weekend. In addition, Miramax doesn't plan to spend any money on television or radio ads. Producer Chris Moore describes this release strategy as "a graceful way to dump" the film. He calls Ben Affleck, and together the two draft a letter to Miramax head Harvey Weinstein, asking him to consider opening the film in the top ten markets. Moore doesn't expect a positive response. Meanwhile, Shia LaBeouf comes in to loop some dialogue, and asks directors Kyle Rankin and Efram Potelle if they've seen the Project Greenlight television show. He confirms their worst fears, telling them, "You guys do look like idiots." Rankin gives LaBeouf some bad news, telling him that his two big dramatic scenes in the film have been cut. Moore asks Peter Gabriel for permission to use a pivotal piece of music at the end of the film, and gets it. Not only that, word comes that Weinstein supposedly watched the film, and agreed to expand the release to the top ten markets the second week. The filmmakers go out to promote the film. LaBeouf and Affleck both appear on The Tonight Show. Affleck teams with Potelle and Rankin for the press junket, while Moore fields questions with screenwriter Erica Beeney. He explains that he chose to appear with Beeney, claiming that the airing of the television show has further strained his relationship with the directors. But the world premiere in L.A. goes well, and the filmmakers part on relatively good terms.