A promotion in which film fans integrate videos of themselves in “Godzilla vs Kong” movie backdrops drew millions of interactions, when planted on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. It’s a case study of the cutting edge of movie promotions using digital media. The concept: fans could express their allegiance by posing with their favorite monster, emulating its powers, and … [Read more...] about ‘Godzilla’ Artificial Reality Promo Hooks Fans
Cinemas Reopen Cautiously Amid Virus Worries
Cinemas around the world are nervously piecing together comeback plans -- opening with social distancing, shoring up their corporate coffers with cash and restructuring operations to withstand lean times. It's a slow process made worse with deadline pressures but in the long run it should succeed. Cinema infrastructure is top-notch and audiences locked down by the … [Read more...] about Cinemas Reopen Cautiously Amid Virus Worries
Coronavirus: We’ve Seen This Movie Before
The torrent of predictions of the quick demise of movie cinema strikes me as tunnel-vision bordering on dishonesty -- and provably by simply looking at past history and ingrained human behavior patterns. Hey, if movie theaters are dead, then so are legitimate theater (Broadway), music concerts, theme parks, cruise ships and audience attendance at sports events. But the … [Read more...] about Coronavirus: We’ve Seen This Movie Before
Five Movie Ads Pop in Super Bowl Broadcast
Domestic theatrical movie releases accounted for five of the 62 expensive TV commercials in the Fox Broadcasting telecast of the Super Bowl football game yesterday. That's in line with the four-to-eight slots in the past. Movies were joined by some relatively-new media cousins: TV services such as the Disney+ streaming service, which accounted or another four paid … [Read more...] about Five Movie Ads Pop in Super Bowl Broadcast
Live-streamed Talent Q&As Boost Films
Film distributors are goosing up box office with live question-and-answers with talent before screenings, which get amplified with live video streams, according to the Hollywood Reporter. "Jojo Rabbit," "The Lighthouse," "Parasite" and "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" are among films with such Q&A and panel discussion initiatives with the theatrical release … [Read more...] about Live-streamed Talent Q&As Boost Films
Some Movie Trailers Skip Digital
Sidestepping the saturated digital landscape, movie marketers are screening some trailers only in-theaters. For example, Warner Bros. Pictures is making a 40-second teaser for "Birds of Prey: Harley Quinn" is seen only as attached to the studio's horror yarn "It: Chapter Two." Writes Richard Newby in the Hollywood Reporter: "Warner Bros. took a similar route with the … [Read more...] about Some Movie Trailers Skip Digital
Global P&A Often Surpasses Production Cost
Deadline.com's annual analysis of single-picture profit/loss indicates marketing costs continue climb and often surpass the production expense of major-studio films. The reality of surging marketing costs runs counter to some (ill-conceived) predictions that social media and other online media would replace costly TV advertising (ill-conceived because wide-reach TV is need to … [Read more...] about Global P&A Often Surpasses Production Cost
Disney Battles ‘Captain Marvel’ Trolls
"Captain Marvel" opens this weekend to blockbuster box office, but Walt Disney Studios didn't take any chances: the studio blunted anticipated bashing by online trolls. The online provocateurs were expected to knock star Brie Larson for her politics and also framing of a super-hero movie with a female hue. A Bloomberg News article by Anousha Sakoui says that "Larson faced … [Read more...] about Disney Battles ‘Captain Marvel’ Trolls
Films Sold at Fests Often Disappoint Later
Acquiring finished movies at film festivals is a celebrated activity generating breathless news reports and industry buzz. Chosen films are bought after informal industry auctions to later be put in general theatrical release -- which is a marketing function. A "Hollywood Reporter" article by Tatiana Siegel recounts that festival deals -- while often result of frenzied … [Read more...] about Films Sold at Fests Often Disappoint Later
Netflix, Major Studios on Spending Binge for Awards
Trade newspaper Variety reports that Hollywood spending on awards marketing is escalating as dot.coms such as Netflix flash their huge cash-wads in the movie business. On top of that, the major studios have some legitimate Oscar contenders for Best Picture, unlike in past years, so they too are reaching into their deep pockets (usually it's cash-strapped indie film companies … [Read more...] about Netflix, Major Studios on Spending Binge for Awards