TV’s premiere advertising event, the Super Bowl received just four-and-a-half theatrical motion picture commercials -- at the low end of the 4-8 spots range by historical standards. In last year's telecast of pro football's championship game, movie studios bought eight commercials for films. However, this year Hollywood was also conspicuous with acting and music celebrities … [Read more...] about Movie Ads Down In Super Bowl, But TV Streamers Rise
Carmaker Flakes Out on ‘Blade Runner’
The company behind “Blade Runner 2049” is suing French automaker Peugeot alleging it reneged on a big tie-in promotion with the sci-fi movie from 2017. Alcon Entertainment filed the legal action asserting that Peugeot failed to perform on paying a promised $500,000 cash fee and accompanying advertising support of $30 million. The complaint said that another unidentified … [Read more...] about Carmaker Flakes Out on ‘Blade Runner’
Netflix, Other Streamers Walk Tightrope on Theatrical Runs
The great unresolved issue of this era of cinema is how video streamers like Netflix will alter theatrical release. The answer unfolds slowly with Netflix, which is the streamer least committed to theatrical -- inching back to cinema. Streamers originating and acquiring theatrical films for their online services pursue different strategies for the cinema window. Amazon … [Read more...] about Netflix, Other Streamers Walk Tightrope on Theatrical Runs
‘Aquaman’ Makes Splash with Character-specific Posters
Here’s an attention-getting assortment of character-specific movie posters for “Aquaman,” which Warner Bros. Pictures yarn Dec. 21. The sci-fi fantasy drama is rated PG-13. “With the release of James Wan’s Aquaman a little over a month way, Warner Bros. has decided that it’s time for audiences to start familiarizing themselves with the main players in the underwater drama,” … [Read more...] about ‘Aquaman’ Makes Splash with Character-specific Posters
Biometrics Researcher Gets Hollywood Funding
A neuro-analytics startup, which is hired by Hollywood movie studios to conduct exotic audience research, bagged $13.5 million in venture-capital funding from an impressive list of investors. The company, Spark, received early Series A investments from former Disney chief Michael Eisner, actor Will Smith, and Silicon Valley financier Peter Thiel. “The New York-based company … [Read more...] about Biometrics Researcher Gets Hollywood Funding
Marketing Embraces Activations With Real Sensory Experience
Cyberspace conjures up magical worlds online so it’s interesting that in-the-flesh experiences are getting a big buzz at fanboy show Comic-Con. Activations that allow consumers to interact with brands through real-life interaction are show stoppers, writes Thom Forbes at Media Post. A Taco Bell restaurant mockup with neon lighting and a futuristic feel that recreates a scene … [Read more...] about Marketing Embraces Activations With Real Sensory Experience
Pepsi investment in ‘Uncle Drew’ pays off
Soft drink marketer Pepsi seems to have hit the jackpot producing urban basketball comedy-yarn movie “Uncle Drew,” which cracked the top 10 grossers in two consecutive weekends and rolled up a respectable $30 million in domestic box office June 29-July 8. That’s for a movie, which is distributed by Lionsgate, costing only about $20 million to produce -- cheap by major-studio … [Read more...] about Pepsi investment in ‘Uncle Drew’ pays off
Canadian Circuit Diversifies into Movie-less Complexes
Leading Canadian theater circuit Cineplex is diversifying into entertainment complexes -- what used to be arcades. Cineplex will overhaul a 10-screen multiplex in Brampton, Canada, later this year and replace with its Playdium entertainment concept. “The new Brampton location will feature a selection of classic and new-to-market video and redemption games, as well as … [Read more...] about Canadian Circuit Diversifies into Movie-less Complexes
‘Tonya’ Source Demands Journos Avoid Controversy
Arm-twisting reporters so they don’t ask talent about touchy subjects is a shadowy part of celebrity press interviews but has popped into the open for the movie “I, Tonya.” The drama with bursts of deadpan comedy stars Margot Robbie portraying ice skater Tonya Harding during the real-life crime perpetrated by Harding's entourage that maimed her main rival in 1994. “The … [Read more...] about ‘Tonya’ Source Demands Journos Avoid Controversy
Did Angry Fanboys Rip ‘Jedi’ for Feminism?
There's a buzz questioning whether riled-up fanboys drove down user-ratings for “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” for its alleged feminist-friendly orientation. A Variety article by Todd Spangler notes that movie rating website Rotten Tomatoes reported that film critics gave “Jedi” a lofty 92% rating, but the website’s users just 54%. There were claims that automated bots unleashed … [Read more...] about Did Angry Fanboys Rip ‘Jedi’ for Feminism?