Hollywood’s major movie studios are remaking their executive structures to adapt to the steaming age, which means reducing theatrical marketing infrastructure. This week, Sony Pictures combined theatrical, home video (includes DVD) and TV executive structures, and reduced headcount. “Moving forward, we will be combining our theatrical, home entertainment and television … [Read more...] about Majors Retool Execs for Streaming Age
‘Harry Potter’ Mobile Game Casting ‘Spells’
Warner Bros. Interactive licensed a Harry Potter casual game to Zynga, giving the literary and movie property digital merchandise to keep consumers engaged in the wizards and magic world. The basic game is titled “Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells.” Says a press release, “Featuring the soundtrack and voice-over recordings from the original ‘Harry Potter’ films, fans follow … [Read more...] about ‘Harry Potter’ Mobile Game Casting ‘Spells’
Drive-in Theaters Come to Cinema Rescue
Drive-in theaters were something of a regional and seasonal backwater until the pandemic made watching entertainment from inside a car cool again. Instances where drive-in initiatives attract throngs of consumers gives hope that cinema will snap back once the coronavirus disappears. Music concerts and esports video game competitions have even embraced the outdoor drive-in … [Read more...] about Drive-in Theaters Come to Cinema Rescue
Colleges Plant Media Studies in Hollywood
More than a dozen out-of-state colleges and universities set up study-in-Los Angeles programs to plug their students directly into the Hollywood eco-system, says an article in the Los Angeles Business Journal. “These satellite campuses are expanding in size and in the scope of their studies,” says the weekly newspaper's article by Robert Marich, author of the book "Marketing … [Read more...] about Colleges Plant Media Studies in Hollywood
Swag Bags Overflowing in Awards Season
Swag bags full of loot for celebrities popped up across the Hollywood awards landscape. The Hollywood Reporter published a photo gallery presenting everything “from Pope slippers to 'The Irishman' wine.” At the Golden Globe Awards, 600 official gift bags for males and a like number for females -- whose contents are called “swag” in the vernacular. Contents include … [Read more...] about Swag Bags Overflowing in Awards Season
Cyberspace Hosts ‘Advertiser Unfriendly’ Spots
YouTube is selling advertising around its video streaming content that is raunchy, edgy and controversial—and the top prospect are R-rated movie marketers. Putting forward edgy content runs counter to a broad trend in online media like YouTube of stretching to provide image-conscious advertisers non-controversial content environments. “YouTube wants to help creators who … [Read more...] about Cyberspace Hosts ‘Advertiser Unfriendly’ Spots
‘Joker’ Trailer Presses Violence Buttons
Movie marketers aim to create marketing messages that elicit an emotional response from consumers, and “Joker” takes this notion to an extreme. A new trailer projecting film violence created a real-world uproar of worries that the Warner Bros. comic book adaptation of “Joker” will trigger unbalanced people to acts of mayhem. A New York Post story (see below) quotes … [Read more...] about ‘Joker’ Trailer Presses Violence Buttons
Theater Giant AMC Mounts Indie Effort
Indie films aimed at audiences with sophisticated tastes get a hand from the second largest U.S. theater circuit with AMC Artisan Films. Movie theater chain AMC Entertainment promises to “program specialized movies consistently in select locations throughout the United States, providing what the company terms ‘consistent and convenient showtimes’ for the works,” writes … [Read more...] about Theater Giant AMC Mounts Indie Effort
Dine-in Cinema Expands from Niche
Dine-in movie theaters have become a force, emerging from a niche, as some pure in-cinema eating/drinking chains now rank as leading circuits, notes a Fast Company article by Patrick J. Sauer. Plush seating, intimate auditoriums and at-your-seat service are basic for the category, and the Fast Company magazine article notes that “truffle popcorn can be paired with something … [Read more...] about Dine-in Cinema Expands from Niche
New ‘Star Wars’ Prepares 20 Book Tie-ins
Walt Disney Studios arranged for a whopping 20 book tie-ins to the last installment of the “Star Wars” saga. “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” is scheduled to premiere Dec. 20 and is not yet rated, but expect a PG-13/Parental Guidance for ages under 13 as the audience classification. “While these titles will include some hints and Easter eggs for the new film, the majority … [Read more...] about New ‘Star Wars’ Prepares 20 Book Tie-ins