A hotel chain in China is suing two product placement brokers claiming foul over a deal with Paramount Pictures release “Transformers: Age of Extinction.” The sci-fi movie will premiere China and in the U.S./Canada June 27. The big-budget fourth installment of the “Transformers” series is rated PG-13 in the U.S. Beijing Pangu Investment Co., which owns a dragon-shaped … [Read more...] about Product Placement Beef for ‘Transformers’ in China
Regal Bundles VOD with ‘Transformers’
Regal Cinemas is offering two digital download-to-own movies to own for an extra $15 for patrons to “Transformers: Age of Extinction” at its theaters. What is the fourth “Transformers” sci-fi yarn will premiere June 24 via Paramount Pictures (the $15 VOD offer ends July 10). “For only $15 more (on top of a regular cinema ticket), guests get a Super Ticket including two … [Read more...] about Regal Bundles VOD with ‘Transformers’
Film Apps For ‘Spidey,’ ‘Other Woman’
Food marketer Kellogg’s and a cyberspace fashion commerce company are mounting separate movie apps. Kellogg’s offers a free casual video game for mobile devices tied to “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” and fashionista enabler StylePic links to “The Other Woman.” Apps are applications, which are shortcuts to websites that size video and maximize functionality on mobile devices … [Read more...] about Film Apps For ‘Spidey,’ ‘Other Woman’
Fandango Buys Movieclips
Online film ticketing outfit Fandango agreed to buy Movieclips for an undisclosed price in a bid to expand from commerce to becoming a broader movie content destination. Movieclips collects revenue from advertising around its YouTube video, which relies heavily on film distributor-supplied content. “The entire network encompasses a catalog of 45,000 curated film clips, … [Read more...] about Fandango Buys Movieclips
Fishburne Projects ‘Matrix’ in Kia Commercial
Viewers of Kia car commercials see presenter Laurence Fishburne projecting his character in “The Matrix” movies as he appears in a leather trench coat and sun glasses. But surprisingly, Kia did not license the “Matrix” character, though it did pay Fishburne to be presenter, says the carmaker. A Variety story by Marc Graser notes Kia breaks with the normal approach of car … [Read more...] about Fishburne Projects ‘Matrix’ in Kia Commercial
Captain America Stalks Superman in 2016
Walt Disney Studios penciled in “Captain American 3” on May 6, 2016, setting up a faceoff with an untitled Superman-and-Batman movie already scheduled on that date by Warner Bros. “A lot can happen with jockeying dates,” writes Deadline.com, “especially this far out on the schedule. But it does seem as though Disney/Marvel is drawing a line in the sand against its DC Comics … [Read more...] about Captain America Stalks Superman in 2016
Tribeca Lands Bank Sponsor, Splits Financial
Boston-based Santander Bank kicks off its first-time sponsorship of the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City with a sweepstakes. The “official bank” of the fest, Santander offers prizes of tickets to a private screening and a private reception attended by Robert De Niro. “The Festival attracts hundreds of thousands of people each year who patronize local businesses and … [Read more...] about Tribeca Lands Bank Sponsor, Splits Financial
Penalties Tag ‘Olympus Fallen’ Ads
The Federal Communications Commission proposed $2 million in penalty fines connected with TV commercials for the movie “Olympus Has Fallen” because of use of the distinctive emergency alert system audio tones. FilmDistrict released the R-rated thriller a year ago and the $70 million production grossed $99 million domestically. Says an Adweek story by Katy Bachman: “Blatantly … [Read more...] about Penalties Tag ‘Olympus Fallen’ Ads
‘Noah’ Endures Extensive Research Screenings
Paramount Pictures “made and (audience) tested as many as half-a-dozen of its own” edited versions of the Biblical drama “Noah,” starring Russell Crowe, according to a lengthy article in the Hollywood Reporter. The retelling of the Noah’s Ark story of global flooding, which was produced for $125 million with New Regency Productions, is scheduled to premiere March … [Read more...] about ‘Noah’ Endures Extensive Research Screenings
Branded Briefcase Stars in ‘Mitty’ Poster
The Zero Halliburton luggage company placed one of its briefcases in the film “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” and it is even pictured in the movie’s poster. The briefcase that Ben Stiller holds in the “Mitty” movie and poster is a branded model from the luggage manufacturer. The PG-rated “Mitty” movie was underwhelming at the box office for 20th Century Fox with $55 … [Read more...] about Branded Briefcase Stars in ‘Mitty’ Poster