Casual/mobile games based on movies are morphing from marketing vehicles mostly for promotional lift to money spinners for film companies, according to a Variety story. A case in point is Kabam’s game “The Godfather: Five Families,” which Variety says generated $100 million in sales and “Godfather” licensor Paramount gets a cut. “That’s a stunning result that surprised … [Read more...] about Casual Games Based on Films Become Money Spinners
Honda Drives Outdoor Movie-Theater Rescue
Automaker Honda mounts a big tie-in promotion with drive-in theaters. The car manufacturer roped in film critic Leonard Maltin to host online efforts for Honda’s Save A Drive-In effort and also enlisted Sony Pictures for advanced screenings of animated “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2.” “In less than three months, many of the 368 remaining drive-ins across the U.S. … [Read more...] about Honda Drives Outdoor Movie-Theater Rescue
Film School Dreams Versus Job-Market Realities
I’ve always been amused—and somewhat dismayed—that film schools are so production- and history-centric in their curricula. Web pages and brochures use photos of earnest young people peering through camera lenses—often presenting lads who are reminiscent of young Spielbergs! It strikes me as more dream than reality, because production jobs that are pictured are scarce. And … [Read more...] about Film School Dreams Versus Job-Market Realities
Summer BO Sizzles, Online Marketing Fizzles
Hollywood will rack up a record summer box office haul, despite some big-budget flops, according to a USA Today story package that also points out the limits of social media in marketing. The industry is heading to a $4.7 billion total for summer box office (with days left in the season), compared to $4.4 billion in 2011—the current record. One article of the two-article … [Read more...] about Summer BO Sizzles, Online Marketing Fizzles
Docu Celebrates Film Poster Guru
Movie poster creator Drew Struzan, who is famous for iconic materials ranging from “Back to the Future” to “Star Wars,” gets the star treatment in a new documentary. “Drew: The Man Behind the Poster” is receiving a limited theatrical release this summer via distributor Kino Lorber. The PG-rated movie runs 94 minutes. “While this overly group-huggy docu’s theatrical life … [Read more...] about Docu Celebrates Film Poster Guru
Critic: Political Correctness Topples Movies
While Hollywood frets that an unprecedented number of big budget films have flopped this year, an opinion article in the New York Post by Kyle Smith purports to answer why: two of the big disappointments so far injected Hollywood’s “political correctness.” The big-budget flops are Walt Disney Studios’ “The Lone Ranger” ($250 million production cost) and Sony Pictures’ “White … [Read more...] about Critic: Political Correctness Topples Movies
Panic Attack for ‘Pacific Rim’ Softness
Audience tracking surveys suggest big-budget sci-fi film “Pacific Rim” will be a box office disappointment, so distributor Warner Bros. and producing partner Legendary Pictures scramble in marketing triage. “Pacific Rim” will premiere July 12. Warner and Legendary collaborated on Superman reboot “Man of Steel,” which is a box office hit with $271 million in domestic (US … [Read more...] about Panic Attack for ‘Pacific Rim’ Softness
Carrey Won’t Publicize ‘Kick Ass 2’
In an unusual move, actor Jim Carrey is refusing to promote his role in the violent black comedy “Kick-ass 2” because of sudden moral qualms—in this case about the impact of screen violence in the real world. “I did Kickass a month b4 Sandy Hook and now in all good conscience I cannot support that level of violence,” Carrey wrote on Twitter, referring to a school shooting … [Read more...] about Carrey Won’t Publicize ‘Kick Ass 2’
Brad Pitt’s ‘War Z’ Undergoes Reshoots
Hollywood has a pretty good track record of avoiding box office catastrophes with big-budget movies—meaning production budgets of $120 mil. or more--and Paramount is determined that its “World War Z” doesn’t get added to that short list. A "Hollywood Reporter" article recounts how Paramount Pictures engaged in a late revamp of its Brad Pitt apocalyptic yarn “World War Z” … [Read more...] about Brad Pitt’s ‘War Z’ Undergoes Reshoots
Google Stars In Fox’s ‘Internship’
Google arranged a product placement in “The Internship,” which is the Vince Vaughn/Owen Wilson comedy scheduled for June 7 premiere from 20th Century Fox. The movie is rated PG-13 and Google cooperated with “The Internship” that uses its workplace as a backdrop. “Amidst the comedic hijinks, the film indeed delivers a picture of a kind and gentle Google, a company that offers … [Read more...] about Google Stars In Fox’s ‘Internship’