Walmart and Esurance are mounting intriguing ticket-distribution promotional tie-ins to two big-budget summer movies: Warner Bros. “Man of Steel” and Paramount’s “Star Trek Into Darkness." Walmart is the sole seller of special sneak preview tickets for the Superman movie franchise reboot “Man of Steel.” Meanwhile, automobile insurance company Esurance is distributing … [Read more...] about Superman, ‘Trek’ Offer Tix Promos
‘Inspired By’ Merchandise Ties to Movies
"Fast & Furious 6," “The Great Gatsby” and “The Hobbit” are generating licensed merchandise that is marketed as “inspired by” those movies. The amorphous “inspired by” arrangement is a loose connection because the licensed products are not seen or heard in the film itself, but the inference they could have been. So these are simple to create since they are not limited to … [Read more...] about ‘Inspired By’ Merchandise Ties to Movies
Pricey ‘Potter’ Exhibit Shines
Here are my personal impressions of an exhibition of “Harry Potter” props and costumes in New York City, which was engaging but pricey at $27 for an adult admission. The exhibit was at the Times Square-area Discovery Hall. Says a press release, “The 14,000-square-foot experiential exhibition – created by Global Experience Specialists, Inc. (GES) in partnership with Warner … [Read more...] about Pricey ‘Potter’ Exhibit Shines
Advocacy Group Rips On-screen Smoking
An anti-smoking advocacy group asserts that audience impressions of characters using tobacco products doubled from 2010 to 2012 in youth-oriented films, “returning to levels of a decade ago.” That’s the upshot from Legacy, a Washington D.C.-based organization funded by tobacco companies in settlements over litigation with government agencies. The Legacy analysis multiplies … [Read more...] about Advocacy Group Rips On-screen Smoking
Regal Circuit Runs ‘Iron Man’ Marathon
Regal Entertainment books a one-day theatrical rerelease of three “Iron Man”-related movies in advance of “Iron Man 3,” which premieres nationally May 3. The three-film rerelease occurs Thursday May 2 for “Iron Man”, “Iron Man 2” and “The Avengers 3D.” The following day, “Iron Man 3” premieres nationally from Walt Disney Studios. Regal, which is the nation’s largest … [Read more...] about Regal Circuit Runs ‘Iron Man’ Marathon
Soaring Blimp Promotes ‘Despicable Me 2’
Universal Pictures is mounting a national tour of an airborne blimp to promote summer film “Despicable Me 2.” The balloon-like aircraft is being called—no surprise here—the “Despicablimp” from media marketing outfit Van Wagner Communications. The blimp already hovered over the Los Angeles site of cable TV network Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award last week. “By enabling a new … [Read more...] about Soaring Blimp Promotes ‘Despicable Me 2’
Mainstream Films to Screen in Spanish
A mainstream theater circuit, Digital Cinema Destinations (known as Digiplex), will screen major-studio films in Spanish language, in a bid to tap the growing Hispanic demographic in the U.S. The effort will start with Spanish language tracks for some showing of Paramount’s “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” on April 1, 8 and 15; Universal’s “Oblivion” on April 22 and 29; Disney’s … [Read more...] about Mainstream Films to Screen in Spanish
Corporate Groupies Reach For Oscar Glow
With the Oscar telecast tomorrow, let’s look at some of the many marketers that attach themselves to the awards without an official affiliation. “This year’s Oscar Celebrity Gifting Suite will be held at an undisclosed location in Beverly Hills,” says an enthusiastic press release for Inance skin care products. “Many celebrities have been waiting for this chance to sample … [Read more...] about Corporate Groupies Reach For Oscar Glow
Sponsors Embrace Brash Spirit Awards
The Independent Spirit Awards cloaks itself with the aura of a maverick and virtue but is not shy about embracing the luxury side of corporate America. The independent-film awards counts as main sponsors luxury wristwatch Piaget, Jameson Irish Whisky, upmarket Lincoln automobiles, T-Mobile cell phones and indie film TV channel IFC for its Saturday awards, which come one day … [Read more...] about Sponsors Embrace Brash Spirit Awards
Lionsgate Consolidates Ads at Mindshare
Lionsgate consolidated its estimated $400 million domestic film advertising account with WPP’s Mindshare media buying agency, which handled Summit Entertainment that Lionsgate acquired a year ago. Interpublic’s Initiative unit—which bought adverising for Lionsgate pre-merger—is dropped. The assignment covers theatrical and home video ad spending. Kantar Media puts … [Read more...] about Lionsgate Consolidates Ads at Mindshare