As movie brands land in cell phones, video games and websites, a whole new discipline emerges in Hollywood -- transmedia --which is planting film properties in places besides the silver screen. A “Los Angeles Times” article by Ben Fritz examines the transmedia process with Jeff Gomez and Mark Pensavalle, who are co-founders of specialist marketing agency Starlight Runner … [Read more...] about Transmedia Adapts, Advances Film Storylines
Movies Take Hefty Eight Super Bowl Ads
A sizeable eight movie ads appeared in the Super Bowl, as Hollywood shows no lack of confidence the theatrical distribution business. Another handful of movie ads were in pre-game and half-time adjacencies in the telecast of the professional football championship. Last year, just six movie commercials ran and the year before that nine films took 11 commercial slots. This … [Read more...] about Movies Take Hefty Eight Super Bowl Ads
Battle Over ‘King’s Speech’ Profanity
The Weinstein Co. (TWC) is trying to get filmmakers behind “The King’s Speech” to accept edits to secure a PG-13 or PG rating, so the Oscar nominated period drama can play to a wider audience. A ‘Los Angeles Times” article by Ben Fritz says TWC is asking the film’s director Tom Hooper to agree to changes clipping swear words, and a revised cut would then be submitted to the … [Read more...] about Battle Over ‘King’s Speech’ Profanity
‘Waiting for Superman’ Another Oscar Outrage?
The Oscars have a long history of passing over famous films for consideration in the documentary category and this year’s surprise is the exclusion of “Waiting for Superman,” which is a critically-praised film about America’s dysfunctional public education system. “New York Post” columnist Kyle Smith attributes the snub to Hollywood’s liberal elite in the Academy of Motion … [Read more...] about ‘Waiting for Superman’ Another Oscar Outrage?
Gripes over Film Rating System
The movie classification system is under attack in a spate of press commentaries, but I’ve got a simple fix. All those films that don’t like their ratings should withdraw from classification and play in cinemas “unrated.” There is no requirement to be classified and some films go that route all the time. It’s really an argument about Hollywood making more money by … [Read more...] about Gripes over Film Rating System
‘Narnia’ Revamps Marketing Focus
The third “Narnia” fantasy film, which 20th Century Fox is scheduled to open Friday, aims to get the mystical family franchise back to profitability, after the second installment under-performed. The “Narnia” series, which its producers hope will keep going like the seven title “Harry Potter” film franchise at Warner Bros., is an example of how marketing considerations shape … [Read more...] about ‘Narnia’ Revamps Marketing Focus
Easy-to-market Horror Films Proliferate
Hollywood rolls out horror films starting in early September to cash in on the Halloween holiday and “this year’s ghoulish conga line is particularly crowded,” notes an article in “The Hollywood Reporter.” “A few movies, like Universal’s “Devil,” with a domestic gross of $32.4 million, posted modest returns, while others, such as Paramount Vantage’s “Case 39” ($12.7 million) … [Read more...] about Easy-to-market Horror Films Proliferate
Digital No Panacea for Spiraling Costs
The more things change in theatrical film marketing—think social marketing, Twitter buzz and mobile-phones—the more they remain the same? “Marketing costs for movies will continue to rise,” says Rob Friedman, co-chairman/CEO of Summit Entertainment, the movie studio behind the powerful “Twilight” young-adult super-natural drama series, which has pulled in $1.6 billion in … [Read more...] about Digital No Panacea for Spiraling Costs
Audi Reigns in Car Placements
German carmaker Audi is “the” major force in produce placement in Hollywood among luxury brands with gambits ranging from have Audis prominent in movies like “Iron Man” to a fleet of Audis transporting attendees to film events that are seen in press coverage. Says a “Variety” article by Marc Graser, “In fact, Audi has spent the past three years essentially taking over … [Read more...] about Audi Reigns in Car Placements
Raunchy Marketing Launches ‘Machete’
Hollywood bad-girl Lindsay Lohan licks the barrel of a big handgun in the poster for “Machete,” which is the raunchy actioner that 20th Century Fox is scheduled to release Sept 3. The film is not yet rated. UK newspaper the “Daily Mail’s” website says that the film is “ultra violent” and Lohan “plays April Benz, an avenging socialite with a penchant for guns. In one scene, … [Read more...] about Raunchy Marketing Launches ‘Machete’