In the lead-up to the Oscars on March 7, the motion picture academy has a full slate of events that will shine a light Hollywood. Movie stars, glamorous surroundings, history and artistic celebration will burn brightly. The events will keep the Oscars in the public eye leading up the ABC Television telecast. In some cases, the events are purely designed to get press … [Read more...] about Official Events Pile On Oscars Publicity
Cigarette Tussle Over ‘Avatar’
Cigarette smoking is increasingly drawing ire from activists who want an R-rating slapped on any film with characters puffing as a child protection measure. A “New York Times” article by A.O. Scott said smoking seems to be the enduring controversy from 20th Century Fox’s “Avatar”—the blockbuster in which viewers claim to see all kinds of other messages. In the PG-13 film, … [Read more...] about Cigarette Tussle Over ‘Avatar’
Vodka Brand Bags Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis extends his celebrity endorser deal with Sobieski vodka in exchange for a 3.3% stake in its owner, struggling spirits outfit Belvedere SA of France, and that stake is worth about $4 mil., according to a “Wall Street Journal” article. A non-cash compensation deal is unusual way to bag a famous presenter, though not completely unprecedented as stars get cars, … [Read more...] about Vodka Brand Bags Bruce Willis
Super-luxury Theaters Sprout
Some movie theaters have created a premium-priced film-going experience with booze and fancy food at $29 a ticket, versus a $7.50 national average. Australian theater circuit Village Roadshow (VRS) has four such theaters in the U.S. offering a movie and dining experience. “Forget Milk Duds and popcorn,” says a “Los Angeles Times” article by Richard Verrier and Jessica Gelt. … [Read more...] about Super-luxury Theaters Sprout
Dark ‘Bones’ Turns to Females
Audience research produced an unexpected finding for “The Lovely Bones,” the PG-13 rated supernatural thriller from Paramount Pictures. Teenage girls and young women liked the film, despite its plot that revolves around a murdered girl who resurrects in the hereafter, says a “Los Angeles Times” article. A by-invitation test screening in Kansas City during November … [Read more...] about Dark ‘Bones’ Turns to Females
Faith Audience Propels ‘Blind Side’
Family-audience “The Blind Side” achieved a rare feat of ranking #1 at the box office in its third week of release, helped by a massive specialty marketing campaign targeting the faith audience. Warner Bros. Pictures hired marketing agency Grace Hill Media to promote the film to consumers that actively pursue religious worship and an "Advertising Age" article by Andrew Hampp … [Read more...] about Faith Audience Propels ‘Blind Side’
Studio Talk Marketing Cuts (Again!)
Newspaper articles say Hollywood studios are again talking up cuts in marketing expenditures (when will they ever learn?) and movie publicity is becoming increasingly scientific as entertainment marketers purport to measure impact of press stories. “But don’t think that Hollywood believes it can get by with less promotion,” notes a “New York Times” story by Brooks Barnes. … [Read more...] about Studio Talk Marketing Cuts (Again!)
Black Actors Erased from ‘Couples’
You have no idea of the hazards of being a film marketer! First studio brass and the stars blame you when their films flop. Now, there’s escalating media chatter suggesting that the removal of a black couple from the poster for the international version of “Couples Retreat” might be a racist move. You be the judge, but altering international posters is fairly routine (see … [Read more...] about Black Actors Erased from ‘Couples’
‘Paranormal Activity’s’ Unlikely Stardom
“Paranormal Activity,” the micro-budgeted film that has grossed $97 million to date in domestic box office, perplexed the Hollywood distribution community before emerging as an unlikely blockbuster. “Early on, few distributors were interested at all — even after the film played to breathless praise at L.A.’s Screamfest in late ‘07, and again in early ‘08 at Slamdance,” … [Read more...] about ‘Paranormal Activity’s’ Unlikely Stardom
Movies Based on Toys Multiply
Hollywood is being swept by a fascination with toys as source material for movies, as movies based on toys soar at the box office and star vehicles hit a rough patch in 2009. A “Wall Street Journal” article is a delicious combination of funny and serious about this film development and movie marketing trend. “Toys now are receiving the same A-list treatment that any … [Read more...] about Movies Based on Toys Multiply