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’
creative
‘Transmedia’ Credit for Cross-Platform Role
A quasi-marketing function is getting some respect at the Producer Guild of America! The PGA just approved a screen credit for “Transmedia Producer.” “As technology evolves, it’s no longer adequate to think of a project as simply a television show or a movie,” PGA President Marshall Herskovitz says in a press release announcing the new screen credit. “We now understand … [Read more...] about ‘Transmedia’ Credit for Cross-Platform Role
Age-restricted ‘Kick-Ass’ Trailer Leaks
Independent film distributors tend to push the decency envelope and a “New York Times” articles says that’s just what’s happening with Lions Gate Films’ audience-restricted trailer for R-rated “Kick-Ass.” “A trailer for the forthcoming film ‘Kick-Ass’ that depicts (a 11-year-old girl character named Hit Girl) wielding a gun and using highly, highly profane … [Read more...] about Age-restricted ‘Kick-Ass’ Trailer Leaks
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’
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’
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
Stealth Change In Trailer Ratings?
The eagle-eyed “Movie Mom” spotted a subtle posted policy change in movie industry placement of trailers in relation to youth audiences. Movie Mom Nell Minow notes that promotional trailers now say they are approved for “appropriate audiences” whereas before the phrase was “all audiences”. Clearly, the new language gives theaters (and websites streaming trailers) more … [Read more...] about Stealth Change In Trailer Ratings?
High Concept ‘Bruno’ Proves Fragile
The second weekend of “Bruno” plunged an astronomical 73% at the boxoffice, indicating the R-rated black comedy will fade fast after a decent opening and underscoring that “high concept” films are fragile. Universal Pictures’ Bruno grossed $8.3 million for the July 17-19 weekend on 2,759 screens in the U.S. and Canada. It took in $30.6 million on three less screens its … [Read more...] about High Concept ‘Bruno’ Proves Fragile
Hollywood Shuffle: Misleading Ads
The one-sheet movie posters certainly seem promising. There’s the close-up, tender embrace of Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio that calls to mind their "Titanic" pairing. Separately, Clint Eastwood strikes a steely “Dirty Harry”-esqe pose grimacing with a hard-ass facial expression. Trouble is…the advertising doesn’t truly represent the films involved. Winslet and … [Read more...] about Hollywood Shuffle: Misleading Ads
Comedy Nips Crude Dialog for PG Rating
Filmmakers will cut movies to achieved desired audience classification and upcoming release “New in Town” acknowledges snipping some foul language to receive a PG (parental guidance) rating. So the romantic comedy escapes the more restrictive PG-13. “Marketing to Moviegoers” notes that historically parties involved are loath to admit to making edits to appease the ratings … [Read more...] about Comedy Nips Crude Dialog for PG Rating