Warner Bros. Interactive licensed a Harry Potter casual game to Zynga, giving the literary and movie property digital merchandise to keep consumers engaged in the wizards and magic world. The basic game is titled “Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells.” Says a press release, “Featuring the soundtrack and voice-over recordings from the original ‘Harry Potter’ films, fans follow … [Read more...] about ‘Harry Potter’ Mobile Game Casting ‘Spells’
digital marketing
Cyberspace Hosts ‘Advertiser Unfriendly’ Spots
YouTube is selling advertising around its video streaming content that is raunchy, edgy and controversial—and the top prospect are R-rated movie marketers. Putting forward edgy content runs counter to a broad trend in online media like YouTube of stretching to provide image-conscious advertisers non-controversial content environments. “YouTube wants to help creators who … [Read more...] about Cyberspace Hosts ‘Advertiser Unfriendly’ Spots
Live-streamed Talent Q&As Boost Films
Film distributors are goosing up box office with live question-and-answers with talent before screenings, which get amplified with live video streams, according to the Hollywood Reporter. "Jojo Rabbit," "The Lighthouse," "Parasite" and "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" are among films with such Q&A and panel discussion initiatives with the theatrical release … [Read more...] about Live-streamed Talent Q&As Boost Films
Some Movie Trailers Skip Digital
Sidestepping the saturated digital landscape, movie marketers are screening some trailers only in-theaters. For example, Warner Bros. Pictures is making a 40-second teaser for "Birds of Prey: Harley Quinn" is seen only as attached to the studio's horror yarn "It: Chapter Two." Writes Richard Newby in the Hollywood Reporter: "Warner Bros. took a similar route with the … [Read more...] about Some Movie Trailers Skip Digital
Disney Battles ‘Captain Marvel’ Trolls
"Captain Marvel" opens this weekend to blockbuster box office, but Walt Disney Studios didn't take any chances: the studio blunted anticipated bashing by online trolls. The online provocateurs were expected to knock star Brie Larson for her politics and also framing of a super-hero movie with a female hue. A Bloomberg News article by Anousha Sakoui says that "Larson faced … [Read more...] about Disney Battles ‘Captain Marvel’ Trolls
Crackdown on Fest Reviews Amid Digital Leakage
Leakage from digital media is shutting down the long-standing practice of allowing critics to post reviews on films in festivals long before the same films go into general release. Back in the day, those reviews were published in trade publications seen only by in-the-business professionals. Now, trade-press reviews online get picked up by others and so Italy's venerable … [Read more...] about Crackdown on Fest Reviews Amid Digital Leakage
Marketing Embraces Activations With Real Sensory Experience
Cyberspace conjures up magical worlds online so it’s interesting that in-the-flesh experiences are getting a big buzz at fanboy show Comic-Con. Activations that allow consumers to interact with brands through real-life interaction are show stoppers, writes Thom Forbes at Media Post. A Taco Bell restaurant mockup with neon lighting and a futuristic feel that recreates a scene … [Read more...] about Marketing Embraces Activations With Real Sensory Experience
MoviePass Risks Becoming MoviePast
Flat-monthly-fee cinema ticket subscription service MoviePass is at a crossroads. Shares of its parent (NasdaqCM: ticker symbol HMNY) peaked at $32.90 a share back in October when MoviePass cut its monthly fee, which swelled its subscribers that now number about 2.7 million. But as losses mounted, share price collapsed to a penny-stock level under 60 cents today, amid … [Read more...] about MoviePass Risks Becoming MoviePast
Facebook Conversations Get Fandango Movie Plugs
You knew this was going to happen eventually. Facebook is using artificial intelligence to identify conversations about current movies to drop in paid commercial messaging for Fandango, the movie ticketing service. The messaging will include local playdates and pricing inserted in Facebook Messenger. "It ís totally convenient! Or completely creepy," muses an article in … [Read more...] about Facebook Conversations Get Fandango Movie Plugs
Fake News Websites for ‘Wellness’ Embarrass Fox
20th Century Fox stretched for relevance by erecting fake news website to promote film “A Cure for Wellness,” but apologized later. The $40 million-budgeted psychological thriller “A Cure for Wellness” premieres in theaters this weekend. Phony news websites were anchored with “an elaborate, yet fictitious news story claiming that President Donald Trump met with Russian … [Read more...] about Fake News Websites for ‘Wellness’ Embarrass Fox