A major video game built around the “Indiana Jones” movies aims to cash in as licensed merchandise and keep the film franchise alive in hearts of consumers. Video game “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle” is from Bethesda MachineGames, which is owned by Xbox maker Microsoft. It's built on the film legacy of the five Indy Jones adventure motion pictures distributed by … [Read more...] about Website Anchors Indiana Jones Vid Game
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New Films Exploit Expiring Copyrights
Multiple “Popeye” movies are sailing to cinema, TV and video-game screens as the property’s foundation copyright expires. Expect this to be a trend as intellectual property (IP) created during the early “talking pictures” days get aged out of legal protection. Independent film companies are promoting “Popeye the Slayer Man” (see image below) and “Shiver Me Timbers” (a … [Read more...] about New Films Exploit Expiring Copyrights
Disney Star Ignites Political Storm
A Walt Disney Studios star imperils the marketplace reception of a reported $270 million film by taking a strong anti-Trump stand. It’s the worst nightmare of every film distributor, having the personal, off-camera conduct of talent ignite an extraneous controversy. “'May Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace,” posted actress Rachel Zegler. … [Read more...] about Disney Star Ignites Political Storm
Hollywood Absorbs Election Marketing Tips
For Hollywood, lessons can be learned from the digital media strategy of the Donald Trump presidential campaign. That strategy is credited for powering his substantial election win, and it’s instructive to compare to the opposite approach of his opponent. “But while both campaigns worked overtime to court influencers, their strategies were divergent,” writes Taylor Lorenz in … [Read more...] about Hollywood Absorbs Election Marketing Tips
Tesla Builds Cinema Diner Charging Station
Tesla is building a showcase vehicle-charging station in Los Angeles that combines cinema and a 24-hour restaurant. “The charging station is part of the electric vehicle industry’s efforts to re-imagine gas stations by turning them into a multi-faceted experience,” wrote Ariel Zilber in the New York Post. The Post capsulized the idea as 1950s movie “‘Grease’ meets ‘The … [Read more...] about Tesla Builds Cinema Diner Charging Station
‘Terrifier 3’ Success Boosts Unrated Films
Low-budget horror flick “Terrifier 3” (website screen grab above) cracks open the door wider for unrated films to play mainstream theaters, after grossing a solid $37 million in its first 11 days in cinemas. “It is well on its way to becoming the top-grossing unrated film of all time domestically against a minuscule budget of $2 million and barely any marketing spend,” notes … [Read more...] about ‘Terrifier 3’ Success Boosts Unrated Films
Offbeat Influencers Intrigue Publicists
Hollywood publicists invite fringe influencers to premieres and other PR events, apparently to tap their digital media followers who don’t frequent traditional media. There is a debate about the value of bringing unconventional media personalities inside the film-marketing tent. For example, in May, Disney’s 20th Century Fox picked up travel expenses for influencer Easton … [Read more...] about Offbeat Influencers Intrigue Publicists
Oscars Forecast: No Frontrunners
This awards season is back to normal with no Hollywood labor strikes and no Covid, but it also is lacking consensus frontrunners for Oscars Best Picture. “So far, 2024 has been a down year at the box office [off 12% year-to-date] and a confusing year on the film festival circuit,” writes Steve Pond in Hollywood trade newspaper TheWrap. “There’s no big commercial movie out … [Read more...] about Oscars Forecast: No Frontrunners
Reviewers Ignore ‘Am I Racist?”
Anti-woke “Am I Racist?” is a mini-blockbuster in the documentary category, but is mostly ignored by professional film reviewers apparently rubbed the wrong way by its message. “For whatever reason, there are films that we in the entertainment media fail to notice,” writes Joel Stein in the Hollywood Reporter. “In the case of the documentary ‘Am I Racist?,’ that ‘whatever … [Read more...] about Reviewers Ignore ‘Am I Racist?”
Rereleases Pile Into Cinemas
Theatrical rereleases are multiplying, driven by nostalgia, consumers’ desire to get out-of-home and gaps in release schedules after Hollywood labor strikes. And audiences are flocking to cinemas to see them. Later this week, 2009 music-school drama "Whiplash" gets a rerelease (Miles Teller, left, and J. K. Simmons pictured above). The stop-motion Laika Studios film … [Read more...] about Rereleases Pile Into Cinemas