The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences opened up voting for winners in the foreign film and four other categories to all members for the first time, which means victors in all 24 Oscar categories will be chosen at large. “Prior to the final round of voting, the Academy will provide members with DVDs of the nominated films in five categories: Foreign Language Film, … [Read more...] about Academy Enlarges Foreign Film Oscar Vote
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‘Star Trek’ Pushes Overseas Publicity
It is a universal business axiom to funnel resources to areas of weakness with upside potential, because a turnaround there yields the biggest sales improvement, and that's certainly the case with movies. A Hollywood Reporter story notes that Paramount Pictures is working hard to stoke international interest in the next "Star Trek," since the sci-fi movie series has … [Read more...] about ‘Star Trek’ Pushes Overseas Publicity
Mainstream Films to Screen in Spanish
A mainstream theater circuit, Digital Cinema Destinations (known as Digiplex), will screen major-studio films in Spanish language, in a bid to tap the growing Hispanic demographic in the U.S. The effort will start with Spanish language tracks for some showing of Paramount’s “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” on April 1, 8 and 15; Universal’s “Oblivion” on April 22 and 29; Disney’s … [Read more...] about Mainstream Films to Screen in Spanish
‘Marketing’ Book Gets Japanese Version
Public Interest Incorporated Association (Unijapan) in Tokyo -- which is a government-sponsored film organization -- licensed Japanese-language rights to “Marketing to Moviegoers-Second Edition” to train the next generation of film producers in the Asian nation. The book will be translated and parts relevant to instruction will be distributed to attendees at seminars and … [Read more...] about ‘Marketing’ Book Gets Japanese Version
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’
‘Dark Knight’ Baffles Film Ratings
Warner Bros. latest Batman adaptation, “The Dark Knight,” is a genre bender that baffles audience classification, and may impact film ratings going forward. Further, its comic-book-to-silver-screen arc makes it ideal for a new print graphic novel to promote the film and special clips screening in Imax theaters. But its console video game adaption was abandoned and won’t be … [Read more...] about ‘Dark Knight’ Baffles Film Ratings
‘Band’s Visit’ Thrives Despite Oscar Snub
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences disqualified the official Israeli entry in the Foreign Film category because its inclusion of English dialog. However, “The Band’s Visit” later managed decent boxoffice and was even transplanted on Broadway as an acclaim musical. Producers of “The Band’s Visit”-a quirky tale about a small orchestra of Egyptian policemen … [Read more...] about ‘Band’s Visit’ Thrives Despite Oscar Snub
Hollywood Stumbles in Foreign Affairs
As legendary Hollywood mogul Samuel Goldwyn once said, “If you want to send a message, call Western Union.” These days, a slew of pricey movies set against the backdrop of the Middle East/Afghanistan cauldron and that project distaste for the U.S. are falling flat at the box office. More such films are in the pipeline, and so worried film distributors are crafting marketing … [Read more...] about Hollywood Stumbles in Foreign Affairs