Walt Disney Studios arranged for a whopping 20 book tie-ins to the last installment of the “Star Wars” saga. “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” is scheduled to premiere Dec. 20 and is not yet rated, but expect a PG-13/Parental Guidance for ages under 13 as the audience classification. “While these titles will include some hints and Easter eggs for the new film, the majority … [Read more...] about New ‘Star Wars’ Prepares 20 Book Tie-ins
merchandise
Warners Wins Dispute Over Old Marketing Materials
Major movie studios are belatedly asserting copyright control over images in marketing materials from old films. A legal summary from a Warner Bros. Entertainment studio lawsuit in U.S. federal district court against a nostalgia-products marketer indicates Warners won a $2.57 million copyright infringement award. "In dispute over merchandise with images taken from old … [Read more...] about Warners Wins Dispute Over Old Marketing Materials
‘Suicide Squad’ Soundtrack Makes Beautiful Music
The fanboy-oriented movie “Suicide Squad” spawns a soundtrack music album with edgy music that is emerging as a hit. Warner Music Group’s Atlantic Records reports its movie soundtrack is the top-ranked album seller in its first week with 167,000 album units sold in the U.S. and is number one in 63 iTunes countries. “It has already set the record for the most streams ever … [Read more...] about ‘Suicide Squad’ Soundtrack Makes Beautiful Music
Pricey ‘Cinderella’ Merchandise Courts Adults
Disney Consumer Products unveiled some pricey shoes, jewelry and drinking glasses tied to live-action movie “Cinderella.” There are $4,595 glass slippers from designer Jimmy Choo. A crystal “I Have Arrived” necklace is priced at $599.95. “Cinderella and Prince Charming” glass champagne drinking flutes are $75 a pair. Obviously, this expensive film merchandise is not kids’ … [Read more...] about Pricey ‘Cinderella’ Merchandise Courts Adults
Merchandise Follows ‘Star Wars’ Game Play Data
Merchandise licensees for the Disney “Star Wars” property can look at game play usage data by country to help forecast demand for products ranging from key chains to toys. The data comes from “Star Wars Commander,” which is a free-to-play mobile game that has been downloaded 5 million times, according licensing data authority EPM Communications. Merchandise … [Read more...] about Merchandise Follows ‘Star Wars’ Game Play Data
Horror Flicks Transplanted in Theme Parks
Halloween is weeks away but already several horror attractions based on scary movies are being announced by the Universal theme parks in Los Angeles and Florida. These entertainment destinations each mount numerous fright attractions for Halloween known as mazes and scarezones. The attractions that transplant movies or other familiar horror properties (including TV series) … [Read more...] about Horror Flicks Transplanted in Theme Parks
Huckster Antics Dull Stars
It's unimaginable that Jimmy Stewart, Kirk Douglas or John Wayne would have endorsed a perfume at the height of their careers. But it's a new era where movie stars routinely are pitchmen/women for wrist watches (Leonardo DiCaprio for the Tag Heuer brand), cars (Laurence Fishburne for Kia) and fashion (Nicole Kidman for designer Jimmy Choo). And don't forget the stinky … [Read more...] about Huckster Antics Dull Stars
Film Apps For ‘Spidey,’ ‘Other Woman’
Food marketer Kellogg’s and a cyberspace fashion commerce company are mounting separate movie apps. Kellogg’s offers a free casual video game for mobile devices tied to “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” and fashionista enabler StylePic links to “The Other Woman.” Apps are applications, which are shortcuts to websites that size video and maximize functionality on mobile devices … [Read more...] about Film Apps For ‘Spidey,’ ‘Other Woman’
Disney Bets Big On ‘Frozen’ With App
Walt Disney Studios gave another signal that it expects animated movie “Frozen” will become a durable franchise by creating an application software title for the movie. Most films are so ephemeral, they don’t get apps. The $6.99 retail “Frozen: Storybook Deluxe” app works on iPads and iPhones and is sold via Apple’s iTunes store. “The app is Disney’s third interactive … [Read more...] about Disney Bets Big On ‘Frozen’ With App
Slot Machines License ‘Avatar’
I’m going to have to add a new category to the list of movie licensed merchandise—the slot machine! Gambling equipment manufacturer IGT has two slot machines that are movie themed: James Cameron’s Avatar and James Cameron’s Avatar Treasure of Pandora. The slots are “packed with iconic imagery from the film and industry-first innovation. IGT collaborated with Twentieth … [Read more...] about Slot Machines License ‘Avatar’