Goofy TV commercials with Will Ferrell as part of a movie tie-in promotion helped lift car sales for Dodge vehicles. Ferrell, in character for his movie "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues," is the presenter in real advertising for the 2014 Dodge Durango, whose sales soared 59% in October and up 50% for the year. The Ferrell ads started Oct. 5. This is reminiscent of the … [Read more...] about Ferrell Film Promo Lifts Car Sales
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Honda Drives Outdoor Movie-Theater Rescue
Automaker Honda mounts a big tie-in promotion with drive-in theaters. The car manufacturer roped in film critic Leonard Maltin to host online efforts for Honda’s Save A Drive-In effort and also enlisted Sony Pictures for advanced screenings of animated “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2.” “In less than three months, many of the 368 remaining drive-ins across the U.S. … [Read more...] about Honda Drives Outdoor Movie-Theater Rescue
Google Stars In Fox’s ‘Internship’
Google arranged a product placement in “The Internship,” which is the Vince Vaughn/Owen Wilson comedy scheduled for June 7 premiere from 20th Century Fox. The movie is rated PG-13 and Google cooperated with “The Internship” that uses its workplace as a backdrop. “Amidst the comedic hijinks, the film indeed delivers a picture of a kind and gentle Google, a company that offers … [Read more...] about Google Stars In Fox’s ‘Internship’
Superman, ‘Trek’ Offer Tix Promos
Walmart and Esurance are mounting intriguing ticket-distribution promotional tie-ins to two big-budget summer movies: Warner Bros. “Man of Steel” and Paramount’s “Star Trek Into Darkness." Walmart is the sole seller of special sneak preview tickets for the Superman movie franchise reboot “Man of Steel.” Meanwhile, automobile insurance company Esurance is distributing … [Read more...] about Superman, ‘Trek’ Offer Tix Promos
‘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
Advocacy Group Rips On-screen Smoking
An anti-smoking advocacy group asserts that audience impressions of characters using tobacco products doubled from 2010 to 2012 in youth-oriented films, “returning to levels of a decade ago.” That’s the upshot from Legacy, a Washington D.C.-based organization funded by tobacco companies in settlements over litigation with government agencies. The Legacy analysis multiplies … [Read more...] about Advocacy Group Rips On-screen Smoking
Audi Car Replaces Acura In Next ‘Iron Man’
An electric-powered Audi luxury car brand replaces Honda's Acura in Walt Disney's "Iron Man 3," according to Bloomberg news service. Audi, which is aggressive about product placement in movies, is owned by German automotive giant Volkswagen. The Tony Stark character, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. in the "Iron Man" films, will park the Acura supercar he drove last year in … [Read more...] about Audi Car Replaces Acura In Next ‘Iron Man’
Corporate Groupies Reach For Oscar Glow
With the Oscar telecast tomorrow, let’s look at some of the many marketers that attach themselves to the awards without an official affiliation. “This year’s Oscar Celebrity Gifting Suite will be held at an undisclosed location in Beverly Hills,” says an enthusiastic press release for Inance skin care products. “Many celebrities have been waiting for this chance to sample … [Read more...] about Corporate Groupies Reach For Oscar Glow
Sponsors Embrace Brash Spirit Awards
The Independent Spirit Awards cloaks itself with the aura of a maverick and virtue but is not shy about embracing the luxury side of corporate America. The independent-film awards counts as main sponsors luxury wristwatch Piaget, Jameson Irish Whisky, upmarket Lincoln automobiles, T-Mobile cell phones and indie film TV channel IFC for its Saturday awards, which come one day … [Read more...] about Sponsors Embrace Brash Spirit Awards
Sundance Sponsor Nabs Fest Screening
A corporate sponsor at the Sundance Film Festival created content that unspools in a sidebar of the fest, in a bid to escape the NASCAR-like clutter of overt promotions, notes a Variety story. The Captain Morgan brand of rum, which is part of the Diageo spirits conglomerate, received choice placement for its 30-minute documentary showing at Sundance titled “The Unsinkable … [Read more...] about Sundance Sponsor Nabs Fest Screening