The rough-and-tumble Oscar race imprints a half dozen indelible lessons in Hollywood awards marketing. Going forward, expect rigorous scrubbing for social media accounts of heavily promoted talent and also pushing self-serving boundaries in defining supporting actor/actress. A Variety article by Clayton Davis notes that old but incendiary social media posts by actress Karla … [Read more...] about Takeaways From Topsy-Turvy Oscar Race
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H’wood Saturates Super Bowl Sans Film Ads
Just three film commercials ran in yesterday’s Super Bowl, which is U.S. TV's most expensive advertisement, though Hollywood celebrities and brands were omnipresent. Those pricey in-game spots were for “Thunderbolts,” “How to Train Your Dragon” (screen grab above) and “M3gan: 2.0," out of about 60 total spots. The usual range is four to 10 in-game movie commercials, which … [Read more...] about H’wood Saturates Super Bowl Sans Film Ads
Epic PR Clash ‘Ends With Us’
The public relations and legal battle also veered into movie marketing issues. According to Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman, the producer of the movie Wayfarer Studios “made the decision to proactively hire a crisis manager prior to the marketing campaign of the film, to work alongside their own representative with Jonesworks employed by Stephanie Jones, due to the multiple … [Read more...] about Epic PR Clash ‘Ends With Us’
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
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?”
Film Fests Want Oscars Mojo Back
Movie festivals in the autumn lost their prominence as Oscar launching pads in recent years, but this cycle are working hard to again be harbingers of awards. “For 14 years between 2007 and 2020, from ‘No Country for Old Men’ to ‘Nomadland,’ the Oscar Best Picture winner screened (and in all but three cases premiered) at the Venice International Film Festival, the Telluride … [Read more...] about Film Fests Want Oscars Mojo Back
‘Reagan’ Knocks Media Bias
Presidential biographic drama “Reagan” is courting conservative audience segments as it heads to an Aug. 30 domestic theatrical premiere, after finding liberal-leaning media is trying to stifle its marketing. Showbiz Direct is distributing the PG-13-rated movie that reportedly cost $25 million to make and stars Dennis Quaid as Ronald Reagan. “Quaid told Joe Rogan on his … [Read more...] about ‘Reagan’ Knocks Media Bias
Premiere Press Coverage Propels ‘It Ends’
Romantic comedy “It Ends With Us” is headed for a relatively big cinema premiere Friday, helped by buzz from its star-laden premiere. “It Ends,” whose star Blake Lively was catalyst for extensive media coverage of its premiere, is a PG-13 rom-com from Sony Pictures Releasing. The film is based on the best-selling novel by Colleen Hoover. The gala Aug. 6 premiere at the … [Read more...] about Premiere Press Coverage Propels ‘It Ends’