Bruce Willis extends his celebrity endorser deal with Sobieski vodka in exchange for a 3.3% stake in its owner, struggling spirits outfit Belvedere SA of France, and that stake is worth about $4 mil., according to a “Wall Street Journal” article. A non-cash compensation deal is unusual way to bag a famous presenter, though not completely unprecedented as stars get cars, … [Read more...] about Vodka Brand Bags Bruce Willis
publicity
Good Reviews Can’t Save Films?
The weekend box office battle emerges as pivotal to regaining record-setting momentum and has some bad news for two films getting critics' praise. A “Los Angeles Times” article reads the tea leaves – in the form of tracking surveys – and finds the two big new films underwhelming in terms of audience appeal. Tracking surveys are movie research of audience awareness and … [Read more...] about Good Reviews Can’t Save Films?
Shaming Hollywood Over Smoking
The advocacy wing of the American Medical Assn. is criticizing movies depicting tobacco use in a summer-long campaign that will culminate with naming the studio that is the biggest offender in its view. The campaign includes posting advocacy ads on outdoor billboards to shame the alleged offenders. Says a “New York Times” article: ‘“Which Movie Studios Will Cause the Most … [Read more...] about Shaming Hollywood Over Smoking
Studios Tap Down Outside Expectations
Hollywood’s wrangling with media coverage of weekend box office grosses is a delicate balance of pre-release cajoling, begging and arm twisting in an attempt to manage expectations, writes “Los Angeles Times” columnist Patrick Goldstein. “If your movie doesn't match those opening weekend predictions come Monday morning, you're faced with an onslaught of stories … [Read more...] about Studios Tap Down Outside Expectations
Actor Rips His Film on YouTube
Low-budget independent movie “Midgets vs. Mascots” is getting the worst kind of publicity on YouTube, courtesy of one of its stars. Pint-sized TV series actor Gary Coleman (TV series “Webster”) does a rant knocking the film in which is stars. “It was worse than any film school project that I think I could ever bear to be involved in,” Coleman says in the YouTube video. “I … [Read more...] about Actor Rips His Film on YouTube
Film Critics Star in Documentary
Film critics star in front of the camera for a change in “For The Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism,” which is a documentary by Gerald Peary, himself a long-time critic for the “Boston Phoenix” and member of the National Society of Film Critics. The hour-and-a-half documentary includes interviews with Roger Ebert, Richard Schickel, Lisa Schwarzbaum, … [Read more...] about Film Critics Star in Documentary
No ‘Oscar Bounce’ For Nominees
Mainstream entertainment films lifted box office 15.4% year-to-date, but prestige films in the Oscar race are having a lousy year. The fabled “Oscar bounce” at the box office has eluded this year’s Academy Award contenders, notes the “Los Angeles Times.” “The whispers you hear everywhere around town are asking the same hushed question: What happened to the fabled Oscar … [Read more...] about No ‘Oscar Bounce’ For Nominees
Ranking Films Irks Critics, Liked by Audiences
Film critics assigning scaled ratings to films--anything from a number on a scale to thumbs up/down—usually would prefer not. But the public demands a simple evaluation metric available at a glance. Those evaluation rankings have evolved into various scales or “star” systems; that’s stars as in one star bad and five stars tops. “Critics tend to loathe the system and … [Read more...] about Ranking Films Irks Critics, Liked by Audiences
Angelina Jolie Stage-Manages People?
A New York Times article reveals that People magazine let actress Angelina Jolie tailor the celebrity magazine’s future coverage of her as part of a deal for exclusive baby pictures. People – owned by Time Warner Inc. – denies that allegation in the story. It’s not hard to believe film stars and their publicists call the shots with celebrity media – TV shows, magazines and … [Read more...] about Angelina Jolie Stage-Manages People?
Actress Sued for Withholding Publicity
It’s not often that a film company sues an actor over not drumming up enough publicity for a film, but Paris Hilton isn’t just any actress. The Hollywood celebrity-circuit regular and sometime movie star is being sued by small producer – Worldwide Entertainment Group – which alleges she didn’t fulfill promotional obligations for “National Lampoon’s Pledge This!” This film … [Read more...] about Actress Sued for Withholding Publicity