German carmaker Mercedes Benz is back as a tie-in promotion partner with Universal Pictures for the next installment of the “Jurassic” dinosaur movies, shouldering a big chunk of the media costs for marketing. “Jurassic World,” which is the fourth movie of the sci-fi yarn and represents a reboot of the movie franchise, is scheduled for a June 12 premiere in the United States … [Read more...] about Mercedes Helps Drive ‘Jurassic’ Marketing
branding
Official Champagne for Oscars Changes Again
The Academy Awards again changed champagne sponsorship as Piper-Heidsieck takes the designation for three years of Oscars, after the bubbly brand held it in 1991-92 and 1999. The French company is known for its brut champagnes. “After a few years with Moët & Chandon, in 2013 and 2014, Champagne Thiénot ushered ‘Argo’ and ‘12 Years a Slave’ into the American canon,” says … [Read more...] about Official Champagne for Oscars Changes Again
‘Star Wars’ Hardware Shines In Disney Profile
A cover story in business magazine Fortune says Walt Disney Co. is becoming a hybrid entertainment/tech company and splashes images from the next “Star Wars” around corporate chairman Bob Iger. A Variety” story says the photos in the Fortune profile provide the best shots yet for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which is inked for a Dec.18 premiere distributed by Walt Disney … [Read more...] about ‘Star Wars’ Hardware Shines In Disney Profile
Vodka Brand Nabs 007 Film Tie-in
The next James Bond spy adventure film “Spectre” landed a product placement deal with Belvedere vodka. It’s a consumer-product category made famous with the “shaken, not stirred” instruction from the super-cool British movie spy dating back to the 1960s. Sony Pictures will release “Spectre” domestically Nov. 6, 2015. Smirnoff was the prior vodka placement, though other … [Read more...] about Vodka Brand Nabs 007 Film Tie-in
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
Fishburne Projects ‘Matrix’ in Kia Commercial
Viewers of Kia car commercials see presenter Laurence Fishburne projecting his character in “The Matrix” movies as he appears in a leather trench coat and sun glasses. But surprisingly, Kia did not license the “Matrix” character, though it did pay Fishburne to be presenter, says the carmaker. A Variety story by Marc Graser notes Kia breaks with the normal approach of car … [Read more...] about Fishburne Projects ‘Matrix’ in Kia Commercial
Tribeca Lands Bank Sponsor, Splits Financial
Boston-based Santander Bank kicks off its first-time sponsorship of the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City with a sweepstakes. The “official bank” of the fest, Santander offers prizes of tickets to a private screening and a private reception attended by Robert De Niro. “The Festival attracts hundreds of thousands of people each year who patronize local businesses and … [Read more...] about Tribeca Lands Bank Sponsor, Splits Financial
Branded Briefcase Stars in ‘Mitty’ Poster
The Zero Halliburton luggage company placed one of its briefcases in the film “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” and it is even pictured in the movie’s poster. The briefcase that Ben Stiller holds in the “Mitty” movie and poster is a branded model from the luggage manufacturer. The PG-rated “Mitty” movie was underwhelming at the box office for 20th Century Fox with $55 … [Read more...] about Branded Briefcase Stars in ‘Mitty’ Poster
‘Need For Speed’ Showcases Ford Car
The Ford Mustang car gets a starring role in “Need for Speed” with an on-screen product placement before the same 2015 model appears in automobile dealer showrooms in autumn. It’s derived from the 2013 Shelby GT500. The yet-to-be rated movie premieres March 14 from Disney’s Buena Vista Distribution, which markets for the producer DreamWorks Studios. The “Need For Speed” … [Read more...] about ‘Need For Speed’ Showcases Ford Car