Newspaper articles say Hollywood studios are again talking up cuts in marketing expenditures (when will they ever learn?) and movie publicity is becoming increasingly scientific as entertainment marketers purport to measure impact of press stories. “But don’t think that Hollywood believes it can get by with less promotion,” notes a “New York Times” story by Brooks Barnes. … [Read more...] about Studio Talk Marketing Cuts (Again!)
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‘Paranormal Activity’s’ Unlikely Stardom
“Paranormal Activity,” the micro-budgeted film that has grossed $97 million to date in domestic box office, perplexed the Hollywood distribution community before emerging as an unlikely blockbuster. “Early on, few distributors were interested at all — even after the film played to breathless praise at L.A.’s Screamfest in late ‘07, and again in early ‘08 at Slamdance,” … [Read more...] about ‘Paranormal Activity’s’ Unlikely Stardom
Uni Backpedals From Video Games
The major studios have increasingly opted to create video games tied to their movies via in-house divisions in recent years. A “Los Angeles Times” article says Universal Pictures is backpedaling, after some poor results. “Based on the 2008 movie of the same name starring Angelina Jolie, the video game [‘Wanted: Weapons of Fate’] sold only 100,000 units in the U.S. in its … [Read more...] about Uni Backpedals From Video Games
Majors Exit Indie-Film Distribution
Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures are closing or retrenching four of their indie-style specialty distribution arms, after the majors rushed into low-budget, high-brow films in the 1990s. At that time, the majors emulated Walt Disney’s indie-diversification after acquiring Miramax Film. In recent actions, Paramount Vantage is being downsized. Across town, Warner … [Read more...] about Majors Exit Indie-Film Distribution
Indie Snags Prints & Ads Funding
Prints and advertising funds provide marketing expenses for films financed with other money. Indie film company Regent Releasing says that its $50 million P&A fund hired Proud Mary Entertainment to find and contract marketing deals for its financing vehicle. Says a Regent press release, “The fund was established through Merrill Lynch to provide strategic print and … [Read more...] about Indie Snags Prints & Ads Funding
Toy Brand Screens in Cinema
A popular pre-schoolers toy brand books a one-time special movie screening "Thomas & Friends On The Big Screen" via Fathom Events. It’s part of a budding trend of non-theatrical audio/visual content showing one or a few times, mostly in slots when cinemas would otherwise be dark. "Thomas & Friends" played once at a 10 a.m. Saturday screening time with its … [Read more...] about Toy Brand Screens in Cinema