One little-appreciated outgrowth of pandemic-related “the new normal” is that reporting boxoffice grosses immediately and publicly has become irregular. For about a quarter century previously, industry allowed cinema ticket sales revenue to be publicly announced quickly, though it’s little remembered that previously those figures were confidential (explained further … [Read more...] about BO Reporting Going Underground Again?
history-memorablia
Coronavirus: We’ve Seen This Movie Before
The torrent of predictions of the quick demise of movie cinema strikes me as tunnel-vision bordering on dishonesty -- and provably by simply looking at past history and ingrained human behavior patterns. Hey, if movie theaters are dead, then so are legitimate theater (Broadway), music concerts, theme parks, cruise ships and audience attendance at sports events. But the … [Read more...] about Coronavirus: We’ve Seen This Movie Before
Films Sold at Fests Often Disappoint Later
Acquiring finished movies at film festivals is a celebrated activity generating breathless news reports and industry buzz. Chosen films are bought after informal industry auctions to later be put in general theatrical release -- which is a marketing function. A "Hollywood Reporter" article by Tatiana Siegel recounts that festival deals -- while often result of frenzied … [Read more...] about Films Sold at Fests Often Disappoint Later
Netflix Pushes Into Film Unconcerned About Cinemas
Netflix is unconcerned with maintaining a theatrical window for its in-house-produced movies, presenting a contrast to Amazon that supports theatricals for its films. "Most major theater chains refuse to show the releases because Netflix posts them online right away, without giving exhibition an exclusive window," writes journalist David Lieberman on Hollywood news website … [Read more...] about Netflix Pushes Into Film Unconcerned About Cinemas
Magazine Charts Arc of Awards Marketing
"New Yorker" magazine published an in-depth story on the movie academy with its uneven response to charges of Oscars slighting people of color and also putting awards marketing under a microscope. The article is a long (but interesting) read with context and history. The article about the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) reveals these tidbits on Oscar … [Read more...] about Magazine Charts Arc of Awards Marketing
‘Emoji’ Movie Claims First Cell-phone Trailer
I’m always on the look-out for movie marketing firsts, and here Sony Pictures claims one. Sony Pictures rolled out what it asserts is the “world's first-ever vertical movie trailer designed especially for mobile users” for animated “The Emoji Movie.” The not-yet-rated “Emoji Movie” is scheduled for domestic theatrical premiere Aug. 4, 2017, so this is a long-lead marketing … [Read more...] about ‘Emoji’ Movie Claims First Cell-phone Trailer
Product-Placement Guru Recounts Evolution
Product placement veteran Brad Brown recalls the obstacles and patchy nature of product placements in movies and TV shows from past decades in a BrandChannel.com profile. Brown, who is quoted in all three “Marketing to Moviegoer” books, placed Pepsi soda in movies ranging from early Tom Hanks hit “Big” (a Pepsi vending machine is prominent in the lead character’s memorable … [Read more...] about Product-Placement Guru Recounts Evolution
Warners Wins Dispute Over Old Marketing Materials
Major movie studios are belatedly asserting copyright control over images in marketing materials from old films. A legal summary from a Warner Bros. Entertainment studio lawsuit in U.S. federal district court against a nostalgia-products marketer indicates Warners won a $2.57 million copyright infringement award. "In dispute over merchandise with images taken from old … [Read more...] about Warners Wins Dispute Over Old Marketing Materials
Film Marketers Embrace SnapChat, Instagram
Twitter is losing some mojo with movie marketers, while SnapChat and Instagram gain. Universal Pictures picked SnapChat, which is the self-deleting messaging app, for a promotion and integration for thriller movie "The Girl on the Train." "This is the first time that out-of-home has been integrated with Snapchat to promote a film," says a Media Post story by Larissa Faw. … [Read more...] about Film Marketers Embrace SnapChat, Instagram
Movie Ads Shift to Sunday From Thursday
Movie marketers no longer look at placing TV commercials on Thursday as the best night of the week for film marketing. Now highly viewed Sunday night gobbles up more Hollywood advertising spending, says an Advertising Age story by Anthony Crupi. The old emphasis on Thursdays assumed that night was best for movie opening weekends Friday-through-Sunday. But with DVR delayed … [Read more...] about Movie Ads Shift to Sunday From Thursday