The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences opened up voting for winners in the foreign film and four other categories to all members for the first time, which means victors in all 24 Oscar categories will be chosen at large. “Prior to the final round of voting, the Academy will provide members with DVDs of the nominated films in five categories: Foreign Language Film, … [Read more...] about Academy Enlarges Foreign Film Oscar Vote
organizations
Advocacy Group Rips On-screen Smoking
An anti-smoking advocacy group asserts that audience impressions of characters using tobacco products doubled from 2010 to 2012 in youth-oriented films, “returning to levels of a decade ago.” That’s the upshot from Legacy, a Washington D.C.-based organization funded by tobacco companies in settlements over litigation with government agencies. The Legacy analysis multiplies … [Read more...] about Advocacy Group Rips On-screen Smoking
Sponsors Embrace Brash Spirit Awards
The Independent Spirit Awards cloaks itself with the aura of a maverick and virtue but is not shy about embracing the luxury side of corporate America. The independent-film awards counts as main sponsors luxury wristwatch Piaget, Jameson Irish Whisky, upmarket Lincoln automobiles, T-Mobile cell phones and indie film TV channel IFC for its Saturday awards, which come one day … [Read more...] about Sponsors Embrace Brash Spirit Awards
Oscar TV Ad Sales Sizzle
Advertising sales for the Feb. 24 Oscar telecast are brisk, according to trade newspaper Advertising Age, which attributes strong demand comparison to recession-depressed rates in the past year and a belief a revamp this year will pull viewers. The performance of the Oscar telecast is of keen interest to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) because it … [Read more...] about Oscar TV Ad Sales Sizzle
‘Marketing’ Book Gets Japanese Version
Public Interest Incorporated Association (Unijapan) in Tokyo -- which is a government-sponsored film organization -- licensed Japanese-language rights to “Marketing to Moviegoers-Second Edition” to train the next generation of film producers in the Asian nation. The book will be translated and parts relevant to instruction will be distributed to attendees at seminars and … [Read more...] about ‘Marketing’ Book Gets Japanese Version
Specialist Film Ad Agencies Merge
The two leading specialist advertising agency businesses that originally assembled detail-intensive newspaper ads are merging their operation into what is called Allied-THA. This enterprise that has 20 regional offices across the United States creates ads with theater play-dates and start-times in the fine print at the bottom of print ads for movies. A press release from … [Read more...] about Specialist Film Ad Agencies Merge
Battle Over ‘King’s Speech’ Profanity
The Weinstein Co. (TWC) is trying to get filmmakers behind “The King’s Speech” to accept edits to secure a PG-13 or PG rating, so the Oscar nominated period drama can play to a wider audience. A ‘Los Angeles Times” article by Ben Fritz says TWC is asking the film’s director Tom Hooper to agree to changes clipping swear words, and a revised cut would then be submitted to the … [Read more...] about Battle Over ‘King’s Speech’ Profanity
Gripes over Film Rating System
The movie classification system is under attack in a spate of press commentaries, but I’ve got a simple fix. All those films that don’t like their ratings should withdraw from classification and play in cinemas “unrated.” There is no requirement to be classified and some films go that route all the time. It’s really an argument about Hollywood making more money by … [Read more...] about Gripes over Film Rating System
‘Transmedia’ Credit for Cross-Platform Role
A quasi-marketing function is getting some respect at the Producer Guild of America! The PGA just approved a screen credit for “Transmedia Producer.” “As technology evolves, it’s no longer adequate to think of a project as simply a television show or a movie,” PGA President Marshall Herskovitz says in a press release announcing the new screen credit. “We now understand … [Read more...] about ‘Transmedia’ Credit for Cross-Platform Role
Oscars Rap Producer for Electioneering
An inexperienced Hollywood producer’s campaigning for his Oscar nominee ran afoul of Academy Award regulations because he instructed colleagues to minimize voting for “Avatar” so his film “The Hurt Locker” could win Best Picture. Nicolas Chartier, one of four nominated producers for Best Picture nominee “The Hurt Locker” and whose main contribution was money, sent emails to … [Read more...] about Oscars Rap Producer for Electioneering