- Good article from The Hollywood Reporter that, in essence, says that new media innovation and exploration needs to be in just about everyone’s business plan if they think they’re going to remain relevant in people’s minds.
- Speaking of THR, reviews from the publication will now appear on MovieTickets.com under the terms of a new deal between the two. Now they need to start putting consumer-generated reviews on there as well.
- Corona is getting some product and brand placement in the new boxing film From Mexico With Love.
- Ford worked long and hard to get its cars into Casino Royale.
- Thank you, oh wise men of AdAge, for echoing my constant refrain that there’s tremendous power in the online niches that are already having brand-centric discussions. Welcome to July of 2004.
- Defamer did me a solid by linking to MMM so I’ll link back to them about how Bob Dylan is honked off over Hayden Christiansen’s performance of him in Factory Girl.
- Religious groups apparently don’t get that Black Christmas is not actually demeaning the Christmas holiday (it’s more accurate to say they’re demeaning filmmaking, but I digress) and are giving the movie some free publicity by screaming about it.
- The Ad Council is partnering with Disney for a new sealtbelt-usage PSA campaign that will features characters from Cars.
- Laura at AdFreak is warning us all not to go into The Pursuit of Happyness expecting anything even remotely uplifting, despite the trailers and such.
- Jeff Wells points out that “tent pole” pictures are a necessary evil but that doesn’t mean we have to like them.
- But if those tent pole pictures start to flail in either theatrical or home video releases then the studios are pretty much screwed. (Thanks to Tom for the link)
- Anne Thompson is looking for any success stories of smaller movies using MySpace effectively to gain an audience.
- Go check out the Nerdcore for Life thanks to Clyde.
Chris Thilk 