My latest Adweek column looks at this past Sunday's Oscars broadcast and all the reasons why it arrives at a very, very weird moment for the film industry on a number of fronts. There was the usual mix of new talent being ushered into the spotlight, established talent getting long-overdue recognition, winking humor from the … Continue reading A Very Interesting Oscars Moment
Netflix Bucks Convention with The Cloverfield Paradox
My latest at Adweek is, to the surprise of no one, on the big card Netflix played this past Sunday by releasing a commercial for The Cloverfield Paradox - formerly known as God Particle - just hours before making the movie available on the service. You can also read even more thoughts on Cinematic Slant. … Continue reading Netflix Bucks Convention with The Cloverfield Paradox
What Upcoming Movies Are Audiences Talking About?
My latest post at Adweek is a look at a list of the "most anticipated" upcoming films this year based on online chatter. I also compare Amobee's list to one published by ticketing site Fandango over at Cinematic Slant. Given how superheroes dominate the theatrical marketplace, and that those movies receive a seemingly endless amount … Continue reading What Upcoming Movies Are Audiences Talking About?
What Film Campaigns Got My Attention Last Year?
My latest post on Adweek takes a look at the 2017 film campaigns I felt were most innovative, interesting or reflective of what's happening in the larger culture. These may not be the "best" or the most successful at turning out audiences, but they were the ones I thought did something different or noteworthy. 2017 … Continue reading What Film Campaigns Got My Attention Last Year?
Selling The Last Jedi
My latest column for Adweek is a compliment to the marketing recap for Star Wars: The Last Jedi I published at Cinematic Slant, taking a slightly higher-level look at some of the themes of the campaign Disney put together. And of course, all the sections use quotes from various Star Wars movies, because that's how … Continue reading Selling The Last Jedi
Earned Media On Paid Social
My latest post at Adweek uses a couple recent examples of social media movie marketing as an excuse to opine on the growing trend of using earned media in paid social ads. A24’s promoted Twitter post for The Disaster Artist links to a Variety cover story on Franco discussing the film as well as his career to … Continue reading Earned Media On Paid Social
Fearless Women Rattling Hollywood
My latest post at Adweek deals with just some of the issues of sexual abuse, harassment, and misconduct that have shaken the foundations of Hollywood - and upset many marketing plans - and other industries. It’s been an … eventful … couple of days for Hollywood. Two days ago, Sony TriStar shocked the entertainment world … Continue reading Fearless Women Rattling Hollywood
Making Thor Fun Again
My latest post is up at Adweek, a look at how Marvel Studios embraced a sense of fun on many fronts to revitalize Thor and help sell Ragnarok as a goofy buddy comedy, not a heavy and confusing story of dark elves and weird stones. Not knowing what to do with a character hasn’t stopped … Continue reading Making Thor Fun Again
Blade Runner 2049 Keeps Underperforming
In my latest Adfreak post I take a look at three possible reasons Blade Runner 2049 has failed to spark at the box-office. While it was the top movie in its opening frame of Oct. 6-8, it took in only about $33 million, well under the $40-50 million that had been forecast. This weekend, it … Continue reading Blade Runner 2049 Keeps Underperforming
Booze and Views
Both KINGSMAN and BLADE RUNNER have whiskey tie-in promotions, so I looked at other booze-fueled movie marketing efforts in my latest Adfreak post: You may have noticed that movie marketing campaigns of late have a powerful thirst. Specifically, they’ve tapped into the growing taste and demand for whiskey, part of an overall move away from … Continue reading Booze and Views
