I’ve been doing this for 40+ years and thought I was the only one, but it turns out not only do others do the same thing but Ewan McGregor is among our number: Because it turns out McGregor has, in fact, acted like every single Star Wars fanboy attempting to spice up an otherwise boring … Continue reading be the jedi you know you are
Selling Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
My latest marketing recap column at The Hollywood Reporter covers Disney’s massive campaign for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The Rise of Skywalker comes as the end cap to what is now a nine film series, just as creator George Lucas long said he originally envisioned. At the center of all the films — … Continue reading Selling Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Flashback MMM: Star Wars
I wasn’t planning to write about Star Wars this week. There was another movie I had in mind to jump back and take a look back at the movie for and I had an angle in mind and everything. But over the last week I’ve seen so much celebration of this being the 40th anniversary … Continue reading Flashback MMM: Star Wars
Picking Up the Spare: Rogue One, The LEGO Batman Movie, La La Land
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story The Chicago Auto Show is underway and Nissan has brought its Rogue One-inspired vehicle there. More details on the where and why here. La La Land There's a new motion poster that touts the awards nominations and other accolades the movie has racked up recently. The LEGO Batman Movie … Continue reading Picking Up the Spare: Rogue One, The LEGO Batman Movie, La La Land
After the Campaign: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
There's been quite a bit written in the last few weeks about moments that were prominent in the marketing of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story but which didn't make it into the actual movie, as well as how discarded dialogue changed a lot about the meaning and tone of the finished movie. I'm not … Continue reading After the Campaign: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Picking Up the Spare: Doctor Strange, Rogue One
Doctor Strange At the time of my column I couldn't find any information on the partnership with Skype but I just stumbled across them. Apparently you could add the doctor on Skype and become his virtual assistant. The company also introduced a new series of movie-themed emoticons to use. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story … Continue reading Picking Up the Spare: Doctor Strange, Rogue One
MMM Recap: Week of 12/16/16 New Releases
Collateral Beauty The strongest card the studio has to play is the big emotions that are part of the story. So it hits that beat as forcefully and repeatedly as it can, showing Smith breaking down and having his conversations with death and everything else as a way to sell the movie as a big-budget … Continue reading MMM Recap: Week of 12/16/16 New Releases
Movie Marketing Madness: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
The Rebel Alliance is back on the big-screen in this week’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The story (don’t call it a Prequel) is set just before the events of 1977’s A New Hope, the original Star Wars story, and tells the stories of how the plans to the Death Star wind up in … Continue reading Movie Marketing Madness: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Rogue One: Recon Takes You Inside An X-Wing Cockpit
Last week Star Wars and Verizon debuted Rogue One: Recon, an immersive 360-degree virtual reality experience available exclusively at Verizon stores. Recon, developed and directed by ILM chief creative officer and Star Wars veteran John Knoll, takes you inside the cockpit of an unnamed X-Wing pilot who, along with his wingman, picks up and decides … Continue reading Rogue One: Recon Takes You Inside An X-Wing Cockpit
Some Odd Rogue One Products
My first post at The Drum is a look at some of the more questionable licensed product tie-ins for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story: Much has been written over the years about the role Star Wars and its subsequent sequels played in the expansion of licensed movie merchandise. The modern action figure market largely … Continue reading Some Odd Rogue One Products