Thompson on Hollywood

RIP PR Pioneer Lois Smith: Tributes from Kingsley, Siegal, O'Donnell

News

Lois Smith, who died last weekend from complications due to a fall, helped to define modern PR. Back in 1971, she founded, along with Pat Kingsley (who handled Tom Cruise for years), New York's Pickwick Public Relations, and went on to pursue production at Marble Arch and United Artists before returning to her first love.

By Anne Thompson
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October 9, 2012 1:44 PM
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Oscar Watch: Spielberg's 'Lincoln' Faces Marketing Challenges; Fiery New Trailer Targets Political Wonks During Presidential Debate

Awards

An intense and patriotic new trailer for Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" (November 9) premiered during the presidential debate. Political news wonks may seem an odd target audience for a Hollywood movie, but it makes sense for a period drama that is essentially about governing. "Lincoln" spends most of its time following the fierce battle waged by Abraham Lincoln to make his wartime Emancipation Proclamation into law.

By Anne Thompson
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October 4, 2012 12:12 PM
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'Paranormal Activity 4' Invites Fan Participation

News

When found-footage movie "Paranormal Activity" premiered in 2009, Paramount digital marketing started engaging with movie fans in a direct way. They encouraged viewers to create their own spoofs and renditions of the D-I-Y film.

By Maggie Lange
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October 1, 2012 7:01 AM
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Marketing Watch: 'Frankenweenie' E-Book Free on iTunes

News

Disney's promo materials on Tim Burton's "Frankenweenie" have been innovative and choice. Their latest offering is a content-rich e-book tie-in. "Frankenweenie: An Electrifying Book" provides a behind-the-scenes examination of the world of the original 1984 short film that inspired the upcoming feature length production. Here's our "Fantastic Fest" review of "Frankenweenie"; latest clips and featurette are here.

By Maggie Lange
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September 24, 2012 12:15 PM
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Watch Clip: Dystopian Sci-Fi 'Branded' Reveals Mind-Bending Marketing Critique of Marketing

Video

The plot of "Branded" (Roadside Attractions, September 7), is grandiose, even absurd. A marketing guru figures out that advertising has altered people's brains, so he attempts to dismantle the marketing machine. Check out the strange imagery in the trailer and clips below.

By Maggie Lange
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August 31, 2012 6:34 AM
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Alexander Skarsgard's Calvin Klein Encounter: Shades of Christian Grey?

Video

"True Blood" star Alexander Skarsgard sizzles in this Calvin Klein ad for Encounter perfume for men. THR suggests that he's auditioning for the lead role in "Fifty Shades of Grey." Certainly the folks who made the ad had that color pallette--and erotic heat--in mind.

By Anne Thompson
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August 25, 2012 5:19 PM
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Adults Crave Original Content while Tentpole Enthusiasm Wanes

Features

The Austin Film Festival's film program director Stephen Jannise argues that "a new demographic is there for the taking"...

By Sophia Savage
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July 5, 2012 4:18 PM
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Rotten Tomatoes' Matt Atchity Takes on Critics and Movie Tastemaking

Reviews

In MediaBistro's recent "So What Do You Do?" interview with Rotten Tomatoes' editor-in-chief Matt Atchity, he weighs in on the state of film criticism, the discrepancy between critics and the public, and the "pitfall" of journalists being too "indie-focused." Come again?

By Sophia Savage
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June 28, 2012 1:08 PM
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Six Things I Learned at the Maryland Film Festival, from the Indie Marketing Gap to Upcoming Divine Doc

Festivals

To get some answers to the myriad questions facing filmmakers these days, directors Joe Swanberg ("V/H/S"), Craig Zobel ("Compliance") and Rachel Grady ("Detropia") hosted the fest's second annual one-day film conference, attended by a stimulating mix of knowledgeable filmmakers, exhibitors, distributors and journalists.

By Anne Thompson
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May 14, 2012 12:34 PM
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Press Release to Toh! from The Esteemed Dictator of The Republic of Wadiya

News

To sell his upcoming film "The Dictator" (May 16), Sacha Baron Cohen, as is his wont, is immersing himself in character. Following Cohen's opening promo salvo --his intentional slip-up on Ryan Seacrest on the Oscar red carpet--Paramount now has blasted an official "press release" from the Esteemed Dictatorship of The Republic of Wadiya (below).