Think Before You Film
In the “What were they thinking?” category, Warner Brothers Pictures announced recently that they’re considering the addition of a pro-adoption message at the end of their movie Orphan when it releases on DVD. Too bad they didn’t think of that before the nationwide release of the film this weekend stirred up protests.
Or did they make a smart marketing move? We all know what happens when you get people stirred up in protest of your film. Other people go see the film to see what the fuss is about. Your box office increases. Curiosity seekers who are looking at the films slated to open in theaters see the name, remember the controversy and think…”Hmm, maybe I should go see why everyone is up in arms?”
Make a movie about big businesses, espionage, the government, serial killers, really anyone who isn’t seen as highly vulnerable, and you’ll be OK. But to make the villain of your film an orphaned child?
It’s either a really smart marketing move or a good reason for someone to be fired at Warner Brothers. Which do you think it is? Take our poll here.
[...] talked about marketing before on this blog (here, here, and here), and looked at some great examples of grass-roots campaigns that got audiences [...]
November 11th, 2009 at 2:50 pm