January 18, 2005

Mel Gibson Refuses to Play the Oscar Marketing Game

A sparse article has popped up on Contactmusic.com claiming that Gibson has told his marketing staff at Icon to forgo marketing 'Passion of the Christ' because he wants it to win solely on its artistic merits:

The actor/director finds the Hollywood trend of spending millions promoting Oscar hopefuls ridiculous - and he has told his own marketing people not to get involved.

He says, "I think films should be considered on their artistic merits and that's all.

"It's kind of like a presidential campaign or something and it's just not that important."

Given the crafty marketing behind 'Passion' last year, one has to at least suspect the possibility of this being a clever "anti-marketing" marketing campaign aimed at the Academy.

Mel Gibson: Oscar Should Go to the Best Film, Not the Best marketing.

April 07, 2004

Online Voting Opens for the 33rd Annual Key Art Awards

Online voting is now available for the 33rd annual Key Art Awards. According to their site, the Key Art Awards are:

...the only international competition honoring the professionals who create movie advertising, including theatrical trailers, posters, TV commercials, Internet ads and more. It's the work of these individuals that often determines a film's box office success and chances for Oscar consideration. The Key Art Awards ceremony has become a cornerstone event in the movie marketing community, annually attracting a "who's who"of motion picture executives and creative professionals from every corner of the industry.

The term "key art" is industry jargon for the main pieces of collateral supporting a movie's release -- posters, stills, etc.

I've heard of the awards before, but I never knew about the online voting. This looks like the second year that they're doing it.

Here's a summary of who I voted for:

Best Poster, Comedy: 'Lost in Translation'
Best Poster, Drama: 'American Splendor'
Best Poster, Action/Adventure: 'Pirates of the Caribbean'

Best Trailer, Comedy: 'Lost in Translation'
Best Trailer, Drama: 'Mystic River'
Best Trailer, Action/Adventure: 'Kill Bill Volume I'

I thought the 'Lost in Translation' campaign was brilliant, but perhaps it just struck a chord with my demo...

Best Website: Identity

Related Link:
The Hollywood Reporter.com: Key Art

January 26, 2004

Lost in Translation & LOTR the big Winner

Lost in translation looks to gain the biggest awards boost, winning nearly all of the Golden Globes it was nominated for. Conversely, Cold Mountain looks like the biggest loser, winning only one of it's eight noms. It could have really used the boost at the box office.

And of course, LOTR: ROTK did some damage as well, raking in four Globes. If the Oscars pile up as well, we could easily see over one billion in worldwide box office.

But how much effect do Golden Globe wins have on Box Office? I can nary recall a time where they swayed me one way or the other. I think their influence to be more indirect -- swaying Oscar voters, with the Oscars being the true box office movers. The Globes are gaining in popularity and influence though, if you consider their soaring ratings.

The 2004 Golden Globe Winners

January 25, 2004

Just who the hell is the HFPA, anyways?

I was watching the Golden Globes and my girlfriend asked me, "Who the hell is this 'Hollywood Foreign Press Association' anyways?"

And I realized that I hadn't a clue.

Wanting to learn more, I wandered onto their site, where I found the goals of the HFPA to be:

To establish favorable relations and cultural ties between foreign countries and the United States of America by the dissemination of information concerning the American culture and traditions as depicted in motion pictures and television through news media in various foreign countries.

To recognize outstanding achievements by conferring annual Awards of Merit, (Golden Globe (R) Awards), serving as a constant incentive within the entertainment industry, both domestic and foreign, and to focus wide public attention upon the best in motion pictures and television.

To contribute to other nonprofit organizations connected with the entertainment industry and involved in educational, cultural, and humanitarian activities.

To promote interest in the study of the arts, including the development of talent in the entertainment field through
scholarships given to major learning institutions.

I also found the following story, which coming from a member of the foreign press, ain't looking so good:

TheStar.com - Awards boost industry myth