In promoting edgy 'Joker,' Warner Bros. steers clear of brands

"Joker" dominated U.S. theaters this weekend, bringing in $93.5 million and setting a box office record for October. Warner Bros. Pictures pulled off its record-setting weekend without using many of the marketing tools that come standard with comic book movies.  While other superhero rollouts have leaned on splashy Super Bowl ads and big brand partnerships with companies like Geico and Coca-Cola, Warner Bros. is treating its R-rated Batman prequel more like an arthouse film with a smaller $55 million budget, fall release, film festival debut and no brand partners. The movie's promotional push began last year with a pair of Instagram posts in September 2018 from director and co-writer, Scott Phillips, sparking a two-week spike in internet searches for the word "joker" according to Google Trends data. Phillips later unveiled the film's first trailer at CinemaCon in April 2019. Warner Bros. has been running traditional TV spots and posted billboards in Times Square and on the Sunset Strip, but the studio has no plans to work with brands to promote the movie. The studio also blocked print and broadcast journalists from its red carpet premieres in Hollywood and New York.  The film won the highest prize at the Venice Film Festival last month, and there's already Oscars buzz about Joaquin Phoenix's lead performance. But "Joker" remains controversial, with some critics saying the movie is too violent and promotes a sympathetic view of its homicidal protagonist.  Police have... Continue reading at 'Advertising Age'

[ Advertising Age | 2019-10-07 17:33:36 UTC ]
News tagged with: #joaquin phoenix #major cities #online chatter #committing acts #ahuntington beach #suicide squad #public criticism #box office #comic book

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Hearst Newspapers Announces Leadership Promotions at the San Antonio Express-News

Hearst announced today that Michael Sacks has been named publisher of the San Antonio Express-News. He succeeds Susan Pape, who will Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2019-07-31 20:28:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #named publisher #hearst


Stead to lead new Bonnier imprint Manilla as Phillips promoted

Bonnier Books UK has promoted Margaret Stead to publisher of Zaffre and upcoming literary imprint Manilla, with Matt Phillips moving up to become publisher of non-fiction imprints Blink and John Blake. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-25 10:05:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #john blake #bonnier


Penguin Random House and Kellogg’s Renew ‘Feeding Reading’ Promotion

Having distributed more than 400,000 children's books last year, the PRH-Kellogg's partnership, Feeding Reading, is back this year with 125 titles on offer. The post Penguin Random House and Kellogg’s Renew ‘Feeding Reading’ Promotion appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-07-25 05:30:50 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #penguin random house #random house


Orion hires Pearce as Oliver moves up in string of promotions

​Orion has hired Francesca Pearce as senior publicity manager and moved Leanne Oliver up to publicity director in a string of promotions for its team. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-17 16:28:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publicity director


How Yankee Magazine Turned Loyalty Into Brand Equity

Known as a gateway into the lifestyle and culture of New England, Yankee magazine has established itself as much more than just a publication for those living in the region it covers. Now a digital publisher that labels itself as the “leading authority on New England foliage” with a reach of... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2019-07-15 18:58:36 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #user experience #strategic initiatives #taking place #hilton midtown #digital publisher


Penguin Random House India in Promotional Partnership With Wattpad

In its arrangement with PRH India, Canada’s Wattpad will introduce some of the publisher’s writers to Wattpad readers, rather than generating content from the platform. By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson Introducing Indian Writers to Wattpad Users eeping up its brisk rate of... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-07-08 15:35:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #wattpad appeared #prh india #porter anderson #penguin random #penguin random house #random house


Valentine promoted at Orion as Benton steps up to deputy m.d.

Orion has promoted Anna Valentine to executive publisher of Trapeze, Seven Dials and Orion Spring, while Sarah Benton also steps up as the group’s deputy managing director. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-03 18:47:10 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #orion spring #executive publisher #sarah benton


How did Walmart end up promoting Hitler’s Mein Kampf?

Union-busting retail behemoth Walmart has come under fire this week for prominently featuring Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf in a sponsored Facebook post. According to Business Insider, the since-deleted post featured an oil painting of history’s greatest monster underneath a message urging customers... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-07-02 19:41:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mein kampf #business insider #start reading #ebooks


A delightfully absurd ad goes viral. Plus, the latest Kim Kardashian West branding controversy: Friday Wake-Up Call

Welcome to Ad Age’s Wake-Up Call, our daily roundup of advertising, marketing, media and digital news. You can get an audio version of this briefing on your Alexa device; sign up here. What people are talking about today A 3-year-old ad went viral yesterday; it’s a lovely tale with a surprise... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-06-28 10:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #procter gamble #saturday morning #honest conversation #forwarded email #nielsen


HQ's Mursell promoted to senior commissioning editor

HQ has promoted Charlotte Mursell to senior commissioning editor for both fiction and non-fiction. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-25 09:12:00 UTC ]
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Chance promoted to Welbeck group commercial director

Dean Chance has been promoted from m.d. of Carlton Books to the Welbeck Publishing Group's senior leadership team, in the newly-created role of group commercial director.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-24 11:27:47 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #dean chance #carlton books #newly-created role


Final takeaways and confessions from Cannes. Plus, America's Hottest Brands: Monday Wake-Up Call

Welcome to Ad Age’s Wake-Up Call, our daily roundup of advertising, marketing, media and digital news. You can get an audio version of this briefing on your Alexa device; sign up here.   What people are talking about today: Cannes Lions is finished for another year and most of the industry is... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-06-24 10:25:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #dismissed claims #cambridge analytica #forwarded email #harry potter


Phillips moves to HCG as Egmont promotes Clark

Egmont rights director Tracy Phillips is moving to Hachette Children's Group (HCG) to replace Andrew Sharp, who is leaving publishing to train as a teacher. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-23 16:42:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #group hcg #hachette children #hachette #egmont


Google is giving businesses new ways to promote themselves

Local businesses will be able to beef up their profile in Search and Maps with photos, offers, and more. 150 million businesses have taken advantage of Google’s My Business, which lets retailers, restaurants, and other local businesses enter information about themselves that shows up in Search... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2019-06-20 12:00:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #search results #local businesses #free book


Avon reveals raft of promotions with Khan made head of PR

Avon has unveiled a number of promotions across the division, with Katie Loughnane, Sabah Khan and Molly Walker-Sharp all stepping up to new roles, as well as two new recruits—Bethany Wickington and Ellie Pilcher. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-19 23:21:59 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ellie pilcher


YouTube rolls out augmented reality, virtual try-ons for makeup brands, influencers

YouTube has introduced augmented reality into videos, providing a canvas for beauty bloggers to play with virtual makeup while also opening a new route for brands to hawk their products. On Tuesday, Google, which owns YouTube, announced the new augmented-reality feature, which enables “virtual... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-06-19 21:35:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #video stars #nielsen


Facebook wants some regulation—at least on brand safety

Facebook welcomes a little regulation, at least if it helps end its brand-safety problems. “We want regulation in the areas of brand safety and content moderation,” said Carolyn Everson, vice president of global marketing solutions, speaking on Tuesday at an event kicking off the Global... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-06-19 11:21:19 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #media players #share information #ad dollars #verso


WPP and iHeartMedia join forces to lure more audio branding business

WPP is hooking up with IHeartMedia on a new partnership aimed at luring more audio business from marketers. The venture, called “Project Listen,” will offer creative consulting and media planning covering multiple platforms, including broadcast radio, digital streaming, podcasts, smart speakers... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-06-17 10:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #press release #pearson