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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Case Study: How Trusted Media Brands is prioritizing video after acquiring a viral digital content company

Trusted Media Brands just recently acquired Jukin Media. Here's a look at what its strategy looks like — and what channels are set to expand first. The post Case Study: How Trusted Media Brands is prioritizing video after acquiring a viral digital content company appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2021-09-29 04:01:00 UTC ]
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Want to watch Olivia Colman perform a brand new lecture by Elena Ferrante?

Yes! I do. You probably do, too. Well, starting today, as part of the International Literature Festival Utrecht, you can indeed stream video of the utterly delightful Olivia Colman reading a brand new lecture by Elena Ferrante (as translated by Ann Goldstein; the lecture will also be available... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-09-24 13:20:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #elena ferrante #starting today #ann goldstein #literature festival


String of promotions at Borough Press as imprint expands

HarperFiction literary imprint The Borough Press has announced expansion plans and a string of promotions within its editorial team. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-15 07:36:01 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #borough press #editorial team


Thames & Hudson former president Peter Warner dies, aged 79

Peter Warner, former president and publisher of Thames & Hudson, has died at the age of 79 from complications of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-12 20:14:10 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #thames hudson #peter warner


HarperCollins Ireland publisher Nagle looks to build brand as list launches

With its first two titles issued last week and a further four to come in 2021, Conor Nagle explains how HarperCollins Ireland is harnessing the power of a big list alongside some indie sensibilities. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-10 00:00:19 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harpercollins ireland #harpercollins


Obituary: Peter Warner

Peter Warner, the longtime president of Thames & Hudson, died on September 9 from complications due to myelodysplastic syndrome. He was 79. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-09-09 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #peter warner #longtime president #thames hudson


Hill and Saward promoted at Orbit

Jenni Hill and Nadia Saward have been promoted in the editorial team at Orbit.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-08 01:43:55 UTC ]
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Kate Byrne promoted to editorial director at Headline

Headline's Kate Byrne has been promoted to editorial director with immediate effect, and is to take on the responsibility for the Headline Accent imprint, alongside Headline Eternal. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-17 03:38:21 UTC ]
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Cole and McKinley promoted at David Higham

Allison Cole has been promoted to head of children’s rights and Christabel McKinley has stepped up to an agent role at David Higham Associates.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-05 08:18:57 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #david higham


Hearst UK wants all of its brands to have Good Housekeeping’s authority in product testing

The Good Housekeeping Institute set the precedent for Hearst UK and the new Hearst Institute is looking to replicate those successes across all its brands. The post Hearst UK wants all of its brands to have Good Housekeeping’s authority in product testing appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2021-08-03 04:01:00 UTC ]
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Why two brothers are betting on creating new brands and e-commerce to grow their media company

Former Bonnier Corp. CEO Eric Zinczenko is the new COO/president of his brother David Zinczenko's company Galvanized Media. The post Why two brothers are betting on creating new brands and e-commerce to grow their media company appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2021-08-02 04:01:00 UTC ]
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Viking promotes editors Brown and Moynes as imprint grows

Penguin General imprint Viking has promoted editor Connor Brown and Vikki Moynes as it continues to grow its non-fiction and fiction publishing. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-07-27 10:11:50 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fiction publishing


The American Booksellers Association promoted an anti-trans book, apologized, and then deleted it.

The American Booksellers Association has made their Twitter account private after promoting a scientifically inaccurate anti-trans book, apologizing, and then deleting the apology. The controversy started when the ABA, as part of their July “white box” promotional mailing, sent 750 bookstores a... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-07-16 17:06:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #anti-trans book #irreversible damage #american booksellers association


Booksellers Denounce ABA Promotion of Anti-Trans Book

The American Booksellers Association is facing withering criticism from booksellers after walking back its promotion of Abigail Shrier's anti-trans title 'Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters' to member bookstores. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-07-15 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #anti-trans book #walking back #irreversible damage #american booksellers association


Audacity branded 'possible spyware' after controversial privacy policy update

Popular open source audio editor Audacity has become rather more familiar with controversy recently than it is probably comfortable with. Concerns built up following the software's acquisition by Muse Group and subsequent changes to telemetry and privacy settings. With the latest changes to its... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2021-07-05 09:03:53 UTC ]
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Brand-new doctors, enlisted to battle the pandemic

What six med school graduates saw as the coronavirus tore through New York hospitals. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-07-02 12:00:00 UTC ]
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YMU’s Harris on crossing the aisle to agenting and building non-fiction brands

Having been responsible for much of Orion’s non-fiction output for more than a decade, Amanda Harris’ switch to agenting came as a surprise to some. She discusses her first 18 months at YMU, and explains why it has been a rewarding endeavour.   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-07-01 10:03:00 UTC ]
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Promoting Cooperation and Cultural Exchange: Spotlight on the Sheikh Zayed Book Award

Growing American participation, record-breaking submissions, and the expansion of translation grants are among the highlights for 2021. (Sponsored) Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-06-07 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Publishing promotes Chebaro and Stiles

Amazon Publishing has promoted Sana Chebaro to head of marketing in Europe and named Hatty Stiles as associate rights director.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-05-14 16:28:25 UTC ]
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Bird promoted at Granta, Llanwarne joins

Dan Bird has been appointed assistant editor at Granta publications, as the organisation makes changes in the editorial and sales departments. Meanwhile Phoebe Llanwarne joins Granta from Murdoch Books as sales executive. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-05-07 11:23:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sales departments