Summer Movie Trailers

The summer is looking up. Here are a few films that I am looking forward to, and after you see the trailers, you will be too!

Inception
Release Date: July 16th
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Leonardo Dicaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Caine



Get Low
Release Date: July 30th
Director: Aaron Schneider
Starring: Bill Murray, Robert Ducall, Sissy Spacek



Eat Pray Love
Release Date: August 13th
Director: Ryan Murphy
Starring: Julia Roberts, James Franco, Billy Crudup



The Adjustment Bureau
Release Date: September 17
Director: George Nolfi
Starring: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt




A barrage of the mysterious (including a chick flick which is unusual for me) makes this summer's viewing pool a little deeper than originally thought. Thanks to FirstShowing.net for the trailers.

The Perfect Movie Soundtrack: A Life's Persuit

At an early age I was obsessed with movie music, be it the score (orchestral) or soundtrack (rock/contemporary music). My first album was a soundtrack and I was always on the lookout for soundtracks in the local music stores. It was disappointing to find out that quintessential films from my youth (like Ferris Bueller's Day Off) didn't have a soundtrack. I was even more disappointed to find that some did have soundtracks but somehow left all the good tracks out.

Studios continue to miss the boat with soundtracks today, although there are more out there than there were in the early 80's. Music is important to the flow and emotion of a film as I have stated before, and it is also a great merchandising opportunity. Not only can you enjoy old favorites but you can learn of new talent through soundtracks and they can help keep your library fresh and varied.

Common mistakes made with soundtracks:

1. No one wants to hear songs "inspired by" the movie. If they weren't good enough to put in the movie, they aren't good enough to be on the soundtrack.
2. A soundtrack composed of one band's work (such as AC/DC: Iron Man 2) is ridiculous unless it is a movie about the band.
3. Just because the band is "hot" with the demographic, it doesn't mean their music fits the film.
4. Soundtracks should reflect the film as a whole and should include all songs used whenever possible.
5. If a song is a remake, it better be a good one because most people prefer the original.

Of course I understand that politics and money play a part in song selections for films, especially the mainstream big budget ones, but it doesn't mean I have to like it. Today you can find tons of websites dedicated to finding and naming songs used in movies and TV. I end up purchasing music and making my own soundtracks based on my movie experience. This a la carte strategy ends up serving my soundtrack needs and conveniently cuts out the middleman who don't seem to get it anyway.

Soundtracks I own that were practically perfect: The Lost Boys, Top Gun, Rain Man, The Crow, The Saint, The Wedding Singer, Sliding Doors, A Knight's Tale and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Are there any soundtracks you own that you feel are practically perfect?

Viral Marketing and the Film Industry

Viral Marketing is a phenomenon that facilitates and encourages people to pass along a message and get involved in the marketing of a product. Although this tactic is not always a success, what Social Media Marketing strategy ever is? Social media is new and unpredictable, but can be a powerful tool if used wisely. Here are a few examples of viral marketing used in movie campaigns:

Effective Viral, Great Box Office, Annoyed Customers:
The Blair Witch Project cost about $35,000 to make and went on to gross nearly $250 million worldwide thanks to their viral marketing campaign. The website that started it all lead viewers to believe that the story of missing filmmakers was indeed a true tale. Word spread like wildfire and the movie did better than it had a right to. While this viral marketing scheme worked to make money for those invested, the film left much to be desired. Leaving the audience annoyed that they wasted time and money, word of mouth messages spread again but not in favor of the film. Obviously this letdown would not secure brand loyalty in the future.

Big Hype, No Box Office:
Snakes on a Plane was another viral marketing success in ways, but not at the box office. People got on board with the viral which included entering your phone number on the website so that Samuel L Jackson (prerecorded) would call your phone and leave a message. While funny, this didn't make me (or many other people apparently) want to go see the film. It has apparently become a popular cult-type rental in recent years as a really bad movie to laugh at with your friends, so maybe it's not a total loss.

Big Hype, HUGE Box Office, Brand Loyalty and Beyond:
The Dark Knight. Not only did the rabid fans of the Batman Universe sink their teeth into the ARG (Alternate Reality Game) elements but the public rallies for Harvey Dent's election got the attention of non-fans who bought tickets as well. The buzz for fans was off the chart and their excitement for a mainstream comic book hero delivered huge returns. Here is a good article that runs through the Dark Knight Viral Campaign elements:The Dark Knight Viral Campaign

The film industry could benefit from well-thought-out and planned viral marketing strategies. Here are a few reasons that I believe the Dark Knight was a success:

1. People like to be part of the action. For fans, interacting in their favorite movie universe is the ultimate. The ARG (Alternate Reality Game) element helped further the fan experience.
2. It mixed up the mediums: from online websites to real time contests and gatherings.
3. Emails and phone calls from movie characters were sent out to participants which kept the momentum going and the anticipation building.
4. The campaign was unlike anything anyone had ever seen before and the excitement crossed into the main stream creating strong interest and buzz in non-fan communities.

Sure, Batman was one of the most anticipated cinematic revamping of a comic book hero in recent history so it was ahead of the curve already. The trick is to make the viral marketing experience enjoyable for all fans as well as generate interest in the general public and not alienate them. The right combination and amount of viral is crucial and of course, not all movies will benefit from a viral campaign. Choosing to use or not to use comes from the basic principle of knowing your audience.

I am a firm believer that the studios would benefit from real movie lovers to consult on their marketing strategies since a thorough understanding of the product and audience is our forte. With the ever growing popularity of social media networks, viral marketing will become more important and understanding your audience's motivations and expectations is paramount. Movies are an experience for the viewer, and a well placed viral marketing strategy can place them in the middle of all the action leaving them wanting more.

Anatomy of a Movie

A movie is a living breathing organism that is born of creativity. Just as a human, there are distinct processes that make it work. This is my take on the 4 main systems of the movie, what elements must come together to make a movie good and in some cases great.

Every movie starts with an idea, a story that needs to be told. Talented writers are the backbone of any script, and a good idea can quickly become a flop is the creatives are not up to snuff. The dialog needs to engage and entertain as well as continue the story arcs.

Location, set design and costumes are the skeleton anchored to the backbone. They provide the framework for the story, the context and contribute to the mood. With the current hi-def generation, quality is of the highest importance in set dressings, location shoots and costuming. If these 3 elements fuse together without being too distracting, the foundation is set for great cinema.

Adding to this framework is the beating heart of cinematography, lighting and soundtrack. These elements can elevate a mediocre film to new heights, and conversely, can sink a movie into a forgettable abyss no matter what talent is headlining. Visual and audio cues contribute even more to the context and mood because they are the emotional keys, and can make or break a film. Finding the right balance and the right combination of visual and audio elements can bring a sense of harmony and extend a storyline subtly into the psyche of the viewer.

Finally, casting. Of course great actors are needed for a great film, but I believe the framework and heart of the movie can make even the most basic of actors look good. The actor who can pull from the elements on set can elevate their performance and sew their character into the fabric of the story seamlessly. Actors are the skin that holds the rest together. The audience is able to relate to the movie and give it a face, building buzz and selling tickets.

If you are lucky enough to have all 4 elements come together, you may have a masterpiece on your hands. If not, I would focus on the "skeleton" and "heart" be the most important features, since a weak script and mediocre actors can be made to look good by the other elements.

What films do you think used all 4 elements well? What movies may have fallen short? Get on your Movie Megaphone and let me know what you think!

The Doors: When You're Strange

The Doors documentary was surprisingly aired on PBS last night. It's not available for purchase on DVD until late June.

The Doors have been a staple in my music collection, and this documentary was worth the viewing just for the film of the band behind the scenes, recording and at photo shoots. The footage of Jim Morrison from a movie he filmed in 1969 was surreal and the audio edited in at times made it even more eerie. The editing of all this footage was brilliantly done. The downside is the documentary didn't need to be 90 minutes and the audio balance of Johnny Depp's narration and the music was a bit off.

I am sure everyone was looking forward to this film exposing something more than previous films had, but maybe there is nothing more to tell. Maybe Jim's talent will forever be overshadowed by his erratic, drug induced fits. Maybe there wasn't anything mysterious about the story of "Mr. Mojo Risin". Maybe the rest of the band is content to leave things as they are and move on.

You don't need a documentary to tell you these guys were all talented, and if you listen to thir music, you can hear their story and their genius. "And when the music's over, turn out the light"

MM Rating: 2 megaphones

"Iron Man 2" Review

Not being a comic enthusiast, I can only comment from a novice Iron Man point of view. That said, I was excited to see this film because the first one was so entertaining.

The Plot (imbd.com): With the world now aware of his dual life as the armored superhero Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) faces pressure from the government, the press, and the public to share his technology with the military.


The Cast: I was a bit disappointed at what I call the clutter factor. There were too many characters, the cast cohesiveness suffered and it ran a bit long. Robert Downey Jr., however, carried the movie on charm and enthusiasm. He delivered a quick witted, laugh-too-long-and-you-will-miss-the-next-joke demeanor. Narcissistic billionaire Tony Stark is likable because the audience is allowed to see glimpses of his humanity when the masks are off.

The supporting cast was not used wisely, most of the time:

• Gwyneth as Pepper Potts was the nagging girlfriend


• Don Cheadle is too good of an actor to play Jim Rhodes.


• Scarlett Johansson looked amazing but her part was far too short-lived for all the hype


• Mickey Rourke was OK, and I am afraid to say anything else...

I have heard grumblings from fans about Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury but I found him ridiculously funny. My issue throughout the movie was that John Favreau needs to decide which side of the camera he wants to be on.

The Music: The soundtrack was a forgettable mash of driving guitars and strings, which didn't ruin anything but didn't make anything memorable either. Not that I was expecting a wonderful score, but there wasn't anything exciting about the rock tracks either. AC/DC music all runs the same after a few songs.

The Verdict:In many ways this was a typical summer blockbuster with exciting explosions and fight scenes, and while the "clutter factor" was distracting, there ware a few underlying bright spots. It was fun and a worthwhile matinee, as some scenes were worth seeing on the big screen. Robert Downey Jr. delivers as usual.

The Heavy: Herein lies the story of a man wrestling with not only his identity but his immortality as well.



MM Rating: 3 of 5 Megaphones:

Lights, Camera, ACTION!

Movie Megaphone is a fusion of my love of cinema and writing. What you will find here will go beyond movie reviews to bring some life and interesting discussions to the the age old art of movie watching.

I am passionate about movie soundtracks. I am passionate about set design, cinematography and location choices. I am also passionate about how movie studios choose to market their films, from trailers to merchandising and beyond.

Some topics that will be blogged here in the first weeks will be "The Anatomy of a Movie", and "Viral Marketing and the Film Industry". Movie reviews will pop up from time to time as you will see in this week's post on "Iron Man 2" and since I can't resist a movie poll, the first is up and awaiting your vote. (located on the sidebar--->)

I hope you will check back often and join the discussion here at Movie Megaphone.


I am an equal opportunity blogger and will write about mainstream or indie films regardless of genre or budget. In welcoming both praise and the occasional constructive criticism, I am merely expressing my opinion and therefore encourage thoughtful comments from my readers. ~CC