Summing It Up, Boiling It Down: The Art of the Movie Tagline
We’d all like to think we’re too savvy to fall for modern-day marketing tactics, but when it comes to movie messaging, they’re just so darn clever. By the time you sit down in a theater, it’s likely that the marketing behind a film has already worked it’s magic on you, and taglines—the single phrases you see emblazoned across billboards, buses, benches, and subway walls—help to set the stage. Whether they’re piquing your interest ("Reality is a thing of the past"...
VIP Viewing: Luxurious Movie Theaters Around the Globe
The days of enduring a great flick at the cost of long lines, a stiff back, a sore neck, and slippery soda-tacked floors are on their way out. Movie theaters across the world are getting serious upgrades–from leather reclining seats to full course meals. Yes, VIP amenities once reserved for elite lounges are likely coming to a theater near you.
Flatbread pizzas, high-end spirits, artisanal chocolates—a whole new breed of theaters is popping up with an eye for gourmet grub,...
Political Film Trivia
To celebrate the success of both the Democratic National Convention and the Republican National Convention, this week's quiz takes a look at trivia from iconic US political films.
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**Feature image courtesy of Warner Bros: THE CAMPAIGN, in theaters now. ...Film Festivals Decoder: A Look At The World’s Top Film Fests
Sure, Sundance and Cannes have become household names, but did you know that there are nearly 4,000 film festivals held around the world every year? (There’s even a Moustache Film Festival in Portland, Maine.) The top-tier festivals have a glamorous reputation, but even at the ritziest ones, you’ll find up-and-coming independent filmmakers, film school students and everyday cinema enthusiasts rubbing elbows with A-list actors, producers and directors.
Last week marked the start of the 2012 Venice Film Festival and The Telluride Film Festival–and that's just the beginning of what will likely be the most dynamic film fest season to date...
From Bookshelves to the Big Screen: Young Readers Spur A Movie Boom
After the stratospheric success of movies based on the Harry Potter, Twilight and Narnia book series, young adult fiction has become a rich hunting ground for studios looking for the next franchise.
The next wave of YA-based films has already arrived with The Hunger Games, but filmgoers can expect many more in the coming months. So what are the next page-turners to hit the silver screen? Get a sneak peek below.
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (September,...
The Wired Theater: Audiences Get Social At The Cinema
There is a well-known myth of movie audiences in the late 19th century fleeing for the exits at the sight of a train that seemed to be barreling straight toward them. In reality, audiences’ early fascination with motion pictures quickly turned to admiration, a sacred respect for the movie going experience. Talking during movies became, almost instantaneously, strictly verboten. Decades later, other rules reared their heads to stomp out social distractions in the cinema. First it was, “please turn off your cell phone’s ringer.”...
Venice Film Fest Trivia
In honor of the Venice Film Festival—and the official kick-off to the 2012 film fest season—this week’s quiz honors movies that have been awarded and/or recognized at the VFF.
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**Image source: Getty Images ...Stars, Stripes, and Scene: Cinema’s Greatest Depictions of US Political Conventions
One could say that the national political conventions are as much a form of entertainment as they are a step in the presidential electoral process—after all, James Taylor is slated to perform at the Democratic National Convention in North Carolina this year, while Kid Rock and Journey are rounding out the entertainment roster at the Republican National Convention in Tampa. It’s not surprising, then, that the real-life drama surrounding the conventions has been inspiration for many a Hollywood scriptwriter over the years...
Publicity Gone Wild: 10 Great Movie PR Stunts
In 1910, the head of an early movie studio spread the rumor that silent film actress Florence Lawrence had been killed by a streetcar in New York. After basking in the attention for a time, the studio, IMP, took out an ad and declared that Lawrence was alive and well. Lawrence soon became the very first movie star.
Since then, outrageous and ingenious publicity stunts have catapulted some films (think: The Blair Witch Project) to success. We compiled ten of the most innovative stunts in movie history:
1...
The Return of Smell-O-Vision, the Advent of 4D Cinema, and the Brave New World of Sensory Film
TIME Magazine might have deemed it one of the worst 100 ideas in history, but it’s hard not to harbor a fond nostalgia for the wonderfully bizarre promise Smell-O-Vision once afforded moviegoers. Making movies that smelled was a bold and definitively quirky concept intended to persuade the television-hooked masses of 1950s Americana to migrate from their plastic-covered couches and microwaved TV dinners in order to experience movies in a ‘scent’sational new way. Of course, putting it into practice wasn’t so simple: Smell-O-Vision and other olfactory stimulating processes like it were expensive,...
2011 Global Box Office Results
Our latest infographic tracks the global box office earnings of 2011.
...Back to School Movie Trivia
With schools across the country gearing up for a brand new school year, this week’s quiz takes a look at some iconic back-to-school feature films. [wpsqt name="Back to School Quiz" type="quiz"]
**Image still from Won't Back Down, courtesy Walden Media. ...Movie Poster Masterminds: An Interview With Allied Creative
Everyone knows movie ad campaigns are crucial to the industry. After all, who hasn’t let an eight-foot billboard of an impressive movie advert persuade them into making a trip to the local theater queue? But, like most things in the business, there’s more to making movie posters than meets the eye. Creative agencies are devoted to achieving the optimal aesthetic of movie posters and ad campaigns—from appealing to the target audience, to capturing the ambiance and essence of the movie itself...
Special Effects for Everyone: The Democratization of CGI Technology
You could say independent filmmaker Gareth Edwards is a surprising champion for CGI technology. After all, his feature film Monsters (2010) wasn’t a big-budget summer blockbuster, nor did it star Tom Cruise, Matt Damon or any other major A-list actor. In fact, he made his film for a mere $800,000—and that’s with CGI technology included. In an interview with film critic Mark Kermode, Edwards said, “You can go in [a] shop now and buy a computer that’s faster than the computers they made Jurassic Park on.”...
Content Everywhere: Key Examples of Content Availability
Want to know where to find your favorite video content? This infographic will help you find and watch the movies and TV shows you love.
MPAA and DGA Present: An Evening With Director Michael Apted
Senator Chris Dodd interviews British director Michael Apted in the inaugural installment of the MPAA’s new series, “An Evening With…,” which celebrates the work of cherished film icons and aims to shed new light onto contemporary issues facing the industry—from expanding into international markets, to raising awareness about copyright issues, to fostering an ongoing dialogue about innovations in the world of cinema.
Michael Apted is a critically acclaimed director, writer, producer, and actor. He has directed such films as ...
Test Your Shark Film Knowledge
In honor of Shark Week, this week’s quiz celebrates some of the most iconic shark films to date.
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**Feature Image: JAWS courtesy of EPK/Universal, now on Blu-Ray ...Film and Fin Fans Celebrate JawsFest 2012
Movie lovers and shark fans flocked to Martha’s Vineyard last weekend to kick-off the annual celebration of JawsFest: The Tribute. The four-day festival celebrates one of America’s most cherished and iconic films while also commemorating Universal’s new Blue-ray release of Jaws.
–Video edited by Katia Vannoy
Now available on Blu-Ray and DVD here.
**Footage courtesy of EPK/Universal ...Hollywood Goes Green: Studios Adopt Environmentally Friendly Initiatives
A closer look at MPAA member studios' commitment to environmentally friendly initiatives.
...Getting the End of the World Right: Astrophysicists Weigh in on Their Favorite Asteroid Disaster Movies
A young boy gasps in the dark as the asteroid plummets towards Earth, spelling certain death for everyone he knows and loves. Like those around him, he is transfixed by the notion of his own imminent obliteration. He begins pondering the uncertainty of time, of existence, of the scope of human imagination. He shoves another handful of popcorn into his mouth, chewing furiously, as these ideas take root.
It could be anyone, but in 1953, this boy was Seth Shostak,...
