Marketing movies, who knew?

All the films throughout the years that have come into existence do not just show up on the cinema screen hoping for many to watch. We generally see a film for its actors an interesting storyline or because we are fans. We blur when it comes to the behind the scene of films because it is not what we see. A lot of time and planning and marketing efforts go into films to be where it is in the cinema.

Every major movie studio and Hollywood distribution company has their own department that is devoted to marketing or promotion of the films they make. These companies are responsible for creating an effective advertising campaign across different media platforms such as movie trailers, magazines, TV and many others. Major film releases are during a seasonal time which can be competitive for films especially if they are targeting the same type of audience. Such as animations such as frozen was on at the same time period as another children’s movie. With these films fighting for the same audience movie marketers need to make their film stand out from the rest.

As half of the total production budget [source: Vogel]. So if a film costs $80 million to make, the distributor might spend $40 million on advertising and promotion. In 2007, the average marketing budget for a theatrical release from a major Hollywood studio was $35.9 million

The theatrical trailer is often the first chance to promote a movie to its target audience. Starting up to a year before the release of a major studio movie. About the same time that the first trailers hit the theaters, the movie studio will unveil an official Web site for the film. As the release date of the film draws closer, movie marketers try to get early favorable press coverage in newspapers, magazines and on entertainment TV shows. The main movie publicity tactic is the press junket t. At the press junket, journalists, entertainment reporters and movie critics are flown out to a special location for a day or weekend of interviews with the stars and creators of the film. The actors, directors and screenwriters and reporters are brought in one by one to ask their questions.

Press conferences are used to interest critics in films. Ralph Fienes and Keira Knightley share the stage at a conference for "The Dutchess."

Weeks before the movie opens nationwide, the promotions department starts an all-out publicity blitz. The idea is to bombard the public with so many images and promos for the movie that it becomes a "can't miss" event. This will stay in people’s minds and hopefully make them want to watch the film because of all the exposure they are getting.