Hollywood Breaks

This week we welcome our guest Michelle Marks from Disney and Fox. We discuss the genesis of the Disney Channel and the rise of experiential theatrical marketing. Today’s media conglomerates need to recognize that influencers have the power to sway consumers’ purchasing power. 

“We need to begin a revolution that empowers the talent to bring the consumers into the experience while the content is being made versus after the fact.” Keith Rauch

Once again the Boomer Elite try to make themselves look good for Wall Street as AT&T calls it quit and hands over their interest to content house Discovery+.

“Not only are we losing one more employer, we have one less opportunity for real creativity and filmmakers to be discovered” - Keith Rauch

We expect to see more consolidation as Amazon most likely inks a deal with MGM and possibly Apple finding a library with Sony or even Comcast.

The attraction of celebrity was the thought that a larger community was sharing an experience by following a person, knowing some personal details and then wanting to watch or listen to their next creation. The mystique of the person was part of the genius and the studios supported this arrangement in order to get engagement from the audience.

Today is just about influencers, but they are just being commoditized. This trend was literally started by the guy who built a website called “Hot or Not” and the person of the moment does not hold an audience's attention like a celebrity. But the big tech gatekeepers like this arrangement because they get the content for free, the makers are disposable and they only need to achieve distraction.

Our guest this week is The Ankler Editor-in-Chief Richard Rushfield where we discuss the stronghold of the Baby Boomer class has over the industry and the need for them to pass the torch. But there is a scarcity of leadership who would carry the torch outside of tech overlords who convert entertainment into “content”.

Are marketing campaigns forever changed post-pandemic? What is it like to live through a merger of two very different film studios? Will Jeremy Gershman stay positive no matter what? Be sure to watch to find out all the answers and subscribe so you don’t miss out on our upcoming guests!

This week, we welcome producer and former 20th Century Fox studio exec, Tomas Jegeus to discuss the expanding opportunities in the international market as well as the distinct differences between international and domestic marketing strategies.

We also tackle the importance of breaking down the barriers to up and coming filmmakers. VisionCraft Brew Founder, Keith Rauch makes the case that “the pandemic is breaking down walls and we’ll start seeing content produced outside of the gated system of Hollywood.” Tomas Jegeus also talks about his new production company, MAD SCIENCE, and how he hopes to bring even more compelling stories to the marketplace.

We welcome Dallas Taylor from Twenty Thousand Hertz Podcast to discuss the transition of the traditional theatrical fanfare at the opening of a film, into the new desires of consumers and new sonic branding.

We discuss the changes on the #20thcenturyfox​, Netflix, HBO and the work they are doing to get consumers to register the sound and picture experience.

The industry’s major players are taking sides as Netflix and Sony strike a partnership for content and distribution. The Yin and Yang of content and audience will meet up to give both entities the market strength they need in the ever competitive show business.

Godzilla vs Kong continues to give Hollywood brokers some positive feedback on the market and audience willingness to get back to the theater. But Vision Craft Brew Founder Keith Rauch declares “This is not a blockbuster!!” and industry futurists need to find new alliances to market the return to cinema as stay at home orders are released.

Scott Rudin is having a rude awakening as The Hollywood Reporter covers years of abuse and a major need for change of the guards. “No one needs to put up with abuse” (Tim Thompson) and Hollywood needs to no longer promote it.

Movies are the fighting back in the theaters.

Godzilla vs Kong is the first sign that film goers are willing to get back in the seat. Even though HBOMax released at the same time, the monster film reached $40MM Domestically. This may be a sign of success or flop as the summer gives us more post-pandemic numbers.   

Keith Rauch makes a great point that other industries have prepared messages to welcome customers back, #Hollywood​ is falling short. “The Hollywood egos that need to get all the credit stop the industry from surviving organically.”   

Disney+ discovers their original content is not always a guarantee. The original series, The Right Stuff, is cancelled after one season. This puts to questions: does Disney streaming audience have different expectations than cable network programming?  

Zack Snyder pushes some buttons with his 4 ½ hour Justice League director’s cut. Warner proves that they are willing to pander to the online pressure to release the film, but the skew of the DC Character is still disappointing. “They are supposed to be heroes” (Tim Thompson) but Warner Bros doesn’t want goodness to prevail.

This week we welcome guest Cami Sargent (Fox, Netflix, AppleTV+) about the work of Creative Marketing from a studio to streamer. We recap some of the large campaigns she created at the Studios and how they make a difference in the overall entertainment experience.       

Will Apple merge with Sony? Does Netflix work to solve the what to watch issue? How do we create new pop culture moments in the new Hollywood culture?