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Prior to seeing the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean movie, audiences are introduced to a flurry of previews for upcoming films -- big-budget sequels centered on blockbusting standards: warring apes, animated cars, web-slinging and hammer-bearing superheroes, and space-based lightsaber battles between forces of good and evil. Chris Hansen, M.F.A., independent filmmaker and chair of the film and digital media department in Baylor University’s College of Arts & Sciences, is available to talk about the market for big-budget sequels and the challenges for original screenplays. Is there any hope for the original story? “One of the biggest considerations in determining which movies get made, from the studio’s perspective, is marketing,” Hansen said. “That process is made much easier if the intellectual property already exists in the minds of the general public. People know who Batman is. People know who The Avengers are. Half or more of the marketing work is done. When the intellectual property is original, the studio’s marketing arm has to spend a lot more time and money acquainting viewers with the concept and generating interest.” “It’s hard to say what people are really interested in seeing. They say one thing, but they often vote differently with their box office dollars. This sometimes comes down to an economic decision for audience members. They have less disposable income than they used to, so they see fewer movies in the theater. And if they’re going to have to choose between several movies to see in an actual theater, they’ll often choose the one that has more spectacle, because there’s a feeling that it’s more ‘worth it’ to see something like that on the big screen, and that smaller movies won’t suffer from being seen on the TV in your living room.” Source:
Baylor Smartphone Addiction Expert Featured in The New York Times
James Roberts, Ph.D., The Ben H. Williams Professor of Marketing in Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business, is a featured expert in this story about society’s “love” for smartphones. “A key to a healthy relationship is being present,” said Roberts, who authored the book “Too Much of a Good Thing: Are You Addicted to Your Smartphone?” The article also cites research conducted by Roberts and Meredith David, Ph.D., assistant professor of marketing, which found that “phubbing” – phone snubbing – can damage relationships and lead to depression. Source:
Baylor Film Expert Featured on NPR's Marketplace to Explain Marketing of Faith-Based Films
Chris Hansen, M.F.A., associate professor and chair of Baylor University's film and digital media department, is a featured expert in this Marketplace story by Adriene Hill about the marketing of faith-based films. During the interview, Hansen discussed how Mel Gibson’s 2004 film “The Passion of the Christ” – which made more than $600 million worldwide – helped kick-start Hollywood’s interest in faith-based films. "Once ‘The Passion’ came out and did that kind of business, Hollywood was all over the idea of making films for this audience,” he said. Source:
Sink or Swim. Can Brazil avert an impending PR disaster if the Summer Games fail?
Soon the Olympic Games begin in Rio de Janiero. What should be a point of pride for Brazil has been reduced to a cause for concern and worry for athletes, tourists, and international organizers. As August 5 approaches, Brazil has been plagued by police protests, an upswing in crime, outdoor rowing venues steeped in dangerous bacteria and an outbreak of Zika virus that has scared away some of the best athletes in the world. Hosting the Olympics should be a hole in one for countries and cities looking to showcase and market themselves a destination for tourists and visitors. The Summer Games are essentially a 16 day long PR campaign. That is unless the hosts are not ready. With less than three weeks to go, can Rio get its house in order in time to welcome athletes and media from around the world? Professor Michael Lewis is an Associate Professor of Marketing at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. Professor Lewis is an expert in sports marketing and is available to speak to media about whether or not Rio will be ready and what the consequences could be if the upcoming Summer Games are a failure. Source:
