Carl Icahn Now Wants ALL Of Lionsgate 
FINAL MGM BIDS DUE FRIDAY: So Who's In And … 
Action Comedy TV: Showrunner Matt Nix 
SAG National Board Approves Joint Bargaining … 
BBC Drama Unfreezes Development Money; … 
Lionsgate Board Rejects Icahn's $6/Share 
Is Betting On Box Office Good For Films? 
Marvel Still Looking For Captain America 
'Sopranos' Creator To Film Rock Drama 
LIVE-SNARKING THE 82ND OSCARS... 
'ALICE' IS A MONSTER! $116.3M Blows Past … 
Oscar Not-So-Thriller: Diller Mogul Picnic 
'Precious' Sweeps 25th Indie Spirit Awards 
Howard Stern Won't Be Next 'Idol' Judge 
Justin Theroux Readying 'Zoolander 2' For … I love the smell of cross-promotion at the movie malls. Summit Entertainment today tweeted info that the next trailer for its 3rd installment of the Twilight Saga -- Eclipse -- will play with its upcoming Robert Pattinson film Remember Me opening March 12th. The movie execs also teased Twihards to "stay tuned for more information" about where they can see the trailer even earlier that week.
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Fox Searchlight Names New Marketing EVP
Note to vendors: watch out because Larry Baldauf used to be one of you and a Navy fighter pilot as well. But the new EVP of Marketing effective early March was most recently a founding partner of Hollywood-based advertising agency Acme Trailer Company. “Fox Searchlight is the only studio that could possibly have tempted me to leave a partnership and owner position in my own company," said Baldauf who worked on many Searchlight films as a vendor himself. He succeeds Stephanie Allen. He'll jointly manage with Fox Searchlight's other EVP of Marketing Michelle Hooper.
TOLDJA! Relativity Taps Geoff Ammer
UPDATES Relativity Hires Marketing Vet Geoff Ammer
LOS ANGELES, CA, January 27, 2010 – Relativity Media LLC (“RML”) CEO Ryan Kavanaugh has announced today that Geoff Ammer will be joining Relativity as the new Worldwide President of Marketing.
Ammer was most recently the President of Worldwide Marketing of the Theatrical and Home Entertainment division of Marvel Studios where he was responsible for the marketing of Marvel’s first self-produced feature films, Iron Man and The Hulk and the upcoming releases Iron Man 2 and Thor.
Previously Ammer served as President of Worldwide Marketing at Sony Pictures Entertainment where he was responsible for leading the marketing team that launched 28 #1 films, including Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2, Hitch, Guess Who, The Forgotten, The Grudge, 50 First Dates, Bad Boys 2, Something’s Gotta Give, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, S.W.A.T., XXX, Anger Management, Men in black II, Maid in Manhattan, Mr. Deeds, Panic Room and Black Hawk Down, among others.
“Geoff brings to Relativity a remarkable expertise in marketing quality and commercial fare,” said Relativity Media CEO Ryan Kavanaugh. “Beyond his creativity and wealth of experience, Geoff’s a dynamic and energetic force that we are delighted to have join our team.”
Imagine's "Transmedia Storytelling" Deal
It's the only first-look deal Brian Grazer recalls giving out since he and Imagine Entertainment partner Ron Howard hooked up 28 years ago. And it's with a company that hasn’t yet made a film. But Blacklight Transmedia gives Imagine a foothold in “transmedia storytelling,” an area Grazer feels will have an increasingly important place in how producers maximize franchises by simultaneously rolling them out in multiple platforms.
Post-Sundance, Blacklight Transmedia will begin shopping 20 intellectual property creations. But rather than limiting them to film, the company will have fully-fleshed storylines and designs that will also be shopped for videogames, TV, graphic novels and new media deals. The firm was formed last year with that strategy by Zak Kadison and Eric Lieb (former execs from Fox and Fox Atomic) and veteran Seattle-based vidgame developers Mark Long and Joanna Alexander. Kadison showed Grazer 10 properties, and Grazer will likely become film producing partner on most of them.
The properties, which are designed to sustain three films, span genres from horror to epic scifi, each focusing on a world and not a central character, with each venue supplying separate but complementary storylines that will keep consumers interested in each platform. While Kadison wouldn’t disclose specific projects, he said the creatives working on them include Chad St. John (Sgt. Rock), Skip Woods (A-Team), Marc Forster (Quantum Of Solace), Dave Semel (Heroes), Kyle Ward and Mark L. Smith.
“The projects I saw were well thought ... Read More »
Warner Bros Rebrands New Line Records
LOS ANGELES (December 14, 2009) – Warner Bros. Entertainment is re-branding its in-house music label as WaterTower Music, it was announced today by Toby Emmerich, President and COO, New Line Cinema. Formerly New Line Records, WaterTower Music will begin operating under its new name immediately under the leadership of Jason Linn who created the label in 2000 at New Line Cinema. Linn will be based in Los Angeles and report to Emmerich and Paul Broucek, President, Music, Warner Bros. Pictures. The re-branding will allow the label to clearly communicate its role in supporting all divisions within Warner Bros. Entertainment as a premiere full-service music label.
"The notion of marketing music hand-in-hand with film has always been exciting to us," commented Emmerich. The label’s most recent successes include a Grammy nomination for “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," a Golden Globe nomination for best original score for “The Informant!” and a Broadcast Film Critics nomination for “Sherlock Holmes." Additionally, WaterTower's upcoming soundtrack to "Valentine's Day" will feature the brand new song "Today Was a Fairytale" from multi-platinum sensation Taylor Swift to be released February 9th.
WaterTower is actively developing music projects for popular Warner Bros. brands such as DC Comics, Scooby Doo and Looney Tunes, as well as for the television shows “Supernatural” and “The Mentalist.” Its 2010 release schedule will also include “Sex and the City 2,” "Inception," "Going the Distance," and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.”
Relativity Hires Marketing Vet Geoff Ammer
EXCLUSIVE - 2ND UPDATE: Sources tell me tonight that Hollywood marketing meister Geoff Ammer is Relativity's new worldwide president of marketing. And Ryan Kavanaugh's company also went after Tom Sherak to be a consultant. "We wanted to sign Ammer's deal first. It's just getting signed. It's not inked yet but will be," an insider tells me. But there are differing accounts of where Sherak's talks stand. One insider told me "it's just the final touches that aren't done." But another insists Sherak pulled out of the Relativity talks. Hmm.
Almost exactly a year ago, Ammer left Marvel Studios as president of worldwide marketing and restarted his company formerly known as G2 Consulting. He'd been at Marvel since only February 2008 and left when his 1-year contract was up. (They didn't need him: Marvel's next movie wasn't until 2010's Iron Man 2 which seemed a long way off back then.) Sherak, of course, is president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. The marketing, distribution and production executive with more than four decades in the motion picture industry had been a consultant for Marvel Studios until it was just acquired by the Walt Disney Co. Previously, Sherak was a partner at Revolution Studios, chairman of Twentieth Century Domestic Film Group, and SEVP of Fox Filmed Entertainment.
Why David Permut Is A Marketing Genius
SATURDAY PM UPDATE: Guess my sarcasm is lost on some readers...
FRIDAY PM: Film producers will do anything to publicize their pics. So David Permut passes Ronald regularly at the corner of San Vicente and Wilshire in Brentwood. Today Permut gave him $100 and this poster to hold up. "It's been very good for us and for him," Permut tells me. "So I started thinking: why don't the movie studios go to all the homeless people and pay them to hold up one-sheets?"
Disney/DreamWorks Announce First Film
It's Real Steel, from Touchstone Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures slated for November 18, 2011. This is the first motion picture to be dated for release under the new distribution and marketing deal between The Walt Disney Studios and DreamWorks Studios. Shawn Levy directs Hugh Jackman from John gatins script about the new sport of robot-boxing.
Changes At ABC Sales & NBC Marketing
Broadcasting & Cable today says longtime ABC sales and marketing president Mike Shaw is leaving and that Disney is considering creating a new position for ad sales across all its properties.
The NBC Agency announced today a consolidation of its West Coast Creative Team under the leadership of Jim Vescera, EVP & Creative Director of NBC Entertainment. The reorganization combines the on-air promotion and off-air advertising/digital teams into one creative group, and includes the promotion of Dave Doré to a new role as SVP & Creative Director, NBC Entertainment Marketing. The Agency also announced the promotion of Lorenzo de Guttadauro to SVP of Brand Creative, NBC Entertainment.
Fox Searchlight Marketing EVP Leaving
I've learned that Stephanie Allen, EVP of marketing at Fox Searchlight Pictures, is leaving after a decade there promoting Slumdog Millionaire, Sideways, Juno, Little Miss Sunshine, Napoleon Dynamite, and other pics. "Stephanie has decided to take a break from the movie business. She is already enrolled in graduate school, pursuing a Masters in Fine Arts, and also wants to become a better surfer. We will miss her mightily," an insider tells me. Fox Searchlight is in the process of finding her replacement.
Showbiz Marketing Revolution/Solution?
Google and Microsoft through Bing yesterday both announced the ability to search Twitter feeds in real time. I'm told this is potentially big news for entertainment product marketing. We all know Twitter has accelerated the velocity of word of mouth, but until now it could not really be searched efficiently. In the past, a text with commentary on a film went to one person. Now it goes to hundreds, thousands, or hundreds of thousands. With Google's and Bing's offerings, studios and networks can capture and parse Twitter feeds to determine the sentiment of opening day attendees. They can then analyze the direct data to know how it is trending, and metadata to determine regional, theater and demographic data all within minutes of the film opening. If they choose to do so -- as Comcast is doing on Twitter -- they can participate in real time dialogue. Of course, the same thing can be applied to test screenings and focus groups to hear what people are saying to their friends, as opposed to what they write on the movie cards. A marketing revolution/solution is underway.
CBS More Desperate Marketer Than NBC?
Forget Jay Leno in the cat food aisle. 
Now the CBS marketing team has found an even more unusual way to flog its new fall series The Good Wife: by offering to bribe journalists just to consider mentioning the show. This would be pathetic if it weren't so hilarious. (Note to Les Moonves who's at the Cronkite memorial at Lincoln Center this morning: a $20 Amazon gift certificate isn't gonna cut it with me. A new Benz, maybe.) Amy Morales, a "Community Activator" for the YouCast Corporation working for CBS, emailed me overnight thusly, after I deleted all the promotional bullshit:
Dear Deadline Hollywood Daily Editorial Team,
I know I just emailed you recently about CBS's Three Rivers - I don't mean to stalk your inbox - but I didn't want you to miss out on The Good Wife either! ... My goal in writing to you today is to see if you’d be interested in sharing this information with your readers. As a thank you for considering the story I would love to send you a $20 Amazon Gift Certificate...
I look forward to hearing from you!
Best,
Amy
So I looked for her Three Rivers email but found no bribe offer in that message. Poor Amy had to up the ante to flack The Good Wife to me. That can't bode well for the show, can it? So Amy, since I didn't just consider a story, I actually wrote one because of ... Read More »
TV COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE: 2009-2010 New Show Awareness By Each Network
Awareness studies from Nielsen go to all the networks to help them determine how many potential viewers are aware of their new shows… And if the broadcasters need to adjust their marketing messages… Some of this is a slippery slope because, say, a network show is premiering late and the marketing has barely begun... Spinoffs and remakes (NCIS, Cleveland Show, Melrose Place, SNL) tend to have higher awareness than new originals… Dramas usually have higher awareness than sitcoms at this stage of the summer because they start production earlier and have more footage to show... So, with those warnings:
Best Awareness Among 18-49 Demo By Network
Cougar Town
Flash Forward (strong intent-to-view sentiment among those aware of this show)
Worst: Hank
NCIS: Los Angeles (also strong intent to view)
The Good Wife
Worst: Three Rivers (doesn't premiere until October)
Glee
The Cleveland Show (very strong intent to view)
Worst: Brothers
Trauma
SNL Weekend Update (good intent-to-view)
Worst: Community
Melrose Place
Vampire Diaries (strong intent to view)
Worst: The Beautiful Life
Summit Entertainment Replaces Main Flack
I hear that Summit Entertainment's PR department which had been run by Vivien Mayer will get a new head flack: ID PR SVP Eric Kops who used to work at Paramount under Nancy Kirkpatrick, the Summit prez of worldwide marketing. Kops came to ID PR only 6 months ago.
Fredrick New Screen Gems EVP Marketing
Warner Bros marketing veteran Jim Fredrick has joined Screen Gems as executive vice president of marketing. In his new role, Fredrick will oversee all aspects of Screen Gems marketing, including creative advertising and publicity for the specialty film banner. Fredrick, replacing Marc Weinstock who has transitioned to co-president of worldwide marketing for the studio, will report to Jeff Blake, chairman of Sony Pictures Worldwide Marketing and Distribution. Fredrick had been at Warner Bros., where he served as senior vice president, creative advertising, and before that Castle Rock.
Senior Marketing Agent To Leave CAA
I've confirmed that Seth Matlins has told CAA he'll be exiting. (Who departs an agency before bonuses are handed out?) Matlins is oft described as "Co-Head of Marketing And Entertainment" at the agency. (Though a CAA spokesman denied to me that Matlins was co-head of anything...) A brand agent, Matlins' job has been to provide corporate clients with marketing 
strategies that leverage the power of entertainment to build brands and drive business results. Matlins joined CAA in 2000 when the tenpercentery created a marketing consultancy with Coke as its first client under him as team leader. Before that, Matlins founded Dirt Road Consulting, a marketing and strategic services company advising clients including both business-to business and business-to-consumer businesses in the financial services, publishing, and entertainment industries as well as New Media start-ups. Previously, Matlins served as the president of the political and entertainment-rooted nonprofit organization Rock the Vote. Matlins was responsible for establishing the strategic direction of the organization and running all aspects of its business, including operations, strategic planning, marketing, sales, and industry relations.
Tonight's SNL Skit Mocked McCain... (But Al Franken Should Stick To Campaigning)
Video below. Politico says comedian turned U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken helped head writer Seth Meyers brainstorm tonight's SNL opening sketch mocking John McCain. Ugh, it was lame. Not funny at all. In fact, the whole show stank.
EXCLUSIVE: MGM/UA Marketing Shake-Up
I'm told that Paramount's EVP of integrated marketing and national publicity Michael Vollman is jumping to MGM to become EVP of worldwide marketing as well as take on the title of prez of worldwide marketing for United Artists. He's now the senior marketing guy overseeing both studios, reporting to chairman of MGM worldwide motion picture group Mary Parent as well as to UA CEO Paula Wagner. 
Meanwhile, United Artists prez of worldwide marketing and publicity Dennis Rice is exiting the studio as well as MGM prez of worldwide marketing Perry Stahman. Rice has been at UA since April 2007 after leaving Disney's movie division as senior vice president of publicity. Stahman has been at MGM since April 2006 after coming over from 20th Century Fox where he was SVP for creative advertising. (FYI, I filed this very early AM but a website crash prevented it from being posted.)
Sony's Gargotta Upped, Goldstine Moved
Just came back from a meeting to find that Sony Pictures Entertainment has promoted Tommy Gargotta to president of worldwide creative advertising, replacing Josh Goldstine who'll now work on a few Columbia titles a year as a senior creative exec. (See my previous, More Hollywood Title Inflation Coming...)
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