Serenity: The Movie Marketing
I was recently asked to apply to become one of a select few (thousand) bloggers to get an advanced screening of Joss Whedon's new film Serenity. For the 2 people visiting this site that don't know what Serenity is, it's the movie version of the the Fox cancelled TV show Firefly, possibly the best si-fi show ever to grace television.
As a huge Firefly and Joss Whedon fan (I have the restraining orders to prove it), I was excited to sign up and crossed my fingers all day that I would be one of the few (thousand) chosen.
Imagine my giddy school girl excitement when I got an email saying I was "one of the lucky bloggers to be chosen and confirmed for the screening of SERENITY". My excitement was short-lived as I scanned the email from the marketing company responsible for the screening. Now, maybe I'm being too critical, or I'm just jaded from years of working the game business and seeing clueless marketing people who "just don't get it", but this whole thing just made me feel dirty.
Apparently, me getting into the screening is dependent on my regurgitating a much of marketing hype on my website. Once I've done this and notified them, they will let me know if I've gotten in.
NOTE: The email I received appears at the end of this article.
It seems to me that the these marketing people just don't understand bloggers, or at least not the bloggers I read and know.
I'm all in favor of grassroots marketing, and getting a bunch of bloggers to see an advanced screening of a movie is a good idea, but I feel like they are asking me to buy my way into this screening with orchestrated hype, something I won't do.
Why do they feel they need to do this? Why did this need to turn into a loyalty contest? It's not like this is some J-Lo movie that they are trying to save, this is frigg'n Joss frigg'n Whedon and Firefly.
I think they underestimate the type of people that are going to spread the word of mouth and flock to this movie. Geeks are a cynical bunch, we have overly sensitive uncalibrated bull-shit meters that go to 11. We can smell bad marketing (although we are suckers for good marketing like you've never seen) and react with a sophomoric outcry that this post is a testament to.
What would I have done different? I would have made their requirements just suggestions. I would have provided all the information they did, along with the ftp site of images, but would have required nothing in return. There is a confidence that goes along with that that says a lot and would have played well with me. I would have talked about going to the screening and talked about it afterwards, but I wouldn't have felt like shill.
But, in the end, I guess I've done exactly what they wanted: Mentioned and linked to the movie giving it PR and ink. I guess I'm just a sucker after all.
Email:
From: <redacted>
To: Ron Gilbert
Subject: Serenity Blogger Bonanza - SAN FRANCISCO
Date: Sat, 24 Sep 2005 11:17:08
Congratulations! You are one of the lucky bloggers to be chosen and confirmed for the screening of SERENITY for the time, date and the number of guests that you have requested. Please note, this confirmation DOES NOT guarantee you a seat at the screening.
To significantly increase your chances of getting into the screening, you MUST do the following:
* You MUST include the film's synopsis on your blog (synopsis below) and you MUST link your blog to the SERENITY website (which has the trailer and production notes) http://www.serenitymovie.com and featured artwork. After you have screened the film, please discuss it on your blog. Please provide us the links to all of your blog posts on SERENITY at <redacted>@gracehillmedia.com
* Print out and bring a copy of this confirmation.
* Arrive at the theater AT LEAST 45 minutes before the show begins.
* Upon arrival at the theater, please find a UNIVERSAL PICTURES representative and inform him or her that you are part of the SERENITY BLOGGER BONANZA. The Universal rep will then instruct you as to what to do next.
* DO NOT bring in a camera or a cellular phone that takes pictures. They WILL be confiscated, and you will NOT be allowed into the screening.
*Have a great time!
Your Screening location is:
<redacted>
Joss Whedon, the Oscar® - and Emmy - nominated writer/director responsible for the worldwide television phenomena of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE, ANGEL and FIREFLY, now applies his trademark compassion and wit to a small band of galactic outcasts 500 years in the future in his feature film directorial debut, Serenity. The film centers around Captain Malcolm Reynolds, a hardened veteran (on the losing side) of a galactic civil war, who now ekes out a living pulling off small crimes and transport-for-hire aboard his ship, Serenity. He leads a small, eclectic crew who are the closest thing he has left to family ?squabbling, insubordinate and undyingly loyal.
In order to download art to discuss the film on your blog, here is the link to the FTP site:
http://<redacted>.universalpictures.com/
USER: <redacted>
PASSWORD: <redacted>
Thanks, and have a great time.
Warmest wishes,
Your friends at Grace Hill Media
One thing I found funny about the email was this sentence: DO NOT bring in a camera or a cellular phone that takes pictures. They WILL be confiscated, and you will NOT be allowed into the screening.
So, my picture-taking-cellphone WILL be confiscated and I WON'T be allowed in to the screening? I can see them taking my cellphone while I was in the screening, but to take it and then not let me in? When am I going to get it back? Last time I was in Law School, they called this stealing (but with a fancy Latin name).

Other people's comments:
Posted by Ardalan Samimi on Sep 26, 2005 quarter to two pm
Posted by Vincent Hamm on Sep 26, 2005 quarter to three pm
And you love waiting in lines so much ;)
Posted by eloj on Sep 26, 2005 twenty past three pm
Posted by Gabriel on Oct 1, 2005 ten past one pm
http://www.pvponline.com/newspro/archives/arc8-2005.html
Posted by Pope Guilty on Sep 26, 2005 twenty past three pm
Thank you.
Posted by Wandus on Sep 26, 2005 quarter to four pm
now i wouldn't consider stealing your multimedia-private-data-assistant-thingee such a plain crime, but they are in fact stripping you of your personality (numbers, names, important dates...).
so ultimately this turns into a carrot-and-stick-marketing shtick: depending on how many people end up begging to be let in despite having been in possession of a devious picture-taking-device, marketing will determine whether or not this film does appeal to a neat cross section of the movie-going public.
as a reward, you may get your identity and life back.
this is not stealing, ron, it's a sign of how gracious the movie business has become.
Posted by Spiro on Sep 26, 2005 ten to four pm
The hype will come post-viewing.
It's frikkin' fantastic, nobody will be disappointed. Those who are don't matter anyway. :)
Posted by chock-chock on Nov 16, 2005 twenty past eight pm
Posted by YicklePigeon on Sep 26, 2005 ten to four pm
The message starts off with a big confirmed that you're going to be there on time, date etc to see the film. Then basically retracts this, by saying you've only got a chance to get in and see the film. I'd argue that seeing as you've been chosen and confirmed to attend the screening, that you still go and then stand up in the theatre to watch the movie. "See? I'm not using a seat. I'm using crutches to prop myself up."
Regards,
Yickle.
Posted by Whup on Sep 26, 2005 quarter to five pm
I just got this weird mental image of Ron standing up in the middle of the hushed theatre, and proclaiming "I'm Spartacus!".
I must be tired.
Posted by cliffski on Sep 26, 2005 ten past four pm
I'm glad you have the integrity to post the email and let people see the crap that goes on behind the scenes for stuff like this,
This smacks of a bunch of corporate dicks who think they are 'down with the kids' by reading the riot act to bloggers.
Posted by Todd on Sep 26, 2005 ten past four pm
So they steal your phone and kick you out.... what a fun bunch of people they are...
Posted by KRS on Sep 26, 2005 twenty five past four pm
Posted by Quiz Kid Donnie Smith on Sep 26, 2005 nine pm
If you do all of the following, there are chances that you end up watching
the screening. I bet you are all excited now, Johnny-Jon!"
Aw just reading that email made me feel DIRTY.
Posted by Pythagoras on Sep 26, 2005 five past eleven pm
Posted by Cancerboy on Sep 26, 2005 twenty five to midnight
Posted by Sven on Sep 27, 2005 half past midnight
Posted by Mark J on Sep 27, 2005 twenty five past one am
So that just increases your chances of getting in. Not exactly a <em>quid pro quo</em>, although it does seem like they are suggesting it rather firmly.
Honestly, the whole e-mail is rather strange. Note that this...
... is listed as one of the things that will increase your chances of getting in to the screening. They forgot to add "invent a time machine" to the list. The same goes for "Have a great time!" which looks like someone just forget to turn off the unordered list feature in their e-mail program.
Posted by MaterialErmüdung on Sep 27, 2005 twenty to three am
I allready found the SCREAMING in the mail amusing. MUST MUST. It looks so fucking rude.
Just imagine the email read out by Sergeant Hartman from 'Full Metal Jacket'.
Posted by NeoTiger on Sep 27, 2005 ten to five am
Anyway. I'm going to watch Serenity and either enjoy it or not.
Posted by Treiral_ on Sep 27, 2005 twenty five past five am
Posted by Francis on Sep 27, 2005 five past eight am
A show that was never aired on a big network, and that is completely unheard of,
Too bad : sounds like it will be Straight-to-video here in France...
Is this really that good ?
G.
Posted by Ron Gilbert on Sep 27, 2005 twenty five past eight am
Fox is a big network here in the states
Yes it is. It's a little quirky, but it has some of the best writing I've seen. Fox showed the episodes out of order, then canceled it for unknown reasons. Everyone I've loaded the DVD's to has loved it.
Posted by Kingzjester on Sep 27, 2005 quarter past ten am
Posted by Francis on Sep 27, 2005 twenty past eleven am
I've heard that Fox let Futurama die too. It is not their first time.
I guess these will never be jumping the shark ! (One can learn so many things in wikipedia...)
Posted by Ptraci on Sep 28, 2005 half past four pm
As I watched it I could not help feeling that someone at FOX was plainly stupid.
The actors are perfect for their roles, the script is one of the most quotable ones I can think of, the far west look is awesome... and they cancelled it when the plot started to get intense.
I hope I can see Serenity soon, but I don't think it will be possible, Firefly being unheard of here in Spain. I was a bit confused when I saw a trailer dubbed to Spanish by professional voice actors, but I don't know if I want to see that version, the voices were absolutely wrong for the characters :S
Posted by Findyourblog on Feb 12, 2006 quarter past four am
Posted by Stewart on Sep 28, 2005 eleven pm
Posted by Someone on Oct 9, 2005 half past four am
Posted by ihad on Sep 27, 2005 quarter past nine am
Although I must admit that the wording of the e-mail is lacking logic at times, gee. Come to the screening and we will rob you blind and send you home naked, kekekeke.
That poor someone who wrote that mail and that negligent someone who proofread it must be unaware of the subtleties of language. Of course we all know what they meant, pity these days people no longer are able to express what they really mean. And if they try to they spill forth some stammering riddled with so-called political correctness that will confiscate any meaning and will cause your brain to switch off after 3 seconds!
So! How was the movie? :D
Posted by spaceship789 on Sep 27, 2005 twenty past seven pm
The proposition is not like selling your soul because you are still free to give a negative review after the screening, and as long as you hype up other films just as much you will keep your integrity.
But the wording is offensive to the point where it creates animosity between the fan and the movie.
I fear that if I go to see the movie, there will be a voice in my head ranting uncontrollably:
"Do you feel like you've just paid for a movie you were once CHOSEN to see? you MUST have been mistaken! bwahaha"
Posted by nowak on Sep 27, 2005 ten to eight pm
Posted by SCSIwuzzy on Sep 27, 2005 ten past noon
They had a producer and assistant from a local rock station come to work up the croud. He approached me and another pair of bloggers, and asked if we were from the studio. "Nope, were bloggers" Bloggers? "Weblogs" weblogs? "We're reporters, here to review the movie" OH. Hey, John, WMMR blah, blah, blah
He asked some trivia questions, handed out t-shirts, and reminded us to listen to his station. Mercifully, he shut up and left and then we got to enjoy the movie.
Everyone got a poster or 2, about 10 got hats and shirts. It could have been done better, but it will be awhile before the old heads in marketing know that we exist. Then another while before the see us as people, not pajama wearing shut ins. :)
Posted by Lee J. Cockrell on Sep 27, 2005 twenty to three pm
This was the perfect movie to try and get grassroots enthusiasm about though. They had a good idea in getting bloggers involved, but obviously don't understand blogging much yet. Still, free movie unless you count $7 parking, $20 in popcorn and drinks, and $11 in metro fares.
Posted by Owen-B on Sep 27, 2005 twenty past four pm
Posted by ArC on Sep 27, 2005 quarter past eleven pm
Oh well.
Posted by Nuckles on Sep 28, 2005 five past one am
Toy Story,
Atlantis: the Lost Empire,
Aliens: Resurection
Titan A.E. (so you can see some of his earlier Sci-Fi work and understandy why Serenity was so great.)
When i try to introduce other people to Whendon I try to avoid mentioning Buffy or Angel and instead use the previously mentioned films. It helps get non-geeks really interested. then i slip in the Buff or Angel refrences if i want them to give that a fair try.
Posted by CC on Sep 28, 2005 twenty past one am
Posted by Ben on Sep 28, 2005 five past five am
Posted by Chris on Sep 29, 2005 twenty past four am
More often than not, "whine" and "moan" are better words to use though.
Posted by mildnet on Dec 27, 2005 eleven pm
Posted by B. Trovato on Sep 28, 2005 quarter to seven am
In my blog post stating that I was going I didn't post the synopsis, and my enthusiasm came through regardless because if I didn't have an interest, I wouldn't have posted at all. I can't imagine that they would begrudge me this. I went the screening, my name was on the list, and I enjoyed the movie, and was grateful to be given the chance to see it in this way.
Also, someone said something about this not being a J-Lo movie that needed help, and to that I say get out of your bubble. J-Lo, as evidenced by her nickname, is a household name. Firefly and Serenity are not and there's a possibility this movie could bomb. It wouldn't be the first one to bomb this year, that's for sure. It also wouldn't be the first really good movie to bomb in history. I'd love for it to become a phenomenon, and I'm not going to let the wording of an e-mail prevent me from doing what little I can to help make it one.
Posted by Carl on Sep 28, 2005 ten to seven am
This marketing attempt is trash.
Posted by Andrew RIvett on Sep 28, 2005 twenty to nine am
but by putting this email on your website have you actually completeted what they wanted?
ie link to website and plot synopsis?
Posted by scummbuddy on Sep 28, 2005 twenty to seven pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Staxringold
I think you'd like the show, and if only Outlaw Star could be made into a decent game with decent space combat. But then again, I'm rooting for them to make another Mutant Hockey Leauge game.
Posted by Stewart on Sep 28, 2005 ten past eleven pm
What am I going to do with a crappy, fuzzy low res. picture of a movie screen?
"That looks disgusting. No wait, that kind of looks like the mona lisa. Is that a potato chip? Oh..it's the mother mary!"
Actually, the screen would probably just look like a big white flash because the darkness of the room would probably confuse it and overexpose. Maybe it's just my phone that takes crappy pictures, though.
Posted by Kaminari on Sep 29, 2005 five past four am
Posted by SEO cafe on Nov 14, 2005 quarter past six pm
Posted by Joshi on Sep 30, 2005 half past seven am
Posted by Death of intelligence on Oct 2, 2005 twenty five past eleven pm
http://www.starwreck.fi
Posted by Death of intelligence on Oct 2, 2005 twenty five past eleven pm
http://www.starwreck.com
Posted by Anthony Massingham on Oct 4, 2005 twenty to two am
Marketing fools :(
Posted by domain on Dec 18, 2005 twenty five past seven pm
Posted by boosh on Oct 5, 2005 half past eight am
Posted by Wayne on Oct 9, 2005 half past two pm
The ridiculous thing is that almost all of these sneaks are held a week or less before the movie opens. "We have to take everyone's camera to prevent piracy!" Most piracy somes from people copying the movie in the post-production process or in the DVD mastering and production process, not from people copying them in theaters. Yes, theater copying does happen, but you end up with such a crappy copy that few would want to see it.
Just my $0.002 worth.
Posted by Tasha on Oct 14, 2005 twenty five to seven pm
Posted by Duncan Stibbard Hawkes on Oct 15, 2005 twenty to seven pm
http://www.serenity.com/
Enjoy!
Posted by PageRank on Nov 17, 2005 twenty to seven am
Posted by Paul Mendoza on Oct 15, 2005 five to eleven pm
Posted by chess on Oct 27, 2005 twenty to nine am
Posted by smelly on Nov 2, 2005 half past four am
how crap is that? Top film though.
Posted by Directory netmoz.org on Nov 3, 2005 twenty five past one am
Posted by High Page Rank on Nov 9, 2005 twenty five past six pm
Posted by mildnet on Nov 14, 2005 midnight
Posted by SEgrep on Nov 14, 2005 ten to four am
Posted by smorkalov on Dec 12, 2005 quarter past one am
Posted by Dankeblog on Feb 12, 2006 quarter past four am