Late last night (actually early this morning), I posted an entry about the possibility of a sequel to Joss Whedon’s magnificent film Serenity. I offered a few ideas for promoting the sequel.
Today I received the following comment:
Anonymous Universal Executive said…
Duly noted. Thanks for the tips.October 5, 2007 8:42 AM
Now, I don’t know if the author is actually a “Universal Executive” — hopefully so — but at least somebody managed to find the blog entry. And the comment renewed my excitement. If a sequel is a dream, at least it is a pleasant one. And it has to be a dream before it can become a movie.
I’d like to lay down a possible line of attack for getting the fan base more involved in marketing the second movie. Let us assume that Universal has approved back-to-back filming of Serenity parts two and three. Let us further assume that Universal has selected cool titles, hired outstanding print-ad designers, and planned the promotion of a slick preview. I think the way to go is to release the original movie to television a couple weeks or so before the second movie pops.
So here’s where the fans come in. Universal should schedule major-city screenings of the original film (or maybe even the new film) about two months before the release of the second film. Send out the stars again, just like before. To the extent practical, hand out free tickets to known supporters of Serenity, and sell the rest of the tickets. But here’s the big difference: print out something like a million slick, full-color postcards that feature the new film and its release date. Hand these cards out in stacks and encourage fans to mail or give them away to friends. Heck, I’d gladly spend $50 on stamps to mail out the postcard to my friends. It would be a good way to touch base with people as well as to promote the film. Also have available for sale T-shirts that feature the film and its release date. And make it easy for fans to buy (or download) these items.
So, Universal, as good as you’ve been about Serenity, “I’m asking more of you than I have before.”