Popular Posts

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Cinema BuZZ by Seymore Flix

Cinemas Say "NO" to Political Ads


Ad dollars run rampant during political campaigns, especially for U.S. Presidential elections.  It's estimated that over $5 billion will be spent during the 2016 election cycle for the Presidential run - double what was spent in 2012. Of this, $4 billion will be spent on TV ads split about even between Democratic and Republican candidates.

However, the large cinema advertising giants, National CineMedia and ScreenVision have decided not to participate in this ad spending frenzy - saying that cinemas are 'politics free-zones'. Its not easy to reject the large potential ad revenues that would be generated but the companies have decided to keep cinemas free from the deluge of political ads viewers are inundated with on a daily basis.

Pressure is being put on the cinema advertisers by the political parties given the coveted (and captive) 18-to-49 year old demographic movies draw. But, according to Cliff Marks, NCM's Head of Sales and Marketing, "It is more important to keep the movie-going experience entertaining and maintain a safe haven for NCM's other advertisers.  We want the movie experience to be all positive".

I believe the cinema ad companies are doing the right thing.  Many, including myself, are already tiring of the negative campaign 'drama' and there is over a year to ago!

It is said that all advertising is based on one (or a combination) of three things: sex, fear, or novelty.
Political ads are largely fear based. As in, 'a vote for my opponent will be a vote that will hurt you in someway: personally, financially, or ideologically'.  Cinemas as political ad free-zones will be seen as a welcomed respite from the non-stop, in-your-face political ads we have all come to despise.

50th Oscar Nomination


If nominated for best music score ('Star Wars: The Force Awakens') this year, music composer and conductor John Williams will have been nominated a staggering 50 times for an Oscar. Currently he is the only living person to have five Oscars.  To put this achievement in perspective, Meryl Streep (the actor with the most nominations) has had 19 nominations and three wins.

Williams is only surpassed by Walt Disney who had 59 nominations and amassed a total of 22 Oscars and four additional honorary Academy Awards an achievement that will probably never be equaled.

Hopefully Williams will not only be nominated but win the Award this year. Now 82, he has provided us with great film scores over the last six decades.  From 'Jaws' to the 'Indiana Jones' films to the theme music for 'Sunday Night Football'  and 'Gilligan's Island'.  Good luck John!

No comments:

Post a Comment