There are many different ways for production companies to promote upcoming films. The top five include movie posters, trailers, billboards, commercials, and social media outlets. Using these major areas of advertising allows the production company to reach out to the largest audience possible. This helps promote the movie to the correct demographics and to spread the word about upcoming projects and events.
Movie Posters
Movie posters are a great way for new films to be advertised. These posters include information such as the name of the movie stars in the film, the release date, the production company, and catch phrases that make the movie and movie title easy to remember. Movie posters are used mainly in movie theaters, so audience members are already those who are known to go to the theater instead of waiting for a DVD release.
Movie posters are created by graphic designers and marketing teams to make sure that they have eye-catching imagery and a look that is memorable. Each movie can have four or more individual posters that are also available for purchase at retail stores as a keepsake for the release.
Trailers
Trailers are used in movie theaters, online, and on television. Trailers usually run between 30 seconds and two minutes in length, depending if they are extended or made to fit a commercial spot. These trailers feature cuts from sequences in the movie that may interest audience members and make them want to come see the film when it is released.
Billboards
Billboards can be used to promote movies as well. The movies promoted this way are usually high-cost releases that are thought to be possible major blockbuster hits. Billboards can be seen from highways, on bike routes, and more, so thousands of people see them every day. This kind of advertising reaches out to a large audience and doesn’t focus on any demographic, other than the location where it is placed. Re-releases, such as Titanic in 2012, will also be promoted in this way. Since previous box office hits did very well in theaters, the production companies will want as many people as possible to know that it will be in the theaters again.
Commercials
Television commercials are also used to advertise new movies prior to their releases. These commercials may start before a release date is known, which catches the attention of people who may want to see the film. Once the release date is available, the commercials are then created with a release date. These movie previews may not be the same as the trailers in the theater. They may be shorter on the television, since it costs more, and will show many of the important or climax sections of the films to make an impact on the audience in a short time.
Commercials are also used to promote DVD sales. Production companies make a lot of money from theater releases; however, it is important that they also continue to make sales after the movie leaves theaters. By using commercials, movie footage and characters can be used to promote the film and to produce more revenue.
Social Media
Social media is an important advertising method. Sites such as Facebook and Twitter run ads constantly on side bars and banners. These advertisements are cheap and allow multiple viewers to click through to a movie’s official website or fan page.
Social media is also important because it is a way for fans to rate and talk about the movie once it has been released. Fans can spread the word about good movies and storylines that they enjoy to a large audience at no cost to the production company. Word-of-mouth advertising is important for any marketing campaign, so many production companies focus on free fan ratings and reviews to sell the movie to more audience members.
