2007 Comic-Con Preview: Studios Q-T
Shout! Factory
DVD titles to be promoted at Comic-Con: The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark, Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog and Elvira’s Movie Macabre franchise
Marketing techniques: “The most important aspect of our booth is being able to talk to consumers about what they like, what they want to see on video,” says Melissa Boag, Shout VP of marketing. “We also do a lot of giveaways, and our prize wheel is very popular. And whenever possible we do panels, screenings, signings with talent.”
The value of Comic-Con for DVD marketing: “It is critical. We schedule releases around Comic-Con like many studios schedule for the holidays. These are our people.”
Advice for DVD retailers hoping to capitalize on Comic-Con’s popularity: “It’s a great opportunity to find out who has real buzz. I’ve been introduced to a lot of media that I would have never run across otherwise. And it’s also exciting to see consumers get really excited about entertainment and draw ideas from that energy.”
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD titles to be promoted at Comic-Con: 20 Million Miles to Earth (colorized)
Marketing techniques: “We have historically been big supporters of Comic-Con,” says Marc Rashba, VP of catalog and TV marketing for SPHE. “We have premiere screenings, exclusive panels with filmmakers and other talent (this year Sony is featuring special effects guru Ray Harryhausen), autograph sessions with top film talent and lots of items and collateral materials we give away for free.”
The value of Comic-Con for DVD marketing: “Comic-Con is a crucial part of our overall marketing plans on many of our film and TV DVD projects. The attendees provide great feedback to us and make up a great core group of our primary demographics. We have seen direct benefit promoting our comic-book-based films, anime projects, horror and much more.”
Advice for DVD retailers hoping to capitalize on Comic-Con’s popularity: “Comic-Con is yet another way for them to observe first hand what properties garner a lot of attention from a group of very active DVD buying fans. It’s certainly something that has to be experienced at least once.”
DVD titles to be promoted at Comic-Con: Triad Election and Election; Carved (The Slit-Mouthed Woman)
Marketing techniques: “For Triad Election and Election, we’ll have a Gaslamp District screening of both films in association with the San Diego Asian Film Festival organization,” says Tony Borg, Tartan president. “Both films are first-runs in the San Diego area. For Carved, we’ll have premiums, giveaways, enter-to-win drawings and photo ops at our booth.”
The value of Comic-Con for DVD marketing: “Since Comic-Com attendees tend to be influencers and spend a lot of time on Internet forums, the value of Comic-Con is to further cement our relationship with fans and give them a reason to encourage others to discover our great films on DVD.”
Advice for DVD retailers hoping to capitalize on Comic-Con’s popularity: “Put yourself in your fans’ shoes.”
DVD titles to be promoted at Comic-Con: Toxic Avenger Box Set and Cannibal the Musical 11th Anniversary Edition
Marketing techniques: “For Tromeo, which we promoted at least year’s Comic-Con, we promoted with exclusive his/her temporary tattoos; for Ultimate Toxic Avenger and Cannibal, we have trailers on a special ‘Sneak Beak’ DVD for our upcoming theatrical release Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead,” says Jeremy Howell, Troma sales and operations VP.
The value of Comic-Con for DVD marketing: “Comic-Con is very important as it allows us to directly reach our core demographic in an atmosphere where an independent can have almost as much exposure as a major studio.”
Advice for DVD retailers hoping to capitalize on Comic-Con’s popularity: “Be creative!”
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