Hairspray may need better marketing

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Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/27/07 at 6:50pm

I for one am crazy excited to see this movie.
According to an EW poll however, I am in the minority.

https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20035285_20035331_20036989_4,00.html

Maybe they need to change the focus a bit and push some other aspects of the film. The teaser is cute, but not enticing, IMO.

btw-click on "vote" to see the stats.

....but the world goes 'round

Updated On: 4/27/07 at 06:50 PM

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/27/07 at 7:18pm

The teaser that has been airing on TV (at least, the only one I've seen) doesn't really give a good indication of the storyline. It seems to be geared more toward advertising the cast than the movie.

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/27/07 at 7:48pm

I was very disappointed in the trailer I saw online. You gotta spend money to make money. Hopefully they'll invest more and jazz up the trailer some. May sweeps started Thursday (4/26)and runs until May 23rd. Now is the time to saturate the airwaves with Hairspray awesomeness.

"I'm not a catcher! I'm a piano player!" -- Schroeder from "Peanuts" ----- http://www.facebook.com/p/Brandon_Bartlett/500719306

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/27/07 at 8:03pm

Wow, I'm really shocked to see this. It looks to me like EW is just stirring things up for the sake of stirring things up.

They have to do a feature on which movies they think are going to bomb this summer, and the movie with a man dressed up as a woman is the obvious easy target. It's total below the belt trash talk. This movie has the makings of a hit.

The trailer THRILLS me, and my personal opinions aside, I always try to view these things from a mainstream perspective. This film appeals to every demographic and the trailer displays that, not to mention that inclusiveness is the main theme of the film.

I agree that they need to mix it up with more variations on trailers, which we will hopefully see soon.

"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/27/07 at 8:11pm

Wanna Be A Foster... I'm curious about your post. I love the Broadway version of "Hairspray" and am very excited about the film. I've shown the trailer to several of my friends, all of whom enjoy different genres of movies, and most reply with, "Oh, okay." What in this trailer thrills you?

As to it appealing to all demographics, I disagree. No movie does that. What's in this for the "Snakes on a Plane" crowd?

Please don't think I'm being critical, I'm just interested in your opinion.

"I'm not a catcher! I'm a piano player!" -- Schroeder from "Peanuts" ----- http://www.facebook.com/p/Brandon_Bartlett/500719306

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/27/07 at 8:37pm

What thrills me about the trailer is seeing a variety of well-liked movie stars (each appreciated by different demographics - see below) displaying talents that are not run-of-the-mill for them. The music and dancing is very energizing and gives the viewer a sense of immediacy and something very animated to keep in the front of their mind.

Stars *are* the selling point for mainstream moviegoers. Period. Unless the film at hand is a sequel or part of a series, then moviegoers decide on which movies to see based on who is starring in them.

The film is filled with stars that appeal to the youth demographic (Amanda Bynes, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelly), the 20s-30s crowd (James Marsden, Queen Latifah), and the middle/elder-aged married crowd (Michelle Pfeiffer, Allison Janney, John Travolta, Christopher Walken). Queen Latifah also appeals to those who used to follow her as a rap star, as well as those who see her as a movie star. Something about seeing a big black lady deliver one-liners, taking hold of scene after scene and singing her heart out is very empowering to men and women of all ages and races, and I think that aspect is a big draw for this film. Not to mention that Latifah and Elijah Kelly portraying *likable* characters offers a change of scenery to the entire African-American demographic, which is used to black actors playing villains and enemies in Hollywood.

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/27/07 at 8:40pm

It's hard for me to look at the trailer from a mainstream perspective. I'm just so excited about the film, because I love the Hairspray OBCR and have never gotten the chance to see the show. BUT I do agree that they're focusing way too much on the names. They hardly showed any plot, just a bunch of names followed by quick shots of the actors.

As for that EW article, that's kind of... dumb. I don't get why they want you to vote for what you think is going to be the biggest flop. But that's just me.

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/27/07 at 9:07pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=17651

is the trailer

there was a previous "teaser" - that only had the names..

Having seen 20+ minutes so far, I can assure you, it will be a thrilling movie to watch...

And the Hairspray marketing engine hasn't even really started - to suggest they need "better" marketing is just silly.

"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men" - Willy Wonka

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/28/07 at 4:22am

What a lame idea. They "provide" you with 4 choices for "Season Winner" i.e. you CAN'T vote for Hairspray in that section, nor can you vote for it in comedy! As far as the bomb poll, Hairspray is by far the most recognizable title (I've never even heard of the other two films) plus JT's face so it seems instinctual to vote for it.

The John Travolta article was three tiny paragraphs ripped from other press releases. What's that about?

On the other hand, I wonder if the producers of Shrek 3 are boohooing because it only got 10% of the EW vote? Please.

#10

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/28/07 at 8:09am

As the grosses show, TV Boy, there is NO crowd for "Snakes on a Plane."

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

#11

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/28/07 at 11:05am

Exactly Wicked Geek. Snakes on a Plane is a textbook example of how NOT to market a movie-- huge buzz, tons of press and NO ticket sales.

#12

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/28/07 at 11:24am

"Hairspray" will be this summer's "Grease". A big hit!

"I've lost everything! Luis, Marty, my baby with Chris, Chris himself, James. All I ever wanted was love." --Sheridan Crane "Passions" ------- "Housework is like bad sex. Every time I do it, I swear I'll never do it again til the next time company comes."--"Lulu" from "Can't Stop The Music" ----- "When the right doors didn't open for him, he went through the wrong ones" - "Sweet Bird of Youth" ------------ --------- "Passions" is uncancelled! See NBC.com for more info.

#13

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/28/07 at 12:12pm

I think that HAIRSPRAY will get lost too...it will do well for the first couple weeks then all of a sudden it will slowly fade. Since Harry Potter (I still feel) will take the box office for like that whole month once it is released...don't get me wrong...I want it to be like #1 at the BO for a long, long, time, but with all the other BIG movies, I just hope it does not get lost...we will see on July 20th.

I do feel it will be one of the most talked about movies anyway...because of the GREAT cast...

"In the U.S.A. You can have your say, You can set you goals And seize the day, You've been given the freedom To work your way To the head of the line- To the head of the line!" ---Stephen Sondheim

#14

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/28/07 at 12:47pm

As I posted in another thread something I read in Business section of LA Daily News. Let me paraphrase:

Hairspray is seen by many as counter programming to all the male demo action, shoot 'em up flicks out at that time. Think "Devil Wears Prada" crowd who found that film amongst the testosterone and made it a hit. It's also not a bad thing to be out in the market around a juggernaut like "Potter." If that movie is sold out, people will want to see something and "Hairspray" will also appeal to families. Halo effect.

#15

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/28/07 at 2:34pm

Good point, singingbackup.

#16

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/28/07 at 2:38pm

I thought Prada was doomed up against superman. That is giving me hope to hairspray!

#17

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/28/07 at 3:26pm

At WP, 86% of 1500+ voters said they were seeing HS in the theaters :) Not bad considering 97% of voters at WP are males aged 18-34...
http://www.worstpreviews.com/review.php?id=286

#18

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/28/07 at 3:34pm

Well, the story in Hairspray is outdated and sort of lame, so all they are left with is advertising the cast. It better be a very good cast or the movie will flop.

#19

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/28/07 at 3:42pm

I have a feeling there are probably a lot of people who don't get that it's a movie based on the musical based on the movie and think it's just a rehash of the movie.

Experience live theater. Experience paintings. Experience books. Live, look and listen like artists! ~ imaginethis
LIVE THAT LESSON!!!!!!

#20

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/28/07 at 3:54pm

jordangirl: i have a feeling that, outside of this board, not many people will know there was a broadway show OR a previous movie!

we're goin' out to 'muricah now, hawn!

"You, sir, are a moron." (PlayItAgain)

#21

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/28/07 at 4:45pm

Well, the trailer sure is not very specific about this film being a musical...it looks more like a comedy to me, but the fact that John Travolta looks like a white version of a B- Eddie Murphy character with no apparent reason, also makes it a bit strange.

Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE

#22

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/28/07 at 5:17pm

I guess it's hard to predict it's future, but I hope it does well. And if anything, I hope it's a critical success.

#23

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/28/07 at 5:39pm

A critical success never made anyone any money.

I don't know anyone who would produce a film not to make money.

It's called show BUSINESS.

Let's hope it's a big finacial success!

But nice thought!

"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>> “I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>> -whatever2

#24

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/28/07 at 5:47pm

#25

re: Hairspray may need better marketing

Posted: 4/28/07 at 6:04pm

I think the trailer is NOTHING BUT specific that this is a musical. Its filled with singing and dancing. I don't think many people will be fooled into going and then being surprised that it is a musical.

I think you're wrong. What the trailer shows is that the plot includes a TV show where musical numbers are performed. A lot of non-musical movies are like that - but in this trailer we only see a couple of the "big names" singing, and both are performing in that TV show. It might be obvious for people who know about the musical, but nothing indicates that all main characters will break into song AND dance at all times.

Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE

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