Prepared by Julie Brown & Mark Bretherton For the launch of Beowulf 3D at the LG IMAX Theatre Sydney on 29 November 2007. Let the battle begin
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: Four weeks prior to release 40ftx26ft BEOWULF 3D banner on the exterior of the IMAX building. 60,000 cars drive past this giant banner every day!
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: Four weeks prior to release Beowulf 3D prominently listed as Coming Soon on the Theatre s Wagner Board located above the steps to the main entrance.
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: Four weeks prior to release Theatre WEBSITE: Home Page Beowulf 3D animated highlight panel on website home page. Group Sales tile with click-through to a downloadable flyer to make a group booking.
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: Four weeks prior to release WEBSITE Beowulf 3D Film Page: Film artwork, Synopsis & Session Times, with an option to download information for Schools including the Educational Study Guide. Links to the official Beowulf 3D website.
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: Three weeks prior to release E-Newsletter to Groups Sales subscriber list, promoting Beowulf 3D as Coming Soon. Additional web tiles (right) to be featured in a follow-up newsletter distributed during opening week.
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: Three weeks prior to release BEOWULF 3D Publicity Pack Utilising the theatre s 3D themed popcorn boxes a special Beowulf media pack was sent to key film reviewers. The pack contained: Pair of IMAX 3D glasses Copy of the Beowulf book Pack of microwave popcorn Invitation to Media screenings Media release & key films facts Results: Many reviewers decided to attend the IMAX 3D screening instead of the digital or 35mm alternative.
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: Three weeks prior to release BEOWULF 3D MEDIA PREVIEWS Two previews were held the week prior to opening. Invited media included: over 400 print media 200 radio presenters 100 online contacts 250 television contacts Results: We have 600 RSVP s over two film screenings.
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: Three weeks prior to release FILM STANDEES IN BOX OFFICE FOYER
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: Three weeks prior to release LARGE STANDEE IN BOX OFFICE FOYER
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: Three weeks prior to release Beowulf 3D Subscriber E-Newsletter Emailed to 5000 subscribers on the theatre s database. A chance to win one of 200 double passes to a sneak preview screening the day before opening. All tickets taken within two hours.
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: Three weeks prior to release WEBSITE: Schools Pages Beowulf 3D listed as Coming Soon on the Schools Home page, from 15 October, to give teachers as much advance notice as possible for booking. Beowulf Study Guide adapted for Australian Schools and with local Sydney branding. Download from the Schools Resources page.
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: Three weeks prior to release WEBSITE: Schools & Group Sales Home Pages Beowulf 3D features as a large highlight panel. Additional web tiles to flag film as coming soon and option to download Group Booking flyer (see overleaf).
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: Three weeks prior to release Group Sales Website Promotion: Featured on home page and group sales pages of website. Click to download a detailed Group Sales flyer (see overleaf).
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: Three weeks prior to release Beowulf 3D Group Sales Flyer (electronic) Download flyer from the Home Page and Group Sales Page of our website. Also sent as part of an email campaign. Results of flyer downloads on internet overleaf
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: Three weeks prior to release Beowulf 3D Group Sales flyer (shown on the graph below in green) is the top performing website download. Downloaded 1018 times since 1 November.
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: Two weeks prior to release MYSPACE WEBSITE PROMOTION: Exclusive sneak preview held on 21 November 6pm for 500 people who responded to a promotion on the MYSPACE website. Cont d overleaf
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: Two weeks prior to release MYSPACE WEBSITE PROMOTION Cont d: Exclusive sneak preview held on 21 November 6pm for 500 people who responded to a promotion on the MYSPACE website.
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: 1 week before release PUBLICITY: Film Review broadcast on At The Movies ABC TV Visually, this film by Robert Zemeckis is often astonishing. It s being released in 2D, 3D and 3D IMAX versions, and on the basis of a regular 3D screening I doubt that the three dimensional system has ever looked better or been used with more skill truly breathtaking David Stratton.
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: 1 week before release RADIO PROMOTIONS To boost sales for an opening day midnight screening a promotion was run with leading FM station 2MMM
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: 1 week before release A3 POSTER DISTRIBUTION Specially created posters for the IMAX 3D season were distributed to 100 Backpacker hostels in Sydney. Aim: To have posters pinned on Activities Noticeboards in all Hostels. Distribution company given incentive (via IMAX tickets) to encourage the hostels to publicly display of posters.
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: 1 week before release PUBLICITY Online Film Review: Sydney Morning Herald website
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: 1 week before release ADVERTISING Beowulf Press Ad Negotiations with Roadshow Films resulted in a strongly themed 3D Press ad. 23 November Sydney Morning Herald: Metro
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: 1 week before release To build group & bulk ticket sales a Direct Mail campaign was sent to key group sales bookers in Sydney. The mailing included A3 posters (for company social club and university noticeboards), a bulk ticket order form and personalised cover letter.
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: 1 week before release One of 3 large vinyl banners positioned on freeway pylons adjacent to Theatre.
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: 1 week before release 3 x Freeway pylon banners positioned in front of the Theatre entrance. Designed to promote Beowulf 3D to visitors on foot in Sydney s busy Darling Harbour tourist precinct.
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: 1 week before release Beowulf 3D Floating Banner positioned in the Theatre foyer. Designed to attract attention of existing Theatre patrons.
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: Day of Film Release 29 November 2007 DIRECT MAIL: Group Sales Mailer arrived on desks 29 November Mailed to 8,000 group sales contacts with a combination of IMAX personalised data plus list rental data. Special Offer: 2 bonus tickets per group booking. (DLX x 3 panels, double sided, glossy print. See overleaf )
COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE: Day of Film Release 29 November 2007 Group Sales Direct Mail Landed on desks on 29 November, the day of the film s release. Special offer includes a bonus 2 IMAX tickets per group booking.
THE BATTLE BEGINS: Day of Film Release 29 November 2007 PUBLICITY The Daily Telegraph: Article on the Making of Beowulf 3D 29 November 2007 It s not often that a pre-medieval poem morphs into a No. 1 movie more than 1000 years later. But that s exactly what s happened with Beowulf, the oldest surviving epic poem of the English language, which became a box office hit when released in the US earlier this month. Zemeckis says the look of the film, which is being released in 3D and IMAX format, is a blend of reality and fantasy that is peculiarly appropriate for a story like Beowulf.
THE BATTLE BEGINS: Day of Film Release 29 November 2007 PUBLICITY The Daily Telegraph: Film Review 29 November 2007 the 3D world that Zemeckis and his team have created is rich and inventive
THE BATTLE BEGINS: Day of Film Release 29 November 2007 ADVERTISING Additional advertising created and placed directly by IMAX Theatre Sydney 29 November 2007 Daily Telegraph: Live (Thursday 29 November, opening day) Sydney Morning Herald: Metro (Friday 30 November) Aim: To increase Beowulf 3D box office results for the opening weekend.
THE BATTLE BEGINS: Day of Film Release 29 November 2007 ADVERTISING 29 November 2007 The Daily Telegraph Distributor display ad IMAX Theatre Directory ad
THE BATTLE BEGINS: Day of Film Release 29 November 2007 IMAX Theatre Sydney staff get into battle mode with Beowulf caps.
THE BATTLE BEGINS: Day of Film Release 29 November 2007