"GROUNDHOG DAY" 25th ANNIVERSARY SCREENING AND CONVERSATION
As part of the 25th Anniversary, the Academy will screen “Groundhog Day” april 9 and the night will also feature a panel discussion with the cast and crew of the film. Actor, Nia Vardalos will moderate the panelists : Trevor Albert - Producer, John Bailey - Cinematographer, Danny Rubin - Writer, Pembroke J. Herring - Editor, Stephen Tobolowsky – Actor, “Ned Ryerson”
The event will take place at The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Samuel Goldwyn Theater, 8949 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills.
"For me, this was a very special film, when I was in charge of the marketing and distribution of the film in France, I realised it would be a challenge for our french audience totally unaware of what the groundhog day might be, Bill Murray was hot from Ghosbuster and Andie McDowell mostly known for having played in Green Card with Gerard Depardieu (our national icon in the 90s).
The genre was judged by exhibitors and media as "too american" in a type of comedy that does not translate so well here. I disagreed and organized a series of test screenings who proved very successfull in the want to see, and appeal to all targets. I designed a strategy based on three aspects.
1. Stress the positionning on a film about a never ending, ever repeating love story. HENCE the title never ending day (forgetting about groundhog....)
2. Let the film become it's best advocate and organize as many public screenings as possible: the so called screening strategy. About 50 premiere screenings were organised a few days before the release, all over France, to build positive word of mouth.
3. I decided to capitalze on Andie Mc Dowell who came to Paris do a few days of interviews for key media and women publications.
The screenings were all very successfull, the box office results were extremely good, AND the film acquired a status of cult film in France still remembered in France 25 years later in the niche of such films as Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Bruno Chatelin was Marketing Director with Columbia TriStar films in France 1987 - 1995 he became Managing Director of the Joint Venture UGC FOX 1995 - 1997
06.04.2018 | Oscar The Academy Awards's blog
Cat. : FILM