5 Ways to Market Mel's Next Movie

None of which will work...
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 21, 2010 10:13 AM CDT
5 Ways to Market Mel's Next Movie
Mel Gibson is shown in an image from 'The Beaver.'   (DigitalNipples)

Jodie Foster made two mistakes with her latest directorial effort: She named it The Beaver, and she hired Mel Gibson to star in it. Summit Entertainment originally planned to release the movie, about a guy who goes crazy (sound familiar?) and befriends a beaver hand puppet, next year. Now that the studio has a similarly crazy star on its hands, however, how can they best handle the situation? Claude Brodesser-Akner offers up a few ideas in New York:

  1. Market it as a Jodie Foster film: “Everybody loves Jodie Foster! She’s an American institution!” Brodesser-Akner writes. Unfortunately, Gibson is in 90% of the scenes.
  2. Market it as a “message movie”: But only if Mel cooperates. “Imagine all the interviewers asking, ‘Mel, have you ever felt like you were going crazy?’ Then he could make a little joke, ‘Whatever could you be talking about?’ then everyone chuckles, and he leans forward and says, ‘But seriously, mental illness affects everyone, as you see in this movie.’”
  3. Wait to release it: This is probably the best option, because “scientists predict that in the year 2843, the human race will be overtaken by a race of cyborgs with the prime directive that they deserve to be blown. And they will need a summer tentpole.”
For the complete list, click here. (More Mel Gibson stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X