The Birth of a Nation
FSL • 10 / 7 / 2016 • R • Wide • Scope
Cast: Nate Parker, Armie Hammer, Penelope Ann Miller, Gabrielle Union, Mark Boone Jr., Jackie Earle Haley, Aunjanue Ellis, Colman Domingo, Roger Guenveur Smith, Dwight Henry, Aja Naomi King, Esther Scott
Director: Nate Parker Screenplay: Nate Parker Website: thebirthofanationmovie. com
Synopsis: Set against the antebellum South, The Birth of a Nation follows Nat Turner( Nate Parker), a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner( Armie Hammer), accepts an offer to use Nat’ s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. As he witnesses countless atrocities- against himself and his fellow slaves- Nat orchestrates an uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom.
Marketing / Promotion: Highlight the stellar reviews the movie has already received along with awards season attention it might garner. The film took home the Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize award for a drama at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. Reach out to book stores, libraries, and book clubs to promote the movie in conjunction with non-fiction materials about American slavery, in particular the story of Nat Turner. Invite high school and college history and social studies classes / teachers to set up group screenings of the film.
Films attracting similar target audience: Snowden, The Queen of Katwe, The Magnificent Seven Facebook: / TheBirthofaNation Twitter: @ natturnerfilm Instagram: @ thebirthofanation
Blair Witch
LGF • 9 / 16 / 2016 • R • FLAT • WIDE
Cast: James Allen McCune, Corbin Reid, Brandon Scott, Callie Hernandez, Valorie Curry, Wes Robinson
Director: Adam Wingard Screenplay: Simon Barrett Website: www. blairwitch. movie /
Synopsis: After discovering a video showing what he believes to be his sister’ s experiences in the demonic woods of the Blair Witch, James and a group of friends head to the forest in search of his lost sibling.
Marketing / Promotion: Engage users on social media to talk about scary trips into the woods, including pictures if available. Advertising and special events can cater to the horror film demographic, especially the millions of fans of the original Blair Witch Project. Host late night and midnight screenings of the movie during its opening week. Invite radio stations to do a live remote from one of these screenings. Participants can compete in trivia contests about the film series, in addition to other horror-themed games. Partner with organizations that run tours of haunted places for bounce back opportunities.
Films attracting similar target audience: Suicide Squad, Don’ t Breathe, Morgan Tag Line:“ There’ s something evil hiding in the woods.” Facebook: facebook. com / blairwitchmovie Twitter: @ BlairWitchMovie
14 • ShowTime Preview Guide – Fall 2016