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