Advertising on the Silver Screen to Bail Out Hollywood

Total revenue for Hollywood and the movie-making industry looks to be dipping below $9 billion for 2005, beneath the $9.3 billion average since 2001. The number of ticket sales is set to finish at around 1.4 billion, which is the lowest since 1997. So how can movie theaters make back the money? Advertising.

Advertising to a Captive Audience

Hollywood and theater owners realize that they have a captive audience with movie-goers, and advertising seems like the best way to make up for the lost money in lagging ticket sales. Mobile phone maker Sony Ericsson is reported to be putting three-quarters of an advertising budget--rumored to be over $10 million--into advertising in theaters. Speculation continues around what other companies will invest in this advertising outlet.

The Movie Theater Experience

Many people argue that cinema advertising is a short-term solution. The bigger problems lie with the quality of the content of movies coming out and the overall movie experience. Home theaters have become a strong competitor of movie theaters with crying babies, kids kicking your seat, and people talking on cell phones. Some research suggests that mid-level and not big-budget blockbuster movies are struggling the most, partly because of lower-quality content (stories, acting, etc.).

Top Grossing Movies

Hollywood has leaned heavily on blockbuster films to pick up the slack. Below are the top domestic grossing films for 2005:

• 1. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
• 2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• 3. War of the Worlds
• 4. Wedding Crashers
• 5. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• 6. Batman Begins
• 7. Madagascar
• 8. Mr. & Mrs. Smith
• 9. Hitch
• 10. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Online Degree Boosts Advertising Career

An advertising career can challenge you to be come up with creative ideas and ad campaigns. An online degree in advertising will give you a strong foundation to build upon. If you've already been in the advertising or theater industry for awhile, an online degree can fill in the gaps in your knowledge and enhance your prospects for better advertising jobs in your career. With the right online degree, perhaps the next stop in your advertising career will be Hollywood.

Sources
The Hollywood Reporter
Cinema Advertising Council
Daily News, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox Triumph
Box Office Mojo 2005 Domestic Grosses

About the Author
James Tolles is the Managing Editor for hq|publications. He is a freelance writer and holds two B.A. degrees, one in Creative Writing and the other in History.