Blog Archives

The Ultimate Superhero Face-Off?

Wednesday is a wonderful day to wonder about what could have been. For instance, what if Nicolas Cage was cast as Superman?

Before you start laughing too loudly, this was, at one point in the late ’90s, a legitimate conversation.

supermanlives2.0.0

The rumored title of the movie was Superman Lives. Probably not the best title in the off-chance it wouldn’t get made (check) because of the obvious counter headline for reporters: Superman’s Dead.

C’mon screenwriters, that was too much of a lay-up.

However, thanks to creative video editing, YouTube user “Epic Wolf Films” has given fans a glimpse into what Nicolas Cage would look like as Superman in the Dawn of Justice.

As absurd as it is, Nicolas Cage is still 7 kinds of crazy awesomeness. He’s certainly not my pick to play Superman, the greatest superhero in history, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t not watch the movie in the trailer above…

The film could be titled Superman: A National Treasure.

It’s quite the declaration, but Superman is a character with a certain degree of independence.

Hey Girl, Here’s the Story

Marketing, at its core, is storytelling.

A wide-variety of industries have increasingly become less static regarding its interaction with consumers and have evolved towards establishing a relationship with desired demographics. The 20th century model of films, for example, included a trailer (maybe two) and then the release of the movie shortly thereafter. This simplicity worked beautifully. A great product will always sell. Back in 1993, Jurassic Park earned a staggering box office total of more than $1 billion.

So, why the recent change?

Millennials and 21st century social media.

This paradigm shift in viral entertainment marketing has been detailed and explored many times on this blog. This ever-changing dynamic is fascinating. Studios and actors are seizing on opportunities to make their product (a song, album or movie) a continuous, personable experience as opposed to a singular event one evening or afternoon. By connecting in unique ways and through clever mediums, fans are rewarded with special features, bonus clips and share-worthy content.

Brands are showing they care as much as the fans.

Enter Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling who recorded a funny behind-the-scenes “therapy session” about their real lives/”real lives” outside their upcoming film.

A heads up: The “Hey girl” meme has been a pop-culture phenomenon among young women for years. If you’re on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, odds are very high you’ve seen one of these fan-made tributes.

As it turns out, Mr. Crowe and Mr. Gosling have a great sense of humor about their public perceptions.

On a slightly related note, The Nice Guys arrives in theaters on May 20th.

And yes, there are more of these videos in this clever non-promotion (but actually a promotion) for The Nice Guys.

Plus, Ryan Gosling’s voice wasn’t the only thing to experience a major change in that scene. Did you recognize the surprisingly not high-pitched therapist?

Dude, Where’s My Accent?

That’s acting! vs. That’s acting?

Acting is a equal parts exhilarating and terrifying. The dreamlike thrill of being on stage or in front of the camera is difficult to explain, but it brings out characteristics in yourself you never knew you had or have always wanted to express. The feeling is infinitely sublime.

Then, there’s the terrifying aspect. What happens when we do something wrong from taking a chance or not understanding the deeper meaning of the character or situation? Did we go too far or not far enough?

For acclaimed actor Jake Gyllenhaal, he’s been through both ends of this spectrum, even during the same audition…

Sometimes, we need to fail in order to see our path forward with clarity before taking our next steps. Sometimes, we need to laugh at ourselves.

Either way, don’t disappoint Peter Jackson.

We’ve all been in “that room” before. Next time, just speak with a British accent and you should be good.

Man of (Blue) Steel

We’ve been looking at the world all wrong.

With the weekend here, the time has come to hit the ground running for a memorable couple of days. However, there are so many unknown variables to consider, which begs for the right preparation before venturing out into the wild west of life. We must take full advantage of the things we can control.

How does one accomplish this kind of feat?

Hint: It all starts with a look…

And it ends with a killer dance-off in an abandoned warehouse with a raucous crowd and a fashion icon as the judge.