Should WB change the marketing or keep it the same because of Ledger's death?

[Redd]

I just wanted to know what everyone's feeling was towards this. Also we do know that WB ninjas so watch this site to see what our opinion is on some aspects of the movie.

So maybe if we voice our opinion they might hear us, and listen to the fans.

Personally I want the marketing to remain of what they had in mind for us. I think Heath would have wanted that.

He loved playing the Joker and I think that we should keep the hype up about the Joker. It's what got us all interested in the movie anyways.

-We miss you Heath, and we hope that your soul can now find peace-

[Lightning257]

Here's what I wrote in another thread:

My take on all of this is that they should continue as planned. The marketing campaign is based on the Joker character, not Heath himself. I doubt (and haven't seen any indication) that Heath had any direct involvement in the marketing (he didn't write emails, he didn't do any voice overs that were specifically designed for this marketing campaign, he didn't make any phone calls, etc.), so I don't believe that to continue with The Joker would be disrespectful. While it might have a tendency to remind us about what has happened, I think the worst form of disrespect would be if we were to forget.

The same goes for the movie release. He was an actor. Movies was what he did. What better way to honor him (if one feels that it is necessary to do so), than to continue on as planned - after all, isn't the idea that "the show must go on" one of the tenets of show business (which someone else here mentioned previously)?

[Redd]

I agree, "the show must go on."

[TKJ9181]

It should contiue without a hitch or change.

Like my signature says......

~~

[Yurka]

I agree with the rest, it should go on as planned, maybe only slightly modify the campaign if they must.

[ianskyvox]

I want more than anything for it to stay the same. Just doubt WB would get behind that idea. They'll probably play it PC and change everything up on us (if they continue with the viral at all).

Just saddens me that my phone may never ring At least want to know what WOULD have happened, ya know?

[Ashkong]

They should definatly continue as planned

[Nodwarves4u]

I feel that the campaign should continue. If it must end, then please WB ninjas hear me, at least bring it to a close nt just abruptlly stop it. It would help with the grieving process for the fans.

[baTT]

My guess is that a lot of things were planned in advance, and this is going to continue, its just going to get sidelined while people's reactions come back to reality with whatever they are feeling.

[Redd]

^ I agree with you.

But WB did say that they were going to continue with the marketing but probably change it a little.

I just hope that we still have some Joker in there as well

[bcgvh]

Keep it the same. TDK should not be a Heath memorial, and by changing things it makes it this way. The film was not intended this way, and Heath didn't play the part this way.

[Gallagher]

Originally Posted by ianskyvox

I want more than anything for it to stay the same. Just doubt WB would get behind that idea. They'll probably play it PC and change everything up on us (if they continue with the viral at all).

Just saddens me that my phone may never ring At least want to know what WOULD have happened, ya know?

If that DID happen and Heath's Joker was on the other end wouldn't you be eternally creeped right the **** out? I know I would be. It'd be slightly comforting though. Hearing his voice from beyond the grave and whatnot

[twt]

Originally Posted by Lightning257

Here's what I wrote in another thread:

I agree, the show must go on, I think the black ribbon is enough. I don't think it was necessary to take down the poster but I understand why they did it. Maybe after a while they could put it back up.

[twt]

Whoops I quoted the wrong part but basically I agree with Lightning's sentiments.

[ianskyvox]

Originally Posted by NowufaceDoom

If that DID happen and Heath's Joker was on the other end wouldn't you be eternally creeped right the **** out? I know I would be. It'd be slightly comforting though. Hearing his voice from beyond the grave and whatnot

Nah, not really. It's a CHARACTER he played that would and will live on. Would have been exciting for to get a call from "The Joker" not Heath Ledger. I can still go back and listen to Alice in Chains/Nirvana albums and not once think about Layne or Kurt having passed away, just enjoy the tunes.

Maybe for any viral promotions from here on out that would need voiced they could get Mark Hamill to do it

*please know thats a joke please dont take that seriously*

By the way... anyone else notice how poorly the poll above is written?

[Redd]

Originally Posted by ianskyvox

Nah, not really. It's a CHARACTER he played that would and will live on. Would have been exciting for to get a call from "The Joker" not Heath Ledger. I can still go back and listen to Alice in Chains/Nirvana albums and not once think about Layne or Kurt having passed away, just enjoy the tunes.

Maybe for any viral promotions from here on out that would need voiced they could get Mark Hamill to do it

*please know thats a joke please dont take that seriously*

By the way... anyone else notice how poorly the poll above is written?

Sorry for my grammar, but I only was given a certain amount of spaces for writing the question that I wanted to be answered by everyone.

[tuffenoughtoroc]

The Joker still lives on! Keep the marketing going as planned.

[Alixyveth]

I think it should go on, and keep the Joker involved, but switch the majority of it to a Harvey Dent type of campaign. (I've thought about this for several months, so it's not as a tribute to Heath or anything.) My reasons from back then are still the same:

- Harvey Dent is in the movie, too, and it would be interesting to see a PD type of hunt. It would also be cool to get more emails from him.

- It wouldn't necessarily have to be a switch-to-the-good-guys thing, but what if we were allowed the chance to, just for kicks? I always thought that a duel campaign would be pretty kick-ass. We could do puzzles on both sides... or people could pick and choose if they really wanted.

And now, with Heath's passing, I feel like there are some weird things that could happen. The Joker's phone call, for instance, like someone mentioned above. If the original plan was for Joker to call us back, hearing Heath's voice on the other end would be downright disturbing for anyone.

I wouldn't mind if they kept this a Joker campaign, and I wouldn't mind if they switched it to something else ... hell, I don't care what they do with it as long as they keep it going somehow. They probably should take a break, at least so as not to start anything up right after his death. But I hope that Heath would have wanted us to continue, and to celebrate his last on screen appearance.

[prince_dylan]

the Joker phase was only designated to go until march anyway. just play it out and move onto the implied second phase.

[Nodwarves4u]

amen to that

[Alixyveth]

Originally Posted by prince_dylan

the Joker phase was only designated to go until march anyway. just play it out and move onto the implied second phase.

(How do we know it was only going until March? Did I miss something?)

[tuffenoughtoroc]

Here's an article about the marketing situation WB faces (from http://www.theage.com.)

"Heath Ledger's death leaves studio giants Warner Bros. facing a balancing act as they promote the actor's last film, the big-budget Batman sequel The Dark Knight, industry analysts say.

Even before Ledger was found dead in his New York apartment, buzz had been building about the 28-year-old Australian actor's performance in the film, where he plays the caped crusader's arch-foe The Joker.

Early trailers and promotional posters for the movie show a gruesomely made-up Ledger, suggesting the Oscar-nominated star has taken the character of the comic-book villain in a groundbreaking new direction.

Analysts say the anticipation surrounding the movie - due to be released in the United States in July - is likely to intensify with fans morbidly curious to watch Ledger's posthumous final screen performance.

However, Ledger's death poses unique challenges for studio bosses as they try to market one of this summer's biggest releases without being seen to be attempting to cash in on the tragedy, analysts say.

Ledger's grinning, psychopathic portrayal of the Joker has formed the cornerstone of early marketing for The Dark Knight.

But industry analyst Jeff Bock of Exhibitor Relations said the actor's death would force Warner Bros to rethink their strategy.

"Warners are in a difficult position. Initially they wanted to capitalise on the early buzz that has surrounded Heath's performance," Bock told AFP. "Now they're going to have to do a 180 from that."

While the death of an actor before a film's release is not unknown, with famous examples being 1994's The Crow, starring the late Brandon Lee, and 1956's Giant released a year after James Dean's death, the situation with The Dark Knight was unprecedented in the modern era, Bock said.

"This is something we've never seen before," he said. "On the one hand they have to pay tribute to Heath and the performance that he gives, but on the other hand this is going to be one of the biggest films of the summer.

"It is not a small arthouse film. With Batman you're talking about one of the top properties in Hollywood - this is a franchise that has grossed 1.6 billion dollars worldwide in the first five films.

"You have to think that Warner Bros. will have to go back to square one in terms of how they market the film."

Lew Harris, editorial director of Movies.com, said studio chiefs were likely to remove Ledger's image from posters for the film, replacing him with pictures of Christian Bale, the lead actor who plays Batman.
I think they have to take Heath Ledger's face off the posters," Harris told AFP. "I think the studio will be extremely sensitive and not want to be seen as trying to benefit from the tragedy in any way.

"It would be appalling to start seeing posters of Heath Ledger's Joker appearing on billboards or bus-stops."

Warner Bros. have not indicated what changes to the promptional campaign might be made as shocked executives continue to grapple with the news of Ledger's death.

However, Stuart Levine, assistant managing features editor at influential movie trade paper Variety said removing Ledger's image from the film's marketing would be an error.

"If this was the first 'Batman' film, you'd be interested in how Christian Bale plays Batman," Levine told AFP. "But in this you want to see how Heath Ledger plays the Joker.

"Certainly the little sneaks they've shown of him in the The Dark Knight have been pretty inspiring. It kind of takes your breath away when you see his face like that.

"I would think it would be a mistake to take him away from the marketing campaign because in a morbid kind of way people want to see his performance because he's passed away, and because if you're a fan of the franchise you want to see how he plays the Joker."

An executive at a rival studio quoted by the Wall Street Journal agreed that it would be unwise to change the marketing strategy for the film.

"The best thing that could happen is that all this marketing stuff just goes on and the movie and the campaign don't turn into some kind of weird grave marker," he told the paper.

But Bock said "a sense of melancholy" would forever be associated with The Dark Knight regardless of how it was received at the box office.

"Obviously this is still going to be a big film but the stigma that surrounds it will always be one of mixed feelings," he said.

"The euphoric hype that envelops a summer film will be replaced with a sense of melancholy. Good or bad. That's just the way it's going to be.""

AFP

[Nodwarves4u]

thanks for the post tuff. very informative

[Anita18]

I think they should keep it on the down-low for a few weeks. We're all still emotional over this. But once they decide to bring it back, I'd want it to be the same. It would be doing the film (and thus, Heath's role) an injustice any other way.

[prince_dylan]

Originally Posted by Alixyveth

(How do we know it was only going until March? Did I miss something?)

http://www.variety.com/VR1117979535.html

Warners has a different predicament with "The Dark Knight." Production on Christopher Nolan's "Batman Begins" sequel is believed to largely completed -- principal photography concluded in the fall -- but the initial marketing campaign focuses on the ghoulish Joker character.

To complicate matters further, the studio has just restructured its marketing operation. International marketing topper Sue Kroll now oversees all marketing for the studio in the wake of the exit of former domestic marketing president Dawn Taubin, who developed the "Dark Knight" campaign.

Kroll will likely have to move quickly to rejigger the studio's current phase of the marketing campaign for "Dark Knight," focusing on Ledger's Joker character. This phase of the campaign had been set to run until March.