MUMBAI: Even as filmmakers are spending top dollars on traditional media to market and promote their films among masses, it is the social media, which is fast becoming one of the key sources of content discovery and distribution.
And the Indian film industry is increasingly using digital platforms like Facebook to build interest among fans about the upcoming movies/projects and to catch more eyeballs, says a survey by media research firm Ormax Media.
Talking about how Facebook in particular is helping the filmmakers, Gautam Jain, Partner, Ormax Media, said, “Content-sharing has become equivalent to word of mouth publicity and that’s exactly what Facebook helps films do. In fact, adoption of Facebook Live has been the highest among Bollywood celebs which has helped them realise the power of the platform in maximising audience reach.”
For a good cause: Here are some Bollywood stars who endorsed social campaigns
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The government has roped in Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan to promote Goods and Services Tax (GST), ahead of the sweeping tax reforms implementation scheduled from July 1. The megastar has been roped in just as the roll out of the biggest tax overhaul since independence entered its final phase. Ace badminton star PV Sindhu was previously the GST ambassador. This is not the first time that Big G has promoted a social campaign. Earlier, he was named the UNICEF brand ambassador for polio eradication. He has also been associated with 'Incredible India' campaign and Tiger conservation, since 2016.
The government has roped in Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan to promote Goods and Services Tax (GST), ahead of the sweeping tax reforms implementation scheduled from July 1. The megastar has been ..
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Aamir Khan, who's made sensitive films like "Taare Zameen Par", which deals with the issue of dyslexia in children, has been roped in by UNICEF to become their brand ambassador for Nutrition and Child Rights in the year 2011. He has also been associated with the Incredible India campaign, as part of which he promoted Atithi Devo Bhava. In the past, he had also been appointed the brand ambassador by the Women and Child Development Ministry for spreading the message of curbing malnutrition among children. Being approached by the Railway Ministry along with Sachin Tendulkar Part of the National Voter Motivation Campaign in 2004 to urge people to step out of their homes and vote.
Aamir Khan, who's made sensitive films like "Taare Zameen Par", which deals with the issue of dyslexia in children, has been roped in by UNICEF to become their brand ambassador for Nutrition and Chil..
Read More
Vidya Balan works for the cause of drinking and sanitation campaign after the Rural Development ministry approached her to be the brand ambassador for a cause, which is still a persistent problem in rural India where women's basic need is neglected. In March 2011, she endorsed World Wildlife Fund's Earth Hour campaign in India. In 2012, she has campaigned for the cause of nutrition in India for Child in Need Institute, an NGO based in Kolkata. For her attempts to empower women, Vidya Balan was awarded the Prabha Khaitan Puraskar 2012 by the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce.
Vidya Balan works for the cause of drinking and sanitation campaign after the Rural Development ministry approached her to be the brand ambassador for a cause, which is still a persistent problem in ..
Read More
This yesteryear actress is well known for her social activism; she has raised her voice and expressed concern on a variety of issues. In 1989, she undertook a four-day march for communal harmony from New Delhi to Meerut. Her focus over the years though has remained in the areas of child and women's rights. She has fought for the stigma and injustice of those associated with AIDS. In 1998, the United Nations Population Fund appointed her as its Goodwill Ambassador for India. She has also advocated the cause of slum dwellers, displaced Kashmiri Pandit migrants, and victims of the earthquake at Latur (Maharashtra) in the past. Shabana Azmi has been the Goodwill Ambassador of the UNPF as well as for the HIV/AIDS programmes for SAARC region.
This yesteryear actress is well known for her social activism; she has raised her voice and expressed concern on a variety of issues. In 1989, she undertook a four-day march for communal harmony from..
Celebrities and filmmakers are now using Live from showcasing behind the scenes clips, to announce trailer releases, for music launches, among others to engage with their audience better and have a more authentic, real-time interaction, which makes it a lot more personal and fun.
“Facebook is one of the top three mediums in driving buzz and appeal for a film's campaign. The Facebook and Instagram combination have the highest contribution to a film's first day box office at 21%,” said Jain.
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While Facebook and Instagram combination leads with 21% contribution in buzz and appeal, YouTube follows with 18%, with television and In-theatre promotions contributing 13% and 9%, respectively.
The findings are based on Ormax’ study, developed exclusively for the Indian market that correlates the actual box office collections to a movie’s marketing mix. The research went beyond just media metrics such as impressions, readership etc. as a barometer for a film's marketing success, and also focused on awareness or buzz and intent to watch or appeal as key parameters.
The study had a comprehensive scale with over 25,000 movie goers surveyed across several cities, demographics and strata in a 6 month effort, evaluating performance of nine media basis the impact created in driving movie ticket sales.
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“Facebook offers not just large, but relevant reach and most importantly high levels of audience engagement and interactivity through a movie’s journey,” said Saurabh Doshi, Head - Entertainment Partnerships, Asia-Pacific, Facebook. “This is where it delivers a ROI incomparable to other media.”
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Movie marketers today are realising the impact of engaging desired audiences on Facebook and how that can drive uptake at the box office. For them, Facebook can help in building a community and interest, generating real-time conversation and feedback, and creating a fan base even before the movie is released, which in-turn drives word of mouth and buzz.
Incidentally, Facebook has been working very closely with the films throughout their entire promotional journey, sometimes, even before the movie is released or any promotional assets are launched.
There are times, when Facebook has been involved with the film, when it is still being planned and written. Digitally, it starts with creating a page of the film on Facebook. Usually, films leverage Facebook’s capabilities to provide wider connectivity and reach to make some key public announcements including the name of the movie, first motion poster – the look and feel, introducing the star cast, releasing trailers/teasers of the movie, music video launches, among others. This goes on till the movie finally hits the theatres. As the movie approaches release, the cast engages with fans, creates and showcases interesting surround content and encourages the audiences to book tickets.
