So, for those of you following the story, Coraline came out yesterday. (Here's the Metacritic what the reviewers are saying list. It's at 80%. This is incredibly good.) The box office estimates and tracking had us coming in in 5th or 6th place for the weekend. It's now looking like we'll be in a healthy third place, and that a lot more people than anyone expected are going to see it.
Which is good for Coraline, and good for Laika, and good for the Portland animation world, and good for Henry, and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't good for me.
Now, none of this would have happened if Henry Selick and his amazing team of fabricators and animators hadn't worked miracles. A lot of this is to do with the amazing reviews the film has been getting over the last few days. A lot of it has to do with Focus Films' serious advertising on TV for the film. But in addition that, I like to think that a lot of it has to do with the work that Weiden+Kennedy have been doing over the last few months. Things like the Koumpounophobia Trailer, or the spooky trailer, or the boxes for bloggers, or the keys, all come from them, and if adults were being encouraged to go, or reassured that it wasn't just a kids' movie, it came primarily from them.
This is the Weiden Kennedy blog entry on what they did, that takes yo backstage and thanks everyone involved http://blog.wk.com/2009/02/shes-heeeeere.html. And I want to thank them, too.
(Incidentally, before we leave the subject of film critics, for the record, it's even more fun getting thumbs up from Messrs Hill and Wheaton than you might imagine. And you probably imagine it's an awful lot of fun.)
Not a question: when they´re taking your pictures, stop talking!!! They took funny pictures of you during Coraline´s premiere! Tell miss Maddy she look terrific in green!
The trouble is, most of the time the cameras are flashing. It's not one guy taking a picture of you: it's dozens of people all with cameras. And sometimes you know your picture is being taken, and you shut up and smile (or don't smile) but often you don't know, and sometimes you're in the middle of talking to someone when the flashes go off, and mostly then, if you're me, you just keep talking.
Not a question: when they´re taking your pictures, stop talking!!! They took funny pictures of you during Coraline´s premiere! Tell miss Maddy she look terrific in green!
The trouble is, most of the time the cameras are flashing. It's not one guy taking a picture of you: it's dozens of people all with cameras. And sometimes you know your picture is being taken, and you shut up and smile (or don't smile) but often you don't know, and sometimes you're in the middle of talking to someone when the flashes go off, and mostly then, if you're me, you just keep talking.
Sorry about that. Let me make it up to you: Here's an article from Toronto, mostly about me and Toronto, that I'm only posting because I like the photo. Mostly, I don't like photos of me. But I like this one. And look, I'm not talking.
And Maddy's green dress was truly adorable. As, of course, is she.
Hi Neil,
just wanted to know if you had the chance to see the German Edition of your fracking amazing Graveyard Book ?
I saw it a few days ago in a local Book Store - the book is inside a Metal Box - very neat ! :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lichtkrieger/3250827591/
Inshallah
Michael
That's beautiful. I'd heard they were doing the books inside metal boxes, but hadn't seen them yet.
...
A lovely NPR piece on Sandman.
The Coraline Haiku competition for tickets to last Thursday night's premiere.
And this came in from my friend John Lorentz, and is a terrific round-up of the news from Portland, including the premiere, and some TV:
Neil,
From the Oregonian's web site:
http://blog.oregonlive.com/madaboutmovies/2009/02/the_ sights_and_sounds_of_coral. html
KGW (the NBC station):
http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_020509_coraline_ world_premiere_portland. 20d6c0cc.html
KOIN (the CBS station)
http://www.koinlocal6.com/content/mediacenter/default. aspx?videoId=9755@koin. dayport.com&navCatId=345
KATU (the ABC station):
http://www.katu.com/news/39189657.html
KPTV (the Fox station):
http://www.kptv.com/entertainment/18656076/detail. html
It's been strange to randomly hear your voice from various local TV
and radio newscasts during the last day. And several of the news
people picked up your Twitterings and passed them on in the articles.
Hope you and Maddy had a good time last night.
John
From the Oregonian's web site:
http://blog.oregonlive.com/
KGW (the NBC station):
http://www.kgw.com/news-local/
KOIN (the CBS station)
http://www.koinlocal6.com/
KATU (the ABC station):
http://www.katu.com/news/
KPTV (the Fox station):
http://www.kptv.com/
It's been strange to randomly hear your voice from various local TV
and radio newscasts during the last day. And several of the news
people picked up your Twitterings and passed them on in the articles.
Hope you and Maddy had a good time last night.
John
And we did, and we were, and now we are glad to be home.
Labels: author photos, premiere, Reviews of Coraline Movie, the power of good advertising used in the right way