Degan Schloemann

Tag: movies

  • Platform Wars: How Streaming Platforms Use PR to Their Advantage

    Platform Wars: How Streaming Platforms Use PR to Their Advantage

    Cover Photo Credits From: Two Trees

    Written by Degan Schloemann, assisted and edited by AI tools.

    From massive social media campaigns to carefully timed trailer drops, public relations has become the secret weapon in the streaming wars. Platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max are no longer just releasing content; they’re launching cultural moments. In this post, we’ll explore how strategic PR drives viewer engagement and keeps these services at the center of entertainment culture.

    Netflix: A Master in Virality 

    Photo Credits From Wikimedia

    Netflix has been a staple in the streaming industry for 25 years, known for its high-volume, fast-paced content strategy that captivates global audiences. The platform consistently launches new series and films that rapidly climb trending charts. Shows like Stranger Things offer behind-the-scenes features, while Black Mirror experiments with interactive experiences. Netflix knows how to craft campaigns tailored to each audience.

    Social media is at the heart of Netflix’s public relations strategy. Viral TikTok trends, such as the dance from Wednesday, and meme-driven campaigns make their shows impossible to ignore. Netflix’s global one-day drops, where entire seasons are released simultaneously, generate massive binge-watching and dominate online conversation overnight.

    Hulu: Realism and Reality

    Photo Credits From Flickr

    Hulu takes a boutique approach to its PR, focusing on award-worthy, conversation-starting content. Limited series like The Bear exemplify how Hulu builds attention through authenticity. The show was pitched as “raw” and “real,” with lead actor Jeremy Allen White becoming the face of the press campaign that included interviews, fashion profiles, and social media engagement.

    Instead of relying on mass-market saturation, Hulu employs targeted PR campaigns around specific releases to maintain a steady cultural presence. True crime and dramas are often tied to current events or societal conversations, amplifying their impact.

    Disney+: Franchise Fandom and Classic Nostalgia 

    Photo Credits From Wikimedia

    Disney+ leans into its vast archive of beloved classics while capitalizing on fan-favorite franchises like Marvel and Star Wars. Its PR strategy relies heavily on fan events, surprise character reveals, and exclusive trailers dropped at conventions like D23.

    Disney+ also maintains control over its promotional content, often releasing just enough to stir excitement without spoiling major plot points.

    HBO Max: Anticipation and Prestige 

    Photo Credit: HBO Max

    HBO Max focuses on creating anticipation through exclusivity and cultural weight. With shows like Euphoria, Succession, and The Last of Us, HBO Max positions itself as a home for must-watch, critically acclaimed content.

    Weekly episode drops encourage sustained social media discussion and event-style viewing. Carefully timed media access, high-profile premieres, and talent-driven press events give HBO’s shows a premium feel. The network’s limited content output works in its favor, reinforcing a quality-over-quantity perception.

    Final Thoughts

    Streaming platforms have become cultural trendsetters and social media giants. Through tailored PR strategies, such as Netflix’s viral campaigns, Hulu’s award-season focus, Disney+’s fan-first teasers, or HBO Max’s slow-burn prestige, these services aren’t just entertaining viewers; they’re also engaging them. They’re shaping the cultural conversation. In the modern media landscape, strategic public relations isn’t just aiding streaming success; it’s powering it.

  • Staying In The Spotlight: Films and Public Relations

    Staying In The Spotlight: Films and Public Relations

    Cover Photo From Creative Commons

    Written by Degan Schloemann in collaboration with AI tools.

    This week, we will examine three famous movie public relations campaigns and discuss some of their strategies and impacts. We will examine, starting with the most recent, the 2023 Barbie movie starring Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie; then the 2010 film Inception starring Leonardo DiCaprio; and, to consider a movie that stayed in theaters for nine months and topped box office sales, the classic 1997 Titanic starring DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

    The entertainment industry spends a lot of time and money of film production, advertising, and public relations. Incorporating a campaign is something that near all films do through trailers and sneak peaks, events, themes, and suspense to engage and captivate viewers. When done well, these strategies can be a gateway to a movie classifies with “the classics.”

    Barbie 2023

    First, let’s look at Barbie (2023), for example. With its high-concept branding and saturation marketing strategy, Barbie Pink became a known color that was impossible to ignore. From real-life Dreamhouses on Airbnb to Google turning pink when users searched the film, Barbie wasn’t just a movie but something incorporated into media users’ lives. The Barbie  film captivated audiences inspiring outfits, themes, and nonstop media attention. 

    Inception 2010

    In contrast, Inception (2010) took the opposite approach, mystery. The trailers hinted at the films dream-sharing technology but revealed little about the actual plot. Combined with viral websites that delved deeper into the lore, the campaign fueled speculation and debate, which only heightened viewers interest. Rather than sell trailers and plotlines, Inception sold curiosity, and it worked in this case. The anticipation grew within viewers, curious of the complex story line. This movie is one of those movies you may have to watch multiple times to fully understand, growing the viewership and increasing the number of fans who return to watch.

    Titanic 1997

    Then there’s Titanic (1997), a film that combines emotional connection and tragedy. Titanic was a hit! It became the highest grossing film for about 12 years until Avatar came out in 2009. The film incorporated Celine Dion’s unforgettable track, “My Heart Will Go On,” which topped charts before the movie was even released. The director, James Cameron, leaned heavily into the media to promote the movie through making debuts on television shows to staying relevant in the most popular headlines!

    While technically a disaster movie, its PR and storyline leaned into the romance, presenting Jack and Rose’s love story as the film’s heart. The film stayed in theaters for over nine months in some areas, which is nearly unheard of today. Titanic wasn’t just an incredible movie, it became a classic watched by most. 

    Final Thoughts

    Though different in tone, genre, and era, all three films used PR to promote and immerse audiences. These campaigns show how public relations in the entertainment industry can turn marketing and strategy into a movie worth remembering.

  • NonProfits: A Platform for Artists

    NonProfits: A Platform for Artists

    Cover Photo From Creative Commons

    This week, we’re going to take a deep dive into a few nonprofits that are within the film industry. This is an exciting area to explore, as it drives competition in the ever-evolving film world. Specifically, we will look at the Sundance Institute and The Entertainment Industry Foundation. 

    Sundance 

    The Sundance Institute is a nonprofit organization with a mission that is dedicated to independent artists and audiences. Their organization has over 165 employees and grants over $3 million every year. Each year, Sundance Institute holds a film festival that showcases a collection of independent films. The film festival is centered around advancements for these independent artists. The festival spreads the word about artists and creators, as it has a diverse crowd of artists, directors, film producers, and more. 

    The festival will be held in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, for the annual 2026 showing. Excitingly, Sundance just revealed that their new home for the 2027 Sundance Music Festival will be in Boulder, Colorado. 

    The Sundance Institute does an incredible job at promoting the festival, as well as its mission, through social media. Their social media accounts are active and constantly updating eager participants of the festival application processes and deadlines. In 2023, the festival attracted over 86,000 people to its in-person film events. 

    Not only is the Sundance Film Festival an incredible platform for a nonprofit, but it is also efficient. It has become an esteemed event that hundreds of thousands of people have attended over the past several years. The film festival helps over 1000 emerging artists each year. 

    The film festival also brings incredible resources to where it is held, boosting tourism and attracting visitors from all over the country to attend. This money supports local businesses and foundations, as well as the money that The Sundance Institute receives. The film festival is an incredible way to provide incentives through nonprofit support to help emerging indie film artists reach mainstream media. 

    Sundance

    The Entertainment Industry Foundation

    For over 80 years, one of the most prominent nonprofit organizations in the entertainment world, the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), has been paving the way to raise awareness and funds for health, social issues, and education. The EIF has over 50 employees and has raised over $1 billion to date. The EIF also supports over 200 charities each year and has donated more than $1 billion in advertising support. 

    The Entertainment Industry Foundation supports hundreds of different causes, including fiscally sponsored funds, EIF programs, and public service campaigns. Some of their campaigns utilize celebrities to gain awareness and become the face of the campaign. For example, Olivia Rodrigo has a campaign called “Olivia Rodrigo’s Fund 4 Good” that builds an equitable and just future for women and girls.

    The foundation is very active in promoting events and raising awareness through its social media, sharing upcoming events, fun facts, news updates, and donation opportunities. The opportunities to donate and campaigns that have been launched are always current and focus on the most pressing and timely issues. 

    These nonprofit organizations have a strong foothold in the entertainment industry and continue to revolutionize the field. While these are just two of the most popular nonprofits in the entertainment industry, there are many more to support!

    The Entertainment Industry Foundation