Branded Entertainment News
Shanghai Disneyland Opens- “We Didn’t Build Disneyland in China, We Built China’s Disneyland”
Disney is leading an incoming wave of top-notch megaparks developed by both local and foreign operators competing for a tourism industry that is set to double by 2020. Considering the growth in the market, Disney has taken pains to incorporate Chinese elements into the resort. (AA)
Sony Pictures Invests Millions in Interlude & Their Interactive Video Platform Eko
Sony has brought on Will Gluck, who directed Annie for the studio, to create and oversee the development of entertainment content to be distributed on Interlude’s Eko platform — touted as being able to allow viewers to control the outcomes of stories on the screen. (VAR)
Intel is First Out of the Gate to Publish on Facebook’s Instant Articles
The distinction between marketers and publishers is getting increasingly blurred. Facebook, which created Instant Articles a year ago to make publishers’ articles load faster, is now giving that tool to brands. Intel is the first to take advantage, posting content from its digital tech-focused publication, iQ, as Instant Articles starting last week. (DD)
Top Deals
Platforms May Evict Commercials But Ads Will Just Move to Higher Ground- Sponsored Content
As much a part of our consumerist economy as the products they pitch, ads never truly die — they adapt. And a new move, ostensibly designed to cut ad-time from beloved network institution Saturday Night Live, has possibly unveiled the next evolution in TV commercials: sponsored content. (DT)
Want to Go to the Moon? Adobe’s Virtual Cinema Will Take You There
Interested in watching the 2015 hit film The Martian from the surface of the moon? Adobe wants you to take you there. Today, Adobe is debuting Virtual Cinema, a feature that will allow Primetime clients to develop experiences for users to enter a virtual environment. (AW)
How Bonnaroo Leverages Social Media Influencers to Compete with Coachella
Though fewer people attend Bonnaroo than Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Electric Daisy Carnival, a recent Adweek article reports that Bonnaroo still has an estimated reach of 5 million households, making “The Farm” an ideal place for influencer marketing collaborations and social media marketing campaigns. (MK)
Subtle But Substantial- How BEN & Crackle Are Collaborating on Product Placement
Crackle will use Branded Entertainment Network (BEN) technology, content database and analytics to improve its integration opportunities. But BEN will keep it organic with Crackle by being involved in the process from the early stages of development with the producers and the marketing department, as well as the brands. (VI)
Hot Projects
It
A horror film based on the Stephen King novel, adapted by Chase Palmer (The Equalizer) and directed by Andy Muschietti (Mama). Bill Skarsgård (The Divergent Series: Allegiant) will star. (SE)
MacGyver
CBS is developing a reboot of the classic creative field agent to be produced by Atomic Monster (Annabelle). The series is written and executive produced by Scott Gemmill (NCIS: Los Angeles) with James Wan (Saw), Michael Clear (A Million Ways to Die in the West), and Henry Winkler (Bob’s Burgers) all executive producing as well. Lucas Till (Monster Trucks) will star. (SE)