Movie Minutiae - Movie Mark Tie-Ins
By Johnny Betts, Moviegoer Advocate
Contact Johnny
Who here has heard of The Asylum? They're a movie company
who specializes in low-budget flicks - more specifically low-budget movies that are eerily similar in title
and theme to popular big-budget films. Many people accuse them of ripping off studio films, but hey, it's
a business model that actually works.
Asylum calls their movies "tie-ins," claiming they use similar titles in order to tie into theatrical movies
that already possess an awareness within the marketplace. Examples include The Da Vinci Treasure, Snakes
on a Train, When a Killer Calls, Pirates of Treasure Island, Hillside Cannibals, etc.
Get the gist?
The theory is that when someone goes to rent The Da Vinci Code and it's all rented out then they may
look over and see The Da Vinci Treasure next to it on the shelf and think, "Hmm, starring C. Thomas
Howell? Well, this has to at least be 90 minutes of cheesy fun! I'll give it a shot." Apparently it's
making them a lot of money, so they keep making these movies.
Well, you're already familiar with my wildly popular Movie Mark Originals, so I
figured why not jump into the movie tie-in business myself and see if I can get a piece of this action. Listen
up, Asylum! I'm introducing a new feature where I'll periodically offer ideas for movie "tie-ins" that'll allow
you (and me) to cash in on popular big screen releases. I'll be more than happy to flesh out the scripts. Just
contact me and we'll discuss payment details. Now let's get started...
October 18, 2006
Movie Mark Movie Tie-In #1
Title: Sags of Our Fathers
Tagline: A Single Diet Can End The War
Cast: John Goodman and other similarly fat actors
Synopsis: Sags of our Fathers follows the life stories of a few men after they
return from the war. Unable to find gainful employment, and no longer physically active, each man falls into
a state of depression. They once traveled the world, but now they never leave their couches, and all they can
find the energy to do is consume large quantities of food.
They faced combat daily and won many a' battle, but now they face their greatest battle yet - the Battle of the
Bulge. Will they find the exercise routine that's right for them and successfully raise that sag, or will they
continue to suffer from the ugly aftermath of Taco Bell? A potential lawsuit from Clint Eastwood ensues.
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