Hollywood Stars Promote ‘Captain America’ in Beijing.

  Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson are Hollywood’s latest red-carpet envoys to China. They’re among the actors promoting an export from the U.S. — Walt Disney Co. (DIS)’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” — at an event at a shopping mall in Beijing today as American movie makers continue to experiment with ways to penetrate the massive Chinese market. Disney is marketing …

Luxe Brands Embrace Chinese Celebrities

MGI Entertainment founder Michael MacRitchie is interviewed by Casey Hall from WWD (Womens Wear Daily) SHANGHAI – It’s difficult to avoid the ubiquitous smiling faces of China’s favorite celebrities.They appear on billboards, in magazines and in television commercials. In short, they are everywhere. And fashion show attendees in New York and Europe are almost certain to spot them as increasingly important front-row fixtures.As they put …

What is your “Brand Personality”?

  An insight by Michael MacRitchie I only recently watched Morgan Spurlock’s documentary, POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold. One of the major themes of the film is the importance of discovering your brand personality for the purpose of partnering with ‘like’ brands.  In the movie, Spurlock visits a noted branding agency where they identify his primary brand attributes …

Sex Sells….

An insight by Michael MacRitchie “Sex sells”. Or so they say. But maybe that’s not quite right. Maybe this is more accurate: The mystery of sex sells. The suggestion of it. What’s the difference? Mystery and suggestion do something that showing everything can’t – they engage the imagination. Sex experts the world over will tell you that the most sensitive …

Watch for ‘Consumer Cues’ to stay relevent

Insight by Andrew Collins I found this article up from Mailman Group website where CEO Andrew Collins makes some interesting points about brands staying relevant the article can be found here; http://www.mailmangroup.com/2011/12/watch-for-consumer-cues-to-stay-relevent/ If you keep reading it is here as well… How many brands closely watch ‘consumer cues’ to drive brand decisions? After all it’s the consumers whom actually create …

Tips when looking for sponsorship in China

An insight by Michael MacRitchie You are organizing a big event. It can be an a charity fundraiser or a rock festival or a film project. To organize any event or produce any entertainment you require sponsorship money. And where will the money come from? It comes mostly from brands and corporate who are interested in aligning with the entertainment …

‘weighing up if a celebrity is right for your brand’ value

An insight by Michael MacRitchie It is not uncommon to switch on the television and be confronted by celebrity after celebrity propounding the virtues of some brand or other. Celebrity advertising has always been popular and a fast growing economy attracts celebrities by the dozen in this space. People are easily influenced and impressed by celebrities, and consider it a …

Controversial humour from Ricky Gervais @ the Golden Globes

The 68th annual Golden Globes veered into Cluedo territory last night as the event’s host went missing for nearly an hour. Ricky Gervais‘s absence from the stage, following an opening monologue that drew more gasps than laughs, led excited observers to speculate that the British comic may have been collared backstage and fired … or worse. Gervais opened the live …

Luxury Brands & Celebrities:

An insight by Michael MacRitchie Celebrity endorsement of luxury fashion is hardly a new phenomenon, as it has been around for several centuries. Charles Worth, the man who invented haute couture in Paris in the nineteenth century, understood the importance of linking celebrities to brands, even before this was recognized as an important marketing communications tool. To promote his fashion house …

The right celebrity can give your brand sex appeal

An insight by Michael MacRitchie It is not uncommon to switch on the television and be confronted by celebrity after celebrity propounding the virtues of some brand or other. Celebrity advertising has always been popular and a fast growing economy attracts celebrities by the dozen in this space. People are easily influenced and impressed by celebrities, and consider it a …

The growing charity challenge.

An insight by Andrew Howie Well established and long standing charities are facing a battle on a new frontier. Whilst they have previously battled to gain your affections and more importantly, your donation, they are now facing a battle against an increasing cluttered segment. Over the last ten years there has been a dramatic increase in the number of registered …

When good actors go bad

An insight by Andrew Howie There is nothing worse than watching a washed up sports star trying to go around just one more time. Whether it be chasing one last piece of glory or the greed to get one more big earning year under the belt, it is too often clear when they need to be set free. Whilst the …

Feminism delivered in fabulous heels

An insight by Andrew Howie Over the years, small screen hits have made their way to the big screen. Many have been successful too and spawned sequels. A great example of this is Mission Impossible.  Certainly some of the better work we have seen from Tom Cruise in recent memory. We have two famous franchises hitting the big screen and …

Life in the extra dimension

An insight by Andrew Howie I recall vividly the white cardboard glasses that had a red and a blue lens Sitting in a cinema with a bucket of popcorn as objects flew out of the screen at me. It doesn’t seem so long ago does it? Technology has come on in leaps and bounds. No longer do you need to …

Want to know what kind of Chinese man western women want to marry?

An insight by Michael MacRitchie Ok China readers it is official…. Not that this is entirely breaking news but Andy Lau is “officially” the hottest Asian actor.  Apparently he now not only ticks all the boxes for Chinese Women but now Western women are also swooning for him… The movie star came out tops in a survey of 108 Western …

G Star Taps Liv Tyler for Ad campaigns

Denim brand G-Star has released its new ad campaign starring actress Liv Tyler. The campaign was shot by Dutch photographer and director Anton Corbijn for the third time, an artist mainly known for his work for bands including Depeche Mode and Nirvana. G-Star is also Dutch and already successful on European markets but wants to up its ante now, especially …

The Founding of the Republic

A review by Michael MacRitchie This is not your typical war movie. Instead of dwelling on bloodshed on the battlefield, The Founding of a Republic focuses on the psychological war between China’s Nationalists and Communists, and the complex negotiations of their power struggle. The inclusion of archival black-and-white footage, from pivotal battles such as as those at Huaihai and Pingjin …