Universal Pictures Media Dossier For: Dr. Gregory Levey Strategic Media Relations PC8107 By: Nikolai Pajkovic 500581586
[email protected] EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The aim of this public relations campaign is to first and foremost announce and promote the release of The Hunt directed Craig Zobel and produced by Blumhouse Productions. The film will be released in theatres across North America on June 12th, 2020. Universal Pictures cancelled the film’s initial release date of September 27th, 2019 following the Dayton, El Paso, and Gilroy shootings. Therefore, a secondary objective of this campaign is to offer the public clarification for the film’s initial cancellation, as well as provide an explanation as to why this summer presents us with a more suitable release date. In doing so, our talking points, backgrounder, media release and Q&A aim to help Universal Pictures deter any unnecessary and unwarranted criticism of the film leading up to its release. I do not think that Universal Pictures should shy away from the media or from discussing the film’s potentially provocative subject matter, but when doing so should stick to our talking points. From a marketing/promotions perspective, encouraging this kind of conversation around the film will likely draw major media attention, which would possibly lead to increased box office numbers. In this dossier, a fact sheet is offered as a quick way for journalists to acquire information about the film and its release. Our talking points are intended to be used by Universal Pictures employees when dealing with the media. They aim to diminish any instances of inflammatory questioning and also look to gently reverse the narrative that The Hunt could promote violence.