This week, Mutantville Productions honors independent filmmaker Kevin Smith yet again for his innovations in the film industry. Kevin Smith spent years trying to raise funds to shoot his first horror film Red State and then decided he didn’t want to spend any time trying to find a distributor instead choosing to announce at this year’s Sundance Festival that he would take the movie on the road himself. Smith unveiled his master plan to take Red State on a six week road tour months prior to its nationwide release in an effort to stir up positive word of mouth. Here’s the kicker – Smith refused to spend so much as a dime on advertising.
Smith reasoned what is the point in shooting a movie for four million dollars and then adding the expense of twenty million dollars in advertising to the overhead cost? Smith was greeted with jeers and unbridled skepticism from the Hollywood press and media. They were simply unprepared to deal with anyone that thinks outside of the very small and very crowded box that is the mainstream movie market.
Smith didn’t let the skeptics slow him down as he rented a series of theaters and movie houses across the country to take his show out on the road. Tickets were priced to insure that the rental fees would be covered each night. Many scoffed at the $75 to $125 price range – but Smith’s fans relished in the fact that they would not only get a chance to preview Smith’s new movie six months before the rest of the world – but that they would also be treated to extensive Q&A sessions with Kevin Smith himself at every stop on the tour.
The Red State tour began with a flurry of tweets and fanfare at the historic Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Kevin Smith attended each showing, seated himself in the back of the theater and enjoyed the movie with the crowd – all the while offering live updates to his followers on Twitter. Smith reported every crowd reaction to his movie to the delight of his followers across the globe.
In what is sure to become known as a classic publicity stunt – Smith invited the infamous Phelps family of the Westboro Baptist Church to attend a screening of Red State. Megan Phelps and some of her kin attended the show only to leave after the first fifteen minutes. Phelps went on to comment via twitter that the movie was pure “filth,” to which Smith replied “can I quote you on the poster?”
Smith has happily reported that while the theaters have not been sold out – he has been able to cover the costs of the tour to date. Red State has even earned the distinction of ranking number nine on the top ten highest per theater averages of all time with $204,230. Smith’s Red State tour will continue through the end of March and into the first two weeks of April.
Mutantville Productions is proud to award Kevin Smith the mantle of Inspirational Filmmaker of the Week – for the second time in 2011! MVP will be in attendance at the Atlanta, GA showing of Red State. We will bring you live footage from the show as well as a complete review of Red State following the screening. You can keep up to date with the latest developments on Kevin Smith and Red State by listening to his Smodcasts and/or following his twitter at @ThatkevinSmith.
If you want to see Red State and meet Kevin Smith months before the unwashed masses get the chance to do so – then go to http://www.Coopersdell.com and buy your tickets for the Red State screening nearest you!
