Fail Safe (Columbia Pictures) (1964)

SCHOOL APPROACHES High school and college students—and their parents!—are among the natural audiences for ''Fail Safe,"' and every effort should be made to reach them. The educational authorities might be involved, as well as parents’ groups. In addition, go after e Publicity and advertising in school papers, with editors reviewing the pic ture and columnists commenting on it. e Arrange radio and television inter views and forums on the film, students versus teachers, boys versus girls, etc., as well as student interviews with VIP'S. e Social study and history class dis cussions. e Drama groups and English class for ums on the subject of world affairs in the theatre today. e Work as closely as possible with school groups interested in current events. AWARD PICTURE! "Fail Safe'' already has received Seventeen's "'Movie-of-the-Month'' accolade (October issue) and Scholastic's October ''Bell Ringer Award." These may prove helpful in promotion, and they also point the way to a valuable campaign angle: presentation of an award to "Fail Safe" as the "movie of the year’ by important civic, social and political dignitaries . . . by a group of responsible citizens . . . by the community movie-goers' organization. Be sure the presentation is fully covered by the city's communications media, including newspaper photographers, or it might be worked right on television for greater effectiveness. GET THE VIP’S! The importance of "Fail Safe"’ probably can be established best by obtaining rave comments from the most influential persons in your community—politicians, educators, religious leaders, etc. Make certain your VIP's are present at an advance screening, or at your first showing of the film, and that they are interviewed immediately afterward. VIP quotes should be included in your advertising and publicity and in your out-front displays. In addition, of course, go after editorial comment on the film, as well as letters-to-theeditor breaks! MUSIC Colpix Records is issuing a single, ''Fail Safe (Parts | and Il)"' by The Hal Schaefer Quintet. The music was especially composed by Schaefer after he had seen the Max E. Youngstein-Sidney Lumet production; it is not a part of the film's sound track. However, because of the nature of the music and because of its title, this Colpix disc can be a valuable adjunct to your all-out campaign. The ''Fail and disas: mand, wil There ar munity! This is th media of figures, sé For exam} Premier about the dilemma facing the world. ° Working with your telephone company, you can establish a “hot line" all your own—in your advance lobby or e!sewhere! Telephone used by patrons should be red, with a red cord; when they pick it up they are connected directly to a tape-recorded announcement. Sign accompanying your "hot-line’’ display might read: "Listen In On the ‘Fail Safe’ Hot Line... '' Add credits. ‘SUSPENSE’ STORY! A 2000-word article by producer Max E. Youngstein called "The Anatomy of Suspense’ has appeared in a number of Hearst and other newspapers across the country. It traces the history of suspense entertainment in motion pictures from the days of "The Perils of Pauline'' to the present, and ''Fail Safe." If this article has not been carried locally, get a copy NOW,, for the use of the leading newspaper in town. Plant it, with full credits and art from the picture! For your copy, write direct to: Exploitation Department, Columbia Pictures Corp., 711 5th Ave., New York, N. Y. 10022. FAIL SAFE’ COUNT-DOWN! Set up an hourly count-down for ''Fail Safe''! Ten days before the picture opens, start a teaser campaign—''240 Hours to ‘Fail Safe’.'' The next day, ''216 hours''; eight days before opening, ''192 hours," etc. This kind of teaser campaign can be worked on radio, television and in newspapers or with ballyhoo—or with all of them! It might even be combined with a special buy of television and radio spot "'time'’ announcements: "'It is now 5:00 P.M. — 120 hours to ‘Fail Safe'."' etc. "Countdown" spots are among the regular radio spots. A marquee "'clock'' may also be used effectively in some situations! —===-=_S___=_=_-_-_-—_-—_-—_--_-_-_—_—_—_—_—_—_—_—_—_—__—___—————||S>>>>>_—_———_—_—_—_—_—_—_—_——___=—__-_-==-_=__—_——— Page 10 ikea to the broadcast. ‘FAIL SAFE’ AREAS! A stunt planned for "Fail Safe'' by some theatres might be used elsewhere . . . and adapted to bring it out of the theatre into the street! Simply, mark off all areas of access to the theatre auditorium with fire-engine red signs and flashing red lights calling it the "Fail Safe Area." Signs read: No one, but no one, will be permitted to penetrate the 'Fail Safe Area’ dur ing the last 10 minutes of the film. Flashing red light hung under theatre marquee is turned on, along with the red lights in the lobby, 10 minutes before the film ends: lights flash continuously during this period. This is a particularly dramatic variation on a familiar word-of-mouth promotional routine, the denying of admittance to the auditorium during the climax of a suspense film. For greater effectiveness, the display itself might be set up and even tested, well in advance of playdate. The concept of a "Fail Safe Area" is in intriguing one and can be utilized away from the theatre, as well: ¢ Cooperatina book store might stack a t in the wir propriate from the e Local might c Area'' s. © Cons: veloped with its