Every day I have about five websites that I visit. One of them is IMDB.com.

Over the past few years, I have noticed some new trends in Movie Publicity, which I would like to note here.

Historically, movie promotion involved:

Old School Movie Publicity

1. In-theatre Previews
2. TV commercials
3. A splashy premier
4. A series of press junkets
5. Appearances on top talk shows
6. A perfectly timed TV movie
7. If it is an action film, a meticulously orchestrated car accident has the star rescuing an elderly woman

This method of promoting movies was fine with me.

Daily IMDB visits will uncover similar stories. Expect to see a story like the one I’m about to share.

We’ll make up a star and a movie here. Let’s say the stars of the film are Julius Caesar and Massa Nero. The film is called “Oh My Glory Days” and will open on January 15, 2009.

Right around the time the movie will open or a few days after the film opens, you will see a story on IMDB which goes something like this:

January 12, 2009

Julius Caesar just remembered where he left his lunch pail back in grade school.

You’re scratching your head, wondering why IMDB is telling you that Julius Caesar suddenly remembered where he left his lunch pail back in grade school. Could this be a ploy to remind me of Julius Caesar’s existence, which I had forgotten about?

You feel you’re being played, but you put it aside until a few days later when you visit IMDB again, and you see this story:

January 14, 2009

Julius Caesar lashes out at the vicious rumours of fighting between him and Massa Nero.

You’re perplexed. So you go outside and poll 1 million of your neighbours. “Did you hear any vicious rumours about Julius Caesar and Massa Nero fighting on the set of their new film?”

Your neighbours, all 1 million of them, say that they have heard nothing.

So, what do you do? You scratch your head and then turn around and visit imdb.com, like clockwork, for more the very next morning.

Listen up, boys and girls. The world is changing. We used to listen to cassettes. Now we listen to mp3 players. We used to respect my intelligence. Now we don’t.

Listen up, all you new film school grads.

We used to promote a movie one way, but things have changed.

Takes notes, and by the way, “Welcome to New School Movie Publicity.”

(This article was originally published on January 8, 2009.)