Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) has appointed Hollywood marketing executive Stephen Bruno as the Vice President of its marketing group. Bruno will report directly to chief marketing officer Kelly Bennett and will lead the original content marketing team, says a report from Deadline.com.
Growing ties with TWC
Prior to Netflix, Bruno worked for seven years at The Weinstein Company, and over last three years he served as the head of marketing for TWC with whom Netflix enjoys a healthy business relationship. The online video streaming company has entered into a partnership with TWC to release a sequel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon simultaneously with Imax theaters.
TWC has made its titles like the Quentin Tarantino catalog available on Netflix, and is also one of the producers of Netflix’s first feature film release Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend. TWC is also a partner with Netflix on the new series Marco Polo.
According to Deadline.com, if Bruno joins Netflix, even then he will lead the campaigns of the TWC films that are in Oscar mix, which include Benedict Cumberbatch as the lead in The Imitation Game, the Bill Murray-led St. Vincent and the upcoming Tim Burton-directed Big Eyes.
Bruno is expected to handle those campaigns, and he should have time for other projects as the streaming company will release its new movie after Crouching Tiger. Moreover, the first feature with Adam Sandler isn’t expected until the following year.
Netflix focusing on film making
Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) is moving ahead in full throttle with hiring producers and agents, indicating that it is seriously planning to make films. As of now, the firm has hired feature executives such as Sarah Bowen and Pauline Fischer, but there is distinct possibility that more movie-production-related employees will come on board.
In a major decision earlier this year, the company entered into an agreement with Adam Sandler to make four movies in which he will star as well as produce. Of note, Sandler films typically perform well on Netflix.
Netflix plans around 10 to 12 theatrical-quality films per year with a focus on fiction, romantic comedy and Western genres. The estimated budget per film is somewhere between $20 million and $50 million.
