‘Avatar’ defied the cynics. 13 years later, it’s back in theaters to set the stage for ‘Avatar 2’

It was December 2009 when Australian actor Sam Worthington, unaware of how massively his role as an ex-Marine on a mission to a new planet was about to change his life, received a bit of advice from James Cameron. 

Click here to read the story at latimes.com.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the difference between the marketing of entertainment and marketing through entertainment?
2. Which best describes this news story?
3. What is a production and marketing budget?
4. What is a sales or revenue forecast?
5. Why are budgets and sales forecasts important in the movie business?
6. What is a brand?
7. Is Avatar a brand?
8. What is fandom?
9. How might the strength of the Avatar brand and high levels of fandom impact box office sales?
10. What is a film franchise?
11. Will Avatar become a film franchise?
12. Why do you think the studio is re-releasing the original Avatar film to movie theaters?
13. How might that represent the marketing function of distribution?
14. What is a ‘toy ready’ film?
15. Do you think ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ will be a toy ready film? Why or why not?