Hollywood's Marketing Machine

The Wall Street Journal reports that independent labels at the major studios spent an average of $25.7 million marketing a film last year, up 44% from 2006 and more than double what was spent in 2002. That has far outpaced the 44% growth in production costs from 2002 through last year. In response to the recession, studios have cut the number of films they release but haven't cut back significantly on marketing costs per film.

Why do they call these "independent" films?  What kind of an oxymoron is an "independent label at a major studio"?  To me, if you can afford to spend $25.7 million for marketing, you're a major studio unto yourself.

Susan Ee
www.feraldream.com