The other night on twitter @BrianMBendis said "Anyone else feel they've already seen the new batman movie? Close the set!!!"
I couldn't agree more. I feel like I already watched the movie. Do you know why a majority of sets are 'closed'??? Espically as of late? Because of the potential of the fans blowing up how bad the film is before its released (ahem, Catwoman ring a bell?) or some papparazzi happens to fire off a picture of the most critical part of the film (in this case, a fight between Batman and Bane) or to keep the drama out of the public eye (remember Bale blowing up at the director of photography?)
It's one thing to show some behind the scenes photos (like the recent ones coming from the Cleveland Avengers set) that are approved, that won't give away the story line. However the stuff from TDKR has gotten both the fandom and mainstream speculating all over the place of what is going to happen.
In some ways that's a good thing- word of mouth is always a cheap marketing tool. But it could also backfire (again, the trashing of a film- the most recent example being Green Lantern).
One of the (many)reasons that The Dark Knight did so well for box office numbers was that not only did WB do a BRILLIANT viral marketing game, but also because the set was closed.
Now let me bring something into check- I actually watched them film the semi flip downtown in broad daylight on a Friday right before the close of a lot of offices inside the Loop. The security there was tight, I couldn't even TRY to do the "im talking on my phone but really taking pictures" move that I have done before. I saw security actually taking people's phones/cameras and deleating pictures. My co-workers and I actually went downtown to Lower Wacker after work one day to watch them film part of the chase sequence. So long as we were quiet and didn't try to take pictures etc, they let us watch.
The other bit is that Chicagoians have a healthy respect for the the "big boys" that come into town. They like to stand and watch whatever is going on- even more so when its something that involves explosions like the semi flip or when Michigan ave was destroyed for Trans 3.
Heck, I actually walked through the Powers set on my way home from work the other day. Everyone was standing around 6 corners in Wicker Park waiting on buses/trains and just watching them set up a picture car and dolly tracking. I didn't see a single person trying to take a picture of what was going on.
(Side note- I did get a glimpse of Deena. Holy Toledo, the actress and the production team practically ripped her out of my head).
Back to TDKR- There have been soooooooooo many pictures released from the set that even some of my mainstream friends are like... what's the point? I have seen everything, I know some point that Bane is going to do X to Batman. Why waste the 11 bucks to go watch it? (even more for 3d). That mentality is instant death to the box office.
Then there is the commentary on some of these pictures. Its not just us here, but when a "mainstream" news (like) picks it up...then its just worse. (TMZ has pictures also of the batwing thing).
Couple this with a down economy and the black market piracy issues, people wonder why box office numbers don't match up.
Don't get me wrong- even though I am a hardcore Marvel Zombie- I do want Batman, Superman etc to do well in sales- it makes the CBM market/genre keep going.
But hey, WB Executives--- take a page from Marvel and only leak certain approved pictures from the set. Hire some better security. Spend the money now so all of us fans are FORCED to spend our hard earn dollars to learn whats going to happen to Bruce next.
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