BATTLE IN SEATTLE

Produced by: Mary Aloe & Stuart Townshend     Directed by: Stuart Townshend                       Key Cast: Martin Henderson, Andre Benjamin, Woody Harrelson, Charlize Theron, Michelle Rodriguez, Ray Liotta

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.battleinseattlemovie.com 

Teaser

Seattle, 1999: The World Trade Organization is 

holding an international conference. Hundreds 

of thousands gather in what is supposed to be a 

peaceful protest, until a few radicals catapult 

them into violence and chaos. The Seattle 

mayor declares a State of Emergency, the 

police are waging guerilla warfare, and good-

natured citizens pay the ultimate penalty.

Filmmaker & Funding

Filmmaker Stuart Townshend hails from Ireland and attended the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin. While he has worked for many years as an actor, both in America and Europe, Battle in Seattle marks his directorial debut. Coincidentally, he also wrote and co-produced the film. He did all the research for it and funded the film himself, with help from girlfriend Charlize Theron.

Festivals & Distribution

Traveling across the international festival circuit allowed for the film to reach a wide variety of audiences. In America it played in South By Southwest, AFI Dallas International, Cleveland International, Seattle International, Maryland, Sarasota Film Festival and Florida Film Festival. Small domestic festivals for niche audiences also screened it, including DC Labor Film Fest, Woodstock Film Festival, and IMPACT Film Fest. Abroad, it was viewed in Canada’s Toronto and Vancouver InternationalFilm Festivals, as well as Spain’s FICMA Film Festival.

         Once the festivals premiered the film, it was distributed through Redwood Palms Pictures. There was limited release in the USA, but wide release in Canada, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic and Singapore. It was released solely on DVD in the Netherlands, Turkey and Finland. Now, over 6 months later, all theater screenings have come to a halt, but distribution continues with DVD sales worldwide.

Critical Reviews

         Battle in Seattle was widely reviewed, but not always critically acclaimed. The exhilarating recount of such controversy found many viewers hungry for more. Townshend’s biased approach and convenient storylines, however, left others with a bad taste in their mouths.

         Owen Gleiberman, of Entertainment Weekly, gave one of the highest grades for the film: “A-“. Many Oscar-bait films have scored lower.

( http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20228550,00.html ).

         Conversely, Variety’s Dennis Harvey claims that, while the docu-drama was “credibly staged for the most part”, the “screenplay is more problematic, as the human dramas imposed on nonfiction backdrop” can be “contrived” with “flatfooted dialogue” (http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117934682.html?categoryid=2850&cs=1 )

         Roger Ebert, in his review for the Chicago Sun Times, offers a more mixed review. He notes high points, such as Woody Harrelson’s emotional arc being “convincing and effective,” then immediately follows with an emphatic “but”. He mentions “an unnecessary romantic attraction” between two lead characters, and how one TV reporter always happens to be at each new action scene. The film is fine, but not fantastic. Ebert even suggests other films the audience may like better.

(http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080925/REVIEWS/809250301/1023 )

Press Release

Various press releases were submitted about the film and/or subsequent discussions with the filmmaker. These usually pertained to a festival screening. On August 28, 2008, there was a special press release by the Woodstock Film Festival. It announced a sneak preview benefit screening of the film at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, NY, followed by a Q&A session with Townshend. This was unique because it marked “the first collaboration between the two film organizations.” The founder of the Burns Center, Stephen Hays, assisted the theatrical release of the film by “funding the prints and advertising campaign of Battle in Seattle” in the New York and metropolitan area. (http://www.woodstockfilmfestival.com/press/releases/2008_08_battle2.html ) 

Impact on Audiences

Viewers, like the critics, have mixed feelings about the film. The UK Rotten Tomatoes members give it a 52% rating. The group consensus says that while Battle in Seattle is “well intentioned and passionate,” it ultimately “draws stronger political assertions than it does strong characters.” (http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/battle_in_seattle/ )

         Domestic Gross: $223,537

         International Gross: approx $650,000

         DVD Sales to date: unlisted

         (http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2008/SEATL.php )

Collateral

         All visual components of Battle in Seattle’s advertising and marketing campaign offer the sense of chaos, panic, and documentary realism. The trailer is both gritty and sensationalistic – showing the whirling chaos of a mass protest gone awry, and the magnitude of the media blitz when a State of Emergency is declared. And of course, we see the most captivating sentence of all: “based on true events”. Everyone loves a real-life controversy, however exaggerated or biased it may be.

         The poster is also dark and entrancing, as a police officer restrains the emotionally charged Michelle Rodriguez. Images of picket signs, angry civilians, gunfire and armored cars are all wrapped into a spherical globe-shape. The caption declares “THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING”. It certainly grabs attention and spikes interest in the film.

The website is almost overwhelming, packed tight with information, background information, and background-background information. A busy ticker tape headlines the top, streaming over links to filmmaker and cast bios. You can also view production stills and storyboards, study the intricacies of the WTO, watch real footage of the protest or interviews with experts/activists, donate, even download e-cards, widgets or ring tones. What’s more, all links call to action with capital letters and exclamation marks! Never before has such a feast of a website been... lacking a main course. Instead, every last possible item is heaped out buffet-style, bombarding the patrons. Viewers could see this one of two ways: as a great layout of rich information with interesting insight, or, as a massive maze of red and black that takes too much work to trudge through.

 

Marketing Angles

         Since the movie is based on a real event, it was marketed with emphasis on the masses of people in the protest. The smaller, scripted stories within it were rarely highlighted during promotions, except when mentioning the A-list actor who may have taken the role.

         Also, the WTO is a hot-button topic with very divided factions- namely, concerned consumers vs. the corporate elite. However, the conflict brought in a third and fourth party to the mix: Seattle’s law enforcement, and the Media. There were four very substantial potential markets, which explains why the trailer doesn’t clearly carve out an enemy from a hero. They must not want to alienate any potential audience members.

         The filmmakers also held many discussions with festival audiences to both promote the film and generate awareness for the cause. However, since the film was in limited release domestically, the marketing focused only on festival towns. Their DVD sales could skyrocket with grassroots promotions, both nationally and internationally. Generating interest in online communities, relevant charities (who may in turn also promote the film), spreading the posters across college campuses, finding cities abroad that are affected by the WTO laws, etc. These could all be additional sources of revenue, and a great way to maximize the number of people who get the message.