Recently I took my niece to a screening of Rihanna’s new film, Home. But not before I made her read the book “The True Meaning of Smekday,” which is what the movie is based on, just so she has a little more understanding of the characters and the original plot –not the watered down one presented by DreamWorks.
In a post on BlackGirlLongHair, it was discovered by different people that Rihanna’s character, Tip, isn’t being represented too well in the marketing of the movie, especially the billboards.
Also, it seems as though depending on the demographics of your area, you’ll be presented with a different types of advertisements:
#poll 4 article on #diversity! Which ad is in your area and what's your area's demographic? #HOMEMovie #BlackTwitter pic.twitter.com/0dRQL1bXiX
— Macabre Monarch (@BatBrenna) March 9, 2015
As someone who has read the original book, it’s safe to say that DreamWorks’ marketing of the movie has failed in a few areas. One thing that is different are the television ads, which in my area, have been pretty spot on highlighting Rihanna’s character. But that’s here in the Atlanta area. Who knows who what people in Boise, Idaho are seeing on their tv screens.
Clutchettes, what do you think about the various billboards not featuring Rihanna’s character?
Image Credits: DreamWorks
March 20, 2015 -
This has nothing to do with the race of the character. This is how they promote animated movies. They did this with Frozen. That movie starred two white princesses, but the advertising campaign focused on the snowman, Olaf. And if you ever saw the Despicable Me movies, you would know that the main characters are this white family, but you wouldn’t know that because the advertising focuses entirely on the Minions. Kids love small little creatures, and that is what gets kids in the movie theater.
March 20, 2015 -
yours is the best justification i’ve read. idk if it’s entirely true, but i could see the logic if it is.
March 20, 2015 -
I noticed her absence, too, at a movie theater in Northern Virginia. I get that kids like characters, but with the way we’re portrayed (or not) in the media, I couldn’t help but wonder about their intent.
March 20, 2015 -
NOPE!! I was JUST saying this!! I said they’d rather show an ALIEN then a lil brown girl with curls. C’mon there’s not even a mix of the billboards. All I see is the one shown above all around NYC!!
March 21, 2015 -
I don’t know this is debatable.
March 21, 2015 -
I personally don’t see an issue. Go ahead and market the alien then have all of these white families go see the movie with this little black girl. The best part will be after the movie when their white child wants to be Tip and not the alien. I can’t wait to take some of my students to see this movie next weekend.