This is about as long as the trailer will be.
This is about as long as the trailer will be.
  • This is about as long as the trailer will be.

Disney has announced the theaters that, starting this Friday, will be showing the “tease” for Star Wars: The Force Awakensโ€”an 88-second-long preview that’s either so short or so insignificant that Disney’s not even calling it a “preview” or a “teaser.” So, you knowโ€”manage your expectations. The theaters are listed hereโ€”the Force Awakens footage will be playing at these locations, in front of every movie, at every showtime, for two daysโ€”but none of them are in Oregon.

It’s an interesting tactic. I’m generally a fan of things that remind people that going to the movies can be fun and unique, but from a marketing angle, this is kind of a weird choice: Considering that Disney owns or partially owns ABC, Hulu, ESPN, and quite possibly the air in your lungs and the ground under your feet, they could have made it so that far, far more people would see this trailer. No doubt it’ll end up online at some point (my guess is a blurry, shaky, iPhone-filmed version, scored by the sounds of orgasming nerds, will hit YouTube about .03 seconds after the “tease” first screens), but it’s interesting that at least initially, Disney doesn’t seem to be going the official online route. There are more efficient ways to get more eyes on your ad, something that Disney knows as well as anybody.

What this implies, then, is that the release of The Force Awakens could stress the theatrical experience in a pretty big wayโ€”which’d make sense, given that it’s increasingly important for films to feel like “events,” not to mention the fact that the film was shot on 35mm. Maybe, like Interstellar, The Force Awakens will try to stress that this film, like previous Star Wars films, were designed to be seen on a giant screen, away from your couch and away from your phone.

Or maybe I’m reading too much into an 88-second-long ad that people haven’t even seen yet.

With honor and distinction, Erik Henriksen served as the executive editor of the Portland Mercury from 2004 to 2020. He can now be found at henriksenactual.com.

One reply on “Here’s Where You Can See the “Tease” for <i>Star Wars: The Force Awakens</i> on Friday”

  1. I, for one, am excited to get a glimpse at the first new Star Wars movie in over 30 years. I repeat. First new Star Wars film in over 30 years …

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