Plan
v1 · Night Ferry
Example, Oct 1
In brief
Open in London first, then Houston, Atlanta and Lagos: that is where your comps' audience is strongest among your cities.
Aim the campaign at people aged 34 and under, as planned.
Build the soundtrack and launch music around Ada Lux and Kola Wave, who rank highest with this audience in Atlanta.
Positioning
Hook
- Lead with survival and community: the themes your comps share most.
Key messages
- A story about survival.
- A story about community.
- A story about loyalty.
Comps
- Pitch it to buyers and press in the company of Salt Road, The Glass Lantern and Midnight Harbor.
Matched in Qloo: Salt Road, The Glass Lantern.
Qloo has 2 titles called “Midnight Harbor”. I used the best known one, the best known. Say which you mean if it is another.
Audience
Who they are
- The core audience is people 25 to 29, then 24 and under, leaning male.
Atlanta
- In Atlanta they also watch Midnight Harbor, Harbor Precinct and Eko Nights.
Houston
- In Houston they also watch Midnight Harbor, Harbor Precinct and Eko Nights.
Lagos
- In Lagos they also watch Midnight Harbor, Harbor Precinct and Eko Nights.
London
- In London they also watch Midnight Harbor, Harbor Precinct and Eko Nights.
Atlanta
- In Atlanta they also play Ada Lux, Kola Wave and Sade Rhythm.
Houston
- In Houston they also play Ada Lux, Kola Wave and Sade Rhythm.
Lagos
- In Lagos they also play Ada Lux, Kola Wave and Sade Rhythm.
London
- In London they also play Ada Lux, Kola Wave and Sade Rhythm.
Markets
London
- Screen at Southbank Screen.
Houston
- Screen at Bayou Cinema.
Atlanta
- Screen at Peachtree Pictures.
Lagos
- Screen at Marina Picturehouse and Lekki Screens.
Partnerships
Music
- Music: approach Ada Lux and Kola Wave for the soundtrack or a launch single in Atlanta.
- Music: approach Ada Lux and Kola Wave for the soundtrack or a launch single in Houston.
- Music: approach Ada Lux and Kola Wave for the soundtrack or a launch single in Lagos.
- Music: approach Ada Lux and Kola Wave for the soundtrack or a launch single in London.
Brands
- Brands: Night Market Cola and Lagoon Mobile in Lagos.
- Brands: Night Market Cola and Lagoon Mobile in London.
Creative placement
Films
- Attach the trailer to Harbor Lights and Third Mainland.
Series
- Run ads against Midnight Harbor and Harbor Precinct in Atlanta.
- Run ads against Midnight Harbor and Harbor Precinct in Houston.
- Run ads against Midnight Harbor and Harbor Precinct in Lagos.
- Run ads against Midnight Harbor and Harbor Precinct in London.
Publicity and media
Podcasts
- Pitch the cast and director to Crime Junkie and Serial.
Press
- Send screeners to critics and culture writers four weeks before release, watermarked.
Community and grassroots
Houston
- Host a community screening with Grace Chapel Houston in Houston.
London
- Host a community screening with Pentecost House in London.
Houston
- Host a community screening with Gulf Coast University in Houston.
Lagos
- Host a community screening with Lagoon City University in Lagos.
- Give community partners an early screening and a share-ready trailer cut.
Release route and window
- Open in cinemas in London first, then roll out to the other markets over two to four weeks.
- Hold the streaming window until the cinema run ends, unless a platform deal sets it.
Channels
Lagos
- Home market. Lead on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
London
- Diaspora city. Lead on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
Houston
- Diaspora city. Lead on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
Atlanta
- Diaspora city. Lead on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
Creative briefs
Hook options
- Hook one: open on the strongest image of Night Ferry in the first two seconds.
- Hook two: open on the question this release answers, as text on screen over the first shot.
- Hook three: open on Lagos itself, with the name on screen.
Key art brief
- Key art brief: one image, the title Night Ferry and at most one line of text. Say what the image must show, what to avoid and where it will be seen, then hand it to a designer. Oraqul writes the brief; a person makes the art.
Content calendar
Lagos
| When | What to post | Asset | Lead channel | Posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-8 | Pitch print outlets about two months before release. | press pitch | No number given | |
| T-4 | Offer the trailer as an exclusive to one big outlet first, then release it everywhere. | trailer | 1 | |
| T-4 to T-2 | Put something new out every week: a still, a clip or a cast post. | new asset | At least 1 a week | |
| T-3 to T-1 | Give reviewers an online screener and ask them to hold reviews until a few days before release. | online screener | No number given | |
| T-2 to T-1 | Pitch podcasts: they need one to two weeks of lead time. | guest pitch | No number given | |
| T-1 to Launch week | Post something every day in the final week. | daily post | 1 a day |
London
| When | What to post | Asset | Lead channel | Posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-8 | Pitch print outlets about two months before release. | press pitch | YouTube | No number given |
| T-4 | Offer the trailer as an exclusive to one big outlet first, then release it everywhere. | trailer | YouTube | 1 |
| T-4 to T-2 | Put something new out every week: a still, a clip or a cast post. | new asset | YouTube | At least 1 a week |
| T-3 to T-1 | Give reviewers an online screener and ask them to hold reviews until a few days before release. | online screener | YouTube | No number given |
| T-2 to T-1 | Pitch podcasts: they need one to two weeks of lead time. | guest pitch | YouTube | No number given |
| T-1 to Launch week | Post something every day in the final week. | daily post | YouTube | 1 a day |
Houston
| When | What to post | Asset | Lead channel | Posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-8 | Pitch print outlets about two months before release. | press pitch | YouTube | No number given |
| T-4 | Offer the trailer as an exclusive to one big outlet first, then release it everywhere. | trailer | YouTube | 1 |
| T-4 to T-2 | Put something new out every week: a still, a clip or a cast post. | new asset | YouTube | At least 1 a week |
| T-3 to T-1 | Give reviewers an online screener and ask them to hold reviews until a few days before release. | online screener | YouTube | No number given |
| T-2 to T-1 | Pitch podcasts: they need one to two weeks of lead time. | guest pitch | YouTube | No number given |
| T-1 to Launch week | Post something every day in the final week. | daily post | YouTube | 1 a day |
Atlanta
| When | What to post | Asset | Lead channel | Posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-8 | Pitch print outlets about two months before release. | press pitch | YouTube | No number given |
| T-4 | Offer the trailer as an exclusive to one big outlet first, then release it everywhere. | trailer | YouTube | 1 |
| T-4 to T-2 | Put something new out every week: a still, a clip or a cast post. | new asset | YouTube | At least 1 a week |
| T-3 to T-1 | Give reviewers an online screener and ask them to hold reviews until a few days before release. | online screener | YouTube | No number given |
| T-2 to T-1 | Pitch podcasts: they need one to two weeks of lead time. | guest pitch | YouTube | No number given |
| T-1 to Launch week | Post something every day in the final week. | daily post | YouTube | 1 a day |
- This calendar follows blog-level guidance, one source for each point. Treat it as direction, not a measured result.
Paid ads
- Put about 80 percent of paid spend behind creative that has already worked, and about 20 percent into testing new creative.
- Run three to five ads in each ad group.
- Judge a winner by its conversion count, not by how many days it has run.
Timeline
- T-26 to T-16: Lock the title treatment and key art, cut the first teaser and set up the sales and presale page.
- T-20 to T-12: Use a festival or market slot to build early press and distributor interest, never as the only beat.
- T-12: Release the first trailer on the lead video platform and open advance screening sign-ups.
- T-10 to T-6: Book advance screenings with community groups, cinemas and creators in each territory.
- T-8: Open presales where the cinema or platform allows it and read the first week against the target.
- T-4 to T-3: Send the press screener and the second trailer, and confirm premiere guests.
- T-1: Hold the home-market premiere, with the other territories following within days.
- Launch week: Release and report advance screenings and presales to the team daily.
- T+1 to T+4: Move spend to the territories where presales and screenings are ahead, and plan the streaming or home release window.
Budget split
- A starting split of the marketing budget, as shares: adjust it with your distributor, and move money first to the cities with the strongest pre-sales.
- Paid media and trailer placement: 40%.
- Publicity and press: 15%.
- Community screenings and events: 15%.
- Creative (trailer, key art, cut-downs): 15%.
- Partnerships and tie-ins: 5%.
- Contingency: 10%.
What to measure
- Judge this plan on one signal: advance screenings and presales.
- No target is set. Give your own number, such as “target 10,000”, and the plan will carry it.
- Read it 56, 28 and 7 days before release.
- Trailer views, Followers, Press mentions are secondary: track them, but do not judge the plan on them.
Risks
- Atlanta may open softer than your other cities: keep the booking small and lean on community screenings there.
- Houston may open softer than your other cities: keep the booking small and lean on community screenings there.
- Lagos may open softer than your other cities: keep the booking small and lean on community screenings there.
- Piracy in the first week: watermark screeners and take down leaks fast.