Red Dog to get US theatrical and Walmart distribution
Box office hit Red Dog is to get a North American, multi-platform release, which will include DVD sales through the world’s biggest retailer.
Following theatrical distribution in other territories, US-based Arc Entertainment has acquired the film to distribute it theatrically, and on VOD and DVD, which will include being on sale in Walmart stores.
Nelson Woss, Red Dog’s producer, told Encore: “There’s an unique deal with Arc in which one of the elements of the deal will see the film promoted as one of Walmart’s DVDs of the month.”
The deal follows the film’s success locally on DVD. In Australia, the film is the biggest selling local release on DVD and third overall behind Avatar and Finding Nemo, selling units in the high six figures, Woss said.
Theatrically, the film will be in limited release, but take a similar marketing strategy to the film’s release here. Woss said: “They’ll use the same strategy as Roadshow did here, to tie in with animal charities and pet shelters.”
In August, during the film’s local release, Woss told Encore: “We’ve sent promotional material to vets around the country. When we toured the film with Koko we did charity screenings for animal shelters who look after dogs’ best interests.”
On an international level, the film has screened around the world at festivals and in theatrical release. “It’s done well in Asia and South America, okay in the UK.”
The story, adapted from Louis de Bernières’ book by the same name, is also being adapted for the stage by Woss and Australian theatre producer John Frost, while Woss works on another film script with a strong musical element based on The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies dance troupe.
Woss will be appearing at Mumbrella360 on the ‘finding the branded entertainment holy grail‘ panel after Red Dog used brand support from companies such as Pedigree, Westpac and some in-kind help from mining companies.
