Image markets Caligula with podcasts

Helen Mirren, Malcolm McDowell commentary clips included

By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 8/30/2007

AUG. 30 | Image Entertainment will offer its first podcast series tied to a DVD, Caligula: Three Disc Imperial Edition, on iTunes starting in September.

The series entitled “Caligula: The Naked Truth” will be free and broken into five parts. Podcast installments will include clips of the featured DVD audio commentaries of Caligula stars Helen Mirren and Malcolm McDowell. Mirren and Malcolm chat about the controversial making of Caligula, which explores the decadence of ancient Rome. The Caligula Imperial Edition streets Oct. 2 (order now) for $39.99. Unrated and R-rated single-disc editions are $19.99.

Image decided to market Caligula via podcast because the studio wanted to underscore the DVD participation of high-profile Mirren and McDowell.

“The presence of Helen and Malcolm really elevates it,” said Garrett Lee, senior VP of product development at Image. “People don’t know the whole story of how the film came into being. And it’s easily listenable, especially for free. This is a great way to promote the release.”

Also involved in the Caligula podcasts are Nathaniel Thompson, Image brand manager of special markets, and a Web pop culture critic known as The Jay (www.thejay.com).