Promoting Your Film with Off-Screen Drama: Don’t Worry Darling

Get ready to dive into the juicy press surrounding Don’t Worry Darling, a perfect case study on how to (or not to) promote your film. Despite boasting an A-list cast with Florence Pugh and Chris Pine at the top of their game, and a director following up her SXSW indie breakout Booksmart, it’s the tabloid gossip behind the scenes that’s getting the most attention. But is this drama ultimately good for the film? And is it something you should try to emulate for your own projects? Let’s explore the fascinating world of how filmmakers can use drama to promote their films.

Without being a Hollywood gossip reporter, it’s impossible to fully recap the amount of drama behind the scenes of Don’t Worry Darling. Suffice it to say, there have been numerous reports online over the past few weeks and months doing a great job of recapping as much as possible. From Olivia Wilde casting Shia LaBeouf, to his feuding with co-star Florence Pugh, to the budding on-set romance between Wilde and pop-star actor Harry Styles, the film is known to many for its off-the-screen antics and gossip.

But is there such a thing as bad press? Or is any press always good press? As buzz grows around the film’s drama, word of mouth and box office expectations are shifting more positively. So, what can up-and-coming filmmakers take away from this commotion? While most of our films won’t have Harry Styles and Florence Pugh at the center of their promotional materials, there are still channels available to get people talking about projects at the indie level. Reaching out to news outlets and exploring different angles to discuss your film can be a great way to start.

At the end of the day, the best lesson to take away from Don’t Worry Darling is to embrace unexpected challenges and create new solutions and narratives that might make for a good story. Who knows, you might end up with a project worthy of some Don’t Worry-level press that turns a middling project into a great one. For more industry news and filmmaking advice, check out the additional articles below.