SILENCE
MARTIN SCORSESE
Silence is a 2016 historical period-drama directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Jay Cocks and Scorsese, based on the 1966 novel of the same name by Shūsaku Endō. Set in Nagasaki, Japan, the film was shot entirely in Taiwan around Taipei, and stars Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Liam Neeson, Tadanobu Asano and Ciarán Hinds. The plot follows two 17th-century Jesuit priests who travel from Portugal to Japan to locate their missing mentor and spread Catholic Christianity. The story is set in the time of Kakure Kirishitan ("Hidden Christians") following the suppression of the Shimabara Rebellion (1637–1638) of Japanese Roman Catholics against the Tokugawa shogunate.
A long-time passion project for Scorsese, which he developed over 25 years, the film premiered in Rome on November 29, 2016 and was released in the United States on December 23 of that year. The American Film Institute selected Silence as one of its 10 Movies of the Year. The film also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography at the 89th Academy Awards.
THE PURPOSE + MY WORK
The purpose of this work was to promote Martin Scorsese’s Silence to the Christian and conservative media, specifically focusing on a radio tour for producers and advisors to the film, as no talent was available. This made the campaign a particularly challenging endeavor.
My work consisted of gathering media lists, creating interview request templates, and posting social media for two|pr promoting the film.
This campaign was a challenge and learning experience with timing and coordination with an outside entity. two|pr was hired a month after the film was released to the U.S. audience. The production company noticed a that there was a lack of reach within the Christian audience that they had previously believed would have been garnered organically. We were charged with gaining that audience through earned media utilizing relatively unknown producers and spokespersons. Although this campaign did not thrive, I learned a lot about timing (a month after a movie release isn't a good time to start outreach), working with a major production company (stay humble and overcommunicate), and stay positive (minor producers and spokespersons can still have a lot to say).