When I had initially learned that Timothée Chalamet was making a ping-pong movie, my first thought was not that I desperately needed to see it. However, in the last few weeks, my outlook has flipped on its head entirely. This was almost entirely down to the marketing campaign behind this film.
When Chalamet dropped an 18-minute skit parodying a corporate marketing meeting, I had not expected to be fully invested and loving the entire thing. Chalamet naturally takes on the role of an egocentric Hollywood star who has huge plans for the marketing of his film, including painting the Statue of Liberty entirely orange. Another eccentric idea of his was a custom “Marty Supreme” blimp that was bright orange and rained ping-pong balls on people. This idea came to fruition in a hilarious way, minus the ping-pong balls, and I knew that I had to watch this film.
I am not embarrassed to say I may have been sucked into a corporate marketing machine but just because it feels so fun and original. Chalamet’s commitment to wearing the now iconic “Marty Supreme” jacket made people practically beg to know where they could buy one for themselves. The eventual release of the jacket would set you back $250, but they completely sold out. This is a testament to how simple ideas can create a cultural wave. It’s also an example of a celebrity using social media effectively to campaign for their films. Chalamet has already cemented his position as a front runner for the Best Actor Oscar before the film has even been released to the general public.
A trip to Chalamet’s Instagram today would take you on a tour of images featuring a whole host of celebrities wearing the “Marty Supreme” jacket. He then posts a younger photo of said celebrity alongside it with simply the words “dream big” written across the image, creating an instantly memorable tagline for the film.
This works in a number of ways. Not only is the allure of celebrity intriguing, the message is significant to Chalamet’s own career. The actor had a speech go viral from the SAG Awards last year when he won for his role as Bob Dylan. In the speech, he spoke about his pursuit of greatness and named sports stars and actors as his role models for being “one of the greats.” Chalamet received some flak for this at the time, claiming he’s egotistical and should not compare himself to these legendary people. In the marketing for “Marty Supreme,” Chalamet was able to lean into this persona to turn the joke back around on himself while promoting a message that he truly believes in.
If you are a Chalamet lover or hater, you cannot deny that he is one of the most successful actors of his generation and part of the new wave of movie stars. He continuously picks interesting projects, and his talent is undeniable. I have been completely won over, and you will definitely find me in the cinema this December to watch a screening of “Marty Supreme.”