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Nancy Kirkpatrick-A Friend to Twilight-Moving On

April 17, 2014

nancy kirkpatrick

Over the years, there were various voices at Summit Entertainment who really “got Twilight” and “got the Fandom”. Most of their work was behind the scenes. Probably many, wouldn’t even know what they did. One of those who got Twilight out there as Twilight and not some weird story that was barely connected to the novels, and really embraced the PR that fandom could bring was Nancy Kirkpatrick. 

According to Variety, Nancy is now moving on.

 

Lionsgate and Summit have merged their marketing divisions into one entity, it was announced Thursday, forcing the ouster of longtime Summit marketing exec Nancy Kirkpatrick, who oversaw the “Twilight” and “Divergent” campaigns at the company.

As a result, Tim Palen, Lionsgate’s chief marketing officer, will have marketing oversight of the Lionsgate and Summit film labels as well as its Pantelion Films joint venture with Televisa and its urban Codeblack Films label.

Kirkpatrick, who has served as Summit Entertainment’s president of worldwide marketing for the past six years, will resign at the end of this month.

THR did a retrospective on what Nancy accomplished with Twilight back in 2012. The link also includes a story of what happened the first time we met Nancy.

Over the years, Nancy put her foot down on any number of things that were beneficial to the franchise. Much respect from this website for a woman who made it in the boy’s club that Hollywood can be. Nancy, our thanks, and we wish you well.

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THR Chats With Nancy Kirkpatrick Twilight’s PR Champion at Summit

December 6, 2012


All TwiHards owe a debt of thanks to Nancy who made sure the studio thought outside the box and didn’t go with male-centric marketing tactics. She’s always been really approachable and wanted opinions. THR does a great interview and it’s not too “industry speak” definitely a good read and a very rare look (especially in the Twilight world) behind the curtain.

When a receptionist at Summit Entertainment buzzed Nancy Kirkpatrick in summer 2011 to say there were three Twi-hards outside who wanted a tour of the studio, she chuckled. Summit’s cozy office building in Santa Monica hardly resembles a storied Hollywood lot in size and scope.

But Kirkpatrick, the company’s president of worldwide marketing, had something in her office that trumped any movie or television set: the Carolina Herrera wedding dress worn by Bella Swan, played by Kristen Stewart, in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1. She invited the trio in, and together they marveled over the gown, made of crepe satin and French Chantilly lace with 152 tiny buttons down the back. Kirkpatrick also let them try on the Manolo Blahnik wedding shoes.

“When do you ever get to do something like that at a studio? It was so much fun,” says Kirkpatrick. “And these aren’t 17-year-old girls, these are women. They’d driven all the way from Nebraska.”

Check the rest out on THR

Just a side story on Nancy Kirkpatrick, back when David Slade was the Eclipse director, I had cause to stop in to Summit’s old offices in Santa Monica to pick up some posters that we were using for a giveaway. Nancy was there and we were chatting. It was the first time we had any kind of extended conversation. I expressed that in almost every available photo of David Slade he was giving the finger (actually two fingers UK style) in almost every one. I jokingly lamented at the time, “Can we just get a photo where he doesn’t look pissed off and isn’t flipping the bird? That two fingered thing isn’t a peace sign!” Nancy raised an eyebrow and immediately said, “Oh that will stop right now.” I didn’t quite bank on her cool and steely reaction. I kinda felt like I was back in elementary school and had ratted out one of my classmates for smoking in the bathroom. Regardless, we got the photos we needed shortly thereafter. In any case after that first encounter I’ve met Nancy several times and she’s always been a delight.

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Summit Confirms Breaking Dawn Is Business as Usual

August 1, 2012


We feel kind of silly posting this, because we didn’t see how whatever is going on in anyone’s personal lives was going to change their contractual obligations to promote a film, or for that matter stop people from seeing a franchise that they all love. However since it’s an official statement, we’re running it to quell any lingering doubts.

In an exclusive statement to EW, Summit’s president of worldwide marketing, Nancy Kirkpatrick says: “While it is studio policy not to comment on the personal lives of actors, Summit is moving full steam ahead and looking forward to this November’s opening of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2. We are confident that the film delivers amazing entertainment for our passionate fans and general audience alike.”

We’ve see a lot of discussion about the fall press junket being potentially awkward. Just as a point of reference, unlike Comic Con where people are lined up together at the same table for press conferences and fan panels, the fall press junkets have always been solo events when it comes to Rob, Kristen, and Taylor. In other words, not being with other actors on stage is the norm. The actors with smaller parts have always been doubled or tripled up, but the trio has always had time alone for press Q & A…well as alone as you can be on stage by yourself in a room with 100 press people in it. Also red carpet arrivals (if so desired) can easily be staggered so people are not on top of each other. In fact, as attendees can attest, the stars maybe pose for one or two group shots, but they then walk the carpet solo, not with another cast mate. So, could things get awkward? Possibly, but not as awkward as you might imagine.

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