Situation: There is controversy surrounding the release and production of the film, The Kite Runner, because of a violent rape scene that would take place between two young boys. The family of the child who is being raped, who is played by Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada, says that Paramount Pictures never told them about the rape scene and they are afraid that their child will be cut from his Hazara Ethnic group if this scene is released. The scene is a critical part in the film that was adapted from the book.
Objective: Keep the rape scene in the film and have the film still released on its scheduled release date, but without harming the reputation of the film, and Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada.
Audience: The public in Afghanistan where the film is taking place.
Strategy:
-Find a different location to re-shoot the scene or even the rest of the film so that the angered public in Afghanistan will not be outraged with the scene being filmed in their country.
-Reassure the public that this scene is a crucial part of the film and Ahmad Khan is only acting.
-Find a different location to re-shoot the scene or even the rest of the film so that the angered public in Afghanistan will not be outraged with the scene being filmed in their country.
-Reassure the public that this scene is a crucial part of the film and Ahmad Khan is only acting.
-Hold press releases and interviews where the directors and producers of the film can talk to the public about the film, address problems centered around the rape scene, and continuously praise the film for its outstanding performances and adaptation of the best-selling novel.
Tactics:
- Relocate to a nearby country or reshoot the scene in the United States on a man-made set
-Have an interview shown on BBC, the network releasing the film, to have the director, producer, and actors speak about the film and the contoversies that it faced. It would be especially important for Amhad Khan to speak about his role and also his devotion to his ethnicity and ethnic group.
-If audiences are still negative towards the rape scene and production is being halted, the last alternative would be to minimize the scene with as little visual as possible, and using more nararration then visuals.
Timetable:
-It is crucial that this PR campaign only take about 2 months because the sceduled release date is in December.
-It is crucial that this PR campaign only take about 2 months because the sceduled release date is in December.
Evaluation:
If the campaign is successful:
-The film will be successful and the viewing rate will be high
-Amhad Khan will not be forced out of his Hazara Ethnic Grop
-The film will be praised for its acting and directing, along will having a positive reaction by viewers.
