How I convinced a medical brand to partner with a horror film. 

I’ve been marketing for about a decade but  I want to take you behind the scenes of a pivotal moment in my career—a story that taught me the ropes of strategic thinking and the art of making meaningful connections.

The Challenge: A Unique Partnership Opportunity

Fresh out of college, I landed a gig at Fox Film Studios, knee-deep in marketing for Ridley Scott’s “Alien Covenant.” 

Sounds cool, right? But here’s the kicker—we needed to convince a medical brand to partner with us on a horror film. Not exactly your typical collaboration pitch.

It didn’t matter which celebrity names we mentioned or how big the budget was, no medical brand wanted to be associated with death. 

Name dropping didn’t work, numbers didn’t work… so what would? 

The Solution: Thinking Outside the Box

We rolled up our sleeves and dove into research mode. This film was set in the future and we identified medical brands that shared our film’s themes of innovation and futuristic technology. 

What sealed the deal? Understanding their desire to be seen as pioneers in their field.

So, we flipped the script. Instead of pitching a scary movie, we positioned “Alien Covenant” as a showcase of cutting-edge tech and forward-thinking concepts.

The Outcome: Making Magic Happen

By speaking their language and aligning our story with their goals, we nailed the partnership. It wasn’t just about getting a thumbs-up; it was about leveraging their products across our campaign, maximizing our impact without blowing the budget.

Lessons Learned

What I learned from that moment on, was the power of partnerships when both parties share the same core values…

If you’re considered a partnership to grow your business, here are a few key  things to consider: 

• Know Your Audience: Whether it’s big names or local heroes, get what makes them tick.
• Flexibility is Key: Sometimes, a slight twist in your approach opens doors you didn’t know existed.
• Communication Wins: Beyond flashy visuals, being clear about your value proposition seals the deal.

Looking Ahead:

Curious to learn more about how we can leverage strategic partnerships to grow your business? 

Book a sample session today. I always treat these sessions as an insight-led workshop with notes so you can apply this to your business.