And now a word from our sponsor.
What do the following have in common?
adidas, Apple, Axe, Chanel, Citron, Dell, Gretsch, Holiday Inn, Kodak, Lion King, McDonald’s, MSN, Newsweek, Nextel, Nikon, Perrier, Philips, Piaggio, Pilot, Post-It Notes, PPS Publications, Smart, Star Magazine, T.G.I. Friday’s, Toyota, USA Today, Viagra, Virgin, Volkswagen, Waldorf-Astoria
All are products or oginazations you will see during THE PINK PANTHER with Steve Martin, out in theaters now.
If you think you are safe from commercials by going to the theater to enjoy a film , think again.
Not only are you bombarded with ads before the film, the products have worked their way into the main feature itself. Product placement is an old practice.
We are all aware that it has been in place for sometime.
Sometime the products are so grossly featured it becomes synonymous with the film. Reeses pieces for E.T. or Blue label Smirnoff vodka for James Bond.
The trick is to weasel in the product so the audience sees it without feeling like they just paid to watch an infomercial. Its hard for me to watch films. The instant I see a known product it takes me out of the moment. I become preoccupied on how long I need to see the COKE Dynamic Ribbon Device. It makes me Ill to see a camera lingering on a shot just to catch a glimpse of the soda machine in the background. These companies pay actual money to have there product visible. If its not money its in the form of donated goods and services. Its pathetic really. I've see camera moves based around getting the entire product name in frame. The products dictate the shot.
Lets look at another current release.
BIG MAMA’S HOUSE 2
The featured products or organizations in this film are:
Ace Academics, Apple, Aprica, Avaya, Ben Sherman, Blue Marlin, BMW, Brillo, Burberry, Chanel, Coca-Cola, Dairy Queen, Dell, Dodge, Ford, Gordon's Jewelers, Graco, Home Automation, Inc. (HAI), HP, Kenmore, LG, Logitech, Lucky Charms, Mace, Mercedes, Motorola, My Little Pony, Nextel, Oklahoma State University, Panasonic, Philips, Polo Ralph Lauren, Popeye'’s, Porsche, Princeton University, Puma, Ray-Ban, RCA, Ritz-Carlton, Rolex, Samsung, Sean John, Segway, Sharpie, Sony, Spin Magazine, Sunglass Hut, Tanqueray, Taser, Uniden, Victoria'’s Secret, Wisk, YMCA
My rule is:
If a film has too much product placement AVOID at all costs.
For a list of products in mainstream films please click on the title of this post.
adidas, Apple, Axe, Chanel, Citron, Dell, Gretsch, Holiday Inn, Kodak, Lion King, McDonald’s, MSN, Newsweek, Nextel, Nikon, Perrier, Philips, Piaggio, Pilot, Post-It Notes, PPS Publications, Smart, Star Magazine, T.G.I. Friday’s, Toyota, USA Today, Viagra, Virgin, Volkswagen, Waldorf-Astoria
All are products or oginazations you will see during THE PINK PANTHER with Steve Martin, out in theaters now.
If you think you are safe from commercials by going to the theater to enjoy a film , think again.
Not only are you bombarded with ads before the film, the products have worked their way into the main feature itself. Product placement is an old practice.
We are all aware that it has been in place for sometime.
Sometime the products are so grossly featured it becomes synonymous with the film. Reeses pieces for E.T. or Blue label Smirnoff vodka for James Bond.
The trick is to weasel in the product so the audience sees it without feeling like they just paid to watch an infomercial. Its hard for me to watch films. The instant I see a known product it takes me out of the moment. I become preoccupied on how long I need to see the COKE Dynamic Ribbon Device. It makes me Ill to see a camera lingering on a shot just to catch a glimpse of the soda machine in the background. These companies pay actual money to have there product visible. If its not money its in the form of donated goods and services. Its pathetic really. I've see camera moves based around getting the entire product name in frame. The products dictate the shot.
Lets look at another current release.
BIG MAMA’S HOUSE 2
The featured products or organizations in this film are:
Ace Academics, Apple, Aprica, Avaya, Ben Sherman, Blue Marlin, BMW, Brillo, Burberry, Chanel, Coca-Cola, Dairy Queen, Dell, Dodge, Ford, Gordon's Jewelers, Graco, Home Automation, Inc. (HAI), HP, Kenmore, LG, Logitech, Lucky Charms, Mace, Mercedes, Motorola, My Little Pony, Nextel, Oklahoma State University, Panasonic, Philips, Polo Ralph Lauren, Popeye'’s, Porsche, Princeton University, Puma, Ray-Ban, RCA, Ritz-Carlton, Rolex, Samsung, Sean John, Segway, Sharpie, Sony, Spin Magazine, Sunglass Hut, Tanqueray, Taser, Uniden, Victoria'’s Secret, Wisk, YMCA
My rule is:
If a film has too much product placement AVOID at all costs.
For a list of products in mainstream films please click on the title of this post.
posted by Gavin Elster at 7:52 PM
5 Comments:
My favorite branding is in Superman. Clark's mother look out the screen door at Clark out in the field. THe screen door gives a textured, oil painting look to her face, making her look a bit like a Wyeth painting. We see in her face the years of caring she's had for the strange visitor from another world that she's come to accept as her son, the pain and happiness every parent feels when the child they've nurtured has become an adult who will make his own decisions and mistakes. It's a lovely, quiet, simple moment.
Then she pulls out the Cheerios.
Yep I remember that one very clearly.
My favorite product in a film is in James Cameron's Aliens.
Ahhh I'll never forget the REEBOK Shoe that saves Ellen Ripley during the climactic battle with the Queen Alien.
For anyone who thinks thats a joke... watch the film again.
I remember that aliens ad. the shoes look totally 80's now.
i have this huge alien quadrilogy dvd box set. i wonder if the shoes were mentioned in any of the 50 hours of bonus materials.
Money makes the world go around, the world go around.....
Oy...
Products and special effects. My two biggest turnoffs....
Hope you're feeling better!
STB
I dont remember the Aliens add, you definitly have made a point about hype.
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