Why is it that all the license plates in car commercials are colored out? I understand they don’t want to use a specific state/plate #, but why have a plate at all???:rolleyes:
Well, if the car is being filmed on a public road, then the law requires that it have a plate.
I’ve always seen full-sized temporary plates in the window, which would then probably have to be blurred out in the commercial anyway, and would be ugly to boot.
I suspect that the problem could be solved by filming on private property and removing the plates completely, but it’s probably harder to find privately owned roads that are “commercial worthy”.
Ad man here.
We put plates on the cars because the cars would look strange without them.
We use neutral colors for the plates so as not to distract your attention from the car/action/scenery.
One other thing, a plate isn’t required. Ever notice every commercial states it’s a closed course? No need to follow traffic laws.
Redsland, I’ve never noticed – do you put front plates on cars? That would look strange here in Michigan (not strange so much, but an instant knowledge that the car’s not from Michigan).
Or do you market differently according to region? I imagine that’s got to be done to some extent.
They could be actual plates, too. I know Michigan issues license plates specifically marked “Manufacturer.”
The decision about whether to use a front plate is made on a case-by-case basis. If you’re doing a national TV spot, you probably wouldn’t use one since, as you point out, it would look strange to some viewers. If, on the other hand, you’re shooting a regional TV spot, you would follow the local custom.
In a print piece, unlike in broadcast, you can only show a portion of the vehicle. If you’re showing the back end, you’d use a plate. If you’re showing the front end, you usually do not place a plate UNLESS your ad’s concept involves delivering some message via the plate’s letters. Like if you were nose-on and tight with a Pontiac and the front plate said “ZoomZoom,” or whatever.
Heh…I could forsee issues with Pontiac using Mazda’s slogan.
But it would be funny…