Why is everyone so mad at product placement

[madmonk28]

I like the show Modern Family, but they have had some episodes that were essentially half hour commercials (the Ipad episode and the one in Hawaii). When I notice it, it is done incorrectly.

[Arnold_Winkelried]

@Miller

I think you’ve got the wrong adverb there. The one you’re looking for is “sarcastically,” not “admiringly.” She’s not impressed by the watch. That’s the entire point of the scene. Vesper is laying out exactly how unimpressed she is with Bond. When Vesper says “Beautiful,” she’s not referring to the watch at all. She’s commenting on how perfectly Bond fits the stereotype she just described. All of which makes this, to me, the least egregious examples of product placement, because someone in the film is explicitly calling out someone for using the product as being a faceless, personality-free company drone, and specifically cites his use of the promoted product of evidence of his lack of character. It’s really not a great selling point for the watch, when you get right down to it.

I agree with what you’re saying, except for the last part: but I think it’s a great selling point for Omega. When many people think of expensive Swiss watches, the first word that comes to mind is Rolex. This scene is putting the idea in people’s minds that Omega is the equivalent of Rolex.

[Starving_Artist]

Okay, you guys are right. I went back and looked at the scene again and I agree that, at least as it was filmed, Bond’s watch was out of sight and there is no evidence that he moved in any way so as to make it visible. I’m still confused by the way Vesper appeared to try to look for Bond’s watch and then continued to hold her gaze watchward as she said the word ‘Beautiful’. And also by her tone, which to me sounds sincere.

But what is is what is, and what is is that my interpretation of the scene can’t be supported by the evidence. Thus, I happily withdraw both my criticism of this scene and my claim that it constitutes bad product placement. (And I say ‘happily’ because I can now watch this movie without being put off by that scene.)

So, thanks for the correction.

[Driver8]

@Superhal

I think “getting permission” means “please don’t sue me if I use your product in my movie.”

What grounds would they have for suing if their product was used in the movie without permission? I don’t think this is a legal issue, although I understand much of the time they don’t want to tread on company toes to avoid issues later (what if Coke is prominent in a show such that Pepsi thinks twice about paying for spots in the ad breaks, etc).

[Max_Torque]

@Driver8

What grounds would they have for suing if their product was used in the movie without permission? I don’t think this is a legal issue, although I understand much of the time they don’t want to tread on company toes to avoid issues later (what if Coke is prominent in a show such that Pepsi thinks twice about paying for spots in the ad breaks, etc).

Usually, it’s about image. Coke, for example, denied permission to use their logo in the film Grease, because they didn’t want the Coke brand to be associated with a movie they considered “raunchy”. The film was already finished by the time anyone thought to ask Coke about it, though, so they couldn’t reshoot the scenes without spending a mint. Instead, they decided to go back and use some rather clumsy pre-CGI techniques to blur out the Coke logos. Cite.

[phreesh]

Firmly in the ‘I don’t care’ camp. People use products. People mention products. This happens in real life. This can be taken to annoying extremes, but 90% of the time, I find it entirely appropriate.

I also find it amusing where people see product placement deals where there are none. I’m pretty sure Apple doesn’t sign very many endorsement deals. Production designers like how Macs look. They probably use one at work. That’s just what they think when they think ‘computer’.

[digs]

@Uosdwis_R.Dewoh

Alias, the tv show, had a very blatant case of product placement. The hero (Sidney) is driving a Ford Focus and chased by bad guys. Suddenly, in the middle of this intese chase, Sidney’s radio contact mentions how he’s looking to buy a new car and ask if the Ford’s good. Sidneys says the car’s great.

Was this after the weekly zoom-in on the ford focus logo on the back of the car?

[Unintentionally_Blank]

@kombatminipig

On of the funniest examples I remember if from the Stallone flick Demolition Man, where a long scene centers around the fact that Taco Bell is the only remaining restaurant available, due to having won the “Franchise Wars”.

Problem is that Taco Bell aren’t established outside of North America, so here in Europe all the signs have been (poorly) edited to Pizza Hut instead, as has all the dialogue been (laughably) dubbed over.

Which is funny because, ironically, nearly all restaurants are Pepsi/KFC/PizzaHut/A&W/Long John Silvers/Taco Bell

A lot of times product is greeked because a large corporation with a large legal staff may take exception to the way their trademark appears in your body of work. Kinda stupid, but there ya go.