It's every corporate sponsor's nightmare: A Hollywood star tarnishes the brand in a speech at an event underwritten by the sponsor. At the Film Independent Spirit Awards, actor Paul Thomas Anderson ripped American Airlines while accepting an honor from the podium. American Airlines is a Spirit Awards sponsor. "Don't fly American Airlines, man," Anderson said while accepting … [Read more...] about Sponsor’s Nightmare: Star Publicly Trashes Brand
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Official Champagne for Oscars Changes Again
The Academy Awards again changed champagne sponsorship as Piper-Heidsieck takes the designation for three years of Oscars, after the bubbly brand held it in 1991-92 and 1999. The French company is known for its brut champagnes. “After a few years with Moët & Chandon, in 2013 and 2014, Champagne Thiénot ushered ‘Argo’ and ‘12 Years a Slave’ into the American canon,” says … [Read more...] about Official Champagne for Oscars Changes Again
Vodka Brand Nabs 007 Film Tie-in
The next James Bond spy adventure film “Spectre” landed a product placement deal with Belvedere vodka. It’s a consumer-product category made famous with the “shaken, not stirred” instruction from the super-cool British movie spy dating back to the 1960s. Sony Pictures will release “Spectre” domestically Nov. 6, 2015. Smirnoff was the prior vodka placement, though other … [Read more...] about Vodka Brand Nabs 007 Film Tie-in
Sponsors Bankroll Creature Comforts at Fests
Here’s a way to make the tough slog of a film festival more bearable. A press release for the upcoming fifth anniversary of the Indie Lounge at the Sundance film festival Jan. 22-25, 2015 touts the amenities at this sanctuary from the hustle and bustle. “Guests are greeted at the front entrance by an Indie Lounge Ambassador who gives a brief tour of their numerous … [Read more...] about Sponsors Bankroll Creature Comforts at Fests
Huckster Antics Dull Stars
It's unimaginable that Jimmy Stewart, Kirk Douglas or John Wayne would have endorsed a perfume at the height of their careers. But it's a new era where movie stars routinely are pitchmen/women for wrist watches (Leonardo DiCaprio for the Tag Heuer brand), cars (Laurence Fishburne for Kia) and fashion (Nicole Kidman for designer Jimmy Choo). And don't forget the stinky … [Read more...] about Huckster Antics Dull Stars
Product Placement Beef for ‘Transformers’ in China
A hotel chain in China is suing two product placement brokers claiming foul over a deal with Paramount Pictures release “Transformers: Age of Extinction.” The sci-fi movie will premiere China and in the U.S./Canada June 27. The big-budget fourth installment of the “Transformers” series is rated PG-13 in the U.S. Beijing Pangu Investment Co., which owns a dragon-shaped … [Read more...] about Product Placement Beef for ‘Transformers’ in China
Regal Bundles VOD with ‘Transformers’
Regal Cinemas is offering two digital download-to-own movies to own for an extra $15 for patrons to “Transformers: Age of Extinction” at its theaters. What is the fourth “Transformers” sci-fi yarn will premiere June 24 via Paramount Pictures (the $15 VOD offer ends July 10). “For only $15 more (on top of a regular cinema ticket), guests get a Super Ticket including two … [Read more...] about Regal Bundles VOD with ‘Transformers’
Film Apps For ‘Spidey,’ ‘Other Woman’
Food marketer Kellogg’s and a cyberspace fashion commerce company are mounting separate movie apps. Kellogg’s offers a free casual video game for mobile devices tied to “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” and fashionista enabler StylePic links to “The Other Woman.” Apps are applications, which are shortcuts to websites that size video and maximize functionality on mobile devices … [Read more...] about Film Apps For ‘Spidey,’ ‘Other Woman’
Fishburne Projects ‘Matrix’ in Kia Commercial
Viewers of Kia car commercials see presenter Laurence Fishburne projecting his character in “The Matrix” movies as he appears in a leather trench coat and sun glasses. But surprisingly, Kia did not license the “Matrix” character, though it did pay Fishburne to be presenter, says the carmaker. A Variety story by Marc Graser notes Kia breaks with the normal approach of car … [Read more...] about Fishburne Projects ‘Matrix’ in Kia Commercial
Tribeca Lands Bank Sponsor, Splits Financial
Boston-based Santander Bank kicks off its first-time sponsorship of the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City with a sweepstakes. The “official bank” of the fest, Santander offers prizes of tickets to a private screening and a private reception attended by Robert De Niro. “The Festival attracts hundreds of thousands of people each year who patronize local businesses and … [Read more...] about Tribeca Lands Bank Sponsor, Splits Financial