A corporate sponsor at the Sundance Film Festival created content that unspools in a sidebar of the fest, in a bid to escape the NASCAR-like clutter of overt promotions, notes a Variety story. The Captain Morgan brand of rum, which is part of the Diageo spirits conglomerate, received choice placement for its 30-minute documentary showing at Sundance titled “The Unsinkable … [Read more...] about Sundance Sponsor Nabs Fest Screening
product placement
Mercedes Drives Palm Springs Fest Sponsorship
Mercedes Benz embraces movie glitz and star talent in a sponsorship of the gala awards ceremony of the 24th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival. The German car maker is connected to a rare film festival that is part of the Oscar awards season calendar because of its early January date (most other fests are outside awards season). Mercedes also trots out celebrity … [Read more...] about Mercedes Drives Palm Springs Fest Sponsorship
IWC Wristwatch Stars in ‘Bourne’
It’s no accident that Jeremy Renner is wearing a pricey IWC wristwatch in “The Bourne Legacy.” The Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen issued a press release saying the watch worn by the movie’s star is product placement in a “partnership” agreement with Universal Pictures, which distributed the PG-13 spy thriller movie. “IWC has a longstanding passion for filmmaking,” says … [Read more...] about IWC Wristwatch Stars in ‘Bourne’
Fat-cats Gorge on Sundance Glitz
The Sundance Film Festival loves to dish out an ecological “green” sensibility and project a we’re-with-the-people face. So it’s a bit of a paradox that outfits catering to the “one percenters”—portrayed as filthy exploiters indie films that are Sundance staples—enthusiastically latch on to the film event. They are in evidence as both official sponsors and indirectly as … [Read more...] about Fat-cats Gorge on Sundance Glitz
Product-placement Movie Piles On Satire
Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock’s “The Greatest Movie Ever Sold” is getting a lot of publicity heat and was well received at the Sundance Film Festival in January, but the premise kind of leaves me cold. I also will be interested to see if box office is strong or weak for a film that playfully delves into the behind-the-scenes world of placement of brand name products in films. … [Read more...] about Product-placement Movie Piles On Satire
Maserati Tours Film-TV Screens
Maserati cars are getting screen time in films and TV shows by being quick to say yes when Hollywood calls. The high-end Italian car maker—which is known for sports car but also makes a nifty sedan—handles Hollywood contacts directly. It resume placements after dropping an outside product placement agency as a middleman in 2008, says a “Hollywood Reporter” article by Daniel … [Read more...] about Maserati Tours Film-TV Screens
Audi Reigns in Car Placements
German carmaker Audi is “the” major force in produce placement in Hollywood among luxury brands with gambits ranging from have Audis prominent in movies like “Iron Man” to a fleet of Audis transporting attendees to film events that are seen in press coverage. Says a “Variety” article by Marc Graser, “In fact, Audi has spent the past three years essentially taking over … [Read more...] about Audi Reigns in Car Placements
LG Phone Looks Smart in ‘Iron Man 2’
LG Electronics shows off a smart phone of the future in “Iron Man 2.” Robert Downey Jr. whips out his pesonal phone in the film that impressively projects data and navigation controls on a “desktop” floating on thin air! “Throughout the movie, the device morphs according to situation and function, enabling (character Tony) Stark (Downey) to control his TV, lock his home … [Read more...] about LG Phone Looks Smart in ‘Iron Man 2’
Cigarette Tussle Over ‘Avatar’
Cigarette smoking is increasingly drawing ire from activists who want an R-rating slapped on any film with characters puffing as a child protection measure. A “New York Times” article by A.O. Scott said smoking seems to be the enduring controversy from 20th Century Fox’s “Avatar”—the blockbuster in which viewers claim to see all kinds of other messages. In the PG-13 film, … [Read more...] about Cigarette Tussle Over ‘Avatar’
Vodka Brand Bags Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis extends his celebrity endorser deal with Sobieski vodka in exchange for a 3.3% stake in its owner, struggling spirits outfit Belvedere SA of France, and that stake is worth about $4 mil., according to a “Wall Street Journal” article. A non-cash compensation deal is unusual way to bag a famous presenter, though not completely unprecedented as stars get cars, … [Read more...] about Vodka Brand Bags Bruce Willis