51 replies to this topic

[Quantumofsolace007]

http://www.theaustra...o-1226047962752



Sigh. I'm not exactly thrilled by this by it could be worse.

[The Shark]

ONE-THIRD of the budget for the next James Bond film is to come from brands that will appear on screen, making it the biggest product-placement bonanza in cinema history.

Here we go again.

[iBond]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/more-than-a-word-from-007s-sponsors/story-e6frg6so-1226047962752



Sigh. I'm not exactly thrilled by this by it could be worse.

I'm honestly not surprised.

[Matt_13]

This should be good.

[Chief of SIS]

There is something to be said for subtle advertising. I don't remember 'Minority Report' being chalk full of product placement so I mean it can be done. I agree that the amount desired is ludicrous. One thing that should never happen is product placement edging its way into character dialogue or character development. TV shows are getting bad at that. I watched an episode of 'Bones' last week and it was like watching an extra 30 second commercial when they were talking about how cool the parallel parking feature on the Toyota Prius feature was. I almost puked. I am actually okay with the Omega line from Casino Royale because when I think Bond, I think Omega, not vice versa. However, if tech firms start placing their names over every Bond gadget, I just might lose it.

[sthgilyadgnivileht]

Wouldn't be surprised either if it's true. I'm sure a lot of companies will want to have some association with the film given the milestone fiftieth anniversary of the series. Things have come along way since Coke turned down product placement in GE and left it to Perrier

[The Shark]

There is something to be said for subtle advertising. I don't remember 'Minority Report' being chalk full of product placement so I mean it can be done.

Why it worked with MINORITY REPORT, was because it was part of the film's thesis. All of the virtual advertising boards, shopping malls, and flashy cars, are to show just how consumerist, disconnected, capitalist, and Godless this dystopia is.

That's a very clever subversion of movie marketing. Unlike many, Spielberg as a director knows just how to work within the system - without too many compromises.

[TheREAL008]

In all honesty, 1/3 isn't all that bad.

[Mr. Blofeld]

and Godless this dystopia is.

Hold on, now; what's wrong with being godless?

[The Shark]

and Godless this dystopia is.

Hold on, now; what's wrong with being godless?

Blowers, this isn't the place.

[zencat]

Hmmm...hope it's handled right.

But maybe a clue to where it will be shot. Big city with lots of opportunity of signs, etc. New York? Tokyo?

[jaguar007]

One thing I will say that QoS did better than CR, was making the product placement more subtle.

[Mr. Blofeld]

Blowers, this isn't the place.

When is, then, Snark?

[The Shark]

Blowers, this isn't the place.

When is, then, Snark?

Another thread. This about about product placement in Bond 23, and films in general. Let's not not take this on a pointless tangent.

I meant that sincerely, with no snark.

[Jim]

I suppose it demonstrates that these various corporations remain confident that sufficient people will see the film to make such investments - which is an endorsement of itself. It would be more detrimental to the existence of B23 if they weren't interested.

In his latest film, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, exploring product placement, he derides lingering close-up shots of Ericsson phones in the last two Bond films. But he has a "special place in hell" for a scene on a train in Casino Royale in which 007 talked about his Omega watch to Vesper Lynd, his love interest, played by Eva Green. "The fact you are having a conversation about a watch is ridiculous," said Spurlock.

Well, quite.

[Byron]

I suppose it demonstrates that these various corporations remain confident that sufficient people will see the film to make such investments - which is an endorsement of itself. It would be more detrimental to the existence of B23 if they weren't interested.

In his latest film, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, exploring product placement, he derides lingering close-up shots of Ericsson phones in the last two Bond films. But he has a "special place in hell" for a scene on a train in Casino Royale in which 007 talked about his Omega watch to Vesper Lynd, his love interest, played by Eva Green. "The fact you are having a conversation about a watch is ridiculous," said Spurlock.

Well, quite.

Was there a lot of product placement in the first 3 films? Don't recall much. And they did okay.

I'd rather they relied less on product placement money if the result would be a leaner, less flashy, Bond film with fewer mega-action "set pieces", closer to the source material.

[Jim]

I suppose it demonstrates that these various corporations remain confident that sufficient people will see the film to make such investments - which is an endorsement of itself. It would be more detrimental to the existence of B23 if they weren't interested.

In his latest film, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, exploring product placement, he derides lingering close-up shots of Ericsson phones in the last two Bond films. But he has a "special place in hell" for a scene on a train in Casino Royale in which 007 talked about his Omega watch to Vesper Lynd, his love interest, played by Eva Green. "The fact you are having a conversation about a watch is ridiculous," said Spurlock.

Well, quite.

Was there a lot of product placement in the first 3 films? Don't recall much. And they did okay.

I'd rather they relied less on product placement money if the result would be a leaner, less flashy, Bond film with fewer mega-action "set pieces", closer to the source material.

Don't disagree with you there, but I guess it's the contemporary business model and, presumably, prevailing censorship codes and attitudes - and how attractive the first couple of films will have been to potential advertisers before the audience was established. From memory there's quite a bit of booze referred to by label in the first couple, doubtless the odd fascinating watch here and there, Connery's golf jumper is patently Slazenger, the golf balls are named, there's a damn great Aston Martin in there - placement's there by Goldfinger at least. If not of the level "Gosh, that time piece is utterly lickable, is it a [whatever]?" "No, it's a [thingy]." "Amazing; this means I will fall in love with you for no other reason than your having a [thingy] watch, for that is what ownership of a [thingy] watch does for a man." Or however it went; one forgets. But I guess that's the difference between placing the product and smashing the viewer around the head with it.

[Dustin]

One third of the budget? Isn't that the regular ratio with big budget films these days? Frankly, I should have thought that already was the case for some time, say since TND or so.

[dinovelvet]

I've never had any problems with the product placement in the films. In fact I'd find it weird if Bond holds up his cellphone and we see a generic non-brand name like "PhoneTek". The books mentioned Bond using specific brands all the time, so you can say they're being ultra faithful to Fleming by doing things this way.

[Captain Tightpants]

Sigh. I'm not exactly thrilled by this by it could be worse.

Did you notice the product placement in QUANTUM OF SOLACE? Everyone made an uproar when it was announced that there would be "a pyramid of Coke Zero cans" in the party scene. Yet, if you watch the film, it's barely noticeable. Why? Because that product placement actually fits into the scene. If I go dowwn to a local pub and they're running a Coke Zero promotion, a pyramid of cans on the bar would not be out of place. It's something I would expect to see. Likewise in CASINO ROYALE. When Bond causes the diversion in the hotel car park, every car there is supplied by Ford. There's Jaguars and Range Rovers, and plain vanilla Fords. And yet, it looks like a normal car park because there's a whole range of shapes and sizes and models. And in the Miami Airport scene, there's a prominent heieken advert in the background ... but that's what an actual airport terminal looks like. It has those large, prominent signs everywhere you look.

Product placement isn't the evil everyone makes it out to be. When it's handled poorly - like the infamous hotel scene in DIE ANOTHER DAY when the camera pans over the boxes of the razors or the Bondeo in CASINO ROYALE - it's glaringly obvious. But when done properly, it's barely noticeable. And, like I said, it can actually contribute to a scene if advertising is put in places where you would expect advertising to be (like the airport concourse).

[Gobi-1]

So if 45 million is 1/3 the budget of Bond 23 we're looking at a possible budget of 135 million. I say that's a step in the right direction after Quantum of Solace's reported 200 million dollar budget.

[Mr. Blofeld]

Another thread. This about about product placement in Bond 23, and films in general. Let's not not take this on a pointless tangent.

I meant that sincerely, with no snark.

My apologies; I was rude, and I'm sorry.

Now, there should be a special level in smirk-Hell for Morgan Spurlock...

[Garth007]

well if 1/3 of the budget is gone for adv. I concider that a good thing makes them less for using CGI and better quality film. look at Paranormal Activity. it had like what 5 -15thousand dollar budget and look how much it made. good step in the right direction.

[jamie00007]

Didnt TND have 100% of its budget covered by product placement? Any I doubt its technically all product placement, a huge amount of it will be from tie-ins and endorsements, like QoS and Coke.

[00 Brosnan]

Can we just get some concrete info on the film itself please? Man, I'm tired of waiting. It's been so long it seems since QoS..

[Col. Sun]

So if 45 million is 1/3 the budget of Bond 23 we're looking at a possible budget of 135 million. I say that's a step in the right direction after Quantum of Solace's reported 200 million dollar budget.

The production budget might be around the $140 million mark, but then there will be the above-the-line budget which pays for lead cast, Craig, Dench etc. the director, the writers, the producers etc. And that won't be cheap - time they are done Bond 23 could easily hit $200 million again.

[SecretAgentFan]

Since I don´t have to pay for it I don´t worry. I just want a new Bond film.

[jaguar007]

Since I don´t have to pay for it I don´t worry. I just want a new Bond film.

Excellent point

[Doctor Whom]

I don’t mind product placement in a Bond film. As dinovelvet mentioned, product placement is a hallmark of the Fleming novels: Bond doesn’t use a lighter, he uses a Ronson. He doesn’t use shampoo, he uses Pinaud Elixir. He doesn’t drive a car, he drives a Bentley.
Problem is, companies paying for product placement aren’t interested in subtlety. And understandably so, since they are paying for what, in their minds, are commercials. So if you’re a filmmaker and you don’t satisfy a company that’s paid (a lot) for product placement, you’ll get sued:

• Black and Decker sued the makers of “Die Hard 2”for $150,000 in damages because the filmmakers cut a scene involving Bruce Willis using a Black and Decker drill.
• More subtly, magazine publisher Gambling Times suing the producer of a film called “Deal” alleging the product placement they paid for wasn’t “highly visible” in the film. They asked for $1,000,000 in damages.

[Napoleon Solo]

Early 007 film product placement. Dr. No had Smirnoff vodka (Bond's hotel room) and Red Stripe beer (Pus Feller's place).

It ramped up in Goldfinger: Ford cars (Tilly's Mustang, the Lincoln Continental where Mr. Solo had his "pressing engagement," Ford trucks in Goldfinger's convoy to Fort Knox, Felix's Thunderbird); Gillette razor blades (Guy Hamilton commented about Harry Saltzman coming on a set and putting Gillette products on it); Kentucky Fried Chicken (favorite fast food spot for CIA agents on the run).

Ford got even more involved with Thunderball: TWO Lincoln Continentals (pre-creditssequence and Bond's car in the Bahamas), Largo's Thunderbird, Fiona's Mustang, Count Lippe's Ford Fairlane.