Product Placement

Loud Orange Cat

Loud Orange Cat

Pro Member
indiePRO
Product Placement is to common in film nowadays, we've become somewhat immune to it (See: Total Recall).

My question about PP is this:

Is it possible to fund a small indie film's entire budget with PP cash? Is it legal (I know, I should ask a lawyer, but there goes the entire budget)?

Do you think it can be done?
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
Integration is very common in TV and the movies, but they are not going to mess with little DV movies (speaking in general). Also it can take away from your credibility as an artist.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Thanks for the enlightening answer, Indie.

I'm just brainstorming here. I have an idea for a project (NOT cat related!) that could actually make some money, but I certainly don't have the cash to throw at it.

I'm open to ideas.

...except anything Spatula has to suggest about selling myself on a street corner. I don't have enough money to pay people to go away. :D
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I funded my first short with product placement -- I got a hiking clothes manufacturer to provide all the costumes and they also gave me $6,000 -- so it is possible.

My only regret about it was I never felt the company got a good return for their investment -- so I've been wary of going down this route ever since. I've hit up companies for free props and free costumes, but never cash.

But I think if you can provide the advertiser with a good level of exposure and the product placement is integral to the film, go for it.

Oh, by the way -- it's probably worth pointing out that I worked in advertising for years before getting into film making, so I was really comfortable with the whole process of pitching the idea -- it's not an easy $ to get hold of, if you don't know what you're doing.

I also agree with Indie, if you do this wrong it can ruin the film.

Hope this helps.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Yeah you have to be careful. If people are eating Domino's Pizza in 3 of your scenes and there are Domino's billboards shown on the highway, etc., you are a sell out. It has to integrate naturally. Think of products you would ask permission to show in your film, that already appear in the script, and try to flip that into product integration instead of getting permission.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Yes, it's posable and yes it's legal. A friend of mine hiked the Appalachian trail and made a documentary. He got some products to use, but that was all. Last year he hiked the Pacific Crest trail. Since his first doc sold 4,500 units (self distributed) he not only got more gear donated, but he got some money to use and mention the gear.

But it's important to remember what product placement really is. I know I'm stating the obvious so bare with me: a company wants their product seen by a lot of people. The more people that think will see it, the more they will pay. An ad during the Super Bowl costs more than an add on a local cable station. Having James Bond use Skyy vodka will be seen by a lot of people.

If you can convince the advertisers that their product will be seen by a lot of people, they may be willing to pay you enough money to finance your movie. Or if you have an "in" like clive, you may be able to pull it off.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
While it's true that I don't want to make "The Dominos Pizza Movie", there's a few instances where minor placement is vital to the storyline. Just a handful of strategically placed brand names (without calling all attention to them) could very well make up a good chunk of the budget.

I've seen movies where PP is blatant and uncomfortable, but that's not what I had in mind. I don't want to end up like Ed Wood where investors are demanding to cast their little brother in this part or that part, but then again, I'm not George Lucas who has a tendency to break the first rule of filmmaking: Don't use your own money.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Rik nailed it, show the advertiser that their investment is going to end up with their product being seen in lots of places -- we provided a list of film international film festivals we were going to enter the film in.

The company were just getting into international sales and saw it as a good investment.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Make sure the companies know things like...Your product will be sitting on a shelf in a store next to your competitor's brand as well (like in a bar setting)...they may be less willing to give permission, but will be less pissed than if you don't tell them :)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Loud Orange Cat said:
...except anything Spatula has to suggest about selling myself on a street corner. I don't have enough money to pay people to go away. :D
Click to expand...

Street corner? PLEASE. Thanks to Al Gore's internet, you don't have to stand out in the cold. Here's what you do:

Create a myspace page and take pictures of yourself with a disposable camera in the bathroom mirror. Make sure you wear a tight white shirt and pull your jeans down slightly with your left thumb. Call the account "mr_sexxor" and begin adding friends like never before. Then, tell evryone in a bulletin that you've made a porn, and you're selling it for $9.99. Once you have thier money, send them the Bad Cat series, inserting random kitty porn every 2.5 seconds. Remember, you didn't specify it was human porn, so they can't complain. Once you've ripped everyone off, transfer the money to an offshore account to avoid the impending IRS and buy a volcano. Then, sell volcano insurance to the natives for a share in their rice paddies. Sell the rice to local supermarkets at reduced prices and then hire an old crippled woman to purchase the rice and choke on it. When she sues the grocery store, detonate your volcano to destroy the evidence of your rice paddies, and use the profit from your rice ventures/volcano insurance to hire a lawyer for the old woman. Now this is imperitive. When you win the lawsuit, split the money with the old woman, then sue her for the other half, claiming she took discriminating photos of you and edited kitty porn into your Bad Cat series, selling it through myspace, pretending to be you. If she denies it, you may have to put her into a coma. I suggest hitting her at the base of the skull with a salami.

Then, make the movie you want to make, and send free copies to all the kitty-porn buyers. Hopefully the story alone will be enough publicity to go viral.

Street corners? Pah. That's so 1980's.

Was that too wierd? I'm really tired. That's the best I could do, sadly. :no:
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I have a friend who makes outdoor HOW-TO videos and so far, he's been able to get REI to finance every one. Mountain climbing, rock climbing, white water rafting, etc.

They not only financed the videos but geared him up with everything he needed. After the the second video, he had to start showing and discussing specific pieces of gear.

The good news is that he's doing what he loves... Always outdoors... Always shooting video. Getting paid.

filmy
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I think the most important thing written in thie thread is this...

directorik said:
If you can convince the advertisers that their product will be seen by a lot of people...
Click to expand...

They're all about the money. If you can convince them it's worth there money, then it can be done.

Spatula said:
Create a myspace page and take pictures of yourself with a disposable camera in the bathroom mirror. Make sure you wear a tight white shirt and pull your jeans down slightly with your left thumb. Call the account "mr_sexxor" and begin adding friends like never before. Then, tell evryone in a bulletin that you've made a porn, and you're selling it for $9.99. Once you have thier money, send them the Bad Cat series, inserting random kitty porn every 2.5 seconds. Remember, you didn't specify it was human porn, so they can't complain. Once you've ripped everyone off, transfer the money to an offshore account to avoid the impending IRS and buy a volcano. Then, sell volcano insurance to the natives for a share in their rice paddies. Sell the rice to local supermarkets at reduced prices and then hire an old crippled woman to purchase the rice and choke on it. When she sues the grocery store, detonate your volcano to destroy the evidence of your rice paddies, and use the profit from your rice ventures/volcano insurance to hire a lawyer for the old woman. Now this is imperitive. When you win the lawsuit, split the money with the old woman, then sue her for the other half, claiming she took discriminating photos of you and edited kitty porn into your Bad Cat series, selling it through myspace, pretending to be you. If she denies it, you may have to put her into a coma. I suggest hitting her at the base of the skull with a salami.
Click to expand...

SPAM WARNING!

Don't try this!!! I got this same email last year, it did not work!!! The only way to put an old lady in a coma is to feed her lima beans laced with salt.

Poke
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0 Downvote
I got Nikon to sign off on letting me use their cameras in my short film and in all promotions. This is a film about photographers - who are neurotically loyal to their brand of choice. Nikon is getting a LOT of screen time and one photog even touts the beneits of his Nikon D2H. I didn't get any $$ from Nikon, though. Now I'm wondering if I could get some back-end $$ since the film is turning out to be pretty nice (fingers crossed - still in post - and that's a whole 'nother story). Anyone have any thoughts on if it would be possible to get some funds from Nikon after the fact?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top