Morgan Spurlock (Supersize Me), gadfly of the American commercial scene, takes on product placement as an only slightly hidden force ($) in film and video entertainment by producing a documentary about product placement paid for entirely by product placement. He films the process entirely: the telephone wheedling, the demo presentations and negotiations, and only in the very last image does he reveal that he did not permit the requested "final cut"
authority by the major sponsor.
What is most revealing is the degree of what I would term claim of authority on marketing (which I personally regard as only one step away from alchemy and bald hustling itself) which the numerous brand consultants assert they have. The lawyers on the other hand emerge as the power players in the game of swaying consumers to part with their funds.
Quick & Dirty: You must know this stuff before you touch your money. Funny and illuminating, even poor Morgan frights that he's being taken in by forces unleashed and Ralph Nader gets a pair of free shoes. Is no one beyond reach?
c. J.S.Manista, 2015
No comments:
Post a Comment