Product Placement and the Movie “Elysium”; or, “Maybe That’s a Little TOO Exclusive” Yes, product placement is simultaneously becoming more ubiquitous and more subtle (or not) — woven into the very narrative of today’s movies and TV shows. And yes, Mercedes-Benz has spent decades assiduously cultivating an air of luxury and exclusivity for its brand. But I doubt...Read More
Would That Be Product Un-Placement? It’s disconcerting enough to see the (all too) realistic depiction of social breakdown, martial law, etc. that follow in the wake of a nightmarish global health epidemic. However, when the one of the cities so portrayed is Minneapolis . . . it’s almost literally a little too close to home. Story...Read More
Not So Subtle Product Service Placement One of the unquestioned highlights of this year’s Thanksgiving — at least for my family — was seeing Dorsey & Whitney’s exquisite production of The Wizard of Oz at the Minneapolis Children’s Theatre. Or was that The Children’s Theater’s production of The Wizard of Oz? Actually, I thought The...Read More
Is That Like a “Target Penguin?” I’d heard of “Emperor” penguins and “King” penguins, but until recently, I’d never heard of “3M penguins.” Apparently, the Minnesota Zoo’s new exhibit is titled “3M Penguins of the African Coast.” Good timing for Morgan Spurlock’s new documentary, “Pom Wonderful: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold,” a satire on corporate product placement (Spurlock’s last effort was...Read More
The (Pen)ultimate in Product Placement Let me be the first one to recognize — and applaud — innovative marketing (“The Brilliance of Redbox”). I’m just not sure that “Cambria Style” qualifies. In essence, the magazine, put out by the makers of the counter top material, flips the usual ratio of proprietary content to commercial advertising...Read More
