Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by jamesgarvin (A) on June 17, 2005 at 10:38:21

In Reply to: Are you kidding me? posted by PdL on June 17, 2005 at 08:35:55:

I think you are missing my point. Your original post simply stated that we should get ready for more product placement, and used Tevo as an example, which, I believe, applied to television, and to which, I inferred, you objected. The original post referred to product placement/commercials in films. My response to your post was simply that I find it acceptable for television, and do not find it acceptable for films. I have no problem with product placement in a television show, because those advertisers are responsible for me being able to view the content, free. If they pay for the product, they should be entitled to some quid pro quo.

On the other hand, I have strong objections to product placement in, and very strong objections to commercials before films, for the reason that I, with my ticket price, am paying for the product, and am therefore responsible for the content's production. I did not mean to imply that I find product placement acceptable for films. Quite the contrary.

To answer your questions: (1) What do you do about the 30+ minutes of product ads and trailers that proceed the showing of a movie in a theater? (2) How do you avoid be subjected to those - do you time your arrival to miss them? Nothing. With a two year old, I do not go to see movies. Money talks. Stop going to see films, and let the theaters and studios know the reason you are not going to see films. Money talks. If enough people complain and vote with their wallets, and if the advertisements loose more revenue than they generate, the studios will stop the practice.

(3) And what do you do when you notice product placement in a movie, either in the theater or on dvd? Not much. Except complain here. And not go. (4) How do you avoid be subjected to that advertising? Do you demand your money back? No. I generally figure 10 minutes for commercials, unless I know the film will be heavily attended, and seating will be a premium.

The solution is to write your local state representative. Several states have passed laws requiring a theater to publish the time the actual movie starts.