Forthcoming and Desired SeV Product Placements

[SpencerAR]

Hi all:

I've been wondering - since it's appearance in the movie "Sahara", where else would you like to see SeV products in media (primarily, but not only, television and movies)?

For me, the following items that come to mind are:

1) The television "Burn Notice" on USA Network (see: http://www.usanetwork.com/series/burnnotice/). The main character Michael Westen (played by Jeffrey Donovan) is an ex-spy who has to track down what person or persons got him "burned" as a spy. A supporting character, played by fan-favorite actor Bruce Campbell, is an ex-Navy SEAL. I see lots of potential with this one, as the main character quite often wears a sports coat.

2) Although it may be too late for it, the new James Bond movie "Quantum of Solace" might work (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_of_solace). Heck, just about any Bond film will do for Bond to sport the latest fashion.

3) Any chance of a "National Treasure" III?

4) The new CBS TV show "Flashpoint" is about a SWAT team. It, along with long-running CBS shows "NCIS" and "CSI: [insert name here]" could also work.

Thoughts?

Spencer

[SeV_EDC]

Hi Spencer,

My background before working with SeV was actually in product placement aka branded entertainment, so this is something we've given thought to. The good part about SeV for placement is that the products are COOL and that opens a lot of doors... it's an easier sell to a Producer (who is now calling the PP shots, unlike 3 years ago) than something like dish soap unless you have $500K to spend on 3 seconds of background placement.

The negative part about PP for SeV is that clothing placements basically have zero on-screen value... all of their value comes from PR surrounding "As Seen On..." Even James Bond's Brioni suits in Casino Royale were made valuable by the ad campaign surrounding it much more than any on-screen identification. The other issue (and this is true with Sahara, too) is that our clothes have special features, and it's most valuable for those features to be properly utilized vs. just being used as wardrobe items. SeV was used on HBO's "The Wire," but the special SeV-ness of the products still didn't come across. But I digress....

I saw the pilot for Burn Notice (who doesn't love Bruce Campbell?) and that could be an interesting fit. Pretty much any special/secret agent/spy property could work, and a cable show is definitely more reachable than network TV. The Flashpoint ads look really good, and with the continued success of NCIS and The Unit to a degree, this category of tactical action drama seems to be on the rise (at least in filling the reality show gaps). The main concern with PP on network TV is the degree of control over brands in the production by the powers that be.

Since the 1980s, the whole PP industry was based on relationships between PP agencies and set designers, decorators, props-masters and wardrobe masters. The agencies provided free 'stuff' to be used on the sets (and typically lots of extras....) and this helped keep the production in budget b/c they didn't need to purchase set dressing. About 6 years ago that started to change as Tivo commercial skipping came around, internet video started to take a chunk out of TV viewers, and even the writers' strike contributed to a scramble to make up lost revenue with in-content advertising. So the days of sending a box of stuff to the set in exchange for exposure are pretty much gone... everything is a financial transaction, and typically on a big scale. Ironically, it's sometimes easier to get into films b/c the Director has more control over what he likes in his work, and can creatively override what would typically require tons of $$$ from the brand. For example, in the Matrix sequels, the $10M minimum PP entry fee was waived for the sunglass maker who provided all the shades... just because the Director really liked the look of their products.

Again I digress...

1) Burn Notice - possibly... that's an interesting idea that I'll look into.
2) Bond - too late for QoS, but we did coincidentally name the new jacket from SeV the Quantum Jacket. Scott also shot a James Bond spoof that will be posted in a couple weeks. I'm a Bond fan (have actually lectured on product placement in Bond at Hofstra U. in NY) but we'll need to stay on the periphery of that one. Oh, and drool at the Aston Martin DBS (again).
3) National Treasure III - that's worth looking into. I think they would appreciate the Explorer Jacket... and we can hide some secret Masonic symbols in the pockets for them!
4) Flashpoint - network TV is probably out of our range, but conceptually the show works for us as long as they get into some undercover ops.

As I mentioned in another post, it's too bad Nikita is not still on the air... that would be a perfect fit. Many of the developers of that show (Jon Cassar, Robert Cochran, Joel Surnow, Michael Loceff, etc.) created 24.

I'm having a call next week with the producers of an online micro-series that I would describe as "X-files meets 24 on a web-production budget." We're going to discuss some potential PP, and I'll keep the board posted on progress. Web placements are really the best way to go now for pro-productions/semi-pro productions (user generated content - other than reviews - can get dicey for brands). We've also considered developing our own online scripted show.......

Whatcha think?

-SeV_EDC

[Scott E. Jordan]

Hi Spencer,

Thanks so much for all the great ideas!

Scott

[livesuperman]

Keep them coming Spencer.

[SpencerAR]

Another idea I just had...

The sitcom "The Big Bang Theory" (http://www.cbs.com/primetime/big_bang_theory/) might actually serve as a useful demo platform for the features of the eVest product line in a humorous way. In the past, the show has given an unexpected amount of airtime to World of Warcraft, Talisman, electrical and electronic device control via internet, buying things on eBay and other (and I use this phrase loosely) "Geek-like" things.

An opening sequence in a 2nd season episode of "The Big Bang Theory" could have the lead characters of Sheldon and Leonard wiring a new eVest that Sheldon bought with the characters of Penny and Wolowitz looking on. Heck, I'd even be willing to try to script some of the opening dialog for kicks. :)

Clearly, I watch too much television. ;)

Spencer

[livesuperman]

I like that idea. This is my kind of show, I have to start watching this.

[SeV_EDC]

I'm not familiar with that show but I'll check it out - sounds pretty good!

[Scott E. Jordan]

I blogged about using comedians and magicians for product placement but can't seem to find the post. I need to use better tags since video is not searchable. The icons above when doing replies are really hard to read; i wonder if we should use a lighter background here? thoughts/

[SeV_EDC]

I blogged about using comedians and magicians for product placement but can't seem to find the post. I need to use better tags since video is not searchable. The icons above when doing replies are really hard to read; i wonder if we should use a lighter background here? thoughts/

They are hard to read, but the color change for the background of that area is tied to the background color of other areas of the forum (sort of an includes).

Jim - if you read this, do you have any ideas on the buttons above the reply box? I was unsuccessful in getting their background colors to adjust properly.

[Tyrus]

The pefect show for your product placement is a new comedy called CHUCK.

"The O.C. creator Josh Schwartz and director McG ( We Are Marshall ) bring us Chuck , a new series laced with humor about young twenty-something spies. Zachary Levi ( Less Than Perfect ) plays Chuck Bartowski, a nerdy computer tech who has a database of government secrets downloaded into his brain. Chuck soon finds himself recruited by John Casey (Adam Baldwin), a veteran NSA Agent"

Its due back on the air early 2009 or late 2008. The main agents are constantly having to explain the use of this or that object to the main character Chuck.. A PP shot of the SEV Jacket would be perfect.. any how take a few moments to check the show out online and you may find it the perfect fit.

Cheers.

[Scott E. Jordan]

Thanks so much!

Scott

[SpencerAR]

Tyrus,

I am embarassed to say that I should have thought of "Chuck"!

Great suggestion - it is almost literally a combination of the humor aspects of "Big Bang Theory" and the spy aspects of "Burn Notice". And, you are definitely correct that a product placement/explanation of any eVest product would just fit right into the show.

I tip my eVest hat to you ;)

SpencerAR


The pefect show for your product placement is a new comedy called CHUCK.

"The O.C. creator Josh Schwartz and director McG ( We Are Marshall ) bring us Chuck , a new series laced with humor about young twenty-something spies. Zachary Levi ( Less Than Perfect ) plays Chuck Bartowski, a nerdy computer tech who has a database of government secrets downloaded into his brain. Chuck soon finds himself recruited by John Casey (Adam Baldwin), a veteran NSA Agent"

Its due back on the air early 2009 or late 2008. The main agents are constantly having to explain the use of this or that object to the main character Chuck.. A PP shot of the SEV Jacket would be perfect.. any how take a few moments to check the show out online and you may find it the perfect fit.

Cheers.

[able-x]

YES, Chuck is awesome, and has been renewed for a second season! :)

[SpencerAR]

Another cable TV show that might work for the SeV is "Eureka" on the SciFi network. Eureka is a fictional town where a lot of "bright minds" work on strange things with unintended consequences.

The third season of the show was kicked off with an in-show campaign of commercial product placements (Degree antiperspirant has invested in commercials for and involving the fictional town...and there have been references within the show to Degree, along with dialog about the merging of superscience and commerce...).

Obviously, the antiperspirant company has a much larger budget to play with...but the door has been opened. Additionally, I can just as easily see the SeV used for humor value as well as for tactical window dressing (and product demonstrations) on Eureka security forces.

Spencer

[Scott E. Jordan]

Thanks so much for all these fantastic ideas. I really appreciate them all. I wonder if I could do some sort of contest to see if you could actually help me get on these shows, where all you would need to do is reach out to these shows and if you got one of my products on I would give you a bunch of SeV products. I have found that it is VERY hard to get in the door at these places.

Thoughts?

Scott

[livesuperman]

When I did Extra work, for example Tommy Boy or Prom Night 3, the casting agent would tell us what colors to wear on set but we could wear what ever we want. So find out who are their best actors or extras that get a lot of work and pay them to wear your clothes every time they go out on a shoot.

[Scott E. Jordan]

done....

Not worth tracking down people to do that. Let's think of easy ideas to implement..

:_)


Scott

[Scott E. Jordan]

my thoughts are here (http://www.tokbox.com/vm/a7d5xs7idkvl)

[SpencerAR]

http://scottevest.blogspot.com/2008/10/chuck-nbc.html

Congratulations, Scott! I hope it yields much positive success. :)

I also think you should find out if any of the SeV'ers here had anything to do with it (alas, I did not). I recall there being a discussion of free merchandise? ;)

One show down, the rest of TV-land to go!

Spencer