Product placement

I’m sure most, if not all, of you have seen the Transformers movie last year. I’m sure we all oooo-ed and ahhhh-ed at all the glorious fighting and the pretty vehicles being paraded around. I’m sure most of us stared in awe as Bumblebee turned in from a run down late 60′s Chevrolet Camaro into the brand spanking new 2008 incarnation. Or when we laughed at the Mountain Dew drinks machine or an Xbox 360 transforming.

These are all just small (but big money) examples of product placement in visible media. General Motors Corporation paid 3 million US dollars for the honour of having just some of their vehicles in the Transformer’s movie.

 

Out of the six motor vehicles depicted in the above picture, four are GMC vehicles.

This is by no means anything new. This concept of product placement has been around since the film was introduced. Many corporations understand that being visible in the popular media would bring their brands far and wide. Just being seen or mentioned can bring much benefits to their brand.

Cars have always featured in James Bond movies as the British superspy’s personal ride, ever since the Aston Martin DB5 made it’s appearance in Goldfinger. The Aston Martin line of cars are so important to the Bond franchise that when the producers faced a huge backlash when they featured Bond driving BMW vehicles in Goldeneye, Die Another Day and Tommorrow Never Dies. Ironically, Goldeneye’s placement of the BMW Z3 was voted product placement of the year by several publications. Pretty impressive for a car that did not do Bond-like in the movie. I do agree with the award though. Up to this day, I do lust after a Z3 in the same green Bond had his in. Also starting with Goldeneye began the endorsement of Omega watches. Ford, then owner of Aston Martin, also made use of its connection with Aston Martin to feature it’s upcoming Ford Mondeo in Casino Royale.

Aston Martin DB5

 BMW Z3

Aston Martin DBS

Ford Mondeo

Omega Seamaster

This isn’t just limited to the Western world. In Japan, it is quite the norm. Last year, in the anime Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, one character, C.C. was seen chomping down on pizza. But this wasn’t just any normal pizza. THIS WAS PIZZA HUT PIZZA! PIZZA HUT SUPPORTS THE REBELLION. In fact, in many outdoor scenes, signs and billboards of Pizza Hut logos could be seen.

Delicious pizza is delicious.

Oh gawd, I want a Cheese-kun as well.