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From: bytebug@pertec.UUCP (roger long)
Newsgroups: net.movies
Subject: Re: ads in movies
Message-ID: <201@pertec.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 31-Aug-84 03:07:43 EDT
Article-I.D.: pertec.201
Posted: Fri Aug 31 03:07:43 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 3-Sep-84 09:33:15 EDT
References: <11600002@hpfcnml.uucp> <395@vortex.UUCP>
Organization: Pertec Computer Corp., Irvine, CA
Lines: 41

> From: lauren@vortex.UUCP (Lauren Weinstein)
> 
> You bet it's paid advertising, BUT it isn't clear to me that there's
> anything wrong with it.  The whole idea in most film making is
> to lend an air of authenticity to the situations.  When you go out
> normally you see thousands of brand names all around you.  The alternative
> to using real brand names in films is to have all sorts of silly
> generic names that just call attention to themselves and can ruin
> the "feel" of the film.  Our real world is full of brand names, so
> a "realistic" movie should also use brand names if it doesn't want
> to appear silly.  Of course, if a film starts showing brand names
> in "unnatural" situations, things have gone a bit overboard.

I agree that it lends an air of authenticity to the movies, but something
that hasn't been brought up yet is a tie-in with the past:  some time 
back, didn't theatre's get in trouble for inserting still frames of
their refreshment products into a film to drum up business at the
concession stand?  (I believe these were referred to as subliminal
cuts.)

How different is what's being done now?  They aren't just putting
the products into the movie to make it look more authentic.  They
are making it so obvious that how can you help but focus on it,
which distracts you, and should be something that the producer of
a film would *not* be interested in.  And in the unobtrusive
ads, you still have the subliminal messages that were outlawed
in the past.  The hero is seen drinking a Coke, or a Coors, etc.
If the movie is any good, you won't notice the Coke except in
your subconcious.  Perhaps the problem is that you go to bad
movies. :-)

I could go on, but won't.  A movie has the power to shape your
thoughts far beyond the realm of paid advertising.  Films like
China Syndrome, Silkwood, or Missing present issues that need to
be put before the public.  I guess the bottom line is "Let the
buyer (movie-goer) beware."

-- 
	roger long
	pertec computer corp
	{ucbvax!unisoft | scgvaxd | trwrb | felix}!pertec!bytebug