Autoblog

REPORT: BMW using money saved from F1 pullout for more product placement

Noah Joseph — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:28:00 EST

Piece Brosnan with the BMW Z8 in The World is Not Enough

You wouldn't know it if you weren't a serious film buff or marketing exec, but Propaganda GEM is responsible for a big share of the products you see placed in films. The entertainment marketing agency represents such brands as Audi, Lamborghini, Nokia, Panasonic, Bang & Olufsen and Casio, to name just a few. And it has a new client: the BMW Group.

Following such films as I, Robot and Iron Man, Propaganda has helped Audi significantly increase its profile in Hollywood. But the agency will be terminating its 13-year relationship with Audi (and, we'd expect, Lambo along with them) in order to take on BMW (together with Mini, Rolls-Royce and BMW motorcycles), spearheading a new marketing initiative for the Bavarian automaker.

Having temporarily stolen the James Bond spotlight from Aston Martin and Lotus in the mid-Nineties and launched The Hire film short series in 2001, BMW is no stranger to product placement, but the tie-in with Propaganda promises to take things to the next level. Apparently Munich's marketing budget has increased recently, thanks in large part to the termination of the company's Formula One program this year. BMW's sponsorship of the 2012 Olympic Games in London will only be the tip of the proverbial iceberg, as we can expect to see its products and those of its subsidiaries in more movies, television shows, music videos and video games in the near future. Thanks for the tip, Adam!

[Source: Variety]

REPORT: BMW using money saved from F1 pullout for more product placement originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Volvo goes after tween vampire demographic with New Moon promotion

Chris Shunk — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Crossover, Volvo

Click above to watch the video after the jump

Paying for product placement for big-screen movies can be a pretty risky business. If the movie is a flop, doing so could be a big-time waste of ad dollars that could have been better spent elsewhere. But if the movie turns out to be a global blockbuster, it can look like a very wise move, indeed. Volvo struck such gold with the first Twilight movie, as millions of teens saw Edward Cullen (played by Robert Pattinson) prancing around town in his silver C30. And the safety-minded Swedish automaker is looking for lightning to strike twice by getting its products noticed in Twilight sequel New Moon.

Cullen is a little older and a bit wiser in the sequel, so he appears to be stepping up from the C30 to the family-friendly XC60, although both models feature in the film. If you're thinking a crossover isn't exactly cool for the typical 17 year-old, try to remember that Cullen is over 100 in human years. Volvo's newest crossover makes perfect sense given the fact that it's the Swedish automaker's newest and freshest product, but we're having a bit of trouble trying to understand pushing a Volvo crossover in a vampire flick that gears towards teenage movie-goers.

Hit the jump to watch the 1:30 commercial, which doesn't begin until about 10 seconds into the YouTube clip. Volvo wants you to know that its vehicles give you the power to stand up for you what you believe in while also keeping what you believe in safe. If you're not into people haulers from Volvo, there are also plenty of dialog-free scenes from New Moon.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Volvo XC60

[Source: Volvo via YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Volvo goes after tween vampire demographic with New Moon promotion

VIDEO: Volvo goes after tween vampire demographic with New Moon promotion originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Forthcoming Mercedes-Benz E-Class convertible caught on set of Sex and the City 2

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Mercedes-Benz, Celebrities, Luxury

If there's one television show we love here at Autoblog, it's Sex and the City. Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda - all aflutter over noontime glasses of Kristal, gossiping about Prada, Mr. Big, converting to Judaism for all the wrong reasons and whoever/whatever Samantha humped last night. It's so fab! Just kidding, we hate that show and the ex-girlfriends that forced us to know this much about it. *Ahem.*

We mention S&TC however, because when the first movie came out, it featured the then-new Mercedes-Benz GLK. And soon there will be a part 2, and that sequel is going to feature the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class convertible. How do we know? Because somebody just snapped a whole bunch of shots of Sarah Jessica Parker, her $600 Christian Louboutin T-Strap sandals, $1,800 Sylvia Drapey Hobo hand bag and a yet-to-be-released E-Class droptop on the set of Sex and the City 2.

So... is this is a trend or just a fad? We know that the Audi R8 Spider will be making its debut in Ironman 2, and to some degree Aston Martin likes to show off their latest dream boat in the latest James Bond adventure. And out of the three, we imagine that Mercedes is going to sell a heckofa lot more E-Class convertibles to Carrie Bradshaw fans than Audi/Aston Martin will sell to Tony Stark/Agent 007 aficionados. Right? Hat tip to Patrick.

[Source: Just Jared]

Forthcoming Mercedes-Benz E-Class convertible caught on set of Sex and the City 2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Product Placement Alert: Aprilia RS125 featured in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 18:45:00 EST

Filed under: Lifestyle, Motorcycle, Celebrities

Megan Fox on Aprilia RS125 - Click above to view either image in high-res

As you'd expect in the runup to one of this summer's most widely-anticipated movies, product placement announcements are rolling in fast and furious ahead of the June 24th launch of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

Included amongst the obviously large number of vehicles from General Motors will be an Aprilia RS125, a bike we happen to be rather fond of. In fact, seeing this machine once again reminds us how much we'd love to see the Italian motorcycle maker wrap a similar package around the excellent V-twin powerplant in its RXV and SXV line of bikes.

Oh, and it's also an excuse to run these two images of Megan Fox. In leathers - all in the name of safety, we're sure. Two questions... where's her helmet, and what's up with Shia ~~The~~ LeBeouf's tendency to ride pillion?

Gallery: Megan Fox on Aprilia RS 125

[Source: Aprilia]

Product Placement Alert: Aprilia RS125 featured in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 13 Jun 2009 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai Genesis looking for roles, sending out headshots

Dan Roth — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:27:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Hyundai

Click above for high-res pics of the 2009 Hyundai Genesis V6

Product placement inundates television imagery, from the blatantly branded soda tumblers on American Idol to more subtle appearances like what car Jack Bauer drivers. Looking to boost the profile of its new Genesis top-level sedan, Hyundai has secured the services of Davie Brown Entertainment, responsible for the masterful remake-a-palooza of the MINI in The Italian Job. Hyundais have been in film and television before, but the automaker is looking for more visible roles to help quietly promote its entry into Lexus territory. Pay-for-play deals will likely see the Genesis in movies where you'd see a 7 series BMW, Mercedes S-Class or a Lexus LS. Unfortunately, films for fall release that would coincide with the launch of the car have long wrapped production, so television is seen as the way to get a quick fix for Hyundai. Davie Brown has already had the car at several sets where it's been well received. When your favorite shows return after their summer hiatus, keep your eyes peeled for the Genesis. ER had a blatant endorsement of the Chrysler 300 when it first bowed, culminating in a street race and a dunk in the water, so we wonder what they could do with the Genesis?

Gallery: Hyundai Genesis 4.6L V8

Gallery: 2009 Hyundai Genesis V6

[Source: Brandweek]

Hyundai Genesis looking for roles, sending out headshots originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Bourne Ultimatum: Product placement done right

John Neff — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Etc., Volkswagen

We were well aware of Volkswagen's placement in The Bourne Ultimatum thanks to press releases out of Wolfsburg that prepared us for an epic car chase involving a Touareg 2. When an automaker brags about its product placement, we usually start worrying that the movie will be overrun with subliminal adverts. For instance, before Michael Bay went shopping for actors at General Motors, there was the all-GM highway scene in Matrix Reloaded. The heavy-handedness of such product placement that GM seems to favor can instantly take a moviegoer out of the moment, so we were justifiably nervous to see the VW Touareg 2 make its big screen debut.

I've just returned from seeing The Bourne Ultimatum and can report that Volkswagen's product placement was very understated and tastefully done. The climactic car chase involving the Touareg 2 was incredible to watch (and sounded even better), but the fact you're watching a VW is hardly noticed since a fender bender early on completely rips off the Touareg's grille, taking the VW emblem with it. Likewise, Jason Bourne's world isn't populated entirely by late model VW, Audi and Lamborgini vehicles. A last-gen Lincoln Navigator figures prominently, as does a Chevy Impala cop car and many older Chrysler 300Ms.

There were two other vehicles in the movie that VW no doubt paid to have placed. One is a European spec Golf GT Sport briefly driven by Julia Stiles' character, and the other a previous-gen Audi A6. Both are onscreen for a short time only, and the fact the A6 is not the current generation model makes its placement even less noticeable.

While most marketers can't argue with the effectiveness of GM's overwhelming product placement in Transformers, regardless of how it negatively affected the viewing experience, we felt VW deserved an extra mention for its welcomed restraint in The Bourne Ultimatum.

The Bourne Ultimatum: Product placement done right originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 12 Aug 2007 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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And.... ACTION! Ford partners with film company for product placement

Chris Tutor — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Ford

Ford's been working with studios to get its product featured in films for years, one of the first being the original Batmobile. But the automaker has now teamed with Our Stories Films to target minorities with the production company's family-themed movies.

Under the agreement, Ford will be able to examine scripts for product placement opportunities, and will even get to make script-change suggestions. Ford will also integrate promotion of the films into its Web sites, fordurban.com and lincolnlounge.com.

Our Stories Films was created by BET founder Robert Johnson and producers Bob and Harvey Weinstein. According to IMDB, the company's first film is the current box office blockbuster (watch the sarcarsm, it's dripping) "Who's Your Caddy?" and features Ford's Range Rover co-starring with Big Boi and Andy Milonakis.

"We are all grappling with our numbers in this audience," said Marc Perry, multicultural marketing manager at Ford/Lincoln, in a Brandweek article. "We know that we can do better than what we are doing and this opportunity allows us to go after a targeted audience. It's African-Americans in urban centers. This arrangement helps by allowing us to cast both characters and vehicles, and with our imaging onscreen." Sigh... kind of sucks the whole artistic angle right out of filmmaking.

[Source: Brandweek, IMDB]

And.... ACTION! Ford partners with film company for product placement originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford disses Toyota's lack of Bond involvement

Alex Nunez — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 08:26:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Aston Martin, Ford, Lexus, Toyota

Each new James Bond film, in addition to being an event in and of itself, is a massive advertisement for every single branded item seen on the silver screen. Whether it's 007's Smirnoff vodka, Walther pistol, or Aston Martin automobile, each item's appearance on screen is indeed a Very Big Deal for the company behind it. And so, Ford is crowing about its involvement in Casino Royale in an article on its website (read it after the jump). The film represents the first time the general populace will see the new European-market Ford Mondeo and Aston Martin's DBS (shown), which will spawn a production model as well.

Ford's desire to promote its involvement is to be expected. After all, firms pay big bucks to get placed in high-profile films. A full read of the article, however, reveals a bit of gloating as FoMoCo has some fun with the fact that it, and not Toyota, is the supplier of James Bond's car. While we thank God that we weren't subjected to the sight of James Bond driving a Camry (a clear sign of the apocalypse), the reality is that Toyota offered up something significantly more upmarket. Apparently, they approached the filmmakers with enough dough to fill the bed of a Tundra and proposed having their upcoming supercar (presumably the production version of the LF-A concept) be Bond's ride of choice.

There's more after the jump, so read on!

[Source: Ford via Inside Line]

Continue reading Ford disses Toyota's lack of Bond involvement

Ford disses Toyota's lack of Bond involvement originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Nov 2006 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus gets a new spindoctor

Noah Joseph — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 19:23:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Lotus

Lotus announced today that it has hired a new ad agency to help it along with a renewed push into the North American market. Burbank-based e2amp, inc. will be responsible for rejuvenating the British sportscar company's image in the US and Canada through advertising, product placement and promotional events.

e2amp doesn't appear to have much experience with carmakers - its client roster includes such entertainment companies as JVC, Sony, Buena Vista and Universal. And what could be more entertaining than the tight handling and eminent chuckability of the Lotus Elise and Exige?

Arguably the most interesting part of e2amp's mandate from Lotus is the product placement. After James Bond's return to Aston Martins, could we see a Lotus comeback in the next 007 film?

Related posts:

[Source: The Auto Channel via Jalopnik]

Lotus gets a new spindoctor originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Sep 2006 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pontiac product placement targets pulp fiction

Erin Mays — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 19:56:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Marketing/Advertising, Pontiac

Pontiac is breaking new ground with product placement next month with "Rush City," a DC Comics production heavily funded by General Motors in an attempt to hock its Pontiac brand to men in their 20s and 30s. The six-issue series will debut on July 19.

The Pontiac Solstice a chick car? Not when a New York action hero tricks out his GXP with guns and other superhero gear. "Rush City" is about an ordinary guy -- good job as a firefighter, fantastic fiancee with a daughter who's crazy about her soon-to-be stepdad, and a Pontiac Solstice GXP. Then he loses it all, except the car of course. After losing his job, his fiancee and her daughter die in a fire. It's so traumatic for him that he has nothing else to do but become a superhero.

General Motors isn't the only one going after comic book product placement -- DaimlerChrysler and Nike are going there too.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Pontiac product placement targets pulp fiction originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jun 2006 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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James Bond to rock Fiat bulldozer in Casino Royale

Chris Paukert — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Work, Supercars

Daniel Craig, the next James Bond, has already endured his fair share of controversy, and now the poor guy will have to while away the opening sequence in Casino Royale in a Fiat W190 bulldozer. This word, after we we reported last month that he'll also be driving a Ford Mondeo in the film.

But don't shed a tear for Daniel Craig. We're quite sure that he'll still get to shack up with some ridiculously hot beauty in an exotic locale, bide his time with lots of too-cool spy gear, and save the world in his free time. Oh, and we're quite sure all the product placement in the film will result in a sizeable paycheck for the inconvenience of it all. Besides, 007 can always ditch the ditch-digger (and the Blue Oval rep-mobile) and drive off into the sunset in the Aston Martin he's also scheduled to drive. Life is tough, eh, Craig?

Casino Royale is slated for a November release.

[Source: Reuters via CNN; Fiat]

James Bond to rock Fiat bulldozer in Casino Royale originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Apr 2006 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Product placement war heating up

Erin Mays — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 17:36:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Ford, GM, Land Rover

Product placement is a time-honored trend. We're quite sure that Ford is pining for a Bullitt remake, for example, but the war seems to be heating up.

Exhibit A is Mission Impossible:III, where the Detroit News reports that General Motors and Ford had it out over whether Tom Cruise's spymobile would emerge from a plant belonging to the Blue Oval or the General. Ford ultimately won the battle with the Land Rover LR3, but it wasn't why you'd think. Tom Cruise himself was the one calling the shots, and after a meeting with Bill Ford, evidently he found a kindred spirit... and a common interest in Land Rovers.

On TV, product placement has become huge, from the Chevy Tahoe on The Apprentice to the Mercury Milan finding its way onto the set of The Real World. As TiVo continues to make traditional commercial advertising less value, expect this war to start blazing.

[Source: The Detroit News, photo credit Steven Vaughn]

Product placement war heating up originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Apr 2006 17:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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