One of our TV producers came to me this week saying she needs $20,000 for a special effect she wants to use in the season finale of the show. We can’t afford to give her that, so do we tell her now and risk losing viewers and potentially have this valuable producer move to another studio, or do we let her accept product placement in the show to pay for it? Why or why not?
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This discussion is more difficult for me to decide my position because there are so many questions I have. How long has she been there? Did views go up when she started and/or did the studio notice more money coming in when she works on the projects or shows? Without knowing these answers I would tell her that the studio cannot afford to give her that much money right now and explain why. After explaining why I would tell her how valuable she is and try to come up with a compromise that will allow her to do something she approves of while staying in budget. This solution allows her to improve the season finale while not draining the studio of money. She also doesn’t have to look for another job and the studio gets to keep their potentially great employee.
I was thinking along these lines as well – so many important variables that I would want to consider including many of these you have mentioned and more such as what IS the special effect? Is there truly not a comparable one in budget? Is the special effect vital in some way to the show or message? I like the idea of a compromise.
Product placement is the way to go in this situation. Placing consumer products in films and television shows has become a common practice for advertisers. We probably should have been using this as a revenue stream earlier than the final show of the season. My only concern is that the product placed is well suited for the purchasing habits of our show’s target demographic. I would not want us to lose viewership over a controversial product placement. I believe the advertising department and the show’s producer should work together on determining a suitable product for placement. I can’t wait to see the season finale and what $20,000 buys in special effects.
I agree, I would love to see those special affects! It is also important to make sure the product is suitable for them, good point! How would you explain this to the TV producer ?
Product placement definitely has become common practice and is accepted by viewers, as such, I don’t see a problem with it. This is slightly different than an advertorial which is being reviewed dishonestly, it is simply placing a product where viewers can see it and decide for themselves if it’s something they want. You bring up an excellent point on finding a suitable product to place.
Product placement is pretty standard in the industry, so I don’t see why that would be an issue. I, again, think honestly and transparency is the way to go so I would be honest with her and tell her that we do not have the money, but that she can use product placement to try to earn the amount necessary for her goals. By doing it this way, it may also encourage harder work and more pride in the finale special effects. It’s also a win-win for everyone potentially. Improvements and motivation are always great things in any aspect of life.
Kristina, I agree honesty is the best way to go about this. With the use of product placement, the producer could still create a great show for the public.
I like the way you would explain to her because it explains why instead of just saying no which doesn’t really work for anyone. Your way does not make people want to quit their job or move jobs and makes them work hard as well, while motivating them, that is the way to do it in any professional situation!
Explaining things is always better than just an answer that someone doesn’t like, and then leaving it at that. Fully explaining things helps the other person to fully understand the situation and may ease any negative outcomes.
At this point, product placement seems like standard practice in our industry. We should accept payment for product placement, with the caveat that we are deliberate with our choice of products. It needs to not compromise our artistic vision of the show, or conflict with our companies values. Furthermore, while the FTC may not currently require disclosure about product placement, we may feel more comfortable including a blurb in our credits about them, just to show transparency with our viewers.
I think that being honest with the producer and allowing product placement would be the best option. This way, the producer will know how to work around the constraints that having less money may cause her and the show. Using product placement to finance extra costs is a great way to use resources. To me, this would be a great way to fix a possible problem and create an excellent show for the public.
This type of advertising I am completely okay with. If CocaCola wants to pay a studio for a character to drink one during a show, by all means, take their money. This is a responsible way to get funding for something. It is not lying or deceiving people.
It would be wise to be honest with the producer so they don’t feel lied to. If they feel like they have been deceived, chances are they will not work with you again.
Agreed on both counts. It seems an appropriate use of advertising if done with integrity and clarity. And without false claims or insinuated benefits of the product being placed. But important to be clear about it and how the financial goals can be achieved.
I think the best route to go with is honesty. I also have no issue with product placement as long as it makes sense for the show. if something is very out of place and obviously does not belong, that would not make sense and be problematic. For example a show about fitness/health advertising soda or sugary foods, that just wouldn’t fit. I feel that being dishonest with the producer about the money for the effects is a more likely way of losing her to another studio. No one wants to work for someone that is dishonest and untrustworthy.
Very good point on the product placement needing to make sense, or at the very least, not completely counter what their business is. Your example of a health/fitness organization using soda and sugary foods as a product placement, was a great one!
Regarding this discussion, I also had quite a few questions similar to Caitlyn. I feel like there are a lot of factors that would contribute to how a company would handle a situation like this. Personally, I always think that simply telling the truth, and being straight up with someone is the best option. When it comes to financial situations, I would not want to be left in the dark if there were issues at hand. However, with that being said, I also agree that product placement is something that is pretty common, and could also be a viable solution. As long as the producer is fully aware of the situation, then I believe that they would be able to work together to create the finale episode in the best way possible for both the company and the viewers.
It sounds like the smartest move for this company includes product placement in the TV show to increase profit for the producer so they will be able to afford an epic season finale. Product placement is completely fine because it is clear to viewers when something is being advertised in the show. The only negatives I can think of would be if the product placements were overdone and turned viewers away from the show. Therefore, the producers of the TV show would need to be smart about the types of products they advertise in their show to gain more profit. Keeping viewers and high ratings is crucial, and this is why I believe it is important for the company to try their best to get the funds to keep their good producer and provide great things for the season finale. If the season finale were to end in a flop, viewers would not be encouraged to continue streaming further seasons in the future, and that would obviously be detrimental to this company.
When you said that you think the smartest move is to include product placement to increase profit, it actually made me think that if the company can’t afford things like the special effects, they probably should have been using product placement prior to this, and at the very least, should definitely start using product placement now. The revenue from the product placement can be held separately as a fund for special effects and other things needed for shows.
Product placement would have to be the move here, since this is a pretty common practice amongst the industry, I am sure viewers won’t even look twice. I cannot tell you how many times I have been disappointed by a season or series finale of a show that I really enjoyed. However, I do agree with not overdoing the product placements so much that our viewers are turned off. We want to do it just enough to pay for whatever effects she has planned, but not too much that our viewers are distracted.
Product placement is a perfectly legitimate move and would done properly would not cause any ill will from the viewers. It’s a simple and effective way to gain the revenue necessary for the show and would prevent the loss of viewers from the program that is clearly seen as successful in our company. For the future success of our programs, I believe that product placement is the right move in this instance.
There are a lot of nuances and details that are not mentioned that would heavily influence my decision on this one. Either way I would seek transparency and authenticity i.e. clear communication with the producer if a compromise must be found or with the audience if using product placement.
That said, I would go with the product placement at this point….with some guidelines. The product should be one that is well placed in the show itself, with the characters, with the demographic audience. If we can accomplish that, it is a win for all parties involved.
Definitely go for it. I see product placement in shows and movies that I love to watch all the time. Whenever I see it, I chuckle to myself a bit and continue watching. Who cares? If they want to fund money to make a movie better and all they want in return is their product featured, I say go for it. This has been happening for years.
I do think the product placement needs to be done tastefully however. The placement should flow with the movie line and not be overbearing. With the right products and placement, I do not believe it would be a hinderance and you would be able to afford the special effect.
I agree. I’ve never had a problem with product placement. Most movies are pretty good about making it subtle. It is a problem however when the show makes it very obvious that Kraft wants you to eat macaroni this second! Being careful with product placement can lead to a successful show and can be a win-win for both products and movies.
I think that product placement would be the best option. with more investors looking for TV time you have a unlimited pool of props that can be included at fraction of prices. Like mentioned earlier if we did this earlier we might have been able to afford the big budget finally. It would be up to management if they valued the producer enough to invest a lot of money into his idea. Then they would probably look at a risk factor tree to see if the pros out weigh the cons how safe is it plus is there time constraints depending on deadlines. Need more info for more definitive answer.
I say we let her accept product placement because in reality it is used all the time for tv shows. However, I do think that product placement should be used when needed. I always think a show is always better when special effects are used, especially at the right time. Sometimes I do think it can be overused which could just make the show worse. You especially do not want this to happen with it is the season finale. But my one question is, why wasn’t product placement used before the season finale? Other than that, I think she should go for it.
Thea,
I think you posed an interesting question when you brought up the reasoning for product placement at this point in time, the finale. I think maybe because this is the finale, the producer really wants to go all out, which we know is confirmed by her $20,000 request, and that supersedes her budget exponentially. Nice post!
I think being honest with the producer and using product placement in the next episode is the correct way to handle it. There are many big time shows that use product placement in order to maybe make a little bigger paycheck or maybe in this exact scenario. I do not think product placement is a terrible thing to do as long as it is not abused to the point of only doing it to satisfy one person’s paycheck. I think that holding it off and waiting until the last minute before telling her that the show cannot afford it would be a terrible idea and would definitely result in her finding another position to take elsewhere. Being honest is the best way to approach it and having integrity within the production of the show.
In my opinion product placement would be benefitting both parties, and in the long run, be the wisest decision. If she is a valuable producer, I say let her do her job and use this alternate method to fund her special effect. Obviously the two options are not necessarily ultimatums, so the producer would have to be told that her special effect cannot be funded directly from the studio, however through a third party, she would achieve the finale effect she was shooting for. As mostly everyone here has mentioned, product placement is used all the time in the media, and at this point I believe it’s commonplace for consumers to see it and recognize it for what it is. I personally never feel victimized or duped for watching a video/episode with product placement because I understand that it is apart of a bigger business investment and allows for more videos/episodes to be produced.
I think the smartest thing to do in this situation is to use product placement in our show to raise the money for our special effects. Product placement is used so widely nowadays that I can’t imagine our viewers becoming upset with some advertising in our show. A show that uses a certain make of a car, or placing a Coke can somewhere in a scene are examples of advertising that are second nature to the film industry these days. Either of these things could generate a large source of revenue for our show that could help to pay for our finale special effects. Doing so could lead to more viewership if our shows content is higher quality. I also think if we really value our producer then we should use the product placement, as to not risk losing her.
I think product placement in this situation would be acceptable as long as it goes well with our show. Moviegoers like special effects and perhaps, without this effect, our show might not get as many viewers. We have to think about what is good for the company overall.
Honesty is key here and we should be open about our financial status with the crew. Allowing product placement could only help us if done correctly. I don’t see how it will damage us substantially by allowing a Reign energy drink or two to be placed in some scenes. I feel as long as the show is honest and well run, we can succeed.
I think that we should absolutely allow the producer to accept product placement in the show to pay for the special effect she wants to use in the season finale. Product placement, as long as it is done correctly and as long as it is relatable, should never be an issue. Not only is it vastly common, but it will also allow us to make the money needed to make the season finale exactly what she wants it to be. I think that season finales are just as important as a first episode, if not more important. We want our viewers to feel like the season was worth watching and want them to continue to be viewers for the upcoming season(s). We definitely don’t want to lose our viewers or our producer if we advise that we can’t afford it. Instead, we accept product placement allowing us obtain the needed funds.
I don’t see anything wrong with product placement in movies or television as long as it looks organic. I would be honest with the producer and let her know that product placement is the route to take in this case due to the funding issues but she needs to make sure the advertising does not appear to be obvious. She needs to choose companies whose products would look natural in the setting involved. We don’t want our season finale to end up looking like a commercial.
Product placement is everywhere now and would not come as a shock to the viewers unless it seemed completely out of place. I tend to notice products in television and movies and it doesn’t bother me, I usually just think to myself, I wonder how much Doritos paid to have that bag of chips sitting there? But in my opinion it doesn’t take anything away from the show.
I think product placement is a great alternative. Of course, the products being placed in the show would need to be chosen with thought, as to not hurt the show. That said, product placement is a great tool that would likely increase profits both from advertisers and from viewers because the special effect would probably make the show more enjoyable. However, regardless of if the special effect is allowed, I think product placement should still be used, again, with thought.
I think the vast majority of views have no problem with product placement, so I say go for it! Of course, if overdone, product placement can become annoying and ruin a good movie/show. But it most cases, the content producers know what they are doing and don’t make the products too intrusive. I’m sure that fans of the show would rather have an epic season finale with a few products in it than a lame one without products.
One, does the request made sense? Not all shows need special effects. Two, is there and evidence that the audience responds to special effects in terms of viewing? If the answer is yes to either of these, I would try to reach a compromise on a cheaper special effect. But ultimately, if the company can’t afford it there is no sense in wrecking the company for one show and one producer.
I think product placement is totally okay as long as the advertising products don’t interfere with the story line (think Game of Thrones Starbucks cup incident). Product placement, if it’s done well, can be completely fine and not interfere in any way with the show. I think that if the math adds up and the producer’s reputation and skillset are beneficial to making a better show, then it’s definitely worth the ad placements.
It depends on how the product placement is to be utilized. Like all the autobots being GMC products and all the decepticons being Ford was well done and kinda fun. Added to the film on a level that ford and chevy fans who understand the rivalry can understand. So if it can be done tastefully and without taking away from the episode I would say that in todays movie market it seems that the effects sometimes outweigh the story so if we want another season we should make this season as good as possible.
I love how you brought GMC and Ford into your example, I could not agree with you more on the way that worked out. I also think that if the producer is creative she will be able to provide a tasteful and unique way to bring in the product placement. The bottom line is how well and creatively different producers can make the movie to draw in the viewers.
If the product placement could be done in a tasteful manner without taking away from the show but adding to it, I believe it is well worth the risk. There are so many shows that had product placement but also allowed the customer to connect with the characters because of it. After all just because the show or movie is make believe it does not mean you can not make people relate. That is after all the goal to make it popular you want your customers to relate and want more.
Love watching Sun !
I don’t see anything wrong with product placement. Shows and movies do it all the time whether if it looks natural or not. Of course I think it should be tasteful but if product placement helps create something the viewers would enjoy and allow them to make more money, then what is the harm? As long as the movie or episode is what the viewers want, product placement should not be an issue.
I think just tell her that truth that we do not have the funds for her special effects and she just do a product placement. Because it’s for sure that she can find ways and they can also do a team work to make a show with an amazing finale.Everyone definitely wanted the same thing, they all does not want to lose any viewers at all.
I would be honest with our TV producer and talk about alternatives to the situation with her. Maybe we can come up with something else for the finale or we can do a less expensive special effect. I would also bring up the idea of product placement so we can pay for her special effects if it’s something that we think is worth the money. Overall I wouldn’t want to be scared of somebody leaving to work for another company so honestly would be the best option.
I think it’s important to be transparent and honest within your daily life as well as your professional life. It shows respect and integrity when one is honest, which should be incredibly important to everyone. I would talk with her and weigh out the options of possible other alternatives or product placement. It would also have to depend on how well known the show is and how much money they have gained from previous seasons. If it is a globally renowned show such as Game of Thrones, I think product placement would be a great option (however I assume a show like Game of Thrones would have $20,000 to throw around on special effects).
With the amount on information given about the finale, I think the right move would be to accept the product placement ad and move forward with the finale that is needed to help the success of the movie. I personally don’t see how product placement can be compromising in this situation. If placed appropriately, most viewers don’t even think twice about an ad in a movie or show and is no extra distraction. The only negative in this situation I can think of would be if the product placements were overdone and distracting from the epic season finale.
Product placement is normalized it the TV industry now a days, so I don’t really see this as a problem. Most people don’t even notice it that much because it is used so much. If the producer brings in lots of views and not doing the affect would make her leave and you would lose views, I would say this is a no brainer. If not doing the effect will cause you to lose this valuable producer than I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to do product placement to keep that valued producer and keep viewers. There is only down sides to not doing product placement. There is one potential downside to doing product placement and that might be that someone may notice and not watch but that pool of people will be very limited. So in conclusion I would say let her accept product placement to pay for it because it the goods out weigh the bads and tell her that’s the only way she gets to do that special effects.
I think that it would be fine to allow product placement in the production. It is commonly used in films and TV these days, so there’s not really any reason not to. Furthermore, simply allowing product placement isn’t deceiving the audience since there isn’t any rhetoric that goes along with it. It’s simply allowing companies to feature their products in the TV show.
I don’t think product placement is a huge deal. I’ve always thought of it as being similar to commercials. It’s not really a dishonest practice and it doesn’t harm anyone. As long as it isn’t made to be the most prominent aspect of the show, I see no issue with it.
I think the product placement should be used. We are running a business and product placement is fairly common, so it could potentially be detrimental not to use that kind of option. I definitely feel like there is a very limited extent to which advertisement can be acceptably integrated into mediums such as TV and movies, but product placement is usually passive enough to not affect the message(s). Also, considering the quality of the movie being increased by accepting product placement, and that allowing audiences a better experience, makes product placement an appealing option.