Chris Reed

Product placement is either pure evil, or it's the only business model that will keep the entertainment industry going over the next few years.

The secretary of State, Andy Burnham MP has toned down his original concerns about product placement, talking more about self-regulation at this week's IAB Engage conference. But it's going to be an increaingly lively issue as my kids grow up.

Amidst a whole load of non-sequiturs in Quantum of Solace, the one that grated most with me was Bond, in a Hydrogen-powered Ford, in the Bolivian (?) desert.

1) A Ford (and not the first Ford in the film), and
2) Hydrogen-powered. ?! You can't fill up a Hydrogen car in the middle of London, yet alone the middle of the Atacama.

Product placement has to be believable to be believed, surely? But unfortunately, that's when it's at it's most insidious. I'm in two minds about it - I love a bit of transparency, me.

Anyway, that's partly why I really like these posters. Total transparency/honesty. Fim posters, and the brands within the films...

There's more where these came from - Antrepo. I'm quite tempted to buy the 8 poster set ($150) or $30 each. It's very clever indeed...

[update 17 November. According to today's Guardian, producer's trade body PACT have been busy and :

ITV, Virgin Media and Discovery have signed up to a new product placement code of conduct, which includes an on-screen symbol signalling to viewers that a brand is being plugged.

which seems like a step in the right direction for TV to me. Transparency all the way...]