A Day in the Life [2.09.07]

[elixir]

www.bebo.com/FlashBox.jsp?FlashBoxId=4698577557

Kate said...

Another not so crazy weekend in the life of ‘Crazy Kate’. Sorry to disappoint.


**********************

Okay, it seems like they are trying to promote Tampax, and Orange in this one, lol. And maybe even Sneaky Sound System. They seem to use a lot of their music in the videos. Kate still annoys me. You know, if her blood is so valuable, she could think about selling those tampons after she is done with them.... did I go too far?

[flautapantera]

Yep! I found the Tampax product placement rather subtle, considering the subject matter... The MSN search was also palpable.

The Telegraph ran this article a bit ago outlining KM and the various products it would be slipping in over the next few months:

Despite the drama's sometimes amateurish look, representatives from 30 multinational brands turned up at a pre-screening in Covent Garden earlier this summer.Bebo and LG15, Mr Beckett and Mr Goodfried's company, had seen the potential for writing specific brands and products into the episodes. They whittled down the 30 to a handful of brands: Procter & Gamble (Gillette, Tampax and Pantene), MSN, Orange Mobile, Paramount and Buena Vista.

As you can imagine, the Creators (I feel awkward saying this anymore...perhaps I should just say "Miles and Greg"...) are collecting on this advertising:

Each paid around £250,000 for six months of name-checking on the show.

£250,000 = approx. $500,000 U.S. or a grand total of 2.5 million dollars

[oweniscool]

I swore off this series, but I had to watch the Tampax episode. I read an article somewhere in which Miles commented on the Tampax ad, saying it's "not as bad as it sounds" or something like that. I wanted to see if it turned out to be really awkward or was actually passable. I think it was passable except I was half-expecting Kate to launch into a mini-pitch a la Hershey's Icebreakers in Truckstop Reunion.

ps LOL at elixir

[elixir]

It was kind of passable but the way they have set the series up you kind of do semi look for clues. As this one was obvious, it seems to be pointing towards having a role in the story.

But I don't think it will. There were too many "shout outs" in this vid. It seems to be only a housekeeping episode to keep the sponsors happy. But, you know... I was only joking above, but really with all this fuss over Kate's magical blood, and then the blatant focus on the tampons.... it does really make it look like it's meant to go somewhere story-wise.

Is it really going to come down to the viewers deciphering between ads and plot critical elements of the story? Wow, that is an amazing position for an advertiser to be in - provided the show improves on its narrative quality. I mean, could you imagine if, when Bree said, "What ever happened to that girl named Cassie," she followed it up with, "Daniel, remember that time you ordered a large McValue meal?"

With so much attention paid, maybe it is worth the 250, 000 pounds.... but it is kind of unfair for the loyal viewers who get involved with the "clues". I guess time will tell if the viewers get sick of it.

[elixir]

Okay, so I knew they were promoting Sneaky Sound System. I picked up on it before the videos started when Charlie's profile said, "Check them out! They are big in Sydney," or something to that effect. The band seems to be getting a lot of exposure lately. I don't know if this is just in Sydney. I've seen their songs on heaps of ads and stuff here. I guess this could be a way for a band to get more global exposure. I wonder if a deal is in place. If so I wouldn't be surprised if they show up when Kate loses control even more and tries to find her eternal song by going out to a rave.

Anyway I'm bringing it up because "Kate Modern Production" just added a Sneaky Sound System video to their profile: www.bebo.com/FlashBox.jsp?FlashBoxId=4061867480
This song has been stuck in my head all day... my sister has been taking the piss out of rave dancers to it, hehe. Weird coincidence ... or again, maybe they really are only big in Sydney? Hehe

But it's just interesting to see what kind of products, people or bands, in this case, are starting to notice internet series as a way to get noticed.

Anyway, sorry for the double post that went a bit off topic!

[robtomorrow]

elixir said:

Okay, so I knew they were promoting Sneaky Sound System

That's funny because early on in the LG15 debate on whether it was "real" or "fake" there was a lot of speculation that there was a production studio behind it and they were promoting the music they were using in the videos.

It just dawned on me that with all the commercial contracts they have negotiated, that they have become what many people suspected they were all along.

elixir said:

You know, if her blood is so valuable, she could think about selling those tampons

Very funny Elixir, and it is interesting how product placement versus clues can give a extra empathise to the advertising.

So is that it as far as their contract goes with Tampax, is that what the advertiser gets for 250,000 dollars?

[flautapantera]

robtomorrow said:

Very funny Elixir, and it is interesting how product placement versus clues can give a extra empathise to the advertising.

So is that it as far as their contract goes with Tampax, is that what the advertiser gets for 250,000 dollars?

My understanding is that the sponsors' $500,000 golden ticket buys them sporadic interlay of their product(s) over the next 6 months. I don't think there's anyone mildly intelligent out there who'd pay half a million dollars for one name drop.

Honestly...congrats to Miles and Greg and crew for grabbing so many sponsors. They can't complain about lack of funding for KM!

[elixir]

Yeah! Obviously if this is true they have the funding, so I think it's about time they hired a decent writer!