Official WGA Writers Strike thread.

[CharlieDontSurf]

[ QUOTE ]
I have a semi-unrelated question for CDS or anyone who knows. Obviously there is some product placement on The Office - Second Life, Staples, etc. But also it has to fit into the story. How does that work? Does The Office approach Staples and Office Max, and say "Hey we have a bunch of lines about a big competitor, it can be you, or the other guy", then they bid on it?

Or what about in Family Guy, when they're going to Olive Garden and Lois says "Me likey breadsticks! Me likey breadsticks!". Is that paid for? If Family Guy wants to do the joke do they have to ask permission from Olive Garden? If so, do they go ahead and ask for some money at the same time?

Seems like a lot of negotiation would have to happen if you come up with the joke on Tues and film on Thurs. or something. Then again with Family Guy you could just stick the joke into any episode. But let's say it's a similar situation with Friends and Pottery Barn. But it will only fit in that episode. Do they do some quick negotiation?

And finally, does any of the product placement money go to the writers? If not do the studio heads come down and say "you have to fit Target into this episode". Can the writers say no? Or do the studio heads say "Extra $1k for everyone any time you fit any of these companies into any episode."?

[/ QUOTE ]

Can't say with 100% certainty cuz this isn't really my area but product placement is a major part of TV/Film so I would assume they have a specific dept that deals with in in terms of a given show or their whole slate of shows. It is probably a mix of both...the stuidos contacting companies and companies contacting studios. I imagine that Office Depot/Staples etc all want to be featured on a given show so it probably goes to the highest bidder unless the studio already has a deal set up with a given company. It is probably somewhat random.

not everything is paid for the...some is just free advertising. I would assume Family Guy is more likely to be free given that joke could have been created at 2AM and shot that same week. Where as with The Office given it is about a paper company...it is likely that rivals paper companies will constantly be involved so they could likely get a company to pony up some cash.

no...writers/actors/directors don't get any of the $$ as far as I'm aware of unless they somehow had it written into their deal...which I doubt they would have the clout to do.
Could be wrong though.