Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Screenvision- Trojan campaign

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Posted by John T. Hendrickson, Jr (Member # 849) on 09-11-2009, 12:34 PM:

No, not a teaser title.

We just received an email from Screenvision that they are offering up two condom ads from Trojan to run with R rated films during the period 9/18 to 10/1. [Eek!]

Ownership and top management are currently in heated discussions as to whether to run them. I have already weighed in with my two cents, arguing that some people will take offense and that it will sully our reputation with the family oriented crowd.

I have also argued that if the wrong digital preshow ends up in the wrong auditorium, there will be hell to pay. This can happen when prints are switched and Screenvision is slow getting the preshow moved. Then what do you tell angry customers?

Hands down, and for a variety of other reasons, this is a bad idea.

Of course, my two cents and $2 will buy you a cup of coffee.

Enlighten me with your opinions.

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 09-11-2009, 12:49 PM:

Heh heh, this makes me laugh. I was in the Air Force stationed in Thailand in 1974-1975. Theaters in Bangkok routinely ran ads for condoms as part of their preshow.

Seems like the US has accepted saturation advertising for "erectile dysfunction" products, including dire warnings about arousal lasting longer than 4 hours. lol. Maybe condoms are next.

Posted by Karl Borowski (Member # 5424) on 09-11-2009, 01:12 PM:

It's not as if these ads are graphic or that suggestive. They are usually pretty tame.

I can imagine them creating awkward situations for parents with young children who want to know what a condom is, but I really don't see where the objection is, as long as it doesn't get to the point where they are very graphic or suggestive.

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 09-11-2009, 01:36 PM:

If someone complains at an R -rated movie my instinct would be to tell them to grow up. Running ads is the offensive part, not the product being sold.

If it gets shown in the wrong house, grovel, apologize, give a pass and fixit.

It never ceases to amaze me the things people get upset about. You just have to remember that 99.9 percent of the people barely notice, much less get upset.

On the plus side, maybe some crazies will start picketting your theatre and you can call the TV stations for ooodles of free publicity [evil]

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 09-12-2009, 05:48 PM:

Karl and Martin are both right. Last year Screenvision sent us a :30 spot for KY lubricant. After previewing it one manager called it "nothing less than soft-core porn". It too was to be shown only on R-rated films. Fortunately there were none during its scheduled campaign time. The KY ad was not renewed in our market and died an an noticed death. I suspect the same will be said for the Trojan ad as well.

Posted by Marin Zorica (Member # 1716) on 09-12-2009, 07:06 PM:

Situation is a bit "tricky"......won't go now on discussion about to screen that or not....if you ask me, go head! But! All people are so made on porn and so, don't talking about hard core porn, but sex explicit scenes and so, but when you see movie with 100 dead and blood all around nobody cares, yea let the kids watch....I would like for my kids personally love

Posted by Caleb Johnstone-Cowan (Member # 3710) on 09-12-2009, 09:11 PM:

If someone is taking kids in to an R-rated film then they've got to accept that the preshow as well as the feature will have mature content. In the UK even the on-screen adverts have to be classified and not shown before a lower-rated feature. Perhaps the solution is to restrict the ads to R features with sexual content in them anyway if you think there might be a problem.

We have such problems with STDs and pregnancy amongst young people there are loads of public service ads in cinemas about using condoms, almost certain they are on the ad reels for our equivalent of PG-13 features as well. No-one ever complains.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 09-13-2009, 01:39 AM:

Jeez, some folks need to pull the splintery stick out of their ass!

Well, to clarify that, I do live in Lawton-Fort Sill. We have friggin' Trojan ads on the local radio stations. Let's face it. People around here are going to screw. We're creating the next generation of NFL football stars. Maladjusted freak-a-zoids who weren't loved when they were kids and use that to justify bashing in some dude's face, raping a 14 year old or knocking over a liquor store. Ain't America freaking great or what!?

Anyway, a Trojan on your Johnson? Sheesh. It's not like you're Ozzy™ biting the head off a bat.

Posted by James. R. Deeter (Member # 837) on 09-14-2009, 06:15 PM:

Wow, is the name Ozzy really trade marked ?

Posted by David E. Nedrow (Member # 4981) on 09-14-2009, 09:02 PM:

Zdravo, Marin,

I'm with you. I see people take young children to movies filled with horrific violence. I even watched very young children pleading -- tears included -- with their parents to leave during a showing of "The Pledge". These kids couldn't have been more than five or six. I'm not sure who called CPS, but they deserved it.

So, child murderers, rapists, war, etc., and parents don't blink an eye. But... even hint at what goes on between consenting adults and you're in big trouble.

Clearly, the type of commercial makes a big difference depending on the expected audience. I -- and none of my parent friends -- would care about a condom ad shown to young adults and children so long as it's not salacious. Heck, children are oblivious to sexuality, so they won't even pay attention.

Just watch the commercials that play during syndicated animation shows from 4-7pm. Kids see a lot worse just sitting home.

David

Posted by Dylan Houdeshell (Member # 5415) on 09-15-2009, 12:11 AM:

Thats how I fell to. The pre-show advertising is adjusted depending on what the movie is rated. If someone brings their kids into an R rated movie and is complaing about a condom advertisement, they are out of their mind and a hypocrite!

Though, It would be pretty funny to hear the TROJAN MAN!!! voice on the big screen.

Posted by Karl Borowski (Member # 5424) on 09-15-2009, 11:55 AM:

At 10 I didn't get what was going on in a condom commercial.

At 15 I didn't get what was going on in a Viagra commercial.

So what's the problem, other than parents' insecurities? The kids don't even understand what is going on in one of these commercials.

Posted by Geena Phillips (Member # 3726) on 09-15-2009, 12:49 PM:

Figures. The week after we get rid of Screenvision (oh frabjuous day!), they run an ad I'd actually want to put on screen.