Plays with actual commercial breaks
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Theater Administration
Forum Name: Money Talk
Forum Discription: Questions about fundraising and promotion
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2109
Printed Date: 11/21/24 at 11:42pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Plays with actual commercial breaks
Posted By: Topper
Subject: Plays with actual commercial breaks
Date Posted: 11/07/06 at 4:12pm
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From the "Now I've Seen Everything" Department. A high school theater is selling advertising space -- not in their programs -- in the actual play itself. The ads are voiced by the cast members, sponsored by local businesses, and part of the show. http://www.startribune.com/142/story/791938.html - http://www.startribune.com/142/story/791938.html Discuss. ------------- "None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone |
Replies:
Posted By: Mike Polo
Date Posted: 11/07/06 at 4:22pm
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Sounds like an inovative way to cover scene changes (not having read the article, I'm guessing here). We sell ads that appear on stage before each intermission during our cabaret-style fundraiser... the MCs take turns making jokes about each business, trying to keep the humor light and irreverent, in keeping with the satirical nature of the show. It's fun and the adience gets a kick out of it. Now I've read the article and I like the idea... it fits well with the radio broadcast type show. ------------- Mike Polo Community Theater Green Room http://www.communitytheater.org http://www.twitter.com/CTGreenRoom"> 
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Posted By: Theatrestation
Date Posted: 11/07/06 at 4:56pm
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While I can ALMOST see it in this case, I can see something like this getting out of hand real fast. Overall I think it sets a bad precedence. If this gets enough publicity you will have groups all over the place trying it, and of course that will lead to a lot of copywrite infringement. I wonder how Dramatic Publishing Co. feels about this, and I wonder if this was cleared by them. Susan ------------- http://www.castbuilding.com http://www.theatrestation.com |
Posted By: Mike Polo
Date Posted: 11/07/06 at 5:31pm
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Now there's an interesting question... I hadn't thought of that. In this case, the story says the commercial breaks are written into the script. I'm not familiar with that show, but Susan would indeed be correct; if the commercial copy was a part of the script, replacing that copy would be a violation of the copyright unless permission was granted by the copyright holder or publisher. Going back to my first post in this thread, I wonder what the ramifications of using the ads to cover scene changes would be... I can't think of any reason that would infringe on the copyright, but I would want to know for sure about that. On the other hand, in most shows, that type of interruption could really break the flow. Top, I think you brought us an interesting question. ------------- Mike Polo Community Theater Green Room http://www.communitytheater.org http://www.twitter.com/CTGreenRoom">
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Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 11/08/06 at 12:25am
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A good topic Topper! While commercialism is far from being new to theatre, this is innovative, especially if permission has been granted. I?m thinking about plays where the local radio is used in the background or as an integral part of the play, such as something like Steel Magnolias & there must be others. Even where it states the character has to smoke a cigarette. Think of the revenue from brand product placement on stage, similar to what these companies pay out to the film industry. I have experienced this done in Panto, where the show has paid placement of local ads. But think of how much this could generate for even the script writers & the residuals they could possibly pick up. I know years ago when doing Gang Show, each separate item, sketch or production number of the show & in the programme, was sponsored by a company. But this was relatively easy to do, with this type of variety show. Even to the point of local adverts adorning the good old Slide drops & olio curtains. But this has opened the door to subtle advert & product placement more so on the set or with props. Something to contemplate when choosing a play or musical. Imagine what could be done on the set of ?Our Town? or even ?Sing in the rain? & ?Guys & dolls?, with a neon Marlboro or Lucky strike signage. Or for that matter "Brigadoon? bar scene with adverts of local beer, grog or fags. There has to be a lot of innovative marketing possibilities with shakespeare & even G&S or other productions that are in the public domain. This could bring in a load of dollars for a group, without upsetting the integrally of the show. Mind you I have done a number of productions that were heavenly sponsored by that famous soft drink company & even government agencies, which have almost driven me further around the twist, with their insistence of being promoted more or seeking aggressive & inappropriate marketing or promotional ploys. Although a few have I?m sure must have put extra bums on seats by offering product give a ways to the punters. But the possibilities are endless in turning a coin or two!  ------------- Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house} |
Posted By: teridtiger
Date Posted: 11/08/06 at 12:56pm
| We did this for our production of "Godspell". The set was basically a public sidewalk/bus stop/construction job site. We sold "advertising" for the bus stop and local construction companies pitched by lending equipment and signage. Additional mentions and thanks were also noted in our program. |
Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 11/15/06 at 4:19am
| If changing a scene break or act break is a copyright violation as is being claimed elsewhere on this forum then adding words, advertisements no less, to a scene change must surely be an even worse violation. |
Posted By: Mike Polo
Date Posted: 11/15/06 at 9:28am
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I've changed this topic to appear in all forums temporarily as I think it has some interesting ramifications, particularly in light of some of the discussions in the directing forum regarding copyright issues. ------------- Mike Polo Community Theater Green Room http://www.communitytheater.org http://www.twitter.com/CTGreenRoom">
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Posted By: B-M-D
Date Posted: 11/16/06 at 12:42pm
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It states in the article that the director decided to make the ads real. This says to me that most likely it replaced what was written. Unless there's an option stated in the script or permission was obtained, that's clearly a violation of copyright and the performance license. But advertising in plays during scene changes??!! We get it on TV, we get it in movie theatres before the show starts, we even get it on-line. Is there nowhere one can be entertained and not have someone try to sell me something? Believe me I'm as capitalist and free speech as they come but that just seems.....wrong. ------------- BD 
"Dying is easy, comedy is hard." |
Posted By: falstaff29
Date Posted: 11/16/06 at 4:34pm
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Personally, I think it's horrible. I recently saw a production of
Moby Dick: The Musical (which is FAR worse than it sounds), and when
they're loading the boat, each crate had an ad for a local
business. The cast member would be dancing, and then just stop
center stage for about 10 seconds. If the production weren't so
godawful anyway, I'd accuse the plugs of ruining the play. As Gaafa has mentioned, there are plays where the radio is a character, and so real ads could be worked in. But do we really want this? I think it'd take the audience out of the scene, not to mention how tasteless it is. Frankie and Johnny, Talk Radio, Grease....? No! Even Grease which I hate I wouldn't pollute with this sort of crap. |
Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 11/16/06 at 6:50pm
Maybe you could just dress everyone in the play as Nascar drivers so you could cover their costumes with business logos. Or the main character could have "VISA" tattooed on their forehead. |
Posted By: red diva
Date Posted: 11/20/06 at 4:56pm
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This isn't an innovative idea. It's cheap and tawdry and reflects a complete lack of respect for the play being done. Perhaps if the show is comedy or light musical (something like Anything Goes), such an approach might work--if handled with care. I, too wonder, what the publishers would think. I don't that this sort of thing was cleared with them, because the "brain" that came up with this kind of idea wouldn't think to check. ------------- "I've worked long and hard to earn the right to be called Diva!" |
Posted By: Juror #3
Date Posted: 11/20/06 at 4:59pm
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The last posting from Red Diva is actually from me, Juror #3. I neglected to make sure she had logged out. ------------- Juror #3 |