Winning awards is sooo important, so VITAL that studios and network launch big campaigns. It used to be full page ads in industry trades. But now it's literally billboards. There are not that many Emmy voters, and I don't quite see how a billboard will sway a member to vote for your show, but okay.
Except... that this is all money that could be put to better use -- like hiring more writers, or allowing assistants to park on the lot for free. Between the elaborate screener presentations and now billboards -- you could probably get an Aaron Sorkin for what all of that nonsense cost.
I imagine you don't see a "For Your Consideration" ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK billboard in Kansas City or Fort Wayne.
And by the way, it's not just Netflix staging these campaigns.
Sometimes actors get ads included as part of their deals. My favorite was once seeing a full-page ad in Variety that said: "
For Your Consideration for Best Actor in a Motion Picture -- DeForest Kellwy as Bones in STAR TREK 2. " Seriously?
Only in LA.
The emmy campaigning has become just as bad as the oscar campaigning. And I agree that the money could be much better spent.
ReplyDeleteKen, If you could (or have a desire to), can you explain how the voting works and if you feel the screeners, ads and promotion help or hinder the chances of getting an award. Not being in the industry (but being one who likes the awards shows - at least the Emmys and Oscars)I have always wondered how stuff gets chosen over others. Thanks. Always enjoy the blog (and the comments)and the work you do. Tim Rifenburg
ReplyDeleteAre you sure the ad for DeForest Kelley didn't say Best SUPPORTING Actor? That seems more likely. Anyway, just for the heck of it, I went back and looked up the competition in the category the year Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan came out. As a nominee, I'd take Kelley over Charles Durning in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Had Kelley gotten the nomination, should he have beat out the actual winner that year, Louis Gossett Jr? I guess not, though I should point out that, 32 years later, Star Trek II seems to be a better remembered film than An Officer and a Gentleman.
ReplyDeleteThat billboard is so gauche. I always thought advertising yourself "for consideration" of awards is the ultimate in bad taste. I don't understand how these ads actually work, let alone are tolerated. If I were an awards voter, I'd be less inclined to vote for an actor or a show once I saw my vote being courted in such a way. It's like a comedian saying, "Please laugh, I desperately need it," before delivering the punchline. You wouldn't laugh.
ReplyDeleteRobin Williams once said that cocaine is God's way of saying "You're making too much money". I think billboards for Emmy consideration falls into that classification.
ReplyDeleteThere is a current Apple commercial that uses Disney, Simpsons, and other characters for half second appearances. I consider this to be in the same vein. Apple is saying "Look at how much we are overcharging you sheep. And you keep doing it. Well, we're going to blow millions right before your eyes. Don't worry, we'll make it back in a day when we premiere our IPhone with a different color case."
""For Your Consideration for Best Actor in a Motion Picture -- DeForest Kellwy as Bones in STAR TREK 2. " Seriously?
ReplyDeleteOnly in LA. "
I would have thought, Cardiff.
Deforest Kelly? What can I say, Nicholas Meyer really knows how to direct!
ReplyDeleteI see the Emmy ads on sides of buses here in Los Angeles as well...and it's interesting to note that nearly all of these ads are from pay or basic cable networks, not the broadcast nets. I'm guessing ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC don't think such campaigns are financially worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of when I lived in the NYC area from 1979 to 1981 and regularly saw ads on entrances to Manhattan subway stations advertising magazines...not for their news content, but as places to advertise! For "outsiders" such as myself, it seemed weird; when I returned to metro NYC in 1995, such ads had largely disappeared.
I seem to recall that many big stars had it in their contracts that the studio was required to take out at least one FYC ad in the trades, which is why we would be assaulted with such ads for the likes of Eddie Murphy and Adam Sandler, even though they had zero chance of a nomination. Apparently their egos were so out of control that it never occurred to them how foolish these made them look.
ReplyDelete(But of course, Mr. Kelley was a perfect gentlemen, and I suspect Paramount bought them as a way of thanking everyone for saving the franchise.)
I understand the all-time classic was Andy Devine, who appeared in "The Alamo" and ran an ad saying more people were praying for him to win the Oscar than were praying for the men in that battle.
ReplyDeleteJohn Wayne -- who directed as well as starred -- later claimed that ad cost the movie a couple of awards.
"Damnit, Jim! I'm an actor, not an extra!"
ReplyDeleteI love Bones. D. Kelley was the best. He was the Ron Swanson/Nick Offerman of his day, just less appreciated.
This is the best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgcE6NxgrEc
DBenson: That wasn't Andy Devine, it was Chill Wills. Andy Devine isn't even in THE ALAMO.
ReplyDeleteIt's also doubtful that Wills' faux pas cost THE ALAMO any Oscars. It won for Best Sound, but wasn't a favorite in its other categories (Picture, Editing, Color Cinematography, Song).
Now that I think about it, DeForest Kelley was pretty good in that movie. But shouldn't it have gone to Ricardo Montalban?
ReplyDeleteThere was also a billboard for George Clooney from Batman and Robin.