Seesaw Media is a leading branded entertainment agency specialising in Product Placement and Promotions for the film, television, streaming and music industry and due to recent developments are currently looking for a dynamic Account Co-ordinator/Manager to join our expanding team.
The successful candidate will either be recent graduate with marketing or media background or someone who has industry experience as an Account Manager, servicing clients and looking for an exciting and evolving career in the world of product placement. You will naturally have a keen interest in film, television and music as well as knowledge of the latest social media platforms and emerging technology. You will be confident, keen to learn all aspects of the industry, able to work as part of a team, get involved with all aspects of the business from liaising with clients to pitching but also have the skills to work independently on projects.
Salary: £20,000-£30,000 depending on experience and role.
Please note, if you already have experience in product placement and are looking for a change, then please do feel free to apply in strictest confidence, stating your experience in your covering letter.
Location: NW London
Day-to-Day Responsibilities
Media Placement – Proactive continual contact with TV and Film productions to pitch and secure clients products and services for on screen exposure
Script Evaluation – Reading and identifying scripts to evaluate suitable product integration for clients
Monitoring and tracking all placements (including attending preview screenings)
Monthly Activity Reports – Compile monthly activity reports for clients
Speaking on the phone to productions in the UK and internationally
Draft press releases, maintain and develop SEO across companies online platforms
First point of contact for productions and clients (existing and potential)
Attend team meetings and contribute ideas to enhance client offering.
Client Service
Client Meetings – Attend client meetings and present to clients when requested
Client’s Business – Develop clear understanding and interest in client’s business and products
Client Contact – Maintain regular client contact, ensuring the client is briefed on all relevant account activity
Client Relationship – Identify and resolve client needs/problems where applicable
Opportunities – Identify opportunities for further account expansion/development
Any other duties as requested by management team
New Business
Opportunities – Help incremental business opportunities on current accounts and new business with new prospects and new clients.
Research and prepare new business proposals for new and existing clients and participate in new business meetings and presentations.
Identify and contact relevant Brand Directors to increase company offering and client portfolio.
General
Job responsibilities are subject to change as the business and our requirements evolve.
As part of the Seesaw team you will be expected and encouraged to take part in all aspects of the business.
A minimum 18-month visa to work in the UK
Please reply with CV, covering letter and your three favourite films or television shows, stating why to [email protected]
Closing Date for applications is Tuesday 15th June 2021
PLEASE NOTE SEESAW MEDIA IS NOT A PRODUCTION COMPANY SO IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A ROLE BEHIND THE CAMERA OR IN A PRODUCTION COMPANY PLEASE DO NOT APPLY.
DUE TO THE HIGH VOLUME OF APPLICANTS IF YOU HAVE NOT HEARD FROM US BY JUNE 28TH 2021 YOU HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT THIS TIME.
The relationship between fashion and film has been important to both since the early 20th century. It is a relationship based on mutual respect and inspiration, and it continues to grow to this day.
You only have to glance at the titles of pop culture favourites Breakfast At Tiffany’s (1961), The Devil Wears Prada (2006), and From Prada to Nada (2011) to see that designer fashion in particular has been film’s loyal muse and leading lady over the years. The industries are so intertwined that many top names have even designed costume themselves, from Christian Dior in Hitchcock’s Stage Fright (1950) to Miuccia Prada in Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby (2013). It is well known that Tom Ford is James Bond’s tailor of choice, designing suits for Daniel Craig’s incarnation of the character since 2008, and he has inserted himself still more firmly in the world of film since turning director with the critically-acclaimed and of course very stylish A Single Man (2009).
James Bond in Tom Ford for Skyfall (2012) [source: Vanity Fair].Films and TV shows rely on costume to convey key messages about their characters. Namely, who they are or who they want to be. Presenting a character as chic and successful may require luxury labels whose status is widely regarded by audiences as aspirational. Product placement is often key in this. On a practical level, the gifts and discounts provided by product placement are welcomed by costume departments to assist with budgets.
What do the labels get in return? Primarily, exposure. Directly referencing brands as luxurious or depicting them in contexts of opulence, for example, associating them with affluent characters, reinforces their reputation for quality. Breakfast At Tiffany’s is a prime example. Whilst the Tiffany name may have lent a certain glamour to the production on its contemporary release, the film’s cult status as a Hollywood classic, bolstered by the legendary beauty and talent of Audrey Hepburn, has since reinforced the glamorous associations of Tiffany & Co. in mainstream culture. Today, Ridley Scott’s biographical crime film House of Gucci is increasing the cultural capital of its eponymous brand by provoking discussion on social media even before its release, largely due to the starring role of popstar-turned-actor Lady Gaga.
Darryl Collis, Director of Seesaw Media, has worked with leading costume designers for 20 years, dressing many iconic characters including James Bond, Ethan Hunt, and Lisbeth Salander in his clients. He has seen the direct impact that a fictional character’s style can have on the real-world brand they wear, noting that “When an aspirational or fashion forward character wears an item, whether that be a watch, jacket or sunglasses, it’s a very powerful statement and audiences notice. They will either go directly to the brand’s website if they know what it is or to social media to track down what that must have brand is resulting in a purchase.”
With the partnership between fashion retail and costume design now so strong, let’s take a look at some of the most memorable designer placements of recent film and TV…
1. Sex and the City (New Line Cinema, 2008) – Manolo Blahnik
Carrie and Big in the Sex and the City movie [source: graziadaily.co.uk].It would be remiss to not start with Sex and the City. Carrie Bradshaw’s devotion to Manolo Blahnik throughout the TV series undoubtedly helped make him a household name – according to The Guardian, it’s where fashion designer Harris Reed (famed for that Harry Styles Vogue cover) ‘learned the word “Manolo”’. It is only right, then, that long-time love Mr. Big proposes to Carrie in the SATC movie with Manolo’s iconic blue satin Hangisi pump in one of the most iconic movie proposals of all time.
2. Killing Eve (BBC, 2018-) – Molly Goddard
Villanelle in Molly Goddard, Killing Eve series 1 [source: Vogue.com].Killing Eve engrossed audiences in 2018 with not only the killer nature of lead, assassin Villanelle, but also her killer style. The dress pictured, epitomising the soft tulle silhouette which has become fashion designer Molly Goddard’s signature, perfectly juxtaposes Villanelle’s ruthless character and hard emotional façade. This led to meme-worthy notoriety when the show first aired, boosting Molly Goddard’s own brand recognition and launching a trend in vivid mesh smock dresses that took the high-street, as well as the runway, by storm.
3. The Wolf of Wall Street (Paramount Pictures, 2013) – Tag Heuer
Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort in Wolf of Wall Street [source: IMDB.com].He may throw it into a crowd of employees as if it’s worth no more than a Chupa Chup, but that watch moment in Wolf of Wall Street has become so memorable that it is, in retrospect, an incredibly valuable placement for Tag Heuer. Claiming that it’s worth $40,000, Jordan Belfort, played by Tag Heuer ambassador Leonardo DiCaprio, somewhat exaggerates the value of his gold-plated watch. However, this only serves to make the brand appear even more desirable to viewers, reinforced by the motivational words of Belfort’s ‘I have been a rich man and I have been a poor man and I choose rich every…time’ speech.
4. Hustlers (STX Entertainment, 2019) – Christian Louboutin
Christian Louboutin showcased in Hustlers [source: productplacementblog.com].A gift-giving Christmas scene in Hustlers provides Christian Louboutin with a prime opportunity for product placement. Not only does it imply that their product is premium – that they are a brand for the special occasion – it also allows for their branding to appear clearly centre-frame, as the gifted shoes are presented in a branded shoebox.
5. Kingsman: The Secret Service (Twentieth Century Fox, 2014-) – MR PORTER
Colin Firth in Kingsman [source: stylus.com].For the first two films of the Kingsman franchise, MR PORTER partnered with Costume Designer Arianne Phillips and collaborated with a range of high-end brands such as George Cleverly, Turnbull & Asser, and Bremont to bring the style of the films’ costume to real wardrobes. Now, ahead of the third instalment of the franchise, The King’s Man (a prequel set in the 1910s), MR PORTER is taking customers back in time with classic wartime silhouettes. Creating buzz around the film’s release whilst using the Kingsman name, MR PORTER’s menswear line is undoubtedly a success for both production and brand.
Crazy Rich Asians is a love story negotiating class and economic difference, necessitating the depiction of great wealth and impeccable taste. It was, therefore, a ‘no-brainer’ for Mouawad when the luxury designer was asked to be involved and lend their jewels for filming, according to the South China Morning Post. The brand is even woven into the plot as we see style icon Astrid browsing in one of their stores.
7. 6 Underground (Netflix, 2019) – Belstaff
Ryan Reynolds in Belstaff for 6 Underground [source: Christian Black via Observer].Belstaff gained substantial screen time in Netflix’s 2019 blockbuster 6 Underground. Ryan Reynolds stars as a billionaire vigilante who fakes his own death in order to hunt down the world’s darkest criminals undisturbed, showcasing Belstaff’s resilient, battle-ready styles with no fewer than four of their jackets in his wardrobe.
8. The Duchess (Netflix, 2020) – Victoria Percival
Katherine Ryan in The Duchess [source: hellomagazine.com].Katherine Ryan’s character in The Duchess may be slightly chaotic, even a diva, but her outfits are always well put together, and her headbands are a testament to this. At once stylish and statement, the chunky, embellished headbands which appear throughout the series are all by accessories designer Victoria Percival, who even created a few custom pieces for the show. Signifying her own regal sense of self-worth, these glittering head pieces are the crowning glory of Ryan’s many expensive looks and give Percival’s brand a starring role onscreen.
9. Emily in Paris – Off-White (Netflix, 2020-)
Off-White in Emily in Paris [source: refinery29.com].As previously mentioned, the loud and consciously clichéd style of Emily in Paris has had tongues wagging since its 2020 release. If we believe the maxim ‘all press is good press’, then Emily’s bold looks, such as this Off-White co-ord, have provided their brands with some incredible exposure.
Derek Zoolander and Hansel on the Valentino runway [source: vogue.com].Valentino features heavily in the costumes of Zoolander 2, even featuring a Valentino-clad character named Valentina. Cementing this relationship between label and production, the film’s leads Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson took to the Valentino runway at 2015 Paris Fashion Week as ex-models Derek Zoolander and Hansel. Zoolander 2 is a tongue-in-cheek portrayal of the designer world and by inviting its title characters to the most important event of the fashion industry’s calendar, Valentino made sure that the industry was in on the joke. Capturing the attention of social media worldwide, this was a publicity stunt that served some serious ‘blue steel’ and excellent exposure for both Valentino and Zoolander 2.
HONORABLE MENTION: The Gentlemen (STX Entertainment, 2019) – Lonsdale
Colin Farrell and his crew in The Gentlemen [source: highsnobiety.com].Whilst Lonsdale may not first come to mind as a high-end label, it must be included in this list because of the success of its placement in Guy Ritchie’s 2019 film The Gentlemen. With 16 minutes of screen time and an audience of over 58 million, Concave Brand Tracking valued this placement at $16.5M, earning Seesaw Media the award for #1 Single-Movie Placement of 2020. Lonsdale even produced and marketed a bespoke range of plaid tracksuits based on the distinctive styles worn by Colin Farrell and his crew in the film. Priced at around £75 a tracksuit, these products are placed at the higher end of the Lonsdale range, showcasing the audience’s willingness to pay more for brands that have appeared on screen.
Film and TV are, undeniably, in vogue. The fashion world has taken notice, and it is wisely making use of the increased non-traditional avenues in brand promotion. As both industries continue to grow rapidly, this promises ever greater opportunity in product placement. The future certainly looks promising for high-end fashion in film, and we can’t wait to see the creative collaborations coming to our screens in the coming months.
With cinemas set to reopen in the coming months, film fans have an action-packed year ahead. Whilst television and streaming services have saved many from boredom in lockdown, nothing beats the big screen experience.
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on cinema: many screens across the globe have been shut for over a year, and in March theatre giant Cineworld recorded a $3bn loss. Cineworld is hoping to regain pre-pandemic levels of admission by 2023 and share prices by 2024, so the reopening of cinemas is a welcome relief to both visitors and investors, and it is arriving not a moment too soon. Summer is traditionally the most exciting and profitable season of the film calendar, and major distributors are lining up to release long-awaited blockbusters. Pre-pandemic, we were seeing a boom at the box office from hits like Avengers: Endgame and The Lion King, and 2019 box office figures broke records with $42.5bn takings globally. Such figures this year would breathe some life into the industry and, hopefully, restore it to its pre-pandemic glory.
But it is not only cinemagoers and the distributors who are keen to see them released, it is big brands too. The brands that have worked with productions through product placement and by investing media dollars to promote their partnerships, are eager to see their products hitting the big screen this summer. The return of major franchises throughout the year, such as Bond, The Matrix, Fast & Furious, Kingsman, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Black Widow), plus the arrival of long-awaited sequels Top Gun: Maverick and Venom, will no doubt be accompanied by promotional tie-ins from companies looking to publicize their product placement. Expect to see big campaigns from the likes of Jaguar Land Rover, Aston Martin, Omega, Ray-Ban, Heineken, and Nokia, whose latest commercial in partnership with Bond has the 007 agent Nomi showcasing one of their latest models whilst on a mission.
So, with cinemas starting to fill up their screens and brands promoting the big movie partnerships, it looks like 2021 could hail a revival of cinema.
Seesaw Media is a leading branded entertainment agency specialising in Product Placement and Promotions for the film, television and music industry and we are currently looking for a Co-ordinator to work as part of our expanding team in our London office.
The successful candidate will be a recent graduate with marketing or media background or someone who is looking for an exciting and evolving career in the world of product placement. You will naturally have a keen interest in film, television and music as well as knowledge of the latest social media platforms and emerging technology. You will be confident, keen to learn all aspects of the industry, able to work as part of a team but also have the skills to work independently on projects.
Salary: £20,000+ depending on experience
Please note, if you already have experience in product placement and are looking for a change, then please do feel free to apply in strictest confidence, stating your experience in your covering letter.
Start Date: February 2020
Location: NW London
Day-to-Day Responsibilities
Media Placement – Proactive continual contact with TV and Film productions to pitch and secure clients products and services for on screen exposure
Script Evaluation – Reading and identifying scripts to evaluate suitable product integration for clients
Monitoring and tracking all placements (including attending preview screenings)
Monthly Activity Reports – Compile monthly activity reports for clients
Speaking on the phone to productions in the UK and internationally
Draft press releases, maintain and develop SEO across companies online platforms
First point of contact for productions and clients (existing and potential)
Client Service
Client Meetings – Attend client meetings and present to clients when requested
Client’s Business – Develop clear understanding and interest in client’s business and products
Client Contact – Maintain regular client contact, ensuring the client is briefed on all relevant account activity
Client Relationship – Identify and resolve client needs/problems where applicable
Opportunities – Identify opportunities for further account expansion/development
Any other duties as requested by management team
New Business
Opportunities – Help incremental business opportunities on current accounts and new business with new prospects and new clients.
Research and prepare new business proposals for new and existing clients and participate in new business meetings and presentations.
Identify and contact relevant Brand Directors to increase company offering and client portfolio.
General
Job responsibilities are subject to change as the business and our requirements evolve.
As part of the Seesaw team you will be expected and encouraged to take part in all aspects of the business.
A minimum 18-month visa to work in the UK
Please reply with CV, covering letter and your three favourite films or television shows and why to [email protected]
Closing Date for applications is Friday 31st January 2020
PLEASE NOTE SEESAW MEDIA IS NOT A PRODUCTION COMPANY SO PLEASE DO NOT APPLY IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A ROLE WORKING IN PRODUCTION
After a much-anticipated wait Game of Thrones is back with its final season, which will be its biggest, boldest and most brutal season to date. Boasting over 17 million viewers for its first episode, Game of Thrones has taken the world by storm, simultaneously bringing people together to watch this winding and ever-changing fantasy world and dividing opinions as to who will get killed off and sit on the Iron Throne. In any event, people are hooked to the show and because of this, brands are wanting to capitalise on this pop culture sensation. Whilst it may not be full of product placement – putting aside the Ikea rugs that many of the cast wear– we take a look some of the ingenious marketing campaigns that creatively celebrate the show and its rich world we have all come to know and love.
Oreo
Game of Thrones title sequence is famed for its marvellous animation of the geographical landscape that the world is set in and a thundering theme tune that will make anyone burst out into song (loud hums) as soon as the show starts. This iconic opening was reimaged by Oreo who used their delicious biscuits to recreate the original opening’s clockwork-like motion.
This was to promote a series of four limited-edition Oreo packs, each with a unique design referencing one of the many houses seen in the show. Oreo motivated people to vote for their allegiances (House Stark, The Night King, House Targaryen, House Lannister) via the brands website and social media pages to those who got involved, by offering a “special treat” for participating. It’s safe to say that many people will have an Iron’s bank worth of snacks to eat through these movie length episodes, just like Oreo said, ‘Cookies are Coming’.
Diageo
In a similar vein to Oreo and one Tyrion would no doubt appreciate, Diageo is one of many spirits companies to have released a limited-edition range of single malt whiskies to celebrate the last season. Focusing on Westeros, the collection matches a whiskey to a specific house from the region in the show, even going so far as to choose taste profiles and brewing locations that suitably match the characteristics and legacies of the Houses. For example, the Cardhu Gold Reserve is in recognition towards the fiery demeanour of Daenerys Targaryen.
Diageo’s number 1 selling whisky Johnnie Walker couldn’t resist renaming their well-known Jonnie Walker whiskey to White Walker and with an added nod to the show they made it to be served straight from the freezer. A drink that will definitely get you through the long night. An obvious and well executed concept that seamlessly merges both the brand and the show due to product relevance and target audiences, creating a real buzz that benefits both parties and leads to an increase in sales and awareness for the show.
Sky UK and Volvo
Sky Atlantic channels sponsor teamed up with Volvo and brought the Iron Throne to members of the public around the UK. With there being seven kingdoms in Game of Thrones it was only natural that the tour went around seven cities nationwide, giving fans a chance to sit on the heavily fought after Iron Throne and encourage them to take a picture and raise as much awareness as possible.
Sky Atlantic also partnered with the British Army and had the Coldstream Guards Band at the Tower of London perform the Game of Thrones main theme. They were supported by a “cheer”-leading band of The Nights Watch who surprised and delighted fans with a Game of Thrones inspired military display when they were waiting for a traditional Changing of Guard Duty. This fantastic spectacle took two months of planning and organisation to execute and fully entertained the public.
Urban Decay
HBO knows with this being the final season for Game of Thrones as well as the inevitable deaths that will occur, there will be floods of tears from fans whose make-up will run faster than you can say “Dracarys”. With the show having strong female characters and appealing equally to both male and female audiences alike, it was no surprise that make-up brand Urban Decay wanted a piece of the seven kingdoms, creating a Game of Thrones inspired cosmetics kit. Their licence deal includes an eye shadow set that features a pop-up Iron Throne, brushes in the shape of Arya’s and Jon Snow’s swords and colour palettes like “White Walker”, “Dragons Smoke” and “Lannister Gold”.
With only 4 episodes left of the final season fans will be at the edge of their seats eagerly awaiting to see who lives and who dies. The wide love of the show is evident in the many brand partnerships that have come on board, increasing with every season. Whilst the end of the series may create a void in many fans lives, with rumours of a prequel in the works co-written by Kick Ass and Kingsman alumni Jane Goldman, fans or brands won’t have to wait long for their next fix of winter/emotional turmoil.
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