Spectre' German Premiere In Berlin (Photo : Getty Images)
Although there was an offer for multimillion dollar placements for Sony or Samsung Android phones in the film "Spectre," actor Daniel Craig and film director Sam Mendes both turned down the offer.
Apple Insider cites internal Sony communications as the source of the rejection by the two because using those phones would tarnish James Bond's suave image. The information became public when Sony's emails were hacked, according to an article on Financial Times by writer Henry Mance who tackled the role of product placements in movies.
Prior to Mance's article, Business Insider UK's Matt Weinberger also reported that Sony initially offered Craig $5 million to tote a Sony Xperia Z4 phone in "Spectre." A similar $5 million offer was allegedly made by Samsung, part of the $50-million marketing and promotional package offer from the South Korean tech giant which initially was $18 million.
Barbara Broccoli, producer of Bond movies, points out that money is not the sole factor the movie makers considered in rejecting the offer from the two Android phone makers. Columbia Pictures President of Worldwide Business Affairs and Operations Andrew Gumpert agrees, saying, "BEYOND THE $$ factor, there is as you may know, a CREATIVE factor whereby Daniel don't like the Sony phone for the film (the thinking) subjectively/objectively is that James Bond only uses the best." He adds, that in the minds of the actor and director, "the Sony phone is not the best."
Brands that James Bond consider "best" that had featured in past films include Aston Martin cars and Rolex watches.
Apple Insider adds that the Cupertino-based Apple has managed to have every model of Apple computers in movies because of its offer of free access to its products which TV and movie producers have taken.
Unfortunately for Sony and Samsung, the two companies would miss the exposure since "Spectre" made its UK debut on Monday night two weeks ahead of its domestic opening on Thursday night, earning $6.4 million. After a week of showing, the movie has earned a total of $80.4 million in six overseas markets, including the UK, reports Forbes. Sony, though still benefitted since the latest James Bond adventure is produced by EON Productions and Sony Pictures.
