In SHOOT’s recent online survey asking for feedback on last month’s Advertising Week in New York, the majority of respondents felt that the event did a good job of promoting the industry but unfortunately was undermined by yet another crop of negative political advertising that is an embarrassment to our business.
While this is most painfully evident in mudslinging political spots in which character assassination–not to mention assassination of the facts and the issues–remains the norm, there’s plenty of cause for embarrassment outside that overtly offensive realm. Consider the authority figures who appear in ads.
Last week The Los Angeles Times reported on the money being spent by the tobacco industry to defeat the Proposition 86 cigarette tax initiative and by the oil business to combat Proposition 87, which would place a tax on big oil. Both propositions are on the California ballot for the November election. In return for significant sums of money, many spokespeople carrying weight have come out against both initiatives.
But perhaps more telling is The Times’ account of Dr. Americo Simonini, who refused to appear in a No on 86 spot. When a casting call went out for a doctor-actor to appear in a commercial, Simonini read for the part and impressed those casting the job. However when offered the gig, Simonini declined upon realizing he was siding with the tobacco industry. Like many in the healthcare field, Simonini believes the tobacco tax would do some good, helping to discourage some people–particularly minors–from smoking. “I’m a cardiologist. I can’t do that,” he was quoted as saying in the Times article.
Still Big Tobacco tried to entice Simonini, telling him that the initial $5,000 fee could double if his name could be used and he could be identified as a physician. Simonini added that he was told if the ad ran for the duration of the campaign, the pay would multiply accordingly. While he has student loans to repay, Simonini still respectfully declined.
“It would have been a feather for them to have a doctor come on board,” he said to The Times. “There are people working very cleverly to achieve their ends, to undermine what is good for us. Why?…So much is at stake.”
The Times published a chart of special interest payments ranging from $18,600 to $160,000 to authority figure spokespeople–or their “agents”– in order to help defeat or pass certain propositions. Paid endorsements can include TV and radio spots, mass mailings, press conferences and public appearances. Campaigns pay for such testimonials because they frequently work.
On the subject of these paid endorsements, Elisa Odabashian, West Coast director of the nonprofit Consumers Union, told The Times, “In the marketplace, consumers can get bamboozled in every direction. Unfortunately, the initiative process is a marketplace. It has become no different than selling a drug or a car. The idea is the product, and somebody is paying for it.”
Nominees Unveiled For Cinema Audio Society’s 61st Annual Awards
The Cinema Audio Society has unveiled its nominees in seven categories for the 61st Annual CAS Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing 2024.
The 61st CAS Awards will be held on Saturday, February 22, at the Beverly Hilton.
Nominated in the live action motion picture category were the audio teams behind A Complete Unknown, Deadpool & Wolverine, Dune: Part Two, Gladiator II and Wicked.
Animated motion picture nominees were the sound ensembles behind Inside Out 2, Moana 2, Mufasa: The Lion King, The Wild Robot and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.
As previously announced, multi-award-winning sound mixer Tod A. Maitland CAS (A Complete Unknown, West Side Story, Joker), will be honored with the CAS Career Achievement Award. In addition, visionary filmmaker Denis Villeneuve (Dune: Part Two, Blade Runner 2049, Arrival) will receive the Cinema Audio Society’s Filmmaker Award.
The CAS Award nominees highlight the outstanding contributions of sound mixers, recognizing excellence in the specialized craft of sound mixing for both film and television. Each year, accomplished CAS members—who possess extensive expertise in the art and science of sound—carefully review hundreds of projects to ensure the nominees truly reflect excellence in sound mixing in Motion Picture and Television entertainment.
“2024 was a year of remarkable achievements in the sound community, with exceptional talent on display across every category,” said CAS president Peter Kurland. “The innovation and artistry of these sound mixers continue to elevate the craft, and the upcoming awards will be a celebration of the outstanding contributions made this year. Congratulations to... Read More