Zack and Miri Make a Porno is having a hard time mentioning its name in ad space. The word “porno” is being deemed offensive and causing all sorts of problems in some locations, and for some media outlets. We get the following skinny from the orgy caves of Yahoo:
Some newspaper, TV and outdoor ads for Smith’s comedy “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” have been rejected because of their content or the five-letter word that ends the title, said Gary Faber, head of marketing for the Weinstein Co., which is releasing the film.
Among those refusing to carry ads are about 15 newspapers and several TV stations and cable channels, Faber said. Commercials for the film during Los Angeles Dodgers games on Fox Sports were dropped at the team’s request after some viewers complained, said Dodgers spokesman Josh Rawitch.
I personally don’t see the problem with the word “Porno” on a poster, but can see how parents may not be thrilled when their kid catches a glimpse of the poster and asks “what’s a porno”. This happened at a Dodgers game and was one of the reasons changes were made there. For the full account of how that exchange went down please check out the source article.
I’m all for freedom to do and say whatever you want, and I don’t think adults should dedicate their lives to the protection of innocence. However, I do think that it is prudent and appropriate to let kids be kids and let them figure out naughty time by themselves as nature demands. We do have a hyper sexualized adspace and if I was a parent I would certainly be concerned and protective of my youngsters against the marketers that desire to hasten the whoredom of my offspring. If I was a parent, this poster may be cause for alarm, but as someone who doesn’t have kids – it doesn’t.
This is probably becoming tougher to market than anyone expected. They could always have the poster look like a DVD cover with the non de-script brown packaging peeled back to reveal “Zack and Miri” (with Make a Porno under the wrapper still). People who have seen porno would understand that the plain wrapper is for privacy.
What do you guys think? Should people settle down, or do parents have a point. What poster ideas do you have that may please everyone?
The above post was written by Doug Nagy
