Two alcohol companies are angered over product placement in the critically acclaimed film.
The new Denzel Washington starring vehicle Flight scored big at the box office this past weekend and is already earning serious Oscar buzz but two companies aren’t excited to be a part of this Hollywood party.
EOnline.com is reporting that Budweiser and Stolichnaya want shots of their products removed from the movie, which features Washington as an alcoholic pilot who is seen chugging Budweiser while driving. The two-time Oscar winner is also seen passing out after vodka binges. Both liquor brands object over their products depiction in the Robert Zemeckis-directed film and claim that they were not contacted before filming began on the movie.
Budweiser Vice President Robert McCarthy told E! News, “We would never condone the misuse of our products…It is disappointing…Paramount [the movie studio] chose to use one of our brands in this manner.”
A representative for Stoli agreed saying they would never want the vodka used in the film because of the movie’s controversial storyline.
“…We were dismayed by the choice of Paramount to include Stoli in the recent film Flight,” a spokesman for William Grant & Sons, the vodka’s parent company, said. “Considering the subject matter of Flight, it is certainly not a project we would have willingly participated in...”
Since film companies don’t need permission to use brand names in movies, both beverage companies may have to settle for just being miffed. In addition, filmmakers are also protected by a “fair use” provision, which allows them to feature signage and images without seeking legal permission. Translation: there’s nothing the alcohol companies can do about it.
At least their products weren't prominently featured in a bad film.
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(Photo: AP Photo/Paramount Pictures, Robert Zuckerman)
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