The advertising is starting to piss me off

[Dale]

First off, I am not "anti" the new movie. No canonista, me. I am excited about it.

Second, I have been a Trekkie since TOS began. Life-long fan.

Third, I acknowledge that new fans are required for the franchise to survive.

Qualifications made, the advertsing is really starting to piss me off. Every new ad makes it a little clearer that this movie is not aimed at me, was not made for me, and doesn't feel it needs me to succeed.

Tonight, I saw an ad (during Chuck, I think) with the tagline "This is not your father's Star Trek."

Now, I get it... I do. But not only did I become a fan at my father's knee... I am now so far, agewise, outside the target demographic for this new movie that I am, in fact, the "father" to whom they are referring (despite not having children of my own).

I just find it galling. It's as though they're saying "We don't need you, we don't want you... and face it, we know you're coming anyway so we know we can take you for granted and even crap in your Cheerios without losing your money."

Problem is, they're right. I will go no matter what they do or say... I can't resist. But it pisses me off that they're rubbing my nose in it.

 

[Data Holmes]

You ever stop to think that the ads was what wasn't "aimed at me, was not made for me,"?

I mean, these ads are directed to all the anti-trek people out there. Think if it as advertising three card monty.

 

[Akiraprise]

and face it, we know you're coming anyway so we know we can take you for granted and even crap in your Cheerios without losing your money."

Actually if you buy a Kelloggs cereal instead you will find Trek XI 'crap' in the box.

The ads being aimed at people other than us doesn't matter to me. They need to attract new blood. You're right. They know we are going no matter what. So obviously the earlier marketing designed to catch the attention of the Trek fans worked. They don't need to focus on us anymore.

 

[Dale]

You ever stop to think that the ass was what wasn't "aimed at me, was not made for me,"?

I mean, these adds are directed to all the anti-trek people out there. Think if it as advertising three card monty.

I'm going to ASSume that by "ass" you meant "ad" or "ads," and if so... well that's just my point. The ad not only isn't aimed at me but in fact reaches its target demo by shining on my very existence.

"Hey kids! Come see our bitchin-ass new "Fast & Furious" style Star Trek! It's not for those old fogies who've been watching Star Trek their whole lives. Screw THEM! We hate them, just like you do!"

Can't it be for me just a little bit? Can't they kiss my ass just a little?

 

[Dale]

and face it, we know you're coming anyway so we know we can take you for granted and even crap in your Cheerios without losing your money."

Actually if you buy a Kelloggs cereal instead you will find Trek XI 'crap' in the box.

The ads being aimed at people other than us doesn't matter to me. They need to attract new blood. You're right. They know we are going no matter what. So obviously the earlier marketing designed to catch the attention of the Trek fans worked. They don't need to focus on us anymore.

I know you're right... I get that this is the hard push for the kids and non-fans, but I feel a tad thrown under the bus.

Guess I'm just venting.

 

[Aragorn]

The very fact that this movie's budget is like the last three Trek movies' budgets combined means it's not going to be like any Trek you've seen before -- at least visually. Plus the TOS roles have all be recast.

Do you think Oldsmobile drivers were offended by the "This is not your father's Oldsmobile" commercials? One of them which featured Nimoy, by the way.

 

[Biggshow]

As you know, I'm also old school and a non-canonista. I think the ad boys are doing the right thing and they aren't talking to us. They know that WE know that ST was always cooler than the general public ever knew (except for STTFF and STI and TATV and...uh...never mind...).

If it will make you feel better, go read the early review at Trekmovie.com. It seems Abrams, et al, likes us. He really, really likes us.

 

[btflash]

i might be in the minority here but i feel that if the powers that be alienate the old , hardcore fan base they could potentially hurt this films box office. after all we are the ones who will go see a trek film again and again if its good , right? im not convinced that the younger crowd will do that.i could be wrong though.

 

[Eddie Roth]

Sure. But would you not go see the movie several times if you really like it just because you felt the advertising hurt your feelings?

Let's face it. We as the die-hard Trekkies (we are!) will always be at least curious about a new Trek project. As for a TV series, yeah, we might end up not liking it so much (ENT?) and tune out after a few episodes, but with a movie, once you've paid to see it, you've already contributed to its success and you will continue to do so because we as Trekkies can't ever get enough of Star Trek. It's kind of in the definition of "Trekkie". So if a movie is out there, and we like it, we will see it again. They know it, and we know it too.

 

[Kelso]

My parents are looking forward to the movie. They think it looks like a lot of fun.

 

[Kpnuts]

First off, I am not "anti" the new movie. No canonista, me. I am excited about it.

Second, I have been a Trekkie since TOS began. Life-long fan.

Third, I acknowledge that new fans are required for the franchise to survive.

Qualifications made, the advertsing is really starting to piss me off. Every new ad makes it a little clearer that this movie is not aimed at me, was not made for me, and doesn't feel it needs me to succeed.

Tonight, I saw an ad (during Chuck, I think) with the tagline "This is not your father's Star Trek."

Now, I get it... I do. But not only did I become a fan at my father's knee... I am now so far, agewise, outside the target demographic for this new movie that I am, in fact, the "father" to whom they are referring (despite not having children of my own).

I just find it galling. It's as though they're saying "We don't need you, we don't want you... and face it, we know you're coming anyway so we know we can take you for granted and even crap in your Cheerios without losing your money."

Problem is, they're right. I will go no matter what they do or say... I can't resist. But it pisses me off that they're rubbing my nose in it.

That's business.

Man up and enjoy the buzz

 

[Skywalker]

Can't it be for me just a little bit? Can't they kiss my ass just a little?

Yes. After they've ensured that the people who need to go see this movie in order for it to be a success will indeed do so.

 

[Brent]

Here is the thing, they already got the Star Trek fans, people like us are already going to go see this movie. They are simply trying to draw a bigger crowd than that, they've got us, so now they want to draw in a whole bunch of other people, people that may have frowned on Trek in the past. Its just to draw in more people, and that's fine with me, the more the better.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

As long as the advertising is effective that's my only interest in it. They can show pictures of dorks wearing Spock ears with a big red "X" across them for all I care (not that they would, unless Conan O'Brien is the new head of Paramount PR).

 

[pookha]

really i think they are being smart in different trailers , clips are aimed at bringing in different audiences .
and some have indeed been aimed at the fans.
that third one especially and the clip of bones and kirk meeting.

it is called marketing .

and if they didnt aim at least some of it at the non trek fan then this movie isnt going to get the bucks.

 

[Shikarnov]

Can't it be for me just a little bit? Can't they kiss my ass just a little?

I'm no fan of everything I've seen so far about the new movie -- but I think they're kissing our TOS-loving asses also. You think they resurrected and polished those old uniforms for the benefit of a modern audience? Or how about the inclusion of the antique bridge effects that didn't even appear in the later series?

As much as I find things to dislike (Kirk's low-brow attitude, the bridge, the ship, etc), even I have to admit that there are lots of little things they included in this film specifically for you and me, and with which we'll probably be quite pleased.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I'm no fan of everything I've seen so far about the new movie -- but I think they're kissing our TOS-loving asses also. You think they resurrected and polished those old uniforms for the benefit of a modern audience? Or how about the inclusion of the antique bridge effects that didn't even appear in the later series?

Exactly so.

Considering the departures they're making with this thing, they've spent an awful lot of time and energy holding our hands for the last couple of years. Now it's time for them to sell this thing to the rest of the world - and yeah, that necessarily means separating it in the public mind from what has come before. Based on their research as well as simple observation and good sense, the new folks running Paramount understand that Star Trek is a badly damaged brand in need of rehabilitation.

 

[FordSVT]

Exactly. This would be like General Motors focusing their new advertising campaign on people who've been buying Chevys all along instead of saying "Hey all you Toyota owners, look at us!". It's business, to do otherwise would be negligent.

I don't think saying "this isn't your father's Star Trek" is insulting, it's very clearly the case, for good or ill.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I don't think that "This is not your father's Oldsmobile" probably cost GM a single loyal repeat customer. Sadly, it didn't improve the fortunes of the marque much either.

But then, with a name like that not even the Shat could save them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waTsF57cuq8

 

[indranee]

Can't it be for me just a little bit? Can't they kiss my ass just a little?

Yes. After they've ensured that the people who need to go see this movie in order for it to be a success will indeed do so.

our collective asses aren't being kissed by the ads. it's the interviews, surprise showings, the premiere, the buzz etc that's doing that. I am not resentful of the obvious tilt toward the non-trekkie crowd in the ads. if that's what's going to mean Trek survives, I'll swallow my ego and happily accompany any and all of the noobs who wanna watch this thing because of the ads.