Recent DirecTV Ad

fitbabits · 10-20-2008, 04:17 PM

Am I the only one who finds it sickening that DirecTV are using a dead child in their latest advertising campaign (the one that's bases on Poltergeist)?

Quote:

Heather O'Rourke, [the] actress who played Carol Anne in all three Poltergeist movies, died in 1988 at the age of 12 after what doctors initially described as an acute form of influenza but later changed to septic shock after bacterial toxins invaded her bloodstream.[5] At the time, she had suffered acute bowel obstruction, initially diagnosed as Crohn's disease, which may have been the cause of death.

Zero · 10-20-2008, 04:19 PM

It definitely made me uncomfortable. Why, Craig T. Nelson, why?

Gwinny · 10-20-2008, 04:23 PM

I... don't know. A lot of people probably don't know she's dead? I didn't. I recognized they were spoofing a well-known horror movie but I'd never heard of Heather O'Rourke. It's somewhat odd, but no more so than using any other performance of a dead actor/actress.

pomeroy · 10-20-2008, 04:30 PM

The creepiest ads were the ones where they used Orville Redenbacher.

Food Nipple · 10-20-2008, 04:45 PM

I guess I don't see the big deal. Are you offended by ads using living children or dead adults, or it a special case when you put the two together?

johnperkins21 · 10-20-2008, 04:53 PM

You probably aren't the only one, but I don't think it's a big deal at all. I don't even think it's a minor deal. She got paid for the gig, and now the production company owns the rights to that performance and can do with it what they wish.

Her line didn't change in the commercial, only Craig T. Nelson's did. So they were true to her original work. Not sure what's so sickening about it. Do you feel they're exploiting her death somehow to promote their product? I'd say the promos for cable news shows that talk about that missing girl (Caylee?) are more exploitative than this. They're actually exploiting the fact that she's missing and probably dead to sell their product whereas DirecTV is simply using a piece of art she created while alive.

Sazime · 10-20-2008, 06:51 PM

If it was her ghost haunting Nelson, it'd be horrible. But it's not, it's based on Poltergeist and a famous scene. That's all.

Xerxes · 10-21-2008, 12:48 AM

Never saw it until now, and I don't get it. He just changed his lines from the movie.

Quote:

The advertisement was given the blessing from Heather's mother prior to conception and production of the ad. She considered it a tribute to her daughter.

Jeffool · 10-21-2008, 12:54 AM

I dunno, it's not like they had the character say anything new. They weren't using 'her' as the spokesperson. I'm not offended by it.

Sandman · 10-21-2008, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zero

It definitely made me uncomfortable. Why, Craig T. Nelson, why?

Because The District failed and re-runs of Poltergeist movies and Coach don't bring in the cash like they used to?

Xerxes · 10-21-2008, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandman

Because The District failed and re-runs of Poltergeist movies and Coach don't bring in the cash like they used to?

You'd be surprised about the Coach money. :rolleyes:

Zero · 10-21-2008, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandman

Because The District failed and re-runs of Poltergeist movies and Coach don't bring in the cash like they used to?

He had the Incredibles though.

10-20-2008, 04:19 PM	#2
Zero Back from E3. Boo. Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas Posts: 3,780 Blog Entries: 2	It definitely made me uncomfortable. Why, Craig T. Nelson, why? __________________ Check out my E3 '12 pics. Now with less misogynistic, objectification of women!

10-21-2008, 12:54 AM	#9
Jeffool Apathet Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 1,415 Blog Entries: 9	I dunno, it's not like they had the character say anything new. They weren't using 'her' as the spokesperson. I'm not offended by it. __________________ Jeffool.com

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10-20-2008, 04:23 PM	#3
Gwinny was JRR006 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,880	I... don't know. A lot of people probably don't know she's dead? I didn't. I recognized they were spoofing a well-known horror movie but I'd never heard of Heather O'Rourke. It's somewhat odd, but no more so than using any other performance of a dead actor/actress.

10-20-2008, 04:45 PM	#5
Food Nipple Gravity Always Wins Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New York Posts: 1,559 Blog Entries: 1	I guess I don't see the big deal. Are you offended by ads using living children or dead adults, or it a special case when you put the two together?

10-20-2008, 04:53 PM	#6
johnperkins21 Colonist Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 2,631	You probably aren't the only one, but I don't think it's a big deal at all. I don't even think it's a minor deal. She got paid for the gig, and now the production company owns the rights to that performance and can do with it what they wish. Her line didn't change in the commercial, only Craig T. Nelson's did. So they were true to her original work. Not sure what's so sickening about it. Do you feel they're exploiting her death somehow to promote their product? I'd say the promos for cable news shows that talk about that missing girl (Caylee?) are more exploitative than this. They're actually exploiting the fact that she's missing and probably dead to sell their product whereas DirecTV is simply using a piece of art she created while alive.

10-20-2008, 06:51 PM	#7
Sazime Laurel for Dictator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Novato, CA Posts: 1,142 Blog Entries: 2	If it was her ghost haunting Nelson, it'd be horrible. But it's not, it's based on Poltergeist and a famous scene. That's all.