"The Hire" - film by BMW will end a 4 1/2 year internet run

Jason · 10-11-2005, 04:22 PM

THE HIRE - THE ACCLAIMED FILM SERIES BY BMW - WILL END A FOUR AND A HALF YEAR INTERNET RUN OCTOBER 21ST
10/11/2005

Woodcliff Lake, NJ, October 11, 2005…BMW announced today that its award-winning internet short-film series, The Hire, will end its internet run on October 21, 2005. The debut of the first two films inThe Hire series was online in 2001. The third film entitled, "The Follow," by Wong Kar Wai, made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2001 to international acclaim. The Hire was one of the leading examples of convergence in the media industry - an unprecedented, groundbreaking effort. In total, eight films were created in the series. And, since its debut, The Hire has received more than 100 million film views.

BMW took its place alongside the major movie studios with the production of The Hire short-film series on the internet, bringing together high-level talent from a number of diverse fields - a synergistic effort that crossed and pushed boundaries. Key producers included David Fincher, Ridley and Tony Scott. Other prominent directors that made up the dream team included John Frankenheimer, Ang Lee, Wong Kar-Wai, Guy Ritchie, Alejandro González Iñárritu, John Woo, Joe Carnahan.

The Hire has been showered with praise. The New York Times said, "The BMW films tingle with zest," while Time Magazine added, "It surely deserves the attention of discerning movie watchers." In 2002, the Cannes International Advertising Festival awarded The Hire with the Cyber Lion Grand Prix prize. Additional accolades include the "Best Excuse for Broadband" award at WIRED Magazine's third annual Rave Awards in 2001 and the 2002 Los Angeles International Short Film Festival's "Best Action Short" award, which was given to director John Woo for Hostage, the sixth film in The Hire. In 2003, The Hire series was inducted into the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA).

BMW took its non-traditional approach one step further by creating DVDs of the films, and distributing them in a targeted fashion at no cost to key audiences. One of BMW's first forays into this arena was the distribution of The Hire Season One DVD with issues of Vanity Fair magazine. This distribution helped create additional buzz for the film within a key audience. The full DVD collection (with all eight films) was unveiled at The Palais des Festival during the 2003 Cannes Film Festival.

DVD distribution was just one of the non-traditional ways in which BMW reached out to its essential alpha groups. BMW was also one of the first companies to partner with TIVO on a project such as The Hire. In another innovative move, BMW also created its own The Hire cable TV channel.

"What began as a "big idea" grew into a cutting edge, first-of-its-kind entertainment event that was unprecedented in our industry," said Jack Pitney, Vice President Marketing for BMW of North America. "We are proud that The Hire had more than 100 million film views." Jack adds, "BMW prides itself in creating innovative, high-impact marketing initiatives. We continually evaluate the effectiveness and value of each element while we simultaneously strive to search for new and fresh avenues to open communication channels with consumers. While today we may be talking about the end of The Hire, you can be sure that BMW is working on new approaches to bring the brand to life in innovative ways."

_______________________

For anyone not familiar with the series of short movies BMW produced, here's the link... definitely fun stuff. Now we need a movie with an e90 in it

http://usa.bmwfilms.com/clap.asp?tem...&film=&start=Y

Petercat · 10-11-2005, 08:21 PM

It's because BMW has ended their Advertising relationship with Fallon. Kind of a big deal here in Minneapolis, the home of Fallon.
I had the Fallon web team come give a little presentation to my students just when they launched "The Hire", I still have the original post card at my desk. It was a very cool experience. That campaign was pretty awesome, but I'm not so sure how it impacted BMW sales/image.

THE JEDI · 10-11-2005, 11:15 PM

They are coming out with another series, of hire films.............SHHHHHH, Spike lee is making one...The Jedi

shimshimhada · 10-12-2005, 02:49 AM

Guys, remember that all current BMW owners are eligible for a complimentary The Hire DVD. Just log in at the Owner's Circle and click on "Last chance to Get The Hire DVD" on the right side.

romeo26 · 10-14-2005, 12:01 AM

they should make on with the e90!! that would be cool. i dont think they shouldent end the hire because they have new cars to play with. i still like to watch the old ones.

maq · 10-14-2005, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petercat

It's because BMW has ended their Advertising relationship with Fallon. Kind of a big deal here in Minneapolis, the home of Fallon.
I had the Fallon web team come give a little presentation to my students just when they launched "The Hire", I still have the original post card at my desk. It was a very cool experience. That campaign was pretty awesome, but I'm not so sure how it impacted BMW sales/image.

Agreed. The campaign produced some of the best ads/commercials in the industry, and BMW NA wouldn't have the image they have today (KKB's Best Brand for 06 award says more than enough) without Fallon. In the marketing world, the campaign has gained legendary status for its ground breaking works during the past decade.

I did not see the split coming, as I truely believe Fallon is capable of creating BMW's "next big thing" in marketing/advertising. But I can understand why Fallon said no to BMW NA's new marketing cheif -- put it this way, if the brand status starts falling in the future, it's entirely BMW NA's fault. Personally, I highly doubt that BMW could find a better or equally good agency. Let's see which firm they will finally decide on.

On a side note, IIRC, exactly the same thing happend to one of BMW NA's previous ad agencies in the early 90's: the campaign produced excellent works which gave tremendous help to BMW's sales, then BMW wanted the agency to compete with other firms for the account (so they can spend less). That particular agency was named Agency of the Year for standing up and saying no to BMW, and the next agency BMW went to was proved to be a total disaster.

RyBMW · 10-16-2005, 02:47 AM

If you watched the movie directed by Ang Lee, at the end, the child gives Clive Owen a "Hulk" band-aid. Well actually the child gives it to him at the beginning, in a small box. This was before Ang Lee directed "The Incredible Hulk" movie.

Petercat · 10-18-2005, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shimshimhada

Guys, remember that all current BMW owners are eligible for a complimentary The Hire DVD. Just log in at the Owner's Circle and click on "Last chance to Get The Hire DVD" on the right side.

Thanks for the heads-up... Just logged in and requested mine now. What a nice gift.

cdheaven · 10-23-2005, 08:28 PM

im such an idiot!! 20 days ago i read this, downloaded the first one, and promised i was gonna download the other ones at home. but i waited too long. where can i get them now?

Dnz · 10-29-2005, 04:44 AM

I have asked someone to copy me the DVD into pal, but that doesnt work.

Someone could maybe copy the DVD (again the guy who tried for me said its encrypted/the files are organised so they cant copy properly).

I do have all the bmw movies in WMV on a CD... If no one else can offer em, ill copy it and send it to ya if ya like. Just paypal me shipping or whatever once it gets there?

Otherwise you should be able to find them online with google, or file sharing programmes..

10-11-2005, 04:22 PM	#1
Jason Administrator 43610 Rep 21,325 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	"The Hire" - film by BMW will end a 4 1/2 year internet run THE HIRE - THE ACCLAIMED FILM SERIES BY BMW - WILL END A FOUR AND A HALF YEAR INTERNET RUN OCTOBER 21ST 10/11/2005 Woodcliff Lake, NJ, October 11, 2005…BMW announced today that its award-winning internet short-film series, The Hire, will end its internet run on October 21, 2005. The debut of the first two films inThe Hire series was online in 2001. The third film entitled, "The Follow," by Wong Kar Wai, made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2001 to international acclaim. The Hire was one of the leading examples of convergence in the media industry - an unprecedented, groundbreaking effort. In total, eight films were created in the series. And, since its debut, The Hire has received more than 100 million film views. BMW took its place alongside the major movie studios with the production of The Hire short-film series on the internet, bringing together high-level talent from a number of diverse fields - a synergistic effort that crossed and pushed boundaries. Key producers included David Fincher, Ridley and Tony Scott. Other prominent directors that made up the dream team included John Frankenheimer, Ang Lee, Wong Kar-Wai, Guy Ritchie, Alejandro González Iñárritu, John Woo, Joe Carnahan. The Hire has been showered with praise. The New York Times said, "The BMW films tingle with zest," while Time Magazine added, "It surely deserves the attention of discerning movie watchers." In 2002, the Cannes International Advertising Festival awarded The Hire with the Cyber Lion Grand Prix prize. Additional accolades include the "Best Excuse for Broadband" award at WIRED Magazine's third annual Rave Awards in 2001 and the 2002 Los Angeles International Short Film Festival's "Best Action Short" award, which was given to director John Woo for Hostage, the sixth film in The Hire. In 2003, The Hire series was inducted into the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). BMW took its non-traditional approach one step further by creating DVDs of the films, and distributing them in a targeted fashion at no cost to key audiences. One of BMW's first forays into this arena was the distribution of The Hire Season One DVD with issues of Vanity Fair magazine. This distribution helped create additional buzz for the film within a key audience. The full DVD collection (with all eight films) was unveiled at The Palais des Festival during the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. DVD distribution was just one of the non-traditional ways in which BMW reached out to its essential alpha groups. BMW was also one of the first companies to partner with TIVO on a project such as The Hire. In another innovative move, BMW also created its own The Hire cable TV channel. "What began as a "big idea" grew into a cutting edge, first-of-its-kind entertainment event that was unprecedented in our industry," said Jack Pitney, Vice President Marketing for BMW of North America. "We are proud that The Hire had more than 100 million film views." Jack adds, "BMW prides itself in creating innovative, high-impact marketing initiatives. We continually evaluate the effectiveness and value of each element while we simultaneously strive to search for new and fresh avenues to open communication channels with consumers. While today we may be talking about the end of The Hire, you can be sure that BMW is working on new approaches to bring the brand to life in innovative ways." _______________________ For anyone not familiar with the series of short movies BMW produced, here's the link... definitely fun stuff. Now we need a movie with an e90 in it http://usa.bmwfilms.com/clap.asp?tem...&film=&start=Y
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

10-11-2005, 08:21 PM	#2
Petercat Cat Herder 8 Rep 274 Posts Drives: LR3, again... Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mpls, MN iTrader: (0)	It's because BMW has ended their Advertising relationship with Fallon. Kind of a big deal here in Minneapolis, the home of Fallon. I had the Fallon web team come give a little presentation to my students just when they launched "The Hire", I still have the original post card at my desk. It was a very cool experience. That campaign was pretty awesome, but I'm not so sure how it impacted BMW sales/image. __________________ Waiting for my e93.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-11-2005, 11:15 PM	#3
THE JEDI Major 127 Rep 1,461 Posts Drives: 2005 Z4 2.5i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: JAPAN, Okinawa iTrader: (0)	They are coming out with another series, of hire films.............SHHHHHH, Spike lee is making one...The Jedi
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-12-2005, 02:49 AM	#4
shimshimhada Brigadier General 487 Rep 4,838 Posts Drives: Portal Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portal iTrader: (2)	Guys, remember that all current BMW owners are eligible for a complimentary The Hire DVD. Just log in at the Owner's Circle and click on "Last chance to Get The Hire DVD" on the right side.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-14-2005, 12:01 AM	#5
romeo26 First Lieutenant 44 Rep 354 Posts Drives: e30 325 (no lette) Join Date: May 2005 Location: anaheim, cali iTrader: (0)	they should make on with the e90!! that would be cool. i dont think they shouldent end the hire because they have new cars to play with. i still like to watch the old ones.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-16-2005, 02:47 AM	#7
RyBMW Major 79 Rep 1,038 Posts Drives: X5 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NYC iTrader: (1) Garage List 2012 BMW X5 [0.00] 2008 335i [0.00]	If you watched the movie directed by Ang Lee, at the end, the child gives Clive Owen a "Hulk" band-aid. Well actually the child gives it to him at the beginning, in a small box. This was before Ang Lee directed "The Incredible Hulk" movie.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-23-2005, 08:28 PM	#9
cdheaven I'm Starving , So I Guess You Are What You Eat 242 Rep 943 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Fl iTrader: (1)	im such an idiot!! 20 days ago i read this, downloaded the first one, and promised i was gonna download the other ones at home. but i waited too long. where can i get them now? __________________ 2006 325i Sparkling Graphite Metallic-Black Leatherette Navigation-Bmw Assist Automatic-Xenons Carbon Fiber Front Lips-Aluminum Pedals Power/heated Front Seats 5% Tint all around 30% On windshield all the way down
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-29-2005, 04:44 AM	#10
Dnz New Member 0 Rep 12 Posts Drives: '94 325i w/M-Tech Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New Zealand iTrader: (0)	I have asked someone to copy me the DVD into pal, but that doesnt work. Someone could maybe copy the DVD (again the guy who tried for me said its encrypted/the files are organised so they cant copy properly). I do have all the bmw movies in WMV on a CD... If no one else can offer em, ill copy it and send it to ya if ya like. Just paypal me shipping or whatever once it gets there? Otherwise you should be able to find them online with google, or file sharing programmes..
	Appreciate 0 Quote