Richard Franceschini, Warner Bros. SVP, on the impact of brand integration

One key aspect about brand integration that Franceschini points out is that entertainment itself can help brands be part of pop culture moments. As brands continue to search for the best ways forward to impact culture, he notes that it’s challenging for brands to “go it alone” and that entertainment is tailor-made for brands to be part of those moments.

Additionally, a brand integration is forever — and embedded in, as Franceschini puts it, “a piece of Hollywood history that’s never going away” — certainly an enticing opportunity for brands.

The importance of brand integration cannot be understated. To Franceschini, it has grown exponentially and, as traditional advertising deteriorates, he sees it as a highly impactful and cost-effective way forward for brands.

Some of Franceschini’s favorite integrations over the years include Ray-Ban in Risky Business, Mini Cooper in The Italian Job and the various applications in the James Bond franchise — all being important parts of the story, and fitting nicely within the story without getting in the way.

His favorite, however, is Hamilton watches in Interstellar, a project that he worked on directly and feels, though subtle, was a critical piece of the story and a brilliant execution by director Christopher Nolan.

What's the Story? is sponsored by Branded Entertainment Network (BEN), the first global network for branded product integration in the entertainment industry, across all media, including the influencer space.

Filmed at Branded Entertainment Network (BEN)

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