Apple does not allow bad guys to use an iPhone on camera in a movie. Seriously, this is a thing. You can hear Knives Out director Rian Johnson spill the secret in this entertaining video below, where he breaks down a scene from Knives Out.
I’ve linked the video to the specific spot (2:50) where he discusses Apple’s fascist rule about product placement. Watch the entire video to get a peek behind the curtain at how scenes are framed and blocked. It’s really fascinating.
As Rian points out, this is basically a spoiler for any movie you ever watch the future. If you’re watching a mystery movie and you see a character using an iPhone, then you know that they didn’t do it. 🙂
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I guess this means in the future all directors will make sure everyone on screen has an Android phone so that there won’t be any tips to who’s the villain.
Have you noticed general character tendencies are used in movies to stereotype bad guys? Share in the comments.
The political subplot in Knives Out that tells the real plot
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Ginger Gardner
Great article
Jill Florio Administrator
SPIKE!
Sorry, can’t help it. He’s my Blondie Bear.
Good point though about smoking. Even in *Peanut Butter Falcon*, Shia LaBouf’s character only smokes in the beginning when we (and he) are unclear if he’s the bad guy. They literally talk about whether he and Zack are bad guys. It’s a really great moment that sums up the entire film in one economical scene.
BUFFY SPOILER
It’s telling too, that after Spike gets his chip out and soul in, he’s super uncharacteristically remorseful for half a season. Then after Principal Wood jolts him out of that in the infamous scene with the shack full of crosses, Spike throws his duster back on, snarls at Wood, and then lights up (he got his mojo back).
Then of course Buffy tells Wood she will kill him if he tries that shit again. 😉
(About the iPhone, it’s their product and I can see the idea behind it. Image is everything in sales.)