A problem with commercials and dates

We all know that TV commercials exist since (at the very least) 1950's and are eligible on IMDb. But there is a huge problem with both of those facts. Commercials should be (according to IMDb guidlines) submitted as "Made for Video", but said type can only be applied to titles made since 1976 since it is an invention of a domestic video format.

Video tape existed well before that (if it was expensive and only used in select TV studios) and more importantly that makes adding commercials earlier than 1976 ineligible with their true release date.

I've discovered that while adding this commercial which is actually from 1975 and not 1976.

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Bethanny

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5.6K Messages

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58.9K Points

2 years ago

Hi @MykolaYeriomin -

Thanks for reporting this, we will raise it with teams in charge to have this solved, will get back to you as soon as we have an answer.

Cheers!

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eboy

2.5K Messages

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69.2K Points

2 years ago

I know that you want to add anyone and everything to IMDb, but there are obvious problems - or at least open questions - when it comes to commercials. Perhaps it’s easier to simply just ignore those questions, but they’re still there.

https://community-imdb.sprinklr.com/conversations/data-issues-policy-discussions/adding-commercials-to-imdb-a-few-clarifications/5f4a7c4b8815453dbaff28e3

ps. I recently talked to one seasoned cinematographer, who back in the 1980s shot basically only commercials for about 5 years. He did maybe 2-4 in every week (news flash: not all ”commercials” are huge productions - actually far from it). So he shot perhaps 150 commercials in every year. And after 5 years, that’s perhaps 750 commercials. Hell, maybe I add them all on one day.

(edited)

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MykolaYeriomin

Champion

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4K Messages

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244.9K Points

@eboy I'm more than aware that some commercials are far from huge productions, because I did some. :) It ranges from this (literally one shot of a product) to elaborate James Bond pieces (note to myself: someone added a ton of James Bond commercial horrendously ignoring the guidelines on how the titles should be formatted; I'll research and correct that one day).

That could be also applied to any type of media here, though: I once did a 2-hour long documentary, shot in one day, fully finished in a week or so and on a budget of 20 UAH ($0,5).

It was recently selected to an IMDb eligible film festival (I'll add the nomination soon) after like 9 years of obscurity. :)

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2 years ago

MykolaYeriomin

A problem with commercials and dates

Bethanny

eboy

MykolaYeriomin

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