What Is Product Placement (And Why It’s a Big Deal for Creators Right Now)
As filmmakers, producers, and content creators, your focus is usually on story, character, and craft. But what if your finished film, TV series, or digital project could generate new revenue - even after it’s completed - without compromising your vision?
That’s where product placement comes in. And thanks to new tools like Ryff, powered by AI, the rules have changed.
This is your guide to understanding product placement, how it’s evolving, and how it can support your project financially and creatively.
What Is Product Placement?
Product placement is the practice of featuring real-world brands, products, or services within a piece of entertainment content - think a character driving a Tesla, using an iPhone, or drinking a recognisable soft drink.
There are three key types:
Visual Placement - A brand is seen on-screen (e.g., a logo, product, or ad in the background).
Verbal Placement - A character mentions the brand by name.
Integrated/Active Placement - A brand becomes part of the plot (e.g., a key scene takes place in a specific fast-food chain).
Why is it used? Because it works.
Product placement allows brands to connect with audiences in a more subtle, organic way than traditional ads - all while supporting content creators financially.
Check out some references of product placement here - Top 10 Product Placements That Made the Movie Better
Why It Matters for Creators
For studios, product placement is often a way to offset production costs. For independent creators, it can be even more important - a vital revenue stream, or even a deal-breaker that makes production or post-production financially viable.
But traditionally, product placement has been limited by:
Needing to arrange deals before production
Creative compromises to feature the brand
Legal/logistical challenges in rights management
That’s why the next wave of product placement - AI-powered and post-production friendly - is such a breakthrough.
Enter Ryff: Virtual Product Placement Powered by AI
Ryff is at the cutting edge of in-content advertising, using AI to insert brand assets seamlessly into completed content - without requiring costly reshoots or compromising your story.
Here’s how Ryff’s process works:
AI-Powered Analysis: Ryff scans your film or series frame by frame, identifying where branded elements (like billboards, screens, signs, or props) could be placed naturally.
Seamless Post-Production Integration: Their team inserts products digitally, ensuring they match lighting, perspective, and tone — maintaining your creative integrity.
Brand Alignment: Ryff matches your project with relevant brands across tech, fashion, automotive, alcohol, fitness, and more — ensuring placements feel authentic and audience-appropriate.
What Kind of Projects Work Best?
Ryff is looking for projects with:
Completed or near-complete status
Distribution secured (or in talks)
Clear audience demographics
Strong genre appeal (e.g., action, lifestyle, adventure, drama)
Recognisable talent or unique positioning
Regional/local content opportunities
This is ideal for creators who have a project ready (or nearly ready) to go out into the world, and are looking for smart ways to monetise their content.
How to Submit Your Project to Ryff via SMASH
We’ve made the submission process simple through SMASH. To be considered:
1️⃣ Create your FREE SMASH Pitch
2️⃣ Complete your SMASH Snapshot and hit ‘SHARE PROJECT’
3️⃣ Submit to the Ryff Callout via the SMASH Callout page
Why This Matters for the Future of Storytelling
As more content is distributed across digital platforms, non-intrusive, intelligent monetisation models like Ryff’s are becoming critical.
They offer an alternative to disruptive ads or risky brand deals - instead creating a win-win where:
Creators maintain full creative control
Audiences enjoy unbroken immersion
Brands gain authentic visibility
Revenue opportunities increase post-completion
It also opens up access: indie filmmakers and early-stage creators can now tap into brand dollars that were once reserved for big studios.
About Ryff
Ryff is a global leader in virtual product placement, working with some of the world’s biggest brands to integrate them into stories - without interrupting them.
They’re helping creators unlock new income streams after the work is done, proving that finished content can keep working for you long after it wraps.
🔗 Learn more at ryff.com
Final Thoughts: Monetise Smarter
Whether you’re an emerging creator or an established producer, it’s time to think differently about distribution and revenue.
Virtual product placement isn’t about selling out - it’s about staying in control while unlocking real value. Ryff’s AI-powered model gives you flexibility, funding, and freedom.
Explore the Ryff Callout on SMASH and give your finished project a second life.
Let your content do more - and earn more.