CCG Supports Hit Apple TV Show, For All Mankind, by Creating Retro Soda & Beer Cans
Do you ever wonder how TV shows and movies support retro or futuristic product placement? With CCG’s relationship with Mesquite Productions, on behalf of SONY Pictures, we were tasked to create retro soda and beer cans to fit the timeline of Apple’s hit show, For All Mankind. Kicking off in 1969, For All Mankind explores the space race in a different way: the Soviet Union beats the US to space, and that change impacts the space race for decades to come. This posed an obstacle, as producers would need products that would age with the show and be timeline appropriate.
CCG’s trade decoration division, Be Decorating, was the perfect match for the job. “We used digital inkjet printing to create a natural, seamless look on the cans that showcases branding from the decades the show covers. This was a very exciting project that brought some nostalgia to the team. We were able to print cans that transport viewers to a different place and time, and that’s something special to be a part of,” says Ben Ritacco, VP.
The Be Decorating team is now working on futuristic Pepsi branded bottles for when the next season of the show moves into the future.
To date, Be Decorating has printed all of the following cans that will be featured throughout the series:
- Pepsi Max (future bottle)
- Shiner Bock Beer (future bottle)
Frequently Asked Questions About Custom Print Props for Film and Television
What is product prop production for film and television?
Product prop production for film and television involves creating custom-branded products — packaging, cans, bottles, signage, and branded items — that appear on screen as part of the show’s set and storyline. Props must be visually accurate to the time period or fictional world depicted, produced in quantities sufficient for multiple takes, and delivered on a production schedule that cannot slip.
How is digital inkjet printing used for custom product props?
Digital inkjet printing enables production of short-run, highly customized product props with full-color, photo-real graphics on a wide range of substrates — including cans, bottles, boxes, and specialty materials. Because digital printing requires no plates or long makeready, it is ideal for prop production where quantities are small and designs are one-of-a-kind or limited-edition.
What is product placement in television and film?
Product placement is the integration of branded products into the visual content of a film or television show — appearing as props used by characters or visible in the set environment. Effective product placement creates brand impressions without traditional advertising interruption and associates the brand with the characters, settings, and emotional context of the content.
What types of custom branded products are produced for film and TV?
Custom branded products for film and TV include food and beverage packaging (cans, bottles, cartons), retail packaging and boxes, branded apparel, signage, vehicle graphics, and any physical object that needs to carry a fictional or historically accurate brand identity on screen. Both period-accurate historical brands and futuristic fictional brands require custom production.
How does a marketing fulfillment company support entertainment production?
A marketing fulfillment company with digital print capability can produce custom branded props, packaging, and signage for film and TV production on short timelines — combining print production, finishing, and delivery under one operation. For shows requiring branded products that span multiple time periods or fictional brand identities, in-house digital print and fulfillment capability is essential.
