Kazakhstan still trying to recover from 'Borat'

[babylonsister]

Kazakhstan still trying to recover from 'Borat'
By Kevin Bogardus
Posted: 06/28/09 04:27 PM


Kazakhstan refuses to let Borat have the last word on its image.

The Central Asian republic’s foreign affairs ministry inked a $1.5 million deal with a Washington lobbying firm, according to records recently filed with the Justice Department, with a partial goal of combating the image presented in the blockbuster film "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan."

“People look at Borat and think this country is a backwater, that it’s unsophisticated,” said William Nixon, chairman and CEO of Policy Impact Communications.

His firm signed the yearlong agreement with Kazakhstan's U.S. ambassador on April 30. A team of a dozen lobbyists registered for the account and is working on the country’s ascension to the World Trade Organization, removing a number of trade restrictions put in place by the United States and improving its image.

Nixon said that the impression of Kazakhstan created by British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, who exploited ignorance of the little-known nation, was false. “Part of our job will be to change that perception,” he said.

more...

http://thehill.com/business--lobby/kazakhstan-still-trying-to-recover-from-borat-2009-06-28.html

[MADem]

1. I think they're going the wrong way--they should run with it, and tack a bit.

I'd do an ad campaign with a bunch of Borat look-alikes, showing people the wonders of Kazakhstan.

The only difference is, I'd make sure the sky looked crisp and blue, the conveyances looked clean and up-to-date, the food looked delicious, the nightlife looked super-fun, the historical sites looked interesting, and the people looked handsome/beautiful.

[Ian David]

7. "Come make romance-explosion in Kazakhstan." n/t

[MADem]

9. Bingo....hundreds of Borat-ish spokespeople, but the citizenry shown

in the commercials is, by contrast, stunningly beautiful. They could roll their eyes at the spokesperson and say "Most of us don't talk like that! But come visit, anyway!"

It would be brilliant. They simply have no imagination. Build on what's out there.

[donco6]

12. I think it could work

You're not going to erase the image in people's mind, but you might be able to shift it if you use the same humor.

[MADem]

13. It's the old 'stoops to conquer' trick--self-deprecating humor is always a winner! nt

[JackRiddler]

16. This assumes their primary concern is to cater to the American tourist market.

[MADem]

19. Well, they hired a DC PR firm. And the BORAT film did not just target the US market.

It was a hit across Europe and Asia as well.

So your point is still not taken.

[depakid]

2. So, they're just now getting around to hiring a PR firm

that's managed to get an article published in The Hill?

:crazy:

[JackRiddler]

17. Such an oversight when "hiring a PR firm" is evidence of The Mandate of Heaven.

[hedgehog]

3. Wait a minute, they wanted to improve their image, and they

started by hiring someone named Nixon?

[JackRiddler]

18. Ho. Ho. Actually, they wanted to defend their image against a devastating attack.

[rocktivity]

4. The Borat movie is nearly three years old

If it's taken Kazakhstan this long to decide to do something about it, then maybe the movie WASN'T that far off the mark!

:eyes:
rocktivity

[Kaleva]

14. News sent by smoke signals.

Change in air currents caused by global warming was the reason for the delay.

[Canuckistanian]

5. That's like closing the barn door after the horses have DIED

America has a VERY short attention span.

Borat is now a dim memory and I doubt if people even remember that Borat was supposedly from Kazakhstan.

I'd like to see what "improving it's image" means. Luxury tours of Astana, the capital?

[Ian David]

6. I really do love their Potassium. All other Potassium is inferior. n/t

[rucky]

8. All other countries are run by little girls.

[Democracyinkind]

10. I'm the kind of guy who's outraged when US PR shills paint a bloody dictatorship rosy.

How is this a joke? There's journalists in jail, women systematically raped, men who disappear and men who somehow miss their testicles after a visit from the good presidents men. William Nixon, shame on you!

We've got enough dictators in the WTO. And this time I don't mean the democratic dictators there (*s*) - no more appeasement, right? We're morally outraged at the Regime in Iran too, aren't we? Would you laugh about Willy making a PR deal with Teheran? I bet there's some kind of movie out of there that denigrates Iran and justifies our sweet talking their regime.

[Ian David]

11. Good point. n/t

[Bucky]

15. When I saw their PSA on TV last week, it took me a second to realize it wasn't a Borat promo

They even use the word "benefit" awkwardly--I assume to subliminally underline the point that they're not the Borat country.

Poor Kazakhs. If it weren't for all the stolen elections and human rights abuses, I might even feel sorry for them.