Sunday Spotlight: Cooper Hefner Ushers In New Era of Playboy

Transcript

Event Location(s): Los Angeles, California | Description: EXT DAY MS: Time-lapsed shot of clouds passing over Playboy headquarters. MS: Time-lapsed shot of clouds passing over Playboy headquarters. MS: Model poses on beach. MS: Model poses on beach. GFX: Montage of various Playboy Magazine covers. INT MS: Playboy logo above staircase. MS: Playboy bunny at candy stand. POV shot of Playboy bunny leading a man. MS: Man poses with Playboy bunnies for mock cover. MS: Playboy bunny poses. MS: Playboy bunnies dance. MS: Model poses. EXT DAY MS: Model poses. INT MS: Playboy logo. ANIMATION: Animated Playboy logo. EXT (B&W Archival Footage) WS: Then-Playboy headquarters. MS: Car pulls up. MS: Then-Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner in his car. MS: Hefner enters Playboy office. STILLS Various pages from early Playboy issues INT (Archival Footage) MS: Hefner and model on rotating bed. INT (B&W Archival Footage) MS: Hefner with Playboy bunnies. MS: Hefner with Playboy bunnies. INT MS: Hefner’s son Playboy Chief Creative Officer Cooper Hefner (referred to as “Hefner” for the remainder of the segment) walks. GFX: Layer in B&W archival footage of the senior Hefner. MS: Hefner takes seat in meeting. MS: The meeting. Pan from post to the meeting. MS: Meeting. MS: In walk and talk, Hefner says, “We collectively as a team have to understand that we're not a magazine company. We're a digital brand first.” NBC News Correspondent Steve Patterson says, “So why-- why have it at all if it's not profitable?” Hefner says, “Because it's iconic.” GFX: Montage of various Playboy Magazine covers. GFX: Playboy Magazine covers. GFX: Supers “597,000 IN 2017” GFX: Playboy Magazine covers. GFX: Supers “7,000,000 IN 1972” INT MS: In interview, Hefner says, “We wouldn't be here if that's all people consumed our brand for.” EXT NIGHT POV shot approaches Playboy bunnies at doorway. MS: Women with Playboy shirts. MS: Patterson and Heffner view portrait of the senior Hefner. MS: In interview, Hefner says, “This is something that people really do buy into. It's the reason why we're a brand that when we have made mistakes, people still root for it.” MS: Hefner leads Patterson up the stairs. EXT DAY WS: Exterior of the Playboy Mansion. INT MS: Hefner in walk and talk with Patterson past portrait of the senior Hefner. Hefner says, “Very few people are actually able to come up here.” MS: In walk and talk, Patterson says, “All these celebrities and famous people and-- and this is the house you grew up in.” Hefner says, “Yeah, it was a remarkable place to grow up.” MS: Hefner leads Patterson up stairs. MS: Hefner leads Patterson into archives of scrapbooks. MS: Hefner takes book from shelf. MS: Hefner looks through book. CU: Pages from the book. MS: Reading a letter in the book, Hefner says, “Dear mom and dad--“ MS: Hefner says, “--this is actually one thousand dollars that my grandma gave to my dad to start this.” GFX: Playboy Magazine covers. STILLS Photos of women from Playboy Magazine INT MS: Hefner and others in meeting. MS: Computer screen shows website. MS: The meeting. MS: In interview, Hefner says, “That was strange being the young guy who was trying to say we should move in that direction and everyone saying, okay, well, this isn't a seasoned executive, why should we listen to him.” INT MS: Man looks at proofs. MS: Issue of Playboy move out on printing press. GFX: Various pages from the issue. INT MS: In interview, Hefner says, “The easiest example that I can point to is going on nude. How can we be Playboy without something that fundamentally makes us Playboy?” MS: Patterson says, “Was it right of you to speak out publicly against the company?” MS: Hefner says, “There became a moment where my father and the company's and my family's legacy I felt was in jeopardy.” STILLS Photo of Hefner and his father INT MS: Hefner walks in office. MS: In interview, Hefner says, “I was asked to come back to the organization.” MS: Patterson says, “What made you stick to it, you know, with those challenges?” MS: Hefner says, “Probably the biggest reason for staying was duty and loyalty to family.” MS: Hefner works at computer. MS: In meeting, Hefner says, “Push the boundaries a little bit.” Woman says, “Cool.” EXT DAY BRIEF CUTS: April 2017 Playboy Playmate Nina Daniele poses. INT MS: In interview with Patterson, Daniele says, “It's just an iconic brand. Everything about it is has stayed and always stayed revolutionary and-- and relevant.” EXT DAY BRIEF CUTS: Daniele poses. INT MS: In interview, Patterson says, “In 2017 when you said Playboy, what does that mean?” MS: Hefner says, “Freedom. Americana. The right to choose. A celebration of sex. The Philosophy that sophistication and sex should sit next to each other.” INT WS: Party. MS: Model hangs from hoop. MS: Models blow kisses to the camera. EXT DAY BRIEF CUTS: Model poses. INT MS: Rear shot of Playboy bunnies walking backstage. MS: Playboy bunnies pose in group. MS: Playboy bunnies dance. MS: Models blow kisses to the camera. MS: Playboy bunnies blow kisses. MS: Models pose by neon Playboy logo. VO: Patterson signs off from Los Angeles.