It’s not often that you open up your e-mail to a picture of documentary director Morgan Spurlock nearly naked. But that’s what I received yesterday when Sony Pictures Classics sent out a press release announcing the poster for Spurlock’s The Greatest Movie Ever Sold.

Soak it in, ladies…

Gotta give credit to Spurlock on the premise of his new film. I think it will be very interesting to pull back the curtain a little bit and take a peek at the lucrative business of brand sponsorship. Sponsorships have been going on practically since media was invented. But marketers are getting more savvy and less overt with their product placements.

As a marketer myself, I don’t find their maneuvers particularly sinister but, instead, highly fascinating. Especially when it comes to steering consumers toward their products when they might not be fully aware of the effort.

Spurlock will walk the talk in this film, so to speak. According to the press release, the film was FULLY financed through product placement from various brands, all of which are integrated transparently into the film.

“While using brands in film promotion is not new for Hollywood,” says the release “it certainly is new territory for the documentary format. Spurlock exploits the phenomenon to new heights, with everything from branded pizza boxes and in-flight film promotions to branded-everything in-film.

Should be interesting. The movie hits theaters April 22. What do you think? Leave your comments below.