« Jun-09 | This archive, pg:  1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6  |  7  |  8  |  9  |  10  |  11  |  12  | Aug-09 »

Are People Really That Helpless With A Video Camera?

go_fast_motocycle.jpg

You've seen them. The fake videos that attempt to pass themselves off as real all while minimizing the fact their just ads for brands. Some are stupid. Some are funny. Most are lame.

But they all have one thing in common. People who are seemingly incapable of holding a camera steady while filming the idiocy. Seriously. It's not that hard and you don't have to be a Hollywood DP to film something without the camera becoming possessed by an epileptic seizure.

Annoying and idiotic as the commonality is, it's never going to change. Why? Because if the camera remained on the video's primary subject, we'd get to see behind the curtain and the video would become even more obviously fake than it already is.

So here we have yet another shaky cam "viral video" selling some random energy drink.

by Steve Hall    Jul-22-09    
Topic: Bad, Strange, Video, Viral



The Perfect Date: A Moonlit Evening...And A Giant McDonald's Logo

moonvertising.jpg

There's advertising on rockets so why not on the moon? If Moon Publicity has its way, it'll use an army of small robots to create logos on the dusty surface of the moon which, presumably, will be visible from earth.

Now, instead of guys going all out to impress dates by professing their love with sky writing or blimp messaging, they can pay millions to have their message of love carved on the surface of the moon. Though we're thinking the lead time might result in certain professions of love becoming a bit out of date.

OK so the whole professing one's love to another on the moon is stupid but so is defacing the moon's surface with logos that will ruin its natural beauty. Did we say stupid? Yea, stupid.

by Steve Hall    Jul-22-09    
Topic: Outdoor, Worst



KGB Girl Elizabeth Bogush Loses Her Skirt

kgb_elizabeth_bogush.jpg

A couple weeks ago, we announced the launch of questionably-named mobile company, KGB, a service that offers human answers to texted questions. As a follow up to the launch, another commercial features two guys arguing over whether or not Archie Griffin won two Heisman trophys.

Spokesbabe Elizabeth Bogush just happens to be within earshot of the two bickering men and offers a challenge; the loser gets to wear her skirt. Which, odd an visually unpleasant as that may seem, is a coup for the rest of us becasue we all get to see Bogush flaunt her figure in her underwear.

by Steve Hall    Jul-21-09    
Topic: Brands, Celebrity, Commercials, Racy



Esurance Wants Your Bollywood Booty

esurance_bollywood.jpg

Esurance, The Independent Film Channel and Saavn have teamed up to offer Bollywood lovers a chance to co-star in an animated music video with icon Erin Esurance. There's an Erin Esurance? Who knew? Oh silly us. Of course there's an Erin Esurance. She's the spokescartoon for the brand.

Anyway visitors to a promotional site will have the chance to enter the Esurance Bollywood Casting Call Contest. Participants will submit videos of re-enactments of their favorite Bollywood movie scenes. The winning entrant will star in an Esurance Bollywood music video that will premiere in September during "Wake Up To Bollywood," a presentation of Bollywood films airing each Sunday morning at 10 AM, on IFC.

So get your Bollywood Booty on, people.

by Steve Hall    Jul-21-09    
Topic: Brands, Promotions



Delta Touch Faucet Not Such A Great Idea

delta_touch_faucet.jpg

Hmm. So a Delta faucet that can be turned on by tapping the spout so you don't get your dirty hands all over it? Brilliant, right? Except for when you're out and the cat decides to jump up on the counter, prance over to the sink, paw the faucet, get the shit scared out of it as the water comes gushing out, has a heart attacks, dies and when you return, a large pool of water is covering your beautiful hardwood kitchen floor because the cat fell into the sink and blocked the drain. Is this really that wise an advancement in sink technology?

Oh and the ad...which is what we're supposed to be talking about here in the first place? Meh. Oh it gets the point across which, one supposes is, uh, the point but wouldn't a battles of wills as to faucet etiquette between the Verizon Dumb Dad and a dirty mud wrestling beer babe be more interesting?

by Steve Hall    Jul-21-09    
Topic: Brands, Commercials, Strange



Soccer Ball Causes Plane Crash in Israel

rugby_plane_crash.jpg

OK so the fake plane crash thing has been done before. Well, here it is a again. This time it's to call attention to the fact Israel has a rugby team. We'll refrain from any Middle Eastern-related commentary on plane crashes. No matter what country is involved.

by Steve Hall    Jul-21-09    
Topic: Commercials, Spoofs, Video



Aliens Have Arrived And They Are...Elephants?

samsung_jet_spaceship_elephants.jpg

Seriously? Seriously? There are still brands and agencies out there that still believe people exist in the world who can't see through their "32 hidden cameras," "hundreds of unsuspecting people," "accidental" camera pans over the promoted brand's outdoor billboard, lingering shots of said product, FTW lingo and...elephants who bungee jump out of a spaceship?

Oh wait, it's just a stupid YouTube video. Sorry. That makes everything OK.

by Steve Hall    Jul-20-09    
Topic: Strange, Video



Streets Attacked by Red, Green, Yellow Dancers

woking_dance_festival.jpg

So how do you promote a dance festival? You wear silly costumes and stop traffic by dancing in the street. That's how. The festival is Woking Contemporary Dance Festival and the dance is called Traffic Light Dance Off.

Hmm. Sort of like Blue Man Group. Except not blue. And not as good. But still fun. Lethal Design + Branding organized the stunt.

by Steve Hall    Jul-20-09    
Topic: Guerilla



Batman and LendingTree Rescue Economy With Superheroes

lending_tree_bedroom.jpg

Remember Batman? No, not the one played by the guy who became a YouTube sensation when he verbally assaulted a member of his film crew. No, not the one played by the one who used to be a doctor on ER. No, not the one who played Jim Morrison in the movie The Doors. No, not the one who play a stay at home dad in the movie Mr. Mom.

Nope. We're talking about the original TV Batman. He's still alive, by the way, in case you were wondering and his name is Adam West. And he's the voice behind this new Lending Tree campaign from Mullen. And in a nice nod to West's past gig as superhero-in-tights, he helps people discover their inner superhero so they can battle Wall Street and come to the rescue of today's biggest villain; the economy.

And in complete compliance with the National Center for the Equality of Racial Representation in Advertising, there's version featuring a white male, a black male and a woman. OK so they left out combos like black woman but NCERRA only requires a 75 percent compliance rate.

See the spots here and here.

by Steve Hall    Jul-20-09    
Topic: Campaigns, Commercials, Good



Scion Pixelates, G.I. Joe Elevates, Vogue Vacillates

scion_s1-xd-3m.jpg

- Scion is out with a new Brand Manifesto. It's "intended to inspire new youthful and creative trendleaders with its bold and edgy elements." There's Pixel Reveal, Speechifier, a TV spot and other elements.

- It's fake! It's fake! It's fake! Now that we have that out of the way, here's a promotion for the upcoming G.I. Joe movie. It's nothing like Demi Moore's G.I. Jane version.

- Vogue's ad page count isn't looking too good for September.

more »

by Steve Hall    Jul-20-09    
Topic: Campaigns, Video



« Jun-09 | This archive, pg:  1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6  |  7  |  8  |  9  |  10  |  11  |  12  | Aug-09 »