SAW a good idea

VW's Theory of Fun

Volkswagen is, as usual, doing things differently and getting some some positive attention for it. 

This morning a composer friend of mine posted a video on Facebook of "piano key" stairs.  His post had nothing to do with VW advertising and less to do with marketing in general.  He just found the video interesting because of his relationship with music (I'm sure of this because he posted the Swedish version of the video and he definitely doens't speak their language).  After finishing watching the video, I clicked on the link, expecting to be directed to some sort of music school related experiment site, and was (momentarily) suprised to be directed to a lightly branded VW website proclaiming (once I ticked the UK flag for English):

"This site is dedicated to the thought that something as simple as fun is the easiest way to change people’s behaviour for the better. Be it for yourself, for the environment, or something entirely different, the only thing that matters is that it’s change for the better."

This mini guerrilla campaign/behavioral experiment is doing exactly that:

The piano installation was created to encourage people to make the healthier choice to take the stairs instead of using an escalator.  The before and after shots of the staircase vs. the escalator prove the trick works.

The next video depicting "The World's Deepest [Trash] Bin," an outdoor public garbage can that makes a cartoonish sound of something falling very very far, had the effect of getting park-goers to not only throw away their own trash, but also to clean up the rest of the park just to hear the falling sound again. 

Next, they promise to come up with a fun way to recycle. 

I say, GO TEAM VOLKSWAGEN (BDB Stockholm)!  This bare bones project of theirs sure is a great example of a lot of good things advertising: marketing as service, combining online and offline, and making a good idea viral by keeping it open-ended and by not shoving a ton of branding down the throats of those who couldn't care less about cars (i.e. my buddy the composer).

Post-It Note Love Story

Just ran across this adorable short film about an inter-office love story developed through Post-It notes.  I don't know if it's a viral video or an independent short film, but either way, it is a great ad for Post-It. Enjoy!

Sony Releases WORST F---ing Piece of S--- Electronic Device EVER

If you offend easily, go to the next post or pick up a Reader's Digest or something.  This video, care of The Onion, is not for you.  It's an hilarious bit of cynicism I can't pass up posting after years of throwing out old electronic sh-- that nobody in my apartment cares to remember wasting x amount of money and time trying to get to work.  Seriously, it's impossible to list all the crap I've thrown out in the past three and a half years.  There's more in the back end of our hallway stacked up behind one of those fake oriental screens from the Gem Store down on the corner.  Then there's the pile next to the piano of all the cases for the garbage that doesn't work.

It wouldn't surprise me to find a similar pile in every American household that has had at least some expendable income within the past five years.

Due to explicit language on the embedded video frame, I've decided that I'll just have to give you a link for the video.

Sony Releases New Stupid Piece Of S--- That Doesn't F---ing Work

Absolutely Kanye

Someone once told me that the best marketing doesn't feel like marketing at all. With that being said, I have no idea what is going on with this viral video that is apparently Kanye West promoting Absolut.

Chocolate Cherry Rain? This has got to be good!

The marketing folks at Dr Pepper thought it would be great to use the YouTube phenom Tay Zonday and remix his "Chocolate Rain" video to promote their new Cherry Chocolate Dr Pepper drink. It's a train wreck, and I can't stop watching....

Nissan Gets Out of the Maze

There were two types of labyrinths in my life growing up.  One was an odd movie with scary muppets and David Bowie who kidnapped Jennifer Connelly's baby brother.  The other was a wooden box fixed with a gimbal driven maze affixed to its top.  Both gave me hours of entertainment. 

The new spot by Nissan, employing the latter labyrinth, has that great mix of wit, cleverness, and special effects that illustrates the benefits of safe driving (or a car that allows for "better" driving).

Hate Something

I don't think anyone would usually tell people to hate anything, but here Honda shows us that hating something can be good. Hate something so it makes you want to change it. Like a diesel engine. Check it out.

Bloody Clever

The only thing I fear more than needles (Aichmophobia) is the color purple (Porphyrophobia).  That would be the actual color, not the novel, film, or musical. 

I travel frequently to third world countries, not for the experience, but to get out of donating blood and thus avoid needles.  However, the clever folks at the Banc de Sang, a Catalunya-based blood bank have put out a great video that just may make me change my mind.  It's simple.  It's clever.  It's a great use of the medium.

Watch the video here.

Absolut Flash Mob

From Wikipedia:

A pillow fight flash mob is a culture jam that has emerged from the social phenomenon of flash mobbing. The flash mob version of massive pillow fights is distinguished by the fact that nearly all of the promotion is Internet-based. These events occur around the world, some taking the name Pillow Fight Club after the London Pillow Fight Group.

As it stands, I've never been involved in a pillow fight/protest this extraordinary.  But this commercial for Absolut Vodka produced in New York by TBWA\Chiat\Day, MJZ and The Mill, brings back great memories from 1985 and the wrath feather pillows can unleash on a child's bedroom.

Behold the oPhone!

Diesel Fumes Over Global Warming

Parrots replacing the pigeons in St. Mark's Square?  A tropical rainforest sprouting from the fields in Parc du Champs de Mars?  Could this be a wonderful version of future life, or a timely juxtaposition exposing the subtle horrors of global warming?

Diesel, while reducing the contents of my wallet, has also decided to reduce global warming. They've taken iconic locations from around the world, added some of the long-term effects of an increasingly hot Earth, and put some good looking folks in denim in the photos. This accomplishes three things:

1. It cleverly illustrates the need for global warming regulations.
2. It sells their clothes.
3. It looks cool.

While it may not have the Bono-tastic marketing push of (Red), it takes chutzpah to have your company's website feature such a message. and so prominently.  It's a worthy effort from a brand trying to do more than just sell clothes.

Did They Ever Find the Beef?

I have a serious aversion to television commercials. Those damn buckets of KFC Crispy Strips are keeping me from witnessing another self-important television special from Oprah.   How am I supposed to see how she created a learn-to-read center for disenfranchised ragweed allergy sufferers when I have to sit through three minutes of Pontiac Commercials?  I'm only human.

Luckily, my DVR (aka: the item in my apartment to which I've bequeathed all my possessions, including a limited edition autographed Debarge LP and my girlfriend) allows me to skip all those commercials.  You may start viewing Lost at 10, but I opt to head to the "worst island imaginable" at around 10:15 in order to skip over the commercials.  Yet sometimes shows slip through the cracks.  I gave Heros an early cancellation prediction and never watched it.  I've realized the error of my ways and have been slowing catching up on past episodes via NBC Rewind.  They make me sit through 3-4 commercials an episode, a good price to pay for television at my fingertips.

This could be the future of advertising for television ... give people any show they want at whatever time they want, and I'm sure they'll happily watch a few commercials for the convenience. 

E _ _ _ / A _ A R _ / _ E _ / S _ T E

With the Grammys and Academy Awards shows over, the focus now shifts to the Daytime Emmy Awards, which will appear on your television set on June 15, 2007. SONY Television, however, is not waiting that long to try to influence the vote for their game shows Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. As a matter of fact, they have already invited the potential voters to see the highlights of their show on specially-created web sites.

Wheel of Fortune's address is http://www.u-gottaseethis.com/. The site features various wins and bloopers from WOF's many years of being on the air. On the other hand, if you want to see Ken Jenning's defeat or Jon Lovitz doing opera, you can head over to http://www.u-gottaseethat.com/. Note the 'For your Emmy Consideration' link on the upper right hand corner of both sites.

By the way, the Answer to the Title is 'Emmy Award Web Site', which could very well be the case. No vowel buying necessary.

Get Your Greek On

Greeks are more than just feta cheese and Nia Vardalos movies.  When they aren't too busy philosophizing and building villages on dormant volcanoes, they also like to promote safe sex.  The sexually responsible and funny folks at Trojan have brought us a clever mix of B-movies and hysterical voice-overs in the form of Trojan Tales.            

All You Need is Bruce Campbell

No words necessary. I highly recommend heading to this site for more information ... and learning.

BuzzMW

Sometimes, the best way to generate buzz about a product is to confuse people.  Show them some random images or movies and let them speculate.  The "BMW Product" has started spreading its way across the internet, leaving plenty of gadget geeks bewildered as to its purpose. 

Scheduled to be released later this month, the device has been rumored to be an Mp3 player, a GPS, and a Mr. Fusion*.  Still, the prospect of BMW possibly launching products outside of their luxury sports cars is intriguing.  Stay tuned on this one. 

*OK, I think it's a Mr. Fusion. 

From the Web of Marketing

With great power comes a great promotion.  These days, upcoming films' trailers are almost as highly anticipated as the films themselves.  People have been known to see a movie just to catch a glimpse of the preview, while I use those 30 minutes to buy my  $7 Sour Patch kids and rack-up a high-score on Golden Tee.

Spider-Man 3 will be released next May, but Columbia Pictures unleashed a new, full-length, two-and-a-half minute trailer in a special unprecedented "road block" across Viacom Inc.'s brands, the CBS Television Network, as well as 14 online destinations last night.

Blend This

Blendtec exhibits the awesome power of their Total Blender with a site dedicated to blending all things blendable. Golf balls? No prob. Marbles? Forget about it. My favorite? The CoChicken.

Google Pays Videographers

After acquiring YouTube a few weeks ago, Google is taking some large strides in the video market.  When they're not busy being a gigantic all-powerful robot, they're going to start giving videographers who post on Google Video a cut of the ad-revenue they generate.

The first artists to get their checks are Fritz Grobe and Stephen Voltz, for their video documenting the fantastic multi-media exploration of Diet Coke and Mentos.

Will this move help Google Video attract better content authors?  Will people eventually associate the Google Video brand with better videos?

Source: CNet News
Official Google Blog

Is 'Real Beauty' a Reality?

     Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty, whose print and broadcast ads stir up both strongly positive and strongly negative reactions, has tried desperately to break through the crippling effects the fashion & beauty media have on women's self-esteem. The result can be jarring considering how comfortable our eyes are to viewing size zero models.  Recently, new ads (more like short documentary films) are trying to jolt the consumer again out of their chair and take notice.  Evolution shows the surreal process of just how much a model can be edited before she lands on a billboard and Daughters shows the reality of how girls grow up thinking they're never good enough.  But do Americans really want to see 'normal people' in advertising?  My guess is that, unfortunately, not for a while.  Consider the reactions to Dove's beauty poll as to whether the models are "flawed" or "flawless" - most of the time, there's a good amount of "flawed" votes for normal-looking women.

Daytime Fireworks

Nothing sells TVs like clowns and exploding paint.  The new Sony Bravia television commercials set eruptions of colored paint to music and splattered it over buildings in Glasgow, Scotland. The ad took 10 days and 250 people to shoot while the clean-up lasted 5 days with 60 people helping out.

Watch the video here.

The Coke Side of Life

Coca Cola recently launched an ad campaign “aimed to drive consumers to consider the brand as the only beverage option after years of viewing it as simply another beverage option.” Consequently, Coca Cola recently aired a TV commercial (click the word here to view) that successfully engages the consumer and characterizes a whimsical “coke side of life”. Featured in Adcritic and Adfreak, the commercial illustrates the interior workings of a Coca Cola machine, a.k.a. the “Happiness Factory.” The “Happiness Factory” is portrayed as an imaginative wonderland that creates one special Coca Cola beverage at a time, going through great lengths to ensure its perfection, and ultimately it departs the “factory” with a cheerful send-off parade complete with cannonballs.

Brawny Academy

Granted, the women may find this a better idea than the men, but Brawny has launched a campaign to reach their target audience: women, who make approximately 80% of all purchase decisions.

The lighthearted campaign consists of an eight-episode online reality show that aims at turning regular Joes into thoughtful, romantic, helpful Brawny Men. Eight men were sent into the woods by their significant others to attend “Brawny Academy.” The interactive campaign keeps the wants and needs of the female consumer in mind; a Brawny spokesperson explained that the online show format was chosen to reach their busy target audience – episodes are only 10-15 minutes, as opposed to television shows that run twice as long, and the online series can be accessed at one’s own convenience. Not only that, but the big benefit for Brawny is that the content of the show is the ad, unlike in television where ads interrupt content.

Check out the first episode and special features here. The next installment is expected on June 26.

Share the Air

Last Friday evening, we launched the new Panasonic Action Sports Site. The interactive site is a cool place for action sports enthusiasts to experience the Panasonic brand while expressing themselves creatively. The site features an Action Sports film contest, Dew Tour info, a gear section, and an Oxyride sweepstakes page.

Another highlight of the site, the photo blog, offers unique perspectives from action sports heroes Atiba Jefferson (photographer, editor of “The Skateboard Mag”), Sam Smyth (Team manager of Girl Skateboards), and Jimmie Mcguire (motocross athlete). The photos are, of course, taken with Panasonic digital cameras.

Samsung Blu-ray player finally on the market

For those of you keeping up with the newest technology (or interested in learning about it), Samsung has just launched its own much-anticipated Blu-ray disc player. Blu-ray discs are new, uber-cool, high-capacity storage devices for audio and video HDTV content. For all the information on this exciting innovation, visit the official Blu-ray disc site.

HD DVD, the competing format to Blu-ray, seems to be a little rattled by this new release and has instituted a price drop in hopes of boosting sales one last time before the popularity of Blu-ray really picks up (the format is supported by the majority of industry experts).

To get a peak at the Samsung Blu-ray packaging, go here.

Miller Lite's Spokesanimals

Spike Jonze is rumored to be behind this strange and wonderful series of animals auditioning for a Miller voiceover.

Stuntwood: The birth, life, death of a skateboard

New documentary explores the business and beauty of the $5.2 billion skateboard industry. Watch it here

Human Choir Provides Sound For Honda Civic Ad

[Adrants]

Eschewing the usual source for sound effects, Wieden + Kennedy London has created a two minute commercial for Honda UK and used a choir of humans to generate all the sounds in an ad for the new Honda Civic. The ad will be available, beginning today, as a video podcast. A microsite accompanies the ad which features a 3D-ish model of the car that people can view from different angles, a "making of" video and a service where visitors can sign up for a test drive.

The Da Vinci Code Site

Are you counting down the days until Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code becomes a movie?  Then check out the film's official site and watch the first full-length trailer.  (The book's site has interactive features too!)

Punch Out: LIVE!

Decades after it's release, Nintendo continues to prevent fans from spending time outside.  Nonetheless, this clip from Boltfolio is priceless.

SNL Skit Goes Viral

This SNL skit is currently one of the most downloaded videos on the internet.  It topped the 1 million mark in the first week after it appeared on SNL in December, and was also so popular that iTunes offered a free download of it as a late Christmas present shortly after New Year's.

Top 10 Viral Ads of 2005

Following in the footsteps of Dalyn's post, here's BoreMe.com's Top Ten Viral Ads list.  My fav is number one, VW's modern take on Gene Kelly's "Singin' in the Rain."

Full Streamed Sigur Ros Concert (Reykjavik, Nov 27th, 2005)

"Sigur Ros is currently streaming a full, 132-minute video of their homecoming concert in Reykjavik, Iceland on November 27, 2005. The feed is available in Windows media (high/low) or Real Media (high/low)." [One Louder]

Banned XBox 360 Ad

What is so controversial about this clip for the new XBox 360 that Microsoft decided to ban it from airing?  Promoting violence or just completely ridiculous: watch it and decide.

air jordan

check out this new spot for air jordan.  it is awesome.  if anyone has ever seen him play, this ad captures the poetic grace with which he moved.  [adage] Michael Jordan's unique presence on the court always had as much of the balletic choreographer as the masterful ball handler about it. This spot is like visual haiku capturing one of those moments.  It is an ad as well as a true piece of kinetic art that wants to be watched over and over just for the joy of knowing that such gifts of power and agility actually do exist.  (note: you will need an adage.com username and password to see the ad)

New Spike Jonze commercials

Spike Jonze impresses again with 2 new executions for Gap and Ikea. Here and Here.

Nous Sommes Comme Vous

This French microsite  promotes the Sci Fi channel.  It shows traditional sci-fi characters, such as a Werewolf and a Superhero, doing common, everday things with the tagline, "We are like you."  Watch as they take out the trash, drink too much, and deal with indigestion.  Even if you don't speak French, the videos are cute, and you can check out the Invisible Man jogging game.  (To watch the videos, click on the different parts of the head on the left.)

PSP X Chris Cunningham

Following up on Michelle's presentation, here's a great new spot by tech video and film directors Chris Cunningham (Aphex Twin/Bjork/Squarepus her/etc videos) and Alex Rutterford(Autechre/ Amon Tobin/Radiohead videos)! Features a large red shifting mechanical bunch of PSP related icons that moves thru various scenes.

View here

Microsoft Viral Clip

This amusing microsite promotes Microsoft's new online conferencing application, Live Meeting.  It's aimed at those serious professionals who travel frequently for business.

Seriously Amusing Ali G Commercials for the NBA

[AdFreak] Here’s a link to one of TNT’s hilarious Ali G basketball promos. This one stars Shaquille O’Neal and Dwayne Wade of the Miami Heat. Ali G sure doesn’t show Wade much respek.  Check out more Ali G goodness here, here and here.

Pioneer DVD Recorder Ad

Hilarious clip for Pioneer's new DVD recorder, which can record up to 455 hours of material.

Vizoo X Lexus

Glad to see our friends at Vizoo have been keeping busy since working with us for Inside TV:

During September ´05, Lexus launched a new car at Times Square in New York -using the Free Format™ system. Spectators were invited to navigate the “hologram” by means of an interactive facility – car could change colour, spin and one could see it drive. Hand outs of small cards with 3D car, completed the event.

Taking place in and around a rented shop location at Times Square no 7, it really attracted massive crowds - so at one point the NYC police had to clear the street.

Free Format™ will also feature the Lexus car at locations in Los Angeles and Miami. Watch the video here.

The Secret is Out ...

I have no idea what show this commercial is promoting.  But after watching it, I definitely want to find out.  Interesting viral hook that's hoping to get ppl like me (yes, I joined their mailing list immediately) interested in their TV event.

Onescreen: Tonight

Tonight, the One Club teams up with Stash DVD magazine to present Onescreen — 60 minutes of film, commercials, viral, video, and design from 2005. Keeping with the One Club's commitment to raise the standards of advertising by opening up the medium to extra-commercial work, this program offers new output from the Designers Republic, Lobo, Nakd, MTV, and PostPanic; music videos from Nine Inch Nails, Alias, and SoCal's Valley Arena; illustrations from Derrick Hodgson and Dalek; and a rare chance to see what's pumping out of ad agencies Wieden + Kennedy Tokyo Lab, Modernista!, and TBWA Paris. DJs SMC and DRM keep things lively all night. (LK)

Event info here

Taking Advantage of Scary Movie Stereotypes

In keeping with the approach of Halloween, this creepy video displays an inventive way to drive audiences to the theaters.  This video banks on audience expectations created by the Blair Witch movie and conventions of others like it.  Sit back, relax and enjoy the jumpy graveyard shots.

Shining

Another viral success. This alternate trailer to the Shining  proves that context is king.  A quick search on Technorati's blog database shows 1,875 posts and growing.

Oldie but sexy : banned PS2 ad

       

 

Here's a link to this excellent, and banned, French ad for a big discount on the PS2 from about 2 years ago. I couldn’t resist posting it. (Translation of the last screen : "60 € discount. A dream for any normally healthy gamer").

Video is not dead

It's always nice to see music videos and commercials categorized together because it means the ads are good. This collection will keep you up all night.

Enjoy here

Deep Blue

Ever wonder what its like to be in a pack of seals while they're being attacked? How bout riding through a storm with massive killer whales? Want to see alien-like creatures so rare, they have never been seen before on film? Even if none of this appeals to you, the combination of outstanding cinematography and an awesome musical soundtrack makes seeing Deep Blue a necessity.  Check out the trailer, and then find a showtime. 

Human Rights Watch International Film Festival

The Human Rights Watch International Film Festival opens at Lincoln Center tonight. The Festival features 26 films from 20 countries documenting contemporary human rights violations, and progress, around the globe. Check out descriptions and show times for all the films here.
When: June 9^th – 23^rd
Where: Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center, 165 West 65^th Street (at Broadway)
Contact: (212) 875-5600 
Many of the featured films won awards at Sundance, and tickets are only $10!