5.18.2007
The Gen Y Revolution
Interesting article from CNN Money about the new Gen Y workforce (including myself, thank you) and, basically, how awesome we are. At least that's how I interpreted it.
Gen Y Revolution
5.11.2007
The Celebrity Backlash
The Cult of Celebrity has always had its heroes and villains, but probably most prevalent in this subculture are the celebrities once celebrated that people turn against. I don't know that Paris was ever celebrated, she was more of an amusing punchline, but it's obvious now that her shtick is wearing thin with John and Jane Public.
Case in point: The two petitions I have run across just today being sent to Gov. Schwarzenegger to jail Paris Hilton and refuse her clemency. Some people even call for her execution as she (and I'm paraphrasing here) adds nothing to humanity and her continued existence is a drain on valuable resources such as air and water.
Jail Paris
While this is amusing and I do agree she should go to jail I think people are missing the larger picture here. This is, after all, a person who's famous for having no talent. Honestly. As a model she only has two looks. As an actress she adds nothing, not even sexuality to a formulaic slasher flick in which you know she'll die but not before getting it on with her boyfriend. Carrying a toy dog in a purse does not count as being an animal activist. She can't sing. And, from what I've seen of her sex tape, she's a lousy lay. Unless, of course, you prefer women who answer their cell phones mid-coitus. The point is this woman should not be a celebrity in the first place, and if she weren't a celebrity this wouldn't be a news story.
Celebrity's a funny thing, and I'm not sure what should qualify for such a dubious mantle. On one hand you have entertainers, people who are naturally in the spotlight and by the nature of their occupation are strangers that people feel some sort of connection with (and in the cases of stalkers a little too much of a connection). Entertainers at their best provide more than entertainment, they provide an insight to the human condition that can not be matched and they act as a social mirror to the times we live in, the times we made it through, and the times that may yet come. So why should they not be venerated (and alternately destroyed) for taking on such a noble profession, or at least a profession that was once noble?
On the other hand, they are not teachers. They are not the leaders of society, nor are they those charged with educating tomorrow's leaders. And shouldn't those people be the celebrities? My argument for that is if teachers wanted to be celebrities they'd get a TV show, or have sex with a student.
Of course, another worry that this petitions signify is a serious concern that we are devolving to a Running Man sort of mentality as a society. A new Roman Coliseum in which you don't need a ticket in order to get a first row seat to all the bloodshed the Republic sanctions as mindless entertainment. No, for that privilege now you need only a cable box or a satellite dish. Our choicest Gladiators are celebrities, our Lions the predators of Vice and Public Opinion.
The public is as much to blame for the Paris Hilton sentence being a news story as the media or the airheaded heiress herself. And these kinds of intrusions into the areas of real and actual news will continue until we, as a public, demand a higher standard for celebrities. These petitions are either the start of that, or the start of something much worse.
Case in point: The two petitions I have run across just today being sent to Gov. Schwarzenegger to jail Paris Hilton and refuse her clemency. Some people even call for her execution as she (and I'm paraphrasing here) adds nothing to humanity and her continued existence is a drain on valuable resources such as air and water.
While this is amusing and I do agree she should go to jail I think people are missing the larger picture here. This is, after all, a person who's famous for having no talent. Honestly. As a model she only has two looks. As an actress she adds nothing, not even sexuality to a formulaic slasher flick in which you know she'll die but not before getting it on with her boyfriend. Carrying a toy dog in a purse does not count as being an animal activist. She can't sing. And, from what I've seen of her sex tape, she's a lousy lay. Unless, of course, you prefer women who answer their cell phones mid-coitus. The point is this woman should not be a celebrity in the first place, and if she weren't a celebrity this wouldn't be a news story.
Celebrity's a funny thing, and I'm not sure what should qualify for such a dubious mantle. On one hand you have entertainers, people who are naturally in the spotlight and by the nature of their occupation are strangers that people feel some sort of connection with (and in the cases of stalkers a little too much of a connection). Entertainers at their best provide more than entertainment, they provide an insight to the human condition that can not be matched and they act as a social mirror to the times we live in, the times we made it through, and the times that may yet come. So why should they not be venerated (and alternately destroyed) for taking on such a noble profession, or at least a profession that was once noble?
On the other hand, they are not teachers. They are not the leaders of society, nor are they those charged with educating tomorrow's leaders. And shouldn't those people be the celebrities? My argument for that is if teachers wanted to be celebrities they'd get a TV show, or have sex with a student.
Of course, another worry that this petitions signify is a serious concern that we are devolving to a Running Man sort of mentality as a society. A new Roman Coliseum in which you don't need a ticket in order to get a first row seat to all the bloodshed the Republic sanctions as mindless entertainment. No, for that privilege now you need only a cable box or a satellite dish. Our choicest Gladiators are celebrities, our Lions the predators of Vice and Public Opinion.
The public is as much to blame for the Paris Hilton sentence being a news story as the media or the airheaded heiress herself. And these kinds of intrusions into the areas of real and actual news will continue until we, as a public, demand a higher standard for celebrities. These petitions are either the start of that, or the start of something much worse.
5.10.2007
Sister Agency in the News!
Sister agency Karsh/Hagan had a nice little article about them appear in the Rocky Mountain News this morning, thanks to some new McDonald's commercials. It's actually an interesting example in the case study of how viral is going mainstream and playing a vital role in the influencing of decisions being made by all marketers, not just small or fringe ones.
Also, can I say that having been in Karsh's main conference room, they have a pretty sweet Mickey-D's drive thru mocked up in the room. The only thing that would've made it cooler is if I could've actually ordered food from there.
Wakabayashi Speaks!
NOTE: I do not actually know Dennis Wakabayashi. I know of him through mutual friends, but the only reason I mentioned him above is that his name is just as fun to type as it is to say.
Also, can I say that having been in Karsh's main conference room, they have a pretty sweet Mickey-D's drive thru mocked up in the room. The only thing that would've made it cooler is if I could've actually ordered food from there.
NOTE: I do not actually know Dennis Wakabayashi. I know of him through mutual friends, but the only reason I mentioned him above is that his name is just as fun to type as it is to say.
4.26.2007
476ad
Now I can only speculate as to why the Web site is called 476ad but the first thing that comes to mind for a history geek like me is the fact that the year 476 A.D. marked the fall of the Roman empire. Visit the site and draw your own conclusions.
476ad is like Last Night's Party except for two distinct advantages. 1) It's not firewalled by Integer. Yet. And 2) Unlike LNP anyone can upload photos of their own shindig. As the site says it's a phot blogging revolution.
Romanesque Debauchery Meet the Photo Diary
Now, according to Iconoculture here's why we should care about this aside from the fact that it's really cool—and I'm talking cooler than in the 5th grade when Phil Roth got the new BMX, tore it up on our homemade dirt track, and was king of Naper Carriage Hill for like a week and a half—aside from that here's why we should care:
• Millennials, among scores of others, are into low-level voyeurism. "From personal blog-scoping to full-fledged Facebook stalking to see other people's party pics, the urge to check out the sometimes banal aspects of peers' lives is in full effect."
• Party-pic sites are popping up to cash in on the popularity of Mash Creativity (SM).
Iconoculturelyze! (That's Iconoculture Analyzes mashed together...see, that's clever)
476ad is like Last Night's Party except for two distinct advantages. 1) It's not firewalled by Integer. Yet. And 2) Unlike LNP anyone can upload photos of their own shindig. As the site says it's a phot blogging revolution.
Now, according to Iconoculture here's why we should care about this aside from the fact that it's really cool—and I'm talking cooler than in the 5th grade when Phil Roth got the new BMX, tore it up on our homemade dirt track, and was king of Naper Carriage Hill for like a week and a half—aside from that here's why we should care:
• Millennials, among scores of others, are into low-level voyeurism. "From personal blog-scoping to full-fledged Facebook stalking to see other people's party pics, the urge to check out the sometimes banal aspects of peers' lives is in full effect."
• Party-pic sites are popping up to cash in on the popularity of Mash Creativity (SM).
Never Grow Up. Never Stop Learning.
People are no longer content to have little dreams or hobbies left unexplored. No longer content to take a job and turn it into a career. People want to, in the words of New Belgium's wildly popular print campaign, "follow their folly." Passion for what they do and the happiness that comes with doing what you want are becoming the barometers of success for some. For others it's merely exploring a long nagging interest. Whatever the reasons people are going back to school in record numbers, not to pursue another degree but just to take one or two classes. A literature class here, a music appreciation class there. People are using continuing education to further their hobbies, enrich their lives, and give themselves a sense of fulfillment.
These people cross age, gender, and race barriers, twenty-somethings to baby boomers are doing it. Occasionally a trend comes along that seems to defy demographics and this is that trend for this time. This is now how people sate their wanderlust, not just through travel but through education and stimulation. These are the people determined to not grow up, to not stop seeking out lessons, and to not stop following their follies.
CNN Reports on the Trend
Sidebar: Speaking of New Belgium, they currently have what is unquestionably the best advertising in the beer industry. The first beer company I've seen in, at least, the last 10–15 years to really understand their consumer.
New Belgium on the Boob Toob!
These people cross age, gender, and race barriers, twenty-somethings to baby boomers are doing it. Occasionally a trend comes along that seems to defy demographics and this is that trend for this time. This is now how people sate their wanderlust, not just through travel but through education and stimulation. These are the people determined to not grow up, to not stop seeking out lessons, and to not stop following their follies.
Sidebar: Speaking of New Belgium, they currently have what is unquestionably the best advertising in the beer industry. The first beer company I've seen in, at least, the last 10–15 years to really understand their consumer.
4.21.2007
Vertical Farming
Vertical farming? Sounds crazy, right? Straight out of science fiction. Well, maybe not. According to this New York magazine article a Columbia professor believes it's not only feasible, but also inevitable and our only-best chance to curb global warming.
I first read about this in todays Rocky Mountain News. A writer for RMN must have stumbled across this article and began thinking about the possibilities of vertical farms in Denver. A possibility that, if these farms are proven to be efficient and doable, I see as very real. That led me to the Web site, which is very interesting.
The possibilities excite me, but more than that I think responsible civic leaders in this day and age have a responsibility to research any and all alternatives to farming, waste, pollution, and conservation. The vertical farm is certainly one such alternative. I appreciate that the conservation movement is starting to gain momentum as the threats and effects of global warming become more real and present, but our overall attitude is still too passive. We must be more aggressive in our efforts to create a new consciousness in our culture, and a new, greener world for our kids and grandkids. If these alternatives, like the vertical farm, can in fact meet these needs (farming in the city not only creates less waste and lower prices on produce it could also allow some farmed areas to return to their natural state, be it plain or forest) then I see no point or logic in idly waiting for someone else to try these methods, or waiting for some magic potion that makes it all better. And we don't need to spend tax dollars to do this. Create incentives for the industry to take charge on this, I don't care if the sign above the entrance to the farm says "City of Denver," "ConAgra," or "Starbucks." Corporations can dig into their pockets, as can philanthropists—after all this is a capitalist society, make it a capitalist initiative. Put dollars and sense behind these methods and make it impossible to not attempt.
Put aside thoughts of global warming for a second and just think how we're all environmentalists. There's not a single person alive who doesn't enjoy the beauty of a warm and clear spring day when the trees are in bloom and the grass is green. No one likes seeing a polluted river or a brown sky. And that is why we need to be proactive in our thinking and aggressive in our actions, if not for the future of the world then just for our own pleasure.
Still need more reasons? The majority of those who are intensely overweight in this country reside in the lower half of the income bracket. Why, you ask? Very simple: junk food is cheap, good food is not. Next time you're at the grocery store compare the cost of some junk food (say a bag of Oreos) to something healthy (a pound of apples) and see A) which is cheaper and B) which lasts longer. More than likely you're answer to both questions will be junk food. However, in a vertical farm environment not only is all food grown locally but it's grown year round. Making it much cheaper to produce and distribute, which would mean that suddenly those with tight budgets don't need to sacrifice to eat well. Now, of course, with all things being equal whether or not someone chooses to eat well is not something we can control beyond education. But the more I think about this the more I'm convinced that something like this needs to be done by someone and soon.
So bring on the ConAgra, WhiteWave, and Fresh Express vertical farming skyscrapers! I already got some good plots of infill land picked out.
4.17.2007
Despicable Practices?
Is it just me or does this make anyone else kind of sick?
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- The New York Times and "Inside Edition" are among those sponsoring Google key-word searches for the phrase "Virginia Shooting." While many mainstream media companies solicited user-generated media for early coverage of the grisly scene at Virginia Tech, others are now ensuring they're the go-to source for news. In another development, NBC's "Dateline" has set up a FaceBook group seeking out friends of the shooter.
I'd say from now until...at least some later time I will be boycotting the New York Times. I would boycott Inisde Edition too, but you expect this from a fourth-rate sensationalist program like them.
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- The New York Times and "Inside Edition" are among those sponsoring Google key-word searches for the phrase "Virginia Shooting." While many mainstream media companies solicited user-generated media for early coverage of the grisly scene at Virginia Tech, others are now ensuring they're the go-to source for news. In another development, NBC's "Dateline" has set up a FaceBook group seeking out friends of the shooter.
I'd say from now until...at least some later time I will be boycotting the New York Times. I would boycott Inisde Edition too, but you expect this from a fourth-rate sensationalist program like them.
4.16.2007
The Slash-Proof Hoodie
An interesting idea, truly, and we'll see it could be hugely successful. I mean, who wouldn't want to wear clothing that helps them be a little more safe?
I do have some questions about its viability though. First, they say that these hoodies are for kids who live in more dangerous neighborhoods. Yet numbers support that if your 'hood's dangerous it's likely also poor, and at $130 a pop (or £65) it's unlikely that the hoodies intended audience can afford them. Secondly, just because it's slash proof doesn't mean it can prevent someone from jacking you for your slash-proof hoodie. And lastly, there's the question of even if this does take off in Europe could it ever make it's way to the States? Because slash-proof definitely doesn't equate to bullet proof.
Prevents Stabbing And Is Machine Washable!
On a slightly unrelated topic: in light of today's tragedy in Blacksburg could someone in Washington please, for the love of God, renew the gun control debate? It's time to tell Charlton Heston and Ted Nugent to f- off. I'm not saying abolish guns, that would be absolutely impossible, but it should nearly impossible to obtain a gun and law enforcement needs to crack down on the black market for these weapons. Then maybe a slash-proof hoodie would make some sense in this country.
I do have some questions about its viability though. First, they say that these hoodies are for kids who live in more dangerous neighborhoods. Yet numbers support that if your 'hood's dangerous it's likely also poor, and at $130 a pop (or £65) it's unlikely that the hoodies intended audience can afford them. Secondly, just because it's slash proof doesn't mean it can prevent someone from jacking you for your slash-proof hoodie. And lastly, there's the question of even if this does take off in Europe could it ever make it's way to the States? Because slash-proof definitely doesn't equate to bullet proof.
On a slightly unrelated topic: in light of today's tragedy in Blacksburg could someone in Washington please, for the love of God, renew the gun control debate? It's time to tell Charlton Heston and Ted Nugent to f- off. I'm not saying abolish guns, that would be absolutely impossible, but it should nearly impossible to obtain a gun and law enforcement needs to crack down on the black market for these weapons. Then maybe a slash-proof hoodie would make some sense in this country.
4.13.2007
Indy 4 Rolling Like a Giant Boulder
Since this is the Pop-Culture Periodical I feel compelled to share this article from USA Today. It's been known for awhile that Indiana Jones 4 is a go, but this film has had false starts in the past. However, this time around there is a script that's been approved by Lucas, Spielberg, and Ford, every key member of the cast has been locked up except Sean Connery, and they're actually in pre-production.
Now the USA Today officially reports what Ain't It Cool News first uncovered two weeks ago: that Shia LeBouf has been cast in the film. Some speculate he's just a sidekick, some say he's Indy's son, all that's known for sure is that he's in it and this film is hitting theaters in May 2008!
OK, so why report this here? This isn't a trend, right? Well, it is news about one of the most important and successful film franchises in history. You take Star Wars, Indiana Jones and a host of 80s films like Risky Business, Fasttimes at Ridgemont High, Breakfast Club, Goonies, etc. and what you have is Pop Culture. Specifically pop culture that defined a generation. And to see that it's not only kept alive through nostalgia and VH-1, but is actually still a viable product should tell you something about the influence that pop culture has had on our society as well as where we're at today, and perhaps even where we're headed.
This article also serves as an indicator of that because it does mention that Shia (a 20-year old actor who wasn't even alive when most of this stuff came out) is also the star of this summer's live action Transformers adaptation of the popular 80s cartoon series. Some say it will be the biggest movie of the summer. And it very well could be, but it doesn't even compare to another chapter in the Indiana Jones adventure.
4.11.2007
Step-It Up!
Organized by 6 college grads this is a protest event on a massive scale. The interesting thing is it's also completely local and do-it-yourself. The goal? Get the government to pass legislation committing to cutting carbon emissions 80% by 2050. The method? A series of local, do it yourself events and protests scheduled for this Saturda, April 14. All you have to do is go to the Web site and find the event going on closest to you. How easy is that? Overall this is pretty ingenious AND there are over 1,300 events set up nationwide.
Unfortunately I have to be in a wedding on Saturday, but protesting has never been easier!
4.05.2007
Basketball Shoes Come Back to Earth
I never thought I'd be saying this but, Thank God for Stephon Marbury. He has started a sneaker line called Starbury. The idea behind this is to make cool sneaks affordable for everyone. He remembers what it was like growing up on Coney Island, the 6th out of 7 children, in a family that could only afford hand-me-downs. Sneaker prices are creeping upwards of $175 for "top of the line" shoes, and what child outside of gated communities can afford that?
So Stephon Marbury created the Starbury line of sneakers: sleek, comfortable, affordable. Currently they're only sold at Steve and Barry's®, but they retail for $14.98. Yep, $15. And Ben Wallace of the Chicago Bulls has since gotten on board to have his own line of Starbury sneakers. Other NBAllers are also in talks to create their own Starbury. People are hoping these are successful to bring sneaker prices back down to earth. I'm hoping it's successful to make the sneaker industry competitive and honestly priced, two things it hasn't really been since the first $100 pair of Air Jordans hit the shelves.
Chuck Taylor Eat Your Heart Out
So Stephon Marbury created the Starbury line of sneakers: sleek, comfortable, affordable. Currently they're only sold at Steve and Barry's®, but they retail for $14.98. Yep, $15. And Ben Wallace of the Chicago Bulls has since gotten on board to have his own line of Starbury sneakers. Other NBAllers are also in talks to create their own Starbury. People are hoping these are successful to bring sneaker prices back down to earth. I'm hoping it's successful to make the sneaker industry competitive and honestly priced, two things it hasn't really been since the first $100 pair of Air Jordans hit the shelves.
4.03.2007
Springfield is in...
Here's an interesting bit of marketing from 7-11, most importantly I think it shows that they're finally embracing their place in the pop culture and showing an ability to laugh at themselves. Now, this rumor's not been confirmed by either the studio or the company (at least not to my knowledge) but this has come to me from multiple sources so I feel comfortable posting it.
7-Eleven is set to turn a number of its stores into Kwik-E-Marts in conjunction with the release of The Simpsons Movie. Not only will the name on the outside change but inside they will sell products from The Simpsons universe, such as Krusty-Os cereal, Buzz Cola, and squeeshies.
Absolutely brilliant.
7-Eleven is set to turn a number of its stores into Kwik-E-Marts in conjunction with the release of The Simpsons Movie. Not only will the name on the outside change but inside they will sell products from The Simpsons universe, such as Krusty-Os cereal, Buzz Cola, and squeeshies.
Absolutely brilliant.
3.27.2007
Rock the MoPod, Turn Japanese!
Here's an article from Iconoculture (and thanks to Gene for sending it my way) about a new mobile phone gadget that's all the craze in Japan. It's called a MoPod and they're quirky charms that can attach to your belt, keychain, bag—anything within three feet of your phone. When your phone rings or vibrates these things light up and start dancing. According to Iconoculture this falls under the Funster macrotrend, but I think if they created charm devices like this that weren't so kid-oriented I could see this attracting targets that aren't so laid-back.
Personally I think this is pretty sweet. If I were a Japanese school girl I'd totally want one! Of course I'd also spend a lot of time wearing my school uniform and staring at myself in the mirror, but that's beside the point...
The Spin Cycle
Here's a perfect example of an agency in full spin mode. Now, reading this article printed in today's Rocky Mountain News (3-27-07) you might get the impression that Morey Evans is an up-and-coming downtown Denver agency. While the article details their new Vehix.com TV campaign (and how they film most of their spots in Denver) they also mention what should be an impressive roster of clients for a boutique shop: the aforementioned Vehix.com, Good Times, and Metro Brokers. Maybe if you're a young college grad looking to get a foot in the industry you might read this article and decide this is a good place to start.
That's the perception.
Here's the reality. Their client roster used to be more impressive boasting Qdoba Mexican Grill in addition to three notable clients listed above. They used to be a growing office with a stable of talented young people on both the Creative and Account Service sides. Past tense. Most of the talent that I knew, or knew of, at Morey Evans is long since gone, tired of bureaucratic games, double talk, and back stabbing. Qdoba is gone. And, I heard last week, that Morey Evans is slashing all benefits to their employees and asking them to "go part time."
Doesn't exactly sound like a place I'd want to work for. And that's why this article is a perfect example of the PR machine in full-blown spin cycle. I mean you never saw an article about their TV with their old campaign for Vehix, or Good Times, or when they ran a very successful on-line promotion for Qdoba. Never heard about them when they were healthy, but now that they're critical they're calling in all the best spin doctors. Apparently someone's still working full-time over there.
The Morey Evans Spin Cycle
That's the perception.
Here's the reality. Their client roster used to be more impressive boasting Qdoba Mexican Grill in addition to three notable clients listed above. They used to be a growing office with a stable of talented young people on both the Creative and Account Service sides. Past tense. Most of the talent that I knew, or knew of, at Morey Evans is long since gone, tired of bureaucratic games, double talk, and back stabbing. Qdoba is gone. And, I heard last week, that Morey Evans is slashing all benefits to their employees and asking them to "go part time."
Doesn't exactly sound like a place I'd want to work for. And that's why this article is a perfect example of the PR machine in full-blown spin cycle. I mean you never saw an article about their TV with their old campaign for Vehix, or Good Times, or when they ran a very successful on-line promotion for Qdoba. Never heard about them when they were healthy, but now that they're critical they're calling in all the best spin doctors. Apparently someone's still working full-time over there.
3.23.2007
Wii a Surprise Success
Face it, you thought Nintendo was done. They should stop making consoles and focus solely on video games. You thought that, you said it to other video game fans. Said their time was over, they needed to step aside for the likes of Microsoft and Sony. You said it, and so did I. And then the Wii came out and at first I thought Nintendo had finally nailed their market: children. Then I saw the Wiimote, the wireless motion sensor controller, and my interest piqued. But to be tapping into a market that no video game company has ever come close to reaching? Absolutely unbelievable.
Go ahead and read for yourself, Nintendo is attracting retirees...
People who bombed Hiroshima apologize 60 years later by playing tennis
Go ahead and read for yourself, Nintendo is attracting retirees...
3.04.2007
Geico TV
Here's an interesting bit of news pulled from the I Watch Stuff Web site (www.iwatchstuff.com):
"ABC has announced that they are developing the popular "Caveman" series of Geico Auto Insurance commercials into a half-hour comedy project, or, if you prefer, a thinly-disguised infomercial series. The ads have gathered a following for their jokes about prehistoric men fighting prejudice from the modern world, much in the way hobos fight the prejudice of me and my "hobo stick."
Strange as is it seems, this won't be the first time a commercial has made the jump to a series, as Baby Bob, based on dot-com ads, did the same thing in 2002. It also won't be the first time a caveman stars in a regular sitcom, with Ted Danson having played a caveman bartender on Cheers and a caveman doctor on Becker to mixed results."
Pretty interesting. I certainly love the commercials but as a show will it really have enough material to produce 22 episodes a year? We'll see. Also they do make a good point about Baby Bob, that was utterly terrible...and they even brought him back for Quizno's which was even worse! Let's not forget that CP+B has announced their intentions to take the King out of BK and beyond video games—into TV and movies. A move that I think will be disastrous and forever ruin what is currently a great marketing tool. But it's not like Crispin Porter has a track record of taking a gimmick too far or beating a dead horse. Oh wait.
Anyway, keep an eye open (and an ear as well) for more information on this Geico series. I think it'll be disastrous but I love the cavemen so I hope I'm wrong.
"ABC has announced that they are developing the popular "Caveman" series of Geico Auto Insurance commercials into a half-hour comedy project, or, if you prefer, a thinly-disguised infomercial series. The ads have gathered a following for their jokes about prehistoric men fighting prejudice from the modern world, much in the way hobos fight the prejudice of me and my "hobo stick."
Strange as is it seems, this won't be the first time a commercial has made the jump to a series, as Baby Bob, based on dot-com ads, did the same thing in 2002. It also won't be the first time a caveman stars in a regular sitcom, with Ted Danson having played a caveman bartender on Cheers and a caveman doctor on Becker to mixed results."
Pretty interesting. I certainly love the commercials but as a show will it really have enough material to produce 22 episodes a year? We'll see. Also they do make a good point about Baby Bob, that was utterly terrible...and they even brought him back for Quizno's which was even worse! Let's not forget that CP+B has announced their intentions to take the King out of BK and beyond video games—into TV and movies. A move that I think will be disastrous and forever ruin what is currently a great marketing tool. But it's not like Crispin Porter has a track record of taking a gimmick too far or beating a dead horse. Oh wait.
Anyway, keep an eye open (and an ear as well) for more information on this Geico series. I think it'll be disastrous but I love the cavemen so I hope I'm wrong.
Omnicom Legal Snoozer, er, Seminar
In the interest of actually preserving my job here at The Integra...Interger...Integger...oh INTEGER Group (seriously, how is it a difficult word?) I will reserve my feelings on this bit of mandated industry education. Though if you've walked by my cube in the last few days you've likely read the rant I wrote on my wall. What I will say is this: There are many methods a company can use to inspire their creatives, to get more out of the idea bucket (some call it a toilet), and Integer has used a number of those methods in the past.
However, having a corporate lawyer come tell you to keep in mind while ideating all the unpredictable and frivolous lawsuits brought upon advertisers over the years is NOT one of those ways. Yes, I understand the importance of having a lawyer come speak to the employees, but the kinds of lawsuits he talked about that we have to watch out for fall into two buckets: 1) Sheer stupidity and 2) Unpredictable frivolity. The first being lawsuits brought against companies for things like trademark infringement and, honestly, you have to be a certified moron to commit some of the infringements he talked about. Avoiding these types of lawsuits isn't hard if you act intelligently and ethically (i.e., come up with a somewhat original idea and don't steal). The second bucket is, as I say, unpredictable. So many humorless individuals and overly-sensitive and, in my opinion unnecessary, special interest groups sue or threaten to sue nowadays for the most ridiculous of reasons. Two recent examples: Snickers being told their men-accidentally-kissing ad was homophobic. No, you morons the ad was making fun of homophobes! And the other was the GM ad where a robot dreamed of losing his job and committing suicide which incensed a suicide prevention group saying the ad was insensitive. Of course where was that prevention group that purports to fight for the people when GM cut thousands of jobs? Certainly that's more insensitive to the depressed and suicidal than a commercial about a robot who has a nightmare.
The point is if you insist upon your creatives to curb their thinking, to dull their wits, in order to avoid these latter types of scenarios then what you're asking for, quite honestly, is shit creative. And the majority of American advertising is already shit. We, and our clients, should pride ourselves on being fearless—not shocking—and remaining true to the brand identities and consumer followings that we create, perpetuate, and facilitate. Instead it seems as if we are being told to appeal to the lowest common denominator which, in the end, really appeals to a minority if anyone at all.
What I will take from the seminar is this: there's a lot of really weird, overly sensitive people out there with no senses of humor. I already knew that we lived in a society that is so cravenly PC that it long ago lost the ability to laugh at itself, but it's still disheartening to be reminded of it every now and again, just when you start to gain hope for the future. The point is I know we live in a sue-happy society, people think it's their easy route to a big payday (and thanks to greedy lawyers and their astronomical fees dissuading companies from fighting these lawsuits these people are usually right), and I know that we have to be careful. But I also know that in a lot of situations there's nothing you can do because these people are unpredictable. But I will keep in mind that we are part of larger, publicly-held company. The problem is that might actually inspire me to be edgier, and I'm not sure that's what they want. But trust me it'll drive up the stock price.
However, having a corporate lawyer come tell you to keep in mind while ideating all the unpredictable and frivolous lawsuits brought upon advertisers over the years is NOT one of those ways. Yes, I understand the importance of having a lawyer come speak to the employees, but the kinds of lawsuits he talked about that we have to watch out for fall into two buckets: 1) Sheer stupidity and 2) Unpredictable frivolity. The first being lawsuits brought against companies for things like trademark infringement and, honestly, you have to be a certified moron to commit some of the infringements he talked about. Avoiding these types of lawsuits isn't hard if you act intelligently and ethically (i.e., come up with a somewhat original idea and don't steal). The second bucket is, as I say, unpredictable. So many humorless individuals and overly-sensitive and, in my opinion unnecessary, special interest groups sue or threaten to sue nowadays for the most ridiculous of reasons. Two recent examples: Snickers being told their men-accidentally-kissing ad was homophobic. No, you morons the ad was making fun of homophobes! And the other was the GM ad where a robot dreamed of losing his job and committing suicide which incensed a suicide prevention group saying the ad was insensitive. Of course where was that prevention group that purports to fight for the people when GM cut thousands of jobs? Certainly that's more insensitive to the depressed and suicidal than a commercial about a robot who has a nightmare.
The point is if you insist upon your creatives to curb their thinking, to dull their wits, in order to avoid these latter types of scenarios then what you're asking for, quite honestly, is shit creative. And the majority of American advertising is already shit. We, and our clients, should pride ourselves on being fearless—not shocking—and remaining true to the brand identities and consumer followings that we create, perpetuate, and facilitate. Instead it seems as if we are being told to appeal to the lowest common denominator which, in the end, really appeals to a minority if anyone at all.
What I will take from the seminar is this: there's a lot of really weird, overly sensitive people out there with no senses of humor. I already knew that we lived in a society that is so cravenly PC that it long ago lost the ability to laugh at itself, but it's still disheartening to be reminded of it every now and again, just when you start to gain hope for the future. The point is I know we live in a sue-happy society, people think it's their easy route to a big payday (and thanks to greedy lawyers and their astronomical fees dissuading companies from fighting these lawsuits these people are usually right), and I know that we have to be careful. But I also know that in a lot of situations there's nothing you can do because these people are unpredictable. But I will keep in mind that we are part of larger, publicly-held company. The problem is that might actually inspire me to be edgier, and I'm not sure that's what they want. But trust me it'll drive up the stock price.
2.16.2007
Green Integer
I know that here at Integer we're working on conducting a green audit of the company, one of many ideas for advancing this company that was born out of the Iconoculture trip in October. One of the things that helps us in our efforts to be green and promote sustainability is where we work: Belmar. They already promote wind-powered street lights and solar-powered parking meters. And now, according to today's Rocky Mountain News we may soon have solar-powered parking garages.
Contiuum Development is planning on placing solar panels on top of the parking garages here in Belmar. These panels will provide enough power to run 350 homes each year, but will only be used to power the parking garages with the rest of the energy being sold back to the grid. This part of Xcel's aggressive plan (demanded by voters) to make more of the states energy come from natural, renewable resources. In general, it's a good idea and a good sign that as a city and state we are becoming more and more conscious of the problems of pollution and global warming (don't think that it's only auto emissions that create our brown cloud). In specific, it might be a good idea to figure out how Integer can get some of this energy, after all our building is linked to one of the garages.
Speaking of links click below to read the story from the RMN:
We still need more bars
Contiuum Development is planning on placing solar panels on top of the parking garages here in Belmar. These panels will provide enough power to run 350 homes each year, but will only be used to power the parking garages with the rest of the energy being sold back to the grid. This part of Xcel's aggressive plan (demanded by voters) to make more of the states energy come from natural, renewable resources. In general, it's a good idea and a good sign that as a city and state we are becoming more and more conscious of the problems of pollution and global warming (don't think that it's only auto emissions that create our brown cloud). In specific, it might be a good idea to figure out how Integer can get some of this energy, after all our building is linked to one of the garages.
Speaking of links click below to read the story from the RMN:
2.13.2007
I Love the Commander
Ok, so the title of this post is an inside joke that maybe only one person reading will get, but I don't care. I think it's funny. Moving along...
Below is a link to an article from this morning's AdAge. The article basically says that Jeep (owned by the Chrysler Group) is inviting agencies to come pitch, and among the agencies invited is their current AOR (and Omnicom bretheren) BBDO Worldwide. The's the gist, you want the details then click on the link. Oh and I don't know about you, but I had no idea that the former Dodgers skipper was the CEO of Jeep now. Crazy.
Detroit Still Sucks!
Below is a link to an article from this morning's AdAge. The article basically says that Jeep (owned by the Chrysler Group) is inviting agencies to come pitch, and among the agencies invited is their current AOR (and Omnicom bretheren) BBDO Worldwide. The's the gist, you want the details then click on the link. Oh and I don't know about you, but I had no idea that the former Dodgers skipper was the CEO of Jeep now. Crazy.
2.12.2007
The Future of Advertising Has Arrived
We've seen it in science-fiction films for years, haven't we? Video billboards advertising to people? But never could this be done in reality, it would be far too expensive to treat video installations like outdoor boards! But if the technology allowed us to imbed a video chip in plastic and treat it like a poster? We'd jump all over it, right? Well, prepare to jump...
From Posterwire.com:
3D Movie Posters
Full Color Hologram One-sheets
XYZ RBG offers high resolution scanning services for film, television, video game, and other media companies. The company has worked on films in The Matrix series, Lord of the Rings, and King Kong. Through the company’s XYZ Imaging, it also offers holographic printing services. A hologram is defined as: “A three dimensional image; unlike regular images which are usually two dimensional, a three dimensional image, or hologram, appears to “pop out” of the media on which it is printed or illuminated from.”
The Ottawa Canada firm has created technology that allows eight seconds of video to be manufactured as a paper thin three dimensional hologram movie poster:
The film industry is the first target for what XYZ RGB bills as the next-generation movie poster. The company can place a short clip right in the poster, giving people a chance to view a scene without going into the theatre.
The technology is turning heads around the world. When he heard about it, Titanic director James Cameron couldn’t believe the 3-D posters were possible.
“He said to me, ‘if you have discovered imbedded video in plastic, you have discovered the holy grail of advertising,’” said Jan-Erik Nyhuus, vice-president of business development for XYZ RGB Inc.
The company demonstrated this printing technology by producing a custom made three dimensional Terminator 2 movie poster and presenting it to director Cameron. The claim is that this hologram movie poster is more advanced than past lenticular movie posters (such as the recent Spider-Man 3 lenticular poster).
Go to thearticle
Wanna see some awesome examples?
Animate Me! Check out the soccer poster for the best example of the technology!
From Posterwire.com:
3D Movie Posters
Full Color Hologram One-sheets
XYZ RBG offers high resolution scanning services for film, television, video game, and other media companies. The company has worked on films in The Matrix series, Lord of the Rings, and King Kong. Through the company’s XYZ Imaging, it also offers holographic printing services. A hologram is defined as: “A three dimensional image; unlike regular images which are usually two dimensional, a three dimensional image, or hologram, appears to “pop out” of the media on which it is printed or illuminated from.”
The Ottawa Canada firm has created technology that allows eight seconds of video to be manufactured as a paper thin three dimensional hologram movie poster:
The film industry is the first target for what XYZ RGB bills as the next-generation movie poster. The company can place a short clip right in the poster, giving people a chance to view a scene without going into the theatre.
The technology is turning heads around the world. When he heard about it, Titanic director James Cameron couldn’t believe the 3-D posters were possible.
“He said to me, ‘if you have discovered imbedded video in plastic, you have discovered the holy grail of advertising,’” said Jan-Erik Nyhuus, vice-president of business development for XYZ RGB Inc.
The company demonstrated this printing technology by producing a custom made three dimensional Terminator 2 movie poster and presenting it to director Cameron. The claim is that this hologram movie poster is more advanced than past lenticular movie posters (such as the recent Spider-Man 3 lenticular poster).
Go to the
Wanna see some awesome examples?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
