Ok, I know…seems like everyone’s answer nowadays seems to be user-generated content. Every website you go to has a link to where you can “upload your video.” Hell, even the NFL is looking for a user-generated Superbowl commercial. But, there are some companies out there that are doing it well. Well, at least not completely terribly.
Butterball has actually put together a relatively brand-appropriate user-generated content piece for themselves. They realize that they do one thing…turkeys. And what do turkeys equal? Everybody…Thanksgiving, that’s right. And what does Thanksgiving equal? C’mon you can do it…family, good job. So user-generated video, plus product that is solely related to a family holiday, equals…drumroll…video “wish you were here’s” brought to you by Butterball! I’m being a by cynical here, but it actually works decently for the brand. After all, it is basically all they’re about. My only major gripe: step it up with the copy please. “When family comes together Thanksgiving is perfect. Make it perfect.” No shit Butterball. It’s a good thing you told me to invite my family or this holiday could have gone horribly wrong! If you do go to the site, check out Jack, Carey and Katie. That little girl is ridiculous.
Cripsin, Porter + Bogusky are good at advertising! I know, I know…who are they, right? Apparently they’ve been doing decent work for some time now, and here’s one of the latest installments. It’s not exactly piss-your-pants funny, but damned if it ain’t exactly right for the target. One of four funny, good ads. These are the web versions, I actually think the made-for-air versions are even better. Click here to check all four out.
I’m not quite sure how to reprimand myself, but somehow…some way, I have managed to like a campaign done by JWT. By no means Cannes material, these ads aren’t earth-shattering. But surprisingly, they don’t suck. Wow, I just said some JWT ads don’t suck. I’m going to hell. Note to JWT: continue to use Reginald Pike’s (who are valiantly attempting to save one of their actors from losing his SAG card) Perlorian brothers, you may just find yourself continuing to suck less.
This is why I love advertising. You’re given a clear assignment: “Design a flag in the style of medieval jousting tournaments; such as the flags of medieval Sweden, Denmark and Liberia.” What do you do? You design a flag in the style of medieval jousting tournaments, such as the flags of medieval Sweden, Denmark and Liberia, right? Not if you’re in advertising, you don’t. Cheers, TBWA\Chiat\Day.
So, the new Sony ad came out this week and I’m just going to come out and say it…”Meh.” It’s not that great. I enjoyed the teaser previews more than the actual spot, which is a major problem. Now a lot of people are going to jump on me and say things like, “But all the planning and orchestration and blah, blah, blah.” That’s great. I respect that. And don’t get me wrong, it’s cool and all. In fact, if I weren’t comparing it to the original commercial I would probably be raving about it. But they chose to do a “sequel”, no one made them. This new spot is missing the random, unpredictable beauty that was in the original balls commercial. This one, in my humble opinion, just comes across as mechanical and, dare I say it, boring. Then again I could be wrong…I usually am. The YouTube version follows, click here to see the much better quality version on the Sony site.
Sorry this didn’t get up sooner guys, it’s over now. But I can personally tell you that it’s just as cool now that it’s over as it was when it was going. To promote its new Core 2 Duo, Intel challenged world-renowned Second Life designer Versu Richelieu to rebuild her real-world surroundings in Second Life in 72 hours. They set her up in a glass display window of a New York City storefront and let her “live a completely digital life” while recreating everything around her, from her chair to the Statue of Liberty in SL.
On an advertising note, it’s good to see major companies embracing new trends and technologies. This is a perfect promotion for their Core 2 Duo processor, which relates closely to working in heavy programs such as SL design. Well done.
This is Nate. He is my roommate. One of three, actually. Many of you know him, many do not.
Nate and I both interned at the same advertising agency this summer. Nate was at the New York office and I was in Chicago. Being at the same company meant we should have been exposed to similar climates and similar experiences. And for the most part we were. We both got wake up calls.
Every day we both had to wade through a sea of crap. I’m not saying that no good people or good work are at either of our offices, quite to the contrary. However, the size, clients, structure and history of our agency tended to result in a lot of garbage. A lot of it. And once in a while some non-garbage.
I think we both had some sort of idea that there was going to be some crap-factory action going on, but actually being a part of it and experiencing it had different effects on both of us. Nate now believes that there is merit in mediocre ads. Or at least it seems so. He and I continually find ourselves simultaneously saying “This is good” and “This is shit,” he the former and I the latter.
So it makes me ask, who’s right? Am I being too pretentious? Should I try to see the value in a simple ad that makes its point, albeit in a not-so-creative way? I don’t know. But I do think if I don’t hold all work to a high level, then I’ll start accepting mediocrity for myself. But that opens a whole ‘nother bag of questions, namely: who said my work is any better?
The company’s trying to pass off the ploy as a charitable plan, saying that proceeds from the sale of the posters will go to the American Red Cross (though no one seems to have asked the Red Cross if they wouldn’t have preferred the pint of Bell’s blood in the first place).
Since Lionsgate didn’t think of it, you should. Find someplace to donate at givelife.org.
Some would call it an accomplishment just for people to remember that Jefferson (flying apperatus) existed in the first place. Today, however, is a banner day for the group(s) as they have been mentioned in not one, but two post-worthy articles. To help promote its new American counterpart, Virgin Airlines has decided to allow its customers to name all of its planes. The first of which will be dubbed “Jefferson Airplane” ::yawn:: in a press conference later today.
On a more entertaining note, to promote his magazine Blender, writer Russ Heller will attempt to set a world record for listening to a song at least 324 times in one day. His song of choice? The song named “Worst Ever” by the very same magazine in 2004: “We Built This City” by Jefferson Starship. That poor, sad, sorry sonovabitch. Godspeed Russ Heller, godspeed.
The White Sox have decided to change U.S. Cellular field’s hours to 24 hours a day…or something like that. For a relatively measly $500,000, the Chicago White Sox have agreed to a deal that will change all of the start times of the next three season’s home games from either 7:05 or 7:35 to 7:11. Get it? 7-11? Yea, so now every time a White Sox game time is announced, the announcer will have to say 7:11. Reminds me a lot of the millions of dollars that are wasted on stadium branding rights every year. So I’m not sure if this is a brilliant new way to promote a brand, or a waste of a perfectly good half million dollars. I think I’m leaning towards the latter.
Posted by brainspew 
Posted by brainspew 
Posted by brainspew 
This is Nate. He is my roommate. One of three, actually. Many of you know him, many do not.
