I love reading. I do most of my reading in the summer because school gets in the way of my reading time. Weird huh?
This next commercial is a play on the 'student caught passing a note during class' situation, but takes an undeniably adorable turn.
Some may think it was corny, but I thought it was cute. The teacher is overwhelmed with emotion as she read the note. Look past the remote chance that a second-grader could use the word 'abyss' correctly and let the spot take you back to your note-passing days.
I wish I was as smooth as that kid during elementary. I wasn't much of a note writer. I think my move was kicking mud off my shoes under the desk of the girl next to me. Yeah, that didn't get me far.
This commercial was well shot too. Note the use of a dolly when the student walks up to give up the note. Also when reading the note out loud, the teacher has this expression that longs for a note like that to be written for her. This commercial definitely promotes the Indigo Love of Reading Fund. Whatever that is.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Guitar Hero Reels in Celebs
My roommate got the new Guitar Hero last week. He was actually shopping for Halloween costumes, but came home with the hard to find Guitar Hero World Tour band kit. As his roommate, I am reaping the benefits by being delegated to be the drummer in his "band". It's pretty sweet.
After buying the new GH, we saw these two ads.
Now these commercials didn't convince my roommate to buy the game. (The game pretty much sells itself.) But I am impressed with all the high profile celebrities Guitar Hero was able to get in this Risky Business spoof.
You have Tony Hawk (legend in his own video game right) on drums, Alex Rodriguez (highest paid baseball player ever) on bass, Michael Phelps (you know, that guy who dominated NBC this summer) on guitar and Kobe Bryant (remember him being swarmed by Chinese fans?) as the lead singer. That is star packed. Then there is the second commercial with the famed supermodel Heidi Klum. She doesn't need a band.
It's always fun to see celebs like this being a little silly and this commercial got it right. Just look at Phelps strum that "guitar". He can't keep from grinning. Kobe gets really into the lipsyncing. The picture looks just like the 80's movie.
I wonder how much they got paid...
After buying the new GH, we saw these two ads.
Now these commercials didn't convince my roommate to buy the game. (The game pretty much sells itself.) But I am impressed with all the high profile celebrities Guitar Hero was able to get in this Risky Business spoof.
You have Tony Hawk (legend in his own video game right) on drums, Alex Rodriguez (highest paid baseball player ever) on bass, Michael Phelps (you know, that guy who dominated NBC this summer) on guitar and Kobe Bryant (remember him being swarmed by Chinese fans?) as the lead singer. That is star packed. Then there is the second commercial with the famed supermodel Heidi Klum. She doesn't need a band.
It's always fun to see celebs like this being a little silly and this commercial got it right. Just look at Phelps strum that "guitar". He can't keep from grinning. Kobe gets really into the lipsyncing. The picture looks just like the 80's movie.
I wonder how much they got paid...
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Why Brooke Shields?
Let's pretend it was my plan to have a one month gap between blogs and continue...
During fall break, I was able to catch up on television watching. I'm still not at the point I want to be, but I'm getting there.
These new ads by Volkswagen are more miss than hit.
VW is attempting to bolster their reputation for German engineering by claiming women are having children just so they can experience their new minivan. They mimic a PSA with Brooke Shields warning, "Have a baby for love, not for German engineering."
Obviously these spots are sarcastic, but unfortunately the joke doesn't work.
I don't find the ads clever or funny at all. It's actually sort of offensive to pregnant women; demeaning their childbirth for the hope of riding in a Volkswagen.
Even the beginning, with the old-fashion VW "talking" to Shields in a German accent, can be misinterpreted as degradation.
These fake PSAs shouldn't do the warning. They should be warned themselves.
During fall break, I was able to catch up on television watching. I'm still not at the point I want to be, but I'm getting there.
These new ads by Volkswagen are more miss than hit.
VW is attempting to bolster their reputation for German engineering by claiming women are having children just so they can experience their new minivan. They mimic a PSA with Brooke Shields warning, "Have a baby for love, not for German engineering."
Obviously these spots are sarcastic, but unfortunately the joke doesn't work.
I don't find the ads clever or funny at all. It's actually sort of offensive to pregnant women; demeaning their childbirth for the hope of riding in a Volkswagen.
Even the beginning, with the old-fashion VW "talking" to Shields in a German accent, can be misinterpreted as degradation.
These fake PSAs shouldn't do the warning. They should be warned themselves.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Primate Car Security
Sometimes commercials don't have to make sense.
This ad was brought to my attention by the girl who sits next to me in Feature Writing, Laura. Be sure to check out her movie blog so she gets views from someone other than her boyfriend.
When I watched the commercial at first, I thought, 'What the...' but then I was like, "Ohh."
This was a humorous attempt at drawing the viewer in using a monkey as some Impala's security system. You have to admit, the premise is pretty funny.
This is also an example of commercials becoming more violent nowadays. The ad gurus want to shock us into remembering the product. I think this worked in Laura's case because she even remembered the name of the commercial: Trunk Monkey.
One problem I have with this ad is, does it work? I don't know if anyone is convinced into buying Ford for their next car because of a funny, hypothetically pending security system.
But then again, not all commercial have to make sense.
This ad was brought to my attention by the girl who sits next to me in Feature Writing, Laura. Be sure to check out her movie blog so she gets views from someone other than her boyfriend.
When I watched the commercial at first, I thought, 'What the...' but then I was like, "Ohh."
This was a humorous attempt at drawing the viewer in using a monkey as some Impala's security system. You have to admit, the premise is pretty funny.
This is also an example of commercials becoming more violent nowadays. The ad gurus want to shock us into remembering the product. I think this worked in Laura's case because she even remembered the name of the commercial: Trunk Monkey.
One problem I have with this ad is, does it work? I don't know if anyone is convinced into buying Ford for their next car because of a funny, hypothetically pending security system.
But then again, not all commercial have to make sense.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
If Commercials Could Win Oscars...
College is seriously getting in the way of me watching TV. Thus, I am not able to watch new commercials. Still, I need to write a blog. Therefore, I will use an old commercial for this post.
Volkswagen had this movie-like cliffhanger commercial several years ago. Whenever it came on, I would watch it all the way through for the ride. (haha pun?) I think I will narrate this commercial instead of rating it because it already is one of my favorites.
On an overcast, damp day, a silver Volkswagen Jetta speeds down a windy, country road. A melancholic theme plays in the background. The driver, who looks a little like Brad Pitt, is tense. We can tell he is tense because we see him brush the sweat from his forehead. He is dressed in cuff links. What could the occasion be?
In another location, a bride is being tended to. Four bridesmaids surround the pretty brunette in her white lacy gown and pearls. She puts on a smile, but she also looks down. Is she really happy on this special day?
Back to the driver. He races through a wooded area, making the scene even gloomier. He clenches the wheel and focuses on the road. He can't be late for his wedding can he?
In the bride's room, we are introduced to the bride's father. He looks calm, in control. He certainly has dealt with more stressful things than this. He's probably a CEO of some big company. Or maybe a partner in a powerful law firm. He sits with his leg folded on his knee to show his ease.
But the bride is anything but at ease. She feels her engagement ring and looks longingly out the window. This is a woman with doubts.
The instrumental in the background adds bells to its track. Two things are accomplished: the wedding is highlighted and the intensity kicks up another notch.
The driver checks his watch. He probably could have looked at the digital clock in the Jetta, but that wouldn't reveal his urgency.
The father checks his watch too. There seems to be an underlying race here...
The Brad Pitt lookalike slows down. He is stuck behind a trailer. "Time to put this in top gear," he thinks to himself. Our protagonist passes the obstruction smoothly like a true hero.
Meanwhile, the father has stood up and is looking around. The stress is even getting to Mr. CEO...
The music now has soprano opera voices come on. Intensity increases tenfold.
Brad Pitt is doing his best - racing across bridges and navigating that annoyingly curvy road. But then he gets stuck at a railroad crossing. His eyes widen. He puts his head on the wheel. He screams obscenities.
The father shuts the door. Literally and perhaps figuratively. Is the wedding canceled?
Finally, Jetta driver/Brad Pitt lookalike makes it to the WASPy looking church. He doesn't have time to park the car; he leaves it in the front driveway.
Now here comes the twist:
It wasn't his wedding at all! He has driven to this church in hopes of stopping the pretty brunette from marrying Keanu Reeves.
He gets there just as soon as the minister (who is obviously not Catholic) says, "Speak now or forever hold your peace."
Brad climbs up the stairs and stops. Keanu turns his head. Pretty Brunette raises her eyebrows ever so slightly. Brad takes a deep breath...
And that's it. That's where the commercial ends. The tagline, "Fasten your seatbelts." is displayed. Perfection.
The music is called "One Million Miles Away" by J Ralph. I may or may not have downloaded it when I was in 7th grade and listened to it before I fell asleep at night...
Volkswagen had this movie-like cliffhanger commercial several years ago. Whenever it came on, I would watch it all the way through for the ride. (haha pun?) I think I will narrate this commercial instead of rating it because it already is one of my favorites.
On an overcast, damp day, a silver Volkswagen Jetta speeds down a windy, country road. A melancholic theme plays in the background. The driver, who looks a little like Brad Pitt, is tense. We can tell he is tense because we see him brush the sweat from his forehead. He is dressed in cuff links. What could the occasion be?
In another location, a bride is being tended to. Four bridesmaids surround the pretty brunette in her white lacy gown and pearls. She puts on a smile, but she also looks down. Is she really happy on this special day?
Back to the driver. He races through a wooded area, making the scene even gloomier. He clenches the wheel and focuses on the road. He can't be late for his wedding can he?
In the bride's room, we are introduced to the bride's father. He looks calm, in control. He certainly has dealt with more stressful things than this. He's probably a CEO of some big company. Or maybe a partner in a powerful law firm. He sits with his leg folded on his knee to show his ease.
But the bride is anything but at ease. She feels her engagement ring and looks longingly out the window. This is a woman with doubts.
The instrumental in the background adds bells to its track. Two things are accomplished: the wedding is highlighted and the intensity kicks up another notch.
The driver checks his watch. He probably could have looked at the digital clock in the Jetta, but that wouldn't reveal his urgency.
The father checks his watch too. There seems to be an underlying race here...
The Brad Pitt lookalike slows down. He is stuck behind a trailer. "Time to put this in top gear," he thinks to himself. Our protagonist passes the obstruction smoothly like a true hero.
Meanwhile, the father has stood up and is looking around. The stress is even getting to Mr. CEO...
The music now has soprano opera voices come on. Intensity increases tenfold.
Brad Pitt is doing his best - racing across bridges and navigating that annoyingly curvy road. But then he gets stuck at a railroad crossing. His eyes widen. He puts his head on the wheel. He screams obscenities.
The father shuts the door. Literally and perhaps figuratively. Is the wedding canceled?
Finally, Jetta driver/Brad Pitt lookalike makes it to the WASPy looking church. He doesn't have time to park the car; he leaves it in the front driveway.
Now here comes the twist:
It wasn't his wedding at all! He has driven to this church in hopes of stopping the pretty brunette from marrying Keanu Reeves.
He gets there just as soon as the minister (who is obviously not Catholic) says, "Speak now or forever hold your peace."
Brad climbs up the stairs and stops. Keanu turns his head. Pretty Brunette raises her eyebrows ever so slightly. Brad takes a deep breath...
And that's it. That's where the commercial ends. The tagline, "Fasten your seatbelts." is displayed. Perfection.
The music is called "One Million Miles Away" by J Ralph. I may or may not have downloaded it when I was in 7th grade and listened to it before I fell asleep at night...
Saturday, September 20, 2008
That's Enough, Google Ads
So, I know this is a blog about television commercials, but I saw something today that I needed to blog about...and it's kind of advertising related. (and I haven't posted in a week eek!)
Let me start off with a soul-baring confession:
blink-182 is my favorite band ever.
Okay, I know they're not the most musical of bands and their lyrics aren't the most meaningful, but they will always have a special place in my heart. They were the band that got me into music. I can recite the lyrics to every blink song ever written. I had this friend in middle school that shared my obsession with them and we would download live bootlegs of their shows and stuff like that.
This morning, I woke up and saw a text message from that friend. It read, "Did you hear travis barker died in a plane crash???" (ignore the miscapitalization)
I read that and my heart stopped.
Travis was the drummer for blink-182. He is a fantastic drummer. He is probably one of my music heroes.
I used the past tense for the first sentence because blink broke up three years ago. I used the present tense for the last two because he didn't actually die.
He was badly burned from the waist down. His assistant, bodyguard, pilot and co-pilot did die though. RIP.
I tell you this because after I received the text, I checked online to see if my friend was right. Thankfully, he wasn't. I saw an article on CNN disproving him.
But I also saw an ad on the right side of the article that was grossly inappropriate.
(click for bigger)
Seriously Google Ads? Come on now. I know it's a story about a plane. But really, do you need to advertise freaking United Airlines on a jet crash story? That is so wrong.
That is like showing an ad for plastic surgery after Kanye West's mother died from her operation. Or showing a Nissan ad next to an article reporting when Morgan Freeman (my narration hero) flipped his Maxima into a ditch...
So Google, you need a little disgression with your clicking empire. Please change your advertising algorithm so this doesn't happen again.
Let me start off with a soul-baring confession:
blink-182 is my favorite band ever.
Okay, I know they're not the most musical of bands and their lyrics aren't the most meaningful, but they will always have a special place in my heart. They were the band that got me into music. I can recite the lyrics to every blink song ever written. I had this friend in middle school that shared my obsession with them and we would download live bootlegs of their shows and stuff like that.
This morning, I woke up and saw a text message from that friend. It read, "Did you hear travis barker died in a plane crash???" (ignore the miscapitalization)
I read that and my heart stopped.
Travis was the drummer for blink-182. He is a fantastic drummer. He is probably one of my music heroes.
I used the past tense for the first sentence because blink broke up three years ago. I used the present tense for the last two because he didn't actually die.
He was badly burned from the waist down. His assistant, bodyguard, pilot and co-pilot did die though. RIP.
I tell you this because after I received the text, I checked online to see if my friend was right. Thankfully, he wasn't. I saw an article on CNN disproving him.
But I also saw an ad on the right side of the article that was grossly inappropriate.
(click for bigger)
Seriously Google Ads? Come on now. I know it's a story about a plane. But really, do you need to advertise freaking United Airlines on a jet crash story? That is so wrong.
That is like showing an ad for plastic surgery after Kanye West's mother died from her operation. Or showing a Nissan ad next to an article reporting when Morgan Freeman (my narration hero) flipped his Maxima into a ditch...
So Google, you need a little disgression with your clicking empire. Please change your advertising algorithm so this doesn't happen again.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The Romeo and Juliet of Lizard Thai Ceiling Commercials
I have an hour before Editing class starts. Let's see if I can get this one done.
I like things that are sad, yet funny.
Like this icon someone had on LiveJournal:
Doesn't it break your heart, yet make you smile?
I like things like that. Naturally, a commercial with that formula will certainly catch my eye.
This next ad is from Thailand. It combines a tragic love story, conflict and great product placement.
There are so many things that make this such a brilliant ad.
First off, there are cute animated lizards. The Geico gecko has nothing on these two. From the start, you're pulling for these cold-blooded lovers.
Next, comes our escalation - the ceiling tile they were on is cracking! The cute lizards' jaws drop. (Making them even more adorable.) What will they do?
Our climax. One lizard falls through the crack, but the other grabs her hand. (or foot?) Their grip loosens; their eyes begin to water. They know she's not going to make it, so they say something in lizard speak, which is probably -
"I love you."
"I love you too. If only they had better ceiling tile!"
but of course I'm no translator...
Anyway, the lizard falls slowly to her demise on a Thai man's chessboard. That shot reminded me of the most emotional movie of my childhood - The Lion King. I would watch that once a week, but I would turn away from the TV when Mufasa fell off the cliff.
After watching his OTP (One True Partner in uber geeky internet talk) fall to her death, the surviving lizard can't bear to live. So in true Romeo fashion, he flings himself down to join her fate.
My favorite part of this commercial is the men's acting. When they see the lizard about to commit suicide, they start freaking out. I especially like the man in the blue shirt's reaction. Then after the fall, they get so emotional that they start hitting the the guy in the beater for not having a better ceiling.
This ad was wonderfully done. The marketing genius who came up with the concept should get a raise. I wish we had comedic spots that are intelligent like that over here.
If this commercial doesn't sell ceiling tile, it certainly will make 8-year-old girls cry, or senile old men smile.
(Oh and I have 20 min left to walk over to Editing. Score!)
I like things that are sad, yet funny.
Like this icon someone had on LiveJournal:
Doesn't it break your heart, yet make you smile?
I like things like that. Naturally, a commercial with that formula will certainly catch my eye.
This next ad is from Thailand. It combines a tragic love story, conflict and great product placement.
There are so many things that make this such a brilliant ad.
First off, there are cute animated lizards. The Geico gecko has nothing on these two. From the start, you're pulling for these cold-blooded lovers.
Next, comes our escalation - the ceiling tile they were on is cracking! The cute lizards' jaws drop. (Making them even more adorable.) What will they do?
Our climax. One lizard falls through the crack, but the other grabs her hand. (or foot?) Their grip loosens; their eyes begin to water. They know she's not going to make it, so they say something in lizard speak, which is probably -
"I love you."
"I love you too. If only they had better ceiling tile!"
but of course I'm no translator...
Anyway, the lizard falls slowly to her demise on a Thai man's chessboard. That shot reminded me of the most emotional movie of my childhood - The Lion King. I would watch that once a week, but I would turn away from the TV when Mufasa fell off the cliff.
After watching his OTP (One True Partner in uber geeky internet talk) fall to her death, the surviving lizard can't bear to live. So in true Romeo fashion, he flings himself down to join her fate.
My favorite part of this commercial is the men's acting. When they see the lizard about to commit suicide, they start freaking out. I especially like the man in the blue shirt's reaction. Then after the fall, they get so emotional that they start hitting the the guy in the beater for not having a better ceiling.
This ad was wonderfully done. The marketing genius who came up with the concept should get a raise. I wish we had comedic spots that are intelligent like that over here.
If this commercial doesn't sell ceiling tile, it certainly will make 8-year-old girls cry, or senile old men smile.
(Oh and I have 20 min left to walk over to Editing. Score!)
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