Paralympian Out Runs Tragedy

The spot above, a PSA ad for the Canadian Paralympic Committee takes the cake for inspiring storytelling. And with the Paralympic only being about six weeks away I thought I’d share. The spot uses amputee runner Alister McQueen races around a track at night, initially he only dodges wheelchairs but as he progresses through different elements of a car accident.  For example, he runs through a rehabilitation room, a trauma ward staffed with medical personnel and even a row of emergency crews.

Interestingly, the PSA was filmed in one continuous shot to accomplish the project quickly due to threats of rain. As for the order of events, the ambulance crews and rehab scenes were placed ahead of the actual crash so it would seem more like a dream sequence.

This spot was created by BBDO Toronto.

Best,

-A.B.

Disability Series: The R-Word

The ad above is a commercial on behalf of the Special Olympics. The campaign is aimed to educate and stop the spread of the “R” word, it being the derogatory term “retarded.” It aims to educate people that the R-word is just as derogatory as any word out there.

I believe the commercial was created by BBDO, New York.

Best,
-A.B.

Update: Violent French PSA

On December 30^th, 2010, I wrote about a freaky French domestic violence ad that I couldn’t find who the ad agency that created it was. The post is titled “Freaky Domestic Violence PSA.” I finally have the update I promised you. The agency behind this disturbing piece of creative work is WCIE, based in Paris, France.

Best,
A.B.

Freaky Domestic Violence PSA

FNSF - Le film choc from FNSF on Vimeo.

The ad above has to be one of the most disturbing PSA to stop violence against women. It’s a French PSA to stop violence against women shown in France. It actually scares me that people in advertising can use this type of imagery to scare people into feeling guilty for not speaking up. The imagery in the ad above goes so far over the top that I almost didn’t want to watch the advertisement. Causing people not to watch or be unreceptive to the message of the ad. It would be a disservice to the target audience if people were so put off by the ad that they didn’t watch. And yes, I am one of those people that would walk out of a movie if a woman was being physically abused.

I walked out of the Jennifer Lopez movie “Enough” and came back when she was on the run and prepping to beat her abusive husband up.

Also, another important observation about this ad is that it shows same sex couples, something that would never be shown here in the states.

Best,
-A.B.

A 30-Second Mr. Brooks

I don't about you guys but I am a huge movie buff. When I first saw the spot above for The Lustgarten Foundation, a PSA announcement for Pancreatic cancer it reminded me of a movie. A movie that I absolutely love titled Mr. Brooks starring Kevin Costner. In the movie, Costner is a tortured serial killer who views his unnatural desire to kill as a disease. His disease is fueled by a hunger that is personified as a man known as "Marshal." You can see Marshal in the movie but he isn't real, he is only in Mr. Brooks's mind. Marshal is always sitting in the back seat of the car when Brooks goes on his "outings."

The commercial above has Pancreatic cancer personified as a man in the back of a car discussing his victims impending doom. The spot ends with a help find a cure for Pancreatic Cancer message. The message and the rest of the spot, in my opinion didn't go together. But back to the commercial and the movie, the spot had an eerie similarity to the 2007 flick, what do you all think?

In my opinion the spot was great but would others have made the same connection between the movie and the ad? If you haven't seen the movie, what would you think of the commercial's idea? The idea that death personified as a man discussing his victims death in the back of a car seem kind of morbid to me. Also, can you believe the spot is a PSA?

The agency that created this Pancreatic Cancer spot is Gardner Nelson + Partners. This is the first time I've heard of this ad agency. But it's someone new I get to mention so that makes me happy.

Best,
A.B.

Absolut Tolerant

On February 8th, a 30-second brand awareness spot for Absolut Vodka ran on prime time television. I believe it ran during the last half of the Grammy Awards. This marks the first time ever a distilled-spirits product has appeared on any CBS-owned TV station. Here is another sign of the changing times. A company like CBS that usually shunned distilled-spirits companies now accept them. I ask you is this due to the troubled economy?

The spot created by TBWA/Chiat/Day is titled “Hugs” the ad presents a universe where the sanctioned currency is kisses on the cheek. The spot ends with the campaigns' tag line "In an Absolut World." This is a significant change in the ad business and I think its for the better.

I have to say the spot isn't funny but it is eye catching and memorable because it is unusual for a distilled-spirits company to produce this type of commercial. Most liquor commercials give a public service announcement, for example the famous "please drink responsibly." The spot is memorable because of the high popularity that the brand has already established

I think this is a great step forward for the famous vodka maker. They have a strong promotional foundation due to their great print ads. Their print ads are what got me interested in advertising in the first place (Just an FYI).

NBC was the first to air liquor ads on its main station. Also, you can read the Brandweek article at your leisure.

Best,
A.B.

Australian Cancer PSA

I ran across a rap music video on cancer of all things. I discovered the piece on another advertising blog and thought I should share some of my opinions on the video. Oh and by the way that other blog I follow is adfreak.



As you can probably tell it is a Youtube video, the title on YouTube claims that it was too hot for TV. The music video was made by Australian rapper Al Bino as a PSA, as a reminder to protect yourself from the sun. It is currently summer time down under. According to adfreak the video was meant as a PSA.

But why would the music video be too hot for TV I wonder? The video did feature a vile looking sore with hideous teeth singing about the dangers of the sun. Was it too graphic for Australian TV? Would this have passed the Federal Communications Commission’s standards (FCC)?

I think the video will serve its purpose and that is to help young people remember to protect themselves from the sun? The graphic images will definitely grab their attention. So why not show it on TV?

Best,
A.B.