Production company Tool of North America has created stunning ads and interactive media for brands like MTV and Bud Light, but we’ve never seen anything from them like this before. Realizing the iPad’s potential to transform the face of linear storytelling for the screen, Tool teamed up with Domani Studios to create Touching Stories—a video series that puts viewers in control of their own film adventures. With so much power in your very fingertips, being a couch potato could soon become demanding — if exhilerating — work.
Extreme Storytelling: Be the Boss of Your Own Movie Stars
Topic: Posted in INNOVATION MATTERS
Working for the Weekend: Peggy Gets Naked in a Hotel Room (Season 4, Episode 6 of Mad Men)
Topic: Posted in ADVERTISING IS DEAD
As Matthew Weiner and co. hauled home more Emmys on Sunday night (Mad Men scored its 3rd straight win for Best Drama), AMC forged ahead with another new episode of their mega-hit show in which, ironically, Don won his own award (a pretty ballsy move on Weiner’s part to air this episode on Emmy night, but that’s just how he rolls!). This week was all about past and present ambitions and power grabs at SCDP and the episode continued the trend of the company’s creatively-minded folk cutting through the clutter of formalities and inner-office practices. And yes: Peggy got naked.
Sony Pictures Drops Big Bucks to get in Snooki’s Mouth
Topic: Posted in ADVERTISING IS DEAD | IS IT AN AD?
Did you know the season premiere of Jersey Shore pulled in 5.3 million viewers? I’m pleased to report that I was not one of them — and I hope for your sake that you can say the same — but regardless of how you or I feel about the show, there is no denying the multifarious entertainment powerhouse that the Jersey Shore has become. The characters have done a remarkable jobs of distinguishing their personal brands amidst all the hoopla (the Hollywood Reporter informs us that “The Situation” will earn 5 million dollars this year, thanks to a slew of diverse ventures).
Recognizing the marketing opportunity here, Sony Pictures has gone so far as to actually purchase banter between cast members on the show. Films such as The Other Guys and The Social Network found their way into the show’s conversation (I realize “conversation” might be a stretch here, but let’s remember who we’re talking about). Gotta love the post-ad tactics there, but for loyal fans that count on the likes of Snooki, Jwoww, and Pauly D to keep it “real,” is this a breach of trust? (more…)
Rival Agencies, Psychotic Ex-wives and Repetitive Placements (Or, Mad Men: Season 4, Episode 5)
Topic: Posted in ADVERTISING IS DEAD
It’s that time of the week — a new episode of your favorite primetime drama about the most despicable industry of all: advertising! This week’s entry in the Mad Men canon featured a plethora of both family and ad-related dramatics, and continued the insertion of an increasingly high-profile array of real-life brands opting (we’d assume) into the show’s historically hyper-accurate format. Read on for our behind-the-copy take on the hour’s events — especially the breaks that littered it.
Levi’s Tells An Odd, Out-of-place Story, But a Story Nonetheless
Topic: Posted in ADVERTISING IS DEAD | INNOVATION MATTERS
While it may not be revolutionary, Levi’s “Go Forth” campaign has taken up a storytelling-as-advertising approach that is, while perhaps not conceived and executed as well as it could be, a cut above many other foot draggers.
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Mad Men, Week 4: Indiscretion, Trickery, Secretarial Woes (and Advertising!)
Topic: Posted in ADVERTISING IS DEAD
“Art in Advertising!…why would anyone do that after Warhol?”
Last night marked another new episode of everyone’s favorite ad land drama, Mad Men. While things haven’t quite picked up plot-wise, the show continues to interweave real 60’s-era brands into the show’s story-line and beat the drum for its sponsors. Call it prime-time ad integration, brand assimilation or what-have-you, it’s a total advertiser’s love fest. Our expert analysis after the jump.(more…)
California to Solve Budgetary Woes with ‘Death Plates’
Topic: Posted in ADVERTISING IS DEAD | INNOVATION MATTERS
For a wide range of issues, California is the battlefield where the next big thing and the status quo struggle for supremacy. From gay marriage to new emissions standards and the legalization of marijuana, the state that elected the half-human, half-mechanical Austrian as its governor is almost always on the forefront—for better or for worse. Once again, California is leading the way. This time the state is balancing its budget with new license plates that will turn highways into death traps!
Former Maxim Editor Turns His Back on Fart Jokes
Topic: Posted in ADVERTISING IS DEAD | INNOVATION MATTERS
AdAge has posted a terrific, in-depth interview with Story Worldwide’s own North American executive creative director Keith Blanchard. And much to the surprise of Keith’s colleagues at Story, the former Maxim editor doesn’t come off nearly as disgruntled as his fictitious counterpart Don Draper did when the venerable ad rag profiled him in the season premiere. There’s none of the smoky, arrogant, and aloof ad man act here. Rather, the conversation with media guy Simon Dumenco finds Keith doing what he does best: telling stories. He also does a great job of succinctly summing up a lot of the post-advertising ideas we’re following and trumpeting here in these pages.
But can the guy still tell a serviceable fart joke? (more…)
We Dare You to Sit Through Cisco’s Old Spice Rip-offs
Lordy, this is a rough one. Like an embarrassing mother misusing the latest hip catch phrase, tech giant Cisco and their note-for-note Old Spice imitation (…minus the laughs and wit, that is) could’ve been a meme-killer — if anyone had bothered to pay attention to it.
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Mad Men Advertises About Advertisers Advertising Before Their Advertisements
Topic: Posted in ADVERTISING IS DEAD
Let’s start this week off right with a look back at yesterday’s episode of Mad Men. As usual, we’ve been keeping a close watch on the show and its sponsors. While most of the folks at Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Pryce were on a little New Year’s holiday (for our dear protagonist, this mostly meant booze and hookers), the real ads supporting the show were working double time, hoping to ensnare the folks with advertising already on the brain through what appeared to be a more deeply integrated partnership with the program. Winners and losers after the jump.
