It Crackles

Been watching a lot of changes take place in the video-to-web world. We humans really like the moving pictures. While there are a lot of outlets for entertainment, one of the best seems to be Crackle. Backed by Sony, and chock full of classic, current and original content, this site could be the future of “television.” Yes, there are pre-roll ads, but most of them are interactive so the entertainment starts even before the show. And yes, there are some banner ads, but they aren't too intrusive. There is a lot that can be done with something as powerful as this. One is to get the word out that it’s there. Reading the blog, it appears there have been quite a few contests made, inspiring animators, short film makers and up and coming comedians to submit their videos and win some cash. What they need now is a talented, creative marketing manager to light the booster rockets and get this thing into the mass market stratosphere. Sounds like a dream gig to me.

Sound of Music - Central Station Antwerp (Belgium)

Station take-overs are not new, but these Flemish folks add some new elements that make it even more fun. So I'm a softy. Like that's a news flash.

This came from a member of the Angel City Chorale to my beautiful songbird wife who has been mastering the art of do, re, mi like a champion. If you really want to have some fun sing do, mi, so, ti, do in key. Good luck.

VizThinking as only The Onion can.

Here’s one for all of us VizThinkers. Sometimes words just get in the way.
Breaking News: Series Of Concentric Circles Emanating From Glowing Red Dot

Any doubters of the effectiveness of integrated and alternative marketing should be directed to this story. Jeffrey Rayport spoke at the recent CTAM conference, helping the cable television industry look at their consumers in a new way. He speaks about a little brand named Scion that boldly presented itself to its consumer in such a series of ways that the launch is evidently the most successful in automotive history. If you don’t like the ads, or the car, or the outdoor, or the events, that’s just fine with Toyota. They obviously weren’t meant for you. They clearly worked for their intended audience. Intelligent marketing like this makes me happy to be in the business. 

Banksy + animatronics = Village Pet Store And Charcoal Grill

Pop-up creativity, courtesy of the unlimited Banksy. Obviously anti-animal cruelty. Open in NYC until Halloween. And completely visible from the street. Free for all.

True Blood - Opening Credits - Viewer Discretion Advised

HBO shows have had some of the most creative opening sequences (Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Carnivale...not Entourage). This one, by Digital Kitchen, does the perfect job of getting you in the mood for the show. Its subliminal and overt creepiness is just right. True art in video storytelling.

Stan Freeberg - Esskay Franks

A few days ago I was chatting with an actor and we started quoted various Stan Freeberg lines. I thought there must be a compilation of his advertising somewhere. Here is one that I don't recall ever seeing. This is quality advertising. Funny, memorable, inexpensive and timeless.

Event Design Summit - Creating Mobile Experiences

Coming this October 29 at 2:30 - 3:15, yours truly will be hosting a session in the “Loft” at the Event Design Summit. Looking forward to a lively discussion based on a lot of input from friends and peers alike. Here’s the brochure/site description:

Creating Mobile Experiences

Transportable and re-deployable environments are getting an upgrade these days. Learn how to embrace the art of mobile experience design, find out what works and what doesn’t and see some examples of mobile in action.

Download the brochure for more information.

See you there.

Waterfall at Olympic Trials

What a creation. With obvious (limitless) experiential marketing possibilities. Not sure who developed the technology, who found it for the Olympic Trials or who said, “Yes, let’s use it and here’s what it should do.” But my hat is off to all of them.  

Theo Jansen - Kinetic sculpture

What imagination and engineering can do for the sheer sake of amazement. 

Stop me if you’ve seen this one before

This was sent to me by a few people in the last week, but it was just sent by a very intelligent, self-effacing and apologetic client who said her company’s internal process was somewhat like this — that’s why they have so many changes to the work. Kudos to the creators behind the piece as well. Though I haven’t been able to track down that information. We are a funny bunch of communicators, aren’t we?

Fun, familiar and award-winningly funky

Someone recently asked me what is exciting about the Internet these days. My answer was how familiar our voices have become. So much of what we read online is not shrouded in marketing speak like it is in print and television ads. There are countless articles and blogs already written about how the world wide web is actually allowing us to become closer rather than making us more distant. Obviously with Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, and the ever-expanding Blogiverse there are more places for people to say who they are than ever before. Of course with this familiarity comes contempt- comments about comments, hot-or-not sites, online rants against whatever is deemed worthless. 

Then something like the Uniqlock from Uniqlo comes along, gets awarded a couple of top-shelf Clios, is picked up around the globe, and does nothing more or less than keep time in a creative way. Well actually, there is a marketing angle- the Uniqlo company sells the shirts the women are wearing, as well as other clothing and housewares. Now, it appears that Uniqlo misspelled Los Angeles, or used the Japanese version in the downloaded widget. Somehow this just adds to the charm, where on another product it would just tick me off. 

For me, this solution is another sign of blatant, simple self-confidence in the face of the global community. And that makes me smile.