The best(and sometimes the worst) promos around! Have something you'd like to share? Email me at donsjr@hotmail.com
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Nice Spot
UPDATE: Crappy Spot!!! See comments below.
When you have sound like this - its hard to screw up a spot like this.
Well done.
11 comments:
Anonymous
said...
I don't know... I think this spot falls into the over-sensationalized and pretentious category. However, I don't think that's the producer's fault. WOIO is just one of the most over-sensationalized and pretentious stations in the country. So for their brand, I guess it's good. However, for my shop and my personal taste, it's awful and tasteless.
The whole "NOBODY cared until Carl Monday got involved" line has me calling bullsh*t. Also, for a station that positions itself as being "Honest. Fair. Everywhere.", why didn't they show the hospital's take on this in the promo? Seems to me that if "fairness" is one of your product differentiators, then shouldn't it extend to your promos as well. Or is "fairness" just a throw-away line when it's convenient?
In the end, I'm just biased against this style of local news and I jumped for joy when The Daily Show ripped on Carl Monday a few years back. To the producer, great editing! I also loved this producer's Carl Monday POP. It was hilarious. Granted, I'd be one of the guys calling Monday an SOB.
The station is basically saying the hospital killed him. Doesn't matter that it's the people who are saying it with their bites... "this hospital killed my little brother" and "I feel like they murdered him". Could be a defamation case...and courts say it is no defense that the tv station merely repeated but did not originate the defamation. I imagine everyone felt better that the hospital wasn't named or revealed in the promo but I'm sure it was in the story. It's reckless and wouldn't stand a chance with our lawyers. If we came to them with this, they would've laughed us right out of the room. I'm not even sure they would've allowed those sots in the story let alone a :30 promo where context is king.
I have to disagree with you, Don. The promo does have great use of sound and music to drive the emotions. But the promo CONVICTS the hospital and staff (even if they're not identified). My bet is it/they were identified in the story. I wouldn't be surprised if the station sees a lawsuit over this promo. I think the promo could have been handled a little better. After the "no one would listen until Carl Monday got involved" line, maybe add "now hear what the hospital (admin, lawyer, staff) has to say." Also, change "Who killed Kristopher?" to "How did Kristopher die?" Same great use of emotions, but balances it out some without convicting the hospital. Let the viewers/courts decide that.
From a production standpoint, I had to watch it twice for some of the text to even register...I missed it the first time through. You've got the lion and the rock going here. If you're standing in a field with only a lion and a rock, which one are you going to keep your eye on? The one that moves, because it's A) more interesting and it B) can kill you.
The video in the spot was way more interesting (the lion), so some of the text (the rock) faded up and down before I bothered to read it.
We sit in dark editing suites and cut these in a bubble. Viewers don't watch commercials like that.
WOIO's promos are SO over the top, and I usually love them for that reason, even if I couldn't possibly bring myself to use the same approach. This one was a rare miss for them.
Darn, I hate it when I'm wrong. I looked at that spot quickly and thought "That would make me watch" -- but didn't give much thought to all the excellent points you guys have raised.
While that station has a sensational style - I didn't consider the "other side" and the legal aspects.
So that's it. No more posting spots while drunk. I'll remove the needle from my arm when uploading promos. And I'll politely ask the hooker to hold on while I post. That's my promise to you.
That's one of my favorite things about doing this blog - hearing others thoughts. And on this one - you've made some excellent points.
I wish people wouldn't comment with the "anonymous" moniker. Make up a handle...you'll have an identity but still remain anonymous. That way, you're not lost in the crowd when voicing your opinion. And if someone wants to comment back, one can do so effectively.
I made the mistake of telling my employees my moniker, so when they read it, they know it's me. I don't want them thinking all I do is sit around checking out Don's site.
11 comments:
I don't know... I think this spot falls into the over-sensationalized and pretentious category. However, I don't think that's the producer's fault. WOIO is just one of the most over-sensationalized and pretentious stations in the country. So for their brand, I guess it's good. However, for my shop and my personal taste, it's awful and tasteless.
The whole "NOBODY cared until Carl Monday got involved" line has me calling bullsh*t. Also, for a station that positions itself as being "Honest. Fair. Everywhere.", why didn't they show the hospital's take on this in the promo? Seems to me that if "fairness" is one of your product differentiators, then shouldn't it extend to your promos as well. Or is "fairness" just a throw-away line when it's convenient?
In the end, I'm just biased against this style of local news and I jumped for joy when The Daily Show ripped on Carl Monday a few years back. To the producer, great editing! I also loved this producer's Carl Monday POP. It was hilarious. Granted, I'd be one of the guys calling Monday an SOB.
The station is basically saying the hospital killed him. Doesn't matter that it's the people who are saying it with their bites... "this hospital killed my little brother" and "I feel like they murdered him". Could be a defamation case...and courts say it is no defense that the tv station merely repeated but did not originate the defamation. I imagine everyone felt better that the hospital wasn't named or revealed in the promo but I'm sure it was in the story.
It's reckless and wouldn't stand a chance with our lawyers. If we came to them with this, they would've laughed us right out of the room.
I'm not even sure they would've allowed those sots in the story let alone a :30 promo where context is king.
I have to disagree with you, Don. The promo does have great use of sound and music to drive the emotions. But the promo CONVICTS the hospital and staff (even if they're not identified). My bet is it/they were identified in the story. I wouldn't be surprised if the station sees a lawsuit over this promo. I think the promo could have been handled a little better. After the "no one would listen until Carl Monday got involved" line, maybe add "now hear what the hospital (admin, lawyer, staff) has to say." Also, change "Who killed Kristopher?" to "How did Kristopher die?" Same great use of emotions, but balances it out some without convicting the hospital. Let the viewers/courts decide that.
From a production standpoint, I had to watch it twice for some of the text to even register...I missed it the first time through. You've got the lion and the rock going here. If you're standing in a field with only a lion and a rock, which one are you going to keep your eye on? The one that moves, because it's A) more interesting and it B) can kill you.
The video in the spot was way more interesting (the lion), so some of the text (the rock) faded up and down before I bothered to read it.
We sit in dark editing suites and cut these in a bubble. Viewers don't watch commercials like that.
WOIO's promos are SO over the top, and I usually love them for that reason, even if I couldn't possibly bring myself to use the same approach. This one was a rare miss for them.
Darn, I hate it when I'm wrong. I looked at that spot quickly and thought "That would make me watch" -- but didn't give much thought to all the excellent points you guys have raised.
While that station has a sensational style - I didn't consider the "other side" and the legal aspects.
So that's it. No more posting spots while drunk. I'll remove the needle from my arm when uploading promos. And I'll politely ask the hooker to hold on while I post. That's my promise to you.
That's one of my favorite things about doing this blog - hearing others thoughts. And on this one - you've made some excellent points.
don
Awful. Garbage.
This spot is the reason people hate local news.
I wish people wouldn't comment with the "anonymous" moniker. Make up a handle...you'll have an identity but still remain anonymous. That way, you're not lost in the crowd when voicing your opinion. And if someone wants to comment back, one can do so effectively.
I made the mistake of telling my employees my moniker, so when they read it, they know it's me. I don't want them thinking all I do is sit around checking out Don's site.
(even though it kind of is)
As long as you get your work done, right? You could come up with a different handle.
You're absolutely right.
i'm chucklin'...you're a funny guy/gal.
Post a Comment