Your weight alone does not define your health: that’s the key message of a new campaign from fitness app, FitTrack. At its centre is this compelling video that shows people with a range of body types displaying astounding athleticism.
I can’t help noting the irony and the opportunism in this press release in response to “developments in the USA”:
We advise Turkish citizens in the U.S. to avoid crowded areas and places where protests are taking place.
Scandinavia’s biggest film festival is taking social distancing and remote viewing to an interesting extreme this year. While the festival screenings will all be online, there are some notable alternatives. Two iconic venues will be holding exclusive single-person screenings, for which one can apply on the festival website. But the ultimate offer is for The Isolated Cinema, set up on an inaccessible island.
From the website:
The Isolated Cinema on the island of Pater Noster is inaccessibly located at the very edge of the archipelago in one of Sweden’s most barren, windswept locations. One solitary film enthusiast will experience total isolation from the outside world. No phone, no family, no friends. Just you, the sea and the festival’s film programme with 60 film premieres. For seven days.
For seven days you will spend your time alone on the island where you will be given full access to the entire film programme at Göteborg Film Festival 2021. You will get supplies for seven days and be transported by boat to and from the island. But once there, it’s just you. And the films. During your stay, you’ll be able to talk about your experience in a video diary that the outside world can follow.
Here’s a link to the promotional video.
The BBC gets creative in this new commercial that showcases its diverse programming range and indulges in ingenious wordplay with the BBC acronym.
British ISP Plusnet wants you to literally do that. It has put out billboards that can be properly read only when viewed in your car’s rear view mirror.
From Brazil: an addition to Heineken’s worldwide messaging that its zero-alcohol lager can be had anytime, anywhere.
From Denmark: a 10 hour long feature film for dogs, intended to calm them during the New Year’s Eve fireworks. Here’s a link to the concept video.
A comedy short about a family’s evening of sharing secrets. Running time: 7 minutes. Here’s a link.
One the most awaited movie releases this year is Warner Brothers’ Space Jam 2, starring LeBron James. However, it appears that the studio omitted (or didn’t bother) to buy the rights to the domain name- ‘spacejam2.com’. Instead, that url has been acquired by a couple of creatives who are now prank trolling the studio.
They’re pitching it for “the totally fair sum of $1 million, or best offer”. To ensure that they are not forced to take down the site on the grounds of domain name squatting, they actually set up a jam company that is selling ‘Space Jam’. To publicise their offer, they’ve created an amusing video and even a ‘trailer’.
From the press release:
It is hoped that the website is scooped up by Warner Brothers executives as they plan to mount a goliath PR campaign for the highly anticipated sequel of Space Jam, starring LeBron James and Bugs Bunny and set for release in July 2021.
As an incentive, the makers have vowed to share profits of this sale with a charity of the purchaser’s choosing.
The idea behind the trolling is a collaboration between advertising creative Hunter Fine and commercial film director Peter Marquis, who have a history of creating viral pop culture.
Fine said: “Wow—Warner Bros must be so bummed to have missed out on this primetime URL that we bought for our Space Jam 2 spread. As humble jam makers, we feel bad. That’s why we're offering them the PR opportunity of a lifetime for the completely realistic price tag of $1M. You’d have to really hate charity and jam not to take this offer.”
From the website:
Following a fresh ban on alcohol sales and closure of all bars across South Africa, as part of new restrictions to fight the resurgence of the coronavirus, the country’s Police Minister had a very specific message for restaurant owners (who’ve been allowed to remain open):
Don't put alcohol in your teapots in restaurants. Don't put alcohol in the bottles written 0% alcohol. We know your tricks, don't do that.
From Russia: a Christmas commercial from IKEA that doubles as a PSA for- well, best if you discover it for yourself.
Down memory lane…
The magic of Patti LaBelle’s voice in the Miami Vice version of Moby’s song.
For those who’d like the added pleasure of director Michael Mann’s visual style: a link to the scene from the movie.
A 2 minute spot from Comedy Central. In the words of one of the creative people behind it:
It’s a universal truth that we are all beginning to have a toxic relationship with our couches this year.
A side-splittingly funny commercial from Boston Pizza- part of a campaign to revive dishes that had been taken off the menu.
A PSA for new moms that is audacious in the way it milks medical advice for humour. Here’s a link.
A black kitten that has the power to bring good luck, takes centre stage in this cute commercial for the Dutch State Lottery, with a heart-warming twist.
If 2020 were to be like taking a walk back home around Christmas time, this is what it might feel like- a 3 minute short from the new comedy channel, Comedy Sauce.
From Kraft Heinz Canada, a limited-edition collection of onesies:
In the words of a company spokesperson:
Having a baby 9 months to the day of the lockdown may make some parents blush— everyone knows what went down in March 2020. But it’s only ‘natural’. And obviously ‘homemade’. Two things we care deeply about at Heinz by Nature. So we couldn’t resist celebrating the lockdown’s most special, natural and homemade miracles with The Lockdown Lovebaby Collection.
Good Riddance 2020 is a dark robust beer with a subtle hoppiness at the end. Similar to 2020, it appears daunting, dark and tastes a little bitter. However, just like 2020, there was a slight silver lining – people got to spend more time with their family and pursue hobbies and activities they never had the time to do in the past. This sweet silver lining is presented as a light caramel sweetness in the beer.
Bursting with bubbles and excitement, Great Expectations 2021 (ABV: 4.5%) represents our hope and expectations for 2021. Crisp, dry and fruity, this effervescent beer resembles a champagne, perfect for celebrating a new hope and a better year. With bright citrusy and tropical fruit aromas, this light beer is easy to drink and will fill you with positivity, optimism and something to look forward to.
