Watch a Virginia Democrat Crush an Ambulance to Make a Point About Republicans and Affordable Healthcare


“Republican leaders are trying to do this to affordable healthcare,” Virginia gubernatorial candidate Tom Perriello says in his new ad as he gestures to an ambulance behind him getting crushed by an industrial car crusher. “In Congress I voted for Obamacare, because it was wrong that a million Virginians weren’t covered while insurance companies held all the power. Now I’m running for governor because it’s wrong that most Virginians’ income hasn’t gone up in 20 years. Together we can stop Donald Trump, raise wages and build an economy that works for everyone. And we’ll make sure this” — he turns and points at the now-destoyed ambulance — “never happens in Virginia.”

Released today on YouTube, the ad is, of course, perfectly timed (see “House Passes Measure to Repeal and Replace the Affordable Care Act,” via The New York Times). It’s bascally the hyperpopular Hydraulic Press Channel writ large — with the added dramatic tension of wondering, as you’re watching, if a piece of the ambulance getting destroyed will fly out of the crusher and hit Perriello, necessitating another ambulance.

Simon Dumenco, aka Media Guy, is an Ad Age editor-at-large. You can follow him on Twitter @simondumenco

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‘Shattered,’ Book About Clinton Campaign, May Become TV Series

The book, which describes dysfunction during the campaign, has been optioned by a Sony production company for a limited series.

Biglar: Different Haircuts

We know every woman has a strong relationship with her hair. It is something that affects self-esteem and personality directly. We take this link to show the importance of another type of care: prevention of breast cancer. In a beauty salon, and unaware that they were being filmed, clients were invited by their hairdressers to change their hairstyle. However, instead of those books with images of beautiful hairstyles, they received a book especially produced for the action, with women in treatment, that is, with short hair or even no hair at all. The impact was so great that in addition to being aware of the prevention of cancer, they decided to donate part of the hair for the production of wigs.

Different Haircuts

Video of Different Haircuts

Indesit: #DoItTogether

The protagonist is a loving husband and dad who also does all the housework all by himself. A curious and almost incredible character. Indeed, reality is quite different; in 2017 women still do the majority of the housework.

With this gender-stereotype-switch, Indesit launches its new integrated #DoItTogether campaign to invite families to give a hand with the housework.

Indesit | #DoItTogether

Video of Indesit | #DoItTogether

Irish Examiner: Trump – Reality TV or Reality?

The Irish Examiner, one of Ireland’s national newspapers, is running an in-depth review of the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s Presidency; can he make the transition from the studio of The Apprentice to the Oval Office of the White House? Is there a difference between reality TV and realpolitik? With an illustration style that references political cartooning of the 1960s and 1970s, and nods to Dr. Strangelove, this piece publicizes the Saturday edition of the Irish Examiner.

Arizona Department of Health Services: Is Zika on your honeymoon?

Mosquito Man was created to be the living embodiment of the mosquito that carries the Zika Virus. In each execution, Mosquito Man is lurking in the shadows, unseen, much like the mosquito that may or may not carry the virus.

Arizona Department of Health Services: Is Zika in your backyard?

Mosquito Man was created to be the living embodiment of the mosquito that carries the Zika Virus. In each execution, Mosquito Man is lurking in the shadows, unseen, much like the mosquito that may or may not carry the virus.

Arizona Department of Health Services: Is Zika in your home?

Mosquito Man was created to be the living embodiment of the mosquito that carries the Zika Virus. In each execution, Mosquito Man is lurking in the shadows, unseen, much like the mosquito that may or may not carry the virus.

So Forced: 'Star Wars' Day Tributes Are Weak Sauce This Year


Has the revitalization of storytelling in the “Star Wars” films simultaneously sucked the creative life out of others? Brands came out to pay tribute to the franchise on May 4, which in nerd circles is more formally known as Star Wars Day. But overall, fell flat their ideas did, say we.

Reebok Classics are apparently the footwear of choice for Jedis. Or perhaps he’s about to Force this shoe all the way to the garbage chute?

What up, Olive Garden? Is that breadstick supposed to be a light saber? Why are you dipping it into cheese sauce? Angry Alfredo does not look worthy of the Dark Side.

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Facebook Bows Out of Bidding War for Big-Time Sports — For Now


Facebook is backing away from the high-priced market for big-time sports, setting the social network apart from other digital media companies and drawing a line in the sand for the major leagues.

Leagues including the NFL and Major League Baseball are increasingly looking to non-traditional broadcasters like Twitter, Amazon and Verizon to help reach viewers who don’t subscribe to cable. Recently, Amazon agreed to pay $50 million for the NFL’s 10 Thursday night games, and Verizon will reportedly pay about $21 million to stream an NFL game in London. Twitter recently showcased its sports content for media and advertising executives, including new shows and deals with the PGA and with the WNBA.

But Facebook executives emphasized that, while the social network may make some strategic investments in “anchor content,” it is betting on long-form video. Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg said on an earnings call Wednesday that the company plans to pay for content by sharing advertising revenue. Traditionally, the major leagues have rejected that model, preferring to simply sell their rights for ever-higher fees.

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Zuckerberg Calls Crime and Abuse Videos on Facebook 'Heartbreaking,' Announces 3,000 New Moderator Hires


Ad Age “Media Guy” columnist Simon Dumenco’s media roundup for the morning of Wednesday, May 3:

It’s unintentional, but everything I’ve got for you below is either directly or indirectly about digital media — its all-consuming nature (Nos. 4 and 5), the uses and misues of social media (Nos. 1, 2, 6) and the things we obsess about online (Nos. 3 and 7). Only have time to read one thing? Jump ahead and click on the link in No. 7. Anyway let’s get started …

1. In a post this morning on his personal page, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg writes,

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Watch the Newest Ads on TV From Samsung, Panera, Microsoft and More


Every weekday, we bring you the Ad Age/iSpot Hot Spots, new and trending TV commercials tracked by iSpot.tv, the real-time TV ad measurement company with attention and conversion analytics from 10 million smart TVs. The New Releases here ran on TV for the first time yesterday. The Most Engaging ads are ranked by digital activity (including online views and social shares) over the past week.

Among the new releases, Panera plugs the fact that it now offers delivery for lunch and dinner. Samsung positions its Galaxy S8 as the ultimate travel companion, while Super 8 also depicts a smart phone (an unspecified brand) as a travel companion — but (spoiler) the phone meets a very sad fate during a group-selfie-taking session. And Microsoft rather touchingly shows how its technology helps kids with dyslexia learn how to read.

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Lenovo: Different is Better

We created a video and visuals to capture the joyous expression of Lenovo celebrating growth and opportunity. The video debuted at Lenovo’s top tech tradeshows, including SXSW.

LENOVO_32s_h264_1900x900

Video of LENOVO_32s_h264_1900x900

American Beauties: Eve Babitz, a Glamour Girl Who Refused to Be Dull

In “Eve’s Hollywood,” a Los Angeles-born adventuress’s prose reads like Nora Ephron’s by way of Joan Didion, with more lust, drugs and tequila.

Subito: The Offline Test

Subito.it is an Italian online platform that connects people willing to sell objects with those wishing to buy them. The aim of the campaign is primarily to educate users to a more responsible and safety usage of the platform (and of course secondarily to be also an educational campaign for everyone who usually buys online).

The Offline Test – Subito.it

Video of The Offline Test – Subito.it

Editora Europa: Turnip

To advertise the Vegetarianos Magazine, from Editora Europa, Mestica created a campaign to instigate who is a vegetarian and cater to those who are not yet adept as well.
Due to the informative, didactic and enlightening content, the Brazilian magazine is a source of research and information for both.

Editora Europa: Beet

To advertise the Vegetarianos Magazine, from Editora Europa, Mestica created a campaign to instigate who is a vegetarian and cater to those who are not yet adept as well.
Due to the informative, didactic and enlightening content, the Brazilian magazine is a source of research and information for both.

Editora Europa: Yam

To advertise the Vegetarianos Magazine, from Editora Europa, Mestica created a campaign to instigate who is a vegetarian and cater to those who are not yet adept as well.
Due to the informative, didactic and enlightening content, the Brazilian magazine is a source of research and information for both.

Editora Europa: Fig

To advertise the Vegetarianos Magazine, from Editora Europa, Mestica created a campaign to instigate who is a vegetarian and cater to those who are not yet adept as well.
Due to the informative, didactic and enlightening content, the Brazilian magazine is a source of research and information for both.

Editora Europa: Chicory

To advertise the Vegetarianos Magazine, from Editora Europa, Mestica created a campaign to instigate who is a vegetarian and cater to those who are not yet adept as well.
Due to the informative, didactic and enlightening content, the Brazilian magazine is a source of research and information for both.