This week, Las Vegas will become “the world’s gathering place” for consumer technologies. Spanning 11 venues and a whopping 2.5 million square feet, this year’s CES will draw an estimated 170,000 people, including major players from tech giants, heads of startups and renowned tech journalists, all flocking to Sin City to take a peak at…
In its latest ad from Pereira & O'Dell, Airbnb offers you something you can't get at the average hotel: someone else's view of the world.
"I want you to feel at home here," says the narrator of the worldly spot, which peers through windows and from balconies in an artful approach highlighting Airbnb's role as a sort of peer-to-peer room rental service.
The ad's apartments, lofts, bungalows and rural hideaways take you everwhere from a working farm to a downtown fireworks festival, driving home the point that Airbnb now gives you access to hundreds of thousands of listings across 192 countries.
So, where will you go?
CREDITS
Client: Airbnb
Agency: Pereira & O'Dell
Chief Creative Officer: P.J. Pereira
Vice President, Executive Creative Director: Jaime Robinson
Creative Directors: Rafael Rizuto, Eduardo Marques
Art Director: Ben Sweitzer
Copywriter: Chris Ryan
Vice President, Client Services: Gary Theut
Account Director: Marisa Quiter
Management Supervisor: Nidhi Chinai
Senior Account Executive: Jen Wantuch
Vice President, Strategy: Nick Chapman
Associate Strategy Director: Molly Cabe
Associate Strategists: Beth Windheuser, Sara Lezama
Vice President, Media Strategy: Joshua Brandau
Associate Media Director: Jasmine Summerset
Media Supervisor: Pete Fishman
Associate Media Strategist: Katie McKinley
Vice President, Production: Jeff Ferro
Broadcast Producer: Bill Spangler
Senior Interactive Producer: Erin Davis
Senior Print Producer: James Sablan
Director of Business Affairs: Kallie Halbach
Production Company: Tool
Director: Alma Har'el
Director of Photography: Alma Har'el
Executive Producer, Managing Director, Live Action: Oliver Fuselier
Producer: Christopher Leggett
Editorial Company: Rock Paper Scissors
Editor: Stewart Reeves
Assistant Editor: Luke McIntosh
Editorial Producer: Alexandra Zickerick
Visual Effects, Online: A52
Executive Producers: Jennifer Sofio Hall, Megan Meloth
Producers: Meredith Cherniack, Scott Boyajan
Flame Artists: Brendan Crockett
Color Correction: Paul Yacono
Sound Mix, Design: Lime Studios
Sound Design: Johannes Hammers
Mixer: Loren Silber
Assistant Mixers: Patrick Navarre, Susie Boyajan-Queen
Music:
Title: Windows
Composer, Arranger: Zach Shields
Studio Engineer, Mixer: Alexander Burke
Engineer: Chris Mullings
String Players; Catherine Campion, Paul Cartwright, Chrysanthe Tan, Kiara Perico, Manoela Wunder, Leah Metzler
Choir Leader: Dedrick Bonner
Singers: Maize Olinger, Don, Amanda Lunt, Karly, Ryan Shields, Ricky, Anika, Zach Shields, Ben Shields
Engineer: Chris Mullings
Trumpet: Danny Levin
Percussion: Ryan Shields, Zach Shields
Piano: Zach Shields
If you're a cupcake lover, you live in New York City and you're a fan of machines that dispense things, we have good news for you.
Sprinkles Cupcakes, a supplier of gourmet delectables to the elite, including Holly Madison, Mindy Kaling and even Santa Claus, is giving you what you need—a 24-hour cupcake ATM.
New York's first Cupcake ATM, which can hold 760 cupcakes at a time in 20 different varieties, is located next to the Sprinkles Cupcakes bakery on the Upper East Side. The cupcakes cost $4.25 each in flavors like red velvet, Cuban coffee, banana dark chocolate and cinnamon sugar. You can also get two special mini cupcakes designed for your dog for $5.
It's hardly the neighborhood where people are generally jonesing for a midnight fix. But who knows? Perhaps this machine can turn the UES into Alphabet City of the '70s.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger has finally achieved his lifelong dream. No, it's not becoming a champion weight lifter/action hero/governator. It's his dream of owning his own "f–king tank."
Since it's only natural for a man who has been blowing things up since 1979 to want to pulverize things with his new toy, he's inviting you and a friend to join him.
In an effort to raise money for the After-School All-Stars program, the Terminator has created an instantly viral video offering you the opportunity to "come to L.A. and crush things in my tank!" Crush anything you want: pianos, taxis, bubble wrap. Hell, he'll even crush movies that make you cry. Wait, does Terminator 3 count?
Here's a clip of Arnold reminiscing about his tank time in the Austrian Army:
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Bacon is everywhere. (No, not Kevin Bacon.) And it seems everyone loves it—even pigs! It's so great, it once helped a man negotiate his way across the nation dealing exclusively in bacon. Thanks, Oscar Mayer. Now, the bacon craze is hitting the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.
The IronPigs this week unveiled what I can only imagine was a highly anticipated bacon-themed Saturday uniform, which includes a bacon-strip logo on the cap, and a "first-of-its-kind" bacon-style piping down both legs of the pants. Check it out at the team's new site, smellthechange.com. For those of us who like to get a bit more bacon for our buck, we can purchase other innovative merchandise such as scratch-and-sniff bacon-logo T-shirts, now available online.
One has to wonder, though. What will this do to the IronPigs' vegetarian fan base? On second thought, who cares!? If they were vegetarians, they weren't real fans anyway.
If loving bacon is wrong, I don’t want to be right. http://t.co/tyRm2x1t26 #smellthechange pic.twitter.com/HYSClDtZ2g
— IronPigs (@IronPigs) February 24, 2014
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When you think of Kansas City, you don't think death-defying, super-fast waterslides. Actually, I'm not sure what you think when you think of Kansas City. But pretty soon you'll think Verrückt, a gigantic waterslide opening soon at the Schlitterbahn water park.
The Herculean teaser below for the larger-than-life, 17-story coming attraction has the works—the dirt battle field in which the slide was constructed, arial camera shots, dramatic title cards. But what really drives this virtual tour is the sensational score. It almost makes you feel like you're nervously peering over the edge and your best friend sneaks up behind you and gives you a good scare.
Verrückt—translated from the German, meaning "insane"—opens Memorial Day weekend and is billed as the world's tallest waterslide. It's taller than the Niagara Falls! And indeed, its 17 stories make a mockery of the previous record holder, the Brazilian waterslide Insano—see a naming pattern here?—and its measly 14 stories. (Insano definitely has the better email marketing, however.)
Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeff Henry says Verrückt riders will reach speeds faster than 65 mph. So, you and three friends—it's a four-person ride—can finally embark on the journey of a lifetime. Which will probably last 30 seconds. But hey, if you count the waiting in line and the terrifying climb up all those stairs. You might actually consider it a journey.
Also check out a parody movie poster for the ride, posted below.
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The bond among true friends is one forged of iron—hardened, powerful and time-tested. Nothing strengthens that bond more than friendly competition—testing your physical abilities, challenging and pushing each other despite your disadvantage. Guinness captures the true essence of friendship in this poignant spot with a twist ending, part of its "Made of More" campaign. What's more, it's accomplished in less than 20 words. The music is The Cinematic Orchestra's 2007 track "To Build a Home." Agency: BBDO, New York.
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We've all been there. Heartbroken, bearded and alone. This is place that some might call "the dumps," an unbearable place full of darkness, loneliness and misery. It's all because you've been without "the one" for far too long. (It reminds me very much of the time my dog ran away when I was 5. I still wonder where Kujo is. Or that time my 7th grade girlfriend left me because I got braces.) And even though Blake Shelton takes you fishing to cheer you up, it's not working. You still miss 'em. I guess the only thing left to do is belt out arguably the most passionate lyrics ever laid to vinyl: "Reunited," by Peaches and Herb.
Before you know it, the sun will shine again, the animals will begin to chirp again, and Christina Aguilera's angelic voice will rise behind you—seconds before she pulls a Jesus and walks on water to join you and Blake. If that's not magical enough for you, there's more. Moments later, Poseidon, ah hem, the great Cee Lo Green, emerges with three lovely mermaids to round out the hook. "Reunited and it feels so good!"
At this point, you may have a hard time believing what you've just witnessed, but what the hell. The band is finally back together! Or is it? This all can't be real, right? Guess, we'll have to tune into NBC's The Voice on Sept. 23 to see if dreams really do come true.
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Nothing complements flame-grilled perfection better than golden fries, right? The problem is, it's too much work to eat a burger, then put it down, and then pick up, dip and eat a french fry. It's madness really. (Lightbulb!) Thankfully, Burger King has answered our prayers with the "French Fry Burger." It's a burger topped with, you guessed it, delicious french fries. The chain will be offering the flame-grilled masterpiece starting Sept. 1 through the fall for $1 in an effort to push back against McDonald's Dollar Menu. Now, if only Burger King could manage to work out a burger, fry and drink sandwich. Now, that would be impressive.
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Blake Griffin does a lot of commercials. A lot. The NBA All-Star has jumped over cars, traveled through time and run the court with a no-game street baller named Drain. In his latest spot, "The Endorser," with Chris Paul, for Foot Locker, Blake is a pitch machine on steroids (ahem, A-Rod). So, how does he separate business from pleasure? Simple, with the flip of a switch. Thanks CP3! If this is anything like his previous campaigns for Kia, AT&T or Jordan, I'm sure we can expect Griffin and Foot Locker to team up for a few more comical spots. Now, if only we could all time travel so we didn't have to wait. Agency: BBDO, New York
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In May, we saw a billboard use lenticular printing to illustrate how violence against children can easily go unseen. Now, a new PSA from the United Nations Children's Fund is taking a different approach to making invisible abuses visible. "Just because you can't see violence against children doesn't mean it isn't there," says Liam Neeson, star of the Hollywood child-trafficking drama Taken, and a Unicef celebrity ambassador, in the voiceover. Titled "End Violence," the spot offers a gritty and blunt perspective on the dangers and traumas that children across the globe face on a regular basis, from gang rape to cyber bullying. But while the camera pans across a series of scenes where such crimes take place, it doesn't show any of the perpetrators or victims. Instead, Neeson's voiceover fills in, describing the violence that occurred in each. It's a deft and gripping way to deliver a hard-hitting message—shocking the audience into paying attention, without shutting it down by making the violence more overt. A longtime Unicef supporter, Neeson explains why he supported this particular campaign: "It was a topic that became increasingly real to me as a child growing up in Ireland and during the filming of Taken, which focuses on one aspect of violence and abuse against children in the form of trafficking and sexual exploitation." A number of other stars, including Jamie Foxx and Alyssa Milano, have tweeted their support for the campaign.
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Don't get me wrong. I love kids. They're adorable and tons of fun to be around. But man, can they be a handful. And these days, you can't even trust the girl next door to babysit. So, here's a message from some young filmmakers: Protect yourself, literally and figuratively.
The one-minute spec spot for Durex from director Paul Santana—named best spec spot of the year by the AICP—is borderline melodramatic genius. It's an excellent depiction of what may lie ahead if you're not careful. The music, which masterfully drives the piece, is Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14, also known as the Moonlight Sonata, which is offset by humorous yet dramatic cinematography. The slow motion increasingly builds the misery of fatherhood: the unkempt yard, the overcooked hot dogs, the wild kids (why won't they stop running around?), the screaming wife, the fake smiles. Will it ever end? Then, wham, a wake-up call, a shot to the family jewels. Don't let it get this far, guys. Protect yourselves now so you don't have to protect yourselves for the rest of your natural lives.
Credits below.
CREDITS
Production Company: Supply and Demand
Executive Producers: Tim Case, Charles Salice
Director: Paul Santana
Producer: Brad English
Directors of Photography: Greg Daniels, Paul Santana
Editorial: Beast Detroit
Editor: Stewart Shevin
Visual Effects: Joe Laffey, The Stable
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Remember that time you thought babysitting for a few extra bucks was a great idea? What could be so hard about putting an 8-year-old to bed, right? Fast-forward a few hours, and Mikey's got his head caught in the stairs. Sarah's got a wad of gum in her hair. You're fashioning a makeshift diaper out of duck tape for the one whose name you forgot. Or worse, the house catches fire. Seriously, anything can happen. Have you seen The Sitter?
Lucky for you, the Red Cross has developed "Babysitting Basics Course," an online tutorial that teaches you how to handle—or better yet, avoid—babysitting blunders. Oh, and they teamed up with BBDO Atlanta and director Daniel Strange to produce the PSA below. The spot is a charming and adorable one-minute piece about the potential hazards of babysitting. And those cute little tykes are clearly more aware of them than their absent-mind teenage babysitter. So, to you would-be sitters out there: Before you decide to conquer you neighbor's living room, hear the warning of unlucky kids, go online and take the course.
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In an attempt to become relevant again, BlackBerry is jumping into the movie business—though shorter than feature length. Two days after wrapping Sin City 2, awe-inspiring film director Robert Rodriguez (also known for Spy Kids, Desperado and From Dusk Till Dawn) partnered with BlackBerry to direct the short film Two Scoops as a part of BlackBerry's "Keep Moving" project.
Two Scoops was written, produced and shot by Rodriguez, but three scenes were left incomplete. Fans of Rodriguez (and presumably of BlackBerry) could then help complete the story by tweeting ideas, submitting SFX ideas and conceptualizing weapons/props to be incorporated into the final film.
As it turns out, the completed film is just what one might expect from the eccentric Rodriguez—featuring a strange, futuristic, monster-filled world with massive toy-like weapons and scantily clad twins in search for their missing father. Oh, and a splash of that slightly awkward Spanish comedy. Like all Rodriguez films, things are not as they seem.
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Today, everyone does everything. You have actor-writer-rappers (Donald Glover, Jamie Foxx), dancers turned actors (Jennifer Lopez, Channing Tatum), pro athletes attempting to rap (Shaq, Allen Iverson), and so on. So, when Rafael A. Perez, a San Diego realtor, decided to produce a rap video to "express the state of real estate" there, who was going to stop him? Yes, the housing market in the U.S. collapsed a few years ago, but R.A.P. (Rafael A. Perez's emcee moniker) is here to tell you that it's BACK! Along with the American dream! At least in San Diego! The YouTube video, titled "Welcome to the 619," is a hopeful and amusing bid to get people excited about the area again. It's filled with bad lip-syncing, a barely conscious Perez, zooms of Google images, MLK Jr. quotes, and of course American flags. I don't know about you, but I think it's about to get real crowded in the 619.
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The 139th Kentucky Derby takes place at Churchill Downs on Saturday. The spectacle is as much a soiree and fashion occasion as it is a prestigious horse race. Thousands will flock to the grounds in their Sunday best. For women, flowered floppy hats and sundresses are always a hit. As for the men, a seersucker suit with a festive tie will do. But all that beauty and enimence won't hide the fact that horse racing can be, and often is, a dark sport. To that effect, PETA is launching a new mobile billboard, which will be driven outside the racetrack, to remind visitors of the cruelties that can lie beneath the surface of the thoroughbred sport. The ad, created by a Temple University student, shows a horse with a marking on his nose that looks like a syringe. (He probably races under the name Old Needleface.) The copy reads, "Drugs. Breakdowns. Death. Horse racing is a bad bet." PETA had better get the ad out there early tomorrow, though, because we all know no one remembers anything after that second mint julep.
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Stewie Griffin, the 1-year-old prodigy from Family Guy, is a lovable character, but man can he get annoying. In this 15-second spot from 72andSunny for Google Chrome, he proves just that. "Mom! Mom! Mommy! Ma!" he cries, as Lois stares off in a tormented haze. Ah, the gifts of parenthood. The spot makes its point, though. Google Chrome can't stop you from being interrupted, but it can let you pick up where you left off. What is it with Stewie being so repetitive in commercials? Now, someone please find Rupert so Stewie can finally shut up.
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The red-hot pitching arms in Cincinnati are costing one local pizza chain a pretty penny. LaRosa's Pizzeria has already given away $100,000 worth of pizza this season (can't be good for the bottom line) through its "Strikeouts for LaRosa's" campaign with the Reds. The challenge, which is promoted on the Reds scoreboard, is simple enough. Anytime Reds pitchers combine to strike out more than 11 batters in a game at home, every ticket holder gets a free eight-inch pizza valued at $6.79. Not sure which mathematician worked out the algorithm, but 11 K's doesn't seem like much when you have stud starters like Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos and a freak like Aroldis Chapman closing games out. Hope you're hungry, Ohio. Last season, in the first year of the campaign, the Reds had a total of 13 free-pizza games. But this year, just 15 home games into the season, Reds pitchers have K'ed more than 11 batters seven times already. At this rate, it wouldn't surprise me if Ohioans petition to change the Reds logo into a giant pizza.
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Do you remember what life was like in Manhattan in 1993? The rats, the graffiti, the parties, the drugs, the … pay phones. Fear not. The East Village-based ad agency Droga5 and the New Museum have teamed up to give you a glimpse back in time—using that suddenly resurgent old communications device in the process.
Agency and client have launched "Recalling 1993," offering a raw, unfiltered listen to what was going on around New York City 20 years ago. The campaign turns pay phones into geo-located time capsules—dial (855) FOR-1993 from any pay phone in Manhattan, and you will hear a personal account of what was going down in that particular area in 1993, a pivotal year in the city's history. The recordings offer memories of everything from the World Trade Center bombing in the Financial District to the club culture at Limelight in Chelsea to the opening of Angels in America in Midtown.
The effort promotes a new exhibit at the museum, "NYC 1993: Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star," which is running through May 26. There are more than 4.5 hours of content in total—over 150 recorded oral histories from real New Yorkers—so hopefully you have some extra time on your hands. See more in the video below, and listen to a sampling of the stories at the link above. Credits below.
CREDITS
Client: New Museum
Campaign: "Recalling 1993"
Agency: Droga5, New York
Creative Chairman: David Droga
Executive Creative Directors: Ted Royer, Nik Studzinski
Associate Creative Directors: Ray Del Savio, Jerry Hoak
Copywriters: Colin Lord, Bryan Wolff
Art Directors: Jen Lu, Daniel Sumarna
Head of Integrated Production: Sally-Ann Dale
Executive Producer: Scott Chinn
Executive Interactive Producer: Lindsey Slaby
Producer: Jennifer McKenzie
Production Assistant: Goldie Robbens
Technical Director: David Justus
Creative Technology Lead: Fran Devinney
User Experience Director: Kathrin Hoffman
User Experience Designer: Eileen Tang
Associate Digital Producer: Ian Graetzer
Senior Print Producer: Jeannie O'Toole
Print Production Assistant: Annick Thomas
Brand Strategist: Matthew Gardner
Strategy Intern: P.J. Mongell
Researchers: Amelia Barry, Sarah Gancher, Bo Jacober
Group Account Director: Olivia Legere
Account Director: Caitlin Chandler
Account Manager: Louisa Cronan
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