Hasta La Creative!

The Richards Group has unveiled a new “Fact or Fake” series of online videos for Orkin Pest Control, the latest in their “Bug Wisdom” campaign.

“Fact or Fake” is a series (so far two) of videos that attempt to prove or disprove commonly held views on bugs, MythBusters style. In the video, above for example, the crew attempts to answer the question, “Are Daddy Longlegs Poisonous?” Much like MythBusters, The Richards Group tries to mix scientific inquiry with goofy humor. If the results aren’t exactly funny, they are at least still entertaining — especially when you consider the typical approach for advertising pest control. Another spot in the series tackles the question of whether termites eat faster when rock music is played.

The Richards Group also recently released a series of “Top 6” listicle videos, counting down the best bugs to eat and the most venomous insects. With both coming on the heels of the initial “Bug Wisdom” series, it’s clear The Richards Group has been quite busy for Orkin. Stick around for “Does Rock ‘n’ Roll Make Termites Eat Faster?” and credits after the jump. continued…

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W2O Group has a new campaign for Apollo Endosurgery, Inc., “the leader in minimally invasive endoscopic surgical products for bariatric and gastrointestinal procedures,” aimed at “rejuvenating the LAP-BAND® System” — which was acquired in late 2013 by Apollo Endosurgery, Inc. of Austin, Texas, from Allergan, Inc. — “and educating a broad range of patients about the benefits of the minimally-invasive weight loss procedure.”

Entitled “It Fits,” the multi-channel campaign features television spots, digital, print, a new logo, revitalized website, and the launch of @LAPBAND. The 60-second television spot, entitled “Moments,” features a series of individuals enjoying their newly found weight loss in various situations: receiving a hug from a daughter, putting on a plane seatbelt, slipping on a ring. “Discover how thousands of people are fitting into old, and new, things,” intones the voiceover — so long as you aren’t worried about the (rare) possibility of “re-operation, band-slippage, stomach injury, removal and fatalities” and aren’t scared of a little “vomiting and heartburn.” “Moments” is pretty much exactly what you’d expect for an ad in this category, complete with obligatory sentimental piano music.

“With the increasing prevalence of obesity in the United States, the Apollo Endosurgery team decided that it was time to refresh the brand and inspire people who have tirelessly tried everything else to lose weight, with little to no success, to finally conquer their weight issue with the LAP-BAND® System,” said Dennis McWilliams, president and chief commercial officer of Apollo Endosurgery. “The LAP-BAND® System’s benefits speak for itself, so now is the time to raise awareness and let people know this could potentially be their weight loss solution.” Stick around for credits after the jump. continued…

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180 Amsterdam has a bold new campaign unveiling REPLAY’s eco-friendly Laserblast L.I.F.E. collection, which celebrates real-life activists as models.

REPLAY’s Laserblast L.I.F.E.  capsule collection utilizes “innovative and eco-friendly Laserblast technology, which dramatically reduces water consumption, and the use of coloured mineral pigments of natural origin,” resulting in “one of the most eco-friendly, natural denim ranges.” The brand called on 180 Amsterdam to make eco-friendly jeans seem youthful and rebellious, casting “models with a world-leading ethical stance – the real-life activists transforming the way we live today.” It marks 180 Amsterdam’s first campaign for the brand.

180 Amsterdam’s two minute digital spot for the campaign (featured above), shows environmental activists (clad in jeans, of course) clashing with heavily-armed security forces. Opening with shots of protesters in the woods, with audio clips of climate change deniers in the background, the group are soon met by the security forces they clash with. The provocative spot includes violence against protesters, and even some unexpected partial nudity before ending on a positive note with a surprise twist. 180 Amsterdam certainly didn’t hold back on this one, although some may make the argument that they’re trying a little too hard to seem edgy.

“We have very ambitious targets for the business. We are thrilled to partner with 180 Amsterdam to bring our vision to life and expectations on Laserblast L.I.F.E. project. Their team, their enthusiasm and their talent make us excited about the result of this journey,” said Art Zuyderwijk, MD REPLAY Benelux.

Stay tuned for credits after the jump. continued…

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While Apple recently announced that it will be taking more of its ads in house, this latest iPhone spot comes from TBWA Media Arts Lab, and features a rather unusual song selection.

The 60-second spot, entitled “Strength,” is a relatively straightforward montage promoting the use of the iPhone 5S for physical fitness. Less straightforward, however, is the spot’s soundtrack. As Adweek reports, “Strength” is set to “The Youth Fitness Song” (also called “Chicken Fat”), which originally appeared as a song from President Kennedy’s national physical fitness program. The song, which was written by Meredith Wilson and performed by Robert Preston in 1961, was distributed to schools and played as an accompaniment to a morning calisthenics routine. Whether the song is meant to stoke Baby Boomer nostalgia or someone on board just thought it would be a fun bit of silliness, “Go, you chicken fat, go” is a pretty strange way to tell people to start exercising (while utilizing their iPhone 5S). Coming on the heels of the recent spot featuring “Gigantic,” it marks something of a trend in unorthodox song selections promoting the 5S.

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TBWAParis, Amnesty International France’s advertising agency for 10 years, has a new ad for the organization, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary.
The 1:55 film, entitled “Pens,” uses a clever visual device to tell the story of an unnamed protestor. The protestor is arrested, detained and abused, but released following thousands of petitions for his release. Set to a soundtrack performed by Paolo Nutini, with a short, stirring excerpt from Charlie Chaplin’s The Dictator, the spot champions Amnesty’s process of mobilization via the signatures of its supporters. “Pens” is a clear expression of Amnesty Frances’s ““your signature is more powerful than you think” slogan and a powerful encapsulation of what the organization stands for. Stick around for credits after the jump. continued…

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Saatchi & Saatchi teamed up with Internet prankster Rahat to launch a new multichannel campaign promoting the Toyota Aygo.

Part of the “Go Fun Yourself” campaign, the debut spot features Rahat slipping into a costume that perfectly matches the seats of the Toyota Aygo, making the car appear to be driving itself. He then drives around Europe with a hidden camera documenting people’s reactions. That’s right, another hidden camera prank video. If you’re tired of these already, you might want to head elsewhere, because the 90-second “Who’s Driving” — set to the Fratelli’s track, “Chelsea Dagger,” and directed by Smuggler’s Jamie Rafn — doesn’t do a lot to distinguish itself from the pack.

The spot will launch the “Go Fun Yourself” Pan-European integrated campaign on TV, in cinemas, and online — supported by social and print components — today, in markets including the UK, France, Italy, Germany and Denmark. “Go Fun Yourself” attempts to “emphasize Aygo’s image as the playful, dynamic car of choice suited to those that don’t take themselves seriously.” Aimed at a younger audience, the campaign will comprise a series of prankster-style videos and social activity which will roll out across the year.

“Aygo is not just another car, so for the launch we wanted to do things differently,” said Stephane Rydlewski, brand & communication manager, Toyota Europe. “With ‘Go Fun Yourself’, we found the perfect way to express the true spirit of the car – fun, provocative & irreverent, without taking ourselves too seriously. We all have this fun inside, we just need to let it go. This is the magic of the new AYGO campaign.” Stick around for credits after the jump. continued…

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With the World Cup kicking off today in Brazil, W+K Amsterdam has a new campaign for EA Sport’s 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil (out now on PS3 and Xbox360), aimed to “appeal to every gamer, and to every American with a star-spangled heart.”

The campaign calls on viewers to be “The next American hero” in a 75-second online spot as Team U.S.A. faces the “Group of Death” in Brazil. “The Next American Hero,” which also appears in 15 and 30-second online advertisement iterations, features a “team of soccer heroes representing a cross-section of American society” — such as an  astronaut, cowboy, tech entrepreneur and cheerleader — take the field for the US. Set to the song “Real American,” the spot is built around the idea that with 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, the fate of the US soccer team is in your hands. And odds are they’ve got a better chance at advancing past group stage than the real team. We’ve got credits following the jump. continued…

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Just in time for today’s World Cup opener between Brazil and Croatia, Samsung, Psyop and Cheil have finally unveiled the first episode of “The Match,” the final installment in its ongoing sci-fi saga touting the Galaxy S5 that features the world’s best soccer players including Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi taking on an alien invasion.

Now that we’ve caught a glimpse of the alien overlord leading the extraterrestrial charge in the previous “Training” installment, it’s time to officially do battle on the pitch in this ambitious effort, which kicked off late last year via a series of teaser clips. With all the feel of a feature film cut condensed into mere minutes, the ongoing campaign can only fan a World Cup fan’s flame and has us anticipating episode two, which is coming soon. Bring it. Credits after the jump. continued…

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JWT Chicago tapped “Original Anchorman” and Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! host Bill Kurtis for a new, slightly misogynist campaign for the Illinois Office of Tourism.

The campaign features a series of seven digital videos “laced with explosions, trumpet playing bears and stock cars” in which Kurtis implores viewers to “vacation like a man” and visit the manly side of Illinois. In the spots, such “manly” activities as stock car racing, golf, horse racing, and casino gambling are highlighted. These spots will be featured on the Enjoy Illinois site, which helps visitors plan out their next trip to the state. It’s hard not to feel a little bit insulted watching the ads, which appeal to and reinforce outdated stereotypes while implying that a vacation can’t be gender-neutral. Credits and one more “Mancation” spot after the jump. continued…

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Night Agency has a new online video for Kiehl’s that aims to gain attention for the brand’s men’s personal care products.

For the video, Night Agency attached a tube of Kiehl’s Oil Eliminator moisturizer “to a weather balloon that rises 23 miles in the air…fitted with cameras that showed the facial lotion hovering in space with the curvature of the Earth behind it,” reports the New York Times. A parachute was then deployed for the craft’s descent back to Earth. The craft spent about three hours in the air, before being retrieved by a team, which tracked the vehicle with GPS, around 90 miles away in a Pennsylvania field. After retrieving the bottle of moisturizer the team proceeds to apply it, thus putting space on their face.

“There’s a really limited subset of guys that read grooming blogs, and we absolutely want to be in those,” said Night Agency Executive Creative Director Evan Slater. “But we wanted to make sure that we were getting coverage from things like Popular Science and getting into the popular male conversation outside of the grooming world.”

The video itself ups the cheese factor on the stunt, with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor exemplified by the “Face: The final frontier” text which opens the video. Cheesiness aside, “How To: Put Space on Your Face” is worth the 2:30 view time if you’re curious as to how exactly the Night Agency team pulled off the stunt. You can check it out above, and we’ve got credits after the jump. continued…

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