Martin, Benjamin Moore Scare the Crap Out of Contractors

Some good Halloween fun for you today…

Martin Agency client Benjamin Moore, and Tool director Jason Zada wanted to show that their Ultra Spec 500 paint goes on quick to get the project finished when you need it most — like when you’re scared shitless.

So they gave a group of painters a nightmare assignment: painting a wall in a “haunted” hotel. Upon arrival, the painters are told that “Years ago people with mental diseases were kept here for a period of time.” Once they start working, Benjamin Moore starts making all kinds of spooky things happen: strange noises, a rocking chair moving on its own, a chandelier rocking back and forth. “I don’t fool with no ghosts,” says one perturbed contractor.

The prank reaches its climax when the lights go out and a woman dressed as a ghost emerges, screaming. Predictably, the contractors freak out before the elaborate hoax is revealed. Their reactions are pretty priceless, and you’ve got to appreciate a prank like this in October. That the painting job was never finished does take away from the spot’s supposed intention, although most people probably won’t notice. There’s more horror-styled fun at Benjamin Moore’s “Scary Good Job” website, where contractors (or just people who need a lot of paint?) can enter to win a 500-gallon supply of Ultra Spec 500.

You can check out the “Testimonials” video after the jump, in which painters share their own horror stories of “nightmare” jobs. Credits follow. continued…

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And Now, Toshiba Toughness from goodness Mfg.

The latest Toshiba campaign from goodness Mfg. provides plenty of answers. Can a Toshiba television withstand the humidity in a sauna? Yes. Can a Toshiba laptop hold up after being violently thrown from a paint shaker? Yes. Can a Toshiba laptop survive under the weight of a monster truck? Not exactly. But for those who’ve been curious about the durability of Toshiba electronics–if you’re out there, let me know–these spots give us some solid, slapstick proof. Toshibas are tough.

There are five spots in all, each one running a bit too long in the 90-second range. Toshiba is no Apple, but if you don’t have the style to compete with Macbooks, jumping on the durability track may not be such a bad approach. The campaign certainly stands out among electronic brands, and the two goofs hawking the products are dweeby enough to be likable. That being said, I don’t know anyone who owns a Toshiba computer. Again, if you do, please let me know. And if you’re buying a computer because it might be crushed by a monster truck, you’re not exactly part of a large consumer demographic. You might be the only person in that demographic, in which case, Toshiba blew its advertising budget to sell one computer.

Credits and two more videos after the jump.

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