Hasta La Creative!

Advertising Agency: Crispin Porter + Bogusky, USA
Via: AdGoodness

Today’s New York Times takes a look at the real-life marketing of Brawndo, which was made up for the movie “Idiocracy.”

This happened not because of a movie-studio marketing brainstorm. (Twentieth Century Fox released the film briefly and without much enthusiasm in 2006 before tossing it to the DVD market, where it has gained a cult following.) It happened because of an “Idiocracy” fan in Oakland named Pete Hottelet. A graphic designer with very particular pop-culture tastes, Hottelet has started a business devoted to bringing to life certain products from movies. His business is called Omni Consumer Products, a name borrowed from the fictional megacorporation in “Robocop.” In addition to Brawndo, Omni has acquired from Paramount the license to market Sex Panther, a made-up cologne from the Will Ferrell vehicle “Anchorman” (“150% More Awesome Than Any Other Cologne. Ever.”).

Hottelet’s manufacturing partner is Redux Beverages. Redux was founded in 2006 by Jamey Kirby, a former software engineer, and is best known for a real energy drink called Cocaine. Cocaine received a lot of attention before “we had some issues with the F.D.A.,” Kirby says. He pulled it out of stores, and while he was retooling the marketing to address F.D.A. objections (he says it went back on the market in February), he heard from Hottelet — “an absolutely brilliant guy.” Hottelet explained the pitch: the drink had to contain electrolytes and had to be an alarmingly bright green, as in the movie.

“I watched ‘Idiocracy,’ and I was like, ‘O.K., we’re in,’ ” Kirby says. “Based on how things are going on in the world, and especially our country right now, this is a shoo-in.” He laughs as he says this, so I wasn’t sure what he meant. Are we already living “Idiocracy”? “Absolutely,” he says. “It’s all about overcommercialization.” The video ads on the Brawndo site, commissioned by Hottelet, feature members of Picnicface, a Canadian comedy troop, shouting hilariously over-the-top pitches: “It’s like a monster truck you pour into your face!” (The pitches actually owe quite a bit to videos Picnicface has made for a drink called Powerthirst — which doesn’t exist. I don’t think.)

There’s nothin’ stupid about capitalizing on a fake brand, I suppose.

These beautiful, bronze heart pendants are elegantly contrasted by glittering gems embedded inside small hoops which dangle off each pendant. The creative talent behind this line of jewelry is Karyn Chopik, a Vancouver artist who truly understands how to ignite the senses.

The entire line is stunn…

How ingenious is this year’s “Time 100” cover? Rather than use the face of the #1 position as usual, the cover depicts one face constructed from thin horizontal image strips of each of the 100 most influential people profiled inside the issue.

The cover is one of five finalists, which include desig…

Want to have a glimpse of what our world would be like if frogs were to become extinct? Well, judging by the new ad campaign from Vancouver Aquarium, you will have an outbreak of bugs and insects everywhere, and that includes inside your kitchen, bathroom and your living room.

According to the Vanc…

(TrendHunter.com) Want to get your kids or officemates into politics? Ease them into Capital Hill with these DIY, paper finger-puppets from FoldUsCandidate.com. They’ve got Hillary, Obama, and McCain – just print them out and let your fingers do the talking.

While being “inspired by” and “paying homage” to the work of another artist is one thing, blatantly copying someone’s work without crediting them is another story. The fact that it’s a big player like Fox channel who is ripping the work of a student makes it much worse.

The new “Terminator – Sara…

Next time you take the family for a zoom in the sky (wouldn’t it be nice to do that every weekend?), leave your old Cesna in the hangar, and get them on board The-Jet by Cirrus.

Crafted from alloy and composite materials, this jet accommodates seven people. It has a special two-door facility simil…

(TrendHunter.com) Anticipation is rising in Beijing for the Summer 2008 Olympic Games, and that excitement has translated into some pretty unique art. Song of Sand 2008, shown in the above video, is a really creative project that celebrates Chinese art forms and symbolism in conjunction with the Olympic brand.

Trad…

(TrendHunter.com) How ingenious is this year’s “Time 100” cover? Rather than use the face of the #1 position as usual, the cover depicts one face constructed from thin horizontal image strips of each of the 100 most influential people profiled inside the issue.

The cover is one of five finalists, which include desig…