Unbelievable!

Funny, all my life I've listened to my Mom complain about movies, commercials or TV shows for their lack of believability. Granted, she is way too literal--like when watching a magic show and complaining that there's really no way anyone could endure the blades in the box while being cut in half.

"It's a trick mom...you know that, right?"

Or her disdain as to how the Harlem Globetrotters can really win all the time. Those poor Nationals...

"Never mind Mom..."

So I guess it's no surprise that over time I find myself falling prone to some similar levels of criticism, especially regarding commercials.

For instance, this morning I saw a Folgers spot where a long-gone prodigal son arrives at his home's doorstep way early in the morning, greeted by his all too admiring sister. She's been waiting up all night for him, but he reminds her, "It's a long way from Africa..." Hmmm. Never mind me wondering why he was there to begin but if I were coming home from a long trip and world adventure I'd sort of expect my family to pick me up at the airport, right? But not in this commercial. Mom and Dad  suddenly smell the Folgers in their pot and say, "He's here!" Nice parents. Make the son get his own way home AND make the coffee. Sort of a hard to believe situation made up just to smell the coffee.

Or what about the constantly running Chase ad where the former Victoria Secrets model, married to Joe Schmo, announces herself proudly, regaled in a beautiful dress. Hubby then goes into fantasy-land about all the things they could do with their points--obviously inspired by his wife's beauty. She keeps reminding him they can't use their points. Hmmm. Sure they can. But no...turns out wifey spent them all on that dress. Which means it cost a ton given his dreams were a cruise or boating, etc. $$$! Now, call me crazy, but if my wife used up that many points without discussing it with me first I would probably blow a slight gasket, regardless of how stunning she looked in it. And in discussing this with friends it's kind of universal...not very believable.

Okay, it's just TV, I know. All the Kay commercials aren't very believable either. Or the surprise Lexus in the driveway to the unsuspecting spouse. Or the BK break-in to McDonald's for the egg McMuffin secret recipe. (But at least that's funny and works on a whole other level.)

I guess my point is, without getting to the level my Mom is at, I find commercials that have to work really hard at setting up scenarios that none of would ever find ourselves in feels disingenuous. Slightly annoying if not a tad offensive. And they certainly disrupt the moment when doubting...

I've had to spend a considerable amount of my career reminding clients to avoid being so literal and over thinking every detail so I understand what fine line exists between creative liberties and reality. But a lot of what I am seeing lately just crosses the line into the 'contrived'. And obviously contrived. Even worse.

I think it's wise to consider some real-world human behavior in anything a company produces. And while not wanting to kibosh creativity, I would advise some reality sprinkled in for good measure. Like my hero Leo Burnett always promoted, "the believable, the fresh, and the memorable".

That's all I'm asking for.

Now...how unbelievable is that CBS campaign to gift a pap smear for Christmas? That's another post altogether.

Cheers.

Stephen

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Cheer up...it's the holidays!

Just for the fun of it.

http://justforthebellofit.icrossing.com/

Smile. And be happy this season.

Happy holidays all!

Stephen

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Tis the season to be...BRUTAL?

This time each year, merry creatives begin celebrating a long-standing holiday tradition, revered nearly as religiously as, well…those other holidays. It’s known as “Ho-Ho-Ho, Bash the Other Agency’s Holiday Cards”. How cheery and exciting. Almost as exciting as poking fun at the Bill Cosby-like holiday sweaters dorks wear, ridiculing the endless fruit cake metaphors, enduring bad gift ideas ads, mash-ups of redneck songs about reindeer's and grandma's, and watching one more 'kissy' jewelry commercial. Almost.

What can be better than waiting with anticipation for the first agency to take the plunge and tip their hand early enough to reap generous donations of criticism?

This year I believe Publicis got first dibs on the abuse by releasing their Black Eyed Peas overdub video. By the comments on YouTube, this season appears to have no recession in ‘creative’r-than-thou’ gifts of harshness. Wow, makes me want to “Bah Humbug” the next person I see. Gets me right in the mood…

Okay, I’m a creative and I love great work as much as the next creative. And I have no shyness in stating what I believe to be great work, or not…but really…does the brutality level of bashing need to be so high? And does everyone who posts a jab qualify to criticize by having produced a better piece of work? That should be the price of entry. No complaints unless you can put up something superior.

So come on all…let’s remember the reason for the season of holiday creative efforts. To spread some cheer. Not douse the tree with gasoline and set it ablaze. (Frankly, that’s how all the negativity feels to me.) So back off, please. Show some grace and good will. Cut everyone some slack and let’s all be one big happy family of creatives this holiday. After all, Thanksgiving is when families are supposed to fight—so remember what time of year it is.

Stephen

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Word Worth remembering

"Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." Teddy Roosevelt

Nice.

Stephen

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Cancer sucks. Having it sucks worse.

I recently lost a friend I had only recently met. A man I wish I'd known better, and longer. His name was David. He was a Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois--a very well respected authority on nutrition. He succumbed to Pancreatic Cancer less than two years after being diagnosed. 

Pancreatic Cancer is rarely survivable--the average lifespan after diagnosis is 5 years. Obviously that means some live longer but far too many die sooner. It is the 4th leading cause of death by cancer although it it one of the least diagnosed. To give some perspective--breast cancer is diagnosed on average, per year, at around 190,000 cases. Pancreatic cancer is diagnosed, per year, at around 40,000 cases. Yet both are within a few thousand of each other in the number of deaths per year. It's also one of the least funded types of cancer research.

Bottom line, being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer is like being handed a death sentence--to most. It's rare but deadly. Only recently has it been getting attention, due to celebrity cases like Patrick Swayze, Ruth Ginsburg, Steve Jobs, and more. But it affects so many more who aren't 'famous'--like my friend David.

He's just one guy who died way too soon from a disease little understood and hardly attended to in scale compared to other cancer types. 

We can do better. David shouldn't have died so soon, and so young.

I want you to remember David. For who he was, why he died, and how he fought. He was here. He did 'good' in his life and worked hard to help others. He built a family and a career. He did good for the community. He catapulted many a talented student to success by his mentoring and care. Proof: His grad students all came back and held a recognition party for him weeks before he passed. As I said, I didn't know him long enough or well enough, although I wish I had. But in speaking to him on the phone, and emailing back and forth, I knew he was like so many others on this journey--a good person, a man of hope and dreams, fighting heroically yet to live.

I emailed David right before Thanksgiving to see how his last doctor visit went. He replied only days before his passing to tell me that he was going on hospice and had little expectations on getting to 2010. I took it for granted that he was holding on well enough, given his email style and words. I was stunned to find out only days after that he had lost his battle.

He left us too soon. As do all diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. 

Pancreatic Cancer is a thief. An insidious disease that takes people in their prime and robs them of time to fight for life.

This holiday season, if you're thinking of a cause to donate to--to give back some of the blessings you've received, please consider giving to http://www.pancan.org/section_donate/donate_now.php

David would thank you.

In his memory, I thank you.

Stephen

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