Modern Spectacle

[danalwyn]

I know that television advertisement is different now then it used to. I mean I know that intellectually. They've been growing both in complexity and spectacle since I was born. And that's especially true of ads for athletic brands, as the variety of sports, the ability of the cameramen, and the tastes of the market, have evolved.

But in the year I was born, there were probably full movies that cost less in terms of effort, technological expertise, and just plain money then Nike's Write The Future ad. Every time I watch it, I just can't help but wonder just how much money that actually cost.

Say what you like about Nike (and a lot of people do), they know that their audience wants spectacle, and they can provide spectacle. And poke fun at England at the same time.

Comments

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

That is incredible.

But in the year I was born, there were probably full movies that cost less in terms of effort, technological expertise, and just plain money then Nike's Write The Future ad.

Sometimes Mr. N and I will be watching TV, and we'll see an extended ad for something, and it's so mind-blowing and DARING and WOW DID YOU SEE THAT? and ... it's for a GAME. Not a movie, not another TV show, not anything special -- just a video game.

[danalwyn.livejournal.com]

What's even weirder about the game ads is that they've started doing pure in-game animation. It used to be that a game ad would have things that weren't even in the game half the time; now they have things that are in the game that you would never have dreamed of just years ago.

Soon we'll basically be manufacturing reality here.

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

Interesting article from the LA Times on this commercial, here (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2010/05/nikes-world-cup-commercial-showcases-i%C3%B1%C3%A1rritus-filmmaking-flair.html). The filmmaker is Mexican and is the same guy who did Amores Perros and 21 Grams.


Edited for HTML fail. Duh.
Edited again to correct the filmmaker's nationality.
:-)

[silverjackal.livejournal.com]

Nike does do a good commercial. I wonder what it says about me that I now want to go play a bit of football, and I don't own (or want) a pair of Nikes. I am enough of a commercialist creature, though, to grin at Ronaldo.

[danalwyn.livejournal.com]

It does make it tempting to play football, doesn't it?

I think that everyone is grinning at Ronaldo, although is he even going to be in the world cup?

[silverjackal.livejournal.com]

Yes, some football would be fun. Last I heard Ronaldo wasn't going to be in the World Cup, but I could be wrong. I am the definition of "out of touch" of late.

[tripathy.livejournal.com]

Truly a valiant attempt to try to get more North Americans to care about soccer!

...But ultimately futile. *goes back to hockey*

[danalwyn.livejournal.com]

Ha! It's growing! You will be assimilated!

I can't believe they paid for that much star power just for North Americans, but I wonder how big their market exposure will be for this.

[tripathy.livejournal.com]

Not this hockey chickie! They've wasted their money on me. ^_~

Honestly, soccer just puts me straight to sleep. Too slow, and way too full of prima donnas looking for some kind of acting award. At least when guys take dives in hockey, it tends to look like some kind of fantastic gymnastics rather than children wailing for mommy. And they get penalties for doing it. :P

[crisiks.livejournal.com]

So... many... images...