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May 2006

UMLAUT EDITOR JEAN KAWAHARA CREATES A "LAUGH RIOT" FOR COMCAST WITH SMUGGLER DIRECTOR TEAM HAPPY

Laughter is the best medicine as seen in a new spot from Comcast, directed by Happy of Smuggler and edited by Jean Kawahara of Umlaut. "Laugh Riot," created by ad agency Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, follows the "It's Comcastic!" campaign and touts the "Comedy Month" ON DEMAND feature available via Comcast Digital Cable.

The :30 spot opens on a seemingly violent riot taking place in the streets. A helicopter circles overhead while police squads line the street with combat gear and shields. Then a man runs to the center and throws an object at the cops. Turns out to be a banana and one unfortunate law enforcement officer slips on it. This elicits a joyful reaction from the crowd, which is comprised of quirky characters dressed in costumes. A man clothed as a baby with an oversized baby bottle chucks a cream pie into the face of a policeman. From smashing watermelons to chattering wind-up teeth, the silly celebration continues until an officer, squashed on the ground, declares that it is comedy month. "You'll receive stand-up, movies and other comedy as needed. ON DEMAND with Comcast Digital Cable."

Visist the Umlaut Website

IMAGINARY FORCES CREATES ANIMATED LOGO FOR VERTIGO

DC Comics Imprint Unveils New Logo During "V For Vendetta" Debut

Comics lovers were in for a visual treat when the new animated Vertigo logo was revealed in March in front of the much-anticipated feature "V for Vendetta." Created by Imaginary Forces (IF), the logo design was spearheaded by Creative/Art Director Ahmet Ahmet who worked closely with Founder/Creative Director Peter Frankfurt.

Vertigo, an imprint of graphic novels and comic books published by DC Comics, focuses on darker and more mature themes in its storytelling. Capturing a decadent mood, the Vertigo logo opens with the widely recognized blue-and-white DC Comics logo, which crumbles into a flock of ravens, mascot of the caliginous. The flock is then absorbed into the Vertigo logo, surrounded by an ominous blood-red smoke that fades into nothingness. For Imaginary Forces, the Vertigo logo marks another successful collaboration with a DC Comics brand. The award-winning design and entertainment agency also created the animated logo for DC Comics in 2005, which premiered in front of "Batman Begins."

Visit the Imaginary Forces Website

OZZY ROCKS IN NEW CAMPAIGN EDITED BY CUT + RUN'S STEVE GANDOLFI

Ozzy Osborne is a newly-domesticated star in a new hilarious campaign for I Can't Believe It's Not Butter edited by Cut + Run's Steve Gandolfi. Although still adorned in black, the rocker turned his talents from the stage to a sparkling white kitchen.

In each spot, the Prince of Darkness has trouble discerning the difference between butter and this spread, uttering the infamous phrase, "I can't believe it's not Butter." In one, Ozzy and an identical twin (Jon Culshaw) conduct a blind taste test. With blindfolds covering their eyes and in true Ozzy style, he spreads I Can't Believe on a sponge instead of the desired crumpet. None the wiser, they love the spread and decide the "crumpet" isn't bad either.

In another spot, the double Os are watching a cooking show and baking along. When butter is called for, Ozzy uses the I can't believe it's not Butter because he really cannot tell the difference between that and the real thing. At the end of the cooking show, they discover that the recipe they are following is for Fairy Cakes. "Fairy Cakes?' exclaims Ozzy with disbelief, "I am the prince of darkness. I am not making fairy cakes, I am making Rock Cakes!" His double agrees and concludes that his baking is similarly hard edged in name. In the final spot, the Ozzy duo decides a cow should do the taste test but in the middle of the test the wife comes home. So as not to get in trouble, they disguise the cow as a coffee table. A large, mooing one draped in a checked tablecloth.

Visist the Cut+Run Website
More Info: Cut+Run

SATISFACTION COMES STANDARD WITH NEW STEVINSON DEALER CAMPAIGN

For anyone who has ever bought a car, this smart new campaign for Stevinson Automotive will bring a knowing laugh and a sigh of relief. For at Stevinson, Satisfaction Comes Standard and with the right amount of self-deprecating, self-aware humor. The campaign was created by agency Cramer-Krasselt who came to audioEngine|west in collaboration with sister company Ride for music, sound design and final mix.

Each spot features an example of the unique kind of experience buyers have at Stevinson. In "Swahili", for example, a tribal bushman takes the long, arduous trek to Stevinson where he is greeted by his old friend Kent who welcomes him with open arms and shows him the new car models. In "Cardboard Kent", a customer is so enamored of the Stevinson service that he takes a cardboard effigy of Kent wherever he goes and has to rescue him following a fishing accident. In "Monster Behind The Drapes", a young boy asks his father to check for monsters, fearing the lump that lurks behind the window curtain. Turns out it is Kent, a big teddy bear of a fellow, who is checking up on the family's satisfaction with their automotive purchase. "Soup" addresses the sad issue of people who, after visiting a car dealer, have found they are unable to trust. Fortunately, with breakthrough advances in customer service, the folks at Stevinson are helping people to trust again. It's enough to make you shed tears of joy and head on over to Stevinson for a satisfying experience.

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