In this spec spot we see a curious youngster, maybe six or seven years old, at his computer keyboard. The camera gives us a view of the boy’s face as he stares intently at his PC monitor. Though we don’t see what’s on the screen, we can hear the proceedings. They sound unsavory, to say the least: a man in apparent sexual ecstasy, and occasional sheep noises.
Suddenly, the youngster bolts out of his bedroom—we hope, to escape this perversion and tell his parents. But as we stare at the empty room, a sneaking suspicion takes hold that maybe the boy didn’t run out for parental aid, after all.
Indeed, our worst fears are realized when the lad rushes back into the room, clutching the family poodle. He dumps the dog on his bed and quickly shuts the door.
A supered message simply reads, "What are your kids learning?" We hear the whimper of a dog, then the Learning Channel logo appears.
Independent of their roost—BBDO New York—the creative team of Frank Anselmo and Jayson Atienza approached director Adam Pesapane, a.k.a. Pes, of Czar Films, New York, with the script. The sexual content and dark humor hardly seemed ready for prime time. That, in and of itself, appealed to Pes, whose humorous, at-times-risqué fare has gained ad industry recognition. Last year his "Roof Sex" spec ad for a furniture restoration and re-upholstery store made SHOOT’s "The Best Work You May Never See" gallery (6/29/01, p. 13). That stop-motion spot depicted a pair of horny living-room chairs going at it with reckless abandon on a building’s rooftop.
Pes’ support team on "Beasty Boy" included executive producer Jeanette Gonzalez and line producer Jelani Isaacs. The spot was shot by DP Derek McKane.
Sam Welch and Paul Fernandez of Homestead Editorial, New York, served as offline and online editor, respectivley. Colorist was Eric Alvarado of now defunct Post Perfect. Sound designer/audio mixer was Joe Barone of McHale/Barone, New York.
The spot’s creators hope that they can gain a late-night run on cable for the spec piece. But, Pes quipped, "I’ve reminded them that we are in America, not Amsterdam."
