Man-In-The-Street Interviews Yield A Thesaurus Full Of Private Parts
By Robert Goldrich
TORONTO --Consider this spot a humorous, sometimes earthy, tongue-in-cheek thesaurus of terms men have for their genitals. But rather than crude, this piece has a playful tone advancing what turns out to be a surprisingly worthwhile message.
In the style of man-in-the-street interviews, we see one guy after the next in rapid-fire succession describe the pet name he has for his private part.
"Captain Howdy," says one.
"Action Jackson," responds another.
The list is imaginatively funny, irreverent and immodest: "The Bold Avenger." "Admiral Winky." "Senor Fantastica." "Slim Jim and The Twins." "My Little Prince." "Third Leg." "Mister Wigley." "Skippy." "Kickstand." "Salty Sausage." "Chief Justice Weatherbee." "Huge."
Putting this list of offbeat synonyms into rather significant context is a super that reads, "Whatever you call it, thanks for keeping it safe."
We then see a condom packet with the AIDS Vancouver logo on it, accompanied by a Web site address, GayMenPlaySafe.com.
The sponsors of this message are then identified as AIDS Vancouver (B.C.) and a national advisory team of partner organizations working in HIV and AIDS prevention and education.
Titled "Admiral Winky," the spot is currently running in Canada. The concept came from a team at Vancouver agency Rethink, which is aptly named, providing in this case a rethink of how to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention and acknowledge that a growing segment of the population is thankfully choosing to act responsibly. While humor can be risky for such a serious message, in this case it gains the attention of viewers, engaging them in a different, unexpected way.
Lena Beug of Toronto production house Reginald Pike directed the spot for Rethink. James Davis and Josefina Nadurata executive produced for Reginald Pike, with Jennifer Walker serving as producer. The DP was John Houtman.
The creative ensemble at Rethink consisted of creative directors Ian Grais and Chris Staples, art director Tony Hird, writer/associate creative director Katie Ainsworth, and producer Laura Rioux.
Alan Bartolic, a Vancouver-based freelancer, edited the spot. Online editor was Rob Doucet of Cycle Media, Vancouver. Colorist was Gary Shaw of Technicolor, Vancouver.Audio post mixer was Colin Weinmaster of Wave Productions, Vancouver.
Wave Productions' Brandon Edwards and Bob Smart served as sound designer and music composer, respectively.
In addition to the spot, which is also gaining play on the Web, the campaign includes billboards, posters and print ads. The ad package was funded largely by a grant from the Public Health Agency of Canada, which supports national HIV-prevention campaigns targeting gay males.
Rethink has a track record of making an impact on this issue. Several years ago the agency was behind the noted "Arouse" campaign that used the tagline "Condom or Cocktail?" to address the then rising rate of infection among young gay men.
The principal actors were Donald Sales, Andre Taillon, Ryan Steel, Casey Manderson, Urosh Certic, Darcy Michael, Bryce Martel, Leo Chiang, Heath Whitelock, Andy Canete, Marty Gage, Steven Bidwell, Shafin Karmin, Graham Hoye and Taylor Miller.
Oscar and Emmy-Winning Composer Kris Bowers Joins Barking Owl For Advertising, Branded Content
Music, audio post and sonic branding house Barking Owl has taken on exclusive representation of Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for advertising and branded content.
Bowers’ recent film scores include The Wild Robot and Bob Marley: One Love, alongside acclaimed past works such as The Color Purple (2023), King Richard and Green Book. His contributions to television are equally impressive, with scores for hit series like Bridgerton, When They See Us, Dear White People, and his Daytime Emmy Award-winning score for The Snowy Day.
In addition to his work as a composer, Bowers is a visionary director. He recently took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for his directorial work on The Last Repair Shop. The emotionally touching short film spotlights four of the people responsible for repairing the musical instruments used by students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Last Repair Shop reflects the positive influence that musical instruments have on the youngsters who play them, and the adults in the LAUSD free repair service who keep them working and in tune.
Barking Owl CEO Kirkland Alexander Lynch said of Bowers, “His artistry, diversity of style and depth of storytelling bring an unparalleled edge to the work we create for global brands. His presence on our roster reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and music in advertising.”
Johanna Cranitch, creative director, Barking Owl, added, “Kris first caught my attention when he released his record ‘Heroes + Misfits’ where he fused together his jazz sensibility with a deeply ingrained aptitude for melody, so beautifully.... Read More