The initial P.O.V. in this spec spot–looking up through toilet bowl water–is a bit of an eye opener. And our sight for moist eyes is a pair of kids–a little boy and his “big” sister.
The spot then shifts to a more conventional perspective of capturing the two children in the bathroom, standing in front of and gazing into the toilet.
“I’m sorry you have to go to heaven Sammy,” says the lad, holding a goldfish in his hand.
“I’ll miss you,” affirms the girl.
“We’ll miss you forever,” nods the boy.
As Sammy is dropped into the toilet, the girl adds, “Don’t forget to give us a call tonight”–at which point she plops a cellular phone into the bowl and flushes.
A voiceover relates, “Misplace your phone? Skip the grieving process with a great deal on the coolest new phone at Cingular.”
Jazzy product shot motion graphics of Cingular cell phones appear on screen. The spot then takes us to the kitchen were the two kids are with their mother.
“Mom, did Sammy call yet?” asks the girl.
“What?” responds the mom in a voice tinged with both bewilderment and disbelief.
An end tag contains the Cingular logo, accompanied by the slogan, “Raising the bar.”
Bill Kelman of Apache Films, Venice, Calif., directed the spec piece, which was conceived by creative directors Jonathan Emmerling and Steve Giraldi. Art director was Rebecca Bloom.
Robbie Howard produced, with Kelly Koskella serving as co-producer. The DP was Damien Collier. Production designer was Irwin Mehlman, with Rebecca Bloom the art director.
Editor was Ryan Wick. Colorist was Nadeem Chawdhry of Filmworks/FX, Santa Monica. Motion graphics/effects artist was Alan Chamberlain. Audio post mixer/sound designer/composer was Ben Davis of Ben Audio, Venice.
Principal actors were Carissa Bodner, Nolan Gould and Kristin Pfeifer. There was no actual goldfish; it was a rubber fish that Kelman bought at a magic store.
Searching for spec concepts, Kelman linked up with creative directors Emmerling and Giraldi via wheresspot. Emmerling and Giraldi are creatives at Gotham, New York, but they did this project independent of the agency.
Apple and Google Face UK Investigation Into Mobile Browser Dominance
Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers, a British watchdog said Friday in a report that recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year.
The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at Apple, saying the iPhone maker's tactics hold back innovation by stopping rivals from giving users new features like faster webpage loading. Apple does this by restricting progressive web apps, which don't need to be downloaded from an app store and aren't subject to app store commissions, the report said.
"This technology is not able to fully take off on iOS devices," the watchdog said in a provisional report on its investigation into mobile browsers that it opened after an initial study concluded that Apple and Google effectively have a chokehold on "mobile ecosystems."
The CMA's report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile phone users to make their own browsers "the clearest or easiest option."
And it said that the a revenue-sharing deal between the two U.S. Big Tech companies "significantly reduces their financial incentives" to compete in mobile browsers on Apple's iOS operating system for iPhones.
Both companies said they will "engage constructively" with the CMA.
Apple said it disagreed with the findings and said it was concerned that the recommendations would undermine user privacy and security.
Google said the openness of its Android mobile operating system "has helped to expand choice, reduce prices and democratize access to smartphones and apps" and that it's "committed to open platforms that empower consumers."
It's the latest move by regulators on both sides of the Atlantic to crack down on the... Read More