We attended the IAB Digital Video show on Monday and were impressed with most of the content. While the show was used to promote the IAB’s new format guidelines, which were released Monday, it also presented a range of programs that illuminated a “From Three Screens To Mainstream” theme. The theme is right on target for video advertising, which is rapidly moving from screen to screen. After playing on TV for about 50 years, it adapted to the computer screen. And now it’s moving to the mobile screen, which is seeing some exciting creative executions, some of which were presented at the show.
As far as TV goes, the drive to play content online is moving ahead rapidly. It seems as soon as we report on one venture, another one pops up. Last week, Warner Bros. announced two sites, TheWB.com and KidsWB.com that will play a variety of TV content, with TheWB playing old favorite shows and new ones created for the web. The new ones will play short three to five minute episodes, the popular playing time for Internet content. Product integration advertising will be used.
A video ad from Microsoft’s new branding campaign, “On My Way,” is our iSPOT of the Week. The campaign plays in Europe and Australia but not in the U.S. so this is your BIG opportunity to check out the work.
We had the opportunity to speak with Tom Carroll, president/CEO of TBWA Worldwide, who discusses the rise of digital advertising, including digital video, in this week’s iChat.
Let us know about the important news from your companies.
Ken Liebeskind, iSPOT Senior Editor, kliebeskind@shootonline.com, 203-227-1699, ext.17 www.shootonline.com/go/ispot
First-Time Feature Directors Make Major Splash At AFI Fest, Generate Oscar Buzz
Two first-time feature directors who are generating Oscar buzz this awards season were front and center this past weekend at AFI Fest in Hollywood. Rachel Morrison, who made history as the first woman nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar---on the strength of Mudbound in 2018--brought her feature directorial debut, The Fire Inside (Amazon MGM Studios), to the festival on Sunday (10/27), and shared insights into the film during a conversation session immediately following the screening. This came a day after William Goldenberg, an Oscar-winning editor for Argo in 2013, had his initial foray into feature directing, Unstoppable (Amazon MGM Studios), showcased at the AFI proceedings. He too spoke after the screening during a panel discussion. The Fire Inside--which made its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival--tells the story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (portrayed by Ryan Destiny), a Black boxer from Flint, Mich., who trained to become the first woman in U.S. history to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the sport. She achieved this feat--with the help of coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry)--only to find that her victory at the Summer Games came with relatively little fanfare and no endorsement deals. So much for the hope that the historic accomplishment would be a ticket out of socioeconomic purgatory for Shields and her family. It seemed like yet another setback in a cycle of adversity throughout Shields’ life but she persevered, going on to win her second Gold Medal at the next Olympics and becoming a champion for gender equality and equitable pay for women in sports. Shields has served as a source of inspiration for woman athletes worldwide--as well as to the community of... Read More