Jeff Low of OPC Family Style directed two spots in this Vancouver Police Foundation campaign–including “Hood Slide”–out of DDB Canada’s Vancouver office. We open on a couple, presumably husband and wife, in a parking lot, having just left the supermarket with a cart full of groceries. Something suddenly catches the guy’s attention, causing him to take the sunglasses perched atop his head and placing them over his eyes to get a better view.
He then takes off, jumps onto the hood of a parked car but then the action comes to a halt. Looks like he hurt himself during the landing as he slowly slides off the automobile.
Consecutive supers read, “Wearing the sunglasses supports the cops”/”It doesn’t make you one.”
The spot is tagged with the Vancouver Police Foundation website address, and informs us that a pair of sunglasses can be had for $20–with the proceeds benefitting the community.
The Vancouver Police Foundation provides funding for emerging technology and innovative ideas as well as a wide range of community policing and youth-at-risk outreach programs not included in the police department’s annual operating budget.
“The iconic sunglasses pay homage to a signature look inherently tied to police and act as a badge of support that buyers can wear,” said Cosmo Campbell, executive creative director, DDB Canada. “This becomes an opportunity and conversation piece for Vancouverites to demonstrate their support for the police and look good doing it.”
Blizzard Entertainment President Johanna Faries Talks About AI, DEI, The Return Of BlizzCon
California gaming giant Blizzard Entertainment announced Thursday that its popular event BlizzCon is coming back after several years off.
The celebration of all things Blizzard, which will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center, is scheduled for September 2026. Blizzard last held the event in 2023. Next year's BlizzCon will include staples like its opening ceremony — which typically includes big game announcements — as well as panels and other experiences.
Johanna Faries, president of Blizzard Entertainment, said BlizzCon is part of Blizzard's role as an entertainment company that stretches beyond the boundaries of making games. BlizzCon, she said, is an entertainment platform and "an opportunity to create a different kind of gathering well for gamers."
"There are so many stories at an individual level, just at BlizzCon alone, about how people's lives were changed: I met my partner there. I finally could bond with my son in a way that I couldn't before, thanks to BlizzCon," said Faries. "We take that role very seriously."
Faries discussed gaming's growing popularity in pop culture, and why the medium is at the forefront of entertainment, with comedian Conan O'Brien at the SXSW Film & TV Festival in Texas on Tuesday.
She recently spoke with The Associated Press.
Q: What do you think it is about the last few years that has propelled gaming to the forefront?
Faries: I love that it's happened. I think it's been really just wonderful to also witness that change in conversation and zeitgeist and understanding. A lot of the things we talk about now is it's really less about, you know, who is a gamer. It's really what is anyone playing at any given moment in time. This also goes back to, I think,... Read More