We open on a family in a video arcade. Dad gives his son some change and the lad goes off to play to his heart’s content, as mom looks on.
The parents’ faces beam with pride as they watch their child get behind the steering wheel of a driving simulation machine. However the adults’ jaws drop when they hear four-letter words spew from the boy’s mouth as he goes on a demolition derby-like ride on the simulator. Instead of beep-beep, the sounds emanating from this kid are literally bleep-bleep.
“Get out of the way, jack [bleep],” screams the boy.
“Use your [bleep]-ing blinker,” he yells at another driver.
“You idiot, get out of the [bleep]-ing lane.”
The first reaction shot shows both mom and dad mortified. The second shows mom looking disapprovingly at her husband.
“Where did you [bleep]-ing learn to drive, lady? China?” declares the kid.
A voiceover observes, “Drive like a [bleep], and others will follow. Drive responsibly or don’t drive at all.”
This PSA sprung out of The Kangaroo Project, which is in its fourth year. Sponsored by the Minneapolis-headquartered, nonprofit Sean Francis Foundation to mentor promising creative and filmmaking talent via the production of a public service TV spot that’s guaranteed airtime, the Kangaroo Project chose this year to make a PSA that promotes safe and courteous driving.
Competitions were held to find not only the concept, with assorted creative teams submitting entries, but also a director for the project. The concept came from Thom Sandberg, a veteran graphic designer who’s a fixture in the Minnesota ad community, and Mark Wirt, a freelance copywriter in Minneapolis. Sandberg heads Minneapolis-based graphic design firm The Kenyon Consortium.
The winning director–based on a treatment he submitted for the project–was George Andrew (“Andy”) Basore. An aspiring helmer, Basore has been working as a production assistant in New York.
The spot has already aired locally in Minneapolis. And The Kangaroo Project is working with the National Auto Dealers Association as well as other motor vehicle-related organizations to secure more airtime.
Kirk Hokanson of Voodoo Films, Minneapolis, executive produced “Bleep,” with Julie Hartley serving as producer. The DP was Pat Hall. Hartley and Hokanson teamed with members of the Minnesota production community to form the Sean Francis Foundation several years ago.
Kevin James of Post Facto, Minneapolis, was offline editor. Steve Medine of Pixel Farm, Minneapolis, was online editor. Colorist was Dave Sweet of Pixel Farm. Graphics artist was John Shirts of Voodoo Films.
Audio post mixers were Ken Chastain of Pixel Music, Minneapolis, and Jefferson Fee of Wow & Flutter, Minneapolis.
Principal actors were Joe Lovitt, Wendy Hinz and Brent Braunschweig.
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