By Millie Takaki
The worldwide Web is also the “world-wild” Web with a no-holds-barred credo translating into exposure for certain spots that couldn’t get past television censors. In fact it’s safe to say that two of the three commercials in a FullTiltPoker.com campaign wouldn’t gain clearance for air on traditional TV.
But with the creative freedom afforded by Internet-only play, all three ads–directed by Steve Eshelman of Crossroads Films, bicoastal, Chicago and London, for U.K. agency Clemmow Hornby Inge–are thriving on the Web, using humor, some a bit risqué and sophomoric, to connect with audiences.
The tamest of the three opens with a slice of family life as parents and their young daughter are seated on a couch, watching TV together. The doorbell rings. The teenage girl starts to get up to answer–but the dad stops her and heads for the door. The action freeze frames for a moment to identify the father, Erik Seidel, via a super. The spot then resumes to find him at the door, which he opens to reveal the visitor–an older teen to punker-type with multiple facial and body piercings. The visitor’s motorcycle is parked in the background.
“Hey man–your daughter Amy in?”
“I haven’t got a daughter,” bluffs Seidel.
Undaunted, the punker asks, “How about your wife?”
“Single,” responds the dad in a matter-of-fact manner.
Still undeterred, the chopper-driving dude asks, “You busy?”
“Very,” replies the father.
Seidel is then identified as “One of the best poker faces in the world.”
Indeed his deadpan lying is evidence that in the poker world he is the consummate bluffer. A voiceover and accompanying text on screen then relate, “Some of the best poker professionals in the world play on FullTiltPoker.com. Learn, chat and play with the pros.”
Titled “Erik,” this spot could likely pass censor muster. However, it’s companion :30s, “John” and “Phil,” would not. The latter shows poker pro Phil Ivey return home to find his wife in bed with another man. She is clearly enjoying herself. However the entire time Phil maintains a poker face. His facial expression doesn’t even change when another man enters the bedroom and tells him, “Hey buddy, back of the line.”
Indeed Phil Ivey is one of the great poker faces in the world–and he’s a pro on FullTiltPoker.com.
As for “John,” we find renowned poker player John Juanda trapped in a small elevator with two men who are in the foreground. Unfortunately for Juanda, his elevator companions decide to engage in a farting contest. All the while Juanda keeps his stoic, perhaps breath-holding, poker face.
The core team at Clemmow Hornby Inge consists of creatives Paul Belord and Nigel Roberts, and producer Enca Kaul.
Carole Hughes executive produced for Crossroads, with Meg Matthews serving as producer. The spots were shot on location in Los Angeles by DP Ted Chu.
Editor was Rachel Spann of The Quarry, London. Colorist was Paul Harrison of The Mill, London, Rich Betts and Leon Woods of The Mill were Flame artists, with Ben Hampshire in the role of post producer.
Composers were Ben Lord and Robin Datta of Music Productions, London.
Alec Baldwin Urges Judge To Stand By Dismissal Of Involuntary Manslaughter Case In “Rust” Shooting
Alec Baldwin urged a New Mexico judge on Friday to stand by her decision to skuttle his trial and dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against the actor in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of a Western movie.
State District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case against Baldwin halfway through a trial in July based on the withholding of evidence by police and prosecutors from the defense in the 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust."
The charge against Baldwin was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it can't be revived once any appeals of the decision are exhausted.
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey recently asked the judge to reconsider, arguing that there were insufficient facts and that Baldwin's due process rights had not been violated.
Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer on "Rust," was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal when it went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer — but not the trigger — and the revolver fired.
The case-ending evidence was ammunition that was brought into the sheriff's office in March by a man who said it could be related to Hutchins' killing. Prosecutors said they deemed the ammunition unrelated and unimportant, while Baldwin's lawyers alleged that they "buried" it and filed a successful motion to dismiss the case.
In her decision to dismiss the Baldwin case, Marlowe Sommer described "egregious discovery violations constituting misconduct" by law enforcement and prosecutors, as well as false testimony about physical evidence by a witness during the trial.
Defense counsel says that prosecutors tried to establish a link... Read More