By Millie Takaki
This :60 takes us to the Leavenworth Maximum Security Prison in the year 2070. A defense attorney identifies himself to a security guard. "A lawyer," says the guard. "He always wants to see lawyers."
The guard escorts the attorney through the prison catacombs to meet his mysterious client. The lawyer questions the guard, trying to get a better handle on the defendant. Walking through stark white corridors and then taking an escalator down to the bowels of the prison, the attorney gets bits of info and tries to piece them together. We too are drawn into the game of attempting to identify this alleged criminal mastermind.
"What is he? A drug dealer? Drunk driver? Murderer?" asks the lawyer.
"He killed eleven thousand people a day," responds the guard.
"That’s impossible," says the lawyer in disbelief, looking at a portable video screen with graphic images of the prisoner’s victims.
"He liked them young, thirteen to fourteen. Fed them poison loaded with an addictive drug; seduced them, lured them in. The poison ate away their bodies but the drug kept their brains hooked on it. When they got too old or died, he just went after other kids," explains the guard.
"Who caught him?" the lawyer queries.
"Don’t know," says the guard. "I guess someone finally figured it all out."
The lawyer appears puzzled. "How’d he get away with it for so long?"
"He ran a tobacco company," discloses the guard, who slides open a window on the door of a solitary confinement prison cell which reveals the tobacco executive. The spot ends with a supered graphic citing the aforementioned daily death toll of 11,000.
Shot on location in Los Angeles, the commercial provides a visually and mentally intriguing message. And it offers a bit of speculation on justice in the future—that tobacco executives may, as individuals, be held criminally responsible for their actions.
This anti-smoking PSA was conceived by Jackson, Miss.-based Maris, West & Baker Advertising, for client The Partnership For A Healthy Mississippi. The agency creative ensemble included creative director Eric Hughes, senior art director Kelsey Rickenbaker and copywriter Marc Leffler.
"Prisoner" was directed and shot by Ken Fox of bicoastal Villains. Robin Benson and Charlotte Inman served as executive producer and producer, respectively, for Villains.
The spot was edited by the mono-monikered Einar of Harley’s House Editorial, Santa Monica. Assistant editor was Charlie Sange. Online editor was Michael Blackburn, also of Harley’s House. Alex Brodie of Base 2, Santa Monica, served as Henry effects artist. John Bolen of Eleven, Santa Monica, was the audio mixer.
Microsoft Report Says Efforts By Russia, Iran and China To Sway U.S. Voters May Escalate
Foreign adversaries have shown continued determination to influence the U.S. election –- and there are signs their activity will intensify as Election Day nears, Microsoft said in a report Wednesday.
Russian operatives are doubling down on fake videos to smear Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign, while Chinese-linked social media campaigns are maligning down-ballot Republicans who are critical of China, the company's threat intelligence arm said Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Iranian actors who allegedly sent emails aimed at intimidating U.S. voters in 2020 have been surveying election-related websites and major media outlets, raising concerns they could be preparing for another scheme this year, the tech giant said.
The report serves as a warning – building on others from U.S. intelligence officials – that as the nation enters this critical final stretch and begins counting ballots, the worst influence efforts may be yet to come. U.S. officials say they remain confident that election infrastructure is secure enough to withstand any attacks from American adversaries. Still, in a tight election, foreign efforts to influence voters are raising concern.
Microsoft noted that some of the disinformation campaigns it tracks received little authentic engagement from U.S. audiences, but others have been amplified by unwitting Americans, exposing thousands to foreign propaganda in the final weeks of voting.
Russia, China and Iran have all rejected claims that they are seeking to meddle with the U.S. election.
"The presidential elections are the United States' domestic affairs. China has no intention and will not interfere in the US election," the Chinese Embassy said in a statement.
"Having already unequivocally and... Read More