We open outside of a tobacco company with two young adults setting jugs labeled “benzene,” “arsenic” and “cyanide” (among other dangerous chemicals) on a table; all are ingredients found in cigarettes. One teen suggests that “with so many poisons in cigarettes, it’s like these tobacco companies hate us or something.” The other youth shakes his head and responds that it could be something else; it could be that the tobacco companies “love us. It’s just, like… Tough Love.”
At that point the two youths, joined by tough-looking animated cupids, break into a song and dance routine sarcastically extolling the many ways Big Tobacco shows its “Tough Love” to smokers. The two original youths then strip away their clothes to reveal skeleton costumes. Joining in the musical interlude are people in wheelchairs, hooked up to respirators–symbolizing the toll tobacco use takes on people’s health. The song’s lyrics point out that there’s no better way to build character through tough love than to see loved ones die.
“Tough Love”–for which there are :60 and :30 versions–was directed by Tom Kuntz of bicoastal/international MJZ for agencies Arnold, Boston, and Crispin Porter+Bogusky, Miami.
Kate Sutherland produced for MJZ. The DP was Bryan Newman. Choreographer was John Carrafa.
Animation directors were Saul Blinkoff and Elliot Bour of Curious Pictures, New York.
Tom Scherma of bicoastal Cosmo Street edited “Tough Love.”
Flame artist/colorist was Dave Waller of Brickyard VFX, Boston.
Music producer/composer was independent artist David Yazbek. Co-music producers/arrangers were Peter Lurye and Bob Golden.
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