The eloquence and elegance of jazz music stands out in the absence of spoken words and in the presence of scenes showing the devastation in New Orleans caused by Hurricane Katrina. Imagery of musicians playing their instruments–including a trumpet, saxophone, bass and clarinet—amidst hard hit areas and juxtaposed with glimpses of the destruction drive home the point that a new hurricane season is in the offing and we need to be prepared.
Indeed tragedy can strike at any time and in many places. Supered messages relate, “Experts predict another bad hurricane season. And they say devastating flooding could happen to your home. If you haven’t listened to them, listen to us. Floods can happen anywhere.”
The sponsor’s identity is then revealed to us–the National Flood Insurance Program–accompanied by a toll free phone number and a Web site address (FloodSmart.gov/listen).
Titled “No Words,” the spot was directed by James Gartner of Santa Monica-based GARTNER for JWT, Atlanta. Rich Carter and Don Block executive produced for GARTNER, with Roger Petrusson serving as producer. The DP was Tom Olgeirsson who shot on location in New Orleans.
The JWT ensemble consisted of creative director Carl Warner, art director Isolbel Moutrey, copywriter Denise Rosenstein and producer Sarah Zehnie.
Editor was Michael Saia of Jump, New York. Dee Tagert was Jump’s exec producer. William Zitser was assistant editor. Bradley Warren of Manic, New York, was the music editor for the live performances.
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