Viral Marketing...
I got a video clip of an ad created by Ogilvy & Mather (they do that real cool IBM Linux ad with the little boy...) from a friend. It wasn't meant (supposedly) to be released. Yet it seems to be another "viral marketing" ploy...that went screwy...more...
"Ford says the clip was conceived without its approval by ad agency Ogilvy & Mather as part of a ``viral marketing'' campaign for the Sportka. ``Viral marketing,'' a type of e-mail marketing, is the electronic version of word of mouth, usually inviting recipients to forward an e-mail to others.
`We find this unauthorized ad totally unacceptable and reprehensible and deplore the fact that it has been unofficially issued,'' Ford spokesman Oscar Suris said."
Ogilvy & Mather's take on it...
"Viral Video Clip
Viral marketing, if leaked without permission, can be like a contagious disease. Silently transmitted and virtually uncontrollable, it can create unintended distress. On April 1, an unapproved viral advertisement featuring a Ford Sportka car was leaked onto the internet and began to be transmitted by email around the world. This "advertisement" was not approved for release and was not sanctioned by either Ogilvy or our client Ford.
The action in the video clip was totally computer generated, and we would like to assure you that no animal was harmed in its making.
Ogilvy and Ford of Europe deeply regret that this unapproved and unofficial video clip was accidentally released and apologize for any offense it has caused."
Ok, the clip in question...not for sqeamish cat lovers...
994 KB MPEG
edit: guess you got to download it to play it?
Comments? I'll make mine after you all oggle it...
"Ford says the clip was conceived without its approval by ad agency Ogilvy & Mather as part of a ``viral marketing'' campaign for the Sportka. ``Viral marketing,'' a type of e-mail marketing, is the electronic version of word of mouth, usually inviting recipients to forward an e-mail to others.
`We find this unauthorized ad totally unacceptable and reprehensible and deplore the fact that it has been unofficially issued,'' Ford spokesman Oscar Suris said."
Ogilvy & Mather's take on it...
"Viral Video Clip
Viral marketing, if leaked without permission, can be like a contagious disease. Silently transmitted and virtually uncontrollable, it can create unintended distress. On April 1, an unapproved viral advertisement featuring a Ford Sportka car was leaked onto the internet and began to be transmitted by email around the world. This "advertisement" was not approved for release and was not sanctioned by either Ogilvy or our client Ford.
The action in the video clip was totally computer generated, and we would like to assure you that no animal was harmed in its making.
Ogilvy and Ford of Europe deeply regret that this unapproved and unofficial video clip was accidentally released and apologize for any offense it has caused."
Ok, the clip in question...not for sqeamish cat lovers...
994 KB MPEG
edit: guess you got to download it to play it?
Comments? I'll make mine after you all oggle it...
Comments
marketing GENIUS!
and i thought the ad was hilarious, but they'd never be able to run it primetime.
read post then click link...
where is the blood?
why don't they sell them in the US?
-Neø
Originally posted by Neø
the car looks cool
why don't they sell them in the US?
-Neø
because americans rate cars on size. that piece of shit wouldn't last five minutes when it is being run down by a golf or even an original mini cooper....
Originally posted by Neø
the car looks cool
why don't they sell them in the US?
-Neø
Because there would be an angry cat-lover in a Hummer who would turn the driver of it into a speed bump?
I thought the ad is disgusting and stupid.
In no way does this advertise anything but stupidity and cruelty. Who would buy this car if they saw this ad? Why even think up something like this?
I hope that Ogilvy & Mather is saying the truth that this was an unfortunate mistake. But still, its more or less Ford's money (1/4 million, if you figure in the 3D CG animation work) that went into this ad and I think...I hope they drop Ogilvy & Mather like a rock.
Viral marketing has great advantages and can work in promoting a product. This definately ain't it. The creators of this should be fired. This should never have gone past the storyboard phase.
Oh, and I will say that after I saw and riden in one of those cars (& the Coop) in London...they are awesome...at least for urban transportation. Especially in London were roads tend to squeeze down to 5-6 feet in width (parking too). Of course these cars would be pregnant roller skates compared to the fat bottomed owners of SUVs...
They had to send a camera crew out to shoot the plate of the car. The shot was art-directed, the set was landscaped and the car was positioned to-camera. The cat was instructed by a trainer, the CG work was done by someone, the sound effects and atmospherics were added. The graphics were created and the copy was written.
If it was made and then nixed, then somebody leaked it. Maybe as a portfolio piece, maybe out of spite.....but somebody should take the fall, publicly.
This isn't a simple mistake.
This is the kind of ad that the competition should create to run virally to take down their competitors. It's sickening, it's violent and it could open up the client (Ford) to litigation by organizations like PETA and individuals.
Thanks for the link Artman, interesting to know the scuttlebutt in the ad world.
Originally posted by drewprops
If it was made and then nixed, then somebody leaked it. Maybe as a portfolio piece, maybe out of spite.....but somebody should take the fall, publicly.
This isn't a simple mistake.
It may have been a leaked portfolio piece? I not sure. I went to http://www.eviltwin.co.uk/ and there's nothing there...but it does link to another site...whatever...it's wrong and unprofessional to whatever the ad is from.
It irks me that ad agencies and their creators consider themselves "professional" and then you see them produce something like this...idiots.
WTF.
That ad was bloody hilarious, and smart!
What's wrong with you people? I can't say I'm dissapointed. The folks at PETA can go hug a tree, or sit on a dried sapling stump for all I care. If they're offended, good. They deserve nothing less.
[i]"xxx Car insurance. Because women drive too."[i]
Now like this one, it's pretty funny and pretty well done, but i can't see how it will sell.
Originally posted by alcimedes
and the virus spreads......
marketing GENIUS!
and i thought the ad was hilarious, but they'd never be able to run it primetime.
Sure they could, just as long as they dont show jannet jacksons tit.
the ad was great, but they would probably never be able to run it in the USA (not that they would as that model isnt sold here) Because of the nut-ball peta freaks....did they ever consider that the lettus screams when you chop off the top of it's head?
Originally posted by Matsu
Sunday morning, after a weekend of non-stop work, looking forward to a few hours of relaxation before I head off to work again, and I wake up to this?
WTF.
That ad was bloody hilarious, and smart!
What's wrong with you people? I can't say I'm dissapointed. The folks at PETA can go hug a tree, or sit on a dried sapling stump for all I care. If they're offended, good. They deserve nothing less.
This is what I'm talking about. This is why it was probably it went beyond the storyboard. This is not good advertising. When I first watched it I was stunned. Then after a few more viewings (and knowing that the cat isn't real of course) I tended to get the joke. But when you promote a product you wish to appeal to a mass audience (a targeted audience at times, but with automobiles you want to send a broader message). This only appeals to people with a sick sense of humor. I couldn't care a less what PETA would think of it...I'D CARE WHAT CAT OWNERS WOULD THINK OF IT THOUGH.
================================================== ==
PET CAT POPULATIONS AND OWNERSHIP DATA
================================================== ==
# CATS %HOUSEHOLDS NOTES
m = million w/ CATS
=======================+============+============= ==
EUROPE 47 m
-----------------------+------------+--------------
AUSTRALIA 3 m 25%
-----------------------+------------+---------------
JAPAN 7 - 8 m 10.7%
-----------------------+------------+---------------
UK 7.5 ? 9 m 25%
-----------------------+------------+---------------
CANADA 4.5 m 38%
-----------------------+------------+---------------
MEXICO 14 m
-----------------------+------------+---------------
SPAIN 3 m
-----------------------+------------+---------------
SWEDEN 1.3 m 21%
-----------------------+------------+---------------
NEW ZEALAND .9 ? 1.5 m 47%
-----------------------+------------+--------------
GERMANY 7 m 14%
-----------------------+------------+--------------
BRAZIL 11 m 2003
6.6 m 1997 FAS
-----------------------+------------+--------------
AUSTRIA 1.5 M 2000 FAS
1.4 m 27% 2002 VOEK
-----------------------+------------+--------------
SWITZERLAND 1.2 m 35%
-----------------------+------------+--------------
HUNGARY 1.9 m
-----------------------+------------+--------------
COSTA RICA 15%
-----------------------+------------+--------------
POLAND 14%
-----------------------+------------+--------------
NETHERLANDS 21%
-----------------------+------------+--------------
47 million people in Europe (where this ad was created for) wouldn't like this ad. That says enough. Stats
gleaned here.
I wouldn't want to offend 47 million people in selling a product...would you?
Originally posted by Artman @_@
I wouldn't want to offend 47 million people in selling a product...would you?
1) Not all cat owners would be offended.
2) No sh*t sherlock, why do you think the ad didn't make television?
Originally posted by Barto
1) Not all cat owners would be offended.
2) No sh*t sherlock, why do you think the ad didn't make television?
Of course I know it never made it. It did make the viral path though...and bombed disasterously. Point cleared, made and thread done...no use beating a dead cat.
Who is ready to buy an evil car ?
Who is ready to buy an evil car ?
yes, who indeed.....
Originally posted by Artman @_@
I'D CARE WHAT CAT OWNERS WOULD THINK OF IT THOUGH.
================================================== ==
PET CAT POPULATIONS AND OWNERSHIP DATA
================================================== ==
# CATS %HOUSEHOLDS NOTES
m = million w/ CATS
=======================+============+============= ==
-----------------------+------------+---------------
NEW ZEALAND .9 ? 1.5 m 47%
-----------------------+------------+--------------
From the biggest cat loving nation, and a cat lover myself, thought it was hilarous.
NB: Cat lover in a non-sexual way