As I watched a rare commercial break this morning – I record just about everything I watch and fast-forward through the commercials – I was truly impressed with some photographic magic. A fresh-faced, well-scrubbed young teen-age boy came on the screen to tell me about the problems drugs can cause a guy. As he explained what they do to the brain, his face morphed seamlessly into a scraggly bearded, unkempt, troubled youth. As I said, it was seamless. And, the video trick did not distract from the message; it enhanced it.
This type of video art made me reflect on how advertisers could cut way down on people fast-forwarding through commercials by doing more of it. In other words, give the viewer something artistic and/or entertaining to watch. Some do.
The very effective Aflac duck commercial is a prime example. That one is quite expensive to make so not every advertiser can afford something like it. However, much lower-budgeted commercials can also be artistic and entertaining. Some of you may remember from many years ago the two local seniors advertising Southern Maid No-burn Bacon. At the end of their verbal sparring, one would always end with, “He’ll never learn.” A lot of folks laughed at those commercials and bought that bacon.
Tags: Aflac, Aflac duck, commercials, TV, TV commercials
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