Recycling TV Ads 296
Makarand writes "According to this article in the Denver Post a young entrepreneur has gotten into the business
of
recycling junked TV commercials
for clients with low budgets. TV ads cost anywhere between
$50,000 and $1 million and small businesses usually cannot afford an original production. The company,
Thought Equity, wipes off all references to the
earlier company and makes the junked commerical ready for reselling with a price tag less than
$10,000.
Also businesses that want their ads on the air as soon as possible are approaching the company
seeking recycled ads because producing original ads takes time."
meow mix (Score:3, Funny)
Re:meow mix (Score:2)
Ok, first edit out the cat, and photoshop in the penguin, and we have it sing,
"li li, li li, liNUX!"
Makes you realize... (Score:5, Interesting)
Recycle *Old* Ads? (Score:5, Interesting)
And in some cases, adverts are recycled from pop-culture, current affairs, and famous events. Tons of adverts barely even feature the product in question. Should anyone remember the product the old advert was selling, there could be some interesting humourous cut-and-paste opportunities in the offing....
Re:Recycle *Old* Ads? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Recycle *Old* Ads? (Score:2, Informative)
obviously you do speak english there(that the yank is also speaking, even if it's different dialect).
however there's lots of shit commercials over here in finland about products like soaps, hair care & etc that have been voiceovered into speaking finnish, some very badly too.
it would hardly matter i
Re:Recycle *Old* Ads? (Score:2)
Every time I hear one the only message it gives me is "Fuck you Australia, we don't even care enough about you to hire a cheap local voice actor, buy something or not, who gives a shit?"
All the other American fast food companies either produce local ads, or at least redub them.
Re:Recycle *Old* Ads? (Score:4, Interesting)
I don't mind when the ads look expensive, but when its something stupid like two women talking about dishwashing liquid thats a different matter. How come the local transmission specialist can put more effort into his ads in a regional city of 150,000 people, than a multinational company advertising nationwide.
The funny thing about the Subway ads are that we didn't get all the early Jared ads, so the only reason we know about him is because of the SouthPark sendup. I can just picture the executives seeing Jareds exposure through SouthPark as a good reason to bring his ads out to Australia.
Re:Recycle *Old* Ads? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Recycle *Old* Ads? (Score:2)
That's because saying you lost 20 pounds sounds more impressive than saying you lost 10 kilos. Duh!
Re:Recycle *Old* Ads? (Score:4, Funny)
Oviously you fix the ad to say "This fat prick just lost 10,000 grams eating hoagies, and you could to!"
Ten Thousand is a pretty big number
Re:Recycle *Old* Ads? (Score:3, Funny)
I've noticed this too. Nearly every car commercial I see has printed down the bottom in itty-bitty letters "overseas model shown". Uhhh... what's the point of showing it to me if it's not the model I can buy?
YLFIRe:Makes you realize... (Score:4, Funny)
Yeah, when I lived in England, you could always spot the ones coming from Germany; not only was the dubbing appalling, but the fake tan gave away the game every single time. Orange skin? No thanks, Hans, I don't want your chocolate egg with a surprising plastic toy cunningly hidden in the centre...
Generic ads aren't new (Score:2, Interesting)
I've seen the same ad in different regions in the US where the only difference is the announcer who fills in the blank.
Re:Makes you realize... (Score:2)
Re:Makes you realize... (Score:2, Insightful)
What they're trying to get you to buy then, isn't the product, but the advertising. I'd prefer it if they spent more time making the product/service better or informing us what it can do for us.
nothing new (Score:5, Funny)
Re:nothing new (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:nothing new (Score:4, Funny)
Now, when I was a kid I had no idea, but it's blatantly obvious now...
Dell Commercial (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Dell Commercial (Score:5, Funny)
DUDE, you're getting a boner.
Re:Dell Commercial (Score:5, Funny)
(much faster voice)"Possible side effects include extreme flatulence, delusions, uncontrollable swearing, and growth of a third arm. You should not take this medication while children are present. Tell your doctor if you experience dizziness, heartburn, or become president of the united states."
Re:Dell Commercial (Score:2)
Third arm? I think Viagra only gives you a third leg. But that's not a side effect; that just means it's working.
Re:Dell Commercial (Score:2, Funny)
Viagra ad featuring Feiss (Score:5, Funny)
mirror (Score:2, Informative)
A young Denver entrepreneur is creating buzz in advertising circles by turning a profit from junked TV commercials.
Kevin Schaff recycles ads that cost anywhere from $50,000 to more than $1 million to produce, pitching them on the cheap to small businesses that can't afford the costly brainstorming, writing, filming, actors and editing that original productions require.
Schaff's company, Thought Equity, gives small companies access to top creative talent without the he
Re:mirror (Score:2, Funny)
Half an hour after your post, there is not the slightest evidence of the site being slashdotted.
There is, however, evidence that you are a troll. Go away.
I can just imagine... (Score:5, Funny)
Ultimate ad secret (Score:5, Funny)
2) Recycle this ad to sell anything from breakfast cereals to Pentium-4 chips
3) Profit !!
Re:Ultimate ad secret (Score:5, Interesting)
It's also beautiful in a philosophical sense, it just really shows how far our ads have drifted from the actual point of an ad, which I suppose is to say something about the product.
I think it's all going to depend on this: "The key is how many clients are small enough and isolated enough and sophisticated enough to know they are isolated and still be willing to do this?"
And also their media partners [thoughtequity.com]. They listed Comcast, Collegiate Images and Index stock on the home page. If they've got enough cash behind them, it's likely that the legal issues will be negotiable.
Incidentally, can anyone find a clip of that beer commercial where they're making fun of the fact that they can't actually drink beer on television?
Re:Ultimate ad secret (Score:2, Interesting)
In the UK we quite often get to watch some lucky b'stard making a meal of a condensation covered aluminium can of the most ice cold delicious yellow lager poured into a pre-chilled glass and left in a humid room just long enough for the girl in the commercial to disrobe and offer up her body to the guy who is about to drink the beer and then take the woman....
Wait.. I had a point.. We get to see beer being drunk on TV in England.
Ad for Keanu Reeves movie #1000324 (Score:3, Funny)
This is your server.. (Score:5, Funny)
*cracks egg*
(Sorry.. too obvious?)
Sometimes I get that not-so-fresh feeling (Score:4, Funny)
this reminds me of... (Score:5, Funny)
The Simpsons Kamp Krusty episode [snpp.com], when 'Mr Black' was dubbed over Krusty's voice in the video.
Krusty: (on TV) Hi Kids! Welcome to Kamp Krusty! Hoo huh hoo heh ha heh! I'll see you in a few weeks! Until then, I turn things over to my bestest buddy in the whole wide world, Mr. Black . I want you to treat Mr. Black with the same respect you would give me. Now here's Mr. Black
Re:this reminds me of... (Score:4, Interesting)
I wish I owned the company that made that ad for 20 grand and sold it to 50 law firms for 10 grand.
-B
Re:this reminds me of... (Score:2, Insightful)
Which personal injury law firms, other than Glaser & Ebbs [glaserebbs.com] of Indiana, use that one?
That explains the commerical that was just on: (Score:3, Funny)
Desire.
Obsession.
From Calvin-Klein^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^HBob's Discount Perfumatorium
Hmm.. (Score:5, Insightful)
When people use stock photos in ads they generally photoshop in other junk, but with tv commercials being so expensive I'm going to expect a lot of identical commercials with different names tacked on the end. After all, it's targeted to those with low budgets.
That ad *was* recycled... (Score:5, Funny)
At least it failed - no self-respecting Aussie drinks Fosters, then or now:)
Re:Hmm.. (Score:3, Informative)
RTFA. These are ads that were made but never used by the original client. Ergo nobody will find them familiar (except the film crew).
international reselling (Score:3, Insightful)
Already happens... (Score:3, Informative)
In most cases, the lip-synching is slightly out, meaning that the ad was probably filmed in English but originally shot overseas somewhere (US, Australia, etc). Companies that have done this include Coca-Cola for Diet Coke, Just For Men hair colourant and, ridiculously, a hair product for women that dubbed out Andie McDowell's beautiful southern
Re:international reselling (Score:3, Interesting)
I'm just imagining how popular a particular Dutch ad I once saw
Re:international reselling (Score:2)
Yeah, sure, that'll work (Score:5, Funny)
Nah, that won't work
Re:Yeah, sure, that'll work (Score:2)
Dinky on the floor: "Yeah, drop the unlicensed install CD."
They're not talking about used ads. (Score:5, Informative)
I work at an advertising agency (I know, I know) and one of the most interesting things about it is to see how much money is wasted writing, editing, and producing ads that never see the light of day because the client thinks it's too edgy, or doesn't like blue carpet, or thinks the whole campaign is a bad idea because his sister told him so.
At the end of all this, there are hundreds of commercials that are brilliantly done and well-produced - that you've never, ever seen. Many are probably edgier and more interesting than anything you've ever seen as a television ad.
I'd be interested to see what these turn out to be!
It's been done... "Your Name Here" (Score:5, Interesting)
http://www.archive.org/movies/movies-details-db
Re:It's been done... "Your Name Here" (Score:3, Funny)
Great (Score:5, Funny)
Makes sense (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Makes sense (Score:2, Insightful)
Mmm, this isn't a new development, really, people have been commenting on it at least as far back as the followers of Epicurius.
Sadly, I can't remember any of the details, but one of his followers at once point started something like a counter-advertising campaign, involving a giant run of stone inscribed with epicurean ideas deposited into the middle of the market place, writ large with slogans like 'Buying these things will not mak
I've been doing the same thing... (Score:4, Funny)
Ridiculous (Score:2)
I remember "I'd like to buy the world a Coke" or "Where's the beef?" or "Please don't squeeze the Sharman." Swap out the product or company name and people still remember the original.
I'm surprised (apparently?) that ad agencies own the advertisements being produced.
Re:Ridiculous (Score:2, Insightful)
No one's talking about using long-running, successful campaigns. They're talking about using campaigns the clients have rejected, the campaigns and ads that end up on the cutting room floor (which almost happened to "where's the beef" and "I'd like to buy the world a Coke", incidentally).
This is a great, cost effective way for ad agencies to generate revenue even with the ads that don't end up used - and a good way for creative departments to use their more innovative ads that
Re:Ridiculous (Score:2)
So would I.
But I don't think that's what's going on here. They are mostly recycling ads that have never been used. Ads that were produced but either weren't used by the client, or for whatever reason never made it to the general public.
I don't think you'll hear anyone saying "I'd like to buy the world a Pepsi" or "Please don't squeeze the Quilted Northern". Remember, those companies own the rights to the slogans and likely the ads themselv
Here's one I made earlier.. (Score:2)
Actors getting paid again? (Score:4, Interesting)
Wonder if the kung-fu guys knew their work was being reused years later. Whatever the original actors' contract said, it's certainly unfair to "re-purpose" these ads for additional advertisers without additional compensation. Wonder what SAG or AFTRA would have to say.
Re:Actors getting paid again? (Score:5, Informative)
A similar example - I wrote a chapter for a computer book a couple of years ago, and was paid per-page for the work I did. I found out a year or so later that they (the publishing company) had re-used my chapter in a newer edition of the book (Solaris 9 cert study guide versus the Sol8 one I wrote for) . However, that was well within their right, as it was a work-for-hire and they owned all rights to what I'd produced and could do what they wanted with it.
Re:Actors getting paid again? (Score:5, Informative)
Actually, it does matter. I am a former board member at SAG, and I was on the negotiating team for the last TV and Theatrical contract. I know most of the people who negotiated our Commercial contract, and I've been a member of the union for over 25 years.
Our contracts are really clear about this sort of thing. While the ad agency may own the creative rights to the commercial, if the ad was produced by a signatory agency, using union actors, the agency has to go back and renegotiate with the actors if they hope to "repurpose" the ad. Usually, this results in the actors getting a "buy out" for a certain number of cycles and markets. My mom just went through this with a commercial she did over a year ago, that the agency is bringing back next month.
This protection is one of the many benefits SAG and AFTRA members have. I used to do improv with this girl who was in an AOL commercial. I don't reacall what it was about, but it ran almost every break, nationally and on cable, a few years ago. She wasn't in the union, and did the spot as a non-union hire. She got a "buy out" from the agency . . . for 500 dollars. Had it been a SAG job, she would have made more than that for the session fee, and at least ten times that on residuals. As it ended up, that one day's worth of work really hurt her, because those geniuses at all the ad agencies immediately labled her "The AOL Girl," and wouldn't hire her for anything else.
A similar example - I wrote a chapter for a computer book a couple of years ago, and was paid per-page for the work I did. I found out a year or so later that they (the publishing company) had re-used my chapter in a newer edition of the book (Solaris 9 cert study guide versus the Sol8 one I wrote for) . However, that was well within their right, as it was a work-for-hire and they owned all rights to what I'd produced and could do what they wanted with it.
The comparison you made between writing work and SAG work is interesting, but it's really not valid. That comparison would apply more toward something the work I did on TNG. While I "created" Wesley Crusher, and my likeness is inextricably linked with him, if Paramount wants to write "The Adventures Of Wesley Crusher At Star Fleet Academy" as a series of books for kids, they can do that, and I they don't owe me a cent. They own the character the same way the company you wrote for owns your work. If they want to sell an action figure that's clearly my likeness, they have to pay me royalties on that. (But, since it's Paramount, I usually end up with
RTFA (warning) (Score:2)
All the more reason to get unionized if you go into that line of work.
Re:who cares? (Score:2)
Whoa!
Somebody get this AC some caffine.
Re:who cares? (Score:2)
You don't get a dime everyone uses a program you wrote because either you're not trying to sell your programs that way, or they're not good enough to sell that way. Microsoft, however, is definitely headed in that direction...
Aside from the typically fashionable Anti-MICROS~1 flame, this is a lot different. Someone is using your output, but in commercials, someone is using you, at least in the form of your likeness. You are being used to sell whatever. You might not have a say about whether or not the m
Re:Actors getting paid again? (Score:2)
Right there in the friggin' article.
read the article. (Score:2)
Thought Equity gets agreement from any and all parties to get exclusive worldwide distribution rights, Schaff said. Thought Equity also doesn't use ads featuring actors who belong to the Screen Actors Guild.
Re:read the article. (Score:2)
Yes, contractually it may be a work-for-hire. But it's not right to re-use this for an entirely new client as an entirely new ad. The actors knew they were doing a spot for "client X". They wouldn't have had any idea that they also might be doing the same work for clients Y and Z.
Re:read the article. (Score:2)
that reminds me (Score:2, Funny)
I just saw one of those: (Score:2)
enterprise server.
TAnother option... (Score:2)
This is also better in that customers would see it as a 'new' commercial rather than associate it with the old product...
I can see it now... a commercial for bug spray being mophed into a commercial for hair spray.
Of course, it might cost a little m
I can see it now... (Score:5, Funny)
Young woman: Mom, can I ask you a personal question?
Older woman: Sure dear, what?
Young woman: Have you ever...you know...felt LIKE USING AOL?
Older woman: Oh my goodness. Yes dear, there have been times like that, times when I wasn't feeling so fresh. That's why I always trust EARTHLINK. You see, EARTHLINK gives me back that clean feeling.
Young woman: Really mother? How does it work?
Older woman: You simply insert the EARTHLINK applicator into your CDROM DRIVE and let it cleanse and soothe your COMPUTER.
Yound woman: Wow mom, that sounds like just what I need, where can I get EARTHLINK?
Older woman: I have some right here in my purse!
(Laughter)
- JoeShmoe
.
Which ads to recycle? (Score:2, Funny)
I just hope the Miller Lite [millerbrewing.com]fountain wrestlers get used for EVERYTHING.
(I know the deal is reusing commercials that never got used, but this is more fun)
Aha! (Score:2, Funny)
For the ultimate in safety... choose Linux.
Re:Aha! (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Aha! (Score:2)
scripsit wed128:
What's more, it also works as an extremely effective contraceptive.
You can't get a girl pregnant if you never get laid.
*sigh* (Score:5, Informative)
This company is NOT re-using previously aired ads. They are taking ads that were filmed, but never aired, giving them a once over, then selling them. They are buying these ads off the company that filmed them. They are not ripping off other companies commercials, icons, or jingles. They are buying other companies rejects, improving them, then selling them.
Hmm... not really seeing this as a big money maker (Score:3, Informative)
In other words: If your client is buying airtime on broadcast television -- he's probably not going to nickel and dime you on the creative.
Second -- the really *choice* old spots are owned by the companies that paid for them -- even if they never aired. If a repurposed spot costs about $10k, it means the rights to the old footage cost far less than that. I can't imagine many big companies being interested in selling their old footage for small change like that...
And if its not a big company, the spot probably sucked anyway. So my guess is while this sounds like a new groovy digital rights marketplace, its probably full of dreck.
The trick to pissing in cornflakes, is not to hit the spoon.
-Popo
Re:Hmm... not really seeing this as a big money ma (Score:2, Insightful)
If a repurposed spot costs about $10k, it means the rights to the old footage cost far less than that. I can't imagine many big companies being interested in selling their old footage for small change like that...
Comparing $10,000 to $0 that's a large profit even if the ad is still being sold for less than it cost to make it. When a business has an unused resource if they can get any money for it there's a gain.
This isn't to say that 30 second commercials cost a lot to make. There is a very good film
$50000? (Score:2, Interesting)
Ok, how bout this then? (Score:2)
Hmm, so what about copyright issues on this? Do the companies that made the original commercials get any say in this matter? If you went through with that idea I'd imagine Apple would be pretty unhappy.
and here I've been fearing (Score:3, Interesting)
when what I should have been fearing is commercials that didn't make the cut??!!
This has already been done with industrial films (Score:4, Informative)
We already have form letters, form movies, and form music. Not surprising we get form commercials as well.
Re:This has already been done with industrial film (Score:2)
Black Art's sig:
Except that under feudalism, there is a two-way obligation. Property comes with obligation, both to the lord who granted it, and to the peasants who work it. Capitalism has no such restrictions on what you do with your property, and the corporation has no obligation to the consumer comparable to the lord's obligations to his peasants. Don't insult the memory of feudalism, please.
My concept (Score:4, Funny)
The ad...buy MS Longhorn.
Re: My concept (Score:2)
Just think. Back when that commercial was made, there was no nationwide wiretapping. No Patriot Act. No spam. No DRM.
Cool linux desktop commercial (Score:3, Informative)
In Microsoft version Gates and Steve driving around in the Golf and see a Sun server on the side of the road (thrown out as garbage) so they stop and pick it up only to realize it too stinks and they stop and drop it off and keep going. It was admittedly a funny parody.
The commercial however ends as the Golf turns a corner. I always thought a fitting end to commercial would be that as they turn the corner the car is completely obliterated by semi-truck at a high rate of speed which they evidently pulled out in front of and did not see. Then the last clip shows the inside of the cab of the truck with a penguin driving, jumping up and down wildly on the seat, while listening to Born to Wild playing at high volume.
Hot Sauce [slashdot.org] and more
Linux and Mozilla customer 5% smart cart discount
Re:Cool linux desktop commercial (Score:2)
Dilbert's take (Score:5, Funny)
Dilbert: "You stole the entire idea from our competitors ad."
Ad Exec: "Ok, so I guess you do understand the creative process."
~paraphrased from the Gruntmaster 6000 episode
These aren't effective ads (Score:3, Informative)
IANAAE (I am not an advertising executive) but I have to wonder how effective this type of advertising is. They are essentially comedy shorts that have little or nothing to do with the product, if it weren't for the tag line at the end you could "recycle" them to video as a package of skits.
As much as I hate to admit it I think that some annoying TV ads are more effective, I hate having to sit through another Jared Fogle Subway ad but when I'm looking for a quick lunch I feel less guilty about going to Subway because I know he lost a pile of weight eating it. I hate it but it works.
That being said I really do enjoy the "comedy" ads, Adcritic is sadly missed. My favorite is the one with the chick who's heading out on a date. After the guy opens the car door for her she gets in and rips a fart as he's going around to the driver's side door. When he gets in he introduces her to his friends that were in the backseat the whole time. Do you guys remember that one? Now do you remember what it was selling? Me neither.
Recycling old commercials... (Score:2, Funny)
advertisement [userfriendly.org]
DVD of ads (Score:3, Interesting)
Attorney ads have done this for years (Score:5, Interesting)
Then they use the trick that makes the ad reusable. The camera cuts away to a hilarious reaction shot as the attorney's name is matter-of-factly spoken.
"James Sokolov"
All the young attorneys suddenly look up, visibly shaken. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence the camera cuts back to the older lawyer who says:
"Uh. Let's settle this thing."
I've seen the same ad many times in different cities, always with a different lawyer's name. I've seen a few different versions with different actors and dialog. I always laugh when they get to the cutaway shot.
I find that if I say "Unfrozen Caveman Attorney" at the cutaway the reaction seems even funnier.
Re:Attorney ads have done this for years (Score:2)
Got a kick out of the Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer reference. Truly one of the brilliant concepts from SNL.
a good example of "ad reuse" (Score:2)
This happens in australia, dont know about anywhere else.
heh (Score:2)
Re:Middle man? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Geez (Score:2)
Re:Geez (Score:3, Funny)
Yes... because all the other ballet commercials I've seen are so... hilarious...
Re:Geez (Score:3, Insightful)
Did you read the article? I sure hope not.
The ballet ad was the original. It was the the ballet company that decided not to use it. This guy bought it and sold it to a Vo-Tech school in Wyoming. So, they replaced the Ballet Co's ending with this:
This actually seems to fit the ad - the ad shows kids fooling around. Young kids usually need some kind of education. Then it gives a name of the school. Really quite clever - a ballet company