WTF, who’s writing these?!?!?!!?!?!?
*sigh of relief*
I’m so getting a DVD of this documentary! While part of me wishes I could’ve done something more life-altering when I got laid off (actually, just departmentally transplanted), I’m observing maybe – purely on a pragmatic scale – there’s an age and career level threshold when these sort of flick-decisions happen.
Maybe I’m not there yet. Calling, where are you???
J’taime the website! J’taime the cause! J’taime the marketing! J’taime everything that Eric Proulx did! I’m simply moved (and I only saw the trailer and website).
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJltcT7DH7g&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1%5DTweeted this pic this afternoon (after the horrible Queen Station display). Atop the subway stairs at Eglinton Station, solid early-1900 shouts came out:
“30 million! 30 million! Git ‘yer Lotto 649 today! JHAAACKpot’s 30 million! Read all about it!…”
Wow.
The zombie commuters (myself included) awoke for a moment. The usual thing happened as in highway accidents. People slowed down and looked, some with smiles on their faces.
It was a little bit of theatre, like fresh air from the countryside. Not urban, kinda foreign, feels like an apparition. To think in 1910 this was their new media, this had social currency.
We’ve come a long way; but if there was one thing this showed me, it’s that the new zeitgeist is sometimes the opposite of the zeitgeist.
Actually the campaign itself is good. It does all the right things that every brand that has transcended its actual commodity does to transcend its actual commodity.
What’s stupid about it is the timing at which they chose to launch the campaign.
March 8-12, 2010 is International Women’s Day. And it seems Dockers has calculatedly placed their transit media in Queen Station conveniently – or caustically – at the same time.
Now I’m pretty sure them and their agency folk were thinking the polarity would create interest, I’m just not sure if they qualified the type of interest they wanted.
And purely because they contrived the media scheduling, I think the campaign is subversive, unguided, lukewarm and plain distasteful. As if there was a sudden deficit in messages celebrating manhood. I mean, aren’t beer companies still using frat humour and girls? Did no less than three deodorant advertisers, Gillette, Viagra and – uhm – ALL WHISKEY advertisers all push masculine gratification to the highest levels we’ve seen since 1957??? (Year irrelevant.)
Couldn’t this have waited Father’s Day (or Superbowl or, I don’t know, Octoberfest)?
It’s stupid.
On my way home, at 7:30pm (I had to cancel my hairsdid ‘coz work was just so interesting! No seriously, look at iSkin’s latest blog), I passed by the underground food court at Eglinton Centre (I think that’s what it’s called, on Yonge/Eglinton) and this greeted me from the row.
I forget the name of the chain – it’s the Thai outlet next to Manchu Wok (so much for top-of-mind recall)… Lemongrass!!!
I was simply captured.
It was about an hour into closing time and their brilliant tactic to sell dinner to the bustling crowd from the Eglinton Subway Station was to pre-pack their meals in styrofoam and display on the covered and emptied food trays.
So in effect there were about 4-6 pre-packed and, I think, slightly discounted meal combos ($7.38 w/ tax for two meats + one vegetable + pad thai/rice + they gave me a free spring roll): full, filling and “waiting to be snatched” (was what I thought in my head).
Can I just say????
What a brilliant idea.
I had to congratulate the cashier. Tomorrow I shall strike again.
Tastes like…
Sweet, creamy flavour contrasts fresh zest of tomato and cilantro. Light and refined Sur Angelica cheese neuters the punch of garlic.
*Onion soaked in Portugese olive oil for two days gave a carmelized flavour that complements the raisin in crackers.
Makes like…
I can’t believe TCM is showing – what I think is – all of Akira Kurosawa‘s movies this March! Excitedly Tweeted as Robert Osborne dictated the dates and schedules straight from my TV screen lol.
RT filmbuffs – TCM PRESENTS KUROSAWA FILMS: Showtimes (EST) 3/10, 9.30; 3/16, 8.00pm, 3/17, 1:15am, 3/27, 6am-8pm, 3/30, 8pm-1:45am!!!
Didn’t think I missed one though – until Kirk, tech and culture-buddy from Kitchener and co-ideaCity alumnus, commented that “Ran” was shown last weekend already.
Well guess what’s laying unopened in my DVD collection.
Thank you $3 bootleg hunt, Pacific Mall.
Minä kaipaan eskimo-ystävääni.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXv4CKwI7SU&hl=en_US&fs=1&%5D
Took a trip to The Bay to get myself one of those cheesy, hand-knit Canada sweaters that every Canadian athlete wore at the Closing Ceremonies and here’s an account of my experience:
Nonetheless, I happily snatched one away and just shut my eye as I hit ‘Chequing’.
THAT is what happens when you market your event right. I love my overpriced, cheesy, hand-knit Canada sweater!
Still high from the day’s jubilations. I’ve been surprising myself quite a lot lately – started by watching the Superbowl last month and now, well, to say I enjoyed watching the Olympics men’s hockey (and the other winter sports) is a real understatement.
It was bound to be a memorable event: the longest torch relay pass, the unfortunate death of the Georgian luger, the funny, head-scratching, only-in-Canada flukes of the opening ceremony, the death of the mother of a figure skater, the final Canada/US hockey (re)match which we eventually claimed.
I asked my friend, Vicki, on the way home if Canadians are always this patriotic. She gave a slightly unsure and bewildered “No…”.
Well today I was moved. I jumped for joy when Crosby delivered that golden shot. I laughed at Catherine O’ Hara’s “We’re Sorry” monologue in the closing ceremony.
I keep thinking if this is something that’s always been in me – I think not. Nonetheless, it is – now – and it has to be celebrated.
I talk about the weather the way people talk about their faith. I look forward to a White Christmas – sorry, Holidays – every year but dread winter come February. I stand on the right side of any escalator and hold the door for people behind me. I don’t think religion is important. I smile when I disagree with people. I say “please”, “thank you” and “I’m sorry” to strangers. I am considerate and grounded. I am never disrespectful. I believe in people helping each other and yes, that is basically socialism. I don’t have to pay for a doctor and I can smoke a fat one when I want to, and not be labeled a bad person, so as long as I behave well in public when I do it. I have no moral pretensions. I love my peaceful city. I don’t have to inhale cigarette smoke indoors. I have employment insurance in between jobs. I can marry another man.
If anything, today is a great day to grow up Canadian.