DIY ant killbot

[alanthebox]

i continue my campaign of creating unsolicited surprise commercials for local businesses. as always, i mail them dvd's anonymously, include an email address they can respond to, and wait for them to contact me.

[slowtiger]

OK. I get it. None of this is serious, on no level, right? You're not going around slipping these into local business' mailboxes? Or do you? Really?

Apart from it being a tad bit long for my taste (or maybe the many "like" in the monologue) it's a damn fine piece of work. I grew up with 50's B-pictures like "Them!", I can confirm the ants are anatomically correct. If only the voices didn't sound so young! (Is that my age showing?) I like 30-50's radio voices a lot, my preferred choice for voice-over.

[alanthebox]

OK. I get it. None of this is serious, on no level, right? You're not going around slipping these into local business' mailboxes? Or do you? Really?

No, I do send these off as DVDs to the businesses in question. When my boss found out about this little side project of mine, they insisted that it's a form of economic terrorism. Not sure if I agree with that.

And as someone firmly in their 40s, I guess I'll take the youngness of my voice as a compliment!

[Greenlaw]

That was great! It was silly and funny but also thoughtful...just my cup of tea!

Thanks for sharing alanthebox.

[DK]

Brilliantly done!
Cheers
D.K

[djoly]

Enjoyable, creative and fun! Well done. Have any recipients of the dvd’s responded to you?

[alanthebox]

Enjoyable, creative and fun! Well done. Have any recipients of the dvd’s responded to you?

This is only the 9th one I've made but no, so far no responses.

[chucky]

I love the animation, it's funny and entertaining.

The advertisement factor is a practical joke... surely, on us as much as the businesses. (the donut one, is more obvious)

No one even has dvds anymore anyway.
This part of the gag works well enough as everyone talks about it.
Personally, I think the ad gag is a distraction and possible self-deprecation.

Alanthebox, it's funny enough to let it be.

[Mick]

Really enjoyed that. Has anyone ever called you back?

[lucasfranca]

Man, I've never seen anything as creative as this strategy. And it makes me very sad not to get an answer. I think this in my country would be very promising. Advertising here is taken very seriously! Haha. Why not hand deliver and do your picthing?

[hayasidist]

Enjoyable, creative and fun! Well done. Have any recipients of the dvd’s responded to you?

This is only the 9th one I've made but no, so far no responses.

As a piece of art, it's fine (although I agree that there are far too many "like" verbal tics). And if it is a joke / prank / wind-up (e.g. suggesting that Vince's is ant-infested or doesn't provide parmesan) ... that's fine too!
But if you **really** want to impress a business into buying your services to create a real commercial for them, IMO, this is not a good approach, and I'm not surprised none of your targets has responded.


One of the threads of my work is delivering compelling narrative. A basic tenet is that you need to get your key message across in the first 7 seconds or less.
Once you've got their attention you can develop the theme(s).


This is not my website, but this gives more detail on the "7 second rule": https://wide-impact.com/blog/the-7-seco ... ffect-you/
Take a look at the "sales" and "marketing" sub headings.

If you want more about "how to create a pitch" just ask.

[alanthebox]

As a piece of art, it's fine (although I agree that there are far too many "like" verbal tics). And if it is a joke / prank / wind-up (e.g. suggesting that Vince's is ant-infested or doesn't provide parmesan) ... that's fine too!
But if you **really** want to impress a business into buying your services to create a real commercial for them, IMO, this is not a good approach, and I'm not surprised none of your targets has responded.

oh, i'm in no way trying to convince a business to hire me on for an actual commercial. ever since my 20s, i've been really interested in anonymous art that (hopefully) leaves observers slightly confused. it's also a fun exercise to A) see a random business and B) try to come up with a concept that incorporates them into an absolutely terrible commercial.

anyhow, if anyone is in LA, this cartoon is going to be screening in this month's silverlake shorts (https://filmfreeway.com/silverlakeShorts) at el cid on 4/25.

[hayasidist]

oh, i'm in no way trying to convince a business to hire me on for an actual commercial. ever since my 20s, i've been really interested in anonymous art that (hopefully) leaves observers slightly confused. it's also a fun exercise to A) see a random business and B) try to come up with a concept that incorporates them into an absolutely terrible commercial.

anyhow, if anyone is in LA, this cartoon is going to be screening in this month's silverlake shorts (https://filmfreeway.com/silverlakeShorts) at el cid on 4/25.

ha ha ... a sort of digital Banksy?! Count me in on the "confused".
I eat my words and wish you well... <vbg>