Dumb ways to die - the classic!

Earworm - Alarm

This must be mentioned here - for the sake of completeness, and because I am an unconditional fan!

In 2012 the Metro Train Society Melbourn started this safety campaign - with a special focus on kids as target audience:

Youtube Link

Within ten days "Dumb Ways to Die" got more than 25 million views on YouTube. The song ended up as No. 10 on the iTunes - charts on it's day of release. And the campaign was awarded on the Cannens festival of creativity 2013 with the first place. It was one of the best viral campaigns of the year. The compagny claimed a reduction of near train missing accidents of 30% in the following year: See the article - even if there are voices critizising this number

The often brutal deaths still remain within the playful frame and clearly take the humor of children serious (Remind yourself of your schoolyard jokes in primary classes). And the song is a catchy tune. After two times you can already sing along ... but let's put focus on something else:

What can be better than a video that is shared hundreds of times? Well, a video that is a hundred times imitated. This is exactly what happened here, so to speak the King Leauge of viral successs. This video i n s p i r e d! - here's my favorite example:

Dumb Ways To Die - The Paper Version

Youtube Direktlink

Of course, the agency of the Melbourne Metro Company had to follow up after success knocked on their doors - and again they found the perfect tool - especially for kids: A game! Can be used as app or as a website where you can re-enact some of the most wonderfull deaths: Dumb Ways To Die - Game.

Shell Parody: Live with it - App!

Little known but outstanding Parody App about a little known but outstanding oil catastrophe - well in fact, it's the biggest by the way. Did you know that?

Video of the week

You recognize this man? Maybe you have seen him in Men in Black 3 and Sledge Hammer, it's David Rasche who agreed to act for this friends-of-the-earth video from the Netherlands.

Beside of the excellent idea - parody is a nearly perfect tool to do campaigning - the most shocking part in this campaign is, that literally no one seems to be aware of it. Remember the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? It only took a few days before the whole world was outraged, huddled around their TVs watching live video of the BP leak.
The oil spill in Niger delta last for 54 years now. 54 YEARS! And in contaminated surface it's the biggest oil spill in history. So why aren't we aware of it? Oh yes, sorry, I forgot: It's in Africa.

Donate your stereotypes

After last week's video wasn't very funny - here something you might have a laugh:

Video of the week

Donate your stereotypes! This message reaching out to us campaigners was produced by Norwegian activists and students from SAIH, foundet 1961.

Every year they host the "Rusty Radiator Award" to honor the most creative, intelligent and most of all non-stereotype charity-clip. Have a look! Doing so they want to counterbalance the mainstream charity storytelling, or as they call it: "Dearism" and "Poverty-Porn." They are not so wrong, don't you think?

After the scary video from last week I searched for something positiv and funny - and this was too hillarious. But don't worry, next week we go back to serious films....;-)

Feminism video - oh no, not again!

On the other hand...

well, this one was different to me. It was so different that it sent shivers down my spine...and became video of the week.

Attention - 11 minutes long - this is the exception to the 3-min-maximum-rule!

Video of the week

I've seen many harassment videos in my professional career as video producer but this is outstanding. Big question: Why?

• Well first: It's a french production - and as you might know: The french are not the worst cinema producer's so far. In fact they are even great! I say this from a German perspective. 
• The story starts with in a modest way, but tension rises - and manages to keep the bow for 11 minutes- if this isn't outstanding for online video, well, I don't know what else is.
• The all-day-atmosphere in this video is realistic - even with the gender-bender way of storytelling it never crosses the boundaries of this mood of reality.
• Some of the stereotypes...well honestly I realised I had them myself sometimes...this is creepy. How about you?

Beside of that - the main characters are very well chosen - you just believe them. It looks real. This is the source of the compassion and emotion it causes. So let's learn the lesson: Good choice of protagonists is crucial for a good awareness campaigning clip. ..what else - oh yes: 9 Million visitors. And now you're one of them!

Coke Joke

NOT video of the week

Did you know that good advertising can sell you shit for gold? This a good example. NO, I'm not talking about the fact, that 35 sugar cubes per bottle might have a negative impact on your health. I do talk about the question how many people realized the paradox in this commercial.

It is entertaining, no doubt. But here is a social media campaign telling us not to get lost in social media? Hey, yoho! If that's the effect of drinking coke I start questioning: Did they recently switched back to the old coke mixture from 100 years ago - where every bottle had 250mg cocain inside?

Follow the Frog

Video of the week

Well, this is a fast but yet very entertaining campaigning clip.

It's my weekly favorite because it is breaking with conventions. The ironical approach clearly aims at a target group very used to this kind of humor. People who just read Andy Borowitz or The Onion - after the got their daily shocking image from Syria or felt bad about the rain forest issue...well this video got them all. And me too!