Galaxy Nexus: Calling All - Commercial Critique

Galaxy Nexus: Calling All

The best part of this entire commercial is that is shows how the phone can be used by anyone for anything. It shows different people using the exact same phone but for completely different things. Not only does this bring people together with one product but it shows that the phone has such a variety of attributes and features. The commercial had a variety of people with different careers, cultures, hobbies, and interests actually using the product itself in all the different ways. The advertisement covered all features of the phone visually first and at the very end they reiterated them in type with a following logo and brand name to get the point across again at the very end. The simple music set an easy going tone and the narrative behind everything was subtle enough that it did not distract from the visuals but helped to explain the different perspectives. Although the commercial is just for a phone I found it very meaningful and heartfelt. As I have mentioned before, all the best commercials are simple ideas executed with a creative way to get it to stick in people's mind and I think this commercial was amazing in that aspect. 

iPod Touch - Share the Fun - Commercial Critique

iPod Touch - Share the Fun

The opening scene screamed Apple to because because of the stark white background; which immediately let you know which brand the advertisement was for. The frames were constantly moving from person to person actually using the product in ways that people can relate to. The up close text shots were very real and personal and made it very fun to watch. I learned that fifty percent of an advertisement relies on the music and the music they chose is very new, upbeat, and the audience they are trying to market to can follow and enjoy it. The different shots involved people actually singing the song while recording videos or playing a game and I thought it was very fun. They also typed out a Tweet with the lyrics that were playing along side the advertisement. I just really loved the fun and entertaining nature of the commercial especially because they were using the product in a way that was extremely real and relatable. The ending tagline was 'Share the Fun' and that is exactly what I got from it. 

Galaxy Nexus - Commercial Critique

Galaxy Nexus

The first thing I noticed was that the music is fun and immediately sets the tone. Also, the use of the kid implies the fun nature of the advertisement as well, and who doesn't love a cute kid? He is holding the phone making funny faces, trying to make himself have a mustache and then you read the error of 'Sorry, I don't recognize you.' It was then that I realized the kid was trying to unlock the phone but I did not know where is was going until the father started walking down the stairs. It was absolutely adorable in the way the boy handed his father the phone and waiting to see what happens really kept my attention. The father then scans and smiles into the phone as the boy was trying to do earlier, but this time it worked because of face recognition. I seriously laughed out loud and that is why I loved the commercial. It was short, to the point, simple, clever, and very amusing. They showed the product throughout the entire commercial and at the very end followed up with the Google Face recognition to drive the point to the audience. 

Michael - PS3 Long Live Play - Commercial Critique

Michael - PS3 Long Live Play


This commercial was more of a short film than an advertisement to me, but that is why I really enjoyed it. It seems so deep for something that is promoting a video game console but that is probably why it is so popular and recognized. Most video game console advertisements are very light hearted and funny but this commercial told a story of the characters. The characters of video games actually came alive and celebrated the player or user of the video game. It is such an interesting and captivating commercial because it was from a completely different perspective than what I am used to. It was so clever to have the cast be characters from the video games because anyone who plays video games, which is who they are trying to reach, will understand from the beginning who and what is going on. The pacing was really cool because it was slow and built up tension. The only part I did not like was that it took me more than thirty seconds to figure out what was going on. The commercial was somewhat played out in a three act play to possibly build up tension; which kept me watching. Again, it was a simple idea that the characters in the game were thanking the player for helping them through their journey. I learned that the execution should have new things happen as it moves forward and that is why this advertisement was so successful. The production and quality of the commercial was absolutely astonishing and I really enjoyed the music, narrative pieces, and overall love for the player idea. 

Mumbai Mirror - Commercial Critique

Mumbai Mirror I AM MUMBAI TVC

This was one of my favorite commercials that I viewed during the entire week at the festival. It was about helping Mumbai and showing their lifestyle experiences. I loved it so much because it was so real and meaningful and it held my attention throughout the entire advertisement. At first it makes you very uneasy and disturbs you because it is so depressing. It starts off with such a serious scene with black and white visuals; which in my opinion makes it more captivating and creates a setting of seriousness. The music was very dramatic and matched with the drama the commercial was trying to create.  All the stories were real which makes it even more heart breaking and interesting. They explained that the cast did not know where the camera was so it made it more realistic gritty. The cast of the commercial did not consist of real actors but rather just real people with real stories. The director had a workshop with the cast to get out how they felt before they shot it each scene. This helped because they could talk about what was going on beforehand and have a sense of meaning when the commercial was actually being shot. The commercial had different scenes with different stories and I thought this was very effective because it allowed a broader audience to connect with each story. The planning that went into creating this advertisement is really what made it so wonderful. Honestly, I cannot hypothesize of different techniques that would have made this a better commercial. The stories, actors, camera angles, music, visuals, and transitions of scenes made this commercial amazing and very effective. I have learned that the best ideas are the simple ones that everyone can understand and this commercial has many elements but is simple and really drives main point in captivating way. 

Short Story Experience

I consider myself a very cautious and weary person, especially when it comes to my beloved purse with all my belongings. We were told over and over again that people were really good at stealing so I made sure to keep my purse on me at all times an my badge around my neck no matter what. The first week went by great and I almost felt like I was telling my fellow classmates to watch out about leaving their purse by their side. During the festival I was still a bit worried but I slowly let me guard when moving from seminar to workshop.

The first two days of the festival I was lugging around my huge bag with my iPad and a ton of unnecessary junk; which hindered me from dancing my heart out later on at the bar and the amazing young Dutch creative party. So, I decided to stick with my small purse and only bring the essentials: paper to take notes, my French cell phone, wallet and money, business cards, and keys. The most important things I have with me all in my one small purse.

During the Young Lions party I had an amazing time dancing with the Brazilians and my new Dutch friend, Robbin, who I had met at the festival the day prior. No big bag was hindering my dancing because my small purse was the perfect size to still get my groove on. I kept it on my side the entire night and did not think a thing of it. At the end of the party my fellow classmate was really upset because she had left her purse sitting down and had lost all her most important essential things as well. So you think I would still keep my purse attached to me, right?

Well, we all moved from the Young Lions party to Gutter bar, my new favorite networking and drinking area. This night it was unbelievably busy in the streets so much that Robbin and I could not even get a drink there. So we went next door to the outside bar for Hotel Martinez and as we finally got to the bar the bartender was not paying us a bit of attention. As I pull out my wallet to wave it around (purse still attached to me) an older gentleman walks right up, holds his hand up, looks at me and asks what I want. He ordered my drink and Robbin’s drink and got them with the snap of his fingers. After I exchanged business cards and spoke to him about who he was Robbin and I decided to sit along the beach to finish our drinks and people watch.

It was then that I let my guard down because I felt that no one else was around besides the old naked people jumping into the ocean. Boy was I wrong. As my friend and I were laughing hysterically at the obliterated adults swimming naked in the freezing Mediterranean I set my purse right next to me. Huge mistake. Out of nowhere a guy sprints up next to us, grabs my purse, and takes off. My first reaction was to get up and chase after him; which is exactly what I did. I started yelling “No!!! Fuck you!” (Excuse my French ha) I managed to barely grab the edge of his shirt as he was trying to jump across the mini fence. He slipped back but continued to keep going. At this point my Robbin caught up and he grabbed his neck and ripped him to the sandy ground. We were in such a fluster and in the heat of the moment that we kept chasing him because we were not gong to let him get away with my beloved purse. I couldn’t keep up but Robbin chased him all the way to the street in hopes of getting my purse. I stood at the beach in the French Riviera thinking trying to catch my breathe and thinking about how I had completely lost all my essentials. But I still had a smile on my face because my badge was around my neck and that is all I needed in my mind. I started to walk back to where we were sitting before watching all bare drunkies, who were having the time of their lives, and I spotted my purse! There it was! In the sand right by the mini fence where we jerked the thief back. It was such a relieving moment that I could not even believe it. My tiny beloved black purse with my life inside just lying in the sand. Robbin and I jumped up and down in celebration but then had to sit down to catch our breath. Running full speed in the sand screaming sure does take a lot out of you. My lesson learned – never ever take your purse off your side. Seriously, no matter what. 

Saturday - June 23, 2012

As the week went on I continued to network, network, network. And I found this the most beneficial thing of this festival as a student. Every time I sat down next to someone in a seminar, workshop, master class, and even at the parties I asked them who they were and introduced myself. I have ended up already gaining forty new connections on LinkedIn and I have over eighty business cards I got from different people. I really enjoyed getting advice from people in the industry because they understood I was a student and I needed as much help as I could get. I truly only ran into one person who was not friendly or receptive to me - so if you ask me, those are some great odds!


During the Saturday night award ceremony Matt Maggart and I sat next to Dave Clemens who works with TAXI. We both introduced ourselves again and told him what are plans were for the next few years of lives. The only thing I have learned this trip is that I need to get a book/portfolio put together as soon as possible. It is just so hard because the University of Georgia they cater the classes more to the business perspective of advertising and I feel a bit shafted considering I want to be an art director. I had gotten mixed reviews about portfolio school but Dave Clemens made me feel one hundred percent about my decision to go to Miami Ad School next year. This is because he explained that it is two full years to learn about the creative part of the industry, work with real advertising executives, and dedicate all your time to building your portfolio. I asked him how I could start and what kinds of things I could add to it before going to portfolio school and he said that we could put anything we wanted because there are no rules for a book. He said to keep the book with all of your own original ideas and try to not look at anyone else's so you can stand out instead of trying to recreate theirs as your own. He said to make our works simple and genuine. He said that not all photographs and works need to be retouched because their is something beautiful and meaningful about untouched work. He also said we should keep a separate book of ads we find interesting and to write down what agency they came from, who worked on the piece, etc. This way when we get out of school we can see which agency we feel our style meshes with. He said each agency has a different culture, humor, and a way of working and you want to pick somewhere where you fit it. That led him to say that since we are currently students we should use the advantage of being broke because we are used to it. He said to not pick the place who offers you the most money but rather choose an agency where you will fit in and be able to create great pieces of work. I found his advice to be the most helpful I received this entire week.


The award ceremony was amazing and such a great production in itself. I loved watching all the winning advertisements and how there are so many categories now with upcoming technology. It has really taught me that you can do anything with advertising and I am so happy with my decision to choose this as my life long career.