Simulated Client Project (14.10.09)

For this project, we have been assigned to produce a 20 second public information tv advert for illegal file sharing. The advert must explain the following:

1. What file sharing is
2. When and why it is illegal
3. The consequences for being involved

To do a little bit of research and get some inspiration, I watched a lot of adverts and selected a few that I thought were interesting:

Anti-Piracy Ad:



This is the current anti-piracy ad that is played on a DVD before you watch the film.
I do not like this advert for 2 reasons. The first is that it compares stealing a movie with stealing a car, a handbag, TV, etc. Although I do believe it is not good to steal, I think there is a massive difference between the file-sharing that occurs and commiting these kind of crimes. There is not enough awareness about the guidelines of what's illegal concerning file sharing and pirate DVDs, so the people that are guilty are often nieve about their "criminal act", unlike someone who sets out to steal a car. The second reason is that the tone of the ad is far too serious and so it doesn't actually connect with the person who might be illegaly downloading films.

Use Condoms:



I love this advert. I love it because it is simple, funny, and only needs the punchline at the end for the viewer to understand and empathsize with the father of the child. The combination of these things makes it a very effective advert. Not only does it connect with sexually active people on a real level, but it currently has 2,980,104 views on youtube. I believe that reaching a large amount of viewers is the most effective way a public information ad can send accross its message.

Mac vs PC:



This is another advert I really like. Again I like it because it's simple and funny. I also really like how the two types of computers are represented by people that have distinct personalities. By posing the two together in this way, the benefits of a Mac are sent accross in a way that's easier to understand. As a viewer, we don't really need to know why a Mac doesn't get viruses because the details would be too technical. The only thing that matters is that they don't and it's a clever, humorous way to portray it.