Influx Insights Weblog

strange headline of the day: procter & gamble, def jam launch hip-hop record label

Influx Insights — 2008-04-11T23:11:26Z

More here..

Posted by Ed Cotton

the $35 movie ticket

Influx Insights — 2008-03-27T14:55:34Z

If you live in Redmond, Washington or South Barrington, Illinois, you could be in for a treat this year with the arrival of Village Roadshow Gold Class Cinemas.

A new concept that takes the movie experience to new heights for a hefty price.

This is the world of luxury movie going.

- 40 seat cinemas
- Luxury reclining arm chairs
- Latest state-of-the-art technology with digital projection, including 3-D, as well as super-wide screens and digital sound

This isn't just a about the movie, it's dinner and the movie since guests can watch their film drink wine and eat gourmet cuisine from the seasonal menu prepared by chefs in the Gold Class kitchen.

If that isn't enough each seat has its own service button which brings personal waiter service.

Given that we live in a world where experiences matter, it makes sense to see an elevation of the movie going experience.

I can't imagine people are going to regularly spend $150 on a movie night out, but for special occasions and to see a great new movie, it's something people would add to their repertoire.

Posted by Ed Cotton

the lost ring- a breakthrough arg?

Influx Insights — 2008-03-17T14:24:33Z

The Lost Ring is one of the most lavish alternative reality games ever presented. It probably helps that it has the massive budgets of the International Olympic Committee and McDonald’s to leverage.

Like every great ARG it has lots of layers/nuances and really engaging ways to drag players into the mystery of The Lost Ring.

A quick peek at the trailer and it’s easy to see they are trying to take ARGs to the next level; somewhere between movies and video games.

The problem is that ARGs are pretty inaccessible to the masses.

Unlike movies and video games, which operate on the “sit and watch” or “pick up and play” modes of operation, ARGs demand a lot of attention from the players as they trawl through clues to crack codes.

While the IOC and McDonald’s might have high hopes for The Lost Ring, it’s unlikely to get the masses anytime soon in its current form. However, perhaps this game or something in the near future will find a way of operating on two levels; the supergeeky solving clues level and another level with a more acceptable mass form of participation.

Agencies have been playing around with the notion of ARGs for sometime.

Audi, a few years back in 2005 had some PR success with the “Art of the Heist”, but we are still waiting for one to break through and become culturally significant on a mass level.

For the moment, it doesn’t look like The Lost Ring will be the one.

Posted by Ed Cotton

create first, get approval later- free valentine's gift- a radiohead album

Influx Insights — 2008-02-14T16:25:02Z

Amplive was fast out of the gate.

Just a few days after the release of one of last year's most acclaimed albums, Radiohead's In Rainbows, he had remixed versions of a couple of the tracks.

He built up quite a bit of support and it now looks as if the band have paid attention and given their official blessing.

Download here.

Another smart move by the band, who could have hired an army of remixers for the project or even searched for the best versions from the community, instead, they rewarded the guy who worked fastest and broke the rules.

Amplive is in for a busy 08.

Via Rob at Marketing Pop Culture and Digital Media Wire

Posted by Ed Cotton

the conversation as media

Influx Insights — 2008-02-07T16:53:52Z

Twitter just produced this interesting chart showing the volume of conversations on its network plotted over the duration of the Superbowl.

It's interesting to see what generates the volume and how it changes over time.

Perhaps of greatest significance is the idea that the conversation itself is now its own media.

The user interacting with mass media through new media generates a conversation stream which in itself creates a new media. Opinions, thoughts, ideas and trash talk all fill the airwaves as people participate with an event in a radically new way.

Clearly there are opportunities here for Twitter to align with media brands to scale these conversations and for the media companies to look at interesting new ways for brands to participate.

Posted by Ed Cotton

daft punk's hand herd

Influx Insights — 2008-01-22T14:46:26Z

The French act Daft Punk have been around for over 10 years, but have recently returned to dominance through a series of impressive live shows.

I was wondering if all those hand videos on the internet had also helped the band in someway?

It all started with this one in June 2007.

This was the first and has over 12 million views, that's six times the number of views the band's concert video above achieved!

By August someone had reworked another Daft Punk song using their hands

That one has over 1.2 million views.

In October, a "bodies" version emerged which has achieved over 1.5 million views.

There are close to 500 films of people trying to Daft Hands and despite the fact this meme is months old, people are still doing it.

It's a great example of herd mentality in action. The idea is really simple, but there's just enough complexity to it that makes it interesting and it willingly encourages others to show they can do it.

There's are some lessons here if you want to use people as your media and get some viral buzz going.

1.Start with a strange and original take on something

2.Keep production limited to low or no production- make it easy to do and replicate

3.Set it up as a challenge- have some complexity

4.Make it invitational

5.Dont' forget the herd- copying is good, it means you belong

Posted by Ed Cotton

the lie-detector makes it to primetime

Influx Insights — 2008-01-13T00:21:31Z

Fox's new show "Moments of Truth" probably makes for compulsive viewing and shows us there are still boundaries to be broken in the world of reality-based entertainment.

Posted by Ed Cotton

sigur ros show us the importance and power of local

Influx Insights — 2007-12-26T21:51:41Z

One of the most important trends to look for in 08 is the continuing battle between nationalization and globalization.

It will impact everything from politics to branding.

The power and importance of national tradition is nicely represented in a new film by the Icelandic band Sigur Ros.

Sigur Ros are one of the most interesting and enigmatic bands around; despite signing in their native Icelandic, they still manage to have garnered a massive worldwide following. Their music is a cacophony of pure emotion and atmospherics that renders the meaning of the lyrics un-important.

In 2006, after months on the road, the band decided to return to Iceland and tour the country appearing at surprise free concerts across the island.

It was a return to the brands roots and a thank you to the country that made them. The result of the tour can be seen in the documentary Heima.

The film is a stunning exploration of the band, its music and the country of Iceland as told through a series of incredible performances that take place in the most unlikely surroundings; the bottom of a fish oil tank in a deserted fish factory, outside a village church, inside a village hall, in the middle of a beautiful valley and somewhat more expected in front of 25,000 fans in Rekyivaik.

In a way, the film is a tribute to the strength, importance and resilience of local roots and tradition.

It shows the band collaborating will local musicians, brass bands and artists.

All the shows are wonderfully shot and edited in a way that seamlessly blends, band, crowd and country. It gives you an understanding of what the band is made of and the atmosphere and surroundings that have played a role in shaping the bands’ unique soundprint. At the island concerts, instead of the expected crowds of hip Icelandic youth, those attending are multi-generational with equal numbers of starry-eyed grandparents and grandchildren.

Heima shows a Sigur Ros keen to resist the commercialism at all costs approach and remain firmly attached, committed and passionate about the island they come from.

Posted by Ed Cotton

the evolution of homer

Influx Insights — 2007-12-18T06:34:38Z

Posted by Ed Cotton

the demise of network prime

Influx Insights — 2007-12-17T00:48:31Z

Via Infectious Greed

Posted by Ed Cotton

nimrod nation peers into the heart of america

Influx Insights — 2007-11-28T09:14:06Z

The Sundance Channel has just started airing Nimrod Nation, a documentary about a school basketball team from northernost Michigan.

Although the central theme of the documentary is about basketball, it's really a celebration of life, friendship and community in the frozen north.

The direction and photography is first rate and seems similar in some respects to Errol Morris's early work.

Interestingly, the series is created by Wieden and Kennedy Entertainment and directed by Brett Morgen who also made The Kid Stays in the Picture.

Posted by Ed Cotton

turning the camera around

Influx Insights — 2007-11-23T20:55:18Z

I really like the thinking here to promote the Spanish horror film "REC".

Instead of the cliched trailer, the film makers decide to focus on the audience reactions filmed at a festival screening.

Anyone who is interested in going to a horror flick needs to know the answer to just one question- is it scary?

This trailer does the trick in spades and is a fantastic example of the power of breaking with convention.

Via Big Bad Blog-Publicis

Posted by Ed Cotton

google's interest in television doesn't end with youtube

Influx Insights — 2007-11-15T22:12:35Z

From The Observer.

"Internet giant Google is in secret talks with Simon Fuller, the British entrepreneur behind the Spice Girls, about a joint venture that could change the way TV is watched over the internet.

News of the collaboration will prompt speculation that Google's plans for the TV market include generating original content and competing with major broadcasters."

Google appears to be on the attack to transform businesses well beyond internet search as it makes giant leaps into the world of telecommunication and media.

It appears the big network agencies now need dedicated "Google watchers" to gain insight into the rapidly changing dynamics of the media and advertising market that are being caused by the actions of one company.

Via Podcasting News

Posted by Ed Cotton

ad as art- vw night driving

Influx Insights — 2007-11-15T22:13:50Z

Sometimes advertising can come close to art.

This is a great example from VW UK that opens-up a new thought and territory around night driving. The idea to turn night driving from something that's fearful and dull, to a place of discovery, makes for a very nice strategic thought, but that's just the start. From that foundation, creativity kicks in to overdrive and comes up with something fresh using the backdrop of the the city of Los Angeles, the vocal talents of Richard Burton and the writing of Dylan Thomas.

Posted by Ed Cotton

influx quote of the day- blockbuster's cost of competition

Influx Insights — 2007-11-10T04:23:20Z

"Blockbuster lost more than $600 million in annual revenue from its no-late-fees promotion and the free movie exchanges that were part of its Total Access program, which connected online and in-store memberships."

DDI

Posted by Ed Cotton