Similarities between "The Tourist" 30 second promo starring Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, and "Everybody Loves Raymond" Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton.

Maybe I've watched too many reruns of Everybody Loves Raymond, but when I saw this 30 second promo for The Tourist, I started to see images of Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton from Everybody Loves Raymond inserted over all of the shots of Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie.

Before you laugh and call me a nerd, I just want to point something out. The biggest difference between actors like Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie, and actors like Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton, (besides dynamite abs) is that Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie have to brandish a gun or some other lethal weapon, whereas actors like Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton have to actually use dialogue, and non lethal weapons, to make their point...

...and to get and keep the audience's attention.

Have you ever seen a movie trailer promo for what is considered an "A" movie star, I mean, ever, that did not show them either holding a gun, or fleeing from someone else who was shooting at them?

So imagine as you rewatch The Tourist Trailer, that Ray Romano is Johnny Depp, and Patricia Heaton is Angelina Jolie, and everytime there is a villain about to off them, it's actually Ray's parents from the show, and the weapon of choice is, spaghetti with delicious, BLEEDING, STEAMING, RED tomato sauce smothered on top.

And also imagine that Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, and The Tourist represent Wall Street, and that Ray Romano, Partricia Heaton, and Everybody Loves Raymond represent Main Street.

And now, watch a few clips from Everybody Loves Raymond.

If you are planning on creating or broadcasting a commercial and want an objective, outsiders point of view about your commercial, contact Alessandro Machi about his consulting services at...

info at alexlogic.com

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commercial critiques

by Alessandro Machi at

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Tough Times lead to local innovations, Semi Trucks that serve as Parked Billboards.

Click on Image to Enlarge.

At first glance, it's just an 18 wheeler parked at an angle. Well, that wasn't the real first glance. The image above is a strategically shot camera angle that shows the 18 wheeler in just the right perspective so that it just looks like an innocently parked 18 wheeler.

But it is not just an innocent looking 18 wheeler parked at an odd angle for no reason. There is actually a very important reason this innocent looking 18 wheeler is parked at an odd angle.

Click on Image to Enlarge.

At second glance, which was actually the first glance while I was driving and what motivated me to stop and shoot these photos, this innocent looking 18 wheeler actually has two huge, colorful sides that double as billboards.

Notice how both cars driving by in the picture below have their brake lights on. They have their brake lights on because they have slowed down to look at the side of the truck that has now become a temporary billboard.

Click on Image to Enlarge.

What is even more striking is everything around the billboard has a neutral color tone to it. The color from the billboard just pops off side of the truck. And when magic hour hits, the image jumps out that much more.

As spectacular and visually enhancing as the placement of the truck and the billboard found on both of its flanks is, one flaw is the cars have already driven by the supermarket parking space just as this sign comes into view. Most cars probably won't turn around and go back, at least not the first time they see the billboard. But by the third or fourth drive by, they might.

This is what enterprising businesses do in tough times, they figure out ways to stretch a dollar. This is also what I do, I notice these kinds of things.

If you are planning on creating or broadcasting a commercial and want an objective, outsiders point of view about your commercial, contact Alessandro Machi about his consulting services at...

info at alexlogic.com

You can also view more

commercial critiques

by Alessandro Machi at

Super Bowl Consulting