Transformers and KFC Join Forces.. by means of snap fasteners?

A very good friend sent me a link to a blog today. There I found myself face to face with a prime example of user generated content. A Chinese person so inspired by a strong life-long connection to the Transformers brand, and the recent blockbuster movie decided to create his own collectible action figure. Using simple and readily available materials such as the top to a KFC bucket and “snap fasteners” he has created the coolest and most accurate looking Bumble Bee figure I’ve ever seen. To me it just shows the passion a strong entertainment brand can spark within people when it constantly produces quality products. Then again.. I could just be a big nerd. More pics after the jump. Continue reading…

PSFK Conference LA – September 18

I have been asked to speak on a panel at the upcoming PSFK LA Conference on September 18, 2007, in Los Angeles. The event schedule is fantastic and I’m honored to be included in such excellent company. Drop me line somewhere in the social media space if you plan to attend the conference.

We’ve Grown Up…

Technorati Tags: Advertising Agencies, marketing, Marketing Legal

Help Campfire Spread the Gospel!!!

Campfire proposed a panel for SWSW interactive conference titled “Persistent Engagement: Why Your _____ Isn’t Enough.”

Five indie filmmakers create pop culture sensation with “The Blair Witch Project.” Audi steals a car from the NY Auto Show. USA Network fosters mass political debate over a fictional pharmaceutical. Explore the interactive media methodology employed by companies and artists alike to engage and interact with their core audience.

Please click here and vote for Campfire’s panel!

Curtis & Dylan Get the Biopic Treatment

This autumn, as the leaves change color and fall from the trees and small children gorge themseves on dangerous amounts of candy, two fims chronicling the impact of two musical icons will hit theatres. Blessed be thy movie-goer.

“Control,” which follows the rise and fall of Joy Division front-man Ian Curtis, begins to hit theatres on October 10th. As you can see from the poster below, it’s already being considered “The coolest British movie of 2007.” Here’s where I admit to my utter lack of knowledge in regards to British films being released in 2007, yet manage to confidently state: “Agreed!”

“I’m Not There” has been getting a ton of press for the fact that it stars six different actors playing Bob Dylan throughout his life, including Cate Blanchett (who somehow manages to look more like him than any of em.) All the kids will be lining up for this one on November 21st. You can check out a clip from the film in which Blanchett’s Dylan meets Allen Ginsberg played by David Cross by clicking here.

Click each of the movie poster images below for the official trailers.

SLCC 2007

If you are headed out to the Second Life Community Convention this weekend, let us know. We’ll be there interviewing some of the amazing residents of Pontiac’s Motorati as well as rubbing elbows in RL and taking in the panels and discussions.

Join me for Information Week’s GridTalk this AM

This morning I’ll be part of the discussion at Information Week’s GridTalk series in Second Life (avatar name: Mug Wildung). The topic is best practices for doing real-life business and marketing in Second Life. Join me at 8:00 AM SLT (11:00 AM EDT) at the amphitheater at Dr. Dobb’s Island.

Here is the link for more info on the GridTalk series, and be sure to check out today’s story by Mitch Wagner, Five Rules For Bringing Your Real-Life Business Into Second Life.

Haven’t got time to field a softball team in Central Park? Try the Shockwaves water fight in Second Life!

There’s a Shockwaves Water Fight contest going on in Second Life. P&G worked with Electric Sheep and Campfire to create the game on behalf of Shockwaves — a cool P&G hair styling product from Europe. Electric Sheep handled all the intricate executional details. If you put together a winning team, you might win a million bucks. (Linden $ of course and depending on where you live). Go to Sheep Island to enter and play.

Technorati Tags: Gaming, Second Life, social media

Little Brother’s Watching You

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Virgil Griffith

Corporations and Government organizations have been watching/tracking our movements for ages now. What happens when “Little Brother” is the one doing the analyzing?

That’s exactly what is happening thanks to Virgil Griffith, a CalTech grad student. Virgil has developed a means of tracking changes made on Wikipedia. The program, Wikipedia Scanner, lifts the “fingerprints” left behind when someone anonymous makes a change on Wikipedia. The recent article “See Who’s Editing Wikipedia – Diebold, the CIA, a Campaign” from Wired goes more in depth.

Wikipedia has been known as a useful tool for marketers creating an ARG and other types of interactive campaigns, but these are generally meant for entertainment and community connectivity. A publicly influencial entity hiding its skeletons, however, can mean great damage to our future, environment, health, etc… Continue reading…

Kwik E Marts: Our Medieval Idea

I’m sure you’ve heard about Leo Burnett claims of ownership over the idea of the Simpsons Kwik E Mart transformations. But did you know that Campfire actually came up with the idea first?

I traipsed into our vast archives buried in a secret vault under the streets of Tribeca. (Where we also keep the bones of Bill the Butcher, payment for our design of the Dead Rabbits gang symbol) and found this filed away in our “Olde English” section

Technorati Tags: Advertising Agencies, Campfire, puppy, Simpsons