FirefoxFlicks Winners Announced 210
prostoalex writes "The FirefoxFlicks competition has announced the winners of the Firefox video promo campaign. The winning videos are DareDevil, Wheee!, Fox Fever, This is Hot and Give me the the soap."
Weee IMO was the best... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Weee IMO was the best... (Score:2)
Re:Weee IMO was the best... (Score:3, Insightful)
A better take on the same idea would be to display all of the icons at the same time, IE can go "whee" but keeps running into stuff and getting disoriented and disea
Javascript? (Score:2)
Re:Weee IMO was the best... (Score:1, Insightful)
Weee was the worest piece of crap in the entire Flicks submissions. It doesn't belong on TV on any channel. If that thing airs on tv, it will turn people off to Firefox.
Give me the Soap one is the best one.
Weee Google Video Mirror (Score:2)
Speaking Of Hot (Score:4, Funny)
Quicktime, eh...? (Score:2, Insightful)
Well, I guess not many Linux people are going to be watching those movies.
Come to think of it, neither will I. Not since quick time changed from being a crappy media player into a crappy media player with a big helping of invade-your-entire-machine-and-redirect-every-poss ible-file-association-with-no-escape-ware.
Wonder who's paying the bills for bandwidth (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Wonder who's paying the bills for bandwidth (Score:2)
Re:Wonder who's paying the bills for bandwidth (Score:5, Informative)
Uh, no -- Jason doesn't know if it true or not it (Score:2)
UPDATE directly from Jason: I know a lot of folks are coming here from DIGG and other memetrackers. The $72M someone told me at BarCampLA and I have no idea if that is true or not. If you reblog this (or report it) please make sure you make that clear.
Even though CNN and other sites are saying 72, 73 Million they all link to Jason's blog and he admits that it's just a rumor....
Apparently they made making a lot of money (Score:1, Redundant)
http://www.crn.com/sections/breakingnews/dailyarc
Re:Wonder who's paying the bills for bandwidth (Score:2)
For example I pay 40 Euros for 100GB. And that includes the rent for the hardware.
So let's say 1 million people download a 10 MB video. That's 10 000 GB or 4000 Euros (probably less for that kind of volume). Sure that's serious money for an individual, but easily paid even by organizations that rely on donations.
by far the funniest and most clever (IMO) (Score:5, Interesting)
Wheee! Almost peed my pants. Played it over and over, this is funny on many levels, reminds me of the old Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons, where little kids laughed, but there is an adult element that is hilarious.
As far as being effective for general advertising, I'm not sure... It may succeed on the level of getting people talking about it, "Do you GET that new Firefox commercial", or not. It's a bit of a wink and a nod to the tech demographic (taunting especially Microsoft and Netscape).
If I were making a SAFE choice for mass consumption, I'd probably go with the "Give me the Soap". Simple, mass appeal, cute, cuddly, with a clearly stated message. If I had some extra money, I'd produce and run both. If I had money to burn, I'd definitely do the Wheeee! just for fun.
Good job to all winners.
Re:by far the funniest and most clever (IMO) (Score:2)
Then Mozilla can fix memory issues and the Mac port, having more money than they started with. This is not just patting
themselves on the back.
Re:by far the funniest and most clever (IMO) (Score:1)
Well... (Score:1, Insightful)
And the loser is... (Score:1, Funny)
The FirefoxFlicks Server!
Already getting database errors.
YouTube links (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HC42Js7cWs&search
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W96dME1RTik&search
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CW4r5zxgDk&search
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj4pQ9Jx1Uc&search
Re:YouTube links (Score:2)
Re:you call that a mirror? (Score:2, Funny)
I still liked the Firefox promotional rap better (Score:1)
http://www.spreadfirefox.com/node/15403
and the audio: http://www.archive.org/details-db.php?mediatype=a
Google Video links (all but 2 videos available) (Score:2, Informative)
Daredevil
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-792586116 8172379089&q=daredevil&pl=true [google.com]
whee
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-659548685 5266134260&q=wheee!&pl=true [google.com]
Fox Fever
-couldn't find it, sorry-
This is Hot
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2466919931 565393234&q=this+is+hot+firefox&pl=true [google.com]
Give me the the soap
-couldn't find it, sorry-
I looked all ov
Re:Google Video links (all but 2 videos available) (Score:1)
Re:Google Video links (all but 2 videos available) (Score:2)
When I can reliably customize kerning without stupid hacks, I'll consider this arguement...
"undead widget" syndrome.
I don't even know what this is, since Firefox doesn't have widgets.
misanthropic interfaces
While I realize that your Fanboy attitude would seem ineffective (and ineffectual) without throwing insults, I have a feeling that misanthropic wasn't quite the right word (next time try a dictionary [dictionary.com] to find out the meaning of words before you use them). I think what you meant to s
Rubbish (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Rubbish (Score:1)
Re:Rubbish (Score:1)
Wheee is hot (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Wheee is hot (Score:2)
A combination would result in dissonance. It's difficult to simulatneously acheive the "wow effect" of spectacular cinematography while keeping the playful siliness.
Re:Wheee is hot (Score:2)
The surfing one again had a good idea, but the voice-over and shots failed
bah databases (Score:3, Insightful)
Discuss amongst yourselves.
Re:bah databases (Score:4, Informative)
This is the site for all of the applicants, designed to serve up thousands of files and related information that have been uploaded by users. That seems like a good use of a database to me.
Wiiiiiiii! (Score:5, Funny)
Maybe Microsoft will hire Gill for their Xbox campaign?
Analysis (Score:5, Insightful)
2. This is hot. Predictable. I liked the touch with the fish. Too bad it didn't hold that note.
3. Wheee! Cute, but the payoff is lame. Firefox just wants to sleep? Confused again.
4. Get the Soap. Dumb. No text, sub- or otherwise, to indicate why the kids think washing gets rid of viruses and spyware. Only the soap-on-the-lens thing keeps it from being dead last. Oh, and the fact that this one could never be anything but:
5. Fox Fever. Ultra-dumb. Lame beyond words. Everything that's wrong about the vox populi artistic movement. How did this hunk of shit get out of the in-box, much less into this list?
That's muh rulin'. - Judge R. Bean
Re:Analysis (Score:4, Insightful)
The point isn't to pick on poor defenseless FireFox here, but rather that it'd be nice to see these ads refined after receiving some critique. You dudes with mod points: Be a little more open minded.
Re:Tabs (Score:2)
It won't be when IE7 comes out.
Re:Analysis (Score:1)
Re:Analysis (Score:2)
The system tends to discourage trolls from becoming moderators, but it's not infallible. And nothing pleases everyone. Some people drink the kool-aid and ignore validity to justify their own blind fealty. And sometimes, the people being criticized are the ones with the mod points, so there's that to battle.
Re:Analysis (Score:2)
Firefox doesn't want to sleep. It just wants the other browsers to shut up because they're being completely annoying (and stupid.) I thought this was the best video and people with even a little bit of knowledge about browsers can understand it.
Re:Analysis (Score:2)
I thought the soap one was good. Amusing, cute, and makes a valid point.
Re:Analysis (Score:4, Insightful)
Okay. So why would those people need a FireFox ad?
Preaching to the choir.
Re:Analysis (Score:4, Insightful)
So yes it is in a way an amusing little film (I found the Safari icon quite funny) although it could stand some refining, maybe a voice-over (such as "should your web browsing be glittery, boring or efficient"), but it's not a good ad.
Re:Analysis (Score:1)
I think the fact that they are children make it pretty self explanatory - the childlike misinterpretation of their father's comments of "cleaning" the junk off their computer should make the commercial understood by anyone remotely familiar with spyware, viruses, and children.
Re:Analysis (Score:2)
I didn't hear it.
Re:Analysis (Score:3, Insightful)
1. This is Hot. Best of the lot. But, it does remind me of some other adverts out there - so blair1q is right: it is predictable.
2.Give me the soap. - If they are looking for middle age family types this is the one
Re:Analysis (Score:2)
From the article:
Uh... okay. Not exactly the films that I would look for for talent, but...
"Dare Devil" and "This is Hot" are at least done in a professional way, but as I watch some of the other entries, I am blown away that these judges chose the five that they did. What about "Improve", "Sunday Morning", or even "Upgrad
Re:Analysis (Score:2)
Main respronse will be: Cute (thing OMG Ponies etc)
Childern sell, and I know for a fact that my girlfriend will pick this as het favorite comercial "ever".
Re:Analysis (Score:3, Informative)
You're way over the top here (Score:2)
One the the first sentences she says is "I have always liked things fast"
That's the whole point. Jesus, I thought this was slashdot?
Oh, and to the GP - it's "dark" because it is *sunrise*. Just look at the sky. Sunrise is the best time to surf, any surfer knows this.
Re:You're way over the top here (Score:2)
Re:You're way over the top here (Score:2)
Well if you were heading East really really fast?
Re:You're way over the top here (Score:2)
Re:You're way over the top here (Score:2)
Aren't all ads dumb and lame? (Score:2)
Let's analyse your analysis
1. There's skateboarding but no surfing and you're confused? If you ask me, skateboarding is surfing on dry land. It just happens that some people took it to the extreme and make crazy moves with it but that ain't any different from surfers. Right, that and sur
Re:Aren't all ads dumb and lame? (Score:2)
re 2. Yes, I liked the fish. It had timing and wit. The animation at the end wasn't bad either, but could have had better timing. This stuff is subtle. There's a reason Pixar films are universally recognized as better than anyone else's animated stuff.
re 3. Comparing something bad to other things that are bad doesn't make it good.
re 4. Cute, yes. But it still has to have an internal logic. Even illogic has a logic with a discernible disconnect fro
Re:Analysis (Score:2)
Re:Parent is not troll (Score:2)
Ads are almost never accurate (Score:2)
What about Intel Ads showing its superiority in the market. Are they really that faster than AMD in fields where AMD is the clear winner? Or how about ads where you see a guy running real fast because he's got new shoes.
Ads are suppose to be clear about the product and IMHO they should give some accurate information but I don't see that happening in today's ads. The goal of ads today is t
Re:Ads are almost never accurate (Score:2)
"Our product isn't terribly good and is kind of expensive. We didn't really test it and just copied one we bought at the corner of the street, but then we have bills to pay so please buy it. Thank you for your time."
Re:Parent is not troll (Score:2)
(not)
Re:Analysis (Score:2)
Those who can teach, criticize.
Those who can not even operate a login prompt, post as anonymous cowards.
My favorite: This is hot (Score:5, Insightful)
Anyway, I thought "This is hot" blew all the others away. High production value. Gets some of the firefox message across to a mass audience without getting buried in all the product details. Most of the others will just leave people confused.
Re:My favorite: This is hot (Score:2)
Re:My favorite: This is hot (Score:2)
Goes to show the blockheads sad and sorry inability for marketing.
Same with Mambo that became 'Joomla!'. Great CMS, crappy name.
Get me the soap (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Get me the soap (Score:2, Insightful)
You know, you bring up a good point, here. If the goal of this contest is to get an ad that will attract more users to Firefox, none of them are any good. We all understand the commercials, because we're geeks, but there's nothing in any of them that gives the average person a clue what they're talking about. Bummer.
That said, I really liked "Weeee!" and
Re:Get me the soap (Score:2)
Re:Get me the soap (Score:2)
Firefox was a web browser last time I checked. I suppose one could call seamonkey an internet browser because of its email/irc/etc. support, but Firefox's great appeal is that it only supports the web (and FTP too I suppose).
Daredevil-ish...? (Score:3, Insightful)
Honestly... (Score:2, Interesting)
Not quite sure why "DareDevil" made it in there. Didn't really find it funny or informative, but it was well put together I guess. However, it did nothing to really promote firefox except for a
Re:Honestly... (Score:4, Insightful)
Remember they were not aiming for a technical audience necessarily, so they picked the one they thought everyone could most relate to (in other words, instead of targeting one audience's 100% mark they figured they'd shoot for everyone's 30% mark, or whatever).
Fox Fever was too geek-funny. Most people would just find it stupid.
Wheee! was an excellent and clever submission but requires users to be familiar with browser icons (besides the big blue "e" that non-tech people have synonymized with the Internet).
You're on target about "This is hot" and the soap entry would be borderline confusing to joe sixpack.
Re:Honestly... (Score:2)
Which, I think, would be everyone who didn't know in advance what it was supposed to be about.
Of course, by the time you get to that "lightbulb" moment, the viewer has already switched the channel (or lost interest) because they were bored to tears, and they never "get" it.
If your audience is bored, they're not going to pay attention, if they're not paying attention, th
Re:Honestly... (Score:2)
Lame (Score:2, Troll)
Sorry, but, why?
I still like this one... (Score:2)
It was one of the first three out there, and it reminds me so much of real IE users: much ado about being incompetent and using and incompetent browser. The title says it all.
marketing the browser internationally (Score:3, Interesting)
In Chinese and Russian folklore, fox is an cunny evil treacherous animal. Given, tech community which does not care much about it already accepted firefox, but what about the general populace (target of the commercial number 5)? Does anybody care about folklore?
This is hot! (Score:2, Informative)
Too bad Daredevil won. When I first viewed that, I had to watch it again and then even look at the comments to understand it.
I have a better idea for a commercial (Score:3, Funny)
Switch to over the shoulder view showing a browser open to some stock website.
Zoom in to search toolbar.
Man types in "big breasts".
Pause + text: "Fast searching"
Zoom out to show new tab with search results.
Man opens several websites in the background as tabs.
Pause + text: "Tabbed browsing"
Back to side shot of man.
Voice of a woman offscreen: "Honey, I'm home."
Man looks over at doorway.
Close up of man quickly closing several tabs.
Shot of man navigating to the "clear private data" option.
Text: "Privacy"
Shot of man giving woman a kiss on the cheek.
Text: "Get Firefox"
Working on the Flicks Site (Score:3, Informative)
First Place - "Daredevil" [revver.com]
Second Place - "Wheee!" [revver.com]
Third Place - "Fox Fever" [revver.com]
Honorable Mention - "This is Hot" [revver.com]
Honorable Mention - "Give Me the Soap" [revver.com]
- Asa
Too bad The Painter wasn't even in top 5 (Score:2, Interesting)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-224371650 1206353123 [google.com]
It doesn't tell much about FF features, like "This is Hot" does (which is useful IMO). But OTOH the winning DareDavil is also rather focused on experience than screenshots and features. Similarily it has great editing and a nice music.
As opposed to DareDevil I think it's easier to understand -- the surfing girl uses "like" almost every second word.
That weee one was terrible (Score:2)
Sadly "The Painter" did not win.... (Score:2, Interesting)
i still think his is the best...
http://www.media-garden.org/commercial/painter.ht
the painting is for sale if anyone wants to buy it...
-peter pressure
Re:Sadly "The Painter" did not win.... (Score:2)
It's a simple message (grandma doesn't understand "viruses," "security," "pop-ups," etc.), it's got great music. It "just works" for the non-technical masses.
Of course, if you're marketing to the TechTV crowd, you need something a bit different and can use all the buzzwords.
I thought the Xraalthraal and John [firefoxflicks.com] was kinda funny too (could use a bit bet
I disagree completely. (Score:2, Insightful)
I also disliked "Wee" (however it is spelt). It sunk down to demeaning other browsers rather then explaining and showcasing Firefox's abilities. The browser should rely on its merits, not the shortfalls of other browsers.
I loved "This is Hot". The animation was well done, and professional. The f
joke of a contest (Score:3, Interesting)
They got rid of there blog(Here [firefoxflicks.com]) after a lot of the entrants posted "comments" questioning what happened to it. Read the comments on that page to see the problems but here's a sum up of what the general story is:
Facts:
-Before I say anything about the videos this is how the contest was to be done (Here [firefoxflicks.com]l)1) Concept (30%); 2) Production Quality (30%); 3) Script/Screenplay (20%); 4) Use of Firefox Logo, Name, or Tagline (10%); 5) Jingle or Soundtrack (10%). The winners were all in the first 20% of the videos posted. Only around 30% of the ads have been posted.
-The winner of the competition "Daredevil" was posted online Apr. 11th on the firefoxflicks.com website...the contest ended Apr. 14th. This ad incorporates ALMOST NONE of the guidelines set forth other than the fact that she actually uses a browser. (And it's a clear of the recent coca-cola and American express ads... that's more of a rumor though but you decide for yourself)
-"Wheee!" was in complete denial of the FAQ that they posted (specifically Here [firefoxflicks.com]) that said that other logos could not be used without permission and yet there goes IE, Netscape and Safari(not to mention the TOS on those logos on there websites(which can also includes modifying the logos in any way))
-"Fox Fever" had no video production quality other than that is was trying to be cheesy which can be argued to have not fallen under the scoring system set forth by the rules.
-"This is Hot" deserved to win more than an honorable mention. It fit the "rules" set forth perfectly and has a very high production quality that (in my opinion) can take on some super bowl commercials.
-"Give Me the Soap" was cute and could fit the rules perfectly.
-It starts to appear that the actual "winners" were not exactly following the rules and guidelines of the contest and the two honorable mentions fit it perfectly (which is probably why there were 2 "honorable mentions" because there wasn't any mention that there was going to be).
Rumors:
-I'll quote myself for the first "rumor":
"the only concern I have about the judging is that the 5 winners were among the first 25% up... I'm not to good at stat but doesn't that mean the odds of that happening unintentionally (5 hits within 25%) 1 in 1024(4^5) (or one could even argue 20% (5^5: 1 in 3125))? If the first ones up were a "cross-section" as noted earlier doesn't that imply that they weren't the best of the best?
"# Asa(one of the firefoxflicks staff Says:
April 25th, 2006 at 8:16 am
cleancut, I don't think it was purely our idea of "the 50 best ones". We posted what we thought was a good cross-section of ads, from humorous to serious and everything in between. We certainly tried to launch the site and build early momentum by highlighting a set of ads that we thought would be compelling and entertaining to a broad audience.
- A
" "
-NONE of the judges ever said a word about the contest ANYWHERE. try googling one the famous "judges" names and firefoxflicks and the only page that will come up is that the list of them on firefoxflicks.com. This lead to ALOT of speculation that some of the videos (Wheeeeeeeee) were picked because of the instant popularity when they were put on the site and not by market viability (or the "rules"). Also all of the judges apparently viewed all 2.5 hours of commercials in LA over 5 days even though they are all working on movies in various parts of the world. But that's probably because the firefoxflicks team forced them to this deadline to be at the SF film fest which wasn't the original plan.
-The firefoxflicks team will never be able to use some of the ads (Wheeee
SmellsTerrific (Score:2)
Re:SmellsTerrific (Score:2)
It certainly beats the others that I've seen (and I've looked at all the winners plus more). It's friendly to the non-technical, points you in the right direction, and relatively non-irritating. It's also the most professionally done of the ones that I've seen. Fox Fever was kind of amusing and covered more technical details though. It also, if you think about it, drives home the name of the browser a lot more than the others. Have to give it to Smells Terrific though.
TV spots? Web Ads? (Score:2)
Some of these ads have high production value and as good or are better ads that I have seen on TV. Are these any plans to try and get some of these spots on prime-time? Is any wealthy donor like IBM/Google/Shuttleworth/Cuban going to pony up the cash for this?
Heck I could even see benefits to RedHat or Novell funding such an ad campaign. Anything that reduces IE's marketshare lower
They should show them all! (Score:2)
This is hot, Fox Fever, Infinite, and of course Wheee!
But with only a couple of exceptions I thought they were all very good and I think they should all be shown on TV.
Perhaps IFC could have a spot where they show all of the Firefox Flicks back to back? If TechTV were still alive (damn you evil comcast!) I know they would have gladly done something like that.
My rating... (Score:2)
Worst. Promo. Ever. This is the most introvert commercial I've seen in ages. It will communicate to noone that's not already well aware. It doesn't present any useful information.
4. Fox Fever
Good, cheesy, but as a promo? I think it fails to communicate that this is a browser, not a security product.
3. Give me the the soap
More "family friendly" than Fox Fever, but again I feel it's being communicated as a security product.
2. DareDevil
Excellent "lifestyle" ad. I just don't think that is what Firefox
Re:Karma whore? (Score:2)
Statistics on Firefox popularity in Russia (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Statistics on Firefox popularity in Russia (Score:3, Informative)
Recent Statistics [spylog.ru] (for the week ending Friday) show that usage is up to over 8%.
Re:What the heck? (Score:2)
Re:This site sucks (Score:2)
It's easy to disable the popup blocker (Score:2)
If you really want popups, turn the popup blocker off. It's not hidden away in some obscure setting in about:config, it's the first option in the Content settings tab!
Edit->Preferences->Content->[ ] Block Popup Windows
Also when it hides a popup you get a message telling you about it and an easy way to show it.
Re:Stop the Lies (Score:2)
Like hell it is. Firefox weighs in at very nearly the same as the entire Seamonkey (ex-Mozilla) suite. Try it yourself - fire up Firefox and Thunderbird, and check the resource utilization relative to Seamonkey with both browser and mail windows open - the FF/TB combo is nearly twice the size. Seamonkey delivers *much* more bang for the buck than Firefox/Tbird/Nvu/etc., which is
Re:Missing plug-in? (Score:2)
Youtube and Google Video *just work*, and there are a ton of open standards based formats or containers it could have been put in that would *just work*, but oooh no, we need this one specific proprietary plugin.
Let me say this again. Fuck quicktime. And fuck them for choosing it.
Look at all the imm