DDB’s chainsaw spot cuts too deep for some
April 1 2009, 4:41 pm | | 30 Comments
A commercial for Stihl chainsaws, via DDB New Zealand, thatmakes light of a deathbed scene, has drawn criticism for beinginsensitive and offensive.
The TVC has just been selected as Bestads top spot of the week.
30 Comments
This ad is pretty stink. What a leap, you could throw any product on the end of this ad.
Disagree. It’s tight to the idea and the brand promise. And as the AA Inspector in the Toyota ads says, I can say what I like.
Mind you, I don’t like the ad – mainly because there’s nothing at all original about the execution. Director should be ashamed. And I’ll shout a case of Stellar Artois to anyone who proves me wrong.
Oh yeah, that’s right. A deathbed scene just like the Stella spot. Just the same. Bullshit man. They are completely different ideas with a similar execution in so much as an old man is dying and surrounded by family. So what? This ad is funny and edgy and beautifully shot. I saw it on Sunday night and at first i thought I was watching Sunday Theatre. Great cast. Great direction. Reminded me of that film The Bicycle Thiefs. Easily the best ad on TV in NZ right now. Glad bestads agreed. Bet the last two posts haven’t done anything good in years. Sad industry we have here.
DDB should be ashamed. Very poor taste. A Very old fashioned idea – its like an ad from the 80’s. Do the honorable thing. pull the ad and apologise for the bad taste.
Sure it looks like it’s set in Romania, the guys are dressed like Americans and talk like Australians. But Kiwis will probably like it. I just wonder why DDB are so intent on making kiwi ads look nothing like Kiwi ads.
Ad is rubbish.
As much as it pains me to say, this is a true classic. Simple idea, beautifully shot. Sure to hold its own in worldwide award shows. I just wish it wasn’t done by DDB.
That was hilarious.
My only quibble about this great spot is I think the sons are way too young (the mother must have had them when she was 50ish) but who can argue it doesn’t do a brilliant job at pulling the rug? In fact, it was clearly too good for many. Will it build the Stihl brand? I certainly hope so. I’m sure the client knew they would be gaining instant noteriety for this one. Good on them (and nice work by all – excepting the casting decisions).
fuck man – what’s the 80’s got to do with anything you don’t like ? “it’s like an old ad from the 80’s” ? why – cos it’s nicely crafted? dickhead.
I love the first comment. “The ad is pretty stink.” Obviously someone who subscribes to the KISS theory. A good word is ‘stink’. Says it all really. “Stink.”
Nice way to get publicity too. Pains me, but well done DDB.
Stink. Funny word – i could use that in a headline. The ad is a let down.
Why does it pain you?
Can someone explain the hatred of DDB please?
Without just calling them wankers etc.
Pains me because using controversy to get publicity is a “stink” thing to do.
But DDB still does good work.
Sorry, can’t help you further than that – I don’t understand the DDB hatred either.
Two minutes of airplay on primetime news… talk about bang for your buck. Well done.
I’m partial to black humour so I like it. Would love to have it in my book that’s for sure.
As for DDB, well, they did the fatso.co.nz stuff didn’t they? A great campaign. That actor really is a superstar.
I can explain the hatred. You put an ad on here, people hate it. I have too admit that in hindsight I have even slagged some ads off in here that would actually make it into my book, and not bothered to prasie some great ads that would make it into it to. We are to busy being ultra critical, and it’s easy too do that when it’s not our ad and we are anonymous. It’s a small country, we don’t like our competitors doing well. But what’s not well, is what people outside advertising (like our clients) think when they read this blog.
And yea, there was an extra o on a too or two. But that is so some fuckwit can comment on my grammar. Because that;s what we do right? And that’s what’s important, right?
Cunts
“Can someone explain the hatred of DDB please?”
How long have you got? Hours? Good.
It has fuck all to do with good ideas and a lot more to do with the many good people right royally shafted over a good many years at DDB. Make’s the ‘good work’ excuse a thin one. Colenso does great work AND they’re Agency of the Year ten times over. Funny how there’s not too much hatred of them around is there? Except maybe at DDB.
In my opinion the ad’s not ‘stink’, it’s just an ad. Personally having lost my Dad not so long ago, it’s certainly insensitive. It also feels cynical, in as much the client and agency knew it would make Primetime news because it was controversial. Will it convince hard nosed Kiwi blokes, the sort that buy chain saws? Hmm, I doubt it.
As for hating DDB, why? They’ve been one of the most creative ad agencies for many years, trouble is – the World has moved on. A blog is an infinitely more powerful tool for convincing a consumer. But then again, we all know that, and too be honest, we all much prefer creating ‘great ads’. Whatever ‘great’ means.
10:22. Hi Mick
I’ve got to say I couldn’t agree more with 9.44, but that’s because I wrote that too. Also, 10:22. Hi Mick
DDB has been through many stuff. Most have just left, which tells me the place is average to good. The building sucks(stink) and it is just another big business run by people who have to deliver to a head office to get their two cents. Which is fine. Thats what it’s all about. A fight to the top and who can stay at the top the longest wins.
They do some good work and some nice people work there.
I myself moved on, got bored. Hit the ceiling on that one. Got to go out and fight my own battles now. Thats what it’s all about. A lot of people leave big agencies because they can not progress also. Thats the other reason why it is perceived that agencies burn through staff. For most, it is time to move on (Creatives get bored fast).
The ones i feel sorry for are the ones who stay on to long, get sick of it and become painful. And they are the ones holding on for what they got which really is not much.
Man, whoever it is who goes on and on and on about DDB, how shit the building is, how shit the people are and how average the work is, MOVE ON!!!!!! YOU ARE FUCKING BORING!!!!!!
DDB is just like Colenso is just like Saatchi is just like FCB. They’re all big agencies. No agency is perfect. And it sounds like the previous bloggers have been collateral damage from DDB at some point which is a pity but it happens. Especially to angry people like them.
Personally, I think the work has improved in the last few years. It used to be a bit predictable under Catmur. the old comedy gag with a boom tish at the end. But that doesn’t mean I love the place or anything like that. I try and be fair and give praise when it’s due.
Leave them alone. We are so bored with it.
Hey dude at 12.33. It’s because DDB isn’t just like Colenso or Saatchi or FCB that everyone goes on and on and on. Ask the people who used to work at DDB who now work at Colenso, Saatchi and DDB. All agencies fuck people over but they don’t fuck ’em over like DDB. And the people who do the fucking over are still there. That’s all I’m sayin’. And all everyone else is sayin’.
This inter-agency bitching is hilarious to the unaffiliated.
Stihl ad is OK. My first thought was a bit 80s (I thought Castlemaine XXXX flying doctor) but does the job.
Meh.
Bunch of overly politically correct codgers ruining it for everyone.
What is in poor taste about this ad? People die every day for fuck’s sake! And what I find hilarious is that you can see all those humourless PC types who feel it is in bad taste were completely fooled when they saw the ad for the first time just like me. For a full 50 seconds I was drawn into the close ups, the sad classical music and the poignant close ups of the old man. Then suddenly, the young son pulls a fast one on his big brother. And the way the chainsaw comes into frame with the packshot at full revs at the end. Hilarious.
The client must be chuffed to bits. They are brave and they have bought an endline, ‘You’ll only need one’ – that no other client I can think of would ever buy. Hats off to them. The amount of talkback/TV/free media it has received is gold dust and it’s only been on air a week.
Must really fuck off all you tall poppy types who frequent this blog too. Only one agency is doing great TV in New Zealand right now and it’s DDB I reckon (FCB a close second). Get a Perm. Fatso and now this. No wonder there’s so much anti-DDB sentiment. Pure unbridled jealousy. Suck it up!
Written by DDB. THE END.
Wrong. Written by someone who’s bored with the smallmindedness of the blog.