Google Sponsored? Ninja’s Unboxing Nexus One

Google has taken unboxing (the process of documenting a products removal from its packaging) to the next level with the latest promotion for its “superphone” the Nexus One: “NINJA’S UNBOXING”. Readers familiar with this blog will recognize the film as the work of Patrick Boivin (born 1975), a self-taught and fiercely independent filmmaker from Canada. Is it Google-sponsored or not? Who cares? That's the beauty of this new form of online (branded) entertainment.

Lexus L Studio - Mixes Contemporary Art and Autos

In this excellent piece of branded entertainment, Artists deconstruct a Lexus, then use the parts to build their own amazing works of art. BMW has used online video featuring artists and cars for a long time, but Lexus has found an own story to tell and the website for the campaign L Studio is very scaled back and classy, which is the way to market an exclusive automobile. Well worth checking out. BTW, my company Viking's work with IKEA on Easy To Assemble was named as one of five best branded entertainment deals of the year for 2009 in Ad Age. Very happy about that. And last, but not least, Happy New Year!

Spärhusen - A Swedish Spinal Tap?

The second episode of Spärhusen, a spinoff from the IKEA sponsored web series Easy To Assemble, is now online. It's a Spinal Tap for the web about the almost great band of Sweden. It features Keanu Reeves and the band can actually play. I took the picture above at the Easy To Assemble premiere the other week.

Slap Chop Rap Gets Over 5 Million Views - More To The Story

Many of you have already seem DJ Steve Porter's remix of an infomercial with Vince Offer or "ShamWow Guy," which has logged over 5 million views on YouTube.

But there is more to this video than what meets the eye. Reading Vince Offer's Wikipedia page gives you some background to the life of the "ShamWow Guy": On February 7, 2009, Offer was arrested in Miami Beach, Florida on a charge of felony battery after an altercation with a 26-year-old prostitute. Offer, who appears in police reports under his real name Vince Shlomi, contended that he struck the prostitute when she "bit his tongue and would not let go." Prosecutors later declined to file formal charges against either individual." The success of the viral video above can be explained by the nature of social media and viral gossip, explained well by fellow Swede Walter Naeslund in the following presentation, well worth taking a look at:

Do Social / Never Lie

View more documents from Walter Naeslund.

I Love Vans As Much As Katy Perry Does

Check out the custom pair of Vans Katy Perry has been sporting lately. Go to Vans.com/customs and check out how to customize your own pair of Vans! Vans are doing everything right, in my humble opinion, keeping true to their brand, great style, easy and stylish web-interface that lets everyone create a custom pair of shoes, upload artwork, interact and even find skate-parks in their area. Success!

The Norwegian five step program - an Arts video

Moods of Norway has been doing the hibbedy-dibbedy on the international fashion dance floor for 6 years now, the philosophy is still the same even though the Norwegian oil price is as flexible as an Bulgarian gymnast after 14 tequila shots. Their main goal, besides making their grandmas happy, is to make happy clothes for happy people around the world, according to their blog.

Interns at Crispin Porter + Bogusky Had a Fun Summer

The ad agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky in Miami has a creative way to pay for their interns, while making it a prestigious gig - make clients bid for their services. Winning bid this summer - $17,655! The interns produced this hilarious video, proving that they can do much more than fetch coffee and have fun too!