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Stradlater · Nov 6, 2006, 11:54 AM

I caught this on a gigantic billboard on the way to work this morning:

Did the ad people at Cadillac just discover the "Lens Flare" filter? Will this appeal to anyone?

Apparently there are more lens-flare fiascos: Cadillac launches "Life. Liberty. And the Pursuit." | Leftlane News - Car News For Enthusiasts

Dark Helmet · Nov 6, 2006, 12:22 PM

Is that the camera crew in the reflection on the bottom left?

BlueSky · Nov 6, 2006, 12:27 PM

Is that Michael J. Fox on the upper right?

Dakar² · Nov 6, 2006, 12:27 PM

That dude looks asian.

Dakar² · Nov 6, 2006, 12:31 PM

4x Classier.

Dark Helmet · Nov 6, 2006, 12:37 PM

Seems rather targeted towards gays also.

Rumor · Nov 6, 2006, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar²

4x Classier.

Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, my eyes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

powerbook867 · Nov 6, 2006, 12:55 PM

Wow. That's looking like the camera crew in the bottom left...

Plus, looking at the lens flare makes me want to poke my eyes out...

Maybe it was some highschool's A/V project?

kick52 · Nov 6, 2006, 01:02 PM

they have overdone that lens flare.. plus you can see the camera crew

G4ME · Nov 6, 2006, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by kick52

they have overdone that lens flare.. plus you can see the camera crew

thanks for your comment

sek929 · Nov 6, 2006, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by G4ME

thanks for your comment

Thanks for your comment, jerk!

scaught · Nov 6, 2006, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar²

4x Classier.

Still a tad sedated. Could use a bit more "pop".

(I got a fever. And the only prescription, is MORE LENSFLARE! When I get done with you, you'll all be wearing gold plated diapers.)

Dakar² · Nov 6, 2006, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by scaught

I got a fever. And the only prescription, is MORE LENSFLARE!

I could see graphic artists, sitting around, making fun of the client in this manner.

osiris · Nov 6, 2006, 01:53 PM

Nah, still needs more lens flare.

SeSawaya · Nov 6, 2006, 01:58 PM

well it's good to see they are saving money on advertising by hiring some 7th graders to do their stuff.

Funny thread. I almost split out my drink when I saw the multi lens flare spoof!!!!

powerbook867 · Nov 6, 2006, 02:01 PM

Now you have me thinking of....more cow bell!!!!!!!

kick52 · Nov 6, 2006, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by G4ME

thanks for your comment

thankful or sarcastic?

rickey939 · Nov 6, 2006, 02:24 PM

Cadillac has their "30 pieces of flair" going on...

::maroma:: · Nov 6, 2006, 02:34 PM

Whats up with the crops of those photos. Is it me or do we not even see a Cadillac or a Cadillac logo in any of those shots? Add in those horrible lens flares and we have all the trappings of amateur design. My theory is that one of the marketing people has a grandkid who's an aspiring graphic designer and paid them like $500 do design this. But usually, 14 year old graphic designers use more motion blur.

BlueSky · Nov 6, 2006, 02:50 PM

I'm not necessarily saying it's good in any aspect, but the lens flare, the reflection of the crew and the cut-off head on the bottom right are designed to look like the pic was taken quickly and spontaneously, a la "snapshot" and to convey a message of a young asshole on the go. Those "mistakes" are either purposely included or added later.

angelmb · Nov 6, 2006, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by ::maroma::

My theory is that one of the marketing people has a grandkid who's an aspiring graphic designer and paid them like $500 do design this. But usually, 14 year old graphic designers use more motion blur.

Sorta like the guy on charge did some google search and stumbled into MacNN, then did a new search looking for "nice car" and the hamster shown him that topic about the VOLVO C30, the lens flare job SWG put there did the rest

Dark Helmet · Nov 6, 2006, 03:04 PM

Aw thank you. That is why I didn't bother with this one, so 6 months ago

Dakar² · Nov 6, 2006, 03:06 PM

Mmmm, I was out of the loop.

ghporter · Nov 6, 2006, 03:30 PM

Too much lens flare. And all to metrosexual (at least) for me. At least they're not marketing the STS or DTS or whatever to grannies anymore. I saw a lady of at least 90 in one of the "Jimmy Page recommends this car" Caddies a while back and though how odd it looked; she was DEFINITELY NOT rock and roll material, but the look of the car was "I'm a rebel, check my wheels"-or at least that's what GM wants you to think about it.

Maybe GM needs to get a new ad agency-one that's doing something other than watching Will & Grace all the time.

angelmb · Nov 6, 2006, 03:34 PM

BTW, what is Cadillac worth?, AFAIK they don't sell a **** on Europe.

Dark Helmet · Nov 6, 2006, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

Maybe GM needs to get a new ad agency-one that's doing something other than watching Will & Grace all the time.

Ya the gays love the flare.

Mastrap · Nov 6, 2006, 05:31 PM

The camera crew looks like it's there on purpose. If you look closely, you'll see they're using a film camera. The image is shot with a still camera.

It's still crappy advertising though, camera crew or no camera crew.

This one is equally terrible.

Dark Helmet · Nov 6, 2006, 05:36 PM

From the posts on the original page:

"Very classy, elegant and beautifully photographed ads. Cadillacs are fantastic luxury cars and the brand has really come along way in the last few years so a fresh new campaign is a great idea."

Dark Helmet · Nov 6, 2006, 05:36 PM

On the plus side the guy on the left and the blond chick are both pretty attractive.

scaught · Nov 6, 2006, 05:40 PM

if they'd drop the lens flare it might be alright.

hyteckit · Nov 6, 2006, 06:07 PM

Hmm... they trademark "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit"?

Mastrap · Nov 6, 2006, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

On the plus side the guy on the left and the blond chick are both pretty attractive.

She got what is known in the porn industry as a TCM. Doesn't make her ugly, of course.

sek929 · Nov 6, 2006, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

She got what is known in the porn industry as a TCM. Doesn't make her ugly, of course.

Is that anything like DSL?

Kerrigan · Nov 6, 2006, 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

Seems rather targeted towards gays also.

Probably. Explains why my gut reaction was "Ooo nice, I want it that car, and the grey suit as well"

voodoo · Nov 6, 2006, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by SeSawaya

well it's good to see they are saving money on advertising by hiring some 7th graders to do their stuff.

Funny thread. I almost split out my drink when I saw the multi lens flare spoof!!!!

Hehe yes thanks for this thread. The lens-flair spoof made me actually laugh out loud. Doesn't happen too often when browsing these forums

V

scaught · Nov 6, 2006, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

She got what is known in the porn industry as a TCM. Doesn't make her ugly, of course.

google didn't help. help?

Dark Helmet · Nov 6, 2006, 08:03 PM

I can think of all sorts of porn words that start with T, C and M but not sure about the combo you are thinking of.

Rolling Bones · Nov 6, 2006, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

Seems rather targeted towards gays also.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I ain't near gay but that passenger looks hawt. My feminine side I guess.

Just sayin'.

ghporter · Nov 6, 2006, 09:40 PM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

Ya the gays love the flare.

I'm talking about the smartly dressed guys with pensive looks in expensive cars-sort of "do some model crap for me" modeling. I don't know where they came up with the idea that that lens flare was cool, but it wasn't art school...

villalobos · Nov 6, 2006, 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

She got what is known in the porn industry as a TCM. Doesn't make her ugly, of course.

gotta have to explain that to those amongst us who are not privy to that wonderful business.

Mastrap · Nov 6, 2006, 10:07 PM

TCM = two c**k mouth. The ability - due to a wide mouth - to orally please two people (men) at the same time.

Now you know.

IceEnclosure · Nov 6, 2006, 11:33 PM

haha

zro · Nov 7, 2006, 02:42 AM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

TCM = two c**k mouth. The ability - due to a wide mouth - to orally please two people (men) at the same time.

Now you know.

Good thing you clarified "two people" in the definition as referring to men. I was thinking, "There's no way that mouth is wide enough to please two chicks at the same time."

ghporter · Nov 7, 2006, 10:59 AM

The blonde doesn't have that big a mouth-the "two men" would have to be very friendly...

Jolt21 · Nov 7, 2006, 11:24 AM

i dont get why the lens flare is a bad thing? it is part of the logo? so what?

ghporter · Nov 7, 2006, 11:46 AM

The lens flare is intentionally placed to distract from the supposedly primary image behind the logo, so it's intentionally both dysfunctional in the picture and distracting. That is what's wrong with the lens flare.

Doofy · Nov 7, 2006, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

TCM = two c**k mouth. The ability - due to a wide mouth - to orally please two people (men) at the same time.

Ahhh! A "ODM". Why didn't ya just say that in the first place?

davesimondotcom · Nov 7, 2006, 12:53 PM

Cadillac executives meet with the advertising company:

<ad guy reveals the ad, showing two men exiting a Cadillac with the new slogan "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit" and a small Cadillac logo in the bottom right corner>

Ad guy: I think this achieves our goal of bringing the Cadillac brand back towards a youth market and away from the stogy image of the past.

Caddy guy: It's a start. But it's too stark and since the car is cropped in on in the photo, nobody will know what kind of car it is. We need to jazz it up a bit, too.

Ad guy: I'm open to suggestions.

Caddy guy: Couldn't we make the logo bigger, and put it right in the center of the ad?

Ad guy (now trying not to strangle Caddy guy): We can make it a little bigger, sure.

Caddy guy: Not a little bigger. I want it to take up the whole width. Make sure people know they aren't dealing with any Lincoln here.

Ad guy (whispering sarcastically, to his partners): Maybe we should ad a big fat lens flare right in the middle too.

Caddy guy (who has superhuman hearing): That's a great idea! I love lens flares. They make the ad look sunny! Do it! Now leave me!

Ad guy: Hmmmmmrph...

Since that day, Ad guy has been on suicide watch.

davesimondotcom · Nov 7, 2006, 12:55 PM

When they started using "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit" I actually liked the typography. But in conjunction with the giganto-logo and the oppresso-flare, ick.

Dark Helmet · Nov 7, 2006, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by Rolling Bones

Yeah, I know what you mean. I ain't near gay but that passenger looks hawt. My feminine side I guess.

Just sayin'.

Well hotness aside I meant more expensive car, two stylish guys driving around, dual/disposable incomes, etc.

Many high end cars are catered that way as you don't find many typical families with kids looking at 50-80 thousand dollar cards for the trip to the grand canyon.