Nike - Spec/To Catch A Predator (2007) 1:06 (US)

Does anyone else think the actor in this spec spot looks like Seth Rogan from the movie Knocked Up?

Update by Dabitch: Directing credit goes to Alec Brownstein, a copywriter turned commercial director currently hiding out at Publicis New York.

Make sure to check out the music video Buffalo girls he shot using his laptop camera as well. There's plenty more crazy where that came from!

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caffeinegoddess's picture

Can I give this less than 1 vote?

You can lynch me for having no sense of humor, but what they are making fun of is a rather serious thing, and I find this inappropriate.

anonymous's picture

uuuugh, it is so not Nike.

Is this spec to show off concept skills or directing skills? It looses points on concept.

Plywood's picture

Horrible, horrible idea.That is all.  

kidsleepy's picture

wow. nike's tag/horror spot done with people who can't act.

i think this is a good lesson for any creative thinker in our business:
just 'cause you film it all low budget and put it on youtube, it doesn't make it something good.

yes one could argue that the viral did it's job by making us talk about it, and there's no such thing as negative press etc etc, but uh, all the press Nike is getting is when I utter the sentence "That Nike Spec spot blows."

Dabitch's picture

I don't get the predator thing. Are all teenage guys predators now?

caffeinegoddess's picture

it's spoofing a show where of a hidden camera investigation into computer sex predators -- grown men, trolling the Web for young teenagers. more on that here.

Dabitch's picture

Oh. Well maybe they should have cast a grown man and a young teen (she looks 18 to me)then.

caffeinegoddess's picture

well, "grown" is anyone over 18. "Underage" is anyone under 18. But I see your point. Maybe they thought it would be less offensive or whatever to make them appear closer in age or something.

Dabitch's picture

Maybe these were the only two people this copywriter turned director could get a hold of (might be working for free) in which case, I'll totally let that one slide. I think we're supposed to judge the directing skills, which aren't bad as it seems everyone (but me who hasn't seen the original) knew what they were spoofing.

purplesimon's picture

*shudder*

Why did they choose to use a sexual theme when it could have been bank robbers, or anyone else that tries to escape from the police? The spoofing idea just doesn't hold water IMHO. Then again, being in the UK I wouldn't have seen the original show this is allegedly spoofing. Even if I had I still think this idea sucks.

Oh, to answer the original question, yes it does look like Seth Rogan - uncannily so!

jusfonzin's picture

i thought it was pretty funny.  it's amazing how much ad people like to shit on other people's work.  i used to be that way until i realized i was just doing it to make myself feel better about all the hacky shit i was producing.  it's easy to pick holes in other people's work, but it's a lot harder to actually go out there and do something for yourself. 

Dabitch's picture

Even if you think it's funny (humor is subjective, and it's totally fine if you think it's hilarious) it still doesn't make this right for Nike. One thing ad people should know is how to peg the right tone of voice, fit ideas into a bigger picture, create ideas that are campaignable and most importantly of all - be on proposition.

Still, if this is spec showing off directorial skills arguing about the script is as off-base as this ad is to Nike's proposition.

mochazina's picture

I think it's funny. I also think it's not Nike. It could be selling anything else.

tod.brody's picture

I actually think it does a good job spoofing the Dateline NBC Predator shows, but that's all I think it does.  It's not "Nike," and while it's probably inappropriate to most, I've found lots of SNL sketches inappropriate as well.

Dabitch's picture

Although way back in the seventies, I heard they were funny.... ;P

tod.brody's picture

Probably so, but my mind was too altered back then to remember.  ;-)