Thanks to
Slate
(via
BoingBoing
) for pointing out this TV ad for a bank, with what Humboldters will recognize as a familiar story, at least until the ending. As Slate’s
Joanna Newsom
provides the soundtrack song. I can’t say I understand what it all has to do with banking, but it’s intriguing.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=UaRYR7wQPsk%26hl%3Den%26fs%3D1

Freelance photographer and writer, Arts and Entertainment editor from 1997 to 2013.

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4 Comments

  1. Here’s the explanation (PDF) from the UK ad company, JWT:

    “The lumberjack in this film for HSBC is definitely not OK in his wife’s eyes after she gets arrested trying to save the trees he’s cutting down. This film is designed to show how the bank realises that people have different opinions, and how it uses this knowledge to ensure it can treat its customers better.”

  2. Well, yeah…I sure wish all banks were down with direct action, instead of being a bunch of bowtie brandishing corporate assholes…

  3. why are they trying to save a bunch of second growth? Also the lumberjack wasn’t, his saw is about big enough for firewood cutting. emotional poppycock!

  4. Aside from the particular differences between reality and this commercial, I feel kind of queasy, like I just watched a Chevron feel good ad.

    After watching it again, I feel like I’ve been raped in the kulo by a big, smelly, and hairy logger without any lubrication.

    It’s tragic that the legacy of Earth’s defenders is being used to sell a bank, or a greenwashed lumber company as in the case of MRC’s entrance into Humboldt.

    Not cool.

    PS. Fuck Joanna Newsome.

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