archived-videos VOTE NO TO MAYOR McCHEESE (2 min, sarcasm)

It was in your traditional Sonnyboo unique humor, but I didn't read the description before I watched it and was left with a big "WTF was that? (chuckle)". Nice. :)
 
WideShot said:
It was in your traditional Sonnyboo unique humor, but I didn't read the description before I watched it and was left with a big "WTF was that? (chuckle)". Nice. :)
Click to expand...

I had no idea I had a unique humor....
 
I liked it... especially with the two different examples of campaign ads at the end. Amazing how the background music really sets the tone on those types of ads... seeing a lot of those on the television now, for the '04 electoral race.

The only thing missing from the live interview on the steps was the sound of some bulbs popping and a few flash-camera effects. Very well done... looked just like the way politicians get their sound-bites out, with reporters laying in wait outside.

If you liked Super Size Me, you'll probably like this one too, due out later this year in the US...

http://thecorporation.tv/

:shock:
 
ZenSteve,

Thanks for the link. I had heard about this doc, but not seen anything from it. It's saying things I'm just coming to realize about major corporations. Wal-Mart is the shining example of this progression. Their singular drive of "How can we make this cheaper" has destroyed more American jobs that you can imagine, but it also controls the economy's of many small countries now. It's scarey, but it is a reality and I don't see a way to waking up the people of the world to the fact that we are becoming a corporate state. This documentary could be a start, but "Joe Sixpack" isn't going to sit through a bunch of talking heads which is sad. I say fight the good fight.

Scott
 
Walmart got where it is by being innovative and competing in the business world. If other businesses want to survive, they must compete. Don't blame major corporations for small businesses' incompitence...Walmart isn't a minopoly.

It can happen the other way around to: i.e. the airline business...smaller airlines are killing the major airlines in business...technically making people lose their jobs...without this system where businesses can fail, we would not have such a great economy. Just because a corporation is large doesn't mean it's evil. There's good and bad.

If Walmart ever began to jack up prices or make major mistakes, smaller businesses would take over again easily. But until then, smaller businesses have to innovate...nothing but good can come from this!

The REAL problem is when the government helps out and/or bails out major corporations (like the airlines')...this is the death of the consumer.
 
Without making this a hardcore political discussion, I'll dispute one of Logan's points: true, Wal-Mart got where they are by being innovative and they're not "technically" a monopoly, but seriously, when you're as big a corporate monolith as they are, and you can produce or purchase items at the cheapest possible bulk prices and then resell them to the public for less than some other companies can even afford to buy them in the first place, you're bordering on controlling the market. They lead the way with unfair business practices and questionable censorship issues but it's nearly impossible to battle them legally or financially because they're so freaking huge.

All businesses need to find their own way to compete, tis true. But when you can rewrite the rules of the game the way Wal-Mart does, you're not going to have many competitors; you're going to have a legion of local businesses going out of business as Wal-Mart encroaches on their markets. They're the poster child for corporate cancer.

Am I the only person who actually feels dirty and a little lesser of a human being even just from walking through Wal-Mart's front doors? I'm sure Target's not much better, but at least I don't feel like I'm actually being a bad person when I shop there.
 
stbd1 said:
I'm sure Target's not much better, but at least I don't feel like I'm actually being a bad person when I shop there.
Click to expand...

Woa! That's a little extreme, don't you think?

Well, I still hold the opinion I said earlier...but for arguments sake, if you are right...what is the solution?

By the way, are you using anything Microsoft in your life...they are a true monopoly (well, more so than Wal-Mart). They truly control the market right now. Not only that, but the way they became so big is by using questionable practices.

Also, like I said earlier...a large corporation can easily slip up and lose control of the market. Infact, this happens a lot...Ford has been spending more money than it's been making during the last 7 years (that's beginning to turn around), as have Delta, American Airlines, United Airlines, all major record labels (interscope, etc.), MacDonald's (finally, haha)...the list goes on. Big size may mean that your company always exists, but not that it will always be in controll. There are even a few examples of large corps. going out of business: Food Lion, American Motor Company. Anything can happen, and quite frankly, I like it that way..even if that means that my job isn't 100% secure...I believe it all turns out for good for the majority in the end (well, as long as the companies in question are doing nothing illegal, or immoral like child labor...which Wal-Mart isn't).

P.S. This is just a friendly debate to me...no hard core argument :wink: .
 
stbd1 said:
but seriously, when you're as big a corporate monolith as they are, and you can produce or purchase items at the cheapest possible bulk prices and then resell them to the public for less than some other companies can even afford to buy them in the first place, you're bordering on controlling the market.
Click to expand...

So...how's that bad, with those kind of resources...they should be the top dog! duh!

...and they don't controll the market...if they raised prices, they would lose what they have quickly...they have to run themselves very tightly and efficiently to stay on top. They don't just sit there and controll what we buy!!!
 
Wal-Mart may be the best example of the capitalist ethic, which I suppose means that I'm not actually a capitalist at heart.

That's because, according to capitalist ethics, you can never have enough. Wal-Mart is in position to systematically rub out every mom-and-pop store in the country. That's not because they're better managed or give more back to the customer than the locally owned stores do; it's because they can afford to price their wares so low -- at a loss, if need be -- that they can undercut anyone else in any market, outlast them, and then creep their prices back up once the competition is gone.

Feel free to agree with the Wal-Mart business practices -- lord knows they're effective -- but I still question the bigger picture: is this country so desperate for the cheapest of everything that they'll allow one company to eradicate the bulk of the locally owned businesses, thereby putting thousands of workers out of a job, only to rehire them at substandard wages and with atrocious benefits? Apparently we are that desperate.

But, as you say, even the biggest companies can be brought down. I'm not sure it'll happen in my lifetime, but Wal-Mart will come crashing down sooner or later. Every empire does.

Speaking of Starbucks...
 
I hate political ads. This was my stab at them all. I'm a pragmatic anarchist at heart.

Having worked as a licensed broker for 5 years, I can say with all certainty that big buinsses are bad. It's white collar crim without getting caught, with even higher stakes than a crack dealer on a street corner.

What's the solution?

Not going to McDonalds.

Cooking your own meals.

Excersize.

And my favorite - Laughter.
 
You bring up a very good point: the worker.

While consumers truly control the market, workers are pretty much stuck with whatever is given to them.

Still, this stuff is monitored by the government and other organizations, and when bad working conditions arise they are quickly pointed out or eradicated. Still a good point, though.

It just frustrates me when people pick on things (companies, organizations, non-existant problems, etc.) that may not be a problem. It just seems that people use their instinct to rebel in the wrong way (I'm not saying this about you at all--you seem very well versed in what you speak!). People need to educate themselves and look at things from all perspectives!

People should concentrate their sights toward truly corrupt issues like the Gap, Nike using sweatshops...Our government turning to shit (relatively, of course), George Bush and his earth destroying ego, etc. I believe that Wal-Mart is doing a good job, and that is the only reason they are able to do so well.

stbd1 said:
Wal-Mart may be the best example of the capitalist ethic, which I suppose means that I'm not actually a capitalist at heart.

That's because, according to capitalist ethics, you can never have enough. Wal-Mart is in position to systematically rub out every mom-and-pop store in the country. That's not because they're better managed or give more back to the customer than the locally owned stores do; it's because they can afford to price their wares so low -- at a loss, if need be -- that they can undercut anyone else in any market, outlast them, and then creep their prices back up once the competition is gone.

Feel free to agree with the Wal-Mart business practices -- lord knows they're effective -- but I still question the bigger picture: is this country so desperate for the cheapest of everything that they'll allow one company to eradicate the bulk of the locally owned businesses, thereby putting thousands of workers out of a job, only to rehire them at substandard wages and with atrocious benefits? Apparently we are that desperate.

But, as you say, even the biggest companies can be brought down. I'm not sure it'll happen in my lifetime, but Wal-Mart will come crashing down sooner or later. Every empire does.

Speaking of Starbucks...
Click to expand...

Well, in America, we have modified Capitolism, which I believe is near perfect, and not a big problem. I'm not a huge fan of Socialism as an economic ideal, but can't deny there are arguments for it.
 
You nailed it Ross! We can only control ourselves! We can't dictate how big a company gets or how far they go unless we learn to support our commrades. Isn't it wonderful that we are able to do this?! this freedom is provided by free enterprise (as opposed to Socialism)...you must take the bad with the good!
 
I'm sorry, but Walmart, Target, McDonald's, Starbucks, etc. are not evil. It's a sad state of affairs we live in when we blame our problems on the easiest target - big business. I'm fat, it's all McDonald's fault. I didn't sell enough sportsgear to keep my store open, it's all Walmart's fault. I made crappy coffee, it's all Starbuck's fault. It's just not logical, it's the "There's no way in hell I can control my own destiny" way of thought, and it's absurd.

I mean could it possibly be that all those things happened cause of your own actions?

As far as the movie (it can't really be called that can it) goes, I didn't really like it. Sorry, sonnyboo. I usually enjoy your stuff, but I was hampered here. I am a member of the media, and it's one of my biggest pet peeves to see things, news-wise, shot incorrectly for TV and film. While your short is close to what we might actually see, it isn't completely accurate. For instance, the framing was bad. If this was a rookie photog out on a live shot, then I'd understand the framing, but a vet would not have the reporter in the shot until the end. If this was a live shot, the OSBs (Over the Shoulder Boxes) wouldn't have been popping up before the candidate made the comment (ie the Hamburglar would not have appeared before Fox's reference to the Mayor's lose policies on criminals) Also, where the hell is Mr. Fox coming from, and what mayoral candidate doesn't have staff walking with him at all times during a campaign?

I know it's nitpicky, you don't have to tell me.

I'm still giving it a 7 cause it's a funny idea.

Poke
 
pokewowplayer1 said:
While your short is close to what we might actually see, it isn't completely accurate. Poke
Click to expand...



With the greatest amount of respect - it's fiction. "Accuracy" is subjective. As for the two ads, all I did was take my actual commercials I did for 2 real candidates & changed them to mayor McCheese. ((the Winston Fox commercial was derived from Tim Hagan/Charleta Tavares gubanatorial race in Ohio 2002)). Same music and graphics, so it was as "accurate" as I can make it.


I appreciate the notes Poke. It's always good to get the honest opinions in the mix. THANKS!
 
sonnyboo said:
With the greatest amount of respect - it's fiction. "Accuracy" is subjective.
Click to expand...

Yeah. I said I was too nitpicky.

sonnyboo said:
As for the two ads, all I did was take my actual commercials I did for 2 real candidates & changed them to mayor McCheese.
Click to expand...

The ads were great. I was referring to the "news" coverage.

Poke
 
<<Walmart got where it is by being innovative and competing in the business world. If other businesses want to survive, they must compete. Don't blame major corporations for small businesses' incompitence...Walmart isn't a minopoly. >>

The majority of people are sheep. They don't want to think. They just want the deal. The cheapest thing. Hell, I'm guilty of that sometimes. I just see this as a race to the bottom and creating a society of the rich and the poor and the middle class just gets smaller. It's the nature of capitalism. Does it make me happy? No. Is there much I can do about it? Not much, but I do what I can. Occassionally I buy the cheapest thing because I'm a poor filmmaker.

Logan, nothing you say isn't true. To survive in business you have to innovate and be ruthless. This is what makes businesses thrive and creates big businesses which creates jobs, but what kind of jobs? Low paying jobs with crappy benefits or rewarding jobs that enrich the people and allow them to grow. We can't turn back the clock and live like Amish, but I wish we weren't so damn driven by the need to get "stuff".

Stuff is evil, but hey, you better stay away from my stuff or I'll hurt you. :wink:

Take care all and get to work on your movie, whatever it will be.

Scott
 
Well, you all know my opinion so I'll just say this and let y'all talk it out if you want:

You must also understand that I've grown up in the Dallas area. There are many poor people where I live, but it is basically their choice to be poor. The economy in north Texas is booming. It is EXTREMELY easy to get a job in Dallas, even without an education. Maybe it's just not the same way in other parts of the country, but from my point of view...the economy is running in top gear. Also, my dad is a pilot for Delta. He didn't lose his job, but I know that even if he did...a new job (in a different field) would be available to him soon after. Perhaps in certain areas of the U.S. jobs are more scarce...that would make what y'all are saying make more sense to me. I've never lived more than two hours away from a major city, so maybe that's why I'm so optimistic about good jobs.

It IS sad that most people are followers, and blind followers at that. Free thinkers are a rarity these days. I find it refreshing to talk (or type) to people who actually have REAL opinions instead of repeating what they heard someone else say...even if we disagree. It's good that we are able to talk about this stuff and if only more people would do that we would live in a better place.

P.S. I'm gay.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top