This was a short chapter, but the reading was slow going.
Frans takes delivery of his load of cheese. While trying to look like he's in charge, it becomes apparent to everyone that he's a rookie. He questions the delivery expenses and the opened crate. One of the warehouse men explains that the crate was opened by customs. He also hears that there was a "gift" along the way, and that the manifest is falsified, with less high tax cheese written up than is actually included.
Once again, there is more great scenery. The warehouse is a giant underground room, with a big arch. Frans also goes walking in the port area, where we get to see more people, machinery and fog.
While I have joked a lot about Belgian weather, Matena's drawings point to how Belgium might be promoted. In current travel advertising, there is a prevailing orthodoxy that everything has to be a bright tropical day or a sunny ski trip. Matena's Belgium has a calm cool beauty that would translate well to travel posters and a larger campaign.
Showing posts with label Commercials Without Borders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Commercials Without Borders. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Belgian tourism through the years.
White title on black screen: THE BIG TRAVEL AGENCY- 1965.
The camera shows two well dressed people in period clothes on what looks like the set of Mad Men.
A: We overbooked the Paris flight. What can we do?
B: Just give them tickets to Belgium. Lots of people speak French there, and they'll never know the difference.
A: OK.
White title on black screen: THE BIG TRAVEL AGENCY- 1977.
This time, the set and the clothes are in exaggerated 70s styles.
A: We can't send the overbooked Paris people to Belgium any more. They found out about the Eiffel Tower. First they can't find it; then they get mad.
B: Hmm. Maybe we could tell people to make Belgium their first choice. They have great fries, the best beer in the world, and The Death of Marat hangs there. A lot of people think it's in Paris.
A: You're right. They have lots of European architecture too. It's in Europe, you know.
2 seconds of silence.
B: It'll never work.
Belgian tourism logo.
Anncr: COME TO BELGIUM ANYWAY.
The camera shows two well dressed people in period clothes on what looks like the set of Mad Men.
A: We overbooked the Paris flight. What can we do?
B: Just give them tickets to Belgium. Lots of people speak French there, and they'll never know the difference.
A: OK.
White title on black screen: THE BIG TRAVEL AGENCY- 1977.
This time, the set and the clothes are in exaggerated 70s styles.
A: We can't send the overbooked Paris people to Belgium any more. They found out about the Eiffel Tower. First they can't find it; then they get mad.
B: Hmm. Maybe we could tell people to make Belgium their first choice. They have great fries, the best beer in the world, and The Death of Marat hangs there. A lot of people think it's in Paris.
A: You're right. They have lots of European architecture too. It's in Europe, you know.
2 seconds of silence.
B: It'll never work.
Belgian tourism logo.
Anncr: COME TO BELGIUM ANYWAY.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Belgian weather. Always a good reason to visit.
A couple is sitting on the beach. We can only see the edges of their chairs, which frame a table between them. On the table, there two Coronas. Each one has a green onion sticking out of it. They are on a sunny empty beach, typical of Corona commercials.
A: I need better weather. This isn't scenery. This is a screen saver.
B: Honey, you should have told me you wanted better weather. We can vacation at a place where the seascape is more dynamic.
A: Good. The ocean should move, not just sit there. Are you sure things will be different?
B: Not just different, better! From now on, we're going to Belgium!
Cut to the same furniture on a wet Belgian beach during a driving rainstorm. There are two Belgian beers on the table.
A: Now that's dynamic! Look at the whitecaps and the energy!
B: And there's no heat problem!
Announcer: Come to Belgium for the weather.
Copyright notice: Same as for the other commercials.
A: I need better weather. This isn't scenery. This is a screen saver.
B: Honey, you should have told me you wanted better weather. We can vacation at a place where the seascape is more dynamic.
A: Good. The ocean should move, not just sit there. Are you sure things will be different?
B: Not just different, better! From now on, we're going to Belgium!
Cut to the same furniture on a wet Belgian beach during a driving rainstorm. There are two Belgian beers on the table.
A: Now that's dynamic! Look at the whitecaps and the energy!
B: And there's no heat problem!
Announcer: Come to Belgium for the weather.
Copyright notice: Same as for the other commercials.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Another Commercial
Logo: The Dutch Language Film Festival
Announcer: His voice booms. IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR THE DUTCH LANGUAGE FILM FESTIVAL!
The camera is looking out at a sea of empty seats in a movie theater. It looks like the opening for a movie review TV show. In the center, there are two people sitting next to each other. The camera zooms in. We see Geert "Big" Mak wearing a big housecoat over his usual jeans and sweater. He holds a cigar butt that is obviously a prop. He is without his glasses. Next to him is Nelly Frijda. She wears jeans, a sweater and Mak's glasses. Both speak in Dutch with subtitles, unless otherwise noted.
NF: (It's almost time for The Dutch Language Film Festival.)
GM: (Do you think the Americans will like it?)
NF: (Sure, they'll like it better if they speak Dutch.)
GM: (Oh, is this a gag where the subtitles are different from what is said?)
NF: Badly dubbed by a woman with a completely different voice. (Oh no. In fact, even when the voices are dubbed everything will be accurately translated into English.)
GM: (Well, why will speaking Dutch make it better?)
NF: (It's the cultural context. You can translate, but still lose so much. For example, this commercial is hilarious, but only a Dutch speaker would know why.)
Five seconds of silence go by while they stare blankly at the camera. Then, they laugh uncontrollably for a few seconds, then stop.
NF: (See?)
GM: (Yes, but I think they'll enjoy the festival anyway. Do we have time for another joke?)
Logo: The Dutch Language Film Festival
NF: (No, the trailer's ending.)
Copyright notice: Feel free to link to this commercial or quote from it. If you produce it, that's €50 and a copy on DVD for my mother.
Announcer: His voice booms. IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR THE DUTCH LANGUAGE FILM FESTIVAL!
The camera is looking out at a sea of empty seats in a movie theater. It looks like the opening for a movie review TV show. In the center, there are two people sitting next to each other. The camera zooms in. We see Geert "Big" Mak wearing a big housecoat over his usual jeans and sweater. He holds a cigar butt that is obviously a prop. He is without his glasses. Next to him is Nelly Frijda. She wears jeans, a sweater and Mak's glasses. Both speak in Dutch with subtitles, unless otherwise noted.
NF: (It's almost time for The Dutch Language Film Festival.)
GM: (Do you think the Americans will like it?)
NF: (Sure, they'll like it better if they speak Dutch.)
GM: (Oh, is this a gag where the subtitles are different from what is said?)
NF: Badly dubbed by a woman with a completely different voice. (Oh no. In fact, even when the voices are dubbed everything will be accurately translated into English.)
GM: (Well, why will speaking Dutch make it better?)
NF: (It's the cultural context. You can translate, but still lose so much. For example, this commercial is hilarious, but only a Dutch speaker would know why.)
Five seconds of silence go by while they stare blankly at the camera. Then, they laugh uncontrollably for a few seconds, then stop.
NF: (See?)
GM: (Yes, but I think they'll enjoy the festival anyway. Do we have time for another joke?)
Logo: The Dutch Language Film Festival
NF: (No, the trailer's ending.)
Copyright notice: Feel free to link to this commercial or quote from it. If you produce it, that's €50 and a copy on DVD for my mother.
Monday, October 18, 2010
A Charitable Contribution
One worthy organization that nearly missed the Nobel Peace Prize is Réclames Sans Frontières or Commercials Without Borders. Known to most as RSF, it reaches out to the economically disadvantaged to reinforce their basic human identity as consumers. Here in the Americas, hurricane season is upon us. RSF teams are already waiting to be dispatched to bring in displays of new cars, vacations and jewelry wherever disaster might strike.
My contribution to RSF is below. It's part of the second wave of aid. When media infrastructure is destroyed, it means that people can go without commercials for a week or more. While existing channels get rebuilt, RSF, to everyone's relief, will hit the airwaves right away.
TV Commercial
A middle aged couple is shown in a well appointed suburban home. One of their children comes through the front door, coughing. He struggles with the wind and rain to shut the door.
M: I can't believe it! It's one storm after another!
Steel drums build in the background and a ray of sunshine comes through the door.
Do you know what I'm thinking?
F: Not so fast honey. Music and sunshine fade away. Do you remember what it's like in the Carribbean? We don't need to travel for flies and mosquitoes. We'll have them here in a few months.
M: That's right. Plus, we'll have to get used to the heat again. And I thought summer would never end.
F: So why go back to it? Also, do want that pale yellow stuff they call "Beer" down there? It looks like Bono's old sunglasses. Theme from FC de Kampioenen fades in.
M: My goodness. Where can we take the family for a nice vacation?
F: Belgium!
M: Really?
F: Of course! You can get real beer. There are plenty of deserted beaches at this time of year, and we can eat Belgian waffles, Dutch pancakes and lots of fries! Besides, Julius Caesar recommended it back in the day. He said, "The Belgae are the bravest of all the Gauls."
M: No kidding! I'll bet that means we'll get great service! You're right honey, this is the best idea I've had in a long time!
F: Close-up, rolls eyes. Music builds.
Long shot of the family, bundled up and running happily through puddles on a rainy beach. Theme from FC de Kampioenen is dominant now.
Voiceover: Belgium. Come for the weather.
Copyright notice: Feel free to link to this commercial or quote from it. If you produce it, that's €50 and a copy on DVD for my mother.
Anyway, here are some Belgian links that go further to promote the country and culture:
Radiobooks: This is the link to Radioboeken in English. The series has been discontinued, but the episodes are still available. Dutch and Flemish authors read their works. Most are about half an hour long.
deBuren: This is the publisher that sent me Kaas. They also promote Dutch language culture all over the world. One of their current efforts is...
citybooks: Artists, writers and photographers riff on their favorite cities. Most pieces are short, and they give you a feel for the locations.
My contribution to RSF is below. It's part of the second wave of aid. When media infrastructure is destroyed, it means that people can go without commercials for a week or more. While existing channels get rebuilt, RSF, to everyone's relief, will hit the airwaves right away.
TV Commercial
A middle aged couple is shown in a well appointed suburban home. One of their children comes through the front door, coughing. He struggles with the wind and rain to shut the door.
M: I can't believe it! It's one storm after another!
Steel drums build in the background and a ray of sunshine comes through the door.
Do you know what I'm thinking?
F: Not so fast honey. Music and sunshine fade away. Do you remember what it's like in the Carribbean? We don't need to travel for flies and mosquitoes. We'll have them here in a few months.
M: That's right. Plus, we'll have to get used to the heat again. And I thought summer would never end.
F: So why go back to it? Also, do want that pale yellow stuff they call "Beer" down there? It looks like Bono's old sunglasses. Theme from FC de Kampioenen fades in.
M: My goodness. Where can we take the family for a nice vacation?
F: Belgium!
M: Really?
F: Of course! You can get real beer. There are plenty of deserted beaches at this time of year, and we can eat Belgian waffles, Dutch pancakes and lots of fries! Besides, Julius Caesar recommended it back in the day. He said, "The Belgae are the bravest of all the Gauls."
M: No kidding! I'll bet that means we'll get great service! You're right honey, this is the best idea I've had in a long time!
F: Close-up, rolls eyes. Music builds.
Long shot of the family, bundled up and running happily through puddles on a rainy beach. Theme from FC de Kampioenen is dominant now.
Voiceover: Belgium. Come for the weather.
Copyright notice: Feel free to link to this commercial or quote from it. If you produce it, that's €50 and a copy on DVD for my mother.
Anyway, here are some Belgian links that go further to promote the country and culture:
Radiobooks: This is the link to Radioboeken in English. The series has been discontinued, but the episodes are still available. Dutch and Flemish authors read their works. Most are about half an hour long.
deBuren: This is the publisher that sent me Kaas. They also promote Dutch language culture all over the world. One of their current efforts is...
citybooks: Artists, writers and photographers riff on their favorite cities. Most pieces are short, and they give you a feel for the locations.
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