terrible ads 01

i am currently reading the latest issue of a magazine. i came across a print ad that i found rather disturbing especially when i saw it first. then i heard a horrible story behind it.

the print ad is of a multivitamins brand. the idea behind the ad is that between the two "female" pictures shown, the readers would be guessing who is the real woman between the two. obviously, one is a male. the idea was that the multivitamin has a unique formula that's gender-specific, thus the concept.

i got this from a reliable source. as the talents' ( a male and a female) photos were taken during the pictorial, none from the agency told them about the concept. they were not briefed. not before, not during, not even after the ad was made, and perhaps, even after it was printed. the guy, who was made up enough to make him look like a she more than a he, had no idea that his picture was to be one of the choices of the readers as a real female or not. kawawa naman.

you see, advertising in the country is one of the more disciplined industries in the country. until now, brand A is still not allowed to make direct hits to brand B and vice-versa. plagiarism is being practiced less and less. people in the industry take note of the deadlines and keeps their word in meeting them. however, with such an example, this industry, is nevertheless, not spared from unprofessionalism. it's such a bad feeling considering that the agency behind it is one of the most admired (in terms of creativity.) tsk. tsk. i hope these inhumane, insensitive, and inappropriate acts should be acted upon in a year's time.