Batman OnStar commercials
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In 2001, OnStar, DC Comics and Warner Bros. teamed up to promote the new OnStar onboard guiding system in a series of six[1] television commercials featuring comic book superhero Batman, created by ad-agency Campbell-Ewald and aired from 2001 to the beginning of 2002.
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[edit] Production
Two of the commercials ("Hot Date" and "Riddle Me This") were directed by Vincent Ward, and the other four were directed by Andrew Davis, working with DoP Thomas Kloss.[2][3] The production company was Millennium Pictures, special effects were provided by Flash Film Works, and the scripts were written by Jim Millis (also the production designer) and Nancy Wellinger.[4][5] The Batman OnStar commercials helped promote brand name awareness of the system, leading to a large increase in subscribers and a higher rate of susbcriber renewals.[6]
The commercials were shot at the Warner Bros. lot. Flash Film Works did the special effects, including creating and compositing the Batsignal, airbag, the Riddler's skywriting (copying the writing style from Batman Forever) and erasing/covering various shots of the Warner backlot.[4] Back in 1997, John Dykstra chose Flash Film Works to work on the motion picture Batman & Robin. They created a digital matte painting of an ice-laden Gotham City, as well as performing some rig and wire removal work on the film.
OnStar's licensing agreement with DC Comics had additional benefits, as the production teams were given access to DC's creative resources. The advertisements were thus able to use the 'real' Batcave, as well as utilising the Batmobile which featured in the two Tim Burton-directed Batman films (Batman and Batman Returns) was used in the OnStar commercials, as was composer Danny Elfman's score from the films. Meanwhile, the Batsuit that was featured was similar to the one that George Clooney wore in Batman & Robin.
In addition to set, costume and prop details, DC provided access to footage from the films (in particular, scenes of Batman jumping from a building in "Minor Setbacks" derive from the films) to emphasise the differences between Batman's use of the OnStar system and the more normal mundane usage.[7] In addition to DC having input on the scripts, customer research reminded the company that "Batman always gets the villain," which had apparently been missed.[7]
[edit] Cast
The actor portraying Batman in the OnStar spots is Bruce Thomas, who also portrayed the Caped Crusader in the pilot for Birds of Prey. Curtis Armstrong portrays the Joker in one of the ads, and Vicki Vale is played by Brooke Burns. The commercials are often alleged to have been de facto screentests for director Andrew Davis and actor Bruce Thomas for the then-planned fifth film, after Joel Schumacher's planned Batman Triumphant was dropped after the poor box-office returns and reaction to Batman & Robin.[citation needed] Michael Gough, who portrays Bruce Wayne's butler, Alfred Pennyworth, in the Batman films directed by Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher, reprises his role in the OnStar ads. Thus, Gough portrayed Alfred alongside four different actors portraying Batman: Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, and Bruce Thomas respectively.
[edit] Cost
OnStar began a $50 million ad campign in February 2000, although it is unknown precisely how much of that number was set aside to make the Batman commercials.[8] In 2002, GM dropped Batman as the spokesman, replacing him with radio ads.[9][7]
[edit] The ads
Following on from OnStar's earliest TV ads playing on childhood fears and out-of-car personal testimonials, the company licenced Batman to market its "year 2000 factory-installed version," in the "world's most technological car."[7] OnStar marketer Michael McEnaney described the premise as demonstrating that:
- "if OnStar empowers Batman, consumers will get that OnStar can help them 'handle anything that life throws at them.'"[7]
The ads demonstrated "examples of possible driving dangers, while remaining in the realm of fantasy," thereby downplaying the "scary side of danger," as well as making the spots "vehicle-neutral at a time when OnStar became available on 29 different GM models."[7]
The six commercials are as follows:
- "Batcave" (AKA "Batman & Alfred") - Alfred, Batman's butler, introduces him to OnStar, saying that the addition will increase safety in the Batmobile.[6][4]
- "Joker Face" - Batman chases the Joker through the streets of Gotham. Joker pushes a button to erect a barricade that Batman collides with, deploying his airbag. He instructs the OnStar representative to get the police to set up a roadblock, and catches him.[4][10]
- "Minor Setbacks" (AKA "Batman Uses OnStar") - Batman calls OnStar to unlock his door and to find the closest gasoline station.[6][4][11]
- "Batmobile" (AKA "Batman & Gordon") - Batman uses OnStar to call Commissioner Gordon to tell him he is coming.
- "Hot Date" - The Penguin is chasing Batman, so Batman uses OnStar to call Vicki Vale to tell her that that he will be late.[12]
- "Riddle Me This" (AKA "Riddler") - Batman accesses his mail through the OnStar Virtual Advisor. The computer reads aloud the message that the villain the Riddler has sent: "What does a river and money have in common?" Batman deduces that the Riddler is heading to Gotham Bank and catches him.[12]
[edit] Tie-ins
[edit] Comics
Two special edition Batman comic books were released in conjunction with the ads. The first one was a five page story featuring the Riddler. The second one was an eight page story featuring Mr. Freeze.
In addition to print comics, OnStar and DC Comics created a "state-of-the-art animated interactive comic for the Web, at www.onstar.com," which let readers "shape their experience by using Personal Calling and OnStar Virtual Advisor at critical moments in the story."[2]
[edit] Trading cards
An oversize, 5" x 3" (when separated at the perforations) trading card set was distributed at trade shows to promote OnStar's vehicle services, using their licensed Batman "sponsor." They were issued as perforated 8-card strips, sealed with tape (and the tape seal cannot be removed without damaging the cards). The back of the cards describe OnStar's services as well as providing contact information. They also give a brief history of Batman from his debut in 1939 through his adding new OnStar tools to the Batmobile in the year 2002.
[edit] Sweepstakes
As part of the ad-campaign, OnStar and DC offered (from May 31, 2001) an online sweepstakes chance to win "a walk-on role in the next Batman movie," which was then "still in the planning stages," albeit "with no firm dates set yet."[2]
[edit] Impact
A survey showed that 80% of new vehicle owners recognized the brand due to the Batman OnStar commercials.[9] New activations of OnStar service jumped 169% to nearly 300,000 subscribers between January and June 2000. Renewal rate of the service also increased from 32% to 58%.[6] Edward Baig said that the commercials set "lofty expectations" for OnStar service in his review.[13] Further estimates suggest an even higher increase, suggesting that the commercials raised OnStar's customer base by a factor of ten:
- "In the year 2000, OnStar expanded its customer base from 100,000 to 1 million subscribers. That dramatic growth comes thanks in part to branding efforts that use a comic book character dating back to the 1930s: Batman and his Batmobile."[7]
[edit] Awards
The first four commercials won a Silver Award for "Creative Arts - Visual Effects" in the 2000 International Automotive Advertising Awards.[11][14]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Although there are only six commercials, both a "long" and "short" cut exist for the first one, "Batcave". ClipLand credits for Director Andrew Davis. Accessed April 6, 2008
- ^ a b c "OnStar/Batman Ad Campaign Includes Sweepstakes With Movie Walk-On As Prize". May 22, 2001. The Auto Channel.
- ^ ClipLand credits for Director Andrew Davis. Accessed April 6, 2008
- ^ a b c d e Flash Film Works: OnStar Batman Commercials. Accessed April 6, 2008
- ^ Sample credits for: OnStar "Batcave" (Long Version). Accessed April 6, 2008
- ^ a b c d Raymond, Joan. "Holy Toledo!" American Demographics. March 2001, Volume 23, Issue 3.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Wheels Online", by Steve Ditlea, March 1, 2001. pp3-6. Accessed April 6, 2008
- ^ Halliday, Jean. "Voice activation central to automakers' strategy" Advertising Age. March 6, 2000. Vol. 71, Issue 10
- ^ a b Miller, Joe. "Holy unemployment! Batman loses job as Onstar pitchman". Bloomberg. November 8, 2002.
- ^ GM Press Release "OnStar is now in the Batmobile", February 10, 2000. Accessed April 6, 2008
- ^ a b ClipLand credits for "Minor Setbacks". Accessed April 6, 2008
- ^ a b Wakelin, Simon. "Batman Returns for GM OnStar". Boardsmag.com. May 24, 2001.
- ^ Baig, Edward. "Holy communications, Batman!" USA Today. March 27, 2002.
- ^ 2000 International Automative Advertising Awards Recipients. Accessed APril 6, 2008
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