TOW #3- Most Shocking Second a Day

Honestly, I would say that I am extremely critical of TV advertisements because I feel as if most of the times the directors demonstrate life in a false way, or it’s always “hey jump on the bandwagon!” For example, a Proactive commercial, a commercial where the spokesperson varies from Julianne Hough to Jessica Simpson to Katy Perry to some other famous female; the commercial, I feel, basically says “hey if you use proactive your skin will be as clear as Selena Gomez”, when in fact they most likely pay hundreds to get their face to look that way. They deceive their audience with Photoshop and a lot of makeup with the ultimate purpose to make money. Just because a majority preach falsely, doesn’t mean they all do. So, I chose “Most Shocking Second a Day” a commercial directed by Martin Sterling and the foundation Save the Children. It was incredibly effective for me. Martin Sterling is well-known due to this commercial, but other than that he has done little videos here and there. Basically, the commercial addresses the life of a little girl living in a war in London, however it’s actually based off the war in Syria and the children being effected, which could be hard to spot because it’s in the background. He spreads little hints throughout like the guy screaming about the war in when she is exiting the car, or her father holding a newspaper with a headline pertaining to war while she is watching television. Within a year it shows how she becomes homeless and a fatherless refugee. It then ends with “just because it isn’t happening here doesn’t mean it isn’t happening”; the purpose is to display how disastrous events are going on everywhere in the world, and even though sometimes we do not face it, doesn’t make it less important. Personally, I thought it demonstrated more than to donate to their foundation. It shows that just because we don’t understand something, does not mean we get to judge it. Obviously, its audience is towards everyone because not only donating helps, whereas so does being aware. Sterling uses a great amount of pathos, tone, and mood through the characters. It’s effective because it doesn’t make the viewer feel guilty or saddened, but more conscious about their surroundings. As well as it isn’t as forceful as maybe a SPCA commercial. Overall, it allowed me to become aware of how thankful I am and to be more empathetic of others situations.