Student Film Vs Solo TVC – coincidence?
Dear CB,
Back in 2010 we had a school exercise called ‘the chase scene’. We’ve made a funny film about a guy chasing a bottle of beer.
We pitched it to few companies here in Australia as we really wanted to break through to the commercial world… nobody seemed interested.
And then, BMF made their Solo ad that looks very, very similar to our short film.
This is just a comparison video of both films, maybe you will find it interesting.
Do you think it’s a coincidence?
Thanks for your time.
Best wishes
Mateusz Subieta
***
A spokesperson for BMF Melbourne has contacted CB, claiming any similarity is pure coincidence and the student film was not referenced by anyone involved in the production of the Solo spot.
Since then, Subieta emailed a reply to CB’s enquiry on where he sent the video at the time: “I sent it on a general email to Matilda Bay brewery (fat yak producer) suggesting that maybe they would like to make a commercial for them one day. I have a confirmation of this email. Back in 2010 it was password protected on vimeo. I showed it to few of my friends on facebook (but i doubt they would do that) as well but as Matilda Bay brewery is located in Melbourne I think that was the link. I didn’t send it directly to Schweppes or BMF.”
At 7pm tonight Subieta sent CB another email: “At the beginning I sent polite emails to Kraftfoods and to BMF’s PR manager. Nobody ever responded to me. Then I hired the lawyer who sent an infringement letter to BMF but their response was basically ‘it was our idea’. That’s why i decided to make this comparison video public.”
35 Comments
Yes it is very similar. But please learn how to spell barrel, its (as a possessive as opposed to the contraction it’s) and losing.
The difference: ones a student film
So it’s fair game?
I actually think it’s suspiciously similar and obviously the BMF spot had a higher budget. That said I don’t think your spelling errors are doing you any favours.
I could never spell plagiarism until I copied someone else.
He’s Polish so I forgive his spelling.
I had work ripped off blatantly by an agency once and they won an award for it.
They’re different because the pay-off (at the end) is different. Sorry.
Yes it’s fair game. Like the guy who drew an iPod on the napkin, please….
I think i’ve seen the idea in Road Runner (still under copyright) or a b&w silent film from the 1900’s.
Not meaning to be too brutal here but as if any advertising professional would look at that twee student film and think it was worth ripping off.
The ‘chasing a bottle’ idea is hardly unique anyway.
The whole ‘chasing something down a hill’ thing is fairly well worn territory. It’s all about how you resolve the ending. Observe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSuzdaZ-kF8
Advertising is always ripping off ideas and executions from films, the art world, literature, and even our own industry. Get used to it. We’re not that original, even though some think we are.
Shame BMF, shame.
“I grew up watching SOLO Man jump over cliffs, ride wind surfers through the desert and even wrestle crocodiles. Back then he was pretty awesome. Our challenge was to introduce him to a new generation of fans and bring the idea to life of why SOLO is the original thirst crusher.”
sure..
It’s old territory. You weren’t the first to have that idea, nor will you be the last.
I don’t mind the BMF spot. Could’ve done with a better ending though.
it’s fair game. road runner, three stooges and many more could say the same. copyright, whats copyright?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QiO_H0-ok8
I think the student film is better.
wrong way to get the industries attention, buddy
These kinds of letters and posts by self-involved students who believe they came up with every idea they’ve seen executed by an agency for a real product makes me never want to judge a folio, look at a reel or even offer advice to up-comers ever again. We all have ideas. Most of us have the same ideas. If you’re already bitter – go and find some other industry to work in.
It’s a coincidence. This sort of stuff happens all the time. Hell, two identical Dog-Alike ideas keep winning at award shows around the world, one from OZ one from NZ. I have come up with ideas that I haven’t been able to sell into clients that have been made by other agencies that have cleaned up.
It’s just what happens.
Move on.
Its like doing a film with an anvil falling on someone and then claiming copyright when an ad does the same thing.
@phft @neveragain, you guys sound like a barrel of monkeys to work with. Get a life (outside your precious ‘industry’ you sorry sods).
The BMF one is precisely twice as good, because it is precisely half as long.
Looking at the ‘compare’ mash up you’ve done, they’ve ripped you off. Looking at the two ads separately, not so much.
I’ll tell you what copyright is: $$$$$$ that will cost you dearly when someone sues you for your dumb arrogance and attitude towards other people’s ideas.
You don’t own ideas so don’t try to hoard them or anxiously protect them. If you want to break in to advertising you must first understand that one idea is not a career. You need to pump out the ideas like a sausage factory. Build the skill of idea creating and give them away, safe in the knowledge you can come up with five better ones before lunch.
Anvil? Falling? Copyright? What is A guy (2.56pm) raving on about?
Nope, watching the full versions and I can barely see a similarity between the two. Though the student one is unwatchable student rubbish. As for the mashup, I agree with Teacup – quite an unfair edit and comparison between the two. Good luck in trying to get a job in the local ad game after this story.
Let’s not all get sucked in by this. Just an attempt to get people to click through to his website.
I’ll save you the trouble: There aint nothing good there.
1. Learn to spell
2. Don’t keep posting comments against your detractors on here under multiple names – we still know it’s you.
3. Find another course. You’re not going to get into advertising after this little performance.
WELL DONE BMF – LETS FLOOD IT WITH SPIN….. ITS A RIP.
I completely agree with Volpe. Trying to get the industry’s attention in this way is just insanity. If you seriously want to get a job and keep a job you need to be constantly generating ideas, day after day (and as you’ll soon discover, night after night). The chances of the client sending your idea to BMF and asking them to make it are basically zero – in nearly 20 years in the game I’ve never seen it happen. Like many others here, I’ve had ideas that went nowhere that I then saw other agencies do and win awards for. Everyone has. For you at your stage of your career it’s about building a portfolio and a reputation for being positive, great to work with, eager to learn and prolific. Trying to jealously guard an idea from two years ago as if it’s the Mona Lisa will get you nowhere. If you were serious about getting into the industry you would have refreshed your book a number of times since then. And produced better work anyway. Sorry to be so harsh but I also agree with the commenter who said this just makes me feel less willing to give my time to juniors trying to get into the industry for fear they’ll later smear my (hard won) reputation, as you’ve done in this case to BMF.
@ Oops – you’re not being harsh, you’re being too kind if anything.
Matuesz – cop the criticism and move on. No one stole your idea, it was shit anyway. You’re not the first student to come up with a chase scene idea involving an object getting away from someone. There have been many TVCs, short films, movie scenes etc, etc, with a similar theme, you’re not as original as you think. Trust me.
The shit thing for you though is that you’ve just chosen one of the most read blogs in the industry you’re trying to get into to pursue some kind of misguided vindication but you’ve just come across as self-righteous twat with bad judgement. Pretty terrible PR I reckon.
The only thing you can do now is to go away and work on some good ideas and hopefully all of the CD’s you see by the time you’ve got a new book to show around would have forgotten about this whole tawdry affair.
Hi guys
I am the author of the student film.
First of all I would like to say sorry to all the people who cannot bare my English. I just hope you will not be treated in the same way if you go abroad because it’s just very unpleasant. It never happened to me in USA or UK.
Secondly, I’m not a junior. I was a lecturer, jury member and I have 10+ years of experience as a CD, Cannes Golden Lion, Cannes Critic’s Week screening, Tashen publishing and a bunch international awards in film and adv.
Yes, Polish people can do that and I really don’t need any additional exposure.
My first reaction to BMF ad was a friendly smile. I also sent a friendly email to their PR manager but received no response. And, to be honest, this lack of response made me suspicious and the Hawkins’ ‘memes’ theory collapsed.
I was copied before many times and never was angry about it. I usually call it inspiration. In this case I still believe it can be a coincidence even though I was surprised that Solo suddenly changed it’s consequent style.
I did not post anywhere above. I didn’t even know that this article exists and I found it by accident, just a while ago.
Have a great day.
Hey advice for students,
1. How many foreign languages do you know?
2. Let me call you Sherlock.
3. Check his dossier. Couple of prizes in Cannes for ads. But it doesn’t mean a lot down under, heh?
And now back to the topic. Yes, the novel could be better, but compare the resources.
Yes it happens since showbiz exists, but who said it is ok? Someone from BMF was simply too lazy to come up with his own work.
Please let me express my deep and sincere regrets for my spelling and punctuation. I am a Pole. However i think i speak better English than Aussies do.
I think all the derogatory comments above are pathetic. I dont know this guy, but you are all clearly jealous and have no idea what you are talking about. Look at his website- he is NOT a junior, quite the opposite in fact. If you knew anything about the industry you would know this. I work in the industry and I’ve heard of him. He has won an award at Cannes for f*cks sake, worked all over the world had his FILMS shown all over the world, let alone commercials. So for all those comments like ‘goodluck trying to make it now’ – f*cken hilarious. Comments about his english -typical and clearly demonstrate the ignorant, closeminded and unimaginative nature of whoever it is that made those comments- if you ever venture outside your hick country town, let me know. For all those that will not even entertain the notion that his idea was ripped off – as if such a thing is unheard of – ridiculous- do you know ANYTHING about the industry? Get over yourselves. Oh and by the way- less than 1 percent of you are ever going to make a living being in this industry, funny – he is in that working percentage though…. Goodluck to the rest of you.
Well spoken Miss T!