School College Marketing Video Yale

The Glee knockoff video created for Yale Admissions was much talked about in admissions circles several years ago, but when it comes to Admissions videos, I don't think their suspended reality approach works. While the video is slightly amusing it's going to turn off as many potential applicants as it will interest.  From a strategic POV I think it was a mistake.  The singing and dancing is cute and timely (modeled after a popular TV show), and it arguably may have helped Yale standout and perhaps break away from some misconceptions about the toney Ivy league school, but it seems more like an arts school than a classic Ivy with a broad liberal arts offering.  Perhaps it's just a personal taste thing, as I am not a musical, song and dance kind of guy.  Anyway, I like the old what you see is what you get approach.  Call me old fashioned, but I guess I am just a journalist at heart.

Jello Jiggle-It App: Real Simple

Here's a fun new app for Jello that allows you to pick any song and any flavor (read color) that the Jello dances to on your iPad, iPhone, etc.  So what's so great about this app? Watch and then we'll discuss.

Got it?  In addition to offering up a cool, entertaining video clip with some great music, it tells you the whole story without a spoken word.  Up front it tells you to pick the song, pick the flavor and then the Jello rocks out.  Maybe it's just me but I think the Jello has some personality.  While it's still dancing you widen out to see the iPad and at thee end of the piece we see the Jello on iPhones with a click-thru to download the app.... it's all really easy to follow.  You gotta love a piece that entertains you and achieves it's purpose without an announcer. 

An admissions video or a capital campaign video produced by a deweymedia producer will rarely use an annnouncer.  We think they get in the way.  Tell us what you think.

Yale - A College Admissions Video with a Twist.... and a Shout.

Here's an amusing piece created internally by Yale for prospective Yale students.  It's a 'short film length' (15 mintues long) admissions video that's inspired by Glee as well as the old school approach to admissions and admissions videos.... but, what's important here is that is is a REAL admissions video.  I think it's quite well done, but it's hard to take seriously.  Is it a joke or real?  In the aged of mockumentaries I kept asking myself when the BIG joke would come.  It definitely breaks out of the coat and tie, proper Yale man kind of thing, but I am not sure it knows what it is.  I was expecting the huge Slum Dog  dance number with a large group dancing, but was disasppointed that they weren't a little better choreographed for such a well made production.  Nevertheless kudos to Yale for giving the concept a shot.  Far from the expected for that institution.