November 30, 2007

Zane Schwenk and MasterCraft's Viral Video Campaign, "I'm a MasterCraft"

Witty, pithy Apple videos and commercials are not a new phenomenon, going back to the "Switch" campaign that starred various unknown (and some well known) actors and actresses giving their own personal reasons for switching from the PC platform to the Mac.

Those "Switch" videos were a modestly successful marketing endeavor for Apple and evolved to become the much more impactful "I'm a Mac, and I'm a PC" campaign. Proving that the ''I'm a Mac and I'm a PC" ads truly are the spiritual successor to the "Switch" ads, the http://www.apple.com/switch url even redirects to the current campaign that we all know and love featuring Justin Long (Mac) and John Hodgman (PC).

But also not a new phenomenon: parody versions of these Apple ads.

MasterCraft has decided to get in on the action, as Zane Schwenk personally kicks off this viral marketing video set with his own YouTube account, and stars in the videos as MasterCraft. Who better? These videos are light, quick, funny and worth a watch. MasterCraft really held back on the Tige video - they could have made that considerably more... errr... acute.

MasterCraft vs. Malibu

MasterCraft vs. Tige

Funny stuff. I really like these. But I would love to see an "I'm a MasterCraft and I'm a Correct Craft". They can't take the pricing angle... or the spoiled/preppy brat angle which was the first thing that came to mind (due to similarities in pricing on their boats). They can't take the gadget angle... so where would they go with it? I want to see. I have one idea but I need to hold it back (Correct Craft likes me and I like them).

Nice work MasterCraft, and Mr. Zane Schwenk. It is fun to see this sort of pop culture stuff appear in the wakeboarding circle. Now please get to work on that "I'm a MasterCraft and I'm a Correct Craft" - I'll be brainstorming on this too. I love trying to make fun of myself in new and creative ways.

Posted by erik