Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Doritos Crash the Super Bowl Contest Semifinalists (My Picks)

Although Doritos initially expected to announce up to 30 semifinalists by Monday, November 17, this has been delayed as they are still reviewing submissions. 

In the meantime, here are entries that stood out to me:

50 Shades of Nacho Cheese: This commercial is a take on "Fifty Shades of Grey" which is a clever strategy considering Universal has teamed up with Doritos for the contest and Universal will be releasing the "Fifty Shades of Grey" movie in February 2015, soon after the Super Bowl.
This commercial will especially resonate with the legions of global fans obsessed with Fifty Shades and therefore has cross-promotional appeal. If this commercial goes viral/is aired during the Super Bowl, it would introduce Fifty Shades to a broader audience than simply the readers of the book - I envision male Super Bowl viewers who would otherwise be amused by this commercial, are explained the inside joke by the Fifty Shades fans in their lives, i.e. wives/girlfriends/boyfriends? and are then coaxed into accompanying said Fifty fans to the movie - ahhh, see how Doritos brings lovers/freaks together.




Dog Dreams - This one featured awesome special effects, a Doritos truck and the perfect dog for the concept! How did they do that!? I'm curious how much this commercial cost to make. Not sure why the house is decorated like it's from the 70's though?



Craveman - Although my initial instinct would be that cavemen have already been overdone (Geico), this commercial was really well made. Check out the Nacho Cheese impression of Michaelangelo's "The Creation of Adam." Again, how much did this one cost to make!?



Dorito King - This one is my brother's favorite. It is successful because of the talented actors, particularly Marcus Johns who I think is a real comedic standout. I expect to see him make it big and he already has a substantial Vine following.



A Dorito A Day Keeps the Doc Away - This one is my brother-in-law's favorite. It's a well-made commercial with cool effects. It's also being well-promoted because it stars a pro-wrestler.



The Last Bag - This really well-executed commercial packs in a lot of action in just 30 seconds and I now realize firsthand how challenging that is to pull-off. The throwback to multiple Universal movies was really clever too (especially to my fave). However, this entry uses original music - which sounds great but is illegal according to the official contest rules. It doesn't seem fair that this commercial would move forward for that reason to me since all rule-abiding entries were limited to only the music provided by Doritos.



Girls Only Party - Once again, it's the talented cast that really makes this commercial a stand-out for me. The girly men are hysterical. I love the scene with the hand-slap followed by girly laughter.



The Lemonade Stand - This is a really well-made commercial. However, as nicely as this idea is executed, there's something awfully saccharinely manipulative about the whole thing. I think I got diabetes just from watching this. I'd like Doritos to ultimately go for something edgier as their winner.



Old Enough (Version 2) - There's something simultaneously creepy and captivating about this odd little commercial. Again, great casting enhances the production and I like the diversity of the cast which is lacking in previous contest finalists. However, I don't get why the little girl would be too young for Doritos? I'm not sure that Doritos wants to endorse that message even if I see Super Bowl viewers getting into the hot model.



Hurry Back - Clever premise that was executed nicely. Great acting and loved the expression of the little girl at the end.




I wonder how many of my picks will make it to the semifinals!

By the way, if you would like for me to review your Doritos commercial entry, comment with the link below.

UPDATE: Check out additional great entries that I missed before writing this post by reading the comments! For example, why does Doritos Angler have so few views?! It's hysterical!

148 comments:

  1. HONEST opinion of my Doritos Commercial video???

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpmYsIj6QsA

    My family loves it: OF COURSE ;-) but I need an honest outsider opinion. Please make sure to view it in HIGH DEF. I'd like to hear your opinion.

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    1. Hi Jennifer,
      Thanks for your comment. The kids are adorable. My critique would be that it is ideal to "Show" rather than "Tell" - meaning, precious seconds of your few 30 seconds are allotted to interruptions of the action with the wording/titles that intro the scenes. This type of captioning between frames is not typical of commercials that usually air during the Super Bowl. However, I thought your entry was super cute. Good job!

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    2. Now when will they FINALLY announce the semi-finalists?!?!
      Here is my other version "Little Outlaws Strike"
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP7p73hJqFg

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    3. Thank you for sharing! I can see both soundtracks working with your heist concept but if I had to choose, I'd go with Danger Zone. Again, the kids are super-cute! At least you will have these videos to document their acting debuts!
      I hear you about the semifinalists! I too am eager to see the announcement!

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  2. I would love you to check out "B-a-a-ad to the Bone" entry #5501. Thanks!

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    1. Really impressive work on this commercial. It must have been challenging to work with a goat! My critique would be that a commercial featuring a goat has already been a former finalist/aired during the Super Bowl and so that could be a drawback to yours in terms of originality of concept:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skyfAhlHj2E

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    2. She's a sheep not a goat and she actually really loves to eat Doritos! That's how I got the idea... her owner posted a video on facebook of her with her face in a bag of doritos! Thanks! I appreciate the feedback!

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    3. Hi Vickie, thanks for your comment! Hahaha just like city-folk to not know the difference between a goat and a sheep! Great job and good luck!

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  3. How about the Janitor?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEQA3VmGuo4

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    1. Hello - good job on producing a Doritos commercial. Your Janitor was pretty funny. Though, I couldn't help but wonder why someone would throw away a good bag of Doritos? Maybe they lost it in the middle of the hallway. This struck me as somewhat random,

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  4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JqRXLQYF9o

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    1. Good news: Very well made commercial! It looked super professional, the actors were well-cast and I could totally see it on TV. Here's the bad news: The "IBS" joke would be offensive to many and therefore was the "Achilles Heel" in this otherwise great commercial.

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  5. This is our first attempt for a commercial, I would love some feedback!
    http://youtu.be/0cnaDMkKUjQ

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    1. Haha this did make me crack up out loud. Your actors were funny! I too can appreciate a "cheesy" commercial! Well done also on being bold enough to incorporate special effects in your first attempt at a commercial!

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    2. Thank You!, whatever the outcome we will be back again next year! Our goal was to create an on going series, much like a gecko and caveman we all know and love...:)

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    3. It would be great to see a comeback of Nacho Mike and Cool Jack! Good luck!

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  6. https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/5505?filter=

    any opinions about this one?

    thank you

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    1. Thanks for the comment. It was interesting to watch but the sound quality suggests to me that you didn't have a professional sound technician on board. This could hurt your entry as Doritos will be looking to air the winning commercial on national television during the Super Bowl. It was cool that you executed the disappearing people special effects.

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    2. thanks for the comment ;)

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  7. Do you think we have a chance ?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsHZvwoHxuo
    and
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faN-BPIfxsE

    appreciate your opinion.!
    thanks

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    1. Shahar, I enjoyed watching both of your entries! Very amusing and entertaining. The dogs were especially cute! Good luck to you!

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  8. I usually just write.. Screenplays or songs.. this is my first commercial, first time directing and editing. https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/4480?filter=

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    1. Thanks for the comment. You should definitely keep up the creative enterprises and congratulations on your directorial debut! My reservation is that the knocking down of the Grandma down the stairs repeatedly may be considered offensive and not funny to some viewers - i.e. should physical violence against women be made light of, even in a comedic sense, especially given the recent issues with the NFL and its players. I do get though that Grandma clearly didn't get hurt and got her revenge in the end. I commend you on your efforts and hope you continue to use your creative talents.

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  9. Hey! Can you review mine too? Submission #1361. Thanks! :)

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    1. Hi Patti - I think it's great that you took the initiative to enter the Doritos contest. However, I really don't see this type of commercial being something that Doritos would air on television. In my opinion, they would prefer to use live actors and feature a story-line of some sort (usually comedic). This purely digital commercial is not really representative of television commercials in general. However, I think you should continue your creative pursuits and not be discouraged by my personal take on your entry. Good luck to you!

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    2. Hey Eff, I'm not discouraged at all! As you know the superbowl uses a lot of digital affects so that is why I made my commercial digital. My ad is featured on a few other blogs so all is good. Good luck to everyone! :)

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  10. Hi, i'm Tucker, I think Dog Dreams is a winner there. Some guys made a film about me. would be sweet if you could review. Thanks.

    http://youtu.be/_6B-oiO3wxA

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    1. Hi Tucker! I'm with you on Dog Dreams!
      Doritosaurus is another excellent commercial - really amusing and very well executed. Clearly, you are supported by an excellent team of pros. Your Doritos dinosaur was especially impressive and you were excellent. I see a bright future for you. Here's my only critique - you seem to be channeling "Napolean Dynamite" and that may not be a bad thing except for the fact that Doritos is partnered with Universal for this contest. Unfortunately, Napolean Dynamite was distributed by Fox and Paramount. Now, nothing in your commercial actually references ND but the association could be made by other viewers. If the judges feel the same way, that may cut against your ad even though it was really well made. Sometimes, there are corporate considerations at play that could trump an otherwise great commercial. Good luck to you!

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  11. "I think I got diabetes just from watching this." You don't get diabetes from eating sugar. It's an old myth that is just not true, please educate yourself and stop spreading it.

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    1. That's fair enough. I admittedly have a sweet tooth myself and so I'm hoping you're right.

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    2. Thanks. Appreciate the reply. It's diabetes awareness month so I am putting a little extra effort in trying to educate people. That said, a healthy and active lifestyle for all people is a good thing. But nothing wrong with satisfying your sweet tooth. :)

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    3. I may have gone overboard with the pie (and ice cream and cake and cupcakes) on Turkey Day yesterday!

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  12. Wow, good breakdown. Personally, the ones I like best are the "50 Shades of Nacho Cheese" and "Dog Dreams." The first one because it's clever and funny, and who won't be talking about that movie this winter? That would be get it noticed by a lot of different people for sure! As for the second one, who doesn't love cute dogs? And I like how they filmed it, too!

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  13. Hey, mind checking mine out?
    https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/4024?share=true%3Fshare%3Dtrue

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    1. hahhaha this commercial was unlike any of the other entries I've seen so far. I found it to be very unique and fun to watch. You also had excellent actors! Good luck!

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  14. Would love to read your review of this one:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5eeM7oYa14

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    1. Hahahhaa oh man! This was amazing! Really well made and excellent cast. Congrats! It's far too racy to be aired during the Super Bowl but it certainly has the makings of a viral video in its own right. Good luck!

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  15. Can you review Doritos Tar? what do you think of it?

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    1. Really professional looking commercial with an excellent cast and excellent nacho cheese effects. This looks like a contender to me. Best of luck and congrats on a job well done!

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    2. Thanks very much...appreciate the feedback...

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  16. Thanks. Glad you liked it! I will pass that along to the actors.

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    1. Anytime - except I'm not sure which commercial your Anonymous comment corresponds with! Good luck!

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  17. Some good choices my first time entering and know I'm out of the competition for sure. Animals are always a big theme . This one is pretty neat and v funny , few views though https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X96RjH8WC5o&list=UU-k-LntWuk8sq1oSvJgWUZw and this one is pretty wacky too https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-fi0S0SdZA

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    1. Hi Anon - keep hope alive. Again, I'm not sure which commercial belongs to you since this is a new comment and not in response to a previous comment but I wish you good luck! Those wacky commercials were excellent and really well made. I'm surprised Doritos Angler doesn't have more views! I really enjoyed watching your picks also!

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  18. Thanks for including my video in your list, and I loved that you picked up on the film references! I did contact the Doritos folks, and they gave me permission to use original music provided I could prove it should our video get selected. Good selection of videos, there's some great competition this year!

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    1. That's a relief that you got the necessary permission Joshua! This was a fantastic entry! Best of luck to your team! For my readers, would you mind replying with all four of the film references? Back to the Future and Hunger Games were the obvious ones.

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    2. I don't know if I should bring up the other two, as they were Warner Brothers, but they were Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves when it follows the arrow (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_1yILWMqFA) and 300 when the lady at the end gets the bag (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCfdyroV7kc). I also wanted to pull in another Universal film when the first gentleman gets the bag, but 30 seconds isn't a lot of time and we had to throw it out while still on the drawing board (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USHz6TQyXwg)

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    3. Well, the concept was phenomenal! If only all of your movie references had been to Universal movies just so they wouldn't have any issue with promoting movies of competitors - however, the way you incorporated those movies was brilliant! I had been trying to figure out the movie reference for the first guy who grabs the bag but I guess he wasn't representative of a movie. Your team pulled off a challenging feat and did it really well. Good luck!

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  19. Thanks for the review, so glad you liked ours! We are keeping our fingers crossed. From "Girls Only Party" crew.

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    1. I loved it! Your actors were on point! Were they pros? How did you find them? Loved the wardrobe and makeup as well. The concept was not only funny but there are so many moments within just the 30 seconds that enhance the hilarity of the entire commercial - from the first man being fed a chip by the veil wearing bride-to-be, to the hand slap tension broken by the laughing (my absolute favorite moment!), to the final "abort" while he is still crunching chips before crashing into the glass! The choreography of the independent scenes was amazing. I watched your commercial repeatedly! Good luck!

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  20. Good choices - all of those videos you've picked are very professionally made.

    Can you have a look at Hail Mary Pass (https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/3732?filter=), and let me know what you think?

    This is my first time entering, and I'd just like some feedback since I don't expect to be a finalist ;)

    Thanks!

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    1. Hey - bravo on a first attempt! It takes a lot of effort to pull together a commercial and so you should be proud of yourself! My pointers for next time would be beefing up the story - a "Hail Mary Pass" could be a punchline but there could be more back story that grounds the chase in the first place. You don't need a lot of story, but try and use as much of your 30 seconds as possible so that there's not one steady action taking up much of your time - this will help keep your commercial dynamic and hold the attention of your viewers. Also, in the slow motion chase scenes the visual became quite blurry on my end but not sure if that's my computer. Night-time scenes are challenging anyway but if your next entry keeps things bright and well-lit, that would enhance your story-telling as well. Again, these are just tips for the future. I commend you on entering the contest and thank you for commenting on my post. Good luck!

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    2. Thanks for your review! Yes, the night filming did pose a challenge. Your pointers about beefing up the story were very helpful as well. It's always hard to critique your own work, so your outside opinion was very welcome. All excellent tips and I will keep them in mind for my next time entering a contest like this. Thanks again! :)

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    3. You're very welcome! Thanks for commenting and keep up the good work! Feel free to post for your next creation- I'd be interested in seeing it!

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  21. would love your comments on 276 cool ranch dog and 2104 doritos dance off, thanks, Happy T-Day

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    1. Thanks for the comment!
      There was a lot of effort obviously put into Cool Ranch Dog and Doritos Dance Off. I have a true appreciation for watching these entries and understanding all the hard work that is involved in creating a Doritos commercial - from coming up with the concept, to bringing together all the moving pieces to represent that concept, to actually filming everything and then editing that down to a 30 second spot. These entries clearly were ambitious and had a lot of nice moments. Obviously whoever came up with these ideas is extremely creative and fun! My critique would be that without reading the intros, if I just watched the commercials, I would have a hard time understanding the stories in each. The goal should be that your commercial should make sense to a viewer without anyone offering an explanation.
      Kudos to Sam Madden and her trusty canine sidekick. They are a winning team!

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    2. By the way, Happy Thanksgiving to you also!

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    3. Thanks your comments will come in handy next year. Cowgirls don't give up! Love "the look" the woman gives the man in your video-someone described it to me. Good Luck!

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    4. Cowgirls are my heroes! Thanks for the comment and best of luck to you!

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  22. Not mine, but my fave, what do you think of 5501 ba-a-a-d to the bone?

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    1. Please see comment #2 above - I have already reviewed 5501! Thanks for commenting!

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  23. Kissing Booth Duel: http://youtu.be/42WihY91fsk

    Much appreciated :) Happy Thanksgiving

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    1. haha cute concept and executed well. Your actresses were funny also! My minor critique would be that the setting for the Kissing Booth Duel is somewhat unusual - i.e. in a suburban neighborhood. I can see there would be limitations though to moving the setting to another venue, like a college campus. However, absurdity in humor is not an issue for me and so I could suspend disbelief on the base premise of your commercial. Good luck!

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    2. Thank you for your review! :)

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  24. Hi WTF. Can you rate our Dorritos commercial entry. It's entitled, "The Granny Shuffle." Thank you. Here is the link: https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/3484?filter=

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    1. Beautifully made commercial starring a wonderful actress! I found it very amusing! I even loved the details (peacock feather hat!) on her cute little granny outfit. Great job and good luck!

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    2. Thank you for your most positive opinion. I portray the granny! Thank you again!

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    3. Wow! You are the Granny star! I am honored! Excellent work!

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  25. Hi! Would you please let me know what you think of my two submissions?

    Thanks!

    https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/4945?filter=
    https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/4913?filter=

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    1. Hi Terry, thanks for your comment. I enjoyed watching both submissions.
      Wake Up:
      The little boy was adorable! I couldn't help but feel that his "Mom" was mean to him though. I think an alternate ending that could soften the blow of her waking up to snatch the bag from him would be for the last beat to show them cuddling in bed sharing Doritos. This way it would show a Doritos "happy ending."
      Doritos Dilemma
      The concept in Doritos Dilemma was a cute one and I really liked your actress. Again, I think the ending needed fine tuning. Instead of the guy saying he's not hungry (which actually cuts against Doritos being marketed as an irresistible food), I think your guy should have busted out with his own freaky antics - showing at the end, that the odd Doritos loving girl had found her odd Doritos loving soul-mate - again, the Doritos "happy ending."

      In the latter commercial especially, because there was more dialogue, I noticed sound quality to be an issue. Next time, invest in a pro sound technician - this will also elevate your commercial productions.
      Good luck!

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    2. Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! This was my first time entering and I had no idea what to expect. There were very many high quality, good videos. Thanks again. So generous of you!

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    3. You're most welcome Terry! It's my pleasure! I love Doritos and viewing the entries - yours were very fun to watch!

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  26. Would be very interested in hearing what you thought of my spot titled DADDY DUDCARE(1349): http://youtu.be/vvVP-SxDQ1Y

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    1. haha really well done commercial! You executed your concept perfectly. Great actor and precious baby! I was very amused! Great job and good luck!

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    2. Thank you for responding back, I am pleased to hear you liked the spot. I was actually the one you saw acting alongside the woman & child(my wife & daughter in real life). I came up with the idea, directed, and co-edited the commercial as well. I know it wasn't the most original themed spot in the world, nor nowhere near the fanciest shot one, but I decided to go in a more realistic & family themed direction. I think the subject of the commercial is something which every family will be able to relate to(Since there is such a high rate of fathers who watch the Superbowl). I think there are a lot of first time dad's who, I'm sure, tried too hard to impress/entertain their child in the beginning, but ended up just looking like a sinking cornball ship instead, lol. I even shot extra footage, so I would be able to edit a full version which you can view here: http://youtu.be/ErhoI3EJLz4?list=UUUaSMb-8DEp7cJxy02l57SA . I also have quite a bit of other film projects I have written, acted, and directed including Spoofs of Hollywood made movies, as well past Doritos Commercials which you can view here: www.jasongalotti.com .

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    3. That's great Jason! You were excellent in the commercial and you have a beautiful family! Really impressive that you spearheaded the production! I agree that you don't need the fanciest or most expensive production to pull-off a great commercial and you proved that with your entry. Good luck and I will definitely be checking out your other creations on your website. You're very talented!

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  27. Hi.

    Can you please review the following Doritos commercial:

    https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/4334

    Thanks!

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    1. Oh my gosh! How did you get a real skunk for your commercial!? That was definitely original! Minor critiques:
      1) Do men really want a baby? hahaha I could be a pessimist on this one. I thought that baby was adorable but maybe the first bag of Doritos should have resulted in an actual puppy. Then, the second guy would say that he wants a puppy also and think his skunk was a puppy. This is really me nitpicking though.
      2) Your actors were funny. I liked the actress at the end but I think her final lines didn't need to restate that there was a skunk in her house. It was like stating the obvious. I would have suggested tweaking her final line, for example "What have I told you about bringing puppies into this house!?" And then getting sprayed in the face by the skunk! ahahhahaa
      Again, these are just my opinions. I really liked the way you guys pulled off the effects in your commercial and it was really original to see a commercial featuring what looks like an actual skunk! Good job and good luck!

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    2. Hi there, I am the producer and the actress at the end of this commercial.

      Thank you so much for your compliments and critiques:). We all really worked hard on this production!
      The rad special effects were done by Raj Patel, who is an editing pro!
      And we did rent a real skunk with his scent glands removed from a company out of Chicago called Animal Rentals.
      What the Eff, are you based out of Chicago, too?

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    3. Hi Anna,
      You're very welcome! It's great to hear from the producer and starring actress!
      Haha, so that was a real skunk! Awesome! I'm a New Yorker. If you enter again next year, please feel free to comment as an update - would love to see your next creation!

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    4. Hi What The Eff, Please look me up on Facebook to stay abreast of my latest work: www.facebook.com/annakgold

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  28. Please review our Doritos commercial! Thank you! https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/3484?filter=

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    1. Hi Laurel,
      Looks like your request came in twice. Please see my review above and great job on Granny Shuffle! Good luck!

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    2. So sorry! Thanks for your positive feedback!

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    3. No problem Laurel! It was my pleasure! Good luck!

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  29. Hey Eff, thanks for the comment on Doritos Anger https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X96RjH8WC5o

    Yes will have to try and promote some more...

    Cheers

    #Crashthesuperbowl

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    1. Dear James,
      You guys did an amazing job! Great effects and the humor is right up my alley! The commercial looked beautiful and sounded great. You should definitely promote some more - I would have added Doritos Angler to my list of picks above had I seen it earlier. I can see a lot of people loving this one! I can see Doritos loving it also! Great job and good luck!

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    2. Hi James, I just added a hyperlink to Doritos Angler in my mention in the body of my post above (see Updates at the end of my post but before the comments section). I hope this helps draw more viewers to your excellent commercial. Good luck!

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  30. Hey, can you check this two?
    https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/2326?filter=
    https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/2340?filter=

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    1. These were really cute! I preferred the first. Your commercial was well-lit and had a professional look. Here's my critique and it's more for the story:
      I liked where you set up the showdown in the first commercial - with Dad, Mom and Daughter staring each other for the last chip. Then, after the wide shot of them all holding the dish, instead of repeating the sequence of them staring each other down - which is repetitive and struck me as not a good use of the precious 30 seconds you have - I would have cut immediately to the scene where the Grandma gets the last chip. Then, after the flaming Doritos logo, you would have had time to fit in a last beat that sets up another showdown (there's many ways to do this - but basically, a comedic ending that demonstrates that the showdown continues because they love Doritos so much).
      Good job and good luck!

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  31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQo0TfuueaY

    What do you think of ours?

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    1. Wow! Really impressive, well-made commercial. This definitely looks professional (lighting. sets, sound were excellent). I can see your commercial airing among the other commercials that are typically shown during the Super Bowl. Also, very smart to show the final beat at the end for anyone who was worried about the pig's fate. This looks like a strong contender to me!
      Very minor critique - almost nitpicking - while the rocket-powered pig is truly impressive, I wonder if the comedy could have been enhanced with embellishments - like perhaps fake wings on the pig? or a superhero cape? I also wonder if you could have further pushed the Doritos brand - perhaps using Doritos to power the rocket (although the whole point is that the kid doesn't have Doritos in the first place. So, then you'd have to work in the kid getting his hands on some and this may not work with your current concept).
      The special effects in this commercial were incredible! Also, the farm looked gorgeous. Really fantastic production! Good luck!

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  32. Please review this one. Thank you! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC-kBNl7fdE

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    1. Thanks for the comment. I am all for recognizing the bravery of our troops and this well-made commercial was a beautiful tribute. Personally, I favor the Doritos commercials that are comedic. Moreover, I have seen a good number of other entries that have similarly attempted to tug at the heartstrings by incorporating soldiers coming home - so your commercial is not quite original. However, of the others that I have seen with this theme, yours is probably the best. Good job and good luck!

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  33. Really appreciate the time you put into responding to all of these people's Doritos Commercial.. would you mind one more? It would be greatly appreciated!!

    https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/2685?filter=

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    1. Of course! I enjoy viewing the entries.This commercial looked professionally made and struck me as a unique concept. The commercial said a lot without words and your actors were charming. I'm not sure if the overall concept is "bold" enough for the Super Bowl, and also the theme seems to fit basketball more than football (although that's really not a big issue), but as far as execution of the concept at hand, this commercial was successful. Good luck!

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  34. Please review the following 2 entries:
    https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/2927?filter=
    https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/3086?filter=
    Thank you

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    1. Hello - these Doritos westerns were very amusing for me to watch. The concept was unlike others I've seen and so you get points for originality also. I prefer the first to the second.
      My critique includes:
      1) In the first, there is about a two second delay to the commercial starting which is wasted time of the precious 30 you get.
      2) In the tattoo scene, while I thought "Spoiled Rotten" was pretty funny, that seemed to be a missed opportunity to market Doritos again. I thought that a Doritos-related tattoo would have been on point.
      3) The lyrics are very funny but the sound quality makes it difficult to follow, especially in the second commercial (Chip Happens Two). If there's a next time, especially when you are overlaying your commercial with lyrics, I think it's important to invest in a professional sound technician so none of the comedy is lost on your viewers.
      3) While you're at it, invest in lighting also if your goal is to give a more professional commercial look. However, as far as fun to watch commercials, these were entertaining! Your cowboy and his riding skills, as well as the special effects, were cool also! Good luck!

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    2. thanks... appreciate it

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  35. Happy thanksgiving! What are your thoughts on our entry? Thanks!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s99wvtYltc

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    1. Happy Thanksgiving David! This is a great entry! It has the kind of humor that I think Doritos would be into given their past finalists (especially those based in office settings). Your cast was excellent and the overall look of the commercial was very professional. I could see this commercial as a semifinalist. Best of luck!

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  36. Hello! Thanks for providing feedback to all who stop by and ask. Appreciate it ever so much! I have two entries and I would love some feedback. Thanks again!

    https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/1756?filter=

    https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/2659?filter=

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    1. Hi MaryAnn, thanks for stopping by! I enjoyed watching your entries. Here's my feedback:
      The video quality of the second, "Bold Eagle" was far superior to the video quality of the first. I wondered why and think your first commercial could have really benefited from better lighting and more professional looking video. Were you using stock footage in Bold Eagle? The visuals were very nice - however, what was lacking in Bold Eagle is a story - which you worked into Doritos- Girl's Best Friend. For example, it would have been really funny to see the gorgeous shots of the eagle in flight leading into the eagle swooping into the water to pick up a bag of Doritos.
      If you could incorporate the best aspects of each of your entries into one commercial - a funny story plus great visuals, you will have the recipe for a winning commercial. Good luck!

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    2. Thank you ever so much! You know, I thought about the Eagle snatching a bag outta the ocean but didn't take it there because I was goin' for a Budweiser Clydesdale type feel (even though they are no longer going to be using those most beautiful horses). Instead, I put the owl in at the end for the kicker to give it a light hearted feel being the Owl is also a predator bird. In any case, yes indeed the footage in 'Bold Eagle' was stock footage from videoblocks. I felt after making my original, 'Doritos Are A Girl's Best Friend', I wanted to make something using stock footage. Regardless, I so very much appreciate you taking the time out to give them both a look and a critique. I will definitely keep plugging away! Best of luck to all!

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    3. You're most welcome MaryAnn! I thought the Owl kicker at the end of "Bold Eagle" was a very cute touch - great job on producing a commercial using the stock footage! Keep up the creative pursuits!

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  37. What do you think of my commercial? http://youtu.be/uwKWrAlbbcw

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    1. Hi Luke, it was fun watching your commercial. The special effects were cool (the dilating pupils were funny!) and great job incorporating the chickens - I can only imagine how challenging that must have been to pull off. Your actor was good also. The visuals were executed very well but I think the story could have used some tightening up - for example, I didn't think you needed the captions "Hard Work Pays Off" leading into the commercial. However, you made a really nice looking commercial and I'm sure that wasn't easy given the challenges of your concept, so well done and good luck!

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  38. I liked the aliens personally. Check them out. https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/3784?share=true%3Fshare%3Dtrue

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    1. What a unique commercial! I have not seen any other entries like this! This entry stands out for its originality.
      When the alien reaches into the first Doritos bag, I would have liked the inside of the bag to be more visible so that it would be more clear that it's empty. In the first watch, it was unclear to me that he was sad about an empty bag of Doritos but once I watched again, I understood that and thought the sad alien sigh was really cute. It would have been funny for his hand to come out with nacho cheese specks on it as evidence of all that remained.
      I also think the placement of the flaming Doritos logo is a tad early in this commercial. In my opinion, it should have followed the beaming of the Doritos and the "Wake up Dad, I think I hear a UFO." Then, cut to the flaming Doritos logo. Then, return to the the Doritos being beamed on-board to the end of the commercial.
      This was a very cute concept and congrats on executing the concept in a very original way! Good luck!

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  39. It's very kind of you to critique all these videos, so I'll take advantage and throw mine in as well haha :) It's my first attempt at anything like this so even if I don't win anything, I'll have learned a lot from my mistakes. I've got plenty of my own critiques but I always like hearing an outside opinion. Thank you.

    https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/1927

    https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/2137

    https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/2782

    https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/2784

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    1. Thank you Kevin! Congrats on producing multiple entries for the Doritos contest. It takes a lot of effort to produce just one commercial and so it was nice to see that you really got your creative juices flowing! Also as you mentioned, these are great learning opportunities and so the more you do, the more you learn.
      As far as viewing experience, your commercials were very charming. They are fun to watch and have a very relatable quality to them - meaning, I want to like them because the people and situations that are featured are so likeable. That can be a very difficult quality for even big-budget commercials to capture - to sell a product, you have to be able to connect with your audience and your commercials suggest to me that you have the raw talent to achieve this important goal.
      As far as fun, creative enterprises, you could continue to make commercials like these and I would appreciate watching them. However, if your goal is also to be a contender in the competition and to produce a commercial strong enough to win, then you'll need to amp the professional quality of your entries. These include:
      1) Talent: When I watch commercials on television, it strikes me that the actors are actually really good! One thing that immediately distinguishes a professional commercial from an amateur entry is the quality of the actors. Your cast of actors were very charming but they did not all strike me as professional actors.
      2) Sound and Lighting - To enhance your chances of winning, bring on a professional sound technician when your commercial features dialogue. Another giveaway to a non-professional commercial is when the sound is not crisp. Same goes for lighting, especially since Doritos will be looking to air the winner in HD quality for the Super Bowl.
      3) Story - Your first entry had a complete story and I liked the ending scene of the Dad sharpening his knives as Doritos were being passed around the table. Your second entry had another entertaining story but was too racy for the contest. In your Doritos Genie entries, the special effects and Genie himself were cool but I felt like the punchline was missing in each version. Also, I couldn't help but wonder why the other two wishes didn't seem to be used since the boys got three wishes.
      Thanks for sharing your entries on my blog and I wish you the best! Good luck!

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    2. Thank you very much for your feedback. I knew going in, I probably couldn't compete with those who have the resources, contacts and experience I lack but still learned a lot. You did confirm my fear that the genie punchline got obscured. Doing everything myself, I ended up dropping the ball as script supervisor and the boys didn't deliver quite the right lines. The boys wished they found a bag of Doritos not a genie and so they lost the other 2 wishes. One thing I learned is that 30 seconds is not a lot of time to deliver a story and I tip my hat to those that can pull it off.
      Thank you again for your feedback.

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    3. Hi Kevin, I think you did a great job given the resources you had at hand! The boys were adorable even if they're not pros. I would love for you to keep me posted on your future creative pursuits by commenting to this blog. I think these entries were tremendous efforts especially when you were juggling multiple roles. Good luck to you!

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  40. Considering what you've said is one of your favorite movies... I'd be curious as to your thoughts on ours. "Back Again". (And yes, we were given permission to use original music. Both referenced films are Universal.)

    https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/3039

    ...and our extended :60 second version:

    http://youtu.be/R0VOLxmDy2E?list=UUxAHoySKK9vx_3w3dp5O6uQ

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    1. WOW! These are amazing! Really well done! Your production value, your special effects, your actors, the spot-on references to multiple Universal movies (yes, They Live! and my favorite, Back to the Future) were executed splendidly. And, you must get this all the time, but A DELOREAN TIME MACHINE!? Sick!
      It would be a fantastic tribute to the 2015 20th anniversary of Back to the Future for your commercial to be a Doritos finalist! Well-played!
      Here's my critique:
      I wish you could have packed in more into the 30 seconds from what we get in the 60 seconds - for example, I would have liked for the Delorean to interrupt the They Live characters mid-fight rather than it not being clear what was happening in the alley before the time machine showed up.
      I also loved the sunglasses revealing "Bold" in the 60 second version.

      I watched your entry several times to see where you could fit more into the 30 second spot. Here's an edit I may have experimented with:

      FROM YOUR 60 SECOND SPOT:
      3 seconds from the end of :05 to the top of :08 (punch scene in alley to entry of Delorean)
      2 seconds :11-:12 (50's guy exiting Delorean)
      5 seconds :16- to the end of 20 (50's guy explanation)
      3 seconds :23-:25 ("Bold"/"I never tasted nothing like these before")
      5 seconds :30 to the top of :36 ("Where can we get more?"; "At the store"; Finger suck)
      1 second :37 (just the They Live guys throwing up their hands in confusion as the couple dashes)
      2 seconds :42-:43 (from the Doritos bag dropping from the lady and the couple stuffing the car wide-shot)
      1 second :44 to top of :45 (almanac dropping)
      END FROM YOUR 30 SECOND SPOT:
      7 seconds :22-:28

      This is about 29 seconds so you have a second left to play with!

      Congratulations on an awesome production and good luck!

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    2. Thank you! It's kind of disappeared in the background -- and I'm not sure many have seen ours. :) Our is really a perfect :45... but there is no such thing. The :60 is awkwardly timed because we had to stretch it, and the :30 just wasn't quite enough time for what we had in mind. LOVE you edits suggestions -- just wish we'd have a chance to give it a shot. I think the Delorean is actually what killed our entry -- deep in the rules, it kind of hints at NOT using or referencing Universal products. We don't specifically use names or characters, but it's pretty obvious. Simply by the fact that we haven't heard anything pretty much means we're out. I doubt they haven't at least contacted the semifinalists yet. There IS a 7-minute short film we did featuring the same characters (without the Doritos) if you're interested.

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    3. Hi Goonie! I would love to see your short! Is it on your YouTube channel? I will look for it. Don't lose hope just yet! It's not over until it's over!
      You're right - you did take a huge gamble with your concept but if Doritos/Universal goes for it, then you gambled correctly! With big risk, comes big reward and I think your bold production was super impressive even if ultimately corporate considerations hinder its movement in this competition. In fact, if you decide to enter the competition next year and are interested in expanding your team, I'd love to be considered -my fortes include writing/story conceptualization as I hope you are able to tell from this post! You have the skills and resources to win this thing - I hear last year's winner entered four times before he won the million. If this isn't your year, maybe 2015-2016? Good luck!

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    4. Sure thing! I took a break from contesting because the Tide "Silence the Stain" contest ticked me off so bad. (I took 2nd in that competition, and the winner absolutely sucked!) I also took second in the national Heinz Ketchup contest the same year. Not a fan of popularity contests... if we end up doing it again, we may give you a ring. :)

      Here's our short - done for a 48 Hour Film Project, and where I even licensed the BTTF song from Universal! Played well -- and we just got together two weekends after finishing this short to modify it for the Doritos contest. Thought it would be fun. ;) Enjoy...

      Back Again
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnr3Vi8GH-Q

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    5. Hi Goonie, I will be sure to check out your other commercials as well as your short film. You should not get discouraged and keep up the great work!
      However, there could be an issue with your "Back Again" Doritos commercial since it is a modification of a project you had entered into another competition. Unfortunately, I believe that is prohibited in the contest rules. Sorry about that and I hope that this doesn't count against your entry. All the best!

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  41. Greetings would love to hear your thoughts on my entry thanks in advance https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/5354?filter=

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    1. This was a very cute production and I enjoyed the Santa-Grandpa twist at the end. Your Santa was perfect! However, I feel the commercial would be too dated to be aired in February during the Super Bowl because the Christmas theme fixes it to the holiday season. I think this will cut against your chances in the competition. However, Merry Christmas and Good Luck!

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  42. Check out my dorritos videos
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk9s1Sa-tO_wd6OmTsrMN7Q/feed?view_as=public

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    1. Hi Art, thanks for commenting. I checked out your commercials and they were psychedelic! You are a groovy musician for sure but the sound quality in your commercials stands in the way of me understanding the lines or enjoying your music. However, you are an artist if there ever was one! Good luck to you!

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  43. Thoughts on our entry? https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/3386?filter=

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    1. Hi Troy, your commercial was well-produced. The issue is one that precedes the actual filming and boils down to your concept. I think making light of addiction will be too risky for Doritos and this will hurt your chances in the competition. However, you obviously know how to make a good quality commercial. Good luck!

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  44. Thanks again for taking the time to critique all of these spots. I've enjoyed reading your comments and watching the vids. Would love to get your feedback on this one called "Succeedo" Thanks again!
    https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/5005?filter=

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    1. Hi Jeremy, thanks for your kind comments!
      I found Succeedo to be very entertaining! Your production looked beautiful and your actors were funny. The concept may be considered too risque for this Doritos contest although I personally thought it was all good fun.
      I loved Succeedo's wardrobe, including the Doritos-stained version.
      However, the half-eaten Doritos chip punchline escapes me? Please explain!
      Also, if you're going to commit fully to this concept, then I would have reversed the day and night scenes - so that the commercial starts in the evening, with Succeedo visiting the house to pick up his date. Then, after being pulled into the house enthusiastically, Succeedo exits the house the next morning during the day (for the reasons you're alluding to in the commercial). Although, the day shots of Succeedo walking to the house were gorgeous because of your excellent lighting and scenery.
      Congrats on your entry and good luck!

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    2. Wow that was fast! Thanks so much for your feedback! I'm glad you enjoyed it. The half eaten chip was a "leave it up to the imagination" with a bit of a "surprise / unexpected" twist implied for people to hopefully ponder...
      Did he save the last chip in his jacket only to find out that it was broken somehow during prior events that ensued? or Did she steal his wallet and replace it with a chip? Did he think he scored, but only to find out that she left him with only a half eaten chip? Was he saving it for another memory in his scrap book? Unfortunately, I can't tell you the real reason : )

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    3. hahaha Jeremy, thanks for shedding light on the mystery chip! I appreciate it!

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  45. I'd love a review ... https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/2672?filter=

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    1. Hi Candie,
      I got a kick out of watching your commercial. There's a wicked sense of humor at its heart! I also appreciated your creativity, like the high-fiving horse hooves. However, it looks like your commercial is a spoof of the Budweiser Clydesdale, which is something I don't see Doritos airing, and that will likely rein in your commercial's chances in the overall competition. Good luck!

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  46. Hello!

    This is our first time entering this Doritos competition and we would love it if you could critique our commercial! - NZ represent!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5p6v6uBGqQ

    Cheers,
    Nicole

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    1. Hi Nicole, creative take on ninjas - I liked seeing the happy Ninja Doritos party!

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  47. I'm a big Stuart Edge/LAHWF fan and couldn't help but noticing you missed one of the best/simplest (and I think most viewed) ones! Besides the video being genius (along with a night at the roxbury reference) these guys have like a ginormous fanbase and are pretty relevant on youtube right now, so I'd be surprised if Doritos doesn't act on that... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJmwCAjw0do&feature=youtu.be

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    1. Thanks for your comment. Doritos announced their semifinalists today and it looks like Doritos Head Dance didn't make it. Sorry about that! I have to say, I preferred this commercial to some of the semifinalist picks.

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  48. What a great service you are providing. We need an outside voice to let us know how our entries look to other people (possible users of the product). Please check my entry and I would appreciate any comments on it. This is my first commercial and we did it in 2 days (only just now found out about the contest) and for a cost of $12.00. Hopefully, it doesn't look like that :)
    https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/4954?filter=

    its called a day of fishing. Thanks in advance.

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    1. Hi Fast Fred,
      Thank you! I really enjoy watching the entries and so it's my pleasure. I think your commercial has a cute concept and your actors were charming. I would say, next time beef up the story and add dialogue. I don't believe any of the Doritos finalists have ever been silent films. Also, invest in improving the visual quality. Pulling off any commercial for just $12 is an accomplishment and you should be proud of your first attempt!

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  49. Well I didn't make the semi-finalists but would love to hear your thoughts on this one when you get a chance:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YwgGG1zQ3I

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    1. haha this was a really well-made, well-executed commercial and I'll go on record - it beats some of the semifinalists that were ultimately selected. Sorry you didn't make it but I think your entry demonstrates the skills that merit trying again next year but if there is a next time, invest in improving the sound quality. My initial reservation was would Doritos think it would be too risky to associate their brand with not paying government taxes - but then again, they selected an entry where a woman gets thrown off a roof...

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    2. hahahahahaha that is so true ^

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  50. Love t know what you think of this:

    https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/gallery/submission/2710?filter=most-viewed

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    1. Hi Brett,
      "Whatever Man" is a funny concept and your superhero was well cast. Even though you have just 30 seconds, to me the commercial could have used more scenarios featuring "Whatever Man" coming to the rescue - just the one, while amusing, wasn't exciting enough for me and caused some drag in your commercial. I would suggest -think big! This is, after all, intended to be a Super Bowl commercial. Thanks for visiting this blog and commenting.

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