Writer-Producer
Vivus Pharmaceutical - Lerma Agency
1. "Shock Value"
The ask: Use a "Liquid Death level stunt" to get the public eye on this fledgling company.​
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The pitch: We took the phrase "shock value" literally to create human shock collars that electrocute their wearer whenever they reach for junk food.​​
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​The launch: Host a public booth at a music festival and provide a wide array of unhealthy refreshments and Weight Shockers, electrocuting guests with a reformative zap when appropriate.
We'll record social content and encourage others in attendance to as well to share their experiences.
"That shock collar idea scared the crap out of me." -Taylor Smiley, Principle of Partnerships and New Business
Vivus is an emerging pharmaceutical brand a new weight loss drug. The pill works by reducing one's food cravings to prevent overeating and help the patient to override their consumption habits. What's a sticky and provocative way to portray retraining one's desires?
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Riding the wave of social media outrage from the Weight Shocker stunt
With a villain
identified...
...it's easier to rally around an emerging hero.
Defeating the Weight Shocker with a more sensible solution
With shock collars on human beings collectively cancelled as an inhumane way to retrain one's eating habits, Vivus will swoop in with a better suggestion: a pill that simply reduces desire to overeat.
2. "Big Pharma Conspiracy"
Our second stunted was alternatively titled "Big Pharma Wants to Kill Us". The following are placeholders for a real social series starring a better actor than I making a stunning realization... Big Pharma has no interest in making us healthy. It's more financially sound to keep patients dependent, and so they seek to silence the one team that seeks to truly and permanently help patients: Vivus. Can one man get the word out?
Reel 1: The Discovery
Reel 2: The Escape
Reel 3: The Hunt
We had a blast with these pitches. Though both were beloved, neither has been chosen for production... yet.