Coca Cola’s Security Cameras Capture Crimes of Kindness
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The idiom of how you look at a glass–half full or half empty–is overused, over-said and more than a little hackneyed, particularly in the realms of the spoken and written word. But it’s still fun to see in action.
Last week Coca-Cola Latin America put the cliché to work as part of one of its Open Happiness campaigns. Pairing up with the production company Landia, the soft drink business spliced together footage of a number of “crimes” caught on security cameras: stealing, attacks, addiction, dealing, pickpocketing–the gamut of what those cameras were installed for in the first place.
But in a slightly cheesy but still heartwarming play on words the company twisted these crimes into acts of kindess. Stealing translates to stealing a kiss. Friends “attack” each other. People are addicted to music. The dealer is dealing in potato chips. The pickpocket is “honest,” returning a wallet he watched fall from someone’s pocket.
“Security cameras around the world also capture people stealing kisses, music addicts … and lots of crazy people,” the video says.
The montage demonstrates acts of humanity as small as doling out extra chips from the gas station to as large as putting out impromptu fires and pushing mini-vans off of train tracks while dodging an on-coming train. There are costumed people spilling out of elevators and people making out in elevators. It’s a cultural comment as much as a social one; the footage depicts people across the world engaging in similar kindnesses and shows of affection.
“They never show us this kind of footage from security cameras. Only bad things,” Coca-Cola’s YouTube channel states.
In just 90 seconds of sometimes blurry footage the video elicits a smile, and warmth. It’s a reminder in the middle of the workday of the positive that does exist amidst violent news reports and zombie attacks.
Oh dear, I’ve gone and waxed poetic on you. I don’t even like Coca Cola. But take a look at this footage before you blame me:
Cheers.
Photos from DesignTaxi
