Funny or Die has tapped a droll troupe of Hollywood talent — Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Silverman, Tracy Morgan, Chloe Moretz, Marisa Tomei and Isaiah Mustafa — to join forces with Bono's anti-poverty group ONE on a new campaign, part of a larger global initiative to reach "the beginning of the end of AIDS" by 2015. 

The star-studded video from Funny or Die asks viewers to sign a petition on ONE to reverse proposed budget cuts to the life-saving AIDS program, PEPFAR, and fulfill America’s commitments to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.Continue reading...

The convergence of digital technology and online media has spawned the increasingly popular webisode, and the branding industry is scrambling to understand and capitalize on this new tool. Today, brands and entertainment are part of a flourishing new ecosystem powered by digerati from outside Hollywood and Madison Avenue – and sponsored web series are the new currency.

TV networks and media agencies are developing webisodes at a furious rate. Traditional producers such as Magical Elves, Reveille and Fremantle, are being joined by comparative newcomers, Katalyst, Vuguru, and Electric Farm.

Early entrants learned tough lessons in trying to port television-sized productions and budgets to the web. Successful partnerships now include producers and brands from the get-go. Marketing budgets now grant projects approval previously in the domain of network executives.Continue reading...

Stop, drop the pizza. Bertolli wants consumers to swap a slice for a frozen Italian meal.
 
Launching on Oscar night, the Unilever-owned company is airing a 30-second spot to promote its 12-minute meals and drive traffic to “Into the Heart of Italy,” a mini web series starring Marisa Tomei, Rocco DiSpirito, and Dan Cortese. It is the largest advertising investment by Bertolli, ever. The trio travels to the Italian heartland to experience how the other half eats, with passion and quality ingredients.Continue reading...