Text and narration on screen (with a twist)

This short (under two minutes) presentation uses only narration and text to make its point. I'll make no comment on the twist so as not to give it away. Watch it below or on YouTube.

The presentation above has made an impression on many people (I sure keep hearing about it). The original concept, as far as I know, came from a 2006 Argentinean political ad (see the ad here). The "Lost Generation" presentation placed second in the AARP U@50 video contest (odd: it's better than the winning video in my opinion).

The video is well done and makes for a nice stand-alone presentation. It could be better: For example, the text needs to be a bit bigger — never make people strain to see the text on screen. Also, sans-serif typefaces are usually preferable in this kind of situation as they are often more robust. The serifs in a seriffed typeface tend to lose their integrity and get rather pixilated at smaller sizes on screens and in compressed videos like this. Still, this was a creative way to deliver an important message.

H/T Tim Edwards-Hart

Comments

[Sebastiano Mereu]

Simply a wonderful video made to stick!

[Oliver (ReThink Presentations)]

It gave me the chills a bit there, it's a really inspiring video! I suppose design-wise it can be a bit improved, I agree there. Maybe with some advanced motion typography some cool stuff can be achieved. Nonetheless it's well done.

Oliver

[Joel High]

Amazing. I was ready to turn it off then came the hook. What a brilliant idea. This is a video for the ages.

[Michael Sporer]

I posted that one on my blog too. I really enjoyed this very interesting idea.

[Serhiy Kostyshyn]

Strange to see people praising quite a mediocre video while it's based on a much more striking and more professionally made one.
In most such cases my opinion is that an original is to be always preferred over a later derivation. Much more so if it's also of better quality, by all means.

And the Argentinian ad nails it. If first painfully highlights (alleged) flaws in the society, balances on the edge of provoking a totally negative patriotic response, and then provides a relief. Just great.

On second thought, maybe these two examples just showcase cultural value differences?

[Jim Quirk]

This one would supposedly break all the rules.
Just text on a page
Narrator (in monotone) reading the slides
Dull black and white background
But
with the twist the text and narrative become their own graphic element and the simple black and white (like black and white movies) allows us to fill in the blanks (in our minds)of happy family scenes etc
And reading the slides leads us to the catch or twist which otherwise you would miss.
Good example of one small element "the twist" making an otherwise ineffective presentation a very powerful one

[Sami]

very nice!

something quite similar was used for this political ad in argentina couple of years ago, worth checking as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFz5jbUfJbk

[Jill]

Very sticky. Loved it - original or not.

[Free Sports Betting]

That is an awesome video. Thank you so much for sharing. I was wondering when they were going to get to the point.

[Shelia]

ROBOBAMA: http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090305/pl_politico/19663

[Tobias]

Seen it years before!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHu5YOogV8I

Unbelievable argentinian political ad!

Cannes Lions Winner

Cheers

An ad man

[Jon]

Personally i think the design works. The style of the prose - essentially poem - and the content suits a serif font.

[David Cosand]

Garr,

Yet another great example of presenting a message effectively and creatively.

I have used so many of the resources you collect on your blog in my teaching this year that I could probably put your name next to mine on the classroom door.

Thank you for consistently giving me interesting things to think about and compelling visuals from which to draw inspiration.

David Cosand
5th Grade Teacher
Oregon, sweet Oregon

[Victor Velasquez]

I posted it in my blog too... it is very interesting as I am part of this generation :)

Here is a post I want to share with you guys.
It is the "Fill in the Blanks Presentation Technique" for handouts... One of my peers got this idea from a presentation that he went. He told me that the audience was very attentive:
http://www.nearsoft.com/ns/blog/The-Fill-In-the-Blank-Presentation-Technique.html

[Joel Gendelman]

Very cool. It kinda creeps up on you

[felix]

I wonder if there is a kind of "system" when making the concept and writing the text.
Does anybody know?

[Bibilui]

wow... this is good...

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[Bhavesh Naik]

Yes, a great idea indeed and yet, it could be made so much better. Apart from the things that Seth pointed out, two more improvements I suggest. The earth in the background does not help. In fact, I think it distracts from the narration which is powerful in itself. It also sacrifices the contrast which is important because the text is so small. And the narrator totally READ the script without adding much emotional content to it. There seemed so little passion or conviction behind it.

But again, a terrific idea. I am already thinking how I can use this in my presentations.

[Oliver Pospisil]

Hi Garr,

as an average presenter I now know what my goal is. That you!

Best wishes Oliver

[Amit Bhatia]

This is one of the most effective presentations I have came across. Such a beauty to make an impact.

[theos]

great!

[Sarah]

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Sarah

http://grillsblog.com

[Cute Easy Hairstyles]

What a clever way!! I do agree with you on letters should be bigger.

[DIAMOND]

ZXDVGE

[Cheap Computers Canada]

In this innovative era we all appreciate things with a twist

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[Screen door repair]

If first painfully highlights (alleged) flaws in the society, balances on the edge of provoking a totally negative patriotic response, and then provides a relief. Just great.

[Jordan 1]

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[Jordan 1]

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