Written
by Frank Baker ©2004
Recommended videos
Misleading toy commercials- website
with streaming news story
The quintessential videos for use in the classroom are the classic
HBO/Consumer Reports' produced "Buy Me That" series of which there are
3 programs.
NOTE: Locating the "Buy Me That" series is next to impossible.
Contact your local library to determine if they have these
available for checkout.
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Buy
Me That!
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This original
program in a 3-video series is a best-seller and
multi-award winner! Lively host Jim Fyfe pulls back the
curtain on the tricks advertisers use in TV commercials --
editing “only the good parts,” talking too fast,
adding props that aren’t included with the toy,
animating toys to make them talk - and more! Each of the
10 segments stands alone or use the complete tape with
parents, grandparents or teachers. (Copyright 1989) |
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Buy
Me That, Too!
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Video 2 of
this three-part series tackles more topics around
advertising to kids, including product placement in movies
and videos, how “kids’ clubs” work, cereal giveaways
plus an excellent segment on sound effects and the amazing
things sound studios use to make wrestling toys more
exciting and dog-walking or galloping horses more
realistic. Study guide includes instructions for kids to
create their own commercial. (Copyright 1991) |
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Buy
Me That, Three!
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Buy Me
That,3! is a
collection of short segments focusing on the tricks and
techniques used in food commercials. Includes a cola
taste-test, what’s really in sports drinks plus a
humorous vignette on the ingredients that go into
Twinkies. Segment with a food stylist who ‘dresses’
hamburgers for the camera could be used with older teens,
too. Excellent resource for integrating media literacy in
health or nutrition classes -- from kindergarten through
middle school. (Copyright 1993)
Review
See: the
food
stylist video segment
images from the segment: The
food stylist |
There are
certainly lots of other videotapes which feature children's
commercials, but none deals with the media literacy issues
better than these three.
Site updated on:
11/07/2008
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