Apple plans expansion of "Get a Mac" TV campaign
Apple Computer appears pleased with the result of its "Get a Mac" television commercials and holds plans to expand the campaign more than threefold in the coming weeks and months.
Although Long is currently appearing in theaters alongside Jennifer Aniston in the "Break-Up, he was previously best know for his role in the TV series "Ed." But while Long is focusing on jump-starting his film career, he admits that most of his stardom has come as a result of the Apple commercials.
"Nine out of 10 people who recognize me recognize me from the commercials," he told the LA Times. "I had a guy come up to me, in my face, saying, 'You think you're so cool? You're not cool' and I'm saying to him, 'Dude, it's a commercial.' "
Long said that when he was first contacted by his agent over playing the role of the Mac dude, he was a bit wary. "I was in this false arrogance, deluding myself that I was beyond [commercials] — 'I'm doing movies'," he said. However, growing up in a house where his mom made a living as a commercial actress, he recognized the value of the offer.
Still, Long has found that playing the a laid-back hipster Mac user poses more of a challenge than some may think. "Commercials are hard because you don't have a lot to work with but you have a lot to work against. You don't want to look silly and polished but still, you know, you're selling something," he said. "We were fighting with the company people who didn't want it to be too subtle and I didn't want to come off too smug. People who haven't done commercials don't appreciate how hard it is."
44 Comments
I've wondered if these ads were a bit too insulting to PC users. They're trying to convert PC users to Mac users, not make the Mac users feel superior.
i dont think its insulting.. i mean, in reality, they arent even exaggerating many of the problems that plague PCs. they are just making 99% accurate comparisons. i think its a great campaign.
The people who say they are insulted are actually embarrassed. These problems have happened to them. Their egos are bruised. Apple needs to keep it up. Do you notice the people that do switch tend to be very happy with their decision and they tell everyone about it. I guess everyone likes to be in the know.
"The Break-Up" is still in theaters?
Next comercial SNL parody bit
PC: I started working on Windows in 1984 thats when I got my sweet stock options.
Mac: Well, I am a young cat, I started at Apple in 1997...
PC: Stock options?
Mac: Oh hell yea, really friggen amazing ones, better than most, I can make a shitload of money with one phone call, I am just waiting on the price to go up a little more!
Enter SEC Investigator: Interesting.
Enter Nasdaq official: Yes, I know a few folks who would find this little tidbit interesting as well...
Enter cops: Mac is perp-walked off screen
fade to black.