We’ve seen the latest and quite controversial PSA from US President Obama (which for the record we strongly disagreed). Quite curious about the subject, we searched the net for the top Public Service Announcements (PSA) produced.
Luckily, we didn’t fail on this quest, because Time Magazine have previously listed some of the “best” and most viewed PSA videos around the globe. We listed some, which we think are great examples. For the rest of the top PSA list please visit Time.
1. Texting while driving Kills
We featured this very graphic PSA on our Pinoy Tutorial Lifebytes section. The video was about 3 teenage girls driving along the free way. The girl-driver was busy “texting” her friend that she didn’t realize another vehicle was coming her way from the opposite direction. It was too late to find out what was happening and the 2 automobiles ended up colliding, head on.
According to some viewers, the video had disturbing scenes especially the slow motion part wherein the other girls were seen in the car crashing their heads and breaking their necks. Check the video to see what I mean (Caution: The video contains very graphic scenes that you might find disturbing).
2. Drugs will mess your Brain
The following video was produced in 1987 by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. This PSA illustrates what will happen to your brain once you consumed and get addicted to drugs. It was a simple illustration of drugs’ harmful effects to your body and yet it was very influential.
The use of everyday household item: egg –> your brain and fried egg –> your brain on drugs, delivered the point.
A sequel to this video was produced in 1998 starring Actress Rachael Leigh Cook. Viewers of this video said that it was quite disturbing. I don’t think so. Yes it was quite strong. Yet, it also stated a clear and direct to the point message proving the reality that drugs could “smash” your brain into million pieces. See it on this video.
Producers may have chosen her by sheer coincidence or maybe not. But one thing is for sure, this girl can really “cook”.
3. Pills-are-not-candy jingle
The next PSA video was about advising minors (kids) to stay away from Prescription-drug abuse. It was produced in 1985 by the New York Poison Control center and utilized the Munchkin Song from the film The Wizard of Oz. Four blue-colored “pill” puppets sang the jingle with the clear message of reminding and warning kids that “Pills are not candies” (Don’t eat it!).
4. Dynamic Duo of crash testing
The following spot is a PSA reminding drivers about the importance of wearing seat belts. The crash test mannequins Vince and Larry showed a comical skit of what will happen if a side impact occurred while a person isn’t wearing his/her seat belt.
5. The crying Indian
The video was produced by Keep America Beautiful organization for the earth day of 1971. It casted a Native American Actor Iron Eyes Cody – famous for portraying Native Americans — for an antipollution campaign. The story was about an Indian rowing his canoe and discovered the “mess” people were doing on the environment. Factories emitting harmful smokes while people on wheels rampantly throwing their garbage everywhere.
The climax of the video was when the indian shed a single tear upon looking at this litter-strewn landscape. Cody later earned the nickname “the crying Indian” because of this video. For the records, Cody had initially turned down the role because for him, “Indians don’t cry”.
PSA from the Philippines
Of course we couldn’t let our countrymen leave empty handed. So, may we present to you the best Philippine PSA we had so far.
Bonus PSA for Pinoys
If you’re a Filipino then you should be familiar with this video portraying our flamboyant and “convicted” ex-President Joseph Estrada. We consider it as a good example of PSA video reminding Filipinos which candidates they should and shouldn’t vote on the forthcoming 2010 elections.
Remember: choose your candidates very wisely or else, we might end-up like eggs on a frying pan. (Sorry my International friends, no english translation for this video, yet)
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August 27th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
hahahah the last one was really funny!