The second half of the episode features innovator Jeff Linnell of Bot & Dolly, a local production company that specializes in using robotics in advertising.  Combining crowdsourcing and digital art, their  Halo “Reach” project is one of a kind: it required specialized software to be built to translate interactive data from web users into plotting points, as a robot laser moves and is read by cameras to create a 3D monument of light. Their work on the  Louis Vuitton Journeys campaign is another highlight, which uses their bots for  fancy camerawork and other-worldy shots.

Range Rover recently teamed up with viral kings OK Go to help promote the auto company’s new Pulse of the City app that tracks your journey via GPS. On Wednesday, the band is going to perform an 8-mile mobile concert in Los Angeles and the route will spell out the band’s name across the city. The hope is this stunt encourages OK Go fans to create their own GPS artwork which could be featured in the band’s next video…well…if it’s good enough. I’m not sure OK Go fans are the right audience to sell a Range Rover to, but LA is the definitely the right city to sell Range Rovers to. I honestly think this is kind of an odd partnership, but we’ll have to wait until Wednesday to see how it plays out.

On another note, it would be nice to see a lot more bands collaborate with brands for social/viral stunts. Not just appearing in commercials and promotional events, but actually being involved in the creative process like OK Go or Weezer for instance. Now more then ever companies are relying on artists’ creativity besides just their money-making faces. More bands should step up and take advantage!

Produced by Jay Smooth, proprietor of Ill Doctrine, the best videoblog on the internet.

This is the kind of political advertising I’d like to see more of. Come to think of it, it’s the kind of political advertising I’d like to make. Well done, Jay!