20.July.1998
Herpes Burns
This week, the New Venue spotlights a public service announcement presenting very serious health information in a manner which would never ever --not in a million years-- be condoned by big ad agencies or drug companies. Thanks to the internet, you get to see it here first.
Created by
Anonymous
Stills from "Herpes Burns"
During the mid-90s a new wave of public service announcements took to the American television airwaves. Geared for a younger audience -- aware of AIDS but unconcerned about other sexually transmitted diseases.
"What it all boils down to," says the director, "no pun intended, is if you want to change how people think about herpes, you should change it's name. The Burning Loins Disease is scary. Herpes is not. Until then, health campaigns are all a joke. Like this one. But the statistics resonate: one in six Americans has the disease. That's terrifying."
This PSA was shot on Hi-8 video, digitized at 160x120 pixels and 15 frames per second (no compression), edited in Adobe Premiere and Adobe After Effects, and compressed with After Effects to 7.5 frames per second (Cinepack; no frame blending).
View this movie.
You can find out about other digital flicks in the New Venue Archives.
