Computerworld - Michel Gondry, the innovative director of films, music videos and numerous TV commercials, is directing at least one of the TV spots starring Jerry Seinfeld touting Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system, according to numerous reports.

Blogs in the New York City borough of Brooklyn reported in mid-July that locations including the Brooklyn Public Library, Prospect Park and parts of the neighborhood of Carroll Gardens were being closed down for a Microsoft television commercial shot by the French director and the production company he is affiliated with, Partizan Entertainment.

The trade magazine Advertising Age reported at the time that Seinfeld was rumored to be in the Brooklyn-shot commercial, though it did not confirm it.

Ad Age confirmed the involvement of the ad agency Crispin Porter & Bogusky, which The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday is overseeing the $300 million Windows advertising campaign starring Seinfeld.

A Microsoft spokeswoman said, "Stay tuned, literally," but otherwise declined to comment.

The Journal reported that the Seinfeld commercial, for which the comedian will be paid about $10 million, will debut on Sept. 4.

Microsoft wants to boost the flagging public perception of Vista, which has been hurt by Apple Inc.'s "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" TV ads depicting a young hipster as a Mac and a stodgy nerd as a Windows PC.

The 54-year-old Seinfeld, however, may not be the ideal pitchman to win back younger consumers. The married-with-kids baby boomer can no longer claim the same edgy appeal as when his hit comedy was still in original broadcast a decade ago.

Related blogs

Gondry's involvement could help in that regard. Gondry, 45, is best known for his film, The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet, which featured his trademark inventive and dreamy visual style. He also directed this year's Be Kind, Rewind.

Belying his artsy reputation, Gondry is more prolific and critically acclaimed for his music videos for bands such as Bjork and Radiohead and TV commercials for The Gap, Levi's, Nike and others.

For tech companies, Gondry has made commercials for Motorola's RAZR2 cell phone, AMD, EarthLink and Hewlett-Packard.

For HP, Gondry starred in the ad and talked about using an HP desktop PC to edit video footage, record music and produce his Web site.

Comment Recommend Digg Twitter ShareThis

Email Print Send Feedback Reprints

Jump to comments

Michel Gondry

Additional Resources

Xerox

Win a color printer!

By using solid ink technology only from Xerox, you could save up to 65% by printing color for the cost of black and white. Enter for a chance to WIN a PhaserTM 8860 network color printer!

Microsoft

Upgrade to Internet Explorer 8 today.

Save time and mitigate security risk. Deploy it now.

Sybase

NEXT-GENERATION MOBILITY PLATFORMS

In this white paper, IDC analyzes the role of next-generation mobile enterprise platforms as organizations seek a more strategic deployment of mobile solutions.

Learn the important issues you must consider before starting your next mobility initiative. Get your mobility white paper from IDC now, compliments of Sybase.