Mark of the Eagle

Note: This post is of my own personal opinion and is not endorsed or supported by any local, state, or federal government agency.

I really wish I had known about this sooner, and not just find out today. I was reading a recent issue of GCN magazine and saw a sidebar story about the U.S. Postal Service and their recent online mini-series—a chaotic comedy cubicle nightmare when office machines come alive—called Mark of the Eagle. Yes, that’s right folks! The USPS. The Federal Government. The same people that allow you buy stamps online, deliver your mail to the mailbox (or door), and drive around boxy white trucks that you swear come from Britain have created thier own comedic mini-series.

At first I thought great…just another reason for the public to paint a picture of the Government as wasteful spenders of taxpayer $$$. Of course, I had to check it out. I must say that I’m very impressed. Not only with the quality of the series, the cinematic music, the obvious references to other Hollywood movies, or the comedic style but specifically for doing all of that and still delivering (no pun intended) their message—the Flat Rate box, always delivering packages regardless of the obstacles, making it simple to print shipping labels, etc. What’s even more impressive about the whole production is that it was all done in-house! Who says the Government doesn’t have talented workers?

As you’re watching the episodes though…I believe it was Episode III…I have to admit that I did try the username and password that Rita the Assistant gave to her colleague for logging into her account. Unfortunately, I immediately got one of those “too many tries” type error message. I guess I wasn’t the only one trying it use it 🙂 I immediately thought it was an easter-egg of some sort…guess not.

All in all it turned out to be a great marketing product. So, hats off to the postal service for showing the American public that we’re not all just a bunch of fat, lazy, Government workers sitting behind our desks and passing off work to other people 7 hours and 59 minutes of our day 😉

I do have to admit, I am a little jealous though. I’m not going to say what exactly, but there was a little production that myself and a few colleagues worked on for an April Fools’ day release one year. It never quite saw the light of day. But, with the USPS putting together a video marketing their products, and in a very humorous and well done way…maybe that’s the proof in the pudding that it CAN be done, be widely applaused, and not make it look as if the Government is wasting money. Think about it this way…people are writing about it, blogging about, and talking about it…and now I know that I can get a Flat Rate box. Plus, I’m tempted to check out the printing labels online deal and maybe actually buy some stamps online finally. I feel all government-giddy inside now 🙂

Cross-posted from the Just a Govy blog.