Imagine Jackie Chan vs. the grizzly bear, facing off on a gravel bar. They punch, they twirl and kick, they scream bloody murder, fighting over a fresh red salmon. Click here to view the video. Although filmed in the Scottish highlands and aimed at a British audience, this canned-salmon commercial has sparked conversation and laughter across Alaska and the salmon industry. It's not being broadcast here, but that hardly matters, as fast as it is flying by e-mail.
People love it.
It's reaching an even greater audience by e-mail. No. 1 in the best commercial category, outscoring President Clinton's play on his final days in the White House. Barbara Belknap, executive director of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, which promotes Alaska salmon and seafood, said she's heard from fishermen who want ASMI to do something similar. She's also heard from senators and commissioners. ASMI doesn't get state money to promote Alaska seafood, and the organization couldn't afford the production cost.