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Simplifying cyber security

The Scamathon is coming...

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[Audio: crowd] Cheers can be heard from a crowd who is not visible. 

[Visual] Open on a wide shot of a studio-based “Scamathon” television set. The shot is set far back so cameras, microphones, studio lights and set crew are visible. The set is lit up with small light bulb lights and bright colours. There’s a small desk central on stage. We see a character in an oversized tacky suit and tie who appears to be the host of The Scamathon event, waving and grinning away as he moves across the stage. Their eyes are covered by a black rectangle covering them, as if there to shield his identity.  

[Audio: main host]: Aotearoa!!! 

[Visual] The shot moves into our host so they’re at waist hight. They hold their hands up to emphasise their words. The recording glitches like a there’s a signal static. 

[Audio: main host]:We need your help. Help to reach our biggest ever goal. $3.8million in fact. In just one week. 

[Visual] Frame flicks to a ticker that shows $0,000,000 on it. The ticker is built from a tower of different televisions, some of which have static screens, with the rest looking turned off. The ticker itself is lit up and is glowing with lightbulbs. 

[Visual] The frame switches back to the stage with the main host central on screen. He’s framed with small lights from the back of the stage. We see another character, a secondary host, dressed in a shiny suit who also has his eyes covered with a black rectangle. He pops out from behind the main host, wearing an even bigger grin on his face. The camera zooms in on him as he places his hand on the main host’s shoulder – they're both smarmy looking and have a dark nature to them 

[Audio: secondary host] That’s bigger than we got last week.  

[Visual] The frame changes to a new set. The camera zooms in on female host, again with eyes covered, striding down the Scamaphonian centre steps. In the background is a large wall with the writing ‘PA55WORD’ on it. To either side of the steps are people sitting in rows behind a long desk. The desks are lined with phones – in the style of a call centre for a televised event. They all have dark rectangles covering their eyes. They’re all staring straight ahead but taking calls. Lights and set gear are in the shot. 

[Audio: female host] And it’s only because of you and your big, gooey, good-hearted nature that we’re so successful.  

[Visual] The frame switches quickly back to the main and secondary host from the main stage. They are standing there beaming with large smiles and excited gestures. 

[Visual] The frame switches back to the call centre with focus on a call centre manager. They, again, have a black rectangle covering eyes. Some of the telephone operators are in the foreground. The call centre manager is wearing a headset andb eams at us standing beside a big green button in front of the ‘PA55WORD’ wall. He’s laughing as he talks. You can see the shadow of the female host in the foreground, arching their back, also laughing. 

[Audio: call centre manager] So get ready to give your passwords and of course, your money.  

[Audio: Crowd]: Crowd laughs gleefully.  

[Audio: main host] Get ready for… 

[Visual] The shot flicks back to the main stage but begins with a high angled roof shot. You can see studio lights. The shot zooms inwards fast and focuses directly on the ‘Scamathon’ sign which is central at the back of the stage. The host and secondary host are standing in front with their arms pointing up as if it’s a big reveal. They are mostly out of shot but you can see their heads and hands. 

[Audio: main host] The Scamathon! 

[Visual] The frame changes again to show a new set. It pans out to the audience where there is stacked bleaches covered in rubbish and an empty audience. The bleachers sit in front of three ‘applause’ lights, and the rest of the room is an eerily dark space with studio lights lighting it up very minimally.   

 [Visual] Frame switches back to the main stage onto the secondary host. The recording is distorted.  

[Audio secondary host] It all starts next week. So stay t…  

[Audio] static noise 

[Visual] Suddenly, the feed is interrupted. There’s a split-second shot of the main host down the end of a very long hallway making shapes with his body before  static takes over the screen and ends with a test pattern.  

It’s coloured with Own Your Online branded colours (shades of green and purples) as well as black, whites and greys. The message reads O.Y.O Scammers count on your kindness. Own Your Online. Before switching to a final message: Don’t give to The Scamathon. 

 

[Audio] Signal failure beep 

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