Introducing Cramer the Container!
Universal Cargo presents the Cantankerous Journeys of Cramer the Container!
This funny new YouTube series follows the misadventures of Cramer the Container as he experiences and witnesses all the things that can go wrong in the international shipping process. Usually, those things are exaggerated to comedic effect (though, unfortunately, they’re not always as exaggerated as you’d think). Current events and news stories, which greatly impact international shipping, also play a role in the show.
Many importers and exporters have learned the hard way – often by going with the wrong freight forwarder – the disasters that can happen with their cargo. With Cramer the Container, you can laugh at the absurdities of international shipping. Maybe that will result in some shippers learning the easy way. But let’s not take Cramer the Container too seriously: it is a show about talking shipping containers.
That’s right, Cramer the Container is not alone in his journeys. There’s a wacky cast of container characters that will only keep growing from episode to episode of Cramer the Container. Here are a few you’ll meet in the first episode:
Deedee Murrage
Deedee Murrage is the queen of demurrage.
She just sits around the port all day, racking up fees. But she’s been around a long time and knows it all.
Why is Cramer the Container stuck at the port? Deedee can tell him that his VGM was off, ISF filed late, AMS incomplete, and HTS codes wrong.
Kablooey
Not to be a complainer container, but Kablooey is often worried about the hazardous materials he tends to be loaded with. And for good reason.
Hazardous materials, especially when misdeclared, are a major danger in the international shipping industry. They’ve been the source of many fires and explosions on ships, in warehouses, and at factories.
Kablooey isn’t named that for nothing.
Krissy Container
Krissy Container is a bubbly shipping container, enjoying every minute of the international shipping journey.
She loves it when they fill her up!
Kablooey and Cramer may not be having a good time, but you know Krissy always is.
Mr. Meanor
You don’t have a name like Mr. Meanor if you’re a goody-good two shoes. Mr. Meanor doesn’t even have one shoe.
This shipping container is known to be involved in smuggling drugs, weapons, and even people.
Mr. Meanor is always on the run – if only he had legs – from the authorities for his illicit shipments.
Cramer the Container
Of course, there’s the star of the show: Cramer the Container.
He’s the one who brings all these wacky shipping container characters together, meeting them along the way of “cantankerous journeys.”
Cramer isn’t actually cantankerous himself. He’s just a bit naive, facing frustrating failures on his way to his destination.
There’ll be plenty more characters to meet in future episodes, but these are the ones filling the container world of the first episode. Here’s the series’s pilot:
Not Just AI
The Cantankerous Journeys of Cramer the Container utilizes AI in its execution but stands out from other AI content flooding the internet. While AI can generate just about any kind of image a person can describe and animate those images into very short videos, AI has many shortcomings.
Among the biggest challenges of AI is continuity between generated images and videos. That is to say it is very difficult to make full scenes and videos that seem to be happening in a consistent location with consistent characters. That’s why watching most AI content is nothing like watching a movie or show.
Cramer the Container is one of the first narrative AI shows in existence. But it’s not entirely AI generated.
Behind the show are the creative minds of Universal Cargo’s CEO Devin Burke and Support Manager Bryan Burke.
Writer/director Jared Vineyard pens the short teleplays and utilizes LTX-2, VEO 3.1, and VEO 2 – among other software – to generate the shots that he edits together with traditional editing software.
Sneak Peek
As mentioned above, current events or news stories that are related to or impact international shipping will be part of the show.
We don’t know exactly what happens in episode 2 of the Cantankerous Journeys of Cramer the Container yet, but we do get to find out the REAL reason that oil tanker was seized off the coast of Venezuela.
Click on the image below to see the sneak peek Youtube short from the upcoming second episode:
That’s right, it looks like President Trump sent special forces in to get Mr. Meanor, who was hiding out on the tanker.
Stay tuned… or subscribed… for that next episode.
Happy Holidays!
Universal Cargo isn’t taking a break from taking C.A.R.E. of our customers and your shipments. International shipping never stops.
We will, however, have a short break for our blog over the weeks of Christmas and the New Year.
Before that happens, we want to wish a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and an incredible holiday for any others you may celebrate over this season! Stay safe, cherish family, and have a great time wherever you may be.
