It's not often we get the chance to use this blog to compliment another agency on some good contemporary work. But thankfully the guys over at Who Wot Why have provided us the opportunity this week with their new spot for Giff Gaff. What makes this good? In our opinion, it focuses on one thing - yes maybe obvious but so many people are trying to cram too many messages or thoughts into things these days, and secondly it's very, very well crafted – again something of a rarity at the moment. It stands out, looks great, sounds great, and makes a good point. Hats off to them, and to client for going with something like this.
Showing posts with label Sell Sell Salutes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sell Sell Salutes. Show all posts
ESPN SportsCentre Commercials
Ben Kay is doing these great podcasts interviewing creatives and directors, it's well worth a listen if you haven't already.
His latest chat is with the great Jeff Labbe, an American creative and director who's responsible for some great ads, and some of the ones that we looked up to when we were starting out in the business.
Jeff wrote the Beware Of Things Made In October campaign for Fox Sports, which blew our minds at the time, such simple, funny spots.
Have a look at his work on Ben's blog, here.
Americans seem to have always been to able to write commercials for sport and in particular their sports, baseball, basketball and (Amercian) football, in a brilliant way that we seem to struggle to match over here. Don't get me wrong, there have been exceptions, but in general we don't seem to have that ability to write the great, funny stuff about our sport and sports heroes that the yanks do about theirs. (I have my own tinpot ideas about why that might be, but that's not for this post.)
Anyway, all this reminded me of that great era of US commercials that we feasted on when we were starting out. At that time the only way of getting hold of them was on a Umatic sent over from a production company. We'd crowd round a monitor to watch the latest thing someone had got hold of.
This particular campaign stands out in my memory - the superb ESPN SportsCentre stuff directed by Bryan Buckley and Frank Todaro when they were a directorial duo at Radical, and written by Hank Perlman and Daryl McDonald...
Fantastic stuff. You can see a compilation of ESPN SportsCentre commercials here (these are from over a range of time and I don't think they all share the same directing and writing credits)...
After Bryan Buckley and Frank Todaro went their own ways and each became hugely successful in their own right, we were lucky enough to work with Frank on a couple of our projects. He directed our commercial for Travelocity and a series of ads we did as part of the Clarks New Shoes campaign,. It was real pleasure to work with one of these master US craftsmen, and we learned a lot along the way.
His latest chat is with the great Jeff Labbe, an American creative and director who's responsible for some great ads, and some of the ones that we looked up to when we were starting out in the business.
Jeff wrote the Beware Of Things Made In October campaign for Fox Sports, which blew our minds at the time, such simple, funny spots.
Have a look at his work on Ben's blog, here.
Americans seem to have always been to able to write commercials for sport and in particular their sports, baseball, basketball and (Amercian) football, in a brilliant way that we seem to struggle to match over here. Don't get me wrong, there have been exceptions, but in general we don't seem to have that ability to write the great, funny stuff about our sport and sports heroes that the yanks do about theirs. (I have my own tinpot ideas about why that might be, but that's not for this post.)
Anyway, all this reminded me of that great era of US commercials that we feasted on when we were starting out. At that time the only way of getting hold of them was on a Umatic sent over from a production company. We'd crowd round a monitor to watch the latest thing someone had got hold of.
This particular campaign stands out in my memory - the superb ESPN SportsCentre stuff directed by Bryan Buckley and Frank Todaro when they were a directorial duo at Radical, and written by Hank Perlman and Daryl McDonald...
Fantastic stuff. You can see a compilation of ESPN SportsCentre commercials here (these are from over a range of time and I don't think they all share the same directing and writing credits)...
After Bryan Buckley and Frank Todaro went their own ways and each became hugely successful in their own right, we were lucky enough to work with Frank on a couple of our projects. He directed our commercial for Travelocity and a series of ads we did as part of the Clarks New Shoes campaign,. It was real pleasure to work with one of these master US craftsmen, and we learned a lot along the way.
"Remember those great Volkswagen ads?" The Film...
Need some start of the week inspiration? Have a watch of this lovely film The story of the charming, honest ad campaign DDB created for VW... universally acknowledged to be the greatest and most influential of all time. Directed by Joe Marcantonio...
Also, if you don't already own a copy, it's well worth getting hold of the great book here: www.greatvwads.com
Have a great week.
Also, if you don't already own a copy, it's well worth getting hold of the great book here: www.greatvwads.com
Have a great week.
Twenty Years Of Pixar, Twenty Years Of Brilliance
This video released last week celebrates the anniversary of twenty years since Pixar released Toy Story. Have a look at this list: Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars, Ratatouille, WALL-E, Up, Toy Story 3, Cars 2, Brave, Monsters University, Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur. What a body of work. Pixar, we salute you...
New eBay campaign
Let's start the week with some damn fine ads for eBay from GS&P from across the pond.
A great idea to juxtapose song lyrics with various items for sale on eBay is supported by a cracking piece of craft and a fantastic use of music.
I've included my favourite three ads here but all five launch executions are top notch and contain lots of nice little touches that reward repeat viewing. I'm sure there's plenty more where that came from - this campaign has the potential to run and run and run.
In a world full of pompous and pretentious, manifesto me-too 'purpose' propaganda it's also a breath of fresh air to see something so stripped back and powerful that just wants to entertain people rather than change the world.
On the face of it, a brief to highlight the overwhelming breadth and diversity of the eBay offering isn't the most interesting and exciting but the agency have managed to knock it out of the park with these commercials.
By reminding people that eBay is a treasure trove for the random and the rare, this campaign should hopefully give people the stimulus to go back and have a rummage around for something they might want to buy.
Second-hand hats off to everyone involved.
A great idea to juxtapose song lyrics with various items for sale on eBay is supported by a cracking piece of craft and a fantastic use of music.
I've included my favourite three ads here but all five launch executions are top notch and contain lots of nice little touches that reward repeat viewing. I'm sure there's plenty more where that came from - this campaign has the potential to run and run and run.
In a world full of pompous and pretentious, manifesto me-too 'purpose' propaganda it's also a breath of fresh air to see something so stripped back and powerful that just wants to entertain people rather than change the world.
On the face of it, a brief to highlight the overwhelming breadth and diversity of the eBay offering isn't the most interesting and exciting but the agency have managed to knock it out of the park with these commercials.
By reminding people that eBay is a treasure trove for the random and the rare, this campaign should hopefully give people the stimulus to go back and have a rummage around for something they might want to buy.
Second-hand hats off to everyone involved.
Adrian Frutiger Obituary
Adrian Frutiger, typographic legend, sadly passed away on Saturday at the ripe old age of 87.
He leaves behind a design legacy that will live on for generations. You can find out more about Fruitger the man and his life's work by reading Linotype's excellent obituary here.
He leaves behind a design legacy that will live on for generations. You can find out more about Fruitger the man and his life's work by reading Linotype's excellent obituary here.
Veterans For Peace: Battlefield Casualties
Hats off to this. Strong work, very well executed. Directed by Price James and written by Darren Cullen.
Show Don't Tell And The Desert Of Crap – Shot On iPhone 6
I've been meaning to post up about this campaign for a little while, since a couple of us came into the office one morning and simultaneously said "Have you seen that new shot on iPhone campaign?"
That's what I like most about this work. The images are great, and the simplicity is excellent – it's increasingly rare to see simplicity (that is intelligent simplicity, not lowest-common-denominator dumbness) in advertising.
But the best thing about it, is that the first thing you think is wow, that was taken on the new iPhone camera? And that, ladies and gents, is what good advertising should largely be doing – making you think that the product is really good in some way that might be of use to you.
It seems silly to have to point that out, but increasingly it seems that many people in advertising think that the job of advertising is to make the advertising famous. I disagree with those people.
There used to be a useful phrase in advertising: show don't tell. And this work does that. Where other phone-makers will crap-on about megapixels or stability controls or some other crap, Apple and MAL continue their legacy of strong, simple, product-based ads by showing us a demonstration of the benefit: a great photo.
It's simple, and it works. And these posters are nice to look at, too. This last point is important.
Back in the sixties, Howard Gossage railed against the use of outdoor advertising as a blight on society. He argued that with all other media; radio TV, print, etc. you opt into it - you pick up a magazine or newspaper, or turn on the TV or radio fully in the knowledge that there will be ads, and that those ads are largely paying for the other content that you're there to enjoy. It's a choice, a transaction. And those ads are discreet by the nature of their media. But, he argued, when it comes to outdoor – it's different – those ads are forced upon us in our own environments, we don't get to choose whether we get to see them or not.
And you know, I have some sympathy for that point of view. Not completely – I don't think that outdoor should be banned, as Gossage did. But I do think there is a responsibility when using outdoor not to despoil our environment with poorly designed, poorly photographed, shouty, ugly or stupid posters. These things are twenty feet wide and bigger for God's sake. We have a responsibility to make our work add to the world around us, not abuse it.
We live in a time when advertising is completely disappearing up its own arse. Becoming more stupid, more inane, more ugly, less of interest or of use to the customer and more selfish and self-centred. This work is a rare oasis of good in that interminable desert of crap.
One final point is just to acknowledge Apple's continuing success at using so-called traditional media to effectively advertise innovative, technological products. No interactive gizmos or fashionable faddy, latest-thing gimmicks. Just simple, relevant thoughts, based on the product, relevant to the customer, simply put and well crafted, with great media placement. If only more clients and agencies had the confidence (or talent?) to do this. Maybe they would have built the most valuable brand in the world?
Here's a couple of examples...
That's what I like most about this work. The images are great, and the simplicity is excellent – it's increasingly rare to see simplicity (that is intelligent simplicity, not lowest-common-denominator dumbness) in advertising.
But the best thing about it, is that the first thing you think is wow, that was taken on the new iPhone camera? And that, ladies and gents, is what good advertising should largely be doing – making you think that the product is really good in some way that might be of use to you.
It seems silly to have to point that out, but increasingly it seems that many people in advertising think that the job of advertising is to make the advertising famous. I disagree with those people.
There used to be a useful phrase in advertising: show don't tell. And this work does that. Where other phone-makers will crap-on about megapixels or stability controls or some other crap, Apple and MAL continue their legacy of strong, simple, product-based ads by showing us a demonstration of the benefit: a great photo.
It's simple, and it works. And these posters are nice to look at, too. This last point is important.
Back in the sixties, Howard Gossage railed against the use of outdoor advertising as a blight on society. He argued that with all other media; radio TV, print, etc. you opt into it - you pick up a magazine or newspaper, or turn on the TV or radio fully in the knowledge that there will be ads, and that those ads are largely paying for the other content that you're there to enjoy. It's a choice, a transaction. And those ads are discreet by the nature of their media. But, he argued, when it comes to outdoor – it's different – those ads are forced upon us in our own environments, we don't get to choose whether we get to see them or not.
And you know, I have some sympathy for that point of view. Not completely – I don't think that outdoor should be banned, as Gossage did. But I do think there is a responsibility when using outdoor not to despoil our environment with poorly designed, poorly photographed, shouty, ugly or stupid posters. These things are twenty feet wide and bigger for God's sake. We have a responsibility to make our work add to the world around us, not abuse it.
We live in a time when advertising is completely disappearing up its own arse. Becoming more stupid, more inane, more ugly, less of interest or of use to the customer and more selfish and self-centred. This work is a rare oasis of good in that interminable desert of crap.
One final point is just to acknowledge Apple's continuing success at using so-called traditional media to effectively advertise innovative, technological products. No interactive gizmos or fashionable faddy, latest-thing gimmicks. Just simple, relevant thoughts, based on the product, relevant to the customer, simply put and well crafted, with great media placement. If only more clients and agencies had the confidence (or talent?) to do this. Maybe they would have built the most valuable brand in the world?
Here's a couple of examples...
Back with a bang
I know it's already been seen by 43 zillion people and shared by people that aren't even born yet, but this commercial is simply far too good not to appear on this blog.
To get all poetic, it's a shining beacon on a foggy hill overlooking a sea of piss.
Thank you, Old Spice and W&K. Thank you very much indeed.
Website Of The Year, Possibly All Eternity
The best website of this year by far. Possibly in all eternity.
Motherfucking website: find it here.
Motherfucking website: find it here.
Norman Parkinson
If you keep your eye on Google doodles (or you know your photographers) you might be aware that Sunday would have been the 100th birthday of Norman Parkinson. Parkinson is one of my all-time photographic heroes. His images helped to drag fashion photography into a new era, and he had a superb knack for capturing off-beat, playful portraits. On Sunday BBC Four showed a fantastic documentary charting his life and work - worth looking up on iPlayer if you have the inclination. Happy birthday Norman.
Risk And Responsibility
With the new series of Mad Men hitting the screens it seems like a perfect time to dig out this gem from the archives. Made in 1966 as a Creative Circle initiative, this film brilliantly highlights the dangers of producing advertising that underestimates the intelligence of your audience and won't cut through or get noticed. I was first exposed to this as a fresh faced graduate trainee and I'm delighted to have found it after a rummage on YouTube. It certainly stands the test of the time.
It's worth a warning that the piece is over fifty minutes long but it's worth watching every second if you can spare the time.
Yes it looks dated and feels a bit like an overlong Harry Enfield sketch, but I'd go so far as saying that every client and agency person involved in the making, buying and selling of creative work should be forced to watch it.
I'm 100% sure that the world would be filled with better advertising if that was the case.
For the truly time poor, I recommend skipping first to 22:50 and watching from there. There's a brilliant passage where the classic "Man In The Hathaway Shirt" ad is presented to clients played by Jeremy Bullmore and David Bernstein. On the surface, their observations and objections to this ad all seem rational and reasonable, but when their requested changes are implemented it ends up making a right old dog's dinner of an iconic ad.
The description beneath the film merely says;
Clients and their agencies must embrace risk responsibly if they are to avoid the ultimate risk that nobody will notice what they are paid to do.
This film may be nearly fifty years old but the advice it dispenses has never been more relevant.
It's worth a warning that the piece is over fifty minutes long but it's worth watching every second if you can spare the time.
Yes it looks dated and feels a bit like an overlong Harry Enfield sketch, but I'd go so far as saying that every client and agency person involved in the making, buying and selling of creative work should be forced to watch it.
I'm 100% sure that the world would be filled with better advertising if that was the case.
For the truly time poor, I recommend skipping first to 22:50 and watching from there. There's a brilliant passage where the classic "Man In The Hathaway Shirt" ad is presented to clients played by Jeremy Bullmore and David Bernstein. On the surface, their observations and objections to this ad all seem rational and reasonable, but when their requested changes are implemented it ends up making a right old dog's dinner of an iconic ad.
The description beneath the film merely says;
Clients and their agencies must embrace risk responsibly if they are to avoid the ultimate risk that nobody will notice what they are paid to do.
This film may be nearly fifty years old but the advice it dispenses has never been more relevant.
Thatcher's Legacy
The main thing that the passing of Margaret Thatcher has prompted me to remember, is just how bloody great Spitting Image was. The programme was at its peak when Thatcher was at hers and the era provided an almost endless stream of comic opportunities.
Steve Nallon absolutely nailed her voice and the mannerisms of the puppet itself were always creepily faithful to the Iron Lady. So much so, that I bet that when many people think of Thatcher, the Spitting Image caricature is the first thing that springs to mind.
With only HIGNFY really properly flying the flag for televisual satire, surely it's about time it was resurrected. It would be great to see Cameron, Clegg, Osborne, Johnson, Miliband and co all be given the Spitting Image treatment. There would certainly be no shortage of things to take the piss out of them for.
Spitting Image is sadly missed and we send our deep, heartfelt condolences to everyone who has never seen the show.
Steve Nallon absolutely nailed her voice and the mannerisms of the puppet itself were always creepily faithful to the Iron Lady. So much so, that I bet that when many people think of Thatcher, the Spitting Image caricature is the first thing that springs to mind.
With only HIGNFY really properly flying the flag for televisual satire, surely it's about time it was resurrected. It would be great to see Cameron, Clegg, Osborne, Johnson, Miliband and co all be given the Spitting Image treatment. There would certainly be no shortage of things to take the piss out of them for.
Spitting Image is sadly missed and we send our deep, heartfelt condolences to everyone who has never seen the show.
Advertising Greatness #4: You Need It Because You're Weak
This is one of my favourite lines of all time, and one of my favourite campaigns. A really simple idea that comes straight from the point of the product, I love how simple they kept the shots and the voiceover. That simplicity seems to give it even more energy. You don't see much of that confidence these days. Great stuff from HHCL. We salute thee.
Advertising: The Means Not The End
I stumbled upon an ad book called Mad Ave, edited by Jackie Merri Meyer. There are some great classic US ads in there, but also interesting written pieces by the likes of George Lois, Ed McCabe and Jerry Della Femina.
Anyway, this one particular quote from the great Ed McCabe caught my eye...
Anyway, this one particular quote from the great Ed McCabe caught my eye...
“Advertising has evolved into a business driven by megalomaniacs who know a lot about making money but little or nothing about making advertising. In some respects it's also being driven by “creatives,” who have it wrong to the opposite extreme. They believe the ad or commercial is everything and that winning awards is something. They've lost sight of the fact that advertising, in and of itself, isn't anything. Advertising's sole purpose is to be the cause of something else. To cause a sales increase. To cause a shift in perception. To cause the creation of an edifice of imagery that allows a product or service to be something. But advertising itself is nothing. Nothing but a means to an end. Only fools believe the the means is as important or significant as the end.”Sounds like he has it spot-on to me.
Splash It All Over
Here's our, albeit belated, little tribute to Our 'Enery. Great as it may be, forget all this worshipping of the Old Spice advertising. Now this was a proper campaign for an aftershave. Sporting superstars. Skipping. Men in the shower. One with a perm.
And after the Brut ads, here was Henry's second biggest achievement. Witness a classic sporting moment at 3.03 in this clip.
Finally, here's a verbatim lifted from an article in The Telegraph from 2002 that demonstrates he could pack a punch with words too.
It was boxing commentator Reg Gutteridge who observed ; "Henry Cooper has stolen the affection of the public for longer than any other sportsman. He has indestructible dignity."
Dignity and abundant humour as he displayed in a televised exchange with boxing abolitionist Baroness Summerskill:
"Mr Cooper, have you looked in the mirror recently and seen the state of your nose?"
"Well, madam, have you looked in the mirror and seen the state of your nose? Boxing's my excuse, what's yours?"
Indestructible dignity and a sense of humour. Apart from Robbie Savage, how many of today's sportsmen can you say that about?
And after the Brut ads, here was Henry's second biggest achievement. Witness a classic sporting moment at 3.03 in this clip.
Finally, here's a verbatim lifted from an article in The Telegraph from 2002 that demonstrates he could pack a punch with words too.
It was boxing commentator Reg Gutteridge who observed ; "Henry Cooper has stolen the affection of the public for longer than any other sportsman. He has indestructible dignity."
Dignity and abundant humour as he displayed in a televised exchange with boxing abolitionist Baroness Summerskill:
"Mr Cooper, have you looked in the mirror recently and seen the state of your nose?"
"Well, madam, have you looked in the mirror and seen the state of your nose? Boxing's my excuse, what's yours?"
Indestructible dignity and a sense of humour. Apart from Robbie Savage, how many of today's sportsmen can you say that about?
Whole Foods Commercials
This a great campaign of commercials by the talented guys over at The Escape Pod in Chicago, for Whole Food Market. I love the honesty of them, and the way you get a real passion and energy for the product coming through. One of the hardest things for ad people to do these days it seems is to get out of the way of the product. Creatives and agencies seem to want to sell their own so-called cleverness instead of the product. But here is a perfect example of just how proper advertising creative makes the product the hero. People talking to camera about the product is sometimes still the best advertising creativity. Well done chaps.
You should check out their blog too.
A Commercial Break - Skittles
Skittles make some great TV ads. This is a new one, it's great too. It introduces a new kind of Skittles, in a way that's funny and kooky and Skittly. It demonstrates the sort of zing you get when you eat them, with the static on the tongue thing. All in all, a proper ad. Hats off again to those who came up with it, made it, and approved it.
IKEA Domestic Policy
Brun kitchen
Kamerun kitchen
Kleggi kitchen
Those maverick Swedes, IKEA, are at it again. They've been having a little bit of fun in the run up to this years election. The three main party leaders have had a bespoke kitchen created, each of which has its own distinctive style to compliment and support their respective chief.
Find out more about items like the Kamerun Etontabl Bullindone, the Brun Granita and the Kleggi Toste here. Nicely done.
The iPad: Will It Blend?
Long-time readers of this blog, as well being gluttons for punishment, will know that we are big fans of the Blendtec Will It Blend? campaign. The iPod Will It Blend? was one of their most popular films, so it stands to reason that with the launch of the iPad in the states, that would follow next. It doesn't disappoint - with the added bonus of Tom Dickson's great way of making it fit in the blender.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)