JACKPOT! Some ADDY Recap

JACKPOT!!

Well, as you all know it's ADDY's week finally! And to honor it, I went on a search for some different award show themes around the country. While in pursuit of some creative ideas in fun cities, I found a site that has a compilation of ADDY intro videos. This catalog of shorts has really gotten me psyched for the award ceremony on Monday night!

So if you have five minutes, (and I know you do) get off of facebook and watch Sasquatch rap about his hairy bottom; or maybe you want to watch children, similar to yourself who want to one day grow up and work in advertising. These videos are pretty great because surely, this is the ONE time that an agency can actually have full creative freedom with a project.

I hope for the best at this years award show. Hats off to everyone who busted their butts to make it happen.

Cheers!

Super Bowl 2011

I must admit, I found myself a little disappointed this year when it came to concept quality. There were only a handful that I found 'good'. I find myself having this thought every year. Here are the two best in my opinion, and I'll keep the jeers to myself.



I vote for Audi's "Release the Hounds" for one of the funniest this year. Far better than Hyundai Elantra ad narrated by Jeff Bridges. This one was pretty silly. I thought it was entertaining for our age demographic as well as really appealing to the older market who can afford a luxury car. This ad makes me wonder what these rich people did to get locked up in the big house (er, more like mansion)...

But I must say, I think my overall favorite was the VW Darthvader.



It's cute, simple, and crystal clear. A very realistic situation in such a household. Even those of us who are not parents get it and think it's funny and cute. One of the most original yet simple ads I've seen this Superbowl.

Fear and Loathing on Madison Ave.

Fear and Loathing on Madison Avenue

So I have a confession... Lately, I've been a little worried about our future, based on how the advertising program at Ringling is going thus far. At first, being the guinea pigs was a great thing, but lately I feel like it is hard to ignore the repercussions that come with being the first. I personally find it a little upsetting that we are just now learning flash, in our JUNIOR YEAR! The fact of the matter is that the sophomores have already surpassed our skills in technology. I wish we would be doing more relevant assignments opposed to traditional branding techniques. A good foundation is important, yes. However we need a more vast experience when it comes to advertising because it is a big market in a cut throat world. I'm looking forward to a chance to create hoopla.

Anyway, read the article. It's somewhat related, I just mostly wanted to respond with how I was feeling about the program.
:]

Office Party! My 2006 Super Bowl Advert. Flashback

CareerBuilder - 2006 SuperBowl Commercial - The best video clips are here

With the 2011 Super Bowl coming up on Feb 6th, I thought I'd recap on one of my favorite ads I've seen come out of this decade. It's too hard to pick my favorite of all time, so I'll limit it to that.

This is a 2006 Superbowl advertisement for CareerBuilder featuring monkey office personnel (produced by the Cramer-Krasselt agency). The zoo like workplace is quite ridiculous and depicts how I'm sure a lot of blue collar America feels about their job and the idiots they have to put up with daily. All of this calamity and monkey partying to get to the final tag "a better job awaits." As part of that campaign, CareerBuilder teamed with a digital agency, (Oddcast) to introduce an e-mail service called "Monk-e-mail" which enables computer users to send messages featuring customized images of “talking” chimpanzees. I haven't checked it out yet, but I'm glad to see that this wasn't just another funny, one off Super Bowl ad.

QR Tagging Trials

Bosch Refrigerators have a series of print ads that include QR mobile tagging techniques. The ads depict an ancient creature (such as a dinosaur) packaged as a poultry or something. Apparently the code takes you right to the Bosch website, but only with the right application. In theory this is a good idea, however I feel like companies need to do something more interactive with a link. Taking a user who is that tech savy to a simple web page is sort of a slap in the face. There is no real reward for the viewer who figures out what to do with this eight bit box. I'm still waiting for that day, when this tag takes you to a fun game or cool splash page experience.

Also, here is a QR code I generated myself. It's super easy to just go to the website and make one yourself!

Agency party planning? AND PONIES??

So this is one of the sillier posts I've seen. The Canadian ad agency, John st. decided to make a parody 'disruption' video of sorts. The mission? Advertising agencies planning kid's birthday parties. With lines like "research shows that eight year old Chelsey likes the color pink, and ponies." I think I just about died when the "traditional techniques" (pin the tail on the pony) was thrown out.
So what is the message behind this birthday movement? Is it a message of how out of hand this industry is and how deep we have infiltrated the culture? Or is this simply a silly video to pass the time when procrastinating around the office? Many interpretations are out there. Personally, this reminds me of a video that our marketing professor made us watch about a year ago titled Consuming Children. A sick film, really. It did help open my eyes to what a glutinous monster marketing can be. I suppose this is slightly better because there were no Barbie logos anywhere to be seen.. Or maybe this video was worse because the J.B name was dropped.

I'm still left wondering why the mini pony at the end of the video wasn't pink... I guess dying a pony the color pink for Chelsey's eighth birthday party theme would be a little sick.

What keeps me coming back.

Please watch this!

Here is a video I found while looking through the CP+B site. I thought it would be a good video to share for the closing of this semester. The idea of "sharing the risk" when it comes to selling ideas to clients is an interesting one. "Because the more risks you're taking, the more profit you will get, if you're successful." I can only hope to work for such clients in the future. I really admire the work coming out of that agency and others like it who produce really unique and disruptive ideas that set the bar higher (for me personally). I love the point that the Gustavs make about the Flame Broiled Perfume, it's not the perfume that is the important sell, but just the idea of the product makes a point about how Burger King's product is unique from other fast food chains. Don't work in a silo or a vacuum. Always draw inspiration from everywhere and become an idea machine.

I hope to work for them one day! <3

I guess it's good to keep in mind also, that not everyone or every idea is perfect. Deal with your partner's flaws and always receive feedback with an open mind to changes and other creative solutions.
(Didn't mean for that to get preachy..)