Part One of...

Do you know when you see and ad, right, and it's kind of average, yeah, but then there's, like, a flash of brilliance?

Well, I do. And certainly more often than not.

So to show my appreciation to these bits of brilliance, I thought I'd introduce this new feature to my blog - starting with a couple of campaigns that just about caught my eye.

The first is the TV spot for Anchor's 'Made by Cows' campaign, by agency Clemmow Hornby Inge Ltd.

Why do I think it's average? To be honest, it's really well put together and superbly directed, but nothing we haven't seen before. Animals replacing humans in the work force. However, about half way through this ad, Clemmow Hornby Inge Ltd absolutely nailed it. What wasn't overly unique became creative genius in a split second.

As the Anchor cows 'worked their shifts', one cow ventured over to a vending machine on its break, selecting a snack from the choices of grass turf. As it dropped off the shelf, I thought 'bang!' Brilliant.

Spot it here http://www.visit4info.com/advert/Cows-To-Work-Anchor-Butter-Range/84196

The second average ad with a brilliant bit is again a TV spot, this time for I Can't Believe It's Not Butter's 'Now Even More Buttery' campaign.

Oi, Rob, why is this average? I'll tell you why.

It's kind of predictable and straight forward, but at the same time, quite nicely done. It didn't make me think, "wow, that's a really well-worked piece of advertising", though it did raise a smile.

The idea? 'I Can't Believe I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Is Better' - a possible new, longer name for the product which, in turn, makes other things associated with the brand appear 'longer' than they originally were. For example, a delivery van becomes a longer delivery van, POS becomes a bigger POS etc, etc.

The bit of brilliance was another example of this exaggerated approach. As a team of footballers begin to make their way from the tunnel to the pitch, the manager is making them untuck their shirts, so that the sponsor can be seen in full.

The sponsor, I Can't Believe I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Is Better, is too long to fit on their chests, so they end up struggling to run as their shirts are literally down to their ankles.

I thought this was a bit different to the obvious exaggerations, and a really nice inclusion.

Try it on here http://www.visit4info.com/advert/Now-Even-More-Buttery-I-Cant-Believe-Its-Not-Butter/84789

So there you have it, the first of my new Average Ads with Brilliant Bits features. Of course, feel free to suggest any more examples of this that you may come across

Until next time, enjoy the commercial breaks!

Cheers, Adam & Eve!

G'day!

We've seen some bonza campaigns for the Foster's brand in recent years - more notably M&C Saatchi's 'Super Chilled' executions - and the new 'Good Call' campaign is no exception.

After beating previous incumbent M&C Saatchi and one of my favourtite agencies, Fallon, to the £7m account in April, 'Good Call' is the first execution from winners Adam & Eve.

Perhaps predictably, this new campaign plays on the so-well-documented, assumed Australian 'laid back' attitude to life, but approaches it in such a way that it instantly stands out as classic Foster's advertising, instead of more of the same.

Not an easy thing to achieve, but Adam & Eve have really delivered.

We are introduced to Dan and Brad. Two chilled-out Aussie blokes relaxing in their beach shack, giving advice to callers in the UK who have found themselves in social dilemmas.

In this particular 'dilemma', the caller is concerned that his girlfriend may end up looking like her mum. He is quickly calmed down and assured that while this could be the case, it's important not to worry about the future and he should just enjoy 'the now'.

Great advice, added to by suggesting that there's always a chance she could "turn out to be a Vorderman".

The caller soon cheers up and stops panicking. No worries.

Get it down you here http://www.visit4info.com/advert/Good-Call-for-Beach-Advice-Fosters-Lager/85130

I can't wait to see what Adam & Eve come up with for the next installment of this campaign.

If this is anything to go by, it'll be a ripper!

There is paintball...and there is PAINTBALL!

Splat! What an ad.

When I first saw EuroMillions 'Paintball', the new National Lottery campaign by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, I thought it looked pretty good - a nice approach, like the Lotto ads by Aegis Group dedicated to 'those who would rather give it a go'.

However, now I've seen it more than a dozen times in just a few days, I thinks it's fantastic. There are literally millions of ways that winners could enjoy the money, but Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO went for a Rambo-style, extreme paintball circuit.

The idea is an evolution of the more tactical jackpot-focused and EuroMillions 'Pinball' ads - and really starts to open up the imagination as to what could be possible if you won the jackpot.

What's also nice about the approach of this new campaign is that the emphasis is not just on the huge jackpots, but encouraging winners to share it amongst friends too.

http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/thework/news/1010792/EuroMillions-paintball-Abbott-Mead-Vickers-BBDO/

I'd love to have been on this tropical set - and took part in the game!

The campaign launched with a 40-second TV spot, followed up by this 60-second version (link above) shown on cinema screens. Other supporting media includes press, radio and online.

The 60-second cinema version is especially refreshing if you're about to sit through 90 minutes of predictable love story, just so that you're allowed to watch a World Cup game as a reward!

World Cup streaking, in HD

Now that World Cup domination of the commercial break is in full swing, I thought I'd juggle watching the opening game with blogging about the hilarious TV spot for Freeview HD.

The £12 million campaign 'Tiny Streaker' has been produced by 18 Feet & Rising.

The TV spot breaks during the World Cup matches - including the last break before South Africa kicked-off against Mexico.

It shows a tiny Londoner with a scroll-like beard convincing us that this will be his World Cup, as he takes advantage of Freeview HD using it as an excuse to strip and streak, and get involved in the not-so-beautiful-anymore game - all to the sound of 80s club classic 'Safety Dance', by Men Without Hats.

This passionate character has already launched online, unbranded, appearing seemingly unannounced on football fan sites.

The campaign really doesn't take itself too seriously, which is great. It's just a bit of fun that will compete with every other South Africa-inspired campaign this summer.

See it in all it's naked glory here http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/theWork/news/1004678

And you can follow the Tiny Streaker via his blog and see how his character is developed further here www.tinystreaker.com

Really lovin' it

Many happy returns, literally. In October 2009 McDonald's celebrated its 35th anniversary as a UK restaurant by launching their 'Favourites' campaign. It featured all kinds of people coming and going as they just passed by, each enjoying the McDonald's experience in their own unique way.

Supported by outdoor and print ads as well as being reflected on the brand's website and throughout its social media channels, the TV spot was the crowning execution for me.

Leo Burnett London really nailed it with this concept, together with superb copywriting by Tony Malcolm and Guy Moore and perfect delivery from narrator David Morrissey.

Featuring the classics, Big Mac, French Fries and Chicken McNuggets - which fist appeared on the original McDonald's menu in 1974 - this ad brings particular attention to and really sums up how much the franchise has evolved over decades. And it continues to do so.

There's also a particularly clever line in the ad and fantastic attention to detail where we hear about how some of us choose to remove the gherkins from our burgers. Like I do.

Tuck in to it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDxLtKQZfIU

So, why am I only blogging about this now? It's been and gone...hasn't it? Well, no it hasn't. Just like the rest of the world's big brands, McDonald's is also on the 'plane to South Africa this summer and with it goes their new-build 'Favourites' TV spot.

Tailored for McDonald's in England, Wales and Scotland, the updated ad has been created as part of their marketing drive around this year's World Cup.

The new campaign kicked off on Saturday (June 5th) and is every bit as brilliant as its original. Still focussing on all the different kinds of customers, it identifies those of us who are completely taken over by World Cup fever as well as those who really aren't. After all, there is a McDonald's for everyone.

Enjoy it here http://www.brandrepublic.com/Discipline/Advertising/News/1007161/McDonalds-unveils-World-Cup-ad/

Oh and, this time around it sounds like previous narrator David Morrissey has been replaced. Any idea who the new voice belongs to?

Whoever it is, he's part of an ongoing advertising masterpiece.

The creative minds, it takes all kinds, to come up with then revamp right in time, a World Cup ad that stands out and is so refined, weren't just passing by. The folks at Leo Burnett have been doing great things for many years. And long may it continue.

Sex And The C...Cow

OMG!

So, the girlfriend, like, made me sit through Sex And The City 2. A predictable sequel to the predictable first. Though I have to admit, there were some enjoyable moments.

My favourite part was the bit where the Müller cow galloped across the beach to the sound of the seventies - Reo Speedwagon's Can't fight this feeling - realising its dream of being a horse, as a thank you for all the milk that goes into the brand's yogurts.

Incidentally, this cow isn't just any cow. Me calling it the 'Müller cow' isn't fair. Her name is Mary. She's a Friesian cow who has actually always longed to let her inner-stallion run free.

For the first time since its launch on May 24th, I saw VCCP's cinema masterpiece. And although this big screen section of the £9million campaign for Müller's Corner range is also supported by press, online www.thankyoucows.com and even digital escalator panels (on the London Underground), it's by far my pick of the bunch.

It really made me LOL in between the usual drivel-filled, chick-flick trailers that are 'suitable for this audience'.

I really hope that more of the same is Coming Soon from this campaign.

Very a-moo-sing! Five stars.

Euro RSCG paints a beautiful picture

As a big fan of brands who like to do something a bit different, I've always kept an eye out for the Dulux campaigns.

Not content on just boasting about how well their paint goes up, they've recruited top advertising agencies to tell the strengths of their story more creatively.

For example, I particularly liked the take on Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty for the campaign created by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, 'We Know The Colours That Go' in 2006. This saw different colours take on various personalities and couple-up, becoming much more than just a set of swatches.

In fact, swatch it here www.tellyads.com/show_movie.php?filename=TA0025

When the Dulux brand appointed Euro RSCG in 2009 to handle their global advertising, it was obvious that Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO - Dulux's long-standing agency since 1996 - had left huge cans of paint to fill.

Did this affect them? No chance. If it did, it was a more than positive affect. They started work immediately and the result is their superb 'Let's Colour' campaign.

Along with the agency, a huge team boasting a variety of different characters, from Dulux executives to keen bloggers, travelled the world creating a 'colour movement' that challenged communities to brighten up parts of their cities, everywhere.

Rejuvenating areas of urban decay such as multi-story car parks and other lifeless concrete, locals were partnered and helped to turn depression into beauty. It's such a fantastic and rewarding campaign.

Watch a Director's Cut of the quite moving story here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPpMWaSPt-s&feature=player_embedded

Give this Guy a break!

Every now and again, I decide to explore the internet in search of any talk regarding sequels to films I've enjoyed.

This time in particular, I was on the look out for the second Rocknrolla, dubbed at the end of the first as The Real Rocknrolla.

As luck would have it, the beautiful Thandie Newton had mentioned in an interview that this second installment - of a rumored trilogy - was right around the corner, thanks to the undoubted success of Mr Ritchie's fantastic Sherlock Holmes.

What's more, she hinted that we can indeed expect the return of a great cast including the brilliant Mark Strong, the always impeccable Toby Kebbell and Tom Hardy, as well as Hardy's 'Wild Bunch' boys Gerard Butler and Idris Elba.

So, what's the point I'm trying to make here? Well, I'll tell you.

During my search for information, I came across half-a-dozen blogs addressing the success of Sherlock Holmes and almost starting to discuss the sequel I was trying to hunt down.

But, these blogs also went on to question why Guy Ritchie was "returning to what he knows best" after his Hollywood blockbuster, seeing as he was "back on top form after flops like Swept Away and Revolver".

My point?

This bullsh*t always surfaces before, during and after a new Guy Ritchie film. This time, I had to have my say too.

Whilst Swept Away wasn't the greatest film ever made, it was by no means the worst. Not by a long shot. Or as I like to put it, it was nowhere near a Ghost Rider with Nicolas Cage.

As for Revolver, I thought it was pure art. A fantastically written, shot and delivered picture. As always with Ritchie's films, it boasted a great cast - need I mention Ray Liotta as Dorothy Macha? Brilliant.

I get a bit sick of hearing about how poor Revolver was, and how Guy Ritchie always goes back to doing Brit gangster flicks. The Hard Case was a wonderful twenty-minute short which ultimately lead to bigger things after Sting's wife, Trudie Styler, saw it and went on to invest money in Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels (in which her husband played bar-owner, J.D). Lock, Stock is now - and deservedly so - a cult classic, Snatch holds its flat-capped head high and boasts what I consider to be one of Brad Pitt's finest performances, and Revolver is another great example of Ritchie's skill, style and ability to write and direct.

And...breathe. Ahhh. If nothing else, I feel better now.

I think we're lucky to have a writer/director like Guy Ritchie, and I'm very much looking forward to The Real Rocknrolla. I can't wait - though obviously I'll have to, a little bit longer.

In the meantime, I'm sure I'll be hearing from a good friend of mine who doesn't share my opinion of Revolver! And by the way, you should check him out - www.thehairywriter.co.uk - loves his films, does this guy.

Writing a future that'll live long in the memory

Kick Off.

Just over a year after Nike recruited Guy Ritchie to challenge us to Take It To The Next Level from a player's perspective, they're back.

This time, they are encouraging us to Write The Future.

In what I can only describe as pure genius, the new ad features the usual sponsored suspects like Fabio Cannavaro, Ronaldinho - arguably doing more step-overs in 15 seconds than he's done all season for Milan - Didier Drogba and Cristiano Ronaldo. Though the highlight has to be the clever and creative stand-off between Franck Ribery and our own Wayne Rooney.

The scenario is split two ways.

In the first, Rooney faces off against Ribery but comes off second best. This quickly spirals out of control and turns into another national disappointment. The end of poor Wayne's career with our press doing what they do best - destroying him via headlines.

In the next scene he's filmed as a miserable groundsman, and then emerging from his caravan home a la Jason Flemyng in Snatch, out of shape and wearing a vest, with an almost Amish beard not quite hiding his shamed face.

In the second scenario, he makes the tackle that puts an end to Ribery's attack. England subsequently go on to prevail and Rooney is a national hero. This again spirals out of control, to the point where he is Knighted over night, and we see a hospital ward full of newborns, all tagged 'Wayne'.

Half Time.

Of course, there are cameos throughout from superstars including Cesc Fabregas, Landon Donovan and even Kobe Bryant and Roger Federer (being humiliated by Sir Wayne at Table Tennis). I can't be sure but I think Pele may also make an appearance as a security guard near the beginning? However, best of all is undoubtedly the appearance of Homer Simpson being nutmeg'd by Cristiano Ronaldo in his own doorway. D'oh!

There is also a really nice touch just over half way through where we see the ad drumming up hits on YouTube. Inevitable, and brilliantly mimicked.

I'd like to personally thank the always brilliant Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam, for supplying me with quite possibly the most entertaining 3 minutes I've had this year. And most definitely the stand-out TV ad of 2010 so far.

Enjoy it as much as I did, here http://www.wk.com/campaign/write_the_future

Let's just hope our lads give us a bit longer than 3 memorable minutes in South Africa!

Full Time.

£2.3million?! That'll Hurst your wallet!

Ok so this isn't an overly creative blog content-wise, but news like this can't go under my radar!


For those of you who haven't heard, Sir Geoff Hurst's 1966 World Cup, match-worn, no.10 shirt - in which he scored that unforgettable, winning hat-trick - has been put up for sale by it's owner, property developer Andrew Leslau.


This kind of sports memorabilia could be considered by many, as priceless.


Not so, however.


In an outrageous attempt to alert insanely rich fans with crazy bouts of World Cup fever, Leslau has made it impossible for you and I to bid with his £2.3million asking price.


The current record sale for a football shirt stands at £157,750 - Pele's 1970 Brazil top.


Before Andrew Leslau bought the shirt, it'd had a couple of previous owners. Sir Geoff sold it at an auction in 2000 to a private collector for £91,750. It was then sold on to a West Ham fan - Hurst's former club - before ending up in Leslau's possession in 2008.


Explaining his reasons for such a huge price tag, Andrew Leslau described the shirt as "an iconic image of the greatest moment in this country's football and sporting history".


Agreed.


"What's more, no other player has scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final. Whatever happens in the future, Sir Geoff will be the first".


Correct.


Jack Charlton OBE agrees with the majority of us, that the price is, erm, excessive. He also added that if anybody wanted to buy his, he still has it and would be willing to sell. Well-played, Jack. Nice touch!


While Sir Geoff Hurst himself apparently wasn't available for comment, Jack and I reckon he'd be more than proud that his shirt was held in such high regard.


The priceless-ish shirt will be on display at Harrods in London until June 14. So, get saving I guess!


Oh, and I'd like to finish off by kindly asking Wayne to blast in a hat-trick in the final in South Africa. It's just that I have a Rooney no.9 shirt that I'd consider selling. 

And I could do with the cash.

Google, give yourselves a Pac on the back!

What a weekend! The hottest in Britain since last September. So, what did I spend most of Sunday morning doing? Playing classic Pac-Man on my not-quite-as-retro iBook G4. In bed. With the curtains closed.

Well if nothing else, it stopped me using up a whole bottle of factor-15.

It wasn't just any game of Pac-Man though, oh no. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the '80s arcade hit, Google had once again adapted the logo on the home page of its search engine to mark the occasion.

Genius.

In what was the first ever interactive doodle that Google had commissioned, web users had 48 hours - which started on Saturday morning - to 'Insert Coin' (the button that temporarily replaced 'I'm Feeling Lucky') and tuck-in to those little dots whilst avoiding ghosts Inky, Blinky, Pinky and of course, Clyde.

Not only that, but if you clicked 'Insert Button' twice...oh yes, two-player Pac-Man!

What a way to relive the nostalgia.

I did eventually make it into the sun after my stint being entertained by the innovation of Google - in this instance paying homage to the innovation of Pac-Man - and I for one cannot wait for the next big calendar event.

And whatever Google come up with then, I really hope the transformation is on a rainy day.