See more Will Ferrell videos at Funny or Die
Monday, 4 August 2008
Ferrel Makes A Funny
Lunar BBDOs blog is no more, which is a shame, I enjoyed it. Not only was he on the ball industry wise but it was a great source of interest generally. Here's something he posted pre blog close. It's led to me discovering the Funny or Die Blog, so as one blog dies another is born (into my life). All marvel at the the circle of bloggy life. RIP Lunar.
Thursday, 31 July 2008
I Think My Favourite Bit Is The Way It Ends
Gnarls Barkley's new vid, "Who's Gonna Save My Soul?" Directed by Chris Milk.
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Chilly Zombies
I'd never seen Jon Carpenter's, The Thing until Saturday. Awesome prosthetics and eery synths make the movie a proper treat. Then, ironically, I get emailed this new homage this morning...
Monday, 28 July 2008
Friday, 25 July 2008
Monkey Hosts Olympics.
Watching Monkey Magic as a kid was a trip. It's weirdness sticks with you (that might explain a lot). Now I find out Jamie Hewlett (of Gorillaz and Tank Girl fame) has done an animation for the Beebs Beijing Olympic coverage, and guess who it features...
Sunday, 20 July 2008
Old Spice TV Provides
Unfortunately where the TV provides the digital doesn't. So I won't provide the link.
Saturday, 19 July 2008
Smart Digital
"A pun is a shift of wit. A fart is a whift of shit."
I know... but I couldn't help myself. Pun's are disgusting and crass and brilliant. It's like tourette's though, I felt uncontrollably compelled. I apologise. But the headline is true; the Smart car strategy makes a lot of sense. Ok, so it's not the donkey's knob when it comes to campaigns but I'm always impressed when demonstration advertising as straight as this is made appealing. So kudos to Agency Republic for it's cute handling of good interactivity.
http://www.truthaboutsmart.co.uk/
I know... but I couldn't help myself. Pun's are disgusting and crass and brilliant. It's like tourette's though, I felt uncontrollably compelled. I apologise. But the headline is true; the Smart car strategy makes a lot of sense. Ok, so it's not the donkey's knob when it comes to campaigns but I'm always impressed when demonstration advertising as straight as this is made appealing. So kudos to Agency Republic for it's cute handling of good interactivity.
http://www.truthaboutsmart.co.uk/
Friday, 18 July 2008
Thursday, 17 July 2008
No Cameras, Lasers, Action
A friend recently asked me what band of today I could ever imagine becoming as prolific as Led Zepplin. We both agreed wholeheartedly on Radiohead. And couldn't find another. It's fitting then, that they should pioneer new techniques like the ones they've used here. Shot with no cameras, just 3D laser scanners, check out House of Cards...
\\
and the making of...
\\
and the making of...
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Just like that...
... he copies and pastes an email. You lazy fucker Nick.
Hush ya beak and an old fashioned English chuckle with these... All hail the king of one liners...
I went to see a friend with her new baby last night, she
> asked me if I
> wanted to wind it.
> I thought that was a bit harsh, so I just gave it a Dead-Leg
>
> *****
>
> Two Aerials meet on a roof - fall in love - get married
> The ceremony was rubbish but the Reception was Brilliant.
>
> *****
>
> Man goes to the docs, with a strawberry growing out of his head.
> Doc says, 'I'll give you some cream to put on it.'
>
> *****
>
> 'Doc, I can't stop singing the green green grass of home.'
> 'That sounds like Tom Jones syndrome.'
> 'Is it common?'
> 'It's not unusual.'
>
> *****
>
> A man takes his Rottweiler to the vet.
> 'My dog's cross-eyed, is there anything you can do for him?'
> 'Well,' says the vet, 'let's have a look at him'
> So he picks the dog up and examines his eyes, then checks his
> teeth.
> Finally, he says, 'I'm going to have to put him down.'
> 'What? Because he's cross-eyed? '
> 'No, because he's really heavy'
>
> *****
>
> 'Doctor, I can't pronounce my F's, T's and H's.'
> 'Well you can't say fairer than that then'
>
> *****
>
> Two elephants walk off a cliff...... boom boom!
>
> *****
>
> So I went to the dentist.
> He said 'Say Aaah.'
> I said 'Why?'
> He said 'My dog's died.'
>
> *****
>
> So I got home, and the phone was ringing. I picked it up, and
> said
> 'Who's speaking please?'
> And a voice said 'You are.'
>
> *****
>
> So I rang up my local swimming baths.
> I said 'Is that the local swimming baths?'
> He said 'It depends where you're calling from.'
>
> *****
>
> So I rang up a local building firm, I said 'I want a skip
> outside my
> house.'
> He said 'I'm not stopping you.'
>
> *****
>
> Apparently, 1 in 5 people in the world are Chinese. And there
> are 5
> people in my family, so it must be one of them.
> It's either my mum or my dad.
> Or my older brother Colin.
> Or my younger brother Ho-Cha-Chu.
>
> But I think it's Colin.
>
> *****
>
> So I was in my car, and I was driving along, and my boss rang
> up, and
> he said 'You've been promoted.'
> And I swerved.
> And then he rang up a second time and said 'You've been promoted
> again.'
> And I swerved again.
> He rang up a third time and said 'You're managing director.'
> And I went into a tree.
> And a policeman came up and said
> 'What happened to you?'
> And I said 'I careered off the road.'
>
> *****
>
> Now, most dentists' chairs go up and down, don't they?
> The one I was in went back and forwards.
> I thought 'This is unusual'. And the dentist said to me, 'Mr
> Cooper,
> get out of the filing cabinet.'
>
> *****
>
> So I was getting into my car, and this bloke says to me 'Can
> you give
> me a lift?'
>
> I said 'Sure, you look great, the world's your oyster, go for
> it.'
>
> *****
>
> Two cannibals eating a clown. One says to the other
> 'Does this taste funny to you?'
>
> *****
>
> Police arrested two kids yesterday, one was drinking battery
> acid, and
> the other was eating fireworks.
>
> They charged one and let the other one off.
>
> *****
>
> You know, somebody actually complimented me on my driving today.
> They left a little note on the windscreen; it said 'Parking
> Fine.'
> So that was nice.
>
> *****
>
> A man walked into the doctors,
> The doctor said 'I haven't seen you in a long time'
> The man replied, 'I know I've been ill'
>
> *****
>
> A man walked into the doctors, he said 'I've hurt my arm in
> several
> places'
> The doctor said, 'well don't go to those places'
>
> *****
>
> I had a ploughman's lunch the other day.
> He wasn't very happy.
>
> *****
>
> I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day but I
> couldn't
> find any.
>
> *****
>
> Two blondes walk into a building..........you'd think at
> least one of
> them would have seen it.
>
> *****
>
> Phone answering machine message -
> '...If you want to buy marijuana.............press the hash
> key...'
>
> *****
>
> I went to the butchers the other day and I bet him 50 quid
> that he
> couldn't reach the meat off the top shelf.
> He said, 'No, the steaks are too high.'
>
> *****
> My friend drowned in a bowl of muesli.
> A strong currant pulled him in.
>
> *****
> A man came round in hospital after a serious accident.
> He shouted, 'Doctor, doctor, I can't feel my legs!'
> The doctor replied, 'I know you can't, I've cut your arms off'.
>
> *****
> I went to a seafood disco last week and pulled a mussel.
>
> *****
>
> Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly.
> They lit a fire in the craft. It sank, proving once and for
> all that
> you can't have your kayak and heat it.
>
> *****
>
> Our ice cream man was found lying on the floor of his van
> covered with
> hundreds and thousands.
> Police say that he topped himself.
>
> *****
>
> Two fat blokes in a pub, one says to the other 'Your round.'
> The other one says 'So are you, you fat slob!'
Hush ya beak and an old fashioned English chuckle with these... All hail the king of one liners...
I went to see a friend with her new baby last night, she
> asked me if I
> wanted to wind it.
> I thought that was a bit harsh, so I just gave it a Dead-Leg
>
> *****
>
> Two Aerials meet on a roof - fall in love - get married
> The ceremony was rubbish but the Reception was Brilliant.
>
> *****
>
> Man goes to the docs, with a strawberry growing out of his head.
> Doc says, 'I'll give you some cream to put on it.'
>
> *****
>
> 'Doc, I can't stop singing the green green grass of home.'
> 'That sounds like Tom Jones syndrome.'
> 'Is it common?'
> 'It's not unusual.'
>
> *****
>
> A man takes his Rottweiler to the vet.
> 'My dog's cross-eyed, is there anything you can do for him?'
> 'Well,' says the vet, 'let's have a look at him'
> So he picks the dog up and examines his eyes, then checks his
> teeth.
> Finally, he says, 'I'm going to have to put him down.'
> 'What? Because he's cross-eyed? '
> 'No, because he's really heavy'
>
> *****
>
> 'Doctor, I can't pronounce my F's, T's and H's.'
> 'Well you can't say fairer than that then'
>
> *****
>
> Two elephants walk off a cliff...... boom boom!
>
> *****
>
> So I went to the dentist.
> He said 'Say Aaah.'
> I said 'Why?'
> He said 'My dog's died.'
>
> *****
>
> So I got home, and the phone was ringing. I picked it up, and
> said
> 'Who's speaking please?'
> And a voice said 'You are.'
>
> *****
>
> So I rang up my local swimming baths.
> I said 'Is that the local swimming baths?'
> He said 'It depends where you're calling from.'
>
> *****
>
> So I rang up a local building firm, I said 'I want a skip
> outside my
> house.'
> He said 'I'm not stopping you.'
>
> *****
>
> Apparently, 1 in 5 people in the world are Chinese. And there
> are 5
> people in my family, so it must be one of them.
> It's either my mum or my dad.
> Or my older brother Colin.
> Or my younger brother Ho-Cha-Chu.
>
> But I think it's Colin.
>
> *****
>
> So I was in my car, and I was driving along, and my boss rang
> up, and
> he said 'You've been promoted.'
> And I swerved.
> And then he rang up a second time and said 'You've been promoted
> again.'
> And I swerved again.
> He rang up a third time and said 'You're managing director.'
> And I went into a tree.
> And a policeman came up and said
> 'What happened to you?'
> And I said 'I careered off the road.'
>
> *****
>
> Now, most dentists' chairs go up and down, don't they?
> The one I was in went back and forwards.
> I thought 'This is unusual'. And the dentist said to me, 'Mr
> Cooper,
> get out of the filing cabinet.'
>
> *****
>
> So I was getting into my car, and this bloke says to me 'Can
> you give
> me a lift?'
>
> I said 'Sure, you look great, the world's your oyster, go for
> it.'
>
> *****
>
> Two cannibals eating a clown. One says to the other
> 'Does this taste funny to you?'
>
> *****
>
> Police arrested two kids yesterday, one was drinking battery
> acid, and
> the other was eating fireworks.
>
> They charged one and let the other one off.
>
> *****
>
> You know, somebody actually complimented me on my driving today.
> They left a little note on the windscreen; it said 'Parking
> Fine.'
> So that was nice.
>
> *****
>
> A man walked into the doctors,
> The doctor said 'I haven't seen you in a long time'
> The man replied, 'I know I've been ill'
>
> *****
>
> A man walked into the doctors, he said 'I've hurt my arm in
> several
> places'
> The doctor said, 'well don't go to those places'
>
> *****
>
> I had a ploughman's lunch the other day.
> He wasn't very happy.
>
> *****
>
> I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day but I
> couldn't
> find any.
>
> *****
>
> Two blondes walk into a building..........you'd think at
> least one of
> them would have seen it.
>
> *****
>
> Phone answering machine message -
> '...If you want to buy marijuana.............press the hash
> key...'
>
> *****
>
> I went to the butchers the other day and I bet him 50 quid
> that he
> couldn't reach the meat off the top shelf.
> He said, 'No, the steaks are too high.'
>
> *****
> My friend drowned in a bowl of muesli.
> A strong currant pulled him in.
>
> *****
> A man came round in hospital after a serious accident.
> He shouted, 'Doctor, doctor, I can't feel my legs!'
> The doctor replied, 'I know you can't, I've cut your arms off'.
>
> *****
> I went to a seafood disco last week and pulled a mussel.
>
> *****
>
> Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly.
> They lit a fire in the craft. It sank, proving once and for
> all that
> you can't have your kayak and heat it.
>
> *****
>
> Our ice cream man was found lying on the floor of his van
> covered with
> hundreds and thousands.
> Police say that he topped himself.
>
> *****
>
> Two fat blokes in a pub, one says to the other 'Your round.'
> The other one says 'So are you, you fat slob!'
Sunday, 29 June 2008
Picks from Saatchi and Saatchi New Directors, Cannes 2008
Joey Garfield directs this one shot wonder featuring Bill Shannon. Born with a degenerative hip condition, he has developed a way of moving on his skateboard and crutches that's both playful and beautiful to watch. Here Bill just does his thing.
The tracks creator, RJD2, also makes a few appearances as several different extras. See whether you can spot him...
Muto:
present active mūtō, present infinitive mūtāre, perfect active mūtāvī, supine mūtātum.
1. I move, remove.
2. I alter, change, modify, transform.
3. I vary, diversify.
4. I mutate, spoil.
5. I exchange, barter, sell.
6. I forsake.
according to Wiktionary.
Mentioned in the post about Tate Modern's street art exhibition, Blu, gives his definition of the word...
An old-y but a good-y. John Kelley's, Procastination deals with something all creatives know all too well.
Santogold + technicolour gorefest = cool video. Thanks Nima Nourizadeh.
Another crazy Bjork video. Encyclopedia Pictura take it to an all new level though. For the hi res and 3D experience go here
And then there's Vincent Moon, who takes a fresh approach to the music promo. The musical documentaries and portraits collected on his site, www.vincentmoon.com/ explore the fascinating characters of the bands he shoots.
Also see previous posts Tits and giggles,
The nerd's done good,
and Stress, Justice
directed by Romain Gavras
The tracks creator, RJD2, also makes a few appearances as several different extras. See whether you can spot him...
Muto:
present active mūtō, present infinitive mūtāre, perfect active mūtāvī, supine mūtātum.
1. I move, remove.
2. I alter, change, modify, transform.
3. I vary, diversify.
4. I mutate, spoil.
5. I exchange, barter, sell.
6. I forsake.
according to Wiktionary.
Mentioned in the post about Tate Modern's street art exhibition, Blu, gives his definition of the word...
An old-y but a good-y. John Kelley's, Procastination deals with something all creatives know all too well.
Santogold + technicolour gorefest = cool video. Thanks Nima Nourizadeh.
Another crazy Bjork video. Encyclopedia Pictura take it to an all new level though. For the hi res and 3D experience go here
And then there's Vincent Moon, who takes a fresh approach to the music promo. The musical documentaries and portraits collected on his site, www.vincentmoon.com/ explore the fascinating characters of the bands he shoots.
Also see previous posts Tits and giggles,
The nerd's done good,
and Stress, Justice
directed by Romain Gavras
International ad students put Britain's to shame
Last week took me to the D&AD New Blood exhibition at Earls Court. Quite frankly the standard was shocking. The graphics and illustration left more of an impression so my mission of finding a copywriter bombed. I came away feeling bitterly depressed. Which is why, when I saw there were no British finalists for the Future Lions it didn't surprise me one bit.
http://www.futurelions.com/
The ideas aren't massively mind blowing (GPS/ Google Earth tracking, nothing new there) but at least they attempt at a degree of creativity that was seriously lacking in most of the work I saw last Tuesday. Oh dear.
Happy Thought has a more in depth review of New Blood, check it
Friday, 27 June 2008
Tits and giggles
Keith Schofield directs for Brighton Port Authority (Norman Cook's new project). The track features David Byrne and Dizee Rascal. The samples are apparently from a collection of tapes found at Brighton Dockside Warehouse. Splains the name I spose.
The nerd's done good.
Who would have thought editing transitions, a computer loading bar and an Apple 'processing' colour wheel could spawn such an awesome video.
zZz is playing: Grip
Dir. Roel Wouters
link for more work
zZz is playing: Grip
Dir. Roel Wouters
link for more work
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Flickr Rediscovery
After Martin DeThurah, I thought I'd post some Cole Rise shots.
He's pretty well known within the Flickr community. I remember first seeing a photo of his in the Creative Review article they had on the site. I lost the article but the images below stuck with me. Well pleased I stumbled upon him earlier, immediately bookmarked his page. Enjoy. link
He's pretty well known within the Flickr community. I remember first seeing a photo of his in the Creative Review article they had on the site. I lost the article but the images below stuck with me. Well pleased I stumbled upon him earlier, immediately bookmarked his page. Enjoy. link
Musical musts for me at the mo
Last October, the gig-ometer was blown apart by an electric Kings of Leon at The Shepherds Bush Empire. The latest contenders stepped up with fine audio fidelity but both lacked on the atmos fronts. The Kings fail to be threatened on the top spot. I can, however, recommend their albums. Give em a whirl.
So I've shown you mine... you show me yours. What's your Ipod saying?
Man I wish I was going Glasto this weekend.
Dir. Martin DeThurah Short Films
One of my fave promo directors seems to be trying to break into the world of narrative film. Although the reports aren't great, he's set the bar high for himself with his music vids. But who cares when they look like this though....
Click the posters for links to trailers. The second one is on Academy's Films website. Go 'Commercials', 'Martin DeThurah', 'We Who Stayed Behind'. But Check out the rest of his reel. Check out the site too - hardcore director fest.
Click the posters for links to trailers. The second one is on Academy's Films website. Go 'Commercials', 'Martin DeThurah', 'We Who Stayed Behind'. But Check out the rest of his reel. Check out the site too - hardcore director fest.
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
Saturday, 14 June 2008
Friday, 13 June 2008
''Andy has a Woody..."
Discovered this on the writers reel yesterday via Scamp's blog. His name's Graeme Hall an ex Watty student, so there's hope for me yet. It's from a really strong campaign from 2007. Don't know how it got past me. Great writing. I'm jealous. They repeated the campaign this year but it's not as good.
Hey Wait...
... is a graphic novel by Jason (just the one name - he's not Brazilian though, he's from Norway) that I borrowed from Watford Library. I didn't know anything about it apart from I really dug the illustrations. What a treat though. Beautiful, simple, and sad. Definitely gonna check some more of his stuff.
A rabbit genetically modified and bred with a panther
Where's all the humour gone in British advertising? I think we're taking ourselves a bit too seriously at the moment (Gorilla aside). I'm gonna do some digging and see what I come up with watch this blog space...
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
Poster Porn Part 1, The Thigh Rubbers
As in the verb, to thigh rub...
The first in a series of collections I'll post here.
These are all recent discoveries. I've only put one in from each campaign even though, as with the Radio Nova campaign below, there is often other fantastic executions.
Expect more optical stimulation soon....
... Ooh and please feel free to send me any suggestions. Good porn should be shared.
Adidas fills losers heads with false hope
It's Euro 2008 so sports brands have gone all football on us. First we had Nike's offering via Guy Ritchie and now Adidas visits the worlds smallest football teams to inspire children across the globe.
The idea is sickly sweet but there are some really funny insights into the teams situations that make the films watchable enough. If only they had considered the England squad when picking their subjects, we may have had a shot at glory this summer.
Go here to check out the rest of the films.... link
The idea is sickly sweet but there are some really funny insights into the teams situations that make the films watchable enough. If only they had considered the England squad when picking their subjects, we may have had a shot at glory this summer.
Go here to check out the rest of the films.... link
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
Friday, 6 June 2008
Was difficult worth doing? Part 2
So W+K have done the new Honda ad (and so have 4 Creative - see part 1) and I feel a little let down. Not in the way that it compares badly to the classics of the past, but how it compares to the live ad. With the live ad there is a sense of involvement and event. The W+K one just feels a bit too much like... well, an ad. Watching you question the realness of the stunts, and I think I would have less if I hadn't seen the live one first. As with the Sony Balls, Paint and Honda Cog ads, until you know "they actually did that" the spectacle isn't complete. I think tactically the live ad went out first to try and convince us of the genuineness of the second. Unfortunately if that was the case, it backfired.
Maybe it's the cinematic style as well. Documentaries are often filmed on video for a reason. The stunts are not impressive enough for cinema, if they'd shot it with a PD150 (the films on the campaigns supporting website are really well put together and add considerably to the experience) I would have bought it more, hence the first ad being more of a success. But then your stuck with getting the big shiny car shots for the client, as the brief was clearly designed to show off the new car.
So was 'difficult worth doing'? For 4Creative, yes and Wiedens, yes too. I the second will serve to jog peoples memory about the first ad/event and it was necessary to sell the new car as well. So overall the two ads work in harmony to raise brand profile and specifically sell the brands new product. I just felt slightly deflated after the second... but the website and lead up films are really cool.
Maybe it's the cinematic style as well. Documentaries are often filmed on video for a reason. The stunts are not impressive enough for cinema, if they'd shot it with a PD150 (the films on the campaigns supporting website are really well put together and add considerably to the experience) I would have bought it more, hence the first ad being more of a success. But then your stuck with getting the big shiny car shots for the client, as the brief was clearly designed to show off the new car.
So was 'difficult worth doing'? For 4Creative, yes and Wiedens, yes too. I the second will serve to jog peoples memory about the first ad/event and it was necessary to sell the new car as well. So overall the two ads work in harmony to raise brand profile and specifically sell the brands new product. I just felt slightly deflated after the second... but the website and lead up films are really cool.
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
POV Nike Ad Full length
Like it. A lot. Including the 2D post production weirdness - echoes computer games. It's what all the kids are into now - realistic, interactive entertainment. How long will it be before the games industry kills off Hollywood?
Monday, 2 June 2008
Local vicar's tea spiked with happy pills
Check out what came through my front door.
The best bit's the lion, it's loving the petting.
The best bit's the lion, it's loving the petting.
Was difficult worth doing? Part 1
Two new ads for Honda have recently been aired on Britsh telly. They both involve skydivers making intricate and risky formations after jumping out of a plane at fuck loads of feet high. After which follows the strapline "Difficult is worth doing". However each ad was done by a different agency.
$ Creative produced the first ad, which aired on a Thursday night, was 3 minutes long and live. Every national newspaper covered the subject leading up to the event. In fact, it was advertised in much the same way as a programme. It had it's own publicised time slot, and ad campaign. People set their alarms for 8.10pm and snuggled up on the sofa to tune in. Because who wouldn't want to watch adrenalin junkies dice with death live on terrestrial tv. Well... me actually.
It slipped my mind. For once I was doing something better than checking out ads. I was at a concert. So what chance have agencies got in encouraging people to watch ads if the ad students aren't even interested?
Hey, I never said I wasn't interested. As soon as I woke up the next day I got straight on Youtube. It was comparible to watching match of the day. I purposefully didn't want to know the results. I was genuinely excited.
See what you think...
Seeing the ground rush up while they calmly go through their routine is a bit hairy, but I think the whole event was really involving. The interest surrounding it was enormous. It still is. And most importantly it's not just ad land that's talking.
Great job, I agree with Scamp, 4Creative deserve a Black Pencil. What on earth could Wiedens do with the second ad to top this?
To be cont...
$ Creative produced the first ad, which aired on a Thursday night, was 3 minutes long and live. Every national newspaper covered the subject leading up to the event. In fact, it was advertised in much the same way as a programme. It had it's own publicised time slot, and ad campaign. People set their alarms for 8.10pm and snuggled up on the sofa to tune in. Because who wouldn't want to watch adrenalin junkies dice with death live on terrestrial tv. Well... me actually.
It slipped my mind. For once I was doing something better than checking out ads. I was at a concert. So what chance have agencies got in encouraging people to watch ads if the ad students aren't even interested?
Hey, I never said I wasn't interested. As soon as I woke up the next day I got straight on Youtube. It was comparible to watching match of the day. I purposefully didn't want to know the results. I was genuinely excited.
See what you think...
Seeing the ground rush up while they calmly go through their routine is a bit hairy, but I think the whole event was really involving. The interest surrounding it was enormous. It still is. And most importantly it's not just ad land that's talking.
Great job, I agree with Scamp, 4Creative deserve a Black Pencil. What on earth could Wiedens do with the second ad to top this?
To be cont...
Wednesday, 28 May 2008
Comedy Hip Hop
And that just about sums it up, I think.
George Carlin, a man who says it how it really is. Genius.
Friday, 23 May 2008
"With digital advertising, there is no wrong or right...You are the next generation...you invent the new model'' Richard Burdett
Watford were lucky enough to do a workshop at Channel 4 yesterday. The brief was to advertise a new season on Street Violence ( I wonder if I can divulge?).
We had a really informative talk from Richard Burdett and a great crit by Ed Webster and Tom Tagholm. If anything the day illustrated how intelligent and talented the team, that work there, are.
Something that came to mind while we were working was the ad below. The agency never showed us their work they're going to run on Tuesday, but I thought I'd post the link while we wait to see if any of our ideas cross over with what they had.
Respect to 4Creative for continuously knocking out such inspiring work.
http://www.channel4.com/4creative/
We had a really informative talk from Richard Burdett and a great crit by Ed Webster and Tom Tagholm. If anything the day illustrated how intelligent and talented the team, that work there, are.
Something that came to mind while we were working was the ad below. The agency never showed us their work they're going to run on Tuesday, but I thought I'd post the link while we wait to see if any of our ideas cross over with what they had.
Respect to 4Creative for continuously knocking out such inspiring work.
http://www.channel4.com/4creative/
Wednesday, 21 May 2008
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
Banksy bandwagon endorsed by Banksy
A couple of weeks ago, a Railtrack owned tunnel by Waterloo station was set upon by Banksy. In an organised event, called The Cans Festival (see what he did there?) Banksy and chums invited people to join them in bombing the tunnel with 'street art'. Of course the day was packed - 30, 000 squeezed in to spray away. At least the fumes would have stopped them from getting too aggy.
See the free exhibition at Leek St, till September 30th ( I believe).
http://www.thecansfestival.com/
Check out more bandwagon jumping from the Tate (shameful).
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/streetart/default.shtm
Monday, 12 May 2008
Some W+K beauts.
Not the kind of output us Limey's would normally associate with Wiedens, but funny as fuck anyway.
Thursday, 8 May 2008
Wednesday, 7 May 2008
Taxidermy is weird and wonderful
As a child I had a morbid fascination with collecting fossils and skulls. I'd go for walks in the country with the folks and scour the ground for what I could find. Once I found a dead dogfish washed up on the shore just North of Blackpool. What a prize. I was totally into sharks at the time and begged to take it back in the car. Mum didn't let us (it did smell a bit).
As I grew older my interests shifted. I'd pass the shop in Essex Road filled with dead animals and think it was weird that people would be into that. Really creepy. But I'd still stop. Always. Check out the freakyness of it all.
Over the last year the subject keeps on popping up. First, I watched a documentary on the people behind the practice (I'll refer to it when I can find the name). Someone then did a campaign at college featuring the subject. Now a friend shows me this and I get a new awe.
More interesting stuff people are doing with dead animals here.
As I grew older my interests shifted. I'd pass the shop in Essex Road filled with dead animals and think it was weird that people would be into that. Really creepy. But I'd still stop. Always. Check out the freakyness of it all.
Over the last year the subject keeps on popping up. First, I watched a documentary on the people behind the practice (I'll refer to it when I can find the name). Someone then did a campaign at college featuring the subject. Now a friend shows me this and I get a new awe.
More interesting stuff people are doing with dead animals here.
Shake, Rattle and Bowl
A friends Birthday took me down to Russel Square where I discovered something pretty cool, Daddy-O.
Personally I've got a thing for girls in 1950s get up, so the night was hardly going to be a dissapointment. Even the sour-faced guestlist chick, or the time it took to que, didn't put a dampner on it. Incidentally you might want organise a big group and ring ahead. You'll get popped in the 'special' que and your wait will be drastically cut. Either way, it's worth it for the fun inside, compared, by one of my crew, to 'bowling for grown ups'. By this, they meant the place wasn't filled with arcade machines, hoodies and MTV. In fact it was literally rocking in there. DJs played a fine selection of 50s and 60s favourites and the cocktails were delightfully overpoured. Pretty reasonable as well.
The karaoke booths were filled with streams of giggling girls going in and out and the restaurant/ diner had a lively hub bub.
We sat at the back, upstairs, away from the main dancefloor but still felt involved in the atmosphere. When it was our time to bowl, about 12, we wondered past Quadrafenia being played on the big screen, and downstairs to another dancefloor/ bowling alley. The place was big.Over the two floors, there must have been about 400 people at one time. And to top the night off I won the game, although strangely no-one sgave a shit (apart from me).
http://www.shakerattleandbowl.com/
Personally I've got a thing for girls in 1950s get up, so the night was hardly going to be a dissapointment. Even the sour-faced guestlist chick, or the time it took to que, didn't put a dampner on it. Incidentally you might want organise a big group and ring ahead. You'll get popped in the 'special' que and your wait will be drastically cut. Either way, it's worth it for the fun inside, compared, by one of my crew, to 'bowling for grown ups'. By this, they meant the place wasn't filled with arcade machines, hoodies and MTV. In fact it was literally rocking in there. DJs played a fine selection of 50s and 60s favourites and the cocktails were delightfully overpoured. Pretty reasonable as well.
The karaoke booths were filled with streams of giggling girls going in and out and the restaurant/ diner had a lively hub bub.
We sat at the back, upstairs, away from the main dancefloor but still felt involved in the atmosphere. When it was our time to bowl, about 12, we wondered past Quadrafenia being played on the big screen, and downstairs to another dancefloor/ bowling alley. The place was big.Over the two floors, there must have been about 400 people at one time. And to top the night off I won the game, although strangely no-one sgave a shit (apart from me).
http://www.shakerattleandbowl.com/
Saturday, 3 May 2008
Stress, Justice
Blimey. My immediate response to this is I love it. I wonder if that'll change with a bit of time?
Justice have attached their identity to a youth that intimidates and dominates the world they live in through violence. The current frustration, ignorance, paranoia and fear that surrounds us in todays society is prevalent, but is this our world?
As a viewer you question what you are watching continuously. Do you relate to the angry youths or the vulnerable world they exist in? Is this postmodern punk/ gangster rap?
With nods towards 'Come to Daddy', 'Funny Games' and 'The Warriors' it also raises similar issues as 'No Country For Old Men', although it's undoubtedly more relevant to European society now. One things for sure, it's gonna cause a shit load of controversy.
Coming soon to an MTV channel near you (I think not).
Thursday, 1 May 2008
China Design Now, The V&A, London
What an amazing exhibition. I thoroughly advise everyone to check it out. More than anything, it opened my eyes to the fact China is a cultural giant that looks to it's future and not the past for reference. The exhibition culminates in the best example of this, the incredible architecture in Beijing.
Monday, 28 April 2008
Tony Hertz, Radio for Art Directors
I spent Friday at a workshop led by the mighty Tony Hertz (not him below, btw, just an image he uses in his talks).
There's only ever been two black pencils awarded for radio in the history of the D&AD awards. One went to Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones, the other to Mr Hertz. As well as running a production company and still writing, Tony tours the world giving his talks. The one he gave us was called, 'Radio for Art Directors'. My ears pricked up immediately when I heard the title. Leaning toward the AD side of stuff I've struggled in the past to get to grips with radio. By the end of the day, though, I felt a lot more confident of my abilities thanks to Tony's no. 1 rule: start with an image. Of course it should be relevant to your idea, but the process leads to what is all important in any form of creative advertising - originality.
The principle kicked off a fantastic day of helpful tips on writing techniques, pitching to clients and directing actors. By the end, I felt I might actually be able to pull this whole radio malarkey thing off.
There's only ever been two black pencils awarded for radio in the history of the D&AD awards. One went to Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones, the other to Mr Hertz. As well as running a production company and still writing, Tony tours the world giving his talks. The one he gave us was called, 'Radio for Art Directors'. My ears pricked up immediately when I heard the title. Leaning toward the AD side of stuff I've struggled in the past to get to grips with radio. By the end of the day, though, I felt a lot more confident of my abilities thanks to Tony's no. 1 rule: start with an image. Of course it should be relevant to your idea, but the process leads to what is all important in any form of creative advertising - originality.
The principle kicked off a fantastic day of helpful tips on writing techniques, pitching to clients and directing actors. By the end, I felt I might actually be able to pull this whole radio malarkey thing off.
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
Redford Promo
Redford Promo
Agency Rough Trade Records
Director Grant Orchard
Music Sufjan Stevens
Produced by Studio AKA
I've never felt so much for a cartoon paper bird cut out. A very beautiful and sad little film - I love it.
Tuesday, 22 April 2008
The Rodchenko Influence
As mentioned in my earlier post Alexander Rodchenko has been incredibly important in influencing contemporary visual communication. Here's a couple of examples I've dug out...
Shepard Fairey, one of the worlds most famous street artists, his style, borrowing heavily from Rodchenko propaganda graphics.
http://obeygiant.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepard_Fairey
And this is one of Jeff Wall's photos that I first saw at an exhibition a couple of years ago. Amazing composition.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Wall
Three Legged Legs
You can't beat zombies in an ad in my opinion. Especially if they're puppets and rock out to a top track. Thriller for the Naughties. More of Three Legged Legs work here...
http://threeleggedlegs.com/repertoire/
http://threeleggedlegs.com/repertoire/
Monday, 21 April 2008
Alexander Rodchenko
I went to the Hayward Gallery on Saturday and saw the Alexander Rodchenko exhibition. He was a fascinating chap who produced work in The Soviet Union at the beginning of the 20th Century. The exhibition concentrated on his photomontage and photographs. As a rule I preferred his photos but it was great to see the graphics up close and personal because of the huge influence he's had on contemporary design.
Because of the communist regime at the time he was restricted in what he could produce, nevertheless he turned out some cracking pieces of work. I've posted some of my faves here.
Because of the communist regime at the time he was restricted in what he could produce, nevertheless he turned out some cracking pieces of work. I've posted some of my faves here.
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