I watched Jonathan Ross interview Psy, the man behind the Gangnam Style video. A video that, at the time of writing, has had over 700,000,000 YouTube views. Not to mention over 5,000,000 likes (OMFG). He (Psy not Ross) comes across as a cool dude who’s taking the madness in his …
I hate having to go straight back to work after a pitch presentation. You’ve worked late nights and weekends. You’ve had emotional highs and lows that have tested and ultimately strengthened relationships with colleagues. And, despite being physically drained, you collectively manage one last adrenaline-fuelled summit push for the presentation …
Two films seen in the same sequence of cinema ads. Both attempting to influence audience behaviour. Both adopting a “stick” approach. Both showing the potential consequences of failure to comply with said behaviour. But one ad beats you over the head with a shitty stick from the “woe betide you” …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URxLYupra5s&has_verified=1 Guinness has made a Honda ad. Only the absence of a Garrison Keillor voiceover left me in any doubt when I saw it for the first time in the inordinately long sequence of ads that preceded Skyfall at the local Odeon. Otherwise I would have bet my house on …
The new Q is a spotty computer whizz. But the only “gadgets” that he gives Bond in Skyfall are a gun and a miniature radio. No gimmicky exploding pens or such like. The technology means are matched to the desired ends of the mission at hand. The new Q knows …
Average advertising usually has a beneficial commercial effect. Average content doesn’t. That’s because brands pay to ensure that average advertising gets a decent audience. Content, on the other hand, is not afforded the luxury of guaranteed visibility. Content has to earn its audience. Content has to be shared to be …
Manifestos are full of points. They are pointful. Pointfulness is their raison d’être. But manifesto advertising feels pretty pointLESS in this day and age. I saw this across the tracks at Green Park. It’s a decent ad. Based on a strong proposition. Based on a point of difference. (Assuming it’s …
At school we were taught to plan stories with a beginning, a middle and an end. Stories had a clearly defined structure. They were linear, finite and proprietary, in that the author exercised complete control. Many advertisers still plan their stories in this structured way. It suits their annual planning …
I am a British Airways have-not. I am what Andrew Mitchell might (allegedly) call a British Airways pleb. I have not a silver or gold Executive Club membership. The British Airways haves get to board flights first via a thing called Fast Track. They get called first, just after people …
There was a new Curator of Sweden on Monday. And it was also my eldest daughter’s sixteenth birthday. Here’s what we wrote in Molly’s birthday card. To a very beautiful, talented, clever, conscientious daughter. You have grown up into a lovely young lady. We are so proud of you. We …
