Monday, July 31, 2006

SINCLAIR TO SPINACH MELBOURNE


Ros Sinclair, who departed her senior writer job at Whybin TBWA Sydney soon after the arrival of ECD Garry Horner in May this year, has secured a similar position at Spinach in Melbourne. Sinclair is currently in Scotland visiting her folks and will commence work at the end of August.
Before Whybin, where Sinclair had been for a year, she was a senior writer at BMF Sydney. She was lured to Sydney from London, where she worked at a number of high profile shops, including Clemmow Hornby Inge, Fallon, Leagas Delaney (as CD), TBWA and Simons Palmer. She has won three Gold Lions and a Silver Lion, as well as a Yellow Pencil at D&AD.
CB hears there are a few more appointments at Spinach to be announced shortly. Meanwhile, the Sydney office of Spinach opens at the end of the week, which has been set up to service ING Direct, which it won from BMF earlier this year.

GREENWOOD TO JOIN EMMA HILL IN THREE WAY CD RESTRUCTURE AT CLEMENGER MELBOURNE



Clemenger BBDO Melbourne has hired Tony Greenwood - again, this time to be one of three group creative directors in a complete restructure of the agency.
Current agency CD Emma Hill will also be a Group Creative Director, and will continue to be on the Board of the Melbourne agency.
The agency is currently in hire mode for the other Group CD position.
Senior art director Cameron Hoelter will become an Associate Group Creative Director and work with Emma Hill as a creative team.
The CD position at Clems Melbourne has been in a state of flux in recent years, compared to the stability of the eighties and nineties. Hill has been in the role for two and a half years since the departure of her predecessor Mike O'Sullivan, who came in from the ECD gig at Colenso BBDO Auckland. He only lasted only nine months in the gig before taking up his present ECD role at Saatchi & Saatchi NZ. Before O'Sullivan, the role was filled by Ant Shannon for five years and before that, David Blackley ran the show for nearly two decades. For many industry watchers, the nineties was when the agency ruled the roost creatively in Melbourne (Clems was CB Agency of the Year in 1996 and 1999).
Clemenger BBDO/Melbourne Managing Director, Peter Biggs, said that the restructuring of the agency’s creative department is a move toward “delivering explosive creative ideas – faster and more often.
“Clients want experienced creative talent stewarding their brands and generating history-making ideas that help them win. Our new creative department structure will ensure that this happens,” he said.
Adds Clemenger BBDO/Melbourne Chairman, Ron Mather: “Clients should know that, at Clemenger BBDO/Melbourne, their Group Creative Director will be as much a business partner to them as a creative partner. We see this as essential because clients are asking us more and more to help them solve their business issues rather than simply create advertising ideas.
“Tony Greenwood – because of his vast experience and track record – is a wonderful addition to the agency and will add huge value to our clients and their businesses.”
Greenwood has been taking a break from the business over the last six months since his position became redundant at Y&R following the merger with George Patterson. (George Patts CD James McGrath got the gig). Prior to his two year spell at Y&R, Greenwood was at DDB Amsterdam for a year, before that at BBDO New York for two years. Before the transfer to New York, Greenwood had a six year stint at Clemenger BBDO Melbourne, where a highlight was his CAMA "Legendary Milkman" spot, which he created with Sarah Barclay, now based at Saatchi & Saatchi, New York. He also created some of the classic Yellow Pages poster, print and TV work (including “Not Happy Jan”). He continued his creative success at Y&R Melbourne with a run of awards and new business wins which resulted in the agency being named B&T Victorian Agency of the Year 2004. He won his first Gold Lion as Creative Director this year with the print campaign for Chupa Cups.
Commenting on his decision to return to Clemenger BBDO/Melbourne, Greenwood said: “This is what I’ve been looking for - the chance to work for a select group of clients, really get to know their business and still have the time to write. It doesn’t get better than that.”

Saturday, July 29, 2006

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CLEMS MELBOURNE?


CB hears there's a radical overhaul coming up early next week at Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne. Even before that news is released, one senior creative is believed to have departed on Friday. Stay tuned to the CB Blog next week.

Friday, July 28, 2006

SAATCHI SYDNEY LEADS AGENCY PACK AT SHORTLIST STAGE OF KODAK GONGS


130 commercials have made the cut for the second annual Kodak Gongs, judged from 681 entries received throughout the Asia Pacific region.
CB Agency of the Year Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney secured the highest number of finalists (13), followed by George Patterson Y&R, Melbourne (9), Grey Worldwide, Melbourne (9) and Creative Juice /G1, Bangkok (7).
The best of the Kiwis were CB Agency of the Year Saatchi & Saatchi NZ with four, followed by Colenso BBDO, Auckland and Clemenger BBDO, Wellington with two each, and one apiece for Auckland shops DDB and Publicis Mojo.
The Production Company with the highest finalists was Auckland based The Sweet Shop (13), closely followed by Sydney's Plaza Films (12), @radical.media (12), Filmgraphics (9) and Phenomena, Thailand (9).
The Kodak Gongs were judged in two rounds. The first round judging panel consisted of 72 industry leaders throughout Australia, NZ and Asia to confirm finalists, the second round to judge Gong and Best of Show winners comprised 27 international judges from outside of the region.
Given the number of finalists in 2006 (130, up from 88 in 2005), the consensus from both judging panels has been on how high the quality of work has been this year. This quality is spreading throughout the region with 14% of all finalists coming from outside of Australia and New Zealand.
The winners will be announced at the Awards Presentation and Industry Party to be held at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney on Friday 8th September 2006. The Presentation will reveal the 11 Best of the Best winners, culminating in the 2006 Best of Show. This sharp theatre-style presentation will be immediately followed by the “Party of the Year”, the Industry celebration for the craft and ideas of commercial moving images in the Asia Pacific Region.
Tickets cost $220+gst and are available by calling Two de Force on (02) 9281 8788 or by downloading a booking form at www.thegongs.org from Monday 31st July 2006.
All finalists will released online at the Gongs website from Monday 31st July.

The Kodak Gongs are supported by Principal Sponsors:
Kodak, AAV Regency, the LaB Sydney, FSM, Autodesk, Adstream,
Cutting Edge, Generator Interactive, Panavision, Song Zu and Vividas.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

TUTSSEL TO JUDGE AWARD


Mark Tutssel, Worldwide Chief Creative Officer of Leo Burnett, will chair the TV and Cinema jury of AWARD this year, which will take place in Sydney in early October. AWARD will be confirming a second high profile international guest judge shortly.
“We have made concerted efforts to get the top talent from Australia, New Zealand and Asia and to spread them around the various juries”, says Chairman of Judges Paul Catmur, Executive Creative Director DDB New Zealand.
Of particular interest is the ‘None of the Above’ jury, which this year will also judge Mixed Media. None of the Above is defined as ‘Not a traditional media idea, not an innovative media idea, not a media idea at all. Just an idea.’
Says Catmur: “In this way we hope to circumvent the problems involving the Titanium juries in Cannes who have been responsible for some curious decisions since the concept was introduced. This jury will be heavily weighted with a number of CDs and will be the equal if not surpass the TV and Print juries in terms of experience and talent. In this way, AWARD wants to recognise the thinking that sets new benchmarks for the way we do our work as well as the beautifully crafted advertisements that are rarely seen outside AWARD books.”
Previously the print panel has judged None of the Above, whilst the television panel has judged Mixed Media.
AWARD Call for Entry is closing soon, with television submissions due by the end of the week and print due 4th August.
For Call for Entry information please visit www.awardonline-cfe.com or telephone AWARD on 02 8297 3877.

THE WORK 06: DEADLINE EXTENSION UNTIL FRIDAY AUG 4th


CB has had a many requests already so to take the pressure off we are extending the entry deadline for The Work 06 by a week.
As long as your entries arrive in our Perth Campaign Brief offices by Friday August 4th they will be considered for acceptance in The Work 06.
Also note that there is still a DIRECT category in The Work 06 (although it is missing on the entry form). Just write DIRECT as the category on the print entry form and stick it to the back of the relevant entry.
If you need a Call for Entry form, email kim@campaignbrief.com

Entries to The Work 06 should be sent addressed:
Campaign Brief Asia.
“Entries to The Work 06”
Level 1, 14-16 Rowland Street
SUBIACO WA 6008

Enquiries: +618 9380 9044

Monday, July 24, 2006

CATMUR TO HEAD CAXTONS JURY


Paul Catmur, executive creative director of DDB New Zealand, will be chairman of the inaugural trans-Tasman Caxton Awards, which will held in Queenstown, New Zealand on the weekend of September 22 to 24.
However, due to budget restraints, the jury, which will meet next week in Sydney, is an all-Sydney lineup:
Shaun Branagan (Netx)
June Laffey (Freelance)
Adam Hunt (BWM)
Dennis Koutoulogenis (BMF)
Christian Finucane (12:20)
Rob Martin-Murphy (The Furnace)

MARMALADE THINKS BIG FOR HEINZ

Melbourne agency Marmalade is launching a viral campaign to promote Heinz Big Eat, which will be followed by TV and cinema.

CREDITS
Agency: Marmalade
Writer/Art Director: Neil Mallet
Agency Producer: Rachel Taylor
Director: Micca Delaney
Production Company: Exit
Production Company Producer: Nik Round
Score: Ross Ingles

CALTEX FLIES WITH NEW CAMPAIGN VIA GEORGE PATTS Y&R SYDNEY



Caltex, via agency George Patterson Y&R Sydney, this week launches a major new brand advertising campaign based on a radical duel between a V8 Supercar and more than a million flies.
“In some ways the campaign brings together the very best of Australia with an unavoidable element of the Australian lifestyle,” according to Liz Whiteway, Caltex’s National Manager - Brand & Communications.
“The best is represented by the current V8 Supercar Champion, Australia’s largest petroleum company and an ingenious creative concept.
“And one of the key ingredients to the campaign is the nation’s perennial pest, the Aussie fly.”
Technically, the extremely complex shoot featured a team of more than 29 crew and a post production unit responsible for creating and marshalling more than a million of the little digitally-animated critters.
The commercial features Australia’s only true home-grown form of motorsport, a typically laconic “star” in Russell Ingall, a dry and dusty race circuit, the country’s most well-populated pest and an arid-dry sense of humour.
“Caltex as a company is driven by excellence, passion and performance – the very same hallmarks demonstrated by Russell Ingall in becoming Australia’s number one V8 Supercar driver,” Ms Whiteway said.
“Caltex is proud of the fact this campaign is truly Australian. As the nation’s only oil refiner and marketer listed on the ASX, it is fitting this commercial has been made by Australians and specifically for the local market.
“Investing in domestic motorsport and Australia’s best creative talent is another example of Caltex putting more in.”
The new campaign is spearheaded by a 60 second TVC featuring V8 Supercar driver, Russell Ingall, in a racetrack duel with a swarm of flies. By leveraging its association with the burgeoning popularity of V8 motorsport, Caltex is staking out a new territory in connecting with Australian consumers.
The multi-faceted campaign covers television, PR, viral, point-of-sale, Internet and internal communications.
Although the campaign will reach an audience far beyond motorsport fans, the TVC launched last night on Channel 10’s RPM program and screen during V8 Supercar and AFL broadcasts along with other sports programs.
In a groundbreaking initiative, an interactive component will enable the online community to take a starring role in the commercial by visiting the cleverly named website, www.jointherusistance.com.au.
“Just to prove all of our flies live to fly another day, Australians have the chance to join the Rus-sistance by adopting a fly, modifying it to their personal specifications and tracking its progress during its duel with Russell,” Ms Whiteway said.
Retail and partner promotions will extend the campaign to Caltex retail forecourts.

CREDITS
Creative Director: Michael Stanford
Art Director: Chris Northam
Copywriters: Sri Mogeri & Chris Northam
Agency Producer: Craig Sloan
Director: Graeme Burfoot
Producer: Jude Lengel
Production Company: Filmgraphics
DOP: Andrew Lesnie
Visual Effects: Animal Logic
Sound & Music: Song Zu
Online Creative Director: John-Paul Jacques

Friday, July 21, 2006

BIG AD GETS GOLD, MTV STARS AT MIDSUMMER AWARDS


George Patterson Y&R Melbourne's Carlton 'Big Ad' continues its award-winning run around the world, this time picking up Gold at the Midsummer Awards in London.
Other Aussie winners were the MTV 'Budgie Smuggler' spot via TheWorks, Sydney while the director of the MTV spot, Michael Wong from The Sweet Shop, was voted Best International Director.

MTV MILKS NEW ZEALAND


Lowe Hunt, Sydney this week unveiled the long anticipated launch campaign for the MTV channel in New Zealand called “Pure NZ Goodness”. The campaign rolled out with 3 x 45 TVC’s on both free to air and New Zealand’s Cable network, Sky TV. The rest of the campaign, including print, poster, and interactive targets the streets of New Zealand with outdoor placements including billboards, metrolites and magazines including Remix and Pulp.
The integrated campaign is centred around a fictitious dairy factory set amongst the lush green hills of New Zealand. Inside the factory the cows are milked by bikini clad girls and delivered all over New Zealand in MTV milk vans. The milk has strange side effects for those who drink it. In one of the ads a couple stab each other after drinking the milk, while in another, girls rub blood soaked steaks all over their bodies. Ironically, the campaign line is “Pure NZ Goodness”.
Lowe Hunt has applied its ‘Brand Explosion’ methodology to the campaign which in simple terms means that it is truly an integrated campaign running across multiple channels including TV, print, poster, ambient, web and events. The agency recently created the multi-award winning LYNXjet campaign using the same strategy.
Says Dejan Rasic, Creative Director at Lowe Hunt: “What we’ve done is create a true brand personality for MTV New Zealand that lives beyond just a few ads. It’s a property that MTV can own and becomes an entertainment platform for the launch”.
Says Vanessa Zuppicich, Creative Director of MTV Networks: “Our brief to the agency on the NZ launch was to create a campaign that pulls on kiwi culture and then turns it on its head in true MTV style. Our main objective is to make people laugh and then get them talking about MTV NZ”.


Lowe Hunt commissioned tvc director Michael Spiccia from Silverscreen productions in Auckland to bring the campaign to life. Spiccia is best known for his music videos and recently picked up an 2005 MTV award for one of his clips. The “Pure NZ Goodness” campagin was shot over three days in and around Auckland.
Lowe Hunt’s interactive department have extended the campaign into an innovative web site which brings to life the MTV dairy company.

Credits List:
Agency: Lowe Hunt, Sydney
Client: MTV Networks
Head of TV: Darren Bailey
Creative Team: Howard Collinge, Dejan Rasic and Simone Brandse
Interactive Team: Jonathan Mo and Mark Ashley-Wilson
Director: Michael Spiccia
Production Company: Silverscreen Auckland
Producers: Haydn Evans and Andy Mauger
Post & Effects: Oktober Auckland
Photographer: Stephen Stewart
Sound Studio: Sound Reservoir

Thursday, July 20, 2006

NEWS LIMITED AWARD SCHOOL GRADUATION PARTY





Over 250 people gathered upstairs at Cargo Lounge in Sydney to celebrate the graduation of News Limited AWARD School. The best ideas selected from each of the 11 briefs was on display for Sydney’s creative community and head-hunters to admire.
Five of the best Sydney agencies have already requested the contact details of the top students.
Philip Putnam, Co-Chairman of AWARD (second from top pic, left) opened proceedings and reminded guests the School has been running for 23 years, producing hundreds of talented creatives working across the globe.
Tony Kendall, Group Advertising Sales Director News Limited, announced the winner of the brief for their free urban newspaper MX. Lucky student Phon Vongdara picking up a free trip to the Caxtons, which will be held in NZ this year.
‘School Masters’ Christian Finucane (second from bottom pic, left) from 12:20 and Justine Armour (second from top pic, right) from Saatchi & Saatchi, thanked the tireless efforts of tutors and lecturers and presented winning student Brendan Willenberg (bottom pic) with a miniature AWARD pencil.

Top Students (top pic) – eligible to join AWARD Craft program, an intensive 4 week program led by AWARD Committee Member Simon Cox, head of art at Publicis Mojo (second from bottom pic, middle).

Brendan Willenberg (Top Student)
Sarah Keene (Joint Second Place)
Justin Theng (Joint Second Place)
Luke Fox
Richard Henderson
Christian Duffy
Kim Neidhardt
Steele Bonus
Janine Poon
Janaya Galloway

Students eligible for Mentors
(Senior creatives willing to mentor students please volunteer!)

Nicole Daboul
Cherie Davies
Nicholas Buckingham
Adam Fraser
Cy Cox
Loren Reed
Tiara Lowndes
Jeff Mimery
Hugo Murray

50 YEARS OF MELBOURNE'S BEST TV ADVERTISING


Thursday 17th August,
6 to 9pm, ACMI, Federation Square.


The AFA, in association with AWARD, will introduce a panel of top
Melbourne creatives from yesterday, today
and tomorrow to discuss and debate whether
Melbourne has done more for Australian advertising
than any other city. It’s a night of Up There Cazaly
vs C’mon Aussie C’mon… CUB vs Tooheys… and
Run Rabbit Run vs the usual touristy schlock served
up by non-Victorian states. You’ll see echidnas
doing inappropriate things to young women, cars
landing on aircraft carriers and football, meatpies,
kangaroos and Holden cars. Plus there’ll be drinks,
eats and you’ll also get the chance to visit the
TV50 exhibition. Not happy, Jan? Not bloody likely.
Tickets for AFA/AWARD/Networx members - $66 (incl. GST)
Tickets for non members - $77 (incl. GST)
Group Bookings of ten at the discount rate of $600 (incl. GST)
To book, go to www.afa.org.au

MADC AND THE AGE HELP RAW TALENT

The Melbourne Advertising and Design Club in conjunction with The Age are hosting a new event called Creative RAW.
The aim is to:
• help with the education of young creatives in the industry with the hope that we can improve the creative product in Melbourne
• create a renewed interest in newspapers as an advertising communication medium.
• to give young teams a chance to show their creative prowess.
• provide an opportunity to win a trip to the Caxtons, this year to be held in New Zealand.
How it works:
This is the first time this program has been run in Australia and it is similar, in style, to a program run in the UK called Creative Juice. This is open only to Creative teams who have been working in the industry for 3 years or less.
A workshop is to be held on Friday 1st September , 2006. On this day the teams are to arrive at the FAD Gallery, Corrs Lane, Melbourne at 9.00am. The Chairman, Ron Mather, will give an introduction to the program, introduce the Creative Directors who have agreed to help out, and present the brief. This is about raw ideas only so all the work will be done as scamps, layouts only.
The teams will commence working on the brief at 10.00 am and will break for lunch at 1pm for an hour and work through until 4pm. At this time the work will be presented to the panel of judges. The teams will be asked to stay for the announcement of the winner.
The final presentation of the prize will be made at 6.00pm.
To register for the day, please go to the MADC Website www.madc.com.au or phone the MADC office on 9645 6550.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

NEWS LIMITED AWARD SCHOOL GRADUATION PARTY TONIGHT (WED JULY 19)


The News Limited AWARD School Graduation party will be held at the Cargo Bar, King Street Wharf, Sydney TONIGHT (Wednesday July 19th). The presentation of graduation certificates and prizes will be accompanied by drinks and nibblies for the industry.
“AWARD School is the only purely idea based training for agencies,” says AWARD School Co-Chair Phil Putnam. “While agencies bemoan the lack of fresh talent, here’s one sure way of finding it. Every Creative Director and Group Head should get along to the exhibition. The next Siimon Reynolds, David Droga or Craig Davis could be waiting for your job offer.”
The party will go on into the night giving graduates a chance to meet the industry and the industry an opportunity to judge student work. An exhibition of the best ideas that have emerged from the 12-week course will be on display. The judging panel selecting the best work and the top students includes Andrew Ostram (Leo Burnett), Gary Dawson, Paul Cottrell, Craig Moore and Pic Andrews (Clemenger BBDO), Ben O’Brien and Adam Rose (DDB), Jeremy Southern – Freelance, Robbie Kantor and Bart Pawlak (George Patterson Y&R).
The party starts at 6.30pm and everyone is welcome. Apart from freebies already earmarked for prominent creative directors and AWARD School tutors, tickets are $40 for anyone in the business, $25 for AWARD Members, and can be booked by contacting Pauline Smyth at AWARD on 02 8297 3877 or e-mail pauline@awardonline.com

BARCODES ARE KIDS' STUFF IN SCHOOL


A note from former Saatchi & Saatchi Auckland CD, Andrew Tinning, now ECD of Marketforce in Perth: "You might find this interesting given the controversy over the barcode work at Cannes - was going through my son's Year 8 art folio with him the other day and came across this project he did a couple of terms back - apparently a standard part of the curriculum."
Whoever wrote that brief to the kids as part of their "Problems: Solutions Series" (above), deserves the Titanium. It reads: "The UPC mark is one of the most widely used symbols in the world, appearing on packaged goods, magazines, paperback books and other mass-produced products. Yet this image seen so frequently is often not seen at all. With this in mind, redesign the UPC symbol, making it visible by interpreting it as a personal, political, or social statement. The areas indicated below are to be used for preliminary drawings. When all eight sketches are completed, choose one and execute it as accurately as possible in the larger area."

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

THE EMPEROR'S NEW PODCASTING: WHY RADIO STILL RULES THE AIRWAVES


New research shows podcasting and mp3 players have yet to live up to the hype, with only 16 percent of Australians aged 14+ owning an MP3 player and less than a quarter of owners saying they have ever downloaded a podcast.**
“The study dispels the myth that mp3 players spell the end of radio listening and that podcasting is a threat to radio. It shows that emerging technology is used in conjunction with, and as a complement to, existing radio technology,” said Joan Warner, chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia.
“The study shows radio is important to mp3 owners – in fact they spend more time listening to commercial radio than to their mp3 players,” Ms Warner said.
According to the Nielsen Media Research** study:
• 39 per cent listen to six or more hours of commercial radio per week;
• 48 per cent listen to their mp3 players for less than three hours a week;
• 58 percent are male;
• 43 percent are students;
• 72 percent are under 39 years old;
• 22 per cent have downloaded a podcast at least once;
• teenagers are more likely to own and listen to mp3 players than older people.
“At the moment, downloading podcasts is still a niche activity but one that radio stations are successfully embracing to get even closer to our loyal listeners,” Ms Warner said.
“Just as radio was the first media to successfully make use of telephones, mobiles, internet, email and sms to connect directly with our audience, radio will develop podcasting into another useful tool for communicating and interacting with our listeners,” Ms Warner said.

THE HAIRY BANANA: ESCAPE FROM BEIRUT



Aussie expats Matt Smith and Derek Green, AKA The Hairy Banana, just managed to escape the bombings of Beirut only days before it began. “We would have punished that mini bar if we had have been stuck there,” they both claim. “But seriously, this is terrible”.
In fact, the two said they were supposed to be there but luckily for them the client asked to shoot a week earlier.
“It really hit home that we do work in volatile areas,” says Smith. Their roles at Saatchi & Saatchi are Regional Creative Directors of Central Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, based in Geneva. In fact they work for both Israel and Lebanon.
Says Smith: “it’s so sad, only the Friday before we were briefing the Lebanese team on a job and they were all so happy saying that they were glad the civil war was behind them”.
They have heard from both of their local agencies. All are ok but are not expecting the best for the next few weeks.

Monday, July 17, 2006

THE DIVING WINKER


Check out this latest clip from Mother.


http://www.motherlondon.com/divingwinker/

TOP TALENT JOINS THE TEAM AT MRPPP SYDNEY



In a huge post production coup, star freelance editor Gabriella Muir and former LaB compositing wiz Rosano Lepri, have joined MRPPP Sydney.
Says MRPPP’s general manager, Andrew Shostak: “Gabriella, formerly of the Tait Gallery, has been freelancing for the last 5 years and brings superb editing skills and a wonderful personality wherever she goes. She joins the incomparable Dan Mitchell in the editing department, providing us with two of the very best editors in Sydney. Rosano, who has been highly sought after for his Visual FX skills, will join young sensation Ashley Goodall bolstering MRPPP significantly in our compositing and online capabilities. Renee Masters heads up the facilities team and is extremely busy as the phones are running hot.”
Contact Renee Masters on (02) 8217 2000 or email renee@mrppp.com.au
For more information about Mike Reed Partners Post Production, check out the website at www.mrppp.com.au

Thursday, July 13, 2006

CAXTONS ENTRY DEADLINE TODAY (FRIDAY 14 JULY)


Today is the deadline for Entries for the Caxton Awards, which honour and reward Australia and New Zealand’s best newspaper advertising over the last 12 months.
The Caxton Committee has announced that in 2006 there have been some changes:
1. Eligibility for the 2006 awards has been extended to include all advertisements in national, metropolitan, regional and community newspapers in both Australia and for the first time ever New Zealand. This includes both paid and free newspapers. There are 7 separate categories for entries appearing in magazines published within those newspapers i.e.: colour supplements and TV guides.
2. For the first time ever delegates will be rugging up and heading to the snowy town of Queenstown, New Zealand.
3. Entries can now be done completely on line, that’s right no more mounting, printing and sending away. Thanks to our wonderful sponsors at WebSEND all entries can now be uploaded on line – all you have to do is visit www.websend.com.au/caxton
The Call for Entry will also be available to download from June 15 at
www.twodeforce.com.au/caxtonawards/ The booklet will be mailed shortly to all agencies.
The Call for Entry will close today, July 14th 2006, strictly no extensions. To be eligible ads must have appeared between July 1st, 2005 and June 30th, 2006.
The Caxton Awards Weekend Seminar will be celebrating its 32nd Anniversary at the world-renowned Millbrook Resort, Queenstown, New Zealand from September 22 to 24, 2006. Weekend bookings open soon.
The format of the Caxton Awards Weekend Seminar is unique worldwide and has become Australasia’s premier creative advertising event for all who want to lift their creative game, be they writers, art directors, planners, account service or senior management.

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

ANNUAL REPUBLIC FILMS AGENCY PRODUCERS' LUNCH LOOMING

Republic Films will soon be hosting their much anticipated third annual agency producer’s lunch in Sydney. The last two years were very memorable, and this year promises to be the biggest yet.
With the recent expansion of Republic Films to include a Melbourne office, Republic Films Sydney is looking to add to their stable of directors. Senior producer Carmen Raynor is looking for an experienced director to join the team. Interested directors should contact Carmen on (02) 9967 8555 or (0412) 415863 or email Carmen@republic.tv. For more information about Republic Films, check out the website at www.republic.tv.

IRISH SHARK AWARDS RETURN TO KINSALE

The Shark Awards have returned to Kinsale – the gourmet capital of Ireland - on the weekend of 7 - 9 September, 2006. Presentations will be headlined by John Hegarty, ECD of BBH London, with a panel discussion – ‘Whither goes broadcast TV’ - which will also include Matt Smith of the Viral factory.
Simpson’s producer, Mike Scully will head the creative forum, doh!
The Sharks, which have had a reasonable Australian contingent in years past, is celebrating its 44th anniversary with promises of gongs and Guinness for all attending. Information, registration and accommodation can be found at
www.sharkawards.com

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

JUSTINE ARMOUR LURED FROM CLEMS TO SAATCHI SYDNEY


Star Clemenger BBDO Sydney senior writer Justine Armour (left) is joining Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney, to be teamed with Rudi Vranken. Armour did some great work at Clems, including the awarded Smiths 'Greek Olympics' and Doritos 'World's Unluckiest Man' spots. Meanwhile, it is believed senior writer Mel Coenen is leaving Saatchi's soon, after a two year stint at the agency.

WHYBIN TBWA CONTINUES TO STOCK CREATIVE DEPARTMENT


Whybin TBWA Sydney is continuing to stock up its creative department following the recent appointment of ECD, Garry Horner. He has just lured Publicis Mojo Sydney team Hamish Spencer and Heather Sheen, who won two Bronze Lions at Cannes last month - one for the Wateraid Australia 'Blackwater Springs' spot (which was also accepted at D&AD) and for the Creative Brands outdoor campaign.

Monday, July 10, 2006

THE END OF THE ATV AWARDS?


Is the ATV Awards on this year? The normal entry deadline has well and truly gone (last year it was in mid March), and the big night is usually in mid August. And no CD contacted by CB has heard from the ATV Awards organisers this year. Calls to the ATV Awards phone number listed on their website reveals that the number has been disconnected. The ATV Awards, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, were hit hard in 2005 by the introduction of the Kodak Gongs, which has the full support of the Australasian TVC production industry, previously the main source of sponsors of the ATV Awards in previous years. The Kodak Gongs will be held in Sydney in September, venue TBA.

Sunday, July 09, 2006

THE DROGA 5 JUGGERNAUT: WHY IT'S SET TO TAKE ON THE WORLD


This year's Cannes Jury President, Australian expat David Droga, who's won more Lions than he can count with TV and print ads for agencies such as Publicis and Saatchi & Saatchi, is becoming increasingly known for his nontraditional endeavors. His 3-month-old Publicis-backed venture, Droga5 in New York, is currently working on a project for General Electric — and it will be anything but traditional. Droga and his team are collaborating with architects Philippe Starck and William McDonough, who specialize in sustainable design, to create what one GE executive describes as "a showcase for GE at the Olympic Games in Beijing," he says. "We're trying to build a legacy for GE in China."
The details of the project are still very much under wraps, but the concept is unusual enough to warrant the attention of Murderball co-director Henry Alex Rubin, who is filming the process for a future documentary.
As much as Droga talks about expanding beyond advertising, he stresses that his ad skills are still at the core of his business. "It's one avenue," he says. "Our industry from a strategic and creative side can impact business far greater than just the marketing side. We're ideas people."
Droga named his shop after the tags his mother used to sew inside his clothes when he went to boarding school, marking his order in a family of five brothers and two sisters.
Droga5, he says, is a "work in progress." He admits he doesn't have the business model entirely figured out yet, but so far, a handful of clients have signed up for "the experiment" with him. In addition to GE, which had worked with Droga in his global Publicis role, the shop's briskly growing client roster includes Marc Ecko Enterprises, Magnum Photos and PBS Kids.
The company, say both Droga and partner Duncan Marshall, is also close to finalizing relationships with a youth beverage brand and an automotive company. Plus, several new hires are in the works, including a publishing world celeb who will join the company as a partner, and creative additions such as Aussie expat Ben Nott, from TBWA\Chiat\Day, LA who starts next month as a creative director, and an undisclosed creative director from Wieden + Kennedy.
"Almost everything we're involved in right now is different and a challenge," says Marshall, a former executive creative director of Publicis in New York. "It is about any aspect of brand communications that involves original creativity."
The Droga5 team, whose workforce is quickly inching up past a handful to what Marshall expects will be 40-plus by the end of the year, is applying its creative resources to everything from viral branding for Ecko to scriptwriting for PBS. Natasha Lance Rogoff, a former Sesame Street executive producer who is developing a children's show for PBS in South Carolina, met Droga earlier this year at the World Economic Summit at Davos, Switzerland, where he took part in a panel discussion titled "Beyond the 30-Second Brand."
Droga5 is working with Lance Rogoff on all aspects of Finky's Kitchen, which is an animated cooking show that teaches children about healthful nutrition. The finished pilot is expected by fall. "Their involvement is what I would call creative intelligence, just bringing good ideas to the table," says Lance Rogoff. "They're really good storytellers."
Each segment will be available on TV, the Internet and mobile devices, taking into account the way kids use digital media, she adds. The show will first launch in the U.S., with success possibly leading to global syndication. It is here where the relationship may turn from its current pro bono status to a money-making proposition.
"Droga5 has allowed me to dip into these relationships and experiment on how I want to work," Droga says, describing his client relationships. "With some clients, it's fee-based; some clients, it's a stake in the business; some clients, I'm doing it at no cost. I'm playing with different templates."
Droga emphasizes that he is not "walking away from advertising." At Cannes, Droga5 entered an Internet-based campaign for clothing designer and graffiti-rights advocate Marc Ecko — its first creative to reach the public — which took out the Cyber Grand Prix and one of only three Titanium finalists. The shop created what appeared to be clandestine footage of a graffiti artist tagging Air Force One. The clip was seeded on the Internet, and word spread quickly. The Pentagon publicly declared the defacement never happened.
"It's been amazing," says Droga of his first few months in business. Until now, he's been limited by industry restraints. He's building his company the way he wants to, striking partnerships with various companies for different ventures. For example, he's partnered with production company Smuggler, which produced the Air Force One film, on a branded entertainment and distribution firm. "It sounds messy, and maybe it is," he says. "But it is allowing us to play, which is all we really want."

Monday, July 03, 2006

BARCODES BLOODY EVERYWHERE


Here's other examples of Barcodes been well and truly done before in the early 90s, both from the UK and from the good ol' USA, Mr Lubars's home territory. They are from a great book called 'A Smile in the Mind' by Beryl McAlhone and David Stuart. It has a forward by Edward De Bono. It's by Phaidon. According to the copy next to them, they were all used as real barcodes. Jeez, all the Cannes Titanium jury had to do was Google 'Barcode designs' and they would have discovered the Japanese were more than a decade behind the UK, USA and Germany.

Saturday, July 01, 2006

TITANIUM PANDEMONIUM: JAPANESE BARCODE WORK BEEN CRACKED BEFORE... BY THE GERMANS!



Mmmm... That Japanese Cannes Titanium winning barcode idea has already been done by the Germans:

http://www.pfadfinderei.com/site/print/print12.html

Apparently pfadfinderei in berlin have been doing that barcode stuff for several years. Which ponders the questions: Will Cannes disqualify the Japanese entrant and give Boony a Titanium?

GEORGIA ARNOTT SIGNS ON AT THE PALACE


Former Publicis Mojo senior art director Georgia Arnott has joined The Campaign Palace, Sydney after a successful freelance stint at the agency. Arnott was let go at Mojo earlier this year after a five year stint following several years at top agencies in New York.

LINDA HONAN TRANSFERS TO BBDO NEW YORK


Linda Honan, Senior Creative at Clemenger BBDO Melbourne leaves Australia on Friday to take up a creative position at BBDO New York commencing July 24. Linda will report directly to David Lubars and Bill Bruce. Lubars has been at BBDO NY for 18 months and has not only been on a new business winning streak but has also lifted the creative credentials of the agency significantly by hiring creative superstars like Eric Silver to head up Fedex. The combination of his creative leadership and his recruitment of the best creative blood around has resulted in them winning NY agency of the year.
Linda joined the creative team at Clemenger BBDO Melbourne in 2004 and has produced some outstanding work including the highly awarded Dulux "Ghost" ad. Prior to that she was at Whybin TBWA during which time she won a bronze lion for Grosby "Spider" and before that at D'Arcy where she created the Mars 'Earth" Campaign that picked up ATV Best of Show.