Bloody Smashing

I've just recently read Sam Delaney's book "Get Smashed". It's a detailed synopsis of the advertising industry, when Creatives were Gods and a seemingly never ending flow of champagne was at hand.

There are some great little anecdotes and laugh out moments. Especially the notorious rumour of a certain CD's response when offered a Blow Job in the agency lifts.

But I did feel a little let down by Delaney himself. With his witty remarks and humour stamped across previous works, this book felt a little flat. I found the parts written by Delaney merely a running commentary of the days gone by. They lack his personal stance on certain individuals and the industry at the time as a whole.

The book is saved however by the hilarious vignettes of pissed up creatives getting their way (well almost).

Pick Of "What I Have Seen And Thought Was Really Really Really Good So Will Now Share It With You" No.3

Euro 200-and-GR8. I've loved the tournament this year. Spain won last night and since I'm a Liverpool fan I'm happy for Torres and Alonso. So in honour of their win i picked this advert for Nike for my top pick this week. Not to sure of the endline but a neatly shot advert in tune with the zeitgeist.

Watch it here

Previous Posts:
Pick Of "What I Have Seen And Thought Was Really Really Really Good So Will Now Share It With You" No.1
Pick Of "What I Have Seen And Thought Was Really Really Really Good So Will Now Share It With You" No.2

There Will Be Blood And It Won't Be Mine

Yesterday I went to the New Blood Exhibition. Full of anticipation, excitement and a little anxiety. After all this is the place where the next best advertising creatives are to be spotted. So it would be quite daunting to see who's the competition.

After 2 hrs of trawling through long copy and busy pages, I'm safe in the knowledge that I'm going to be ok. Don't get me wrong I'm no creative genius nor do I have the experience of a work placement under my belt. But I was surprised by the poor quality of work on show from the advertising colleges.

Everything was beautifully photoshopped and a lot of love and attention went into the books. But where was the idea. I saw no great truths or insights, it was just contrived and small ideas. In fact, some work, I swear had been done already.

The only thing that saved the day being a complete waste of time was some of the illustration and design colleges. Great craft and vision was on display with some neat little designs ideas.

I'm quite relieved at the fact it was poor, but also disappointed. I wanted to see work that made me think "shit on a stick, wish I'd done that" but I was left with just one thought "Shit".

Thin Is The New In

So the world has gone anti-obesity crazy. Just the other day I read that Japan's Government is bringing in "Fat Laws" to help the nations bellies stay under 85 cms (shit we'd all be fucked here).

I've lived in Japan and apart from the sumos who are celebrities in their own right let alone weight. The people of Japan do not need to size down, if anything they need to bulk up.

What has all this got to do with the above picture? Well here's my super tenuous link to. Remember 'Monster in my pocket'? Well now they come in a business card size. Seems that even in the fantasy world of Monsters, where their looks would be the biggest concern, weight is still an issue.

I'm so depressed I'm off to eat a donut.

Pick Of "What I Have Seen And Thought Was Really Really Really Good So Will Now Share It With You" No.2

Came across this ad. It stood out so that must be a good thing. A nice take on children's fear of the dark, done with humour in replace for scare tactics. Details below.

TITLE: "Sylvania Light Bulbs", BRAND: Sylvania, AGENCY: JEH United Ltd

Previous Posts:
Pick Of "What I Have Seen And Thought Was Really Really Really Good So Will Now Share It With You" No.1

Which Came First. Wallce Or The Ad?

Last week Danny Wallace wrote an article in Shortlist, branding Ad Men as lazy. Really? Creatives lazy? Well in recent weeks it seems he may have a point.

Agencies aren't doing themselves any favours nor are they propelling themselves to the forefront of creativity by impersonating God and resurrecting their dead campaigns.

Even more damning is his claim that Creatives are ripping off his ideas. On this point I have to agree with Mr Wallace based on evidence I found using techniques to rival that of Colombo (don't you just love the Internet).

Wallace is the author of the book 'Yes Man' which was first published 2005.The book follows a period in Wallace's life, in which he says yes to almost everything he is offered and how this has a profound affect on his life. In that same year an advert was produced for Virgin Credit Card. Strategy... "Life gets better when you say yes".

Hmmmmmmmmmm. Coincidence?

Pick Of "What I Have Seen And Thought Was Really Really Really Good So Will Now Share It With You" No.1

So it's Friday and I think I'm going to start a pick of the week. So here's my first pick. It's from W&K. There are a few adverts out at the moment that are slicing and mixing up perfect food for our eyes and ears, such as DDB'S 'Enjoy The Everyday" for Volkswagen. But I especially like W&K's effort for Nokia. All shots were taken from the phone and placed together to make one continuous free flowing script, quite like my title.

How To Piss Off Graffiti Artists

This piece of work just goes to show that you don't need a big budget to get a great result. Just a lot of determination, creativity, time, a shit load of paint and one gargantuan ladder. I wonder if they paint rooms?