'Best Commercial of the Year (Animation)'. This is just one of the accolades Melbourne based XYZ Studios earned for itself last year at the Phoenix Awards in Singapore. 2007 was a defining year for XYZ, the company signing for international representation by the Ebeling Group, spreading it's wings from Wieden + Kennedy London to BBDO New York and winning 5 'Best of Category' awards nationally and internationally including; 'Animation & Broadcast Design Hotshop of the Year', 'Best New Director of the Year', 'Animation of the Year' and even 'Music Video of the Year'.
Due to last year's creative success, the studio's fearless director and founder, Tim Kentley, needed to look for full time representation and promotion in Australia and New Zealand. He is thrilled to announce Hamish Macdonald, formally of Exit Films, to the Rooftop of the Ritz team in St. Kilda. "We are very excited about having Hamish on board. He gets us and his producing experience will bring good guidance to the creative engines of the company," says Tim. Together, they look to connect the studio to the real thinkers and trail blazers in the south pacific ad industry.
XYZ Studios re-defines the typical 'production house / post house' formula as they converge filmmaking, design, animation and visual effects to bring new looks to an all too often cliched visual landscape. "Our credo is simple," says Tim. "If the idea is original, then the depiction of that idea should be original too." This inventive approach has earned XYZ an international profile for producing distinctive work. As the accolades continue to build, it is evident that they are doing this with great success.

Just back from the US where they were shooting for BBDO New York and Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Plaza's lead team Paul Middleditch and Peter Masterton are celebrating winning three Mobius Awards – the only three given to Australia at the 2007 Mobius Awards in Los Angeles.
Middleditch picked up a Mobius for Direction for Pure Blonde, which won a second Mobius in the Alcoholic Beverages category. Pure Blonde is the first TV work from Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne for Fosters Australia and featured as number one on AdCritic last year at launch.
ANZ Card Security, the stand out first TV work from DDB Melbourne for ANZ Bank, picked up a Mobius in the Financial Services category.

Fosters 'Pure Blonde'
Agency:  Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne
Art Director:  Cameron Hoelter  
Copywriter:  Emma Hill
Creative Director: James McGrath
Agency Producer: Roz Ruwhiu
Production Company:  Plaza
Producer:  Peter Masterton
Director:  Paul Middleditch



ANZ 'Rebranding cards' campaign
Agency:  DDB Melbourne
ECD:  Michael Faudet
Creative Teams: John Akritidis & Michael Davey
Jim McKeown & Luisa Paine
Agency Producer: Naomi Ingleton
Production Company:  Plaza
Producer:  Peter Masterton
Director:  Paul Middleditch

 

Created by BADJAR Ogilvy, Melbourne, Secret Mission TVC has some fun with the efforts Officeworks go to in order to help their customers prepare for the work year ahead. The commercial is radically different from anything Officeworks has done previously with the aim of ‘grabbing’ the audience right from the beginning.
The commercial was shot in Melbourne by Republic Films, with Simon Frost directing and Sarah Leach producing. The set inside the van was custom built into the inside of a trailer in Sydney. It was then driven down the Hume highway for the shoot. The spot was edited by Michael Houlihan from MRPPP, with the sound mix completed by Phil Kenihan at Front Of House.

Creative Director – Pamiela Kaplan
Art Director – Mal Gray / Jay Marios
Copywriter – Jonathan Correll
Agency Producer – Sonia McLaverty / Eyvonne Carfora
Account Director – Lynette Edelstein

More than a few bloggers are saying the approach taken in Goodby's Comm Bank campaign is downright lazy and unoriginal. Too much on the same lines as the 2000 Cannes Gold Lion winning campaign for Budget via Cliff Freeman, New York and particularly the 'Meaty Cheesy Boys' spot for Jack in the Box in 2000, via Kowloon Wholesale Seafood Company, Santa Monica - but not as funny. And if so, has Goodby failed to crack a truly original campaign as promised by both the bank and agency for the last nine months? And as expected by every one of our world-class Australian ad agencies that could have been awarded the business? Ironic, considering the tagline: Determined to be different.
Discuss...

Jack in the Box commercial

Budget commercial #1
Budget commercial #2

The Commonwealth Bank launches its long-awaited branding work from Goodby Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco on Australia Day with a mockumentary-style campaign based around the bank working with its cast of well-meaning, but culturally clueless American advertising executives and invariably polite, persistent and patient Australian clients.
Launching on Nine during the cricket, Ten during the tennis and Foxtel/Austar tomorrow, there will be a video broadcast on NineMSN with live screening at Martin Place and Hyde Park. Running for a week it will be followed by a spot featuring the Australian cricket team and then a home loans spot. A MICROSITE has been developed which will showcase the ads with backgrounders about the cast members, which includes a copywriter/art director called Luke and Luke.
The Commonwealth’s Bank marketing general manager Mark Buckman says the campaign hasn’t been tested with the general public – the LAUNCH COMMERCIAL was only finished twenty minutes before he flew back from San Francisco last night – but he is confident the general public media is savvy enough to get it. He adds that picking up on the humour is not reliant on the general public knowing the bank used an American agency.
When the first half of the commercial appeared on YouTube this morning, bloggers went into over-drive unsure whether it was a joke or the real offering, a reaction that reflects the scrutiny the bank has been under since appointing the US agency nine months ago.
Says Buckman: “It is intended to break the conventions of banking marketing and give something different that will stand out on Australian television. We saw multiple options before we landed on this campaign, which we think is bold and exciting. It’s quite provocative and is certainly different to what we have done before. We think it is really funny, sort of like Seinfeld meets The Office, but most importantly it gives us a device to communicate the many different ways the Commonwealth Bank is different to our competitors."
Goodby, which was recently named Advertising Age’s and AdWeek’s Agency of the Year, presented about three campaigns to the agency including one Buckman is calling a “safe" approach, which the bank rejected in favour of this more entertaining and edgier idea.
“In this media savvy world….being able to engage with the Australian public on an emotional level and connect with them in a way they will want to connect with us and find out more about the Comm Bank so what we have created is more like a sitcom series than it is conventional advertising," he says, admitting that it was partly inspired by the experience they had working on the campaign.
Goodby’s Steve Simpson, creative director on the campaign, says the agency is fictional and is not Goodby, but plays on Americans being a convenient foil for all the excesses of marketing and taps into the fascination for advertising.
Says Simpson: “Everyone is now a filmmaker as we see on YouTube, we invite the public to make their own commercials, user-generated content is all the rage and everyone I ever meet who finds out I’m in advertising has had an ad idea so there is this interest in what goes on behind-the-scenes so the making of this stuff becomes the subject of the advertising. There are clear stylistic nods to the Office, the way the silence is played, the awkwardness of the client’s reaction."
Print and outdoor ads, web advertising and in-brand materials will put the Bank’s message more simply, offering proof points of the Commonwealth’s new truth.
The Commonwealth Bank’s group executive, human resources and group services, Barbara Chapman says most people had a view of the bank as a traditional, established big bank, part of Australia but lacking in momentum and a bit lacking in energy: “Internally I see an organization that is quite different, it is going through a transformation of change and is focusing very much on the customer and customer service and our vision to excel in customer service is coming to life as we speak in every interaction that we have. It’s an unusual position where the perception of the bank is a little bit behind the reality."
She says 70% of its customers as nine or ten out of ten for their most recent branch interaction, making the biggest marketing challenge that of getting that perception changed among customers and staff
“It’s not just a tagline, ‘determined to be different’ is something we are going to live up to and we are living up to and will live up to that every single day. We are prepared to be judged by that commitment and that determination and it's not determined to be different from where we have been but to be different from every other bank in this market," she says.

AGENCY: Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco
CREATIVE DIRECTORS: Rich Silverstein, Steve Simpson
COPYWRITERS: Pat McKay, Chris Beresford-Hill, Rick Condos
ART DIRECTORS: Feh Tarty, Will Hammond, Hunter Hindman
PRODUCERS: Barbro Eddy, Jake Grand
DIRECTOR: Eric Lynne
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Partizan Productions, Los Angeles


View the LAUNCH COMMERCIAL

Crash Carlucci (ex-Riot, Santa Monica,) has joined Tristan La Fontaine, Billy Wychgel (Condor, Amsterdam,) and Heather Hay (Avenue Edit, Chicago) as senior colourist at FSM Sydney.
Managing Director Rick Schweikert says: “We spent the last 12-months searching for world class colourists. With Crash’s arrival, we believe our colourist team is second to none. And our new BaseLight makes us the only post house in Australia with two of the most powerful non-linear grading suites plus the Da Vinci 2K. Directors and producers now have an unprecedented choice of people, and equipment."
Other new names at FSM include Head of Production Dean Sutherland (ex-Cutting Edge,) Senior Producer Tina Braham (The LaB,) and Executive Producer Nathan Wellington.
With new faces in the company comes a new company name, FSM.
Rick again: “FSM is also the only finishing house with a strong design background. With so many new elements, and this year already looking good, we decided to let the old ‘Frame, Set & Match’ go - people call us FSM anyway."
Call Rick Schweikert or Dean Sutherland for commercials and Stephen Dunn about feature film capabilities. (02) 8966 5000. Or click here:  FSM

Crash Carlucci, Senior Colourist
Crash Carlucci has been a dedicated colourist for 17 years. Starting at The Tape House, New York before moving west to Los Angeles and Hollywood Digital, then Pacific Ocean Post and more recently Riot Santa Monica for 6 years. Crash joins FSM in Sydney, January 2008.
"It’ll be fantastic. In LA, everyone tends to be isolated in specialised units. You rarely get the chance to share ideas with other operators, even on the same job. As FSM offer the full package, I look forward to some collaborative creativity - and working on Baselight, Australia’s most advanced colour grading system."
FSM has been using the Baselight system for feature films for over 2- years. Film is scanned at 2K resolution and graded in context, with absolutely no quality loss. 
In a first for Australia, Baselight will be installed in March for commercial work. Only FSM clients will have the unique, and unprecedented choice of grading from a Da Vinci 2K, or the BaseLight.
PS: Crash’s name comes from his years on the US Ski team.

With a star line up of judges in Australia and New Zealand and a 20% jump in entries, 2008 promises to be a big year for the New York Festivals Advertising in all Media competition. The judges have been chosen from recommendations made by the industry’s top creatives. They join judges representing over 30 countries from around the world. Judging will commence early March. Winners will be announced at a Gala event in New York in early May.

Judges from Australia:
Mark Collis, National CD, Leo Burnett (pictured, soon to be at Ogilvy Japan) – TV
Rebecca Carrasco, Executive CD, Colman Rasic Carrasco, Sydney – TV
Steve Back, ECD, Saatchi & Saatchi, Sydney – Print
Rem Bruijn, CD, MAKE, Brisbane – Print
Ralph van Dijk, Eardrum, Sydney – Radio
Buzz Pringle, Stellar Group, Sydney – Radio
Andrew Tinning, CD, Marketforce, Perth - Outdoor
Emma Hill, CD, Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne – Outdoor
Ashley Ringrose, Director/Founder, Soap Creative, Sydney – New Media
Aaron Turk, CD, Tribal DDB, Sydney – New Media
Jonathan Samway, Exec. Producer, Prodigy – Art & Technique
Pete Baker, The Glue Society, Sydney - Outdoor
Lee Thomson - Robbers Dog – Art & Technique

Judges from New Zealand:
Jeremy Taine, ECD, Ogilvy Auckland – TV
Tim Hall, CD, Saatchi & Saatchi, Wellington – Print
Peter Hewitt, Exec. Producer, Film Construction – Art & Technique
Jake Fitter, Lead Sr. Creative – Saatchi & Saatchi, Auckland
Nick Worthington, Executive CD, Colenso BBDO, Auckland (pictured) – Print
Josh Frizzell, Director, Curious Film

Mark Tutssel, Chief Creative Officer of Leo Burnett Worldwide, will chair this year’s Titanium and Integrated jury, at the 55th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.
Tutssel is one of the most awarded creative directors in the industry and as the creative leader of Leo Burnett Worldwide he oversees the work of 94 global offices in 84 countries.
His work has earned every major creative accolade, including a prestigious Cannes Grand Prix for Mercedes Benz ‘Skidmarks’ in 1997 and countless other Gold Cannes Lions across different media. Under his leadership, the network has won many top awards including a coveted Titanium Lion at Cannes last year.
Prior to joining Leo Burnett USA in 2002, Tutssel was Executive Creative Director of Leo Burnett London, during which time the agency was one of the most awarded in the world and its clients, McDonald’s and Heinz, were named 'Advertiser of the Year' in the UK.
He has chaired many international awards and has served on both the Film and Titanium & Integrated juries at the Cannes International Advertising Festival.
Australia's Terry Savage, Festival Chairman, said, “In just a few years, the Titanium and Integrated Lions have become the most talked about awards in Cannes. The category is helping redefine our industry and it is appropriate we have a leader of stature and experience to lead the jury who understands the new space and understands the importance of this elusive metal."
Commenting on his appointment, Tutssel said: “Last year marked a tipping point at Cannes. While Film had historically been the most highly anticipated competition in the Festival, 2007 will be remembered as the year that innovative and ground-breaking thinking dominated. This category is an incubator for ideas. Ideas that are so unique, new and pure that they cannot be labelled in a conventional way. It awards ideas that have found a higher level of integration and category-defying work that pushes the industry forward. In short, these are the most precious and prestigious Lions to win."
Originally launched in 2003, Titanium and Integrated Lions have continued to evolve to reflect the changes of the industry, becoming the most challenging categories of the annual event. 

The Big Won, the international ranking of agencies across all marketing disciplines, places Australian and New Zealand agencies highly. The 2007 results covered nearly 10,000 awards presented in 73 countries to more than 1,600 agencies across multiple disciplines, including advertising, direct and digital marketing. The full list of rankings is available at THE BIG WON, while an executive summary highlighting Australian and NZ results can be downloaded here:
The Big Won results, for Aust and NZ media, Jan 08 .doc. 
Overall, direct marketing in Australasia is clearly world class with 4 out of the top 10 dm campaigns hailing from the region. Local agencies also made it to the top ten in press campaigns, as well as alternative media, though no Australasia agency appeared in the top 10 TV, print, digital, or poster campaigns. 
 
Key highlights:
·      The region boasts world class direct marketing agencies with New Zealand’s AIM Proximity ranked second in the world out of more than 900 dm agencies, while M&C Saatchi Sydney is third, and BMF is 11th.
·      Australia and New Zealand dominate the top 10 most awarded Direct Marketing campaigns in the world, with campaigns from Leo Burnett and AIM Proximity sharing first place, M&C Saatchi Sydney 6th place and TBWA\Whybin Auckland in 10th position.
·      In the top 10 Alternative & Innovative Media campaigns, George Patterson Y&R Melbourne ranks 6th in the world for the VB ‘Boonie’ campaign.  
·      In the top 10 Press Campaigns, Publicis Mojo Auckland ranked 3rd in the world for the Ketchup ‘CALM’ campaign.
·      The best Television and Cinema Advertising campaign from Australasia was ‘Children see, children do’ for NAPCAN by DDB Sydney, ranked 25th in the world.
·      The best Digital campaign from Australasia was BMF’s ‘A new form of currency’ for Macquarie Bank, which was ranked 17th in the world from more than 700 campaigns. 
·      In overall global rankings, AIM Proximity is the top Australasian agency ranked 33rd in the world out of 1,600 agencies, followed closely by M&C Saatchi Sydney at 35th, Leo Burnett Sydney at 55th, and Publicis Mojo NZ at 87th.  
 

Confirmation has just come through that Sydney based start-up Droga5 Australia has won the prized VB account in a shootout against Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne with other contenders DDB and Whybin TBWA knocked out earlier in the process.
Droga5 joins Clemenger BBDO and Ogilvy Badjar on the Foster’s agency roster.
Droga5's appointment to handle VB, Foster’s flagship brand can only be described as a major coup. It will be the foundation client for Droga5 Australia, which is only just settling into temporary premise is Crows Nest, with plans to move into a Surry Hills premises soon.
Anthony Heraghty, Foster’s Australia, Asia & Pacific Marketing Director, said of Droga5’s appointment: “While new in Australia, the combined experience, unquestionable talent and vision of the Droga5 set up, present a powerful opportunity for VB as it continues to evolve its communications.  VB has to be one of the most  challenging briefs in the marketing place in the world today and we’re confident that Droga5 will crack it."
Speaking from New York, David Droga, Founder & Worldwide Chairman, Droga5 said: “If you asked me a year ago, what would have been your fantasy launch client
for our Australian office, it honestly would have been VB! There are a lot of people on both sides of the world excited about doing this opportunity justice."  
Closer to home, David Nobay, Creative Chairman, Droga5 Australia added: “VB has proved to us that it puts the idea first and foremost, just by making this appointment. We couldn’t have asked for a better start to the year or a more courageous client."
Foster’s will continue to evaluate the needs of other brands, which were previously held by George Patts Y&R, with the aim of appointing them to a rostered agency within the coming weeks.

Gary Dawson, the Clemenger BBDO, Sydney creative who last year partnered acting CD Rocky Ranallo, has also departed the agency. Dawson, whose awards include a D&AD Silver Nomination and 3 finalists, Cannes, British Television, and Creative Circles, and was last year invited to judge D&AD, looked after a portfolio of accounts that included Pepsi, Masterfoods, Smiths Chips, NSW Fire Brigade and Vinnies.
Says Dawson: “It’s not particularly the start to 2008 I envisaged, but at the same time, situations like these can be invigorating. I’ve gained invaluable experience looking after some of the agency’s largest clients and working alongside Rocky, one of the nicest blokes in advertising. Hopefully I can use this experience to take advantage of some of the amazing creative opportunities out there."

Ad site Bannerblog has done some digging and it looks as if the 'Determined to be different' spot on YouTube is for real.

Bannerblog says 'Determined to Be Different' is registered trademark #1211855 of Commonwealth Bank of Australia, lodged by CBA's General Counsel John O'Sullivan on November 23, 2007. Also, Bannerblog believes there will also be a website that will reside at http://www.determinedtobedifferent.com.au/

 Go to: BANNERBLOG

The much anticipated Commonwealth Bank campaign is ready to launch and a press conference will be held today at 11am at the Bank's HQ in Sydney. No idea what to expect but presume tonight or Australia Day is when the launch commercial goes to air. The full Comm Bank marketing team will be there together with Steve Simpson, Goodby's US creative director on the business, presenting the new campaign. More info later today.

Meanwhile, CHECK THIS OUT on YouTube... is this for real?

Bond’s Chesty turns 70 this Australia Day and The Campaign Palace Sydney was tasked to remind people of its iconic status as Australia’s unofficial national uniform and get them to buy and don a Chesty for Australia Day. And to Inform them that they’ll also be supporting Surf Lifesavers as Bonds will donate money to help get surf life saving skills into all of our primary schools.
The solution? A modern day look at Australia today. Photographer Neil Massey and assistant Lisa Lovick traveled the length and breadth of Australia, capturing a vast range of real people wearing their Bonds Chesty. These photographs are linked together with a rallying cry: WEAR AUSTRALIA. 
This campaign has been launched via Outdoor, radio (read by Bud Tingwell), POS and on-line.
There’s also a series of exhibitions showing all of the photographs, the first one happened on Wednesday night at the Glenmore Hotel.
The campaign has already started to resonate: The story has been picked up and featured on Current Affair and Sunrise. It has also been discussed on Nova, The Austereo Network and regional radio.
“We wanted to move things away from posed models in studios and out into everyday Australia," says Jon Burden, Creative. “It was important that this campaign is as authentic to Australia as the Chesty itself," added Creative Director, Georgia Arnott.  

The Campaign Palace, Sydney
Creative Director: Georgia Arnott
Creative: Jon Burden
Designer: Thom Davy
Photographer: Neil Massey
Photographer Assistant: Lisa Lovick
Digital Creative Director: Nitten Mistry
Team Leader: Sasha Firth
Account Manager: Pam Lloyd


 

ATTENTION AWARD MEMBERS! AWARD Committee Nominations are due by tomorrow, Friday 25th January. To indicate their acceptance to stand, please advise the person you are nominating to forward a short resume by tomorrow.
 
Please fax pages 2 and 3 of this
AWARD-NominationForm.pdf to AWARD (61 2) 8297 3801.  Resumes can be emailed to angelika@awardonline.com
Two positions will be available in Sydney and one for Asia for the AWARD Committee 2008.
The positions are to be served as two-year terms, commencing from the AGM on March 5th 2008.
Positions are only free in SYDNEY and Asia, all interstate positions are allocated until 2009.
(Committee Positions have expired for Simon Langley, Simon Cox, Shaun Branagan, Olly Taylor, Paul Prince and Philip Putnam). Prince and Putnam (pictured) have been co-chairmen of AWARD for the last two years so their successor(s) will be selected by the new AWARD committee.
 
Portfolios that need still to be allocated for 2008, to take into consideration when nominating;
• AWARD Annual Concept & Production 2008
• AWARD Awards Presentation Evening Production 2008
• AWARD Educational workshops ie AWARD Craft for Juniors
• AWARD Members – Functions & Incentives

Committee Members already confirmed for 2008 are:
1. Ben O’Brien – JWT Sydney (AWARD School)
2. Paul Bruce – BMF Sydney (AWARD School)
3. Buzz Pringle – StellaRadio, Sydney
4. Mark Stott – Common, Sydney (AWARD Annual 2007 & concept design AWARD Awards Print materials)
5. Richard White-Smith - Sydney
6. Gavin McLeod – M&C Saatchi, Sydney
7. Dejan Rasic - CRC, Sydney
8. Toby Talbot – DDB New Zealand
9. Jim Ingram – George Patterson Y&R Melbourne (AWARD School Melbourne)
10. Peter Withy – KWP!  (AWARD School Adelaide)
11. Jim Robinson – Jamshop Adelaide (AWARD School Adelaide)
12. Murray Laird – Marketforce (AWARD School Perth)
13.  Fintan Kerrigan – George Patterson Y&R Brisbane (AWARD School Brisbane)
14. Jimmy Clough – Red Jelly, Hobart (AWARD School Hobart) 

There is only one more week to enter the 2008 One Show, One Show Design, and One Show Interactive competitions. Just one week left for your chance to be recognized in one of the world's most prestigious advertising award shows, so get your work in now. The One Show is one of the Big 4 international shows - with D&AD (deadline tomorrow), Cannes and Clio (deadline Feb 8) - included in the annual CB Creative Rankings.
Deadline for entering is January 31, 2008

Download a
OneShow.pdfCall for Entries

Leo Burnett Melbourne is about to launch an in-store poster campaign for Suzuki, to promote the power and aeronautical ability of the new RM-Z450 dirt bike. Tapping into the adrenaline-fuelled, Jack-ass attitude of the dirt bike subculture, they take an irreverent approach to promoting Suzuki’s new model. The posters demonstrate the potential aeronautical power of the machine by showing a number of the bike’s in-flight ‘road kill’ victims; a pelican, a parachutist and a little boy’s favourite kite.
“When it comes to dirt bikes there’s nothing that spectators and riders want to experience more than a whole heap of air." said Leo Burnett copywriter Andrew Woodhead. “We wanted to demonstrate the aeronautical power of the bike, and felt that a prank like this would appeal to the dirt bike fraternity’s sense of humour. The posters also aim to express the sheer feeling of fun and exhilaration that riders experience when they are airborne."
An important part of the extreme sports explosion that’s taking place around the world, dirt biking is a high-intensity sport that revolves around the exhilaration of speed, stunts and showmanship. Leo Burnett’s campaign focuses on the flight element of Suzuki’s new hero bike, which has an extremely lightweight frame designed for increased manoeuvrability and greater height during jumps. The campaign launches in showrooms all over Australia, on January 30th.

View the first Poster

View the second poster

View the third poster

Following the appointment of Guy Rooke as associate CD, Clemenger BBDO, Sydney deputy CD Rocky Ranallo has left the agency. New ECD Richard Maddocks confirmed Ranallo had gone but the rest of the 11 strong mainstream creative department would remain and possibly another team added soon.
Ranallo had been acting CD since the transfer of former ECD Danny Searle to regional ECD of BBDO based in Singapore back in June last year. Says Ranallo: "I've done nothing wrong, quite the opposite, it's simply a case of a new broom. I've been replaced by someone Richard sees as more suited to where the agency is going. Meanwhile, I'll be exploring all possibilities. I'll be looking at a deputy CD role somewhere, that's where my real value is."
A former long term Campaign Palace creative (for 18 years), Ranallo was originally hired with his partner Craig Moore (Moose) in 2004 by Searle. Moose left last year and is now at Sydney based shop, One for All.
Ranallo can be contacted on 0408 499 690 or via email

Clemenger BBDO Sydney’s newly appointed ECD Richard Maddocks has snared Aussie ex-pat Guy Rooke from a three year stint at global hot-shop Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Miami. Rooke will join the agency as associate creative director.
Previously Maddocks and Rooke worked together at Colenso BBDO Auckland from 2002 until 2005 during which time the agency was ranked number one in Australasia in the Campaign Brief Creative Rankings.
Maddocks says it’s a crucial hire for the agency as it reshapes its creative offering: "Guy’s an amazing talent. His passion and energy for this business is directly evident in the work he’s created."
Rooke has won multiple awards at all the major international award shows including Cannes, One Show, Clio and D&AD. He was ranked third hottest young creative in the world at the Young Guns award show in 2006 as well as ranked third in Campaign Brief’s top 100 creatives in Australasia.
Maddocks says what’s most exciting is his recent global experience: "The work he’s been doing at CPB is fantastic. He’ll bring a fresh perspective and integrated point of view to our client’s business problems."
Rooke has been working on Nike, Coca Cola, Volkswagen, Burger King, MINI, Virgin Atlantic and the Miller Brewing company in the US just to name a few.
Says Rooke: “2008 is going to be a big year for the industry as a whole in Australia. After talking to Rich and Jim, Clemenger felt like the agency that was really committed to making great work. It’s going to be an exciting journey and I can’t wait to start."
Says Clemenger BBDO Sydney managing director Jim Moser: "Getting Rich on board was the most significant appointment I have made here. Guy’s appointment is going to give us another huge shot in the arm."

Fin has kicked off 2008 with new 2D, Design, 3D and Production talent.
Signings include compositor Christophe Allender, whose work most Campaign Brief blog readers will already be familiar with. Previous to Fin he worked with directors such as Ne-O, Dougal Wilson, Ivan Zacharias, Frederic Planchon, Traktor and Pleix. Winning awards for his VFX work on Basement Jaxx 'Where's Your Head At" and Volkswagen 'Gene Kelly'. See his  REEL
Chris Spry signs up as joint Head of 3D with Stuart White and 3D artist Magnus Olovson adds his strength to the team.  “It a great move for Fin and myself to have someone with Chris’ experience to help crack all the different 3D challenges we face. Two heads and all that. As for Magnus, he is a clever fellow and a very useful addition to our (3D) department," says Stuart White.
Designer and Art Director Masataka Kawano has also signed. “Outside of his design work we were particularly impressed with the concept work he had been doing for production companies and agencies. So we approached him and he said 'yes'. Casey (McIntyre) and now Masa, make for a pretty sharp design team. I am looking forward to seeing what these two can come up with," says Richard Lambert.
Lambert himself will take on Fin’s new Creative Director role. “To date, Fin’s senior members have capably managed to concentrate on both the conceptual and executional parts of our business. The new signings allow us an opportunity to restructure slightly, so I can focus is on the conceptual side of what we do along with creative management. I am definitely not saying good bye to the Flame though, as I still enjoy compositing," says Lambert.
Last but not least Fin’s Production team has enjoyed a reshuffle.
George Mackenzie starts this year in his new role as Executive Producer, one he shares with existing EP Emma Daines. Whitney Luxton joins as Senior Producer to work along existing Senior Producer Billy Beckett.
“All of this is really just an acknowledgment of the support of our clients. As a result of those good relationships we have the ability to further strengthen what we, as a company, offer both creatively and production wise. Sounds cliché, but it really is a very exciting time for Fin," says EP Emma Daines.

Sydney based Mark, the digital, direct and data marketing agency which is part of M&C Saatchi, has scored 11 finalist nominations – the most for a single agency in Australia and New Zealand – in the annual John Caples International Awards.
Now in its 30th year, the John Caples International Awards are the only not for profit, independent direct marketing contest in the world. The competition is held across 53 countries and judged by more than 100 senior level international creatives.
The awards go to individuals comprising the teams that have created the most brilliant advertising solutions to real-time marketing problems.
“We’ve only had our doors open for just over eight months, so we are really thrilled our work has been recognised by such an internationally respected and prestigious competition,�? said Mark creative director Gavin McLeod.
Mark’s finalist nominations were:
• Optus ‘Coaster’ – Direct Mail
• Optus ‘Scam Letter’–  Direct Mail
• Audi S3 ‘Not for Everyone’ – Direct Mail
• AWARD ‘Fancy Folds’ – Direct Mail Business
• Tourism Australia ‘Umbrella’ – Alternative Media
• Audi S3 ‘Not for Everyone’ – Websites
• Optus ‘Make Poverty History’ – Websites
• Optus ‘Outsiders’ – TV Campaign
• Optus ‘Keep the crew together’ – Multi Media Campaign
• British Council ‘Meet your hero’ – Multi Media Campaign
• Tourism Australia ‘Re-energise’ – Business Multi Media Campaign
Mark was launched in May 2007 after M&C Saatchi merged its direct and digital disciplines and also introduced the discipline of data to the agency for the first time.

Leo Burnett national creative director Mark Collis is heading to the ECD gig at Ogilvy Japan in March, replacing Aussie expat, Marcus Jackson . (Jackson has transferred to Ogilvy Hong Kong as regional creative partner on Coca-Cola. Singapore based 
regional creative partners Gary Tranter and Matt Cullen (both Aussie expats) are looking after the department in Tokyo until Collis joins.)
Collis leaves on a high after the worldwide creative success of WWF 'Earth Hour' last year, which won multiple gongs including a rare Titanium Lion at Cannes. Burnett's new national CEO Todd Sampson, who has worked with Collis on and off for many years, confirmed Collis was leaving: "I will miss Mark, he has set a high standard for the future. We wish him all the best in Japan".
Collis is currently on a shoot in Brasil and Sampson said a search for his replacement is well advanced to ensure a smooth transition.

The 3 DVD set of Gold, Silver and Bronze winners of the New York Festivals 2007 is now available for sale in Australia. June Laffey, New York Festivals rep for Australia and New Zealand has a limited supply, which she is offering for sale at a discount. The discounted cost is just Aus $129 (reduced from US $199). The first 20 people to place an order will also receive a 2007 Awards annual for free.
To order your DVD 3 disc set and free Award Annual, simply send a cheque for $151.90 ($129 + $.12.90 GST + $10 P&P) made payable to Black Hat Pty Ltd to PO Box 5173, Elanora Heights, 2101, NSW. (If ordering from New Zealand the cost is $159 - $129 + $30P&P.)
If you still have work you would like to enter into the New York Festivals 2008 International Awards Competition in all Media, your entries will be accepted before 31st January. Simply go to NEW YORK FESTIVALS and enter into the code space NYFA1297EE  to commence your entry.

12:20 has some great creative office space for rent in their premises in Reservoir St, Surry Hills - Close to Central Station, Toast / Single Origin etc...
There is comfortable space for up to 6 people - $150 per desk per week.
Flexible space - can split up as required.




Wired for Ethernet / Phones
Includes under desk filing cabinets / chairs
Loads of additional storage areas
High ceilings / air-con
Separate boardroom and additional second meeting room
Separate kitchen / 2x toilets / shower
Security / Monitored alarm
Includes cleaning etc

Available from 11 Feb, 2008

Contact Jon Skinner:
e: jon@1220.com.au
m: 0410 65 1220

Saatchi & Saatchi Singapore has announced the appointment of Nathan Hackstock as Digital Creative Director and Simon Lazenby as Digital Business Director, as part of its mission to become the most hot-wired creative company on the planet.
Haystock was most recently the Digital ECD at Clemenger BBDO Sydney. Prior to that he was one of the leaders responsible for setting up Tequila, TBWA/Chiat/Day LA’s digital offering, and before that worked with the Saatchi & Saatchi office in LA to structure and plan for Toyota’s entry into the digital space.
Lazenby joins the Singapore team with ten years online experience across the UK, North America and Asia Pacific.  He recently moved from Australia where he previously worked as Head of Digital for M&C Saatchi leading a large team of interactive marketers.
Says Saatchi Singapore CEO Michael Rebelo: “We are not setting up silo digital organisation at Saatchi & Saatchi Singapore. Nathan will be teaming up with our creative leaders – Richard, Andrew and John, to ensure that technology is driving our creative solutions at every turn with inspiration and innovation.
"Simon will work across our entire client base to make sure that from a communications planning perspective our clients have the right digital thinking in their strategy, implemented with precision and measurement.�?

Applications to News Limited AWARD School are now ONLINE.
News Limited AWARD School is a special course run by the Australasian Writers and Art Directors Association industry for people who want to become copywriters or art directors in advertising. News Limited AWARD School is not so much about ads, as about ideas. The emphasis is on how to recognise a simple idea and then how to turn this into great advertising.
The application brief for this year’s News Limited AWARD School is now available to download from AWARD SCHOOL ONLINE and will close on 1st February, 2008
The 16-week part time course runs from March to July each year in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Hobart. The course consists of a Monday evening lecture and Thursday evening tutorial. News Limited AWARD school invites lecturers and tutors from some of the most talented pool of people currently working in the industry. Previous lecturers include Jonathan Kneebone, Matt Eastwood, Steve Back and David Nobay. There is currently around 85% of creatives working in the industry who have completed the course.
The application brief consists of questions that will require students to write ads. Applicants will have two weeks to complete their submission, and anyone can apply. All work must be submitted hand drawn this year, computer generated work will not be accepted. The names of successful applicants will be posted on the AWARD School website in mid February.

Diary dates
•    NSW information day Thursday 17th January at 6.00 pm, The Garvan Institute, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst
•    VIC information day Wednesday 16th January at 6:30 pm Victorian College of the Arts, Federation Hall at 234 St Kilda Road, Southbank.
•    AWARD School Sydney start and finish dates: Thursday, 6th March - Thursday 26th June 2008
•    AWARD School Melbourne start and finish dates:  Thursday 27th March – Thursday 17th July 2008
•    All other states including Brisbane, Perth, Hobart and Adelaide start and finish dates: Monday, March 31st – Thursday, 17th July 2008.

Singapore based BBDO Asia regional ECD Danny Searle is celebrating after BBDO Singapore surprised the industry by landing the prized $40m Singtel business in a shootout with odds on favourites Ogilvy & Mather.
Aussie expat Searle, who only came on board in June last year from his previous gig as national ECD of Clemenger BBDO Australia, says the win is particularly satisfying because BBDO were called "rank outsiders" by one prominent Asian trade mag. Searle told CB: "We won with a big, simple, beautiful idea."
The original pitch list comprised incumbent Y&R, Ogilvy, Bates, Saatchi's and Leo Burnett but BBDO were included after Saatchi and Burnett pulled out in November.
The win coincides with the arrival of top Singapore creative Jagdish Ramakrishnan (Juggi), who has joined as their new ECD, lured from Saatchi & Saatchi Singapore where he has been one of Asia’s most awarded copywriters for over a decade.

An extensive programme of 18 seminars presented by leading international and regional industry figures will be offered at the 1st Dubai International Advertising Festival, to be held 31st March to 2nd April 2008.
Addressing key issues that affect and shape the advertising industry, some of the most influential people in the business will share their thoughts, ideas and expertise bringing inspiration and learning opportunities to those attending the event.
David Droga, Founder & Creative Chairman of DROGA5; Steve Harrison, who led Harrison Troughton Wunderman to win more Direct Lions than any agency in the world; Piyush Pandey, Executive Chairman and National Creative Director of Ogilvy, India & South Asia; Lewis Blackwell, Senior Vice President/Group Creative Director of Getty Images, are some of top names who will speak at the Festival. Eurosport, JCDecaux, Isobar and Emaar are just some of the companies also featured in this unique experience for delegates.
Also included in the line-up of seminars, The Lynx Debate will cover topical issues affecting the MENA region to be discussed by leading local industry figures.
Seminars will take place in the Sheikh Rashid Hall at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, U.A.E. and are available to all registered delegates. For further information on the full seminar programme, how to attend or submit entries, please go to Dubai Lynx website.

A press ad for Liquorland in New Zealand has been announced as the October/November winner of the Could Be a Caxton competition, established by the Caxton Committee and supported by The Newspaper Works to recognise and showcase great creativity on a bi-monthly basis.

CLIENT: LIQUORLAND
AGENCY: Y&R AUCKLAND
COPYWRITERS: VAUGHN DAVIS & MATTHEW WEBSTER
ART DIRECTORS: SCOTT GOWLAND & JANINE WAREHAM

A Highly Commended was also awarded to The Furnace in Sydney for its Rabo Bank Topical Election series.

CLIENT: RABO BANK
AGENCY:  THE FURNACE SYDNEY
ECD:  ROB MARTIN MURPHY
CREATIVE TEAM: SEAN BIRK & CHAD MACKENZIE

Rocky Ranallo, Deputy Creative Director of Clemenger BBDO Sydney, and the judge of the October/ November competition, said: “The thing I like the most about the Liquorland ad is the fact that it’s been developed purely for the medium. It’s not just a magazine ad stuck in a newspaper. I also like the fact that it has a headline, which aren’t very popular these days, but are still very powerful. Ask any newspaper editor.
"Finally, I really love that I have drunk all of these wines (and then some) with the likes of Ron Mather, Lionel Hunt, John McCabe, Danny Searle, Mick Hunter, Ian Morton and Moose, and am still alive to talk about it.
"I also really liked the Rabo Bank Rate ads.  You can’t help but be drawn into them.  Meanwhile, the interest rate is being etched into your brain.
"But there can only be one winner, so it goes to the happiest kingdom of them all…...Liquorland.
"Now I’m off to lunch.  See it’s working already."

The creative team from Y&R Auckland wins an all expenses-paid trip to the 2008 Caxton Weekend.  
The December/January competition is now open for entries.  It’s free to enter and anyone can submit nominations.  For more information on how to enter the Could Be a Caxton competition and the Caxtons in general, visit The Caxton Awards
Please contact Lucia Elliott at The Newspaper Works on +61 2 9696 6300 or email Lucia Elliott for further information.

Delegates wishing to attend the 55th International Advertising Festival, to be held in Cannes June 15-21, can now REGISTER
Delegates can select a three-day, four-day or full week registration package, with access to 47 topical seminars, 30 workshops, the Content Showcase,
screenings, exhibitions,  four award ceremonies, two galas and the greatest
networking opportunity the advertising industry has to offer. 
Special registration packages are also available for young creatives and students. 
Registered delegates can find information on a wide range of hotels, residences, serviced apartments and villas at HERE
The deadline for inclusion in the Delegate Handbook is Friday, May 2.
Entries open online Thursday, January 31.
 

This week, a NEW WEBSITE created by BMF Sydney for Sony PlayStation has stormed into the site of the day position on the globally acclaimed Favourite Website Awards website.
The site went live before Christmas, and was designed to showcase the range of gaming software available to users of the PlayStation3.
The FWA, (www.thefwa.com) has run since February 2005 as a showcase for the world’s finest web-design.  In the past 6 months, only three Australasian sites have satisfied the independent judges' criteria to be featured on the site.
As PlayStation3 is host to a wealth of next-generation digital entertainment features, the site has been built around the strategic insight that the console ‘plays with you’.  With this insight, creating a user experience that was both engaging and intuitive was critical to the success of the project.
Digital Creative Director Chris James was keen to address the challenge head on:  “For the first time we’re getting to the stage where broadband penetration coupled together with the latest version of flash is allowing us to create online environments that bring the richness of the PlayStation experience to life.  I think we’ve got a brilliant destination people will have fun exploring."
Patrick Lagana, Senior Product Manager SCE Australia says: “We required a unique online space to present and share these amazing gaming experiences. BMF has created something we’re truly proud of."
Says Warren Brown, ECD of BMF: “We have put digital at the heart of our business, which demonstrates our commitment to becomin