At this year's ADFEST, out of 495 entries for Outdoor Lotus, only 21 awards were presented including one gold, eight silvers and 12 bronzes, and this year there was no Best of Show.
The only gold trophy was awarded to DDB Sydney for its work entitled 'Gum By Numbers-Marilyn' for Hubba Bubba Gum in the category for Street Furniture. The agency also won a silver award for Hubba Bubble.
DDB New Zealand won two silver trophies for its campaigns for SKY Television – Discovery Channel in the category of Three Dimensional large/ Highway Billboards, two Bronzes, one for Sky TV 'Superman Britomart', the other for Sky TV Discovery Channel, and two finalist for Sky TV 'The Break Up' and Sky TV Discovery Channel.
JWT Sydney won Bronze for the Thrifty 'Free Placement' concept.

BREWTOPIA WINS AT TV LOTUS
Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne won Silver for Pure Blonde 'Brewtopia' and a finalist for HBA 'Kid's Dental', Leo Burnett Sydney won Bronze for Bundaberg Rum 'Only in Australia', and DDB Auckland was a finalist for the DVD Unlimited campaign.

ADIDAS WINS AT 360 LOTUS
This year, ADFEST received 67 entries; only three of them were awarded 360 Lotus awards including the adidas All Blacks 'Billboard' via TBWA\ Whybin Auckland (with 180 Amsterdam). BWM Sydney was one of only six finalists, for Virgin Money Home Loans 'Everlasting Love'.

EARTH HOUR WINS GRAND PRIX (BEST) AT DM LOTUS
Leo Burnett Sydney's Earth Hour campaign won Gold and overall Best of DM,  DDB Auckland won Bronze for Sky TV Fresh Channel 'Tissue Box' (dimensional mail) and a finalist for Sky TV 'The Prestige' (flat mail), AIM Proximity Auckland won Bronze for Educational Software 'Academic Excellence Sandwich Board', M&C Saatchi/Mark, Sydney won Bronze for Audi S3 'Not for Everyone' and a finalist for British Council 'Meet Your Hero', and DDB Sydney was a Finalist for VW 'Short Car Songs'.

EARTH HOUR WINS AT INNOVA LOTUS
Out of 53 entries received, the Grande INNOVA and one INNOVA Lotus award went to ground Tokyo for its work entitled 'Freedom Project' for Nissin Cup Noodle. The judging panel also presented three INNOVA Lotus awards to Projector from Tokyo, Earth Hour from Leo Burnett, Sydney and Hakuhodo Kettle from Tokyo.

PRESS LOTUS
M&C Saatchi, Sydney won Silver for the Herringbone campaign, while DDB Sydney had two finalists for Tonka Toys 'Sandpit' campaign, DDB Auckland was a finalist for Sky TV 'Paris in Prison'

POSTER LOTUS
M&C Saatchi, Sydney won Bronze for Polo 'Trust Fund'.

RADIO LOTUS
DDB Auckland won Bronze for Sky TV's Sky Movies campaign and Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne was a finalist for RACV Car Loans 'Disclaimer'.

CYBER LOTUS
Leo Burnett Sydney won a Bronze for Wesley Mission 'Homeless Man', while Clemenger Blue Melbourne had two finalists, one for National Australia Bank 'Celebration Dance' website and 'Xtreme Christmas' in the Games category.

FILM CRAFT LOTUS
The Sweet Shop, Auckland won Gold for Direction and Bronze for Production Design for Tooheys Extra Dry 'HarvesTED', Film Construction Auckland for Direction for Water Safety 'Baby in the Water', Goodoil Sydney won Bronze for Cinematography for Landcruiser 'Born of the Earth', @radical.media won Bronze for Special Effects for Honda CR-V 'Dress for it', Leo Burnett Sydney won Bronze for Music for McDonald's 'See Things', Liquid Studios, Auckland won Bronze for Sound Design for Sol 'Sol City'. Finalists for Curious Films, Auckland (3), Revolver, Sydney (3), Soma Films, Sydney (2), Goodoil Films, Sydney (2), Leo Burnett Sydney (1) and Cirkus, Auckland (1).

Earth Hour 2008 will be held from 8 - 9pm tomorrow night.
The idea, originally created by Leo Burnett and WWF-Australia in Sydney last year has taken off not only around the country but also around the globe. Tomorrow night, 35 countries and over 370 cities and towns will be participating in the big switch off.
The organisers are asking the advertising industry to play their part. Before you leave the agency tonight, please shut down your computer properly and switch off the lights on your way out.
Agencies on St Kilda Road are urged to be particularly conscientious about turning off their lights - Bullshit Boulevard will be included in the electricity company's monitoring of Melbourne's usage tomorrow night.

By Barbara Messer in Pattaya Beach, Thailand

Tom Eslinger, the Jury President for this year's Cyber Lotus category at ADFEST, says he's enjoying the quality of this year's entries.
But Eslinger, interactive worldwide creative director at Saatchi & Saatchi London, can't help wondering whether some of the ideas are relevant to the brands they're created for.
"We're seeing a lot of work that explains the brief, challenge and results, but sometimes I wonder what it has to do with the brand?" asks Eslinger.
Shaun Branagan, executive CD at NetX in Sydney, agrees: "It's as though agencies are developing interactive campaigns because they want to show off the latest technology – you can tell they're technology-driven agencies rather than ideas-driven agencies."
Eslinger says it's unfortunate interactive agencies are still being brought in so late in the creative process. "You can tell when the campaign revolves around a TV commercial or a print ad, instead of being built around a strong interactive idea."
The jury panel, which includes Valerie Cheng from ARC Worldwide Singapore and Hiroo Kida, viral director at ADK, will spend the next two days debating the entries of this year's Cyber Lotus, with the winners announced at the Gala Dinner on Saturday night.

Former DDB NZ and GPYR Melbourne Executive Creative Director Paul Catmur has ended months of speculation by announcing that he is joining forces with rising independent agency Barnes Advertising, currently owned and led by Daniel Barnes. The new shop, to be titled: Barnes, Catmur & Friends, will operate from April out of newly acquired premises in High Street.
"Daniel and I have a similar vision of the way the industry is moving and complementary skills. He has operated a successful, highly regarded agency with loyal clients and staff for the last eleven years. My job is to bring in another wise head to work on our clients’ business and to work on raising the creative profile of what is already a very accomplished agency."
Both Barnes and Catmur will carry the title of Creative Managing Partner dividing creative and management duties between them as required.
Says Catmur: "Clients want to be in contact with the best minds of an agency and to work directly with senior talent, yet they find that increasingly hard to accomplish.  With Daniel and I both accessible and accountable to clients we believe we can reverse that trend. Barnes advertising may have been an independent, but neither the agency nor its clients have ever suffered from a lack of ambition.
“Daniel and the agency are already looking after an enviable client list including Subaru, Yamaha Motorcycles, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Langham Hotels and Geneva Health. Our first priority is, of course, to continue looking after them in the manner to which they have become accustomed."
Says Barnes: “This confirms that the worldwide trend towards high-quality independent shops like Mother, St Lukes, Naked etc is now fully breaking on New Zealand shores albeit, a little late. Of course we have a long way to go to match the success of those agencies but they have set great examples.
"Everyone knows Paul's work is great," says Barnes. "and it’s about time one of the big name New Zealand CDs jumped in and really got involved with his clients and their business. The independent scene's been getting stronger every year, just take a look at the recent Direct and Interactive awards where half the Gold awards went to Indies. Barnes advertising was itself the first indie agency to pick up the Fair Go Best Ad award. Both unthinkable a few years ago.
“There's nothing inherently wrong with the multinational agencies, but not all clients either want, or can afford, to work that way. Especially with the budgetary constraints that will become increasingly prevalent.  As the economy slows, pressures increase on clients to cut costs while maintaining creative standards and no one will be better placed than us to meet that challenge."

For this Bond's campaign, The Campaign Palace Sydney wanted to explore the fact that everybody loves their trusty hoodie. It almost becomes a part of you; how you wear it communicates how you feel. It’s an extension of your body language.

View the commercial
 
Title: 'Browse'
Agency: The Campaign Palace, Sydney
Creative Directors: Georgia Arnott and Jon Burden
Agency Producer: Meredyth Judd
Team Leader: Sasha Firth
Account Director: Melissa Gill
Account Manager: Pamela Lloyd
Director: Noah Marshall
Production Company: The Sweet Shop
Agency Producer: Fiona (Fi) King
Editor: Tim Mauger
Music: Nylon
Track: Sparkle Horse 'Please don’t take my sunshine away'

By Deone Ee in Pattaya Beach, Thailand

Fresh, new, original – these three words plagued the seven-man jury of this year's Press Lotus and Poster Lotus Jury as they waded through almost 2,000 entries in both categories.
The panel, headed by first-time Jury President Ben Welsh (pictured), who is executive creative director at M&C Saatchi Sydney, was pleasantly surprised by the quality of work they have seen so far. Despite being “terrified" prior to the judging, Welsh commended the “high standard of work and phenomenal craft" of the entries.
Andy Greenway, Regional Creative Director of Saatchi & Saatchi, had a slightly different opinion. “Ten per cent of the entries are very good, 90% are just average," he commented.
The jury was looking for stand-out work that was original, relevant and well crafted. Welsh explained, “Certain ads might share the same idea but it's the likeability and charm that some have over the others.".
While selecting the ‘Best of the Best' winners from the Press Lotus and Poster Lotus, the jury had a rather difficult time agreeing which agency deserved the award.
Leigh Reyes, Executive Creative Director of Y&R Philippines, said she was impressed by the quality of entries, particularly because “it is so hard to do good work, even more so, fantastic work."
Welsh says he's been delighted by the quality of this year's judges. “The jury is fantastic and there is a lot of agreement and good common vision."
The Press Lotus and Poster Lotus award show (plus Radio, Direct and Design) will be held this Friday night. The TV, Outdoor, Cyber and 360 awards will held on Saturday night.

The AWARD Executive Committee have voted in a Chairman and two Deputy Chairmen for 2008 & 2009, a new arrangement of the leadership positions to replace the co-chairmen roles of previous years.
Richard Maddocks, ECD at Clemenger BBDO Sydney, will be the Chairman, while Michael Ritchie, Executive Producer and Managing Director at Revolver and Darryn Devlin, Founder and Creative Partner at Kastner & Partners Sydney, will be the Deputy Chairmen.
Says Maddocks: “It’s certainly an honour to be involved with AWARD and the next couple of years are going to be an exciting time. I know the committee is up for some big things and I’m really looking forward to working with Darryn and Michael and the rest of the guys to make these things happen.
"We know we’re not going to keep everyone happy, but what we’re intent on doing is making AWARD as relevant and inspiring as it can be; to try and accommodate the various points of view in the industry without defaulting to the lowest common denominator.
"There’s so many opportunities for AWARD to grow and develop and build on the great work it’s already doing. I can’t wait to get stuck in."
Says Ritchie: “I Think Richard is perfect to head this team up. The good work done over the past two years needs to be continued....and then some. From a production company point of view, I am proud to be contributing to that."
Says Devlin, previous AWARD Co-Chairman with Paul Prince in 2005/06, says; “It is a very nice honour to be back on an exceptional committee and work with someone who I think will be a great chairman. If we continue to build on the momentum since going independent, AWARD will be a very good thing indeed."
Martin O’Halloran, CEO DDB Australia and New Zealand will lead the Business Development and Financials.
The Executive Committee will next meet on April 1st, where priorities for the year ahead will be discussed and portfolios allocated.
 

As part of their new strategic direction, Sydney agency AdPartners has announced Andrew Ostrom as creative director.
Ostrom brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to AdPartners through his previous work with Cummins & Partners, Clemenger BBDO, Leo Burnett Sydney, BMF and more recently managing his own consultancy.  
Well known for his creative involvement with the Tooheys Extra Dry ‘Tongue’ ads, Blood Bank’s ‘We gave blood’ campaign as well as IKEA’s ‘Stand-in dad’ and Johnnie Walker’s ‘Invisible’ spots, Ostrom says he is looking forward to working with such a passionate team led by incoming CEO, Geoff Nesbitt (above left, with Ostrom).  
Says Ostrom: "After completing a few projects with another agency late last year, I realised how much I missed working with a team. Then as luck would have it, I was presented with a great opportunity to work with AdPartners. The company’s energy, coupled with their forward thinking and strong client relationships, presented a great opportunity. I love advertising and have a deep respect for its ability to change a company’s fortunes and that only comes from doing it right.
“Successful campaigns are cleverly orchestrated and are a hit when time and care have been invested in to the strategic and creative approaches.  They have to be balanced and I think I’ve always prescribed to the thinking of using creativity as a tool and not a sole focus. There’s no greater accomplishment in advertising than work that has a clean sweep at effectiveness, planning and creative awards.  That’s when you know you’ve nailed it.  That’s when you know you’ve earned your pay cheque and that’s what continues to excite me most."
Nesbitt says he is looking forward to having Ostrom on board and is eager to get moving with this next chapter: “I think our clients will be impressed with Andrew's business minded approach to solving problems. It's the same agency but now with a new and improved product.
“An agency having a great creative product isn't a just a nice thing to have these days, it's a business must. It's a game changer and Andrew's work has a history of changing the game for his agency's clients. The return on investment, as well as the creative performance of his best work, has been nothing short of spectacular."

In a major coup that is sure to shake up the Melbourne industry, DDB Group Melbourne has appointed Grant Rutherford as executive creative director. Rutherford will assume responsibility for creative output across all DDB Group Melbourne businesses, including DDB, Rapp Collins, Tribal DDB, DDB Shop, Mango and DDB Remedy.
Rutherford joins the agency from Clemenger BBDO Melbourne, where he held the role of Group Creative Director. He is one of the most respected and acclaimed creatives, not just in Australia, but also on the world stage. His work has been acknowledged with over 100 national and international accolades and includes Carlton Draught’s ‘Big Ad’, one of the most awarded campaigns in Australian advertising history.
Says Rutherford: “What attracted me to DDB Melbourne was the combination of its absolute commitment to creativity and its enviable client base. It’s an opportunity I just could not pass up and I’m looking forward to working with Matt, Andrew and the team to continue growing the creative product across the business."
Says DDB Melbourne Group Managing Director Andrew Little: “We are absolutely ecstatic about Grant’s appointment. His creative talent and reputation speaks for itself. But just as importantly for us is that he is an incredibly nice bloke and a natural fit with the culture of our business."
Says National Creative Director Matt Eastwood: “Grant is one of the most sought after creative leaders, not only in Australia, but on the planet. Obviously, he’s a great talent. But importantly, he’s also one of the nicest and most humble guys you will ever meet. For DDB, this is about firmly establishing one of the most formidable creative line-ups in the region. All three offices, Sydney, Auckland and Melbourne, have won 'Agency of the Year' titles within the past 12 months, including CB's. Grant’s appointment is intended to capitalise on that momentum and continue cementing DDB’s reputation as a creative powerhouse."
Rutherford’s commencement date with DDB will be announced later this week.

Ian Rowden, the Sydney based Chairman and CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi Asia Pacific used the occasion of AsiaPacific AdFest to declare that Asia is leading the way in new media and interactive marketing.
“Internet users have topped 160 million in China and 50 million in India," says Rowden. "And the numbers of minutes online via fixed or mobile lines are double what they are in the US. With those numbers, old agency models have to be radically rethought.
"In many key areas, Asia is far ahead in the acceptance of new media as a platform for ideas-driven marketing in comparison with traditional markets, adds Rowden. “We’ve got over 44 million mobile web users in China alone, and huge numbers in more embedded countries like Japan, Korea and Singapore. Our clients know this, and are asking for relationships that are based around new media and interactive strategy."
Rowden sees a watershed moment for the region and intends to have Saatchi & Saatchi Asia Pacific poised to take fullest advantage of it. “Asia Pacific is really a beacon for the rest of the world when it comes to embracing an integrated new media strategy. That’s what makes the region so exciting at the moment."
“In the future, our client teams will be structured around a strongly interactive, new media core," continues Rowden. “As a company that sets itself apart on the strength of its ideas, we need to lead the way in opening new channels for people to interact with the brands they love."
With the advent of this new business model clients of all sizes in Asia Pacific will also see the benefit of globally linked new media teams working for them. “Our Asian clients will have in-market teams growing intimate with their customers, supported by new media expertise sourced from around the global Saatchi network," says Rowden. “These cross-border, cross-disciplinary teams are a completely new way of approaching advertising. They can give our smaller, growing clients instant visibility internationally, and our global clients laser-sharp focus in local markets."
Tom Eslinger (left), Saatchi Worldwide Creative Director, Interactive, in Thailand to chair the Cyber Jury for the AsiaPacific AdFest, applauds the growing recognition of the primacy of emerging media. “When you see web movies beginning to win European film awards, when great content produced for mobile broadband in China becomes the biggest viral success in Scandinavia, you know it’s time to throw away the old categories. Everything we do now is new media and it’s all about bringing interactivity to the foreground."
Continuous refocusing of its business is part of the way Saatchi & Saatchi evolves and strengthens itself. “We are absolutely determined to lead the way in Asia Pacific, and an integrated new media strategy combined with brilliant, interactive ideas is the path forward," concludes Rowden, who is only one month into his tenure as regional Chairman and CEO.
“Our clients are seeing the potential of a non-traditional approach and Saatchi in Asia Pacific will respond to that as the premier new media agency for the region."

Star Advertising/ theBrandshop, Sydney has created a new campaign and the first viral marketing initiative for Sanitarium brand Curios.
New Curios is not only a brand new product launched by Sanitarium but a brand new way to have breakfast. Sanitarium are shaking up the breakfast category with a healthy breakfast snack containing 23% Weet-Bix wholegrains, protein and fibre aimed at anyone who de-prioritises breakfast.
The 30-second launch ad ‘Breakfast Skippers’ shows people, in every walk of life, going about their business in the morning, but with one twist. They are all skipping. We see a businessman skipping down the street on his way to work, a young kid skipping in his room and even teenage boys skipping in a skate park. The commercial reaches its peak with hundreds of ‘skippers’ streaming out of a city subway on their way to work, skipping and eating new Curios.
Tagline – The Perfect Breakfast for Breakfast Skippers.
The breakfast skippers campaign launched with a 30-second TVC.  A separate 15-second TVC will air from 23 March and is targeted specifically at mums telling them what the product is and where to find Curios in the supermarket aisle.
Complementing the TV campaign, theBrandshop has created a separate layer targeting teens using 6 viral webisodes, encouraging viewers to visit the skipharder.com website. This series will also be viewed in several subscription TV programmes and social media.
Says theBrandshop Executive Creative Director Monty Noble: “While the main media is a top-down, broadly targeted approach, the idea really comes to life via the viral/on-line component where we sponsored a Professional Skipper called Tommy Fox. This allows the brand to speak to teens in a language they listen and relate to. And because Tommy’s a pro-skipper, naturally he’s sponsored by Curios as it’s ‘The Perfect Breakfast for Breakfast Skippers’.
"In a series of 6 viral segments, Tommy brings to life the idea of skipping vs. skating, gives us some insight into the ‘way of the skip’ and demonstrates his quirky skills to a skate-park full of teens. In later webisodes, these teens feel compelled to cast their skateboards aside and take up skipping.  Tommy even attempts a Skip Across Australia."
An extensive national sampling campaign, which incorporates the ‘skipping’ idea and brings it to life for the general public, is currently being activated by MEA. Members of the public are encouraged to join in with the ‘skippers’ and are filmed. If Tommy Fox thinks they make the grade, the footage of their skipping appears on his website.

View Webisode 1
View Webisode 2
View Webisode 3
 
theBrandshop Creative Team: 
Creative team – ECD Monty Noble
Writers – Monty Noble, Roger Heath
Art Directors – Richard McAuliffe, Andrew Jones, Steven Ianello
Producer – Elissa Maine
Star Business Director – Chris Pinnegar

Production Credits:
Director – Justin Kurzel (Cherub Pictures)
Producer – Pip Smart (Cherub Pictures)
Music/Sound Design – Supersonic
Post Production – Fin Designs
 

DDB Melbourne today announced the resignation of executive creative director Michael Faudet, who has spent the last three years in Melbourne and sixteen years prior at DDB Auckland and DDB Sydney.
DDB Group Managing Director Andrew Little praised Michael’s contribution to the agency: “Michael has made a significant contribution to the creative product and the exceptional growth of the agency. We have been in discussion for a while about Michael’s next steps and he has decided to take some time out after a long and fruitful career with DDB across the Tasman. I and all the staff wish him the best in his future endeavours."
Says Faudet: “I decided it was time to take a well overdue break from the business and spend more time with my son in New Zealand. I plan to catch some fish over the next few months before pursuing new options. I wish Andrew and the team all the best."
CB hears Faudet's high profile replacement will be announced this afternoon. So stand by.

Mark Ashley-Wilson, of Sydney agency Rivet, will be representing Australia on the Interactive jury at the 49th Annual Clio Awards and Festival, to be held May 14-17 in Miami Beach.
Ashley-Wilson, Rivet’s Head of Interactive, was selected by Interactive Jury Chairman Matias Palm-Jensen of Stockholm agency Farfar. Farfar is ranked #1 digital agency in the world in the 2007 Gunn Report.
Ashley-Wilson said: “It’s really cool that Matias picked me to help out this year. After all, he’s the founder and CD of the best interactive agency in the world.
“The judging should be exciting, because the standard in interactive creative has really improved this year. Ad agencies have finally caught up, and real ideas are starting to shine through, not just technical brilliance."
Rivet’s clients include FOXTEL, Unilever, the Football Federation of Australia and Genesis Energy, the New Zealand power company. At latest AWARD and AIMIA awards, Rivet won Gold.

The 2008 Clio Awards Interactive Jury:
•    Matias Palm-Jensen (jury chair), creative president, Farfar, Stockholm, Sweden
•    Mark Ashley-Wilson, head of Digital & Interactive Australasia, Lowe Rivet, Sydney, Australia
•    Oskar Bård, director, Hobby Film, Stockholm, Sweden
•    Dave Bedwood, creative partner, Lean Mean Fighting Machine, London, UK
•    Joakim Borgstrom, creative director, Wieden+Kennedy, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
•    Pete Case, creative director, Gloo, Cape Town, South Africa
•    Sam De Volder, creative director, These Days, Antwerp, Belgium
•    Tom Eslinger, worldwide creative director – Interactive, Saatchi & Saatchi, London, UK
•    Ricardo Figueira, creative director, vice president, AgenciaClick, São Paulo, Brazil
•    Dominic Goldman, creative director, BBH, London, UK
•    Andrew Hawley, founding partner & joint creative director, TOUCH/CAST NEXT, Wellington, New Zealand
•    Elke Klinkhammer, creative director, Neue Digitale, Frankfurt, Germany
•    Sean Lam, creative director, Kinetic, Singapore
•    Adam Lau, creative director, Ogilvy & Mather, New York, NY, USA
•    Peter Laurelli, senior copywriter, Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco, CA, USA
•    Jean Lin, founder & CEO, wwwins Consulting, Greater China, regional director, Isobar, Greater China, Shanghai, China
•    Andre Matarazzo, chief creative officer, Gringo, São Paulo, Brazil
•    Will McGinness, creative director, Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco, CA, USA
•    Tommy Means, director, Mekanism, San Francisco, CA, USA
•    Pedro Panigazzi, executive creative director, Publiquest, Buenos Aires, Argentina
•    PJ Pereira, former executive creative director, AKQA, San Francisco, CA, USA
•    Neil Robinson, group creative director, AKQA, San Francisco, CA, USA
•    Fernanda Romano, creative director, JWT London, London, UK
•    Seb Royce, creative director, Glue London, London, UK
•    Yasuharu Sasaki, interactive creative director, Interactive Communication Division, Dentsu Inc., Tokyo, Japan
•    Florian Schmitt, executive creative director, Hi-Res!, London, UK
•    Eric Segal, creative director, mcgarrybowen, New York, NY, USA
•    Meera Sharath-Chandra, president and national creative director, RMG Connect India, New Delhi, India
•    Jussi Solja, creative director/partner, Laundry, Helsinki, Finland
•    Richard Ting, vice president, executive creative director, Mobile & Emerging Media/Applications (MEMA) Group, R/GA, New York, NY USA
•    Andreas Ullenius, creative director, Akestam Holst, Stockholm, Sweden
•    Hyun-Ah Yoon, creative director, d.o.E.S., Seoul, South Korea


The 49th Annual Clio Awards will be presented during the 2008 Clio Festival, May 14-17 at the Gansevoort South Hotel in South Beach.  Delegates made up of advertising and design creatives from around the world will attend an array of exciting events, including the Festival Opening Cocktail Party, the annual Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner Gala (this year honoring Marcello Serpa, partner and general creative director, AlmapBBDO, São Paulo, Brazil), The Saatchi & Saatchi Hero Show, the 2008 Clio Future Gold | Young Creatives Program, daytime sessions featuring creative leaders from around the world, TV/Cinema/Digital, Print, Radio and Interactive Shortlist areas presented by Sands Research, Inc., evening parties and two Awards Galas announcing 2008 winners, Advertiser of the Year and Agency/Network/Production Company of the Year at the Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater.  

Online registration for the 2008 Clio Festival is open at Clio Awards

ihaveanidea, Advertising’s Intellectual Archive, has announced that DDB Worldwide will continue as Global Agency Partner of Portfolio Night 6 on May 8th 2008.  
ihaveanidea’s Portfolio Night is the largest simultaneous advertising portfolio review ever held in the world, featuring a uniquely designed portfolio review process in a 'speed-dating' setting. The event helps students and aspiring young creatives around the world break into the ad industry and involves the top creative directors in each participating city.
Says Ignacio Oreamuno, president, ihaveanidea: "On May 8, with the help and dedication of incredible Global Partners, like DDB Worldwide, who has been supporting the Portfolio Night initiative for the past three years, we will attempt to change advertising from the ground up once again. The ad industry has greatly evolved since Portfolio Night’s small yet audacious beginnings in 2003, and it is our responsibility to help our industry adjust to the future. This year we will invite not just traditional copywriter and art directors, but interactive art directors and designers as well. It will also be the first time that aspiring creatives will have the option of showing their work in the traditional format of print portfolios, or laptops."
The participating DDB offices hosting a Portfolio Night event are Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sao Paulo, Miami, New York, Toronto and Chicago. Additionally, creative directors from DDB’s other operations (not hosting events) will be taking part in Portfolio Night events held in their respective cities.  ihaveanidea will be releasing a list of cities hosting Portfolio Night events shortly detailing all DDB sponsored events, as well as those to be hosted by other ad agencies.
“By championing Portfolio Night, DDB is able to assist young people and the industry, while at the same time finding and recruiting the best new creative talent," says Bob Scarpelli, chairman and chief creative officer of DDB Worldwide.  “DDB’s extensive involvement with Portfolio Night again this year reflects our belief that creativity is the most powerful force in business.  The advertising community needs to foster the next generation of creative talent, and DDB is helping lead the way by taking events like Portfolio Night around the world."
Other global partners of Portfolio Night 6 include Corbis, BLACK BAG & VCU Brandcenter.
Students enrolled in advertising programs, recent graduates, and up-and-coming creatives will have the opportunity to spend valuable face-to-face time with their city’s most prestigious creative directors. Young creatives are encouraged to attend this event in one of the participating cities and  have the opportunity to speak with three or more world-class creative directors.
Cost to participate is $35 in North America and is priced locally in other  participating cities around the world. All aspiring creatives or juniors with an advertising portfolio must register online at ihaveanidea’s  PORTFOLIONIGHT.COM website.  

Multi award winning director Bruce Hunt has joined Revolver after many years at @radical.media.
Hunt has four times been named Director Of The Year in Australia for his commercials work, his feature film credits include 2nd unit director on The Matrix and he is one of the most awarded directors internationally.
Says Hunt: "The intimate scale of Revolver really appealed to me, with its sense of immediacy and collaboration, and the  focus on interesting work. I found our values and
the sense of enjoyment of filmmaking are really similar".
Says Revolver Executive Producer, Michael Ritchie: “I have always admired the fact that Bruce’s work transcends fashion; is beautifully made and totally entertaining. I guess we strive to have each director offer their own take on the world and Bruce’s take perfectly compliments what we are trying to do."
Hunt’s commercials work includes pieces such as TAC ‘Reconstruction’, Visa ‘Dining Out’ and Toyota ‘Snakebite’, all of which have been awarded internationally. Hunt is represented by Revolver in Australia and Asia, Believe Media in the US and Home.corp in London.

The Advertiser in Adelaide published a full page ad yesterday promoting coverage of AFL by their chief football writer, Michelangelo Rucci.
The work, via kwp!, will also feature in toilets in the city’s AAMI Stadium as well as the AFL venue’s big TV screen.

Agency: kwp! Adelaide
Creative Director: James Rickard
Account Management: John Baker, Monica Hoffman
Marketing Director: Dan Demaria, Advertiser Newspapers

Interactive Advertising Awards launches YouTube Channel
IAB Australia today announced the launch of its YouTube Channel and its 'Great Place to Work' initiative. Australian advertising, creative, online and marketing agencies are invited to give the industry a peek into their companies by submitting a video showing what makes their agency a great place to work – and why they think it’s Australia’s best.  The entries voted the most popular online will be shown at the IAB Australia 2008 Interactive Advertising Awards Dinner in Sydney on 1st May 2008.
IAB Australia has teamed up with Google to create the channel, which will provide a new way to communicate with the advertising and marketing community in the lead up to this year’s Awards. It also features chats with past winners and 2007 Chairman of the Judges, Mark Uncles, as well as a summary from IAB general manager Patty Keegan on what the judges will be looking for as they evaluate the 2008 submissions.
“People in this industry are a passionate bunch and IAB Australia wants to see what it is they love about their workplace," said Ms Keegan. “Is it the coffee, the view or friends in the office? Grab a camera, get creative and show us what makes your agency tick."
Videos up to three minutes in length should be sent to iabawards@gmail.com before 17th April for uploading. All videos submitted before the closing date will be uploaded to the IAB YouTube channel and those voted most popular will be included in the show reel for the awards evening in May.   

Having outgrown its space on York Street in Sydney, AWARD is now located at:

Suite 43, Level 4
61 Marlborough Street
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Phone +61 2 9699 2999
Fax +61 2 9699 2928

According to AWARD management, the creative space will provide AWARD management a larger processing area for the ever-growing Call for Entries and will offer AWARD School students access to the AWARD library of Annuals, and the opportunity to watch missed lectures. AWARD Members from interstate will be welcome to drop by if in the need of office services.
Lucy Mckee, General Manager of AWARD says: “On behalf of AWARD, I’d like to thank the AFA for their wonderful support over the past 22 months, and would like to ensure AWARD members that the positive relationship forged will continue. We look forward to activating projects together this year to benefit all members from both organisations, such as the vital AWARD for Clients initiative."
“It just makes so much sense that the AFA and AWARD continue to work closely together – the time we’ve shared offices means we now have a great understanding of how we can work together to make our creative industries even more vibrant," said AFA Executive Director, Mark Champion.
Upcoming events for AWARD include the opening night of AWARD School in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart, March 31st.
The appointment of AWARD Chairman and two deputy Chairmen to be announced within days.

Editor David Sergent from Plush Films has relocated from Sydney north to Cutting Edge Brisbane.
Sergent has been working on leading brand commercials through Plush and his work includes Hyundai and Castrol with Peter Bloomfield, Kelloggs with Rowan Dean, LG and Bluescope Steel with Peter Maguire, Fanta for Mick Connolly, along with projects for IBM Worldwide. David is very excited to be joining the team of talented editors at the Cutting Edge headquarters.
Says Sergent: “My relocation to Brisbane and to Cutting Edge comes at a perfect time for my family. I’ve always respected the high end work that Cutting Edge has produced and when the opportunity came to join their editing team, I jumped at the chance. By having a world class VFX team in house I am very excited about the opportunity to work on projects incorporating visual effects, as well as continuing to cut a wide range of styles with great directors."
Says Group General Manager, Kylee Ratz: “David’s appointment at our Brisbane headquarters proves our commitment to television commercials in our local market.  Sergent's addition to the experienced edit team of Kerry Farrell, Steve Thomas and Sam Bowden really does cement the depth of talent available at Cutting Edge."

Leading Sydney-based commercial production company, Plaza, will release an innovative 30 sec. Web Film this week titled ‘Whalezilla’, targeting Japan’s finicky youth with its deliberately cute and culturally sensitive charm.
Director Allan Moore developed the concept and script and designed the whale costume and set with a nod to Japanese Anime and the iconic clunkiness of the original 1956 Godzilla movie.
“I wanted to utilise the stylised cuteness that appeals to the young Japanese, presenting whales with the kindness and intelligence that all marine mammals are renowned for."
‘Whalezilla’ was donated to The Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society by the Plaza team who contributed their services on a voluntary basis. It will be part of the ongoing WDCS whaling campaign. 
The spot will be released through online networking sites, YouTube, Facebook and My Space, as well as through key environmental websites, blogs and the society’s website, www.wdcs.org. 
Plaza’s Pete Masterton said he was delighted to support Alan’s work for this cause: “Speaking directly to kids in Japan is a novel way to promote marine conservation."

Project Name:  Whalezilla
Client:  The Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS)
Production Company:  Plaza
Director & Writer:  Allan Moore
Producer:  Michelle Coassin
DoP:  Alex Dufficy
Editor:  Dan Mitchell - Mike Reed & Partners Post Production (MRPPP)
Visual Effects & Post Production:  Rosano Lepri (MRPPP)
Colourist:  Scott MacLean - Cutting Edge
Music:  Andrew Lancaster & David McCormack – Supersonic
Costume Artist:  Marty Jay
Art Finishing:  Celia Curtis
Lighting:  Nick De Laine & Scott Leeson - Nick De Laine Lighting
Talent:  Cinzia Coassin as Whalezilla

With thanks:  Clapper Loader - Jack Mayo; Lambert Productions; Atlab Australia; Erth Visual & Physical Inc

Australia’s most awarded sound designer, Simon Kane, is leaving Nylon Studios after just 18 months to return to Song Zu.
He will take over the Zu’s flagship room, Studio 1, (pictured left) from the 18th of April.
Says Kane: “The guys made it clear when I left, that the door would be left slightly ajar should I wish to return at a later date. I’ve been following closely the work of their new composers (Nathan Cavaleri, Hadyn Walker and Eden) having worked on a quite a few jobs where they have won the music side and I’ve been really impressed."
Kane, whose awards for sound design include Gold Clios, New York Festivals, London Internationals and numerous local awards will join Song Zu’s existing sound designers, Rod Enright and Dee Gjedsted, an ex-Duffield Kenihan sound designer who recently re-located from Melbourne.
Says Zu managing director Ian Lew: “We’re absolutely ecstatic to have Simon back. We’ve now got our dream team in place, brand new studios and a great working environment all round."

This week the AFL launches a campaign to mark the celebration of 150 years of Australian football. The lead commercial ‘tweaks’ the currently accepted view of Australian history, aptly called 'The True History of Australia'.
The campaign, created by George Patterson Y&R Melbourne, features the legendary Australian actor, Bill Hunter, who guides us through the story in a documentary style.
George Patterson Y&R Melbourne teamed with Paul Middleditch and Plaza films to produce the campaign. The majority of the campaign has been shot and recreated in camera with only limited historic footage used. Of significance was the recreation of the first game of Australian Football in 1858. Key dates through the decades are featured to take us on this journey of Australian Football through to the present day, and beyond.
Says Ben Coulson, Executive Creative Director of George Patterson Y&R, Melbourne: “There have been a few decent attempts to pen the history of Australia – it’s a big story and we needed a big Australian to tell it, Bill Hunter. This idea was written with Bill in mind. Although Bill has not participated in advertising for decades, he is a passionate footy supporter and keen historian. We were thrilled when he said he wanted to be involved."
The integrated campaign launches with 90 sec and 60 sec version supported by 30 sec cut downs. Other material in the campaign will launch for key events in the 150th year for the Hall of Fame Tribute Match in May and the Tom Wills Round, between Melbourne and Geelong in August. The campaign culminates with more commercials during the Finals Series in August. View the netsite
 
Client: AFL
Campaign: 150th Anniversary Australian Football
Title: The True History of Australia
 
Agency: George Patterson Y&R, Melbourne
Executive Creative Director – Ben Coulson
Copywriter – Jim Ingram
Art Director – Ben Couzens
Agency Producer – Romanca Jasinski
Group Account Director – Mark Watkin
 
Production Company: Plaza Films
Director – Paul Middleditch
Producer – Peter Masterton
DOP – Steve Arnold
Editor – Peter Whitmore @ The Editors
Animation – Animal Logic
 
Client: Australian Football League
General Manager of Marketing, Communications and Public Affairs – Colin McLeod
Brand Marketing Manager – Jane Ballantyne

The latest Bonds youth underwear collection is a clash of different colors, patterns and styles which led The Campaign Palace, Sydney to naming it 'Mash'. And in the spirit of the product, the 'Mash' was created from an eclectic mix of contrasting iconic dance moves. The dance is performed to Blondie’s 'Heart of Glass', covered in a range of styles.
The commercial aims to build on the success of last year’s 'Kaleidoscope' commercial, which was spoofed on YouTube by the McKinnon Boys. An on-line 'Mash Off' competition fronted by choreographer Leah Howard provides a platform for consumer generated content. The experience challenges people to do the Mash, upload their clips and the public will vote for which ones they like. The popular performances will be crowned with stardom and aired during a prime time TV ad break.

TVC:
Creative Directors: Georgia Arnott and Jon Burden
Creative: Kirsty Gavin
Team Leader: Sasha Firth
Account Manager: Pam Lloyd
Producer: Meredyth Judd
Director: Alex Smith
Choreographer: Leah Howard
Production Company: Boomerang Productions
Producer: Celina Janjic
Editor: Jo Scot
Sound Design: Supersonic

ON-LINE:
Digital Creative Director: Nitin Mistry
Head of Digital Production: Nathan Anderson
Creative Directors: Georgia Arnott and Jon Burden
Team Leader: Sasha Firth
Account Manager: Pam Lloyd
Digital Producer: Meredyth Judd
Production company: Engine
Producer: Celia Nicholas

Three Drunk Monkeys, Sydney, has created a new campaign to promote coverage of the Australian Football League (AFL) for pay television provider FOXTEL and channel Fox Sports. The approach taken plays on long-standing club rivalries with two guys who support opposing teams refusing to talk to each other once the season begins.
View the commercial

Agency: Three Drunk Monkeys
Client: FOXTEL/Fox Sports
Creative Directors: Scott Nowell, Justin Drape, Shane Gibson
Creative: Ruth Belotti, Paul Sharp, John McKelvey, Peter Galmes, Nick Morrissey, Sam Chappell.
Content Management: Leigh Morrison, Daniel Deutsch
Client: Antony Warne, Kate Dixon
Director: Three Drunk Monkeys
Production Company: @radical.media
Agency Producer: Thea Carone
Producer: Marge McInnes

Little Black Books (LBB Ltd) is a collection of travel guides tailored specifically for people in advertising who have to travel abroad for business. Today sees the launch of their latest release: LBB NYC – a guide to New York’s most slick, sassy and downright quirky places to sleep, eat and drink.
LBB is the business travel guide of choice for BBH, Saatchis and BBDO. It is ideal for people who travel to unfamiliar cities but are expected to entertain local clients, host company events or accommodate visitors.
LBB launched in 2006 with guides to Soho (London’s advertising epicentre) and Cannes (where advertising’s figureheads congregate each summer for the Cannes Lion Festival). These editions were so well received by the commercials industry that the LBB family is now expanding, hence its latest NYC instalment.
Editions scheduled for publication in 2008 will include updates for Cannes and London (including a brand new Shoreditch section), plus debut guides to LA, Toronto, Chicago and Shanghai. As the industry becomes ever more global, lots of destinations will be added, such as increasingly popular overseas shoot locations like Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Cape Town.
“The idea for LBB came from countless trips back and forth across the Atlantic. Each destination meant guide books and internet searches to find out where to stay, where to eat and where to take clients out for a drink," says LBB founder, Matt Cooper.
“The guide books never got it quite right and the web offered too much information to sift through. The best recommendations came from friends who lived in or knew the destination.  But advertising isn't like other businesses and bland won't do. A restaurant that works for the financial sector might not impress a worldwide creative director. Ad people are creative, social, savvy and have a sense of humour; their tastes run from top of the line to bottom of the barrel but a suitable establishment must have that certain intangible 'something'. Put simply, it takes an ad person to know an ad person."
LBB’s founders – Matt and Sarah Cooper – firmly believe that only a person with extensive industry experience is qualified to recommend industry-friendly hotels, restaurants and bars. Husband and wife team, Matt and Sarah, have been working in advertising for nearly two decades.
Matt Cooper is MD of The Gunn Report – the most credible and authoritative independent report on the advertising world’s creativity. Previously, he pioneered the idea BEAM.TV – a company that went on to set the benchmark for digital asset management in the commercials industry. Sarah Cooper brings publishing expertise to the LBB family thanks to her previous experience as publisher for internationally respected trade magazine, Boards.
In addition to hotel, restaurant and bar reviews, LBB contains a directory of local advertising contacts and a handy 52-week diary which lists events, award shows and local holidays. All this information is packaged in a handbag (even manbag) friendly A5 booklet. One run of books is delivered free of charge to advertising agencies thanks to LBB’s sponsors and advertisers. Additional copies are available to buy online at www.LBBltd.com, charged at £10 per copy. LBB Ltd also has an exclusive travel concierge arm, Club LBB, to offer suggestions and manage bookings.
To order any of the books, go to: LITTLE BLACK BOOKS
For more information, please contact Helen Down or Matt Cooper(matt@lbbltd.com).

This year’s Gold Siren Winner, equivalent to the best radio ad in Australia, will be announced in Melbourne on May 9, following a record number of entries in this year’s Siren Awards.
The winner of the 2008 Siren Awards for creative excellence in radio advertising will be announced at a gala breakfast featuring the hosts of Nova’s top-rating, drive time show, 'The Wrong Way Home' - Akmal Saleh, Cal Wilson and Ed Kavalee (pictured).
The comedy team will host the breakfast, which will feature the best radio ads of the past twelve months. The 2008 winner, chosen by a panel of industry experts, will be automatically entered into the Cannes Radio Lions – to be held in June and its writer will also win two tickets to attend the festival.
Last year’s Gold Siren winner, Snickers 'Hoedown' via Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne, won the Grand Prix Radio Lion at Cannes - the first Australian winner ever. The other radio winner from Australia was a campaign for Foxtel, written by Saatchi & Saatchi, Sydney which won a Silver Lion.
Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner said the Siren Awards provided a great opportunity to recognise excellence in Australian radio advertising and highlight the great work being achieved.
“Each year the Siren Awards continue to raise the bar in terms of creativity and originality. There have been a record number of entries so far this year – over 500 – up more than 65% on last year, and entries are continuing to flood in with today being the last chance to enter," Ms Warner said.
The gala breakfast will be followed by the Sirens Masterclass, a one-day, creative seminar that provides keynote speakers and interactive sessions. The Masterclass includes lunch and will be followed by drinks, enabling fellow creatives to share ideas and network. Keynote speakers at this year’s event are distinguished Australian screen writers, Jan Sardi and Craig Pearce.  Sardi received an Academy Award nomination in 1997 for his screenplay for Shine and is known more recently for his work on the screenplay for the US film, The Notebook.
Craig's success began in 1991 working with Baz Luhrmann on Strictly Ballroom and he has continued that partnership with work on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and Academy Award winning Moulin Rouge.
Cannes Radio Lions judge for this year and creator of the award-winning Australian radio brand campaign, Ralph van Dijk of Eardrum Australia, will also talk at the Masterclass and run several interactive sessions on how to write world-class radio ads.  More speakers will be announced soon.
Both the Sirens breakfast and Masterclass will be held at The Point Albert Park in Melbourne. Commercial Radio Australia is running the event in association with the Melbourne Advertising and Design Club (MADC) and the Australian Writers Guild (AWG). The breakfast will run from 7.30am to 9.30am and the Masterclass will follow the breakfast and includes lunch. Tickets are on sale now at $395 for the breakfast and Masterclass combined and $65 for breakfast only. An early bird discounted rate of $350 is available for those members of Commercial Radio Australia, MADC and AWG who book and pay before Friday, April 11. For a booking form and more information visit the  SIREN AWARDS website.
The national Siren Awards, now in their fifth year, are run by Commercial Radio Australia and are designed to recognise the best radio advertising in the country.  The awards promote the importance of creativity as a way to make radio advertising more effective. Today (Friday, March 14) is the last chance to get entries into this year’s Siren Awards with entries closing at 6pm. For more information visit the dedicated website: SIREN AWARDS

After two weeks exclusively in cinemas across Australia, Clemenger BBDO Melbourne's  'Skytroop' blockbuster for Carlton Draught has been released on the net.
See the spot @  WWW.SKYTROOP.COM

Agency: Clemenger BBDO Melbourne.
Executive Creative Director: James McGrath
Creative Director (& Writer): Ant Keogh
Creative Director (& Art Director): Grant Rutherford
Agency Producer: Julie Rutherford
Director: Paul Middleditch
Producer: Peter Masterton
Production Company: Plaza Films
Editor: Peter Whitmore @ The Editors
Digital SFX: Animal Logic
Flame Artist: Angus Wilson
Sound: Park Road Studios. Nigel Scott/Michael Hedges
Fosters Marketing Director: Cameron McFarlane
Account Director: Paul McMillan/Phil Baker/Helen Fitzsimons
Strategy Planner: Paul Reese-Jones