After nearly three years in the gig, Shaun Branagan has quit NetX, Sydney to join Love Communications Sydney as their executive creative director, to work alongside current CD Scott Waterhouse.
Branagan joined NetX in February 2006 from the ECD position at Saatchi & Saatchi,Hong Kong, where he had been for the previous two and a half years. Before that he was CD of Y&R Sydney, a highlight being winning the 2003 Cannes Direct Grand Prix for client Jim Beam. In 2002, a BRW magazine survey of over 200 Marketing Directors named Branagan as one of the top 5 Creative Directors in Australia.  He has deep offline and online experience and has managed to win awards across all disciplines: TV, radio, press, posters, interactive and integrated.
Since Branagan joined NetX, the shop was bought by BBDO with the intention of integrating the business with Clemenger, while keeping the NetX name.
Waterhouse and Branagan worked together at DDB Sydney in the 90s and the appointment has been welcomed by Waterhouse, who told CB: “It’s great that we’ve managed to secure Shaun. I’ve known him for a long time, having actually worked with him as my creative partner at DDB back in the 90’s, so it’s not only great to have a guy on board who completely gets digital and mainstream, but it’s great know that we’ll be compatible.
"We’ve also both worked at Saatchi, albeit in different offices, so we have a similar approach to great creative ideas. All that’s left for us to do now is to find a new CEO, and then we’ll really be ready to kick arse."
Branagan says he is energised by the opportunity: "To be able to create a modern communications agency is extremely exciting. I'm looking forward to creating an agency that is unique in the delivery and execution of its work, an agency that places integration and digital at its heart, rather than adding it as an afterthought. This is a perfect time to re-ignite Love."
Branagan's role has been filled by former M&C Saatchi digital creative Nic Hodges, who has been with NetX for three months.

Telstra has unveiled Australia’s first commercial installation of 3-Dimensional content and technology with Telstra CEO, Sol Trujillo, opening the world-class Executive Briefing Centre (EBC) in Melbourne. The 3D TV initiative offers a ground-breaking communication medium that engages the new media savvy consumers in retail environments at point-of-purchase.
In an Australian first, viewers are able to engage with powerful 3D content without having to wear polarising glasses. The Telstra CEO features prominently on the 3D TV content display at the EBC explaining what Telstra calls “Next Dimension Working™" for its enterprise and government customers. Other content clips include purpose-built advertising, product information and brand messages for Telstra to demonstrate the power of this technology to the market.
Telstra Enterprise and Government’s Executive Director – Convergent Sales, Paul Geason said: “Following on from Telstra’s recent success with Australia’s first live interactive hologram, we partnered with Prime Digital Media to deliver another first in 3D interactive content. The commercial use of 3D technology and 3D content to create attention-grabbing digital signage has great potential for Telstra’s enterprise and government customers. The technology lends itself to incredible new customer experiences. 
“Imagine the application of this technology to a traditional and crowded media space to create a new direct communication channel for organisations to engage and inform their customers about new products," he said.
 Telstra’s Retail Media Solutions partner, Prime Digital Media (PDM) has created purpose-built product and brand messages to demonstrate the power of this technology to Telstra’s enterprise and government customers. The flat-panel plasma display demonstrates a coming together of Telstra's cutting-edge mediacomms and network capabilities, as well as PDM’s advanced 3D content production capabilities.
 Julie Frikken, PDM Creative Director said: “We are excited to be a part of Telstra's world-class Executive Business Centre in Melbourne. The centre is the perfect launch pad for yet another Australian first - 3D TV. What looks like a regular plasma TV at first glance surprises and engages customers with content that reaches out and invites customers to look again. 3D TV will fundamentally change the rules and scope for communicating messages to the marketplace."
"This media platform certainly feels like it takes us into the Next Dimension. At PDM we are specialists in world-class out-of-home digital content production and 3D TV allows us to push conventional boundaries and capture an audience with simple yet effective brand messages," Ms Frikken added.
Telstra’s General Manager, Innovation Marketing, Leonie Valentine explains the concept behind the inclusion of 3D TV in the Executive Briefing Centre: “The EBC was designed around Telstra’s brand and the Next IP™ network to put the power of what we call Next Dimension Working™ in the hands of our customers. The inclusion of PDM’s 3D content really does take us into the next dimension."
The Melbourne EBC is part of a national customer demonstration capability established by Telstra to allow its Enterprise and Government customers to truly experience the benefits and value of Telstra’s integrated solutions and products through briefings and hands-on demonstrations.
 
For a demonstration of the 3D TV or if you require additional information, please contact:

Telstra:
Martin Barr
Tel: (03) 9634 4990
Mbl: 0418 101 127

Prime Digital Media:
Angela Byrnes - Director Communications
Tel: (02) 9660 9400
Mbl: 0405 837 416

Judges gathered in the Patts building last night to determine the winners of Melbourne News Ltd AWARD School for 2008. From 43 books, the judges selected a top 10, which was then whittled down to decide First, Second and Third.
Patts creative Jim Ingram, who’s heading up AWARD School in Melbourne (along with Patts creative, Ben Couzens) said the work this year was excellent: "here was healthy debate to select the top 10, but ultimately first second and third were unanimously decided. The standard has definitely improved and I think people will be surprised to see the quality of work next week at the Graduation Night. It would be nice to have a good turn out to show it off."
The top students will be announced next Wed night (6th August) at Apartment bar, Little Bourke Street in the city, kicking off at 6:30pm. Entry is free for AWARD members, or anyone who was involved in AWARD School this year. A limited number of tickets are available for non-AWARD members to purchase. For tickets, contact Hannah Morden at AWARD on 02 9699 2999.
 
The judges were:
Jim Ingram and Ben Couzens (senior creatives, George Patts)
James Procter (CD, cumminsnitro & MADC President)
Brendon Guthrie (CD, Grey)
Grant Rutherford (CD, DDB)

Over the past 10 weeks, 10,000 mashup ads have been created by viewers, 2000 Friends have been added on their Facebook page, 1.8 million page views have been recorded on their website and almost 1.3 million people have been watching each week….
This Wednesday at 9pm on ABC1 is the final episode of  THE GRUEN TRANSFER for 2008.
Wil, Todd and Russel are joined by Bridget and Dan.
Finally, New Zealand takes revenge…On the Pitch, Simon Rich from Grey Melbourne and Matt Devine from The Glue Society Sydney, acting on behalf of the New Zealand government to try to discourage international tourists from holidaying in Australia.  Baz Luhrmann may be flogging Australia to the rest of the world, but Gruen does the anti-ad. 
Also, Gruen has a look at the world’s hottest ads from Cannes, what's wrong with the Cheerios ad and Ad of the Week is Fox8’s Football Superstar.
 
Who needs Baz Luhrmann to sell Australia?.... a sneak preview of the final episode:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=281ZavSKfoA

Watch the full episode (later this week) and see previous episodes.

Gruen will be back early 2009

Aussie film director Baz Luhrmann has conceived an interim global campaign for Tourism Australia, with the commercials to be directed by Bruce Hunt from Revolver. The $50m tactical campaign, on the back of the launch of Luhrmann's Australia (which will be released on November 13) gives DDB extra time to prepare the next big international push which is scheduled to launch next year.
Says Revolver EP, Michael Richie: "Bruce Hunt is directing the TA commercials, conceived and ultimately produced by Baz. Even though much of the press said Baz was directing, he is at pains to put forward that Bruce is directing it, as he said in the press conference.  Baz said: 'Bruce Hunt is one of our top directors, he will be working with me on 'Australia'. He will bring a very particular look and sensibility to the feel of the campaign.'
Baz's production company, Bazmark is certainly working in association with Revolver. Revolver is facilitating the production (kind of like we did for Chanel, however Baz directed Chanel but again I line produced it). Needless to say, DDB is across all of this."
 
See article in the Sydney Morning Herald.

M&C Saatchi New Zealand has secured the services of one of Asia Pacific’s outstanding creative talents, appointing former BBH Asia Pacific creative director Todd Waldron as executive creative director.
Born in the United States but resident in Asia for much of his life, Waldron has created award-winning work for clients such as Levi’s, Axe (Lynx), McDonald’s and Reebok. Under his creative leadership, BBH Asia Pacific was twice named Agency of the Year, in 2004 and 2006.  
Says M&C Saatchi New Zealand CEO Nick Baylis: “We’ve been very deliberate in our search for a new ECD, and that patience has paid off in spades with Todd’s appointment. He has a track record of producing quality work that can transcend traditional advertising and incorporate digital and interactive in a fresh, innovative manner. That 360° approach is integral to our thinking moving forwards."
Says Waldron: “Nick laid out a vision for M&C Saatchi that offered me an opportunity too good to turn down. Some of the best work is coming out of this part of the world at the moment, so moving to New Zealand is exciting for me from a creative perspective. It will be a great environment to work in."
Adds Baylis: “I like the fact that, as an American who’s lived in Asia most of his life, Todd‘s appointment is a bit of a departure from the typical creative director profile in New Zealand. You only need to look at what he’s accomplished internationally to recognise that he’s capable of making a big impact on the industry here." 

Saatchi & Saatchi Australia today announced the promotion of multi-award winning talent Dave Bowman to creative director, reporting directly to executive creative director Steve Back.
Bowman left Droga5 New York to join Saatchi & Saatchi Australia as group creative head in January 2008 and has been involved in the expansion of the agency’s newly formed division Saatchi Substance. The wealth of international experience in brand entertainment content that he brought to this position has led to his promotion to creative director.
Bowman’s creative credentials have been rewarded with multiple industry awards over the years including Australia’s first Titanium Lion at Cannes in 2005 for the Virgin Mobile '5 Cent' campaign. Before joining Droga5, Back and Bowman worked together at Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand, a partnership that is now being revived in Australia.
Saatchi chief executive Simone Bartley said Bowman’s return to Saatchi & Saatchi earlier this year had added to the agency’s ability to build innovative campaigns that delivered for its clients: “Dave is a true Ideas person - that is, he is non-traditional in every way. His six months here have had a major impact on the agency and our clients’ business. This appointment is well deserved," said Bartley.
Bowman’s first major piece of work for the agency is the latest fully integrated Tooheys New ‘Supercold’ campaign 'For the Love of Beer' which launched during State of Origin 2. This campaign allows consumers to decide how Tooheys are going to spend their ad budget.
“Dave has been recognised as a top creative talent for many years but the experience he has gained working on major campaigns in New York is very evident," said ECD Steve Back. “He brings a fresh new approach to our clients’ brands, mixed with his understanding of the Australian market."
Bowman, who first made his reputation at The Glue Society, said his appointment as creative director would give him the opportunity to have input across a range of premium brands.
"It has been great linking back up with Steve and in my new role as CD I’m extremely excited about being able to have a bigger effect on the work across the board and at the same time helping our clients find new and interesting ways to connect with consumers," said Bowman.

Curious Film is now representing Lance Kelleher in Australia, New Zealand and Asia, where he is highly regarded for creating dynamic TVCs across a wide range of visual styles with unique intuition.
Says Pete Grasse of Curious Australia: "To describe Lance’s approach to filmmaking, you'd have to say it was atmospheric and inherently visual, with a knack for condensing compelling narratives into highly accomplished pieces of film.
"Lance was certainly on my radar while I was working in the USA and Japan. So when I arrived down under, I naturally saw him as a daunting local competitor for Curious. I’m very glad he’s on our team now."
Throughout his career, Kelleher has directed some of the most visible TV commercials for Australian audiences, including the epic Nutrigrain series for JWT, and last year’s ‘Continental Drift’ for Heineken, Bates Asia and the Rugby World Cup. 
Kelleher began his career as a news editor in New Zealand, fast establishing a reputation as one of this region’s top directors. After moving to the US in the late ’90s, he created a long list of iconic spots for Cadillac, BMW, Dodge, and Lexus. 
Back in Australia, where he now resides, he has directed major campaigns for agencies Saatchi & Saatchi, M&C Saatchi, Euro RSCG, and Ogilvy & Mather for their premier brands Toyota, Qantas, Orange, and BP Castrol.
Says Grasse: "Lance remains highly sought after in the overseas markets where he’s represented by incubator films in the US, Bandits in Europe, and The Garden in Canada, but his focus these days is on working with the most adventurous and inventive creatives here at home, and Curious is happy to have him."
View Lance’s REEL
For more information, contact Pete Grasse, at Curious Film in Australia: peterg@curiousfilm.com or +61 430 596 071 

After a Gold Lion, a best of show at the Caxtons and several gongs at AWARD, Peter Hibberd has resigned from George Patterson Y&R Melbourne. After five years as art director with Julian Schreiber (now Clems Melbourne) and his most recent posting as group creative head of digital over the last six months has come to a close, Hibberd has chosen to spend more time with his family. He can be contacted on 0409 068 435.

Sydney based thebrandshop is set to bolster its creative department with the return from NZ of one of Australia’s most renowned creative directors, Rodd Martin.
He joins thebrandshop as creative director from his position as associate creative director and head of art at Saatchi & Saatchi Wellington, a short term gig he took in January this year. At Saatchi's he worked on such campaigns as NZ Post, NZ Army, Wellington Zoo, TVNZ and 4-Square supermarkets.
“We’re all incredibly excited by Rodd’s impending arrival," said thebrandshop’s ECD Monty Noble. “He brings to the agency a wealth of experience, tremendous craft skills and his recent work shows that he’s lost none of his passion for big brand ideas." 
Earlier in his career, Martin played a major part in establishing the New York offices for both Mojo and Omon. Back in Australia, he was also instrumental in the creation of Brandhouse which grew to a staff of 75 people in Sydney and Melbourne before being sold to Havas’ Arnold US network. His award tally includes seven AWARD pencils, four Clios as well as multiple recognition at Cannes and The One Show. He has also directed many commercials.
"thebrandshop is on a roll right now," said Martin, “In the last 2 years they’ve doubled in size and their work is receiving an enviable amount of praise from both the industry and consumers. The last year at Saatchi NZ has made me match-fit and I now look forward to helping thebrandshop team lift the agency to the next level and beyond."
Martin is set to join the agency on August 11 and will work across the majority of thebrandshop’s client list which includes CommSec, Sanitarium, Valvoline, ACP, Kimberly-Clark and Coca-Cola Amatil.

Another sad day for the ad industry, with news that legendary advertising creative Michael Robinson died yesterday of throat cancer.
Only in his mid 60s, Michael was a real one off character with his trademark handlebar moustache and quick wit. A fine writer, he was loved by all of his generation, and was a stalwart of the Caxtons since it started in the mid 70s. He ran his own shop, Harris Robinson & Associates, later Harris Robinson Courtenay (with Bryce Courtenay, Phil Harris and Vincent Tesoriero) for many years, which eventually folded into Clemenger in the early 90s.
Says friend Ray Black: "These pages are from a book I illustrated for a radio network. My cartoon of Robbo reflects several things about his character: Slightly manic, a gifted writer, his 'Guards' moustache and his love of motorcycles. He founded an exclusive motorcycle club with each member sporting a spiffy green blazer with a monogrammed pocket emblazoned with their crest, 'The Crash and Burners'. His club nickname was 'Red Ott'. Their motto, "We eat our dead". Enough said.
"In his pre advertising life Robbo was in the Scots Guards, which encouraged his meticulous attention to detail. In later life he became a superb wood craftsman.
"Robbo could always be relied upon to be outrageous at Caxton. Who could forget him as the water spurting centrepiece of the Buzby Berkley water ballet in the pool at Noosa? A Talent Quest winner of course."
A decade ago Robinson retired to Byron.
Friend Richard Osborn says Robinson requested no priest, no service, no funeral, just family at his cremation: "Above is a classic pic of Michael (please credit Michael Andrews as photographer]. Quite dashing and distinguished I think and much in the way Michael should be remembered. The best comment I have heard that would sum up Michael is... I quote: 'I have never met anybody less afraid of having a good time'. There will be a big party in Sydney so will keep you posted."

UPDATE: Attention all Melbourne creatives: Projections 08 is tonight!
ACMI cinema in Federation Square will host the screening of the finalists of Projections 08 – the competition for spotting up-and-coming Australian photographic talent.
Tonight winners will be announced in four categories: Best Emerging Commercial Photographer; Best Art Photographer; Best Editorial Photographer; and the grand prize, Best Overall Photographer.
Tickets are $25 and are only available through moshtix.com.au There will be NO tickets available at the door.


Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra will host finalist screenings in July for what is becoming a major talent-spotting ground for the next generation of top photographers.
Creative directors, art directors, photographers and producers are invited to come and have a few drinks, view the work and meet some fresh photographic talent.
Projections is a relatively new competition, jointly presented by the Australian Commercial and Media Photographers (ACMP) and Sony and sponsored by Saatchi & Saatchi, Adobe, Capture Magazine, Gekko, Momento, Sun Studios and Crumpler.
Entries in Projections are in a unique format – photographers are asked to submit a portfolio of work of a continuing theme, rather than individual shots. To best display the bodies of work, the finalists will be shown in a full cinematic experience (with matching soundtracks) at the Chauvel Cinema in Sydney on Tuesday 15th July and at ACMI in Melbourne on Thursday 24th July. Canberra will host a screening at M16 on Friday 18th July as part of the Vivid Photographic Festival.
The photographers are competing in five categories – Best Commercial Photographer; Best Art Photographer; Best Editorial Photographer; People’s Choice Award; and the grand prize, Best Overall Photographer.
In its first few years of existence, Projections has produced alumni who are gaining traction in the industry, both within Australia and around the world. Georgia Metaxas, a finalist in 2004, is now an established artist with a commercial career; Ingvar Kenne, also a finalist in 2004, was selected at the 2005 Cannes Lions as one of the hottest new talents worldwide and now has an international photographic career; Thor Engelstaadt, a finalist in both 2006 and 2007, won the Saatchi masterclass and shot a live campaign as a result; and Calista Lyon, Student of the Year in 2006 and finalist in 2007, is working on Academy Award winner Adam Elliott (Harvey Krumpet)’s new animation.
Tickets for the screenings in both cities are available from www.moshtix.com.au - and at only $25 a pop, you can afford to take the whole creative department.

John Singleton and former SO&M group managing director Andrew Varasdi have finally started their own agency, tipped to be named Banjo, with Allan 'Jo' Johnston also joining in the new venture. It appears Singo and Jo will both work on a part time basis when required.
The industry will no doubt be watching which clients come on board in the coming months.

Contiki's national marketing manager, Antony Arena gave Naked Communications, Sydney the brief to develop an idea to get 18-35 year olds excited about travel, and tap into their sense of spontaneous adventure, while demonstrating the ease of travelling with Contiki (specifically on their Europe Winter Tours).
The idea would need to live in Promoted Video placements on YouTube. The lead-time was one of the campaign’s greatest challenges - Naked had two weeks from the date of briefing to have the YouTube content up and running on the Contiki YouTube Channel .
As well as stimulating the demographics’ enthusiasm for travelling on a Contiki tour, the focus of the campaign was to make booking and taking a tour seem simple.
Spontaneity was key – both of the idea and in its execution. Naked Communications intern Gavin Chimes turned up for his first day on the job, only to be sent off, on the spot, to Europe for a 10-day Contiki trip, all completely unknown to him before hand. Although stunned by the news as he was presented with a pre-packed bag of clothes, his tickets and passport (which was attained earlier), Gavin accepted the challenge and is being accompanied to Europe by D Project Director Damon Cameron, who will shoot Gavin’s adventures across Europe.
The old routine of answering phones, doing coffee runs or picking up the boss’s dry cleaning on the first day at a new job was turned on its head, giving Gavin first-hand experience of the brand, while providing content which authentically captures the thrill of hitting the road on a whim, and how easy this is with Contiki. And giving Gavin the best first day on the job, ever.
Naked's idea captured the Contiki brand philosophy of 'Go Further' and combined it seamlessly with the campaign’s aims to inspire 18-35s to live life impulsively Naked worked with production company D Project to bring the idea to life.
Says Contiki’s National Marketing Manager Antony Arena: "We had a small window of opportunity to leverage the digital power of YouTube and needed a strategically led idea that could be executed on a tactical timeline. The best first day on the job idea is a perfect vehicle to inspire young Australians to take the plunge and travel with Contiki in Europe this winter."
Says Naked’s Executive Ideas Director Paul Swann: "The idea really captured the excitement of taking a Contiki Tour, we reckon it will inspire others to pick up the phone and book."

You can see footage of the whole thing unfold on the Contiki YouTube Channel

ADSHEL Create AWARD Craft will run again this year in Sydney part-time from Monday August 18th through to Saturday, August 23rd (Melbourne dates yet to be released). It will be led by AWARD Committee reps Michael Ritchie, Dejan Rasic, and Buzz Pringle and offers an incredible chance for new creatives to spend intimate time with the industry’s top talent.
Says Dejan Rasic, ECD of CRC Sydney (left): "AWARD Craft is a unique opportunity to learn from some of the most talented people our industry can offer. AWARD has lined up some brilliant speakers this year and students will be able to pick their brains on a range of subjects."
ADSHEL Create AWARD Craft takes the very best emerging talent - the top 12 students from News Limited AWARD School and agency juniors (13 places available) through a week long journey to further their creative thinking, and learn to craft a big idea.  Speakers this year include Mark Harricks, Matt Hayward, Nic Hodges, Graham Nunn, Buzz Pringle, Dejan Rasic, Innes Robbins, Gary Sheppard & James Wallis, Mark Stott and Anthony Xydis.
Some of the best craftsmen in the industry will come together to provide these students with a better understanding of great creative for outdoor, photography, re-touching, copywriting, design & typography, art direction, print production, direction, offline editing & telecine, flame compositing & visual effects, interactive and sound production for television and radio.
AWARD Craft is also kindly supported by AWARD Silver sponsors Cutting Edge, NetX, StellaRadio, and AWARD Bronze sponsors Sound Reservoir.

ONLY 13 PLACES AVAILABLE. Download the booking form:
CRAFTBOOKINGFORM08.pdfOr to register your interest please contact Hannah Morden at AWARD on 02 9699 2999 or email hannah@awardonline.com

30 second ad breaks during programmes such as the Biggest Loser, So You Think You Can Dance, Big Brother, Border Security and the 6pm News are causing massive carbon consequences according to TrinityP3, Australia’s leading independent marketing communications management consultants who have conducted an in-depth environmental audit on the advertising and marketing sector.
“Companies claiming carbon neutrality should ensure they also include the impact of their marketing and advertising initiatives, which produce significant carbon emissions, to avoid any accusation of Greenwashing," said Darren Woolley (pictured), managing director of TrinityP3.
“TrinityP3 is currently formalising a standard carbon footprint measurement of advertising.  This is the first measurement on the impact of advertisements in the world and we will be speaking on our methodology at an international conference in Boston in October.
“Most companies have been obliged to think through their strategies on reducing carbon emissions and they need to remember that their marketing strategies do have an environmental impact that needs to be included.  This is not something that is easily able to be measured.
“Reality Television is interesting as the more viewers and voters that tune in, the higher the carbon footprint.  The more people vote, the more it adds tothe CO2 in the atmosphere.
“When Big Brother launched in Australia in 2001, advertising in the program contributed over 1200kg of CO2 into the environment.  By series eight this year, the decreasing number of viewers decreased its carbon footprint by 50%.
“However, the Biggest Loser is the biggest loser on the environment with a massive 57 tonnes of CO2 per hour produced by the advertising that ran during the final."
To assess the current environmental impact your marketing and advertising activities hold visit www.trinityP3.com.au
 

IBM research reveals Vegemite is the world’s most loved brand on the internet.
 
According to the internet, Russell Crowe loves his with tomato, Miranda Kerr enjoys hers with avocado, while Dannii Minogue says it’s the perfect hangover cure.
And it seems that it’s not just Aussie and New Zealand celebrities that are falling in love with Vegemite; the whole world is - with new IBM research revealing the black spread made down under is the world’s most loved brand on the internet.
Move over global mega brands Coca-Cola, Nike and Starbucks, when it comes to worldwide online users searching brand names and commenting on brand appeal, Vegemite tops the lot.
The research analysed 1.5 billion posts across 38 languages within social networking sites, blogs, message boards, and online news. The results discovered 479,206 mentions for Vegemite, with brand affinity found more often than any other product globally. The research also revealed some other remarkable findings, uncovering the plethora of individual ways people eat their Vegemite.
It appears developing your own Vegemite technique is a national, and now an international pastime – everyone has their own way of eating it. Without realising, you could be an Edger, Dunker or perhaps even a Wormer.
On the back of the IBM research, Kraft has undertaken some preliminary research into the way people enjoy Vegemite. At this early stage, according to more than 1,000 Kraft employees, it appears that there are three core ways people eat Vegemite, Streaker (38%), Slapper (13%), & Nudist (10%). There are another nine or so styles which are prominentt, however, Kraft know that there are thousands more ways that people enjoy it and they want to know how Vegemite makes the nation tick.
Can the way you eat your Vegemite actually reflect your personality type?
Are you a ‘Slapper’? Perhaps this is someone who is loose with the way they apply their Vegemite, and slaps it on like a brickie with a trowel. If so, this could indicate you are particularly disorganised, or in a hurry to eat breakfast and relish in the fact every mouthful is a surprise. Or are you at the other end of the scale, known as a ‘Streaker’, and prefer just a couple of light streaks of Vegemite?  If this is you, perhaps you don’t realise you can never have too much of a good thing.
IBM has started the research, but now it’s time for Vegemite eaters to decide – How Do You Like Your Vegemite? Let the nation know at www.howdoyoulikeyourvegemite.com.au. The results of which will provide Australia with the Vegemite Census 2008 – the ultimate way to consume your Vegemite.

VIEW THE COMMERCIALS
Move aside ‘Happy Little Vegemites’, the Kamen Brothers have lifted the lid on the bizarre underground world of the many strange ways people spread their Vegemite in a new campaign that asks Australians, “How do you like your Vegemite? Are you a Wormer, a Streaker or a Slapper?" Written by Scott Glennon and art directed by Keith Nicolas from JWT Melbourne, the two spots are a bold parody of the 'educational film' format. Seven sets were designed, built and then shot over two days in a studio allowing for a visual style that plays homage to cringe worthy cult-comedy series such as 'Look Around You' and 'Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace Hospital'. All in a day’s work for young director Matt Kamen and producer Chris Kamen as these new spots add to their burgeoning reel of performance comedy, bold casting and kooky set design.
View the the SALLY TVC and BERNARD TVC
Speaking from somewhere off the coast of Australia on The Guild’s company yacht ‘White Pony’ director Matt Kamen said: “It’s been a real privilege to work with Keith and Scotty at JWT on such a universally loved Aussie brand, and even better that the client took a leap of faith by allowing us to bring Vegemite into a new space it hasn’t been before."
Says JWT Melbourne creative director, Richard Muntz: “Internationally recognised symbol, synonymous with the Aussie flag, ubiquitous staple found in every kitchen cupboard: could you up Australians' attachment to the Vegemite brand? Thankfully our task was to do a job on consumption.  Unique as it is, we found within the cult of Vegemite exists a series of subcultures; the edgers, the avocadoers. Holding a nation-wide Census posing a simple question ‘How do you like your Vegemite?’ is an open invitation to every Australian to experiment and then make public the way they Vegemite. Don't knock Vegemite pizza until you've tried it."
 
HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR VEGEMITE? PERSONALITY REFLECTIONS
The Edger Always very particular about their Vegemite, they like it spread right to the crust. Probably has a very neat kitchen too. Somewhat of a perfectionist.
The Streaker Doesn’t like having much on. Vegemite, that is. Gives the toast just a couple of light streaks of Vegemite. Too frugal, they don’t realize you can never have too much of a good thing.
The Vegecadoer Health fanatic, this person thinks the saying ‘eat your greens’ means with every meal. So, their morning slice of Vegemite toast gets adorned with creamy slivers of fresh avocado. Probably jogs a half marathon in the morning too. These people tend to inspire jealousy.
The Dunker Cuts Vegemite toast into soldiers which are then lowered slowly into a hot and gooey pool of boiled googie-egg. Once they’re nicely coated in yellowy goodness, the soldiers are sent to meet their maker. This person may have a wicked sense of humour.
The Wormer Can’t grow up. Still likes watching the squiggly Vegemite worms appear through the holes in the Premium biscuits. Playful characters, these people squeeze the most out of life.
The Slapper Loose with the way they apply their Vegemite, it’s slapped on like a brickie with a trowel. Could indicate this person is particularly disorganised, probably shows they’re just in a hurry to eat breakfast. They relish the fact that every mouthful is a surprise.
The Tiger Toaster Not quite on the endangered list, but still not a lot of them about. They love strips of bubbling, grilled cheese layered over their Vegemite. Very organised and patient, they are prepared to lay in wait for their meal. Like a tiger.
The Nudist The purist of all Vegemite eaters. No butter. No marg. Just a piece of toast and the world’s mightiest spread. What more do you need? They are Zen-like and remain calm under pressure.
The Crumpeter Saying ‘no’ to convention, they prefer crumpets over toast. Likes to watch black holes forming as the Vegemite melts away into the crumpet’s craters. Definitely likes to think outside the square.
The Philly®Mite Worldly types, these people marry the creamy richness of Philadelphia Cream Cheese with good ol’ Aussie Vegemite to create an extravagant taste combination. Like to indulge themselves.
The Redback Can’t decide whether they want a salad or breakfast, Redback eaters do both with a couple of sweet, juicy tomato slices on their Vegemite toast. Not wanting to miss out on anything, they go for both sweet and savoury.
The Scrambler This person greets the new day with a big, golden pillow of deliciously fluffy scrambled egg placed ever so lovingly next to two triangles of Vegemite toast for a melt in the mouth taste sensation. Scrambled by name, not by nature.

Meet the hottest new creative talent in Melbourne at the News Limited AWARD School 25th Anniversary & Graduation Party, The Apartment Bar, Little Burke Street, Melbourne. 6.30pm on Wednesday 6th August 2008.
 
On Wednesday August 6th News Limited and AWARD will showcase an exhibition of the best work from the 2008 Melbourne AWARD School graduates, announce the top students and celebrate the School’s 25th Anniversary.
For over 25 years AWARD School has nurtured the creatives of tomorrow. While embracing major developments in technology and media, AWARD School still continues to focus on the most important thing, the idea.
Says Ray Black (left, at the Sydney graduation), founder of AWARD School: “Congratulations to all those past AWARD School students who gained from it the knowledge and confidence to go on and become some of our most talented Art Directors, Writers and Creative Directors. Some graduates are now international creative stars. For 25 years AWARD School has given those who felt the calling the chance to get on that first rung of the creative ladder. Its results should give encouragement to those who are thinking of taking that first step. AWARD School would not have survived for 25
years without the dedication, commitment and belief in the idea by all those senior creatives who continue to freely give so much of their time and talent as tutors. Many of them are AWARD School graduates. Let’s also not forget the successive AWARD committees who quietly labored late into the night to help make it happen."
Free door passes will be allocated to students, tutors, lecturers, past students, AWARD members and judges but if you wish to attend one of the biggest industry events of the year, a very limited number of tickets can be purchased for non members. Please contact Hannah Morden at AWARD on 02 9699 2999.

Download the Booking Form:
VICGradbooking2008.pdf

The 2008 Caxton Awards Call for Entry is closing on Friday 1 August (no extensions).
It’s easy to get your entries in on time! Entries can be completed and uploaded using the online entry system, thanks to sponsor AdStream. Simply complete your details, upload the artwork and submit your entry. Visit www.thecaxtonawards.com.au and follow the prompts.
To be eligible to enter, ads must have appeared in Australia and/or New Zealand newspapers between 1 July 2007 and 30 June 2008. A full list of categories can be viewed on the Caxton Awards website.
Winners and finalists will be acknowledged at the annual Caxton Weekend seminar being held 24-26 October. Now in its 34th year, this year’s weekend venue is the beautiful Sea Temple Resort in tropical Port Douglas.
Bookings are now open – the registration form can be downloaded from the Caxton website: www.thecaxtonawards.com.au .
For all Caxton Awards inquiries contact Jacinta Mann at Two de Force on +61 2 9281 8788 or email jacinta@twodeforce.com.au

Tooheys New last night aired the second instalment in its new campaign, For the Love of Great Beer Ideas. Following on from the launch TVC, which centred on the spirit of the innovative Tooheys brothers, the second phase announces the chosen beer idea – the Beer Relay.
Based on the premise that the coldest beer on Earth should be shared with the rest of the Earth, Tooheys New is taking its SuperCold schooner across the globe.
Developed by Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney, the Beer Relay execution opens with a 30 second teaser TVC before a series of five 60 second TVCs follow the sacred SuperCold beer from New York to Madrid to Cape Town - and everywhere in between. See the New York spot.
The Beer Relay executions celebrate Australia’s love of beer, and pride in the Tooheys brand, according to Brett Grebert, Lion Nathan Category Director: “Since the launch of the Great Beer Ideas campaign we have had a raft of feedback from consumers about the Beer Relay, and Australians feeling we should be sharing our great-tasting, SuperCold product with the rest of the world," said Grebert.
“The Beer Relay is a great way to celebrate great ideas in beer and introduces Australian Tooheys New drinkers to a few unique Tooheys fans from around the world," he said.   
Viewers can preview the Beer Relay journey, meet the lucky runners and access exclusive footage online at www.fortheloveofbeer.com.au.
The second phase of the brand website also includes an interactive area for consumers to sketch their own great beer ideas online, for the chance to have them printed on Tooheys New beer coasters.
A dedicated mobile number - 040TOOHEYS – also captures consumer suggestions and feedback, while Myne technology featuring the number 199 IDEAS will be available in the coming weeks.
“A core component of the Great Beer Ideas campaign has been the interaction with Tooheys New drinkers, and we want that to continue. We’ve had literally thousands of ideas and comments submitted online and via SMS, and look forward to hearing what they have to say about this epic Beer Relay journey," said Grebert.
Says Saatchi & Saatchi creative director, Dave Bowman: “It’s been such a great project to work on as the finished product really doesn’t feel like an ad. I think the Aussie beer drinkers will appreciate that too."
The Beer Relay teaser aired last night and footage from the first leg of the journey (New York) is now online. A new episode will launch from a different continent each Sunday.
The Beer Relay component forms part of the For the Love of Great Beer Ideas campaign, and will be supported by free to air and pay TV, online, outdoor, radio, SMS and QR mobile technology and press. The first TVC launched nationally on Wednesday 11 June.

Adweek in the US reports that JWT worldwide CD Craig Davis is set to return to Australia next year, for family reasons, after 10 hugely successful years away. Testament to Davis's creative leadership is the fact that JWT won 39 Lions at Cannes this year, ranking it the fourth most-awarded network at the festival - a vast improvement on when he assumed the worldwide role in January 2005, when the network was not even on the radar at Cannes.

After six years at 70 George Street, two of Saatchi & Saatchi's favourite sons, Matt Gilmour and Anthony Moss, are off to join Crispin Porter & Bogusky in Boulder, Colorado. The inseparable duo did their bit in helping the agency to many prestigious titles during their stay.

Check out this article in yesterday's Sydney Morning Herald...

GPY&R Brisbane has lured award winning senior art director, David Joubert from TBWA\Hunt Lascaris in South Africa, where he worked as a creative group head on Standard Bank, Nissan and Diageo.
Prior to joining Hunt Lascaris he worked at Leo Burnett Singapore, one of the region’s most awarded agencies, on McDonalds, Tiger Beer, Sony, Honda and Prudential. His work has been recognized at Cannes, Clio and The One Show.
Says GPY&R creative director, Tim Green: "Dave is a great talent, one of those people who is always looking for a new angle on things and he understands the power of a simple truth. He’s done great work in South Africa and Asia on world class brands, we know he’ll crash out the same quality here for us."
Says Joubert: “I’m always up for a new challenge and this is one I am really looking forward too."
Green said that Joubert will team up with senior copywriter and former McCanns CD, Andrew Thompson and would work on Suncorp, Telstra, Energex and Asia Pacific Breweries.
Joubert starts at the agency in early August,

RazorJunior, Sydney has created a 45 sec viral spot for Animals Australia. It’s all about the fact that pigs have the intelligence of a three year old child, yet they are subjected to horrific practices by the pork industry.



 

Creative Director: Josh Moore
Copywriter: Nigel Clark
Art Director: Josh Moore
Agency Producer: Liz Coleman
Account Manager: Miss Becky Brown
Production Company: Deep Animation, New Zealand
Animator: Jeff Smith
Sound Design: Nylon Studios

George Patterson Y&R Melbourne has recently fine tuned their creative line up with the appointment of four new creative staff: Evan Roberts joins from FCB Melbourne as a senior writer. He has teamed up with Paul Meates, who has returned from London. Francis Web has come over from Leo Burnett and will work with Vanilla Stener who had a stint at JWT Sydney after completing Crispin Porter's Miami Ad School last year.
Says George Patts Mebourne ECD, Ben Coulson: "These are four freak'n good people with a stack of motivation and their careers in front of them. I think they will get their heads down and deliver awesome stuff. The appointment has paid off immediately on the hygiene standards around the place. Jim & Cuz have even started wearing clean t-shirts every day, and that's good for us all.
"We will soon be announcing appointments in digital creative and strategy. We're also looking to hot-up our design dept and are looking for a 'craft master / head of design'. If you might be the person, give us a call."

A huge crowd rolled up last night to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the News Limited AWARD School, at The Loft, Sydney.
Hosted by the original founder of the course, Ray Black (with red shirt in both pics) and AWARD Chairman, Richard Maddocks (far left in both pics), the evening was an opportunity for the industry's top creatives, students, sponsors and media to gather and view the best selection of student work.
Richard Maddocks presented Ray Black with a black AWARD pencil in honor of him as the founder of AWARD School, and for his ongoing commitment and contribution to AWARD in general. Black continues to lead AWARD CopySchool each year.
The top Student Award for Sydney went to Michael Hughes (centred in top pic), who will now go forward for national judging against top students from all other states. These winners will be announced in coming weeks. The overall winner will receive a free trip to the Caxton Awards courtesy of News Limited.
Second place went to Nathan Willdig, and third place to Adam Ledbury.
These students, along with remaining top 10 (pictured in bottom pic) -  Denny Jones, Korakot Koneaw, Yohan Mirkin, Alex Quinlivan, Anna Short, Neil Walshe, and Corey Yung - are eligible to join the ADSHEL Create AWARD Craft program in August this year. This six-day intensive workshop will be lead by AWARD Committee members Dejan Rasic, Michael Ritchie and Buzz Pringle.
AWARD will also offer the AWARD Mentor program to the top 11-22 students: Ben Alden, Matthew Arbon, Aly Clarke, Sebastian Dante, Lauren Houseman, John Jordan, Belinda Kruse, Cameron Martin, Anna O’Donoughue, George Organ, Ashley Purrington and Danny Whebe.
The judging panel responsible for selection of the top students and the ‘work on the wall’ consisted of Kieran Antill (Leo Burnett Sydney), Paul Bruce and Nils Eberhardt (BMF), Tim Cairns, Tim Green and Adam Rose (DDB Sydney), Luke Crethar (The Glue Society), Alex Derwin (Clemenger BBDO Sydney), Darryn Devlin (Kastner & Partners), Mark Lees (Evocatif), and Ben O’Brien and Jason Ross (JWT).
News Limited AWARD School will host its Melbourne Graduation party on August 6th, 2008.
For further information, including registration for the 2009 program, contact Hannah at AWARD on +61 2 9699 2999 or hannah@awardonline.com

VIEW ALL THE AWARD GRADUATION PICS.

The city of Melbourne was confronted this morning with a contr