Just weeks after winning the Victorian Government's Problem Gambling account, JWT Melbourne has launched a new campaign.  The work is the first in a three phase strategy designed to minimise the harms associated with problem gambling.
"The campaign is a seismic shift of tact and tone for the Victorian Government's problem gambling initiative.  In the pitch process, the client made the brave move of abandoning the 'Think of what you're really gambling with' line - a feature of previous campaigns for several years,"  said Richard Muntz, ECD of JWT Melbourne.   
Copywriter John Skaro said the ads "concentrate on the importance of family and friendships and try to offer a ray of measurable hope rather than depicting the usual guilt mongering trail of emotional and financial destruction."  
The TVCs are part of a fully-integrated campaign that includes print, radio, in-venue advertising and digital mediums. Each channel delivers a compelling message about the effectiveness of Gambler’s Help which in turn
encourages help seeking behaviour.  
The campaign’s next phase will focus on promoting support services, risk awareness and responsible gambling and will be brought to life during 2009. 

VIEW THE 'SON' SPOT
VIEW THE 'MATE' SPOT

Agency: JWT Melbourne
Creative Director: Richard Muntz
Copywriter: John Skaro
Art Director: Roger Nance
Agency Producers: Lisa Ramsey and Pip Heming
Director: Craig Maclean
Producer: Helene Nicol
DoP: Graeme Wood
Music: Cezary Skubiszewski
Post: MRPPP
Sound: Risk Sound

Single Nonvoter Tipped Election To McCain-Palin Ticket. See the video

The recent interactive outdoor campaign for the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home, created by M&C Saatchi / Mark, Sydney and designed and animated by Sixty40, successfully raised the bar for generating donations and increased awareness for the charity. Using a twist on current technology, the Throw us a Bone campaign created a new, innovative and fun way for the public to have a real-time interaction with a live outdoor advertisement.
By tapping into people’s enjoyment of downloading content to their mobile phones, M&C Saatchi / Mark came up with a cool way to reward people with branded entertainment for donating to charity.
Designed by Sixty40, Frankie the Wonder Dog was the star of the campaign as his playful and action-packed antics urged people to donate, in exchange for an immediate reward of one of his 8 animated sequences downloaded as wallpaper to their mobile phone. From juggling chainsaws to a matrix inspired martial arts sequence, Frankie did it all.
Passers-by would text their name to a campaign number, to throw a virtual bone onto the screen for Frankie. As he grabbed the bone, the donor’s name appeared on screen and Frankie performed one of his amazing stunts. The donor then received an animated GIF of Frankie’s trick as wallpaper for their mobile phone, and $5 was deducted from their phone account, proceeds from which went to the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home.
To see the outdoor campaign in action click on this link: SDCH Campaign in Action
 
Results
In just 3 days, from 1 – 3 October, this innovative interactive campaign in the forecourt of Customs House Circular Quay, generated:
$6634 in donations = 1327 bones thrown
17.4% of people donated two or more times
600% increase in new volunteers
25% of dogs needing a home adopted
Over $150,000 in free exposure from Optus, JCDecaux, Fairfax, News Limited and Inspire.
Estimated ROI 349%
 
Next Steps
Frankie is currently in talks with children’s book publishers
This summer he will be heading to the big screen to seduce cinema goers with the tagline “Before you turn off your phone, throw us a bone."
 
Client: The Sydney Dogs and Cats Home       
Online: www.sydneydogsandcatshome.org
Agency: M&CSaatchi/Mark, Sydney
Executive Creative Director:  Ben Welsh
Creative Director: Gavin McLeod
Head of Copy: Hamish Stewart
Copywriter: Genevieve Hoey
Art Director: Hannes Ciatti
Account Management: Kirsty Smith, Megan Wooding,Fiona Reay, Lee Bachar-Adler
Technical Director: Aaron Wallis
Production: Grant Glover
Production Company: Sixty40
Design Director: Mark Simpson                         
Animation Director: Matthew Taylor 
Producer: Cheryl Warbrook
 
All creative, advertising, technical and venue partners for this project contributed their time and resources free of charge. These include: M&C Saatchi/Mark (concept, campaign management and execution), Sixty40 (cutting edge animations), Moxi (sound design), Inspire Screens (outdoor screen and technical support), Tigerspike (SMS delivery), Access PR (consumer PR), JCDecaux (outdoor signage), McMillan (print production),Optus (screen sponsor), Hire Intelligence (technical support) and Customs House / City of Sydney (venue hire and PR support).

Quit Victoria, via The Campaign Palace, Melbourne, wanted to convince parents that if they continue to smoke, they risk losing something just as precious as their health.
VIEW THE SPOT

Agency: The Campaign Palace, Melbourne.
Creatives: The Campaign Palace, Melbourne.
Director: Sean Meehan.
Production Company: Soma Films.

Almost 250 judges have now been confirmed for the D&AD Awards 2009, with the advertising & digital juries announced today. Rewarding the best creative work in the world across 29 different disciplines in advertising and design, judges from 22 countries (including Australia and NZ) will gather in London in April 2009 (20-24) in search of creative excellence.  Agencies, studios and creatives can now enter their work to be judged by some of the best creative minds in the world.
As previously reported by CB, Mike O'Sullivan, ECD of Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand will be heading the Ambient jury, while two other kiwis have also been invited to judge - Steve McKenzie, ECD of Publicis Mojo, who's on the Integrated jury and Guy Roberts, CD of TBWA\Whybin, who's on the Press Advertising jury.
Aussies invited include Ralph Van Dijk (top left), managing director of Eardrum, Sydney, who chairs the Radio jury, Dejan Rasic (top right), ECD of CRC Sydney, who's on the Integrated jury, Andy DiLallo (middle left), joint ECD of Leo Burnett Sydney, who's on the Poster Advertising jury, Gavin McLeod (middle right), creative director at Mark, Sydney who's on the Direct jury, Julian Melhuish (above left), creative director at Saatchi & Saatchi Design, Sydney, who's on the Typography jury and Mark Ashley-Wilson (above right), Digital CD of Three Drunk Monkeys Sydney, who's on the Websites jury.
Several Aussie expats will also be judging, including Andy Law, Richard Bullock and Danny Higgins.
Further information on how to enter, along with biographies of jury members can be found at www.dandad.org/awards09
Eligible entries will be accepted until 21 January 2009. Work entered before 19 November will receive a 10% discount.  The winners will be announced on June 11 at the Roundhouse in London.

Lion Nathan is launching a new advertising campaign for Australia’s largest mid-strength brand, XXXX GOLD. The XXXX GOLD Boat Building Project, developed in partnership with BMF Sydney, launches tonight and spells the end for the long running ‘Jacko’ campaign which supported the brand for more than eight years. 
The new campaign will feature 12 new characters, three groups of mates, each coming together on a project: building a boat. The campaign is based on the insight of ‘man time’ – busy men taking time out of their work and home lives to come together and spend real time with their mates, working together on a project.
“Jacko, his dog Marlin and their mates have served the XXXX GOLD brand extremely well, but in ensuring the brand evolves, we decided it was time to retire the boys on a high note and introduce new groups of mates, as well a new concept of mates coming together and building something," said Brett Grebert, Mainstream Marketing Director, Lion Nathan.
“We credit Jacko and the boys for helping Lion Nathan forge a buoyant mid-strength category, as well as turning XXXX GOLD from a Queensland brew into one of Australia’s most popular beers nationally, and we are confident this new campaign will continue that success, says Grebert.
XXXX GOLD, which launched in 1991 and grew quickly to become Queensland’s leading beer, is now Australia’s second largest brand and retains almost 60 per cent share and market leadership of the mid-strength category. 
According to Warren Brown, Executive Creative Director, BMF and founding agency partner to the XXXX brand, the Jacko campaign resonated well with the target market and endured great staying power: "Jacko and the boys starred in more than 30 TVCs since launching in 2000, making the campaign one of the longest running and most successful of the past two decades. People related to Jacko and his mates and they became celebrities in their own right, which rarely happens with a TV campaign. 
“We’re confident that Australians will appreciate the same great humour and enjoy the good times experienced by the new XXXX GOLD characters, and will hopefully be inspired to create their own project with their group of mates.”
The 60 second launch TVC, will go to air tonight and introduces the new characters, with one group lamenting that in a ready-made, flat-packed world, they never get the chance to create anything from scratch. For different reasons, all three groups resolve to start a project - to build a boat - and every few weeks a new 30 second supporting spot will launch, charting each group’s progress. 
The XXXX GOLD Boat Building Project will be supported by print, PR, as well as a consumer website and Youtube channel developed by Holler Sydney. Consumers are directed to search online for xxxxgoldboat.

VIEW THE SPOT 
VIEW THE WEBSITE
 
Agency: BMF
Executive Creative Director: Warren Brown 
Creative Director: Simon Langley
Planning Director: Jeremy Nicholas
Writer/Art Director: Paul Bruce 
Strategy Planner: Simon McCrudden
Production Company: Orange Whip Films
Director: Simon MacRae 
Producer: Alex Mooney 
Group Account Director: Lisa Ramsey
Account Director: Patrick Cahill
Account Manager: Esther Knox

Website Development:
Agency: Holler Sydney 
 

17 Caxtons for Excellence in Newspaper Advertising were awarded tonight at a gala event at the Sea Temple Resort at Port Douglas during the 2008 Caxton Seminar.
Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney was awarded the prestigious Quinlivan Black Award for the Foxtel/National Geographic Channel 'Sir Edmund Hillary' newspaper campaign.
The Quinlivan Black Award is chosen each year by the Chairman of Judges for one ad or campaign that he feels is best overall for that year.
Says Caxton Awards Chairman of Judges Paul Catmur from Barnes, Catmur & Friends, Auckland: “The Caxton judging was friendly, well mannered and considered which usually means either the work was rather average or that judges didn't have any of their own work entered. Neither turned out to be the case and while there may not have been too many actual 'balltearers', we left the room with plenty of scratches around the scrotum - apart from Michelle Galluzzo from M&C.  We saw some really nice ads and importantly, some really nice newspaper ads.
"International print award shows are judged by who got away with best scams so it was good to see some real work surface every now and again. I believe we have some really deserving Caxtons and a good spread of work to uphold the tradition of the awards."
Commenting on the Caxton Award winners this year, Caxton Chairman Rob Belgiovane from BWM Sydney said:  “It is encouraging to see the quality of work has improved this year. This year 17 Caxtons were awarded – up from just 12 last year – which is a reflection of better creative standards in our newspaper advertising.
“It’s been a good year overall for Australian print advertising, as we also performed well at the Cannes International Advertising Festival. Let’s hope the industry continues to take risks to make decent press ads that actually work!"
The  2008 Caxton Awards for excellence in newspaper advertising saw 74 finalists across 26 categories, with the number of entries up by 10 per cent on last year. 
Finalist nominations were hotly contested with Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney securing 12 finalists, M&C Saatchi Sydney 8 finalists, Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand 7 finalists, Clemenger BBDO Adelaide 6 finalists, BMF Sydney with 5 and JWT Sydney and The Campaign Palace with 4 nominations each. 
Download the Caxton Supplement:
CAXTON 2008 low-res.pdf
The 2008 Caxton Weekend Seminar and Awards was held at the Sea Temple Resort, Port Douglas from 24 -26 October, 2008. 

Check this video out. Good for a laugh on a Thursday arvo.

The AWARD Awards Presentation Evening & Cocktail Party will be held on Thursday, November 27th at The Overseas Passenger Terminal Sydney.
Following a successful two weeks of judging, the event will celebrate the winners from the 350 finalists of the most outstanding work in creative communication across Australasia.
“It’s never been easy to win at AWARD and this year’s proven even more difficult. But that’s a good thing. With 700 more entries and some of the toughest judges in the region led by Chairman of Judges David Nobay, only the very best work has made it through," says AWARD Chairman Richard Maddocks, ECD of Clemenger BBDO, Sydney (pictured). “It promises to be a great night celebrating the very best work in Asia Pacific."
The coveted awards; AWARD Agency of The Year, AWARD Client of The Year, AWARD Network of The Year and the Bob Isherwood Encouragement Award will also be announced.
Tickets include the pre-presentation cocktail party, AWARD Awards theatre presentation and cocktail party, and after-party.
AWARD Member tickets are $200+ GST, and AWARD Non-Member tickets are $250 + GST. This is always a sell out event so don’t leave it to the last minute to book.
Contact Hannah at AWARD (hannah@awardonline.com), telephone +61 2 9699 2999 or download the
AWARD 2008 booking form.pdf.  

Highly awarded senior writer Michael Canning has been lured from BMF Sydney to Leo Burnett Sydney.
At BMF Canning worked on integrated campaigns for brands including Ski, Hahn and most recently the ‘TED696 Project’ for Tooheys Extra Dry. Prior to BMF Canning worked at Lowe Hunt Sydney, where he co-created the multi-award winning Lynxjet campaign.
Says Canning: "At BMF I was lucky to work with great people on a lot of different brands. Leo Burnett is an agency doing really exciting work that I’ve always admired, and the chance to be part of the team under Andy and Jay’s direction was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down."
Adds Dilallo and Benjamin: “The next step in world domination has been taken."

Nigel Marsh, chief executive of Y&R Brands has confirmed publicly for the first time that Matt McGrath, executive chairman of Y&R Brands, has left George Patterson Y&R.
Marsh (pictured) told CB: "Matt has been a total gentleman during the process of handing over the business. He's welcome to stay as long as he likes. However, he has decided to take a break from the business before pursuing fresh opportunities in the New Year."
Marsh would give no further comment.

The new-look Melbourne Advertising and Design Club (MADC) committee was unveiled at the handover meeting recently, with a new President and Vice announced for the 2008/09 year. As previously reported, the new MADC President is Christy Peacock (left) who is Senior Regional Creative/ Head of Art from Publicis Mojo and will be ably assisted by the MADC Vice, Richard Ralphsmith (below left), Deputy Creative Director of Clemenger Harvey Edge (CHE). Christy explained the MADC needed to encourage membership and, moving forward, will aim to do that by creating a club that celebrates and nurtures the great creative work here in Victoria. “This year we’ve increased numbers on the Committee to 14 because we believe there’s a much bigger job to do. Previous years have had a total of four sub-committees, made up from people in the main committee, this year we have added two more sub committees to the list," he said. “We plan to implement an education programme for members of the MADC that currently work in the industry. We also aim to develop an online communication tool that will enable us to communicate with our members better."
The committee now includes:
Christy Peacock, Senior Regional Creative – Publicis Mojo
Richard Ralphsmith, Deputy Creative Director - CHE
Lachie Dunn, Creative Director – Bruni Dunn Advertising
Nick Cummins, Creative Director – Sputnik Agency
Erin Gallagher, Creative Director – Simon Richards
Jen Chin, Senior Account Manager – The Campaign Palace
Stuart Crossett, Photographer – Stuart Crossett Photography
Annie Price, Creative Director – The Foundry
Nick Condon, Managing Director – DDB Melbourne
Mick Bakos, Senior Art Director – DraftFCB
Frank Trobbiani, Art Director - Marmalade
Corey Esse, Head of TV – Publicis Mojo
Dave Klein, Head of Art – Leo Burnett
During the evening, the MADC Committee said goodbye to former MADC President James Procter, former MADC Club Manager Nicole Rose, Andrew Paoli, Brendon Guthrie, Jason Williams and Mel Herbert.
The Melbourne Advertising and Design Club is one of Australia's oldest advertising creative organisations having been established in Victoria in 1955, with members including people from the professional and creative hubs of Melbourne. Today, the MADC has around 500 members composed primarily of advertising and design professionals and associated organisations.
For further information visit www.madc.com.au or contact Katherine White at the MADC on 03 9645 6550 or info@madc.com.au.

Westfield opened the doors of its highly anticipated luxury flagship centre, Doncaster Westfield, on October 16 in Melbourne. It marke a new level of world-class boutique retail experience never before seen in Australia. To mark this occasion, director Ben Briand of Cherub Pictures, working with M&C Saatchi Sydney, shot the new Westfield TVC for cinema and television entitled Passion, creating a rich narrative representation of this sophisticated experience. 
Briand has also directed the Telstra TVC 'The Feeling of Free' and the twice awarded Ballantine Soccer Can TVC.  He also wrote and directed Hammer Bay – winner of the 2007 Optus ONE80Project and the first drama to be commissioned by MTV.

VIEW THE COMMERCIAL

Anthony Freedman, founder and CEO of agency Host, has been appointed to the national board of the Advertising Federation of Australia with special responsibility for AFA AdSchool.
Host, founded eight years ago in Sydney, attribute part of their unique culture and successful business model to the focus on in-house training academy and mentoring program.
“It seemed logical therefore," Freedman said, “that I would see the special value professional development delivers for our industry and offer my services as Chair of the AFA Professional Training Board."
His appointment to the Training Board - replacing Jim Moser after his move to New Zealand - signals the start of a new era for AFA AdSchool. It coincides with the appointment of Linda Anderson (pictured with Freedman), who has worked with the AFA for the past three years and in training the last 12 months as Professional Training Manager. 
AFA AdSchool was established in 1991 and last year gained Government Accreditation in NSW as an Institution of Higher Education. Not only is it the only academically recognized national industry training program for people working in the advertising and marketing communication industry; but a core business of the AFA. AdSchool delivers courses to close to a thousand marketing communications professionals a year. 
Says Freedman: “This is a great opportunity to nurture and educate tomorrow’s communications professionals and it’s my opportunity to make a real difference on behalf of the broader industry."
For further information please contact Anthony Freedman at Host on (02) 9281 0333 or Mark Champion at the AFA on (02) 8297 3802.
 

The International ANDY Awards, known for a superb, top-level caliber of the best senior creative talent in the world, has once again compiled its jury for 2009, headed by Mark Waites, Joint Creative Director/Founding Partner of Mother London (pictured left). The jury includes two world class Aussie expats, Dave Droga (pictured below left)) and Richard Bullock. The ANDYs have been progressively strengthening its global credentials with more international judges and interesting overseas venues for Final Judging. In the past two years, judging has taken place in Buenos Aires and Sydney; next February the jury’s destination will be Riviera Maya, Mexico.
Of the 24 judges, almost half are from international markets, including the U.K., India, Tokyo, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Shanghai, Bangkok and Paris. Waites has gone on record by opining that this year’s jury is “the best jury in the world, determining which is the best work in the world… and all subsequent shows will be listening."

The 2009 jury
Chairman -- Mark Waites, Mother, London
Richard Bullock, 180 Amsterdam, Amsterdam  
Mike Byrne, Anomaly, New York
Susan Credle, BBDO New York
David Droga, Droga5, New York
Marie-Catherine Dupuy, TBWA\Paris
Pete Favat, Arnold Worldwide, Boston
Jeff Goodby, Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco
Gerry Graf, Saatchi & Saatchi, New York
Tony Granger, Y&R, New York
Bob Greenberg, R/GA, New York
Prasoon Joshi, McCann Erickson, India
Andrew Keller, Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Boulder
Carol Lam, TBWA\Shanghai  
Jose Mollá, la comunidad, Miami
Ty Montague, JWT New York
Bob Moore, Publicis USA
Hiroki Nakamura, DENTSU Inc., Tokyo
Piyush Pandey, Ogilvy & Mather, India
Bob Scarpelli, DDB Worldwide, New York
Roger Stighäll, North Kingdom, Stockholm  
Feh Tarty, Wieden+Kennedy, London
Jureeporn Thaidumrong, JEH United, Bangkok
Mark Tutssel, Leo Burnett Worldwide, Chicago
Oliver Voss, Jung von Matt, Hamburg  
Simon Waterfall, Poke, London

The International ANDY Awards, the first show of the creative awards season, has been long been the predictor of subsequent winners of other shows. With both a track record to prove this, the ANDY jury believes this leadership position gives the ANDYs a unique edge, the message is being reinforced as part of the Show’s 2009 marketing strategy. The ANDY ad campaign, call-for-entry mailers and other materials, all handled by Mother London, will be breaking in late October.
“The ANDYs hold the distinction of not only being the first show of the awards season but the barometer of who will take home top honors from other competitions, making it ‘the place to be’ if a creative wants recognition for work that’s setting a standard," says Mark Waites, ANDY Chairman and Joint Creative Director/Founding Partner of Mother London. “Being first to announce ‘the best of the best’ has an undeniable influence on subsequent shows; we have seen this proven time and again, making it due time for the ANDYs to claim that role."
In addition to the Show’s brand positioning, a new category called Category Next, sponsored by Contagious magazine, has been added to the call-for-entry listings. Category Next provides a fresh new option for agencies to submit work reflecting outstanding innovative creative in any medium that has generated interest and buzz and  is setting the tone for how the industry moves into the future. If a campaign doesn’t fit into any other category, Category Next is the place it belongs: it is the category of the “new".
According to Waites, Category Next is another example of how the ANDYs are growing and expanding, ensuring a platform for ground-breaking creative in the industry. “Nothing stays still in our industry. We are seeing ideas now that couldn’t have existed a few years ago, and awards shows need to reflect this and reward innovation, “ he says. “As imaginative, fearless creatives continue to push the scope of approach, medium and delivery, the ANDYs wanted to guarantee a place for showing -- and judging -- truly inspired work. We’re very excited about Category Next and look forward to seeing the submissions we receive in this category." 

The ADVERTISING Club is the premier organization for all communications professionals in New York. The Club, founded in 1896, offers its members a forum to exchange ideas, make connections and honor excellence. The Club’s Foundation provides students numerous educational outreach programs that give back to build a stronger and more diverse advertising and marketing community. The Club is the facilitating sponsor of The International ANDY Awards, which acknowledge outstanding creative achievement around the world in the field of advertising.

Having spent the last 5 years travelling the globe shooting pristine commercials for brands as diverse as Lexus, Surf and Qantas and with agencies as far and wide as McCann’s Cairo, DDB Japan and Promo7 Dubai Wayne Maule has decided to focus back on the land where his directing career began by joining Arithmetic.
“Apart from having done some of my best work with Australian agencies, I have a lot of family and friends here and I miss that," Says Maule. "After all this is where my children are."
Most recently, best known in Australia for his directing of the beautiful but controversial Where The Bloody Hell Are You campaign for Australian Tourism and agency M&C Saatchi, Maule has travelled the world working in Asia, The Middle East, Europe and Africa since completing the second iconic Qantas’ I Still Call Australia Home in 2004.
Says Arithmetic Executive Producer, Andrew McPhail: “I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity represent such an accomplished visual stylist like Wayne. Having worked with some of the best visual directors in the business. I am gobsmacked by how consistently brilliant his TVCs are."
Maule began his advertising career in the UK with one of London’s most creative agencies BMP SJIP working his way up to Art Director and Head Copywriter for a number of agencies before being appointed Group Head of Leo Burnetts in Sydney then Creative Director of J. Walter Thompson.
Being an accomplished photographer he quickly found himself directing what have since become iconic campaigns for Coca-Cola,  Shell, Optus, Qantas and Australian Tourism to name but a few.
For further information or a reel contact Andrew McPhail on +61 2 8005-2861 or view Wayne’s latest work at www.arithmetic.com.au

Ex ad agency creative and Saatchi & Saatchi New Director’s showcase director David White is now represented by Film Construction.
White’s work is beautifully and intricately art directed with an emphasis on visual storytelling and high production values. His visual portfolio spans Toyota, Mitsubishi, Lexus and Visa International. His honest comedy performance direction has been seen in work for Alpha Magazine and Hiesta.
Says Film Construction Executive Producer, Roy De Giorgio: “David’s strong visual work is a given. But what always interested me, as an agency producer, was to see David collaborating with the teams and always striving to realise the idea’s full potential – this always paid off in the final product."
His commitment to strong creative has always been a drawcard to agencies. White's creative services, provided by his business 'Thinkermaker' are still regularly in demand by creative directors.
“I’ve always loved the creative process, and directing was always the logical expansion of it." says White.
White’s creative career in advertising spanned agencies in Sydney and Melbourne, and his creative work has been highly awarded at Caxton, The  One Show, Folio, AWARD and London International Advertising Awards.
In the mid 90s White left agency life to study film in New York at NYU. On his return to Australia, his directing work quickly captured attention, and in 1998 he was selected as part of the annual Saatchi & Saatchi New Director’s showcase.
White now resides in Australia after a 2-year absence working internationally, and is now available through the Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland office of Film Construction.
Contact Roy De Giorgio, roy@filmconstruction.com, phone: +61 403 306 448.

Christy Peacock, Senior Regional Creative of Publicis Mojo has been elected president of the MADC, with the vice president position going to Richard Ralphsmith, Deputy Creative Director of Clemenger Harvey Edge.
In a message to MADC members, Peacock hoped next year will see a resurgence in MADC membership:
"Becoming the MADC President this year was not something I would have naturally thought of doing. No one really seems to want to do it as a job, it’s a thankless task, but I suppose that someone has to chair all those bloody meetings.
Truth be told it was for this reason that I put my hand up. It was this lackadaisical attitude toward the club that really bothered me. For years now I have felt that the best work in Australia has been coming out of Melbourne, so why shouldn’t it have a club that everyone felt proud of? Surely there should be loads of people queuing up for this position? But there wasn’t.
Instead I was getting the feeling that the MADC had lost its way and seemed to have stopped acting like a club.
I mean, my first thought was, did we really need a club?
If so, did I really need to be a member of it?
Why not just have one centralized Australia wide club that we could all be a part of?
I stood there at our last Awards ceremony and looked around the room at 1000 or so of you all pissing it up, having a wild old time and I wondered why only 450 of you were members. (Is it really just so you can get a cheaper ticket to a great party and enter your work into yet another Award show?) It was obvious that you all wanted to be a part of something that celebrated and encouraged great creative work here in Victoria, but it seems that most of you couldn’t really be bothered with a club that acts as if it couldn’t really be bothered with you.
So anyway, there seems to be a problem. This years MADC committee; Jen Chin, Corey Esse, Frank Trobbiani, David Klein, Mick Bakos, Nick Condon, Annie Price, Stuart Crossett, Erin Gallagher, Nick Cummins, Lachie Dunn, Katherine White, Richard Ralphsmith and myself intend to fix it. Our goal is quite simple. We want to grow our membership by making the club a much more meaningful place to be apart of.
This year we’ve increased numbers on the Committee to 14 because we believe there’s a much bigger job to do. Previous years have had a total of 4 sub-committees (made up from people in the main committee) this year we have added 2 more to the list.
1) To implement an education programme for members of the MADC that currently work in the industry.
2) To develop an online communication tool that will enable us to communicate with our members better.
We’re going to focus more on blah blah blah and more on blah blah so you can blah blah blah. Whatever whatever. (Yeah yeah. We’ve heard it all before) Look it’s simple…This club is a non-profit organisation, which means that the more members we have the more benefits we can give. So I hope you all enjoy the initiatives that we’re putting together for you this year and I look forward to having a drink with you at the next MADC event."

UPDATE: The BestAds Podcast is still up there on various iTunes Top Video Podcast Charts just over a month after launch.
Bestadsontv.com is the worldwide creative website owned by Campaign Brief for the past 18 months. With over 33,000 registered visitors it is one of the world's most popular and respected creative sites.

#1 in Australia
#1 in Canada
#1 in Finland
#2 in Ireland
#2 in New Zealand
#2 in Portugal
#7 in Greece
#18 in the UK
#46 in Netherlands

(There are no iTunes Video Podcast Charts in Asia, Africa and South America but our our tracking via Feedburner suggests Bestads would be up there in Brasil, Argentina, South Africa, India, China and south-east Asia.)

LAST CHANCE! Round 3 of the Siren Awards closes tomorrow!
Radio commercials must have aired anytime between 4 August and 17 October 2008.
Entry is free @ sirenawards.com.au

UPDATE - There is only room for a few more delegates at the upcoming Caxton Awards and Seminar weekend, which will be held at the Sea Temple Resort, Port Douglas from 24 -26 October, 2008. Places are filling fast so guarantee your spot at Caxton 2008 by downloading and faxing back a delegate form from the Caxton website.
Droga5 founder David Droga (pictured) will be the keynote speaker at the 2008 Caxton creative seminar in October.
The final lineup includes:
Mark Buckman, Chief Marketing Officer, Commonwealth Bank
Jason Ross, Executive Creative Director, CHE, Melbourne
John Silvester, crime writer, The Age
Scott Nowell, Creative Director, Three Drunk Monkeys
Renee Nowytarger, photojournalist, The Australian
Shaun Branagan, Executive Creative Director, Love Communications
Amanda Johnston, Executive Director Brands & Marketing Communications, Telstra
James Hurman, Planning Director, Colenso BBDO Auckland
"David Droga has created one of the world’s most respected organisations in Droga5. He has rewritten the book for contemporary ideas development and he is possibly the most successful Australian creative export. David often speaks in Cannes and is a real coup for the Caxtons," Caxton chairman Rob Belgiovane said.
"The speakers this year have been selected for breaking new ground in the industry over the last year: Droga...an entirely new model for ad agencies.
Buchman...having the balls to appoint an agency for it’s fit with Comm Bank, DESPITE the fact that it’s located in the US. Amanda Johnston... now appointed to the biggest Marketing role in Australia ....how to get great creative for Australia’s biggest Brand across multiple agencies. Shaun Brannigan...one of the few CD’s that has transcended the shift from trad to digi media. John Silvester... advertising is all about storytelling/narrative and engagement...(underbelly is one of Australia’s most engaging stories) what lessons can we learn? Scott Nowell, 3 Drunk Monkeys, an entirely new model specialising in Content development.
"This year, attending the Caxton’s has the potential to revitalise your career through learning what new thinking is working for brands, individuals and agency’s worldwide. The Caxtons is the only creative seminar in Australia that allows creatives to experience this calibre of talent in an intimate environment and also get to see the country’s best newspaper advertising in what has become a unique event in the industry."
There are 74 finalists in this year’s Caxton Awards for excellence in newspaper advertising and entries were up by 10 per cent on last year.
The 2008 Caxton Weekend Seminar will be held at the Sea Temple Resort, Port Douglas from 24 -26 October, 2008. Places are filling fast so guarantee your spot at Caxton 2008 by downloading and faxing back a delegate form from the Caxton website.

British comedy director James Pilkington has signed on with Plaza in Sydney.
Earlier this year, Pilkington received a great deal of attention after directing the Dove ‘Chocumentaries’, a fable of how two women escape life’s afflictions through their chocolate addictions. Pilkington perfectly captured the character’s neurotic relationships with chocolate in MARS Snackfood’s largest campaign of the year.
Pilkington loves laid back attitude of the Australian comedy scene:  “In Europe everything is so PC it’s hard to tell a joke anymore. In Australia and New Zealand you’re still allowed to be rude and offend people. So I moved here four years ago and became a fat British Pom on the beach."
Pilkington’s unique comedic style is founded upon a love for slapstick and more subtle ‘less is more’ humour.  He manages to place the most ordain characters in absurd situations with an air of normality. 
Pilkington first found success directing short films. His first short film, Pocket won the 1998 BBC Short Film Award and more recently, his short film ‘Sweet’, featuring the comic duo Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding (of Might Boosh fame) was runner up in the London Film Festival and was also nominated for a BAFTA. His Tip Top ‘Togs to Undies’ spot picked up three AXIS awards in 2006.
Says Plaza Executive Producer, Peter Masterton: “It’s great having James at Plaza. He’s hilarious as well as talented and I know we’re going to have a lot of laughs on and off screen."
 

Curious Film has launched Bikini Bandits TV, an alternative film network showcasing short films, music videos and animation hosted from the iconic music club CBGBs in New York.
Clips include, ‘Eagles of Death Metal: Know Thy Meat’, ‘Zombie Blood Chaos’, ‘The Adventures of Dirty Sanchez’, as well as excerpts from Bikini Bandits feature films and a series of commercials for Charles Mason Salad Dressing. http://www.joost.com/360awa9/t/Bikini-Bandits-TV
“Advertising is the economy of human attention. If you have something to sell, there’s no cheaper, faster, easier or less imaginative way to get maximum attention on a minimum budget than positioning your product next to a bikini," says Pete Grasse at Curious Films in Australia.
As a result, Grasse and Philadelphia agency Gyro, created Bikini Bandits as a vehicle to advertise the agency’s retail outlet  G*Mart ( http://www.thearcadiaproject.net/gmart.htm) and its in-house label Sailor Jerry (http://www.sailorjerry.com/index.php).
“We wanted to explore the relationship between sex and consumerism, and so elevated the role of women in the global marketplace from disposable ornaments to predatory robber barons. Hence, we juxtaposed the life-giving symbols of feminine submission with the life-taking accoutrements of masculine sovereignty. The result was entertainment," says Grasse.
When the Bikini Bandits experiment first launched on indie film site AtomFilms, it went straight to #1 and has since been viewed by 32 million people worldwide. The series stars musicians Dee Dee Ramone, Maynard James Keenan, Captain Sensible and Jello Biafra, and actors Corey Feldman and Rudy Ray Moore.
Thanks to the success of the Bikini Bandits franchise, Curious has signed a major distribution deal with Joost and has plans to launch a series of channels under the ‘Curious TV’ banner. Like BBTV, they will sit alongside major entertainment brands such as Paramount, MTV, Warner Bros, Comedy Central, Ministry of Sound, Raindance and Showtime.
Next, Curious Film will expand Curious TV as a platform for advertisers and agencies. “Curious TV reflects Curious Film’s desire to experiment with new technologies. We’ve taken the initiative to build our own digital TV network in order to facilitate others who are also eager to play in this space," says Grasse.
“The bottom line is that anybody on the planet can have a .tv or youtube channel – most production companies in the UK and US have  them. Curious is just fortunate to own an established entertainment brand in-house – that’s what got us onto a recognized network that actually pays for content. That's how we get money to make more content. That’s the goal," says Grasse.
Since the channel's launch, Curious has entered into a distribution deal for the broadcast of its shorts in France , Italy & Poland. 

In a major coup, US heavyweight Stephen Dickstein has joined The Sweet Shop as Global President and Managing Partner of the award winning global boutique company head quartered in New Zealand.
Dickstein, formerly President of Partizan Entertainment in the States and founder of Propaganda Films, legendary commercials division, joins the company in advancing their global production paradigm.
The Sweet Shop, founded in 2001, has successfully established a global creative reputation while always being known as an efficient producer of notable creative commercials. The signing of Dickstein is a natural progression of their vision and existing operating principles.
Says The Sweet Shop, CEO/Managing Partner Paul Prince: "When we started The Sweet Shop, we had little choice, coming from such a remote place but to act globally, this mandate simply reflected the realities of our location. Now, seven years later we have teamed up with Dickstein to further develop this philosophy. It’s ironic that an industry centred around creative invention is in many ways behind most industries in terms of global business innovation. We are thrilled to team up with Dickstein, whose energy and strategic thinking is aligned with our own."
Says Dickstein: "The Sweet Shop global model is new, different and better. Directors as well as agencies and their clients will see the benefits easily. Offering top talent, making great films, providing superlative service and guaranteeing cost effectiveness is the contemporary mantra that will drive our business into the future. Smart clients and self-confident agencies know how to access the best suppliers of creative executions.  They know that they have to be in business with the best creative problem solvers, not just the most famous and most expensive. Times have changed its about time that procurement decisions catch up to the reality of the global production supplier landscape."
The company has also commissioned producer Susan Rued Anderson as North American Executive Producer to run the newly opened offices in Los Angeles. Rued Anderson’s covering responsibilities include overseeing production throughout The Americas and Mexico.
Over the last few weeks the company has realigned its US sales force including the hiring of Dawn Goodburn and Tracy Bernard and Associates, opened a proprietary office in New York City and signed esteemed directors David Gaddie and Bruce St.Clair

Sydney-based brand response agency MercerBell has appointed award winning senior copywriter Scott Mortimer. Mortimer joins MercerBell from Wunderman Sydney and previously Wunderman in the UK. He will work across all MercerBell clients.

Pascall, via agency DDB New Zealand, are creating a literal ‘fruit burst’ by making a giant fruit balloon full of Fruit Bursts and blowing it up until it bursts.
The deflated strawberry balloon has been erected onto a billboard, next to a giant pin. Gradually over the next month the billboard will fill with air moving it closer and closer towards the pin. 
Go to the website whenwillthefruitburst.co.nz and check out the live stream to see how big the balloon’s getting, guess when it’ll burst and be in to win $5000.
When the strawberry finally colides with the pin and pops, thousands of lollies will burst out giving the public a chance to get their hands on some free Fruit Bursts and New Fruit Burst Jellies.
 

GPY&R Melbourne has nabbed Annie Egan, this year's National winner of AWARD School, who will team with Regina Stroombergen, also and top ten finalist  this year.
Says ECD Ben Coulson: "The girls have been here a week and already have a decent size campaign in play. It makes us all a little nervous to have rookies about who can do that, and that's a good thing for the department."
Patts have also appointed Josh Andrews as senior designer & Head of Art. Josh has worked in several high profile graphic design studios in Australia and OS. Josh brings with him skills outside of the normal advertising realm.
In addition they have negotiated a partnership with Miami ad school and have placed their first two interns Liz Polkinghome and Michael Schmueck.
Says Coulson: "They told me they wanted to go home with a lion, so I will be watching our stash in reception carefully."

Lion Nathan has today revealed details of its first advertising campaign for new low carb brand Tooheys New White Stag. The ‘Carb Relief‘ campaign, developed with Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney, launches on TV screens on Sunday night and is designed to communicate the brew’s low carb credentials in an engaging and innovative way.
”The ‘Carb Relief’ executions are tongue in cheek and aim to deliver the brand’s low carb message in a tone that resonates with beer drinkers," said Brett Grebert, Mainstream Marketing Director, Lion Nathan. 
“Tooheys New White Stag is the first low carb beer developed specifically with traditional mainstream drinkers in mind, and has the backing of the great Tooheys New brand personality that has been built over the last century,” Brett said.
The ‘Carb Relief’ campaign introduces the idea that by drinking Tooheys New White Stag, which has only one third of the carbohydrate content of standard full strength beers, Australians can ‘donate’ the remaining two thirds to Americans.
The 60 second launch TVC, which will go to air on Sunday night, charts the progress of an innocently misguided aid effort to donate the surplus carbs to the American public. The story focuses on the work of dedicated Aussie aid workers who drop crates of ‘carbs’ out the back of a cargo plane into the lap of bemused American towns and villages.
The launch TVC will be supported with 30 and 15 second executions which will run from this weekend through to the end of November.
The ‘Carb Relief’ campaign will also be supported by radio, newspaper, bus and outdoor, as well as a consumer website developed by Holler Sydney. The website, www.fortheloveofbeer.com.au will go live on Sunday evening, giving consumers access to exclusive unseen footage, product information and competitions.  
 

The New York Festivals Innovative Advertising Awards recognizes 'The World’s Best Work™' in alternative media. Enter your work for the opportunity to be judged by an international Grand Jury of industry professionals. Winners receive worldwide recognition for their creative work in a wide variety of categories:
Interactive
Viral
Ambient
Guerrilla
Alternative
Craft/Technique
Integrated Campaign
and more

VIEW THE CALL FOR ENTRIES VIDEO.
Deadline to enter: October 22, 2008
Enter today at www.newyorkfestivals.com.
Questions? Contact us at +1.212.643.4800 or via email at info@newyorkfestivals.com

The line up of Jury Foremen for the D&AD Awards 2009 was announced today which includes Mike O'Sullivan, ECD of Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand on Ambient and Ralph van Dijk from Eardrum, Sydney on Radio. The awards recognise the best work in advertising and design from around the world each year.
Foremen are leading creative specialists and play a vital role in upholding D&AD’s high standards of judging.  They each lead a jury of creatives who will decide what work represents the best of the year and will be included in the D&AD Annual. They will then decide what work sets new benchmarks of creativity and is therefore worthy of a D&AD Yellow Pencil.
Says O'Sullivan (top): “The first time I experienced the honour of D&AD was getting into 'the book' when I was a 23 year old art director in London. So to be foreman of a D&AD jury 18 years later is pretty damn flattering.  Ambient is the category without borders. I’m looking forward to seeing where the industry is going to take it to next. Roll on April 09."
Says van Dijk (left): "I am so sick of namby pamby radio. Come on! We've heard it all before. Any work worthy of a Pencil challenges, inspires and kicks you right in the ‘I wish I’d done thats’.~It is high time  radio had a piece of that action. I'm thrilled to be Foreman at D&AD and I’ll be encouraging my fellow judges to recognize and reward the IDEAS that move the game on; new formats, odd lengths, unexpected voices, and~beautifully~crafted pictures. There are so many ways we can moved by what we hear, yet we barely scratch the surface on radio. Bring on the work that goes straight to our soul and bask in the well deserved glory."
Eligible entries will be accepted from 15 October until 21 January 2009. Work entered before 19 November will receive a 10% discount.  Judging takes place from 20-24 April in London and the winners will be announced in June.
The campaign, created by TAXI Canada launches on 15 October at www.dandad.org/awards09. Details of D&AD jury members will be released from next week.

Sydney based Supersonic has announced the arrival of internationally acclaimed sound designer Nigel Crowley to the team this month.
Direct from ten years of award winning work as a founding member of one of the most successful UK audio production houses '750mph', Crowley brings a wealth of experience to Supersonic having sound designed on TVCs for Stella Artois, Sony Playstation, Nike, Nokia and Adidas to name a few. His award credits in TVC include Cannes Lions, D&AD Awards, British Television Craft and Advertising Awards, Advertising Creative Circle Awards, CLIO Awards and London International Awards.
A link to Crowleys work on the Stella Artois 'Pilot' TVC can be found on the Supersonic home page www.super-sonic.com.au  . It showcases the caliber of sound design he is set to unleash from the Potts Point studio.
Working with sound engineer/designer Matt Perrott, Crowley completes a formidable team for Supersonic to deliver word class, innovative sound design to the advertising industry.
"Nigel is a fabulous addition to an already strong team,” says Supersonic GM Charlton Hill. “I’m very pleased to have his talents on board at this time of expansion for Supersonic. He’s also a good bloke who loves his motorcycles."
The announcement caps off a busy few months for Supersonic with TVCs: Solo with Guarana - ‘Strong’ for EuroRSCG/The Furnace Melbourne with Revolver director Jim Hosking, RMIT ‘I am’ for McCann Erickson Melbourne with Goodoil director Michael Spiccia, Milo ‘B-smart’ (Ogilvy House, Sydney) and The Salvation Army – ‘Close Enough to Touch’ for Prodigy Film’s Dael Oates, station IDs for Movie plus (Jupiter TV, Japan) and Austar (BMF, Sydney) plus Japanese TVCs for Lexus Is – ‘Cinderella’ (Thermal Corporation) and 1-Day Acuvue – ‘Ballerina’ (McCann Erickson, Japan).

In what is the only Australian event to recognize the unsung heroes of music composition for the large and small screen, APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) and the AGSC (Australian Guild of Screen Composers) have announced the nominees for the 2008 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS, which will be held in Sydney on Monday November 3rd.

Nominees for Best Music for an Advertisement are:

Title: Australian Rugby Union – Men of Gold
Composers: Mark Rivett and Haydn Walker              
Publisher: Song Zu Publishing Pty Ltd
 
Title: Herringbone - Hands
Composer: Elliott Wheeler
Publisher: Nylon Publishing Pty Ltd
                                  
Title: LMFF -  Loreal Melbourne Fashion Festival - 2008
Composers: Robert Burke and Benjamin Grayson
Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
 
Title: SBS Station ID - Six Billion Stories & Counting
Composers: Roger Mason and Bryony Marks
Publisher: inSync Music Publishing
 

The MTV Networks Australia ʻWelcome Snoop' campaign via Lowe Sydney picked up a gold pencil while the MTV EXIT ʻDifferent Lives' music video for Radiohead via Colman Rasic Carassco Sydney picked up two bronze pencils last night at the One Show Entertainment awards in Los Angeles.
Publicis Mojo, Auckland was the only other winner from Australasia, picking up a Bronze pencil for Speights 'Great Beer Delivery'.
Colman Rasic Carrasco team Rebecca Carrasco and Dejan Rasic worked on both campaigns and were at the show to collect their three pencils: “We're very excited to have had our work awarded by a jury that included some big names we both have a lot of respect for. Getting the chance to chat to Matt Weiner at the show was also pretty exciting," says Rasic.
The One Show Entertainment Awards was created by The One Club to recognise exceptional creative work on behalf of a brand in the realm of entertainment including television, outstanding programs, films - both documentaries and commercial releases, games and all other forms of electronic and online entertainment. 
The judging panel included a cross-section of television and film luminaries such as Matthew Weiner - the creator and executive producer of Mad Men and key writer of HBOʼs now legendary series The Sopranos - and Brett Ratner, Director of X-Men: The Last Stand. Advertising greats including David Droga from Droga5, Tim Roper from Crispin Porter + Bogusky and David Lubars from BBDO North America also made up the panel.
 

George Patterson Y&R Sydney managing director Julie Porter has announced the appointment of James Procter as the new executive creative director, filling the void left with the departure of Michael Stanford in August.
Procter joins from CumminsNitro Melbourne where he has served as creative director for the past three years. He has also worked at Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne and Leonardi Brandhouse and is the outgoing president of the Melbourne Advertising and Design Club (MADC).
Over a period of three months Porter considered a number of candidates from agencies in U.K, U.S. and Asia. Says Porter: “This business is all about teamwork and James and I immediately clicked. He has the perfect combination of talent, attitude and intelligence that will help deliver my vision for the agency."
Procter has worked on a diverse list of major international clients including Pepsi, Adidas, Virgin Atlantic, Clarks, Nestle, Libra, Just Jeans, Holden, Sorbent, AXA, Kraft, Starburst, Stihl, Multiple Sclerosis and The Traffic Accident Commission (TAC).
Along the way, he’s had success at numerous local and international award shows including D&AD, Cannes Lions, One Show, AWARD, Folio, Caples, New York Festivals, ADMA, and MADC.
Procter described his decision to take up the post as an opportunity just too good to pass up: “It’s not just the heritage of the GPY&R brand in Sydney, it's the people involved in the re-invigoration that makes the job so appealing. Nigel and Julie have a great track record and the vision for the Sydney office is compelling. Add to that the global support of someone like Tony Granger and you can start to see why I’ve bought in."
“I'm under no delusions about the scope of the challenge but there is a very clear mandate for creative change. One person cannot be expected to single handedly turn an agency's fortunes, but my focus is the same as the rest of the management team - doing great work. The rest usually takes care of itself.”
 

After a couple of years travelling and working overseas, creative Noah Regan has returned home to Australia and joined Three Drunk Monkeys, Sydney as Creative Director working alongside agency principals Justin Drape and Scott Nowell.
Regan previously worked at DDB in London under one of the world's great Creative Directors, Jeremy Craigen. While there he created several award winning campaigns for Volkswagen, Harvey Nichols and Marmite, helping DDB London rank 3rd at this year’s Cannes International Advertising Festival.
 Before DDB London Regan worked at Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney for 8 years where he won numerous international awards including Cannes, One Show, Clio and featured regularly in local award shows AWARD, The Work and Caxtons. His work for Toyota, Lexus, Emirates, Lion Nathan and the United Nations was an integral part of the agency’s three consecutive Campaign Brief Agency of the Year wins.
 Regan was also the world's most featured Art Director in Luerzer's Archive Magazine in 2007.
Says Regan: "The Drunk Monkey's is an exceptional place, full of talented and hungry individuals. It's exactly the sort of challenge I was looking for back home. I’ve worked with Scott, Justin and Mark Green in the past and understand everything they are trying to achieve and love their vision for where they want the company to go."

The NRMA ‘Unworry’ ad campaign, via Sydney company, Human, has been announced as the August/September winner of the Could Be a Caxton competition, established by the Caxton Committee and supported by The Newspaper Works to recognise and showcase great creativity on a bi-monthly basis.



Client: NRMA    
Agency: Human, Sydney
Creative Directors: Justine Metcalfe & Adam Whitehead
Writer: Tony Hardy

Bridget Taylor, Deputy Creative Director of DDB Auckland and the judge of the August/September competition, said about the winner: “It occurred to me while I was judging these awards, that the ads in newspapers are often the only good news.  Amongst the doom and gloom of financial collapse, water shortages and downright mean behaviour, we have the chance to make people smile. We get to engage, entertain, or at least give viewers pause before the next bit of bad news.  
My pick for this month made me smile.  Not just because it used made up words, which I’m rather fond of.  The tone of Unworry for NRMA Insurance is charming and quite brave for the category.  I also think the art direction is well handled.  I really hope it worked, because I’d like to see more clients making ads like this."

An honourable mention also went to Ogilvy New Zealand for their Auckland Zoo ad:

Client: Auckland Zoo
Agency: Ogilvy New Zealand
ECD: Roy Meares
Creatives: Tom Paine, Damon O'Leary, Basil Christensen

Judges Comment: “Auckland Zoo is a worthy runner up, because it is grounded in truth.  Tigers are vicious killers, but because they look cute we forgive them.  The style of illustration and type also reproduces well in newsprint."

The October/November competition is now open for entries.  It’s free to enter and anyone can submit nominations.  For more information on how to enter the Could Be a Caxton competition and the Caxtons in general, visit www.thecaxtonawards.com.au.
 

Tourism Australia’s 'Transformation' Campaign launched today and was conceived and ultimately produced by film writer/producer/director Baz Luhrmann. After Luhrmann’s experience collaborating with Revolver on his first and only previous campaign, Chanel’s 'No.5: The Film' which starred Nicole Kidman, Luhrmann again asked Revolver to be involved. Luhrmann and his Bazmark production company teamed with Revolver and their award winning Director, Bruce Hunt, to execute the Tourism Australia production under Luhrmann’s creative guidance. Revolver also hooked in creative duo, Tony Banks and Paul Taylor of Day and Age, to work with Luhrmann on his concepts and knead the creative into script form.
In his role as producer/creative director on this project, Luhrmann worked closely with Bruce Hunt and Revolver’s team, led by Executive Producer Michael Ritchie, nevertheless, the result is pure Luhrmann.
Original music for the New York commercial, Billabong, was composed by Sydney composer and song writer Elliott Wheeler, from sound and music boutique Nylon Studios.
The music for the New York spot was composed and recorded within a 48 hour timeframe in early September. Film directors Baz Luhrmann and Bruce Hunt called Nylon Studios on a Friday night a month before the launch, asking for a demo to be completed by the following Monday. Elliott composed two pieces on the Saturday before recording them with a string ensemble from Sydney Symphony Orchestra on the Sunday morning.
Once the creative team had chosen one of the tracks further work included the addition of multiple layers of piano tracks  to create a a signature sound for the main piano melody, and careful sound engineering and mix by Wayne Connolly. Encouraged by warm response to the soundtrack, Wheeler has written an extended version with lyrics recorded by Abby Dobson from Sydney band Leonardo’s Bride.

VIEW THE NEW YORK SPOT
VIEW THE SHANGHAI SPOT

Colenso BBDO Auckland and Lowe Rivet Sydney lead the 2008 AWARD Awards Shortlist, which has a total of 350 finalists this year. 75 Judges gave up their time to judge more than 3,500 entries over an intense two week period. AWARD recorded the highest number of entries to date. In comparison to the previous year, entries increased by over 20%.
Australian finalist numbers are up by 24 compared to 2007, with a total of 181 finalists. New Zealand has a total of 76, down by 26 from last year and Asia counts 91 finalists this year, 9 less than the previous year. The overall finalist number dropped by 11 compared to 2007.
Says Droga5 Australia creative chairman David Nobay, this year's Chairman of Judges (pictured): “Admittedly, we have to look beyond our own small world for creative inspiration, but nevertheless, the 350 finalists this year deserve our attention and, if nothing else, our respect for a job well done in a climate where the credit crunch is fast becoming the creative crunch for so many clients throughout the region. Hopefully, our winners will act as reminder that, in tough times, big ideas punch harder than big budgets."

THE SHORTLIST TALLY
Colenso BBDO New Zealand – 13
Lowe Rivet Australia – 13
M&C Saatchi Sydney – 11
Exit Films – 10
Ogilvy New Zealand – 10
Revolver Film – 10
Saatchi & Saatchi Australia – 10
BMF Sydney  – 9
Leo Burnett India – 9
Clemenger BBDO Sydney – 8
Creative Juice G1, Bangkok – 8
DDB New Zealand – 8
Leo Burnett and Arc Worldwide Thailand – 8
Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand – 8
AIM Proximity – 7
Clemenger BBDO New Zealand – 7
JWT Sydney - 7
Lowe Bangkok – 7
Ogilvy Singapore – 7
TBWA\China – 7

A full list of all AWARD Finalists 2008 at www.awardonline.com
Winners will be announced at the AWARD Awards Presentation Night, which will be held at the striking Overseas Passenger Terminal in Sydney on November 27th 2008. Tickets to the event will go on sale at the end of October.

A team of top industry talent has joined forces to produce a creative campaign for children’s cancer support charity Redkite.
A 30-second community service commercial is currently on air to raise awareness of Redkite’s vital work and encourage donations for the charity, which turns 25 this year.
Creative agency Fuzebox came up with a concept to overcome the challenge of making a serious message interesting and informative, taking viewers on the journey that so many families faced with cancer experience - and it all takes place on a refrigerator. 
The CSA combines photography and animation, and features the voice of ABC radio’s Margaret Throsby. It uses the family fridge as a looking glass into a family’s life, experiences and challenges while dealing with childhood cancer, their day-to-day bills, family photos, children’s drawings and reminders. The campaign is designed to explore and promote the essential services Redkite provides in a positive and hopeful tone.  
The CSA was generously created and distributed with the pro bono support of Fuzebox (creative), FIN Design and Effects (animation), Smartworks (illustration), Song Zu (music and sound), Margaret Throsby (voiceover), CI Studios (photography) and Dubsat and Customedia (distribution). 
 
Credits:
Creative - Gary Godkin and Stuart Clark (Fuzebox), Animation - George Mackenzie (Fin Design and Effects), Illustration - (Smartworks), Music - Producer Larissa Coupe and Sound designer Rod Enright (Song Zu), Voiceover - Margaret Throsby (ABC radio), Photography - Steve Greenway (CI Studios). 
 
 
 

The MTV Green song was created by 180 Amsterdam’s antipodean contingent, Rosita Rawnsley-Mason, Stacey Lee and Hal Kirkland (pictured). The trans-Tasman threesome were given the brief as part of the MTV Switch initiative. An annual campaign that asks a handful of agencies to create an environmentally focused ad that answers the brief of switching on. In this instance, to environmental awareness.
Rosita and Stacey arrived at 180 from Saatchi & Saatchi Auckland following a string of successes at Cannes, Clios, AWARD and Young Guns. Ex-M&C Saatchi Sydney creative Hal began at 180 shortly after. Even though the agency has over 30 different nationalities he couldn’t help but appreciate the opportunity to “team up with some Kiwis in Old Zealand."
Since the launch of the Green Song two weeks ago, much attention has been raised about the issue on both blogs and media websites. It has attracted praise from credible environmental websites like Treehugger.com and by non-industry related press like The UK’s Guardian Newspaper.
See Green Song HERE
Says Hal Kirkland: “We did quite a bit of research and it was pretty eye opening what we uncovered. Once we were introduced to the concept of green-washing, it didn’t take long to see pages and pages of fairly damning information about what’s really happening out there. The fact that some companies are putting more money into pretending they are green than into projects that legitimately help the environment was pretty astounding. Especially when you saw exactly how much they were spending.
“Prior to writing the Green Song we had just finished a campaign that involved the use of candles. We really liked it and we thought we had a pretty interesting perspective until a little research revealed that most candles aren’t actually green at all. The way they’re made, what they’re made from and how they’re distributed made light bulbs seem comparatively organic. While we were disappointed that we had to shelve our campaign it showed us that it doesn’t take too much effort to research the products we use from day-to-day. If we have the best intentions when we buy products, we may as well make sure the product actually holds up environmentally, otherwise what’s the point.
“Hearing our song being sung by someone else i.e. someone who could actually sing was pretty amazing Bertolf Lentink was singing and playing the banjo when we recorded it. The song is already pretty hectic but he managed to cruise through the lyrics without any hiccups. It only took a few takes. We were pretty mesmerized.”
Says Stacey Lee: "During the production process we worked intensively with the director, Michael Reissinger. Together we brainstormed characters, developed scenes, edited, rewrote and shoot background material collaboratively. Then when the project was finished 6 months later, we realised that we had never even meet each other. The whole project was completed start to finish over the phone or email. This is no mean feat given that the conversations were riddled with a medley of Aussie, English, American, German and Kiwi accents."

Tangerine:  ANIMATION SPECIAL
Date: TUESDAY 7 OCTOBER
Venue: The Local Taphouse
184 Carlisle Street, Melbourne
FREE ENTRY!
info: www.ilovetangerine.com
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Marketforce Perth transformed a shopfront display as part of an ambient campaign promoting the highly anticipated second season of Network Ten’s controversial comedy/drama series Californication, launching this Sunday, October 5, following Rove.
Starring David Duchovny, Californication chronicles the life of Hank Moody, a novelist whose obsession with honesty and his self-destructive behaviour – drink, drugs and sex – are simultaneously destroying and enriching his career. Since its infamous debut episode, Californication has stirred a considerable amount of controversy due to its explicit nature and occasional nudity.
“We approached Marketforce to create something that was representative of the show’s tone,” said Network Ten Perth's Marketing & Publicity Manager, Kylee Payne. “We wanted something that conveyed its sexy, sophisticated and provocative side, as well as its humour.”

Agency: Marketforce, Perth
Creative Director: Andrew Tinning
Creative team: Guy Hamilton Howlett and Rob James
Agency Producer: Daidre Davies
Account Team: Sharyn Beor
Kylee Payne (Network Ten Perth’s Marketing & Publicity Manager)

The Furnace, Melbourne has launched a new integrated campaign for SOLO’s new variant, SOLO Strong.
The launch of Solo Strong follows one of Solo’s best year’s yet, with the brand enjoying 25% value growth year on year off the back of the brand’s relaunch in 2007 with the ‘Man Cans’ campaign.
Solo Strong has the unbeatable combo of Solo and Guarana, to give you that extra little kick of manliness when you need it most.
As Rob Martin Murphy, ECD of The Furnace says, “I’m sure when people find out drinking Solo Strong gives you your very own little guy, everyone will want one. And why wouldn’t they? Just imagine how good life could be.”
To view the spot CLICK HERE
To view the netsite CLICK HERE

Virgin Active and Publicis Mojo, Sydney have launched a new campaign to announce the arrival of two Virgin Active Health Clubs in Sydney and Melbourne. Mojo was awarded the business after pitch.
Already highly successful in various countries around the world, the Virgin Active venture aims to redefine the Australian health club market, by creating a more inclusive approach to fitness.
The campaign promotes a gym experience more akin to a relationship than a membership, and sets this up through various channels with the optimistic thought, ‘We’re gonna work out’.
The clubs themselves, are built with that certain ‘Virgin-ness” and include more than just the latest technology and equipment; members can also enjoy a big ole pool, chill out zones, kids’ clubs and of course staff, complete with smiles (even the exercise machines have friendly names). The campaign builds with a tone of voice we’ve come to expect from Virgin, with headlines like ‘More Richard than Gym’ ‘Let’s share a banana over cramps’ ‘Let’s get wrinkly’ (for the pool) and the pointed ‘People First’. There’s even a talking Richard keychain, with quotes like, “Meet me in the sauna” and “Can I stand behind you in yoga class?”
Anton Brown, Virgin Active Marketing Manager said, “It’s been great working with Mojo and taking a globally successful Brand and pushing the boundaries to suit the Australian market.  It’s helped shape parts of our local offering and most of all we’re having fun doing it.”
Says Micah Walker, Creative Director of Mojo Sydney: “It’s great working with the Virgin Active folks, as they’ve really welcomed us getting involved in all aspects of their project. We’ve been able to develop everything from their internal documents to banana stickers, outdoor, print, ‘excuse’ pamphlets and the like. It’s a genuinely unique brand and lovely bunch of people to work with." 
Virginactive.com.au

CLIENT:  Virgin Active
AGENCY: Publicis Mojo Australia
Creative Director: Micah Walker
Art Directors: Kirsty Gavin, Ruth Berlotti
Writers: Dean Hunt, Nathan Lennon
Account Management: Nicole Moore, Carolyn Jackson
Traffic: Alison Dunlop
Design/Animation: Dat Doan
Design: Sang-wun Kim
Development: Matt Neville
Lead Development: Drew Walker
Senior Producer: Chris Coward
Digital Creative Direction/Art Direction: Clint Nielsen

The cricket season kicks off with a new campaign for Cricket NSW, via agency Brave. Running across print, outdoor, radio, and online, the campaign tagline encapsulates the strength and historic success of Cricket NSW: ‘Breeding the big names’.
The print showcases a ‘super team’ – multiple heads of past and present cricket champions, with the pay off that they’re all from NSW. The print and a viral drive people to an interactive and entertaining website. Features include a season blog, ‘Smash your mates’ game, competitions, screensavers, and an image gallery where cricket fans can upload their own match photos.
Says Brave Managing Partner, David Harding: "NSW breeds more Australian heroes than any other state. With the objective of getting more people to the games, this is a massive drawcard.  Go watch NSW play, and you’re seeing some of Australia’s current and future heroes in action."
Says Cricket NSW Marketing Manager, Christina Matthews: "Cricket NSW is delighted to be able to launch our new ‘Breeding the Big Names’ branding. We are confident that it epitomises the history and commitment to excellence that our organisation stands for. We look forward to our new brand becoming synonymous with continued success and a commitment to youth throughout our state."
Go to: www.breedingthebignames.com – you can then play the viral and also games like ‘smash your mates’, or nominate yourself or a friend for the ‘big head of the month’ competition.

Agency: Brave
Creative Director: Yanni Pounartzis
Senior Writer: Annika Johansson
Senior Art Director: Guy Collins
Account team: Adele Nowakowska, Jake Tucker
Online team: Cheridan Smith, Kirsti Williams, Jon Keats, Rhuan Coradello
Cricket NSW Marketing team: Christina Matthews, Brett Richardson
Photographer: Chris Cordeiro

Song Zu's first foray into feature film score composition has been rewarded with an IF Award nomination. Haydn Walker's haunting uilleann pipe fused Celtic score for Michael Joy's debut feature film , Men's Group, was announced today as one of three nominations for Best Music. The film has also been nominated for best picture, best script and best actor.
The news came 3 days after Nathan Cavaleri picked up a Silver Promax award for his Fox 8 Promo for An Aussie Goes Bolly.
Says Ian Lew, MD of Song Zu: "I think what this shows is that Song Zu is really the only studio in Australia that you should consider if you have a requirement for an Irish or Indian musical composition."
You can  listen to (or even purchase) Song Zu's Men's Group score at the itunes store:

To promote the launch of Top Gear Australia, SBS’s creative agency, Razor Junior, in conjunction with partner agency Razor Media, devised promotional stunts which were held in Melbourne on September 24 and Sydney on September 27 and 28.
Top Gear Australia-branded ramps were set up at Sydney’s Circular Quay and at either end of a row of parked cars in Melbourne so to the unsuspecting public and owners of vehicles it looked like something would attempt to jump the cars. The stunt was developed by Razor Junior’s Nigel Clark and Josh Moore.