At tonight's Singapore Creative Circle Awards DDB Singapore topped the Gong Show's medal tally to emerge overall champions. DDB Singapore emerged victorious as the Agency of the Year on the ranking table with a haul of 9 Silvers, 9 Bronzes and 4 Finalists awards. The award honours the agency that tops the overall results at CCA 2010, excluding the Craft categories.

The CCA's returned as a show in Singapore after a year-long hiatus caused by last year's global financial crises.

Two of DDB Singapore's strongest performers were the "Construction/Noisy Dog/Crying Kid" campaign for BOSE and the "Rough Guides" campaign for Penguin Books Singapore (see left and below for full campaign). These campaigns picked up 9 Silvers and 7 Bronzes, with the latter also winning 1 Gold and 3 Silvers in the Print Craft - Art Direction category.

Y&R Singapore won big for The Mint Museum of Toys' "Tin Toys" and "Dolls" campaigns, with a haul of medals that included 4 Gold under Print and Print Craft categories.

A stand-out in the Television & Cinema category is the "Funeral" television commercial by Leo Burnett Singapore which garnered a total of 3 Golds, with 1 under TVC Craft - Direction.

This Sunday night Australia's most popular beer, VB, will premiere the first television commercial from its latest marketing campaign entitled 'Real', via agency Droga5 Sydney.

The campaign will feature a number of executions including two television commercials.

'Cry', directed by Revolver's Steve Rogers, is the first TVC to hit television screens, airing nationally on Sunday evening. This will be accompanied by outdoor, print and digital advertising across the country. The second TVC, 'Slide', will follow later in the year, launching during the cricket.

VIEW THE SPOT

BBH Asia Pacific is the ad agency behind the controversial campaign for tomorrow night's Singapore Media Awards held by the 4A's at the Shangri-La. (The Association of the Accredited Advertising Agencies in Singapore). BBH took on the task as a pro bono project as they felt strongly that a thought-provoking campaign was needed to get people to take notice of such an important Award show that showcases and raises the bar for the proper use of media space in Singapore.

BBH convinced the 4A's to embrace their idea of challenging media owners to ask themselves - Are you using the power of media well?

This print campaign from DDB Singapore highlights how women can sometimes be obsessed about unimportant things.

In this TVC from JWT Delhi a young man takes a break to have a Kit Kat when he notices a squirrel serenading a female squirrel Bollywood style.

Euro RSCG has made some management changes to their Malaysian office. The changes include Andrew Crombie as CEO of Singapore & Malaysia, Andrew Lee being promoted to Managing Director, Malaysia and Lee Kien Choy stepping up as Global Brands Director, Southeast Asia.

Matthew Fanshawe, Managing Director, Euro RSCG Asia Pacific said the aim was to allow increased focus on core clients and new business development for aggressive domestic and cross-border growth. "Increasingly we are seeing important growth opportunities between Singapore and Malaysia and strategically it makes sense for us to empower these markets to generate cross-border growth that we can then leverage throughout Southeast Asia. Realigning our management structure in KL is our way of getting battle ready, as we prepare to pursue aggressive growth targets," said Fanshawe.

The Bestads Top 6 Commercials/Print/Outdoor/Interactive of the week in the world is now ready to view, reviewed by Richard Gorodecky (pictured), executive creative director of Amsterdam Worldwide. Richard's favourite in TV this week is Morning Fresh 'Dirty Fireman' via DDB Group, Melbourne. His favourite in Outdoor is the GNC Burn 60 Burn Bag via DDB DM9JaymeSyfu, Manila.

Upgrade to BestadsPRO to view all archives back to 2003 and download any video for less than $3 per month. Join the world's best creative ad site with 85,770+ members worldwide which you can contact directly within the site. Access the very best TV, Print, Outdoor, Ambient, Radio, Integrated and Interactive in the world each week. Access the Bestads Rankings. And as a member you receive your own YourSpace page (with 500meg of space) to upload your CV and best work.

Many years ago The Campaign Palace Sydney created a great agency t-shirt and the slogan printed on the front still sticks in my memory. For those not aware of The Campaign Palace's unrivaled creative reputation at the time - just think of Saatchi & Saatchi Singapore's three year dream run when Dave Droga and Craig Davis was there.

Anyway, the t-shirt said: "Do great ads and have a laugh"

It just about sums up what every creative should strive for.

Unfortunately, I've never been qualified to try the first part of this slogan, but I am reasonably experienced at the second. So if you want to see some great ads and have a laugh, next year get on a plane to the AdStars Festival in Busan, Korea. And if you are ever fortunate to be invited to judge do not hesitate to accept.

While at AdStars this year I saw some great work, listened to some great presentations and had some great fun.

Every stop, every speech from JFK's campaign from 50 years ago is being rebroadcast as it happened 50 years ago in this print campaign for the JFK Presidential Library via The Martin Agency, Richmond.

Readers can access the campaign via their smart phone and QR reader or follow on Twitter.com/kennedy1960

VIEW THE JFK 1 AD
VIEW THE JFK 2 AD
VIEW THE JFK 3 AD

Ian's journey takes an interesting turn this week as he continues to ready himself for AWARD.

Following on from last week's episode, 'Dance Class', this week Ian's physical form is tweaked with the help of a personal trainer as well as a visit to a Bondi pharmacy.

Is your work ready for AWARD? Entries close September 29. iansgettingready.com

CB Exclusive - BBDO has topped the YoungGuns Top 10 rankings of the most Awarded Networks of the past decade, making it the number one network in the world for emerging and young creatives.
The Top 10 Networks ranking identifies the global marketing groups that have produced the most awarded creative talent in the 10 years since the YoungGuns were founded.

BBDO has been consistently awarded over the nine years of YoungGuns, with 148 Bullets or finalist positions won. BBDO has been awarded Network of the Year and Agency of the Year multiple times since the YoungGuns were founded, with BBDO agencies from 14 countries awarded to date.

Saatchi & Saatchi Colombo placed "wreaths" at strategic locations to highlight the fact that breeding dengue fever through poorly disposed of garbage leads to death.

The Ad Stars Advertising Festival this year attracted 5,437 entries from 41 countries worldwide, an increase of 67% on last year. The three day festival is only in it's third year and is firmly establishing itself through a creditable tough judging system and a series of speeches and presentations that are focused on inspiring the young Korean industry to improve standards and succeed on an international stage.

This year's panel of 22 judges was lead by Ogilvy & Mather Asia Pacific's Regional ECD Eugene Cheong. His brief to the jury was to be tough but fair. Cheong wanted every level of award given to carry value. As such even Merit winners at Ad Stars can feel proud of that achievement. In total just 7 Gold Stars were awarded.

Film Gold went to Publicis Mojo Melbourne for Boags Beer "Pure Water".

The Outdoor jury awarded two Gold awards - Republic of Chicken "Fire Scooter" (left) by McCann Erickson India and Singha Soda "Fizzy Billboard" from JEH United Bangkok.

The Press jury also awarded two Golds - Asahi Newspaper "Mirror" (below left) by Dentsu Inc Kansai, Japan and Midea Security Cameras "Antique" (below right) via Ogilvy & Mather Shanghai.

New Zealand based agency Special Group and the New York agency Casanova Pendrill picked up US$10,000 cash each last night at the AdStars gala awards ceremony, held in Busan, Korea. Both agencies were behind AdStars' two Grand Prix winners - Orcon Broadband "Orcon + Iggy Pop" and "Dirty Water" for the Tap Project.

Despite offering faster broadband and superior customer service, Orcon was relatively unknown in a New Zealand market dominated by the huge corporates. Orcon actually used its broadband to enable a world-first technical feat - connecting nine Kiwis from their homes across New Zealand to Iggy's studio in Miami, and re-recording the classic track 'The Passenger'.

This award follows the campaigns stunning success at Cannes, where it took home both a Gold Lion and the Direct Grand Prix, and at the New Zealand Axis award where it won Best in Show and took home the most Gold Axis in the competitions 30 history.

Ad Stars in Busan shifted into overdrive last night with the opening gala dinner followed by a big party hosted by one of Korea's top post production companies, Locus. The venue for the party was rather cool - the showroom of the Busan BMW dealership. It was a great night enjoyed by all the AdStar international judges and VIP delegates.

To illustrate the slimming benefits of GNC Burn 60, DDB Dm9JaymeSyfu Manila created a complimentary bag to give away with every bottle purchased.

Luscious Director Tina Ball directed this Dentsu Indonesia TVC for Soy Joy by placing a princesses in an ordinary office environment.

David Guerrero is to be the Grandjury President of the AME Awards for Advertising Marketing Effectiveness. Guerrero is Chairman and CCO of BBDO Guerrero/Proximity Philippines as Grandjury President. Michael Trautmann, Founder, Owner, Kemptertrautmann, Germany 
Esteban Lorenzut, Executive Creative Director, CP Proximity, Argentina 
Sarah Dexter, Managing Director, LoweBull, South Africa 
Glen Lomas, CEO, DDB, South Africa 
Derek Robson, Managing Partner, Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, USA 
Mark Stewart, VP Global Media Services, Kraft Foods, USA 

For the second year, Spikes Asia has teamed up with Cheil Worldwide to form a dedicated Academy for 15 students from across Asia Pacific offering a unique educational programme during the regional annual advertising and communications festival.

Guided by their own tutor, Noor Azhar Mohamed, lecturer in Creative Media Design at Singapore Polytechnic, the students will benefit from the various festival activities, which include a world-class seminar programme, engaging workshops, interactive kiosks and screenings of all the competing work and shortlist exhibitions. To further enhance their learning experience, the students will also enjoy their own unique master-classes and tutorials given by top international industry figures. The Academy's activities will culminate in a graduation ceremony.

Commenting on their Spikes Academy sponsorship, Nack-Hoi Kim (pictured), president and CEO of Cheil Worldwide said, "We are very happy to once again be involved in the Spikes Asia Academy. We are committed to the development and nurture of young talent in the region, and as such, Spikes Asia is a great opportunity for the future of our industry to be involved in."

Global creative agency Iris has recruited one of Asia's leading creative talents Barry Low to be creative director of its China operation. Low, who left his last role as senior creative director at DDB China in June, joins iris' Beijing office, where he will report in to iris' creative director for the Asia Pacific region, Grant Hunter.

He brings 25 years' experience in a range of directorial creative roles gained at a range of the industry's leading agencies including DDB, Ogilvy & Mather, Grey, Wunderman and Leo Burnett.

Low will be charged with overseeing all of the agency's creative output for its China operation, which has offices in Beijing and Shanghai. He will be responsible for building iris' creative profile in the region through the execution of integrated campaigns spanning above and below the line for iris' clients, which include Sony Ericsson.

The second full day of judging has just concluded in Busan, Korea. The winners of all categories have now been decided and although only a handful have golds have been awarded, they are all for great work. In addition the two Grand Prix awards are both very deserving of the US$10,000 cash bonus that each comes with.

The hospitality extended by Ad Stars to the judging panel is also deserving of a Grand Prix - so far it's been two days of hard work and two nights of great Korean food and nightlife.

The Ad Stars festival kicks off tomorrow and culminates with the Saturday night awards presentation.

TBWA Singapore created an integrated campaign to shift Martell VSOP from a brand that showcases success to a brand that enables success. They challenged Singapore to come up with a business idea good enough to fill The Space. The winner received The Space rent-free for six months to grow their new business.

The Bestads Top 6 Commercials/Print/Outdoor/Interactive of the week in the world is now ready to view, reviewed by Ewan Paterson (pictured), chief creative officer of DDB Chicago. Ewan's favourite in TV this week is Carlton Draught 'Slow Mo' via Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne. His favourite in Outdoor is Levi's 'Stitch' via Saatchi & Saatchi, Colombo.

Upgrade to BestadsPRO to view all archives back to 2003 and download any video @ only $30 per year. Join the world's best creative ad site with 85,470+ members worldwide which you can contact directly within the site. Access the very best TV, Print, Outdoor, Ambient, Radio, Integrated and Interactive in the world each week. Access the Bestads Rankings. And as a member you receive your own YourSpace page (with 500meg of space) to upload your CV and best work.

The deadline for the Summer round of the Tomorrow Awards, the quarterly global advertising awards show dedicated to discovering, showcasing and awarding advertising creativity that pushes new boundaries, is this Tuesday August 31.

The award organisers have added Nick Barham, ECD at W+K Shanghai and Gavin Gordon-Rogers, ECD at Agency Republic and one of the Spring 2010 winners to the Monster Judges line-up, which includes Tony Granger (pictured), worldwide CD of Y&R. For entry information and submission details please visit: www.tomorrowawards.com

After taking out the Film Grand Prix at Cannes, it should come as no surprise that Wieden+Kennedy, Portland has won the Emmy for Outstanding Commercial at the Creative Arts Primetime Emmy Awards for its Old Spice 'The Man Your Man Could Smell Like' spotl.

In fact, the agency earned three of six nominations for Outstanding Commercial at this year's event, with Nike 'Human Chain' and Coca-Cola 'Finals' in contention. And it's the second win in a row for W+K - last year the agency won the Emmy for Coke 'Heist'.

Says Jason Bagley and Eric Baldwin, W+K creative directors for Old Spice: "Winning an Emmy is a surreal experience. It's such a great honor to be recognized by the entertainment industry and encourages our desire to create work that not only sells products, but entertains people. We're very honored to have been one of the three Wieden+Kennedy spots nominated. Owning half of the six nominations is a testament to the amazing creativity happening inside the walls of our office, and the talented people and clients we get to work with."

FIRST-EVER AD CLUB ALL ACCESS AUCTION TO FEATURE BIGGEST NAMES IN AMERICAN ADVERTISING AND MARKETING FOR BID
-- Unique, online auction provides up-close, personal access and cool "New York Experiences" to support club foundation --

New York  - The ADVERTISING Club is announcing its first-time, online auction open to the industry that provides one-on-one access to some of the biggest names in advertising and marketing. The AD Club All Access Auction will offer 29 exciting "New York experiences" with high profile, star executives from the agency, media and corporate worlds to underscore its mission of making connections, learning from the pros and "giving back." Proceeds of the auction will go to the Club's Foundation, which funds educational initiatives, scholarships and mentoring programs for students looking to enter the business.

AWARD's Call for Entries campaign continues, with the next instalment of Ian's progress online here.

During the lead up to the event, Ian's preparations will be shared via regular episodes viewable on the site. In this episode, 'Dance Class', we follow Ian's efforts to tweak and craft himself to perfection in his bid to be ready for AWARD show. The call for entries Early Bird Special closes this Thursday, 26th August.

Ad Stars is only in it's third year and already the Busan, Korea-based ad festival is building a great reputation. Today the full judging panel arrived to a beautiful sunny day, with a beach side lunch and a warm welcome reception overlooking the best beach in Korea. Ad Stars judging, lead by O&M Asia's Eugene Cheong commences tomorrow...

Bates 141 Calcutta has created this print ad to encourage support of the Little Stars School, Kolkata.

Ogilvy & Mather Jakarta have created this ambient campaign for UPS Express Delivery by visualising "speed" in the form of art installations placed around the city in public places.