Craig Chester’s Cannes Diary: Day One

Craig Chester, creative director, Saatchi & Saatchi Health is Australia’s representative on the Health & Wellness Lions jury. Chester, along with most of the Australian and NZ jurors, is reporting exclusively for CB.

I arrived into Cannes today, a little tired and very excited.

After a quick rest I met the Lions Health jury members for welcome drinks and heard various viewpoints on what will take place over the next 4 days of judging and beyond.

As expected, I discovered a few characters, a mix of accents, a Phillipino expression meaning your mother is a whore, a beverage I have never tasted before and a nervous energy that suggested the jury members were very proud to be part of it all.

It was also nice to catch up with a few old mates and a very jet lagged June Laffey who had only just arrived after the long haul from Sydney.

After heading back to my hotel and reflecting on all conversations throughout the night I am sure of a few things.

Firstly, there will be some fierce debate over what is good, great, exceptional or ordinary.

Secondly, all jury members are well aware that their decisions will help build both individuals’ and agencies’ reputations and therefore will take their jury duties very seriously.

And thirdly, my week will be truly exhilarating and enlightening. It will also be a hell of a lot of fun.

My personal judgments on all work will be based on a number of criteria, but primarily it will come down to this – did it make me care?

This is Lions Health after all. The products advertised and marketed do a range of things. Some can enhance your sex life. Others can change a person’s destiny forever. And some can actually save lives.

Fittingly, a gold lion could provide its winner with two out of three of these things.

Or so I’ve heard.

@cchestercd