Inside the Toybox

40 years of Super Bowl commercials

2012-02-03T09:43:00.002-05:00

Wow, Adland has 40 years of Super Bowl commercials! Check it out! What are your all-time faves?

http://adland.tv/content/40-years-super-bowl-commercials

Skrillex - The Face of the Grammys

2012-02-03T09:30:00.001-05:00

Check out the electronic artist, Skrillex, in this new spot for the 54th Grammy Awards on CBS:

Chinese New Year Commercial

2012-01-25T10:34:00.001-05:00

"Chinese New Year is always a time for a reunion."

This spot is a real tear-jerker!

What Does Occupy Wall Street Mean for Marketers?

2011-11-07T20:20:00.001-05:00

I just read a very interesting article on Ad Age about how the Occupy Wall Street movement affects marketers. Very insightful!

Read the article here.

Excerpt:

At the same time, Occupy and the saga of the 99% has become a bona fide international-social-movement-as-meme, infinitely malleable and clearly tapping into some, to put it in marketing speak, cultural insights.

A survey by the ad agency network Euro RSCG discovered that some of the issues at the center of the protests are weighing heavily on Americans' consciences. Euro's Prosumer Report found that 41% of women and 39% of men were either very worried or extremely worried about the income gap between the rich and poor, while fear of running out of money was also high, vexing 46% of women and 31% of men questioned. To get a sense of how intense these worries are, consider that these rates were roughly comparable to concerns like terrorism and "diminished physical capacity."

Moreover, Occupy does seem to distinguish between financial institutions, who are the clear villains in all this, and other kinds of companies. Many protesters have gone out of their way to explain that the protests are not anti-business, but rather against a particular way of doing business that's fattened up a tiny chunk of the populace, the 1%.

The Creative Process

2011-11-07T20:18:00.001-05:00

I don't think this could be put any better.

The Most Interesting Man in the World on Failing

2011-11-07T20:16:00.001-05:00

Perfect!

Michael Bay Videogame Ad

2011-11-07T20:13:00.001-05:00

So generally I don't much care for director Michael Bay, but I must say, this commercial for the upcoming game "Need For Speed: The Run" is amazing! It's just through editing also, impressive! I now want this game...

Avengers Movie Trailer Debut

2011-10-11T11:52:00.002-04:00

Well, it's finally here. Check out the new trailer for the upcoming Marvel movie!

http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/marvel/avengers/

RIP Steve Jobs

2011-10-05T22:09:00.005-04:00

You were truly a visionary and will be greatly missed. Check out this awesome tribute video from Gizmodo here.

100 years of dance, fashion and music

2011-09-01T12:03:00.001-04:00

This is a really cool spot for the opening of Westfield Stratford City.

Billboard Magazine spots

2011-08-30T12:03:00.001-04:00

Check out these really cool Billboard Magazine spots by Almap BBDO. They are little 45 second vignettes that chronicle the lives of 50 Cent and Michael Jackson.

50 Cent:

Billboard 50 cent from Animatorio on Vimeo.

Michael Jackson:

Billboard Michael Jackson from Animatorio on Vimeo.

JFK Assassination for Tamiya

2011-08-29T12:40:00.002-04:00

This is the new ad campaign for the model kit company, Tamiya, by Ogilvy and Mather. It features pictures of model runners for conspiracy theories. Is it offensive? Probably. I kind of want one...What do you think?

McGarry Bowen's First BK Spot

2011-08-20T10:41:00.002-04:00

McGarry Bowen's first Burger King commercial is set to air today. It can be seen on AdAge. The spot is much more traditional. What do you guys think?

http://adage.com/article/agency-news/watch-mcgarrybowen-s-tv-spot-burger-king/229383/

And the Old Spice Battle is on!

2011-07-28T12:41:00.001-04:00

Uhoh, it's on now! The TRUE fight for supremacy!

Mano A Mano en el Bano

2011-07-28T12:39:00.000-04:00

For those of you who may have missed it, the internet duel of the century just took place yesterday....Isaiah Mustafa, Old (Old) Spice Guy Vs. Fabio the New Old Spice Guy...Choose who you want to win, go Team Old Spice Guy!

Watch here.

Fabio challenge:

Mustafa's Response:

Thank you for choosing Old Spice Guy:

Fabio's love letter:

Intel - The Museum of Me

2011-06-01T00:26:00.008-04:00

Here's a wonderful site from Intel that collects data from your Facebook profile and creates a museum for you! It's called the Museum of Me. Make one and share it with your friends on Facebook. The ending is pretty fantastic too.

Portal 2 Campaign - Investment Opportunities

2011-05-29T21:24:00.007-04:00

A friend and I just beat the co-op missions for the new game "Portal 2." I must say that not only was it a terrific game, there was a terrific ad campaign that went along with it. The voiceover is done by actor J.K. Simmons who is Cave Johnson in the game. He also did a great campaign for the game Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3.

New Old Spice Guy

2011-05-01T13:06:00.001-04:00

Weiden + Kennedy have come out with a new spokesman for Old Spice. What are your thoughts on the new Old Spice guy? Personally, I dig him.

Little Thor

2011-05-01T13:02:00.002-04:00

Hahaha, here's a commercial for the upcoming Thor movie that parodies the popular Volkswagen superbowl spot:

I See Dead Ad Jobs

2011-04-11T20:52:00.003-04:00

Wow, here's an insightful and inspiring article by Luke Sullivan, author of "Hey Whipple, Squeeze This."

Click here to read.

Bic - Human Curling

2011-04-11T20:29:00.001-04:00

This is a funny spot:

Twitter infographic

2011-04-01T19:42:00.001-04:00

Wow, check out this awesome video that encapsulates the sharing of information on Twitter over a 24 hour span in London.

London Tweets 24h from Anders Johansson on Vimeo.

Tweets are shown as red circles, and re-tweets as yellow points moving in the direction of information

Mix like Pogo - Oregon Lottery

2011-04-01T19:26:00.007-04:00

This is soooo cool! I love Pogo! Now you can mix like him too! Check out the Oregon Lottery's interactive music creator using soundbytes and tracks laid by Pogo:

Listen to my mix

Original Commercial:

Skittles: Touch the Rainbow

2011-03-30T16:34:00.003-04:00

BBDO Toronto has just released a new interactive video campaign for Skittles. These are pretty hilarious and oh so weird as usual!

Cat:

Cage Cop:

War Finger:

Hitchhiker:

Skittles Girl:

Power Rangers, assemble!

2011-03-21T23:55:00.002-04:00

This is insane. This new Power Ranger series combines every Power Ranger ever created:

Childish Gambino - Freaks and Geeks

2011-03-21T23:51:00.003-04:00

You might know hip-hop artist Childish Gambino by another name, Donald Glover from Derrick Comedy and NBC's "Community." How'd he get his name? Running his name through a Wu-Tang Clan name generator. (What's mine? Sarkastik Mercenary) He's a pretty kickass rapper for sure, check out his new track "Freaks and Geeks."

Disney XD Campaign

2011-03-21T23:47:00.003-04:00

Wow, this is a killer campaign for various Disney XD Shows. I don't watch Disney nor do I have XD, but that doesn't mean these commercials aren't down right awesome.

Pair of Kings:

Disney XD - Pair of Kings from saggyarmpit on Vimeo.

Suite Life of Zach and Cody:

Disney XD - Suite Life from saggyarmpit on Vimeo.

Zeke and Luther:

Disney XD - Zeke and Luther from saggyarmpit on Vimeo.

I'm in the Band:

Disney XD - I'm in the Band from saggyarmpit on Vimeo.

Drunk driving makes you lose all respect for life

2011-03-21T23:45:00.001-04:00

Wow...

Adidas is All In

2011-03-21T23:42:00.002-04:00

Are you all in? I know I am! I do so love Adidas. Check out their new spot set to Justice's new track "Civilization":

Juicy Fruit commercial

2011-03-21T23:40:00.001-04:00

Yet another commercial with that weird guy (Keenan Cahill) who lip syncs, this time to Devo's "Whip It":

Jennifer Aniston Sex Tape

2011-03-10T22:06:00.001-05:00

Not really, but hey, that's what they decide to call it in the end of this video for Smart Water. Jennifer Aniston teaches us how to make a video go viral:

Skittles Blnders

2011-03-07T23:35:00.001-05:00

I do so enjoy TBWA/Chiat/Day's Skittles commercials:

Super Bowl commercial mashup

2011-02-10T22:21:00.001-05:00

Adweek has combined every commercial from this year's superbowl and created a 2 minute mashup. Awesome!

Levi's Chambray Commercial

2011-02-10T22:14:00.001-05:00

Wow, here's an almost magical commercial for Levi's. It's been a while since i've seen a commercial this fun. It definitely made me smile!

Levi's® Chambray by Opening Ceremony from DANIELS on Vimeo.

Isaiah Mustafa, the Old Spice Guy, is back!

2011-01-26T15:16:00.001-05:00

He's back and I can't wait!

Heineken's "Open Your World" campaign

2011-01-22T11:51:00.003-05:00

This is one of the best ad campaigns I've seen in a while. Heineken always has really great ads, and these are no different. It's for their "Open Your World" campaign. There is a main 90 second commercial spot, that also has a 3 minute long music video by "The Asteroids Galaxy Tour." Not only that, but the campaign showcases additional videos giving further insight to some of the characters featured in the commercial. It kind of reminds me of a Wes Anderson film.

"The Entrance":

"The Perfect Gift":

"The Dancing Waiter":

"Gorgeous Girls":

"Kung Fu Comeback":

View more on the Heineken Youtube page.

She & Him - "Don't look back"

2011-01-17T22:10:00.004-05:00

Today was a good day. Today I discovered She & Him. And yes, that's Zooey Deschanel. Remember her singing in "Elf?" Good stuff. This music video is quite fun and retro.

"Don't look back"

Things real people don't say about advertising

2011-01-17T22:05:00.005-05:00

Now THIS is the photo blog for ad men. Things real people don't say about advertising. So true, so true, haha.

How to Get a Media Job: The New Rules

2011-01-08T10:15:00.002-05:00

Check out this really insightful blogpost with terrific advice on how to get a job in (new) media from Ryan Geddes at IGN.com.

How to Get a Media Job: The New Rules

I’ve spent the last few days looking through hundreds of job applications, and it’s sent my mind a-reeling. There are a lot of talented, creative people out there whose resumes, cover letters and writing samples paint them as the rock stars they likely are. But there are far more who have no idea how to apply for a job in the media business. The first 50 utterly off-base applications I read made me angry. Why are these people wasting my time? How could they think this OK? As I read the next 50, I settled into resigned apathy. Oh well. Delete, delete, delete. But then I realized each bored deletion I made was a lazy contribution to the problem. Clearly these people had never been taught how to apply for a job in my world. Even applicants with a fair amount of experience and interesting backgrounds were burying themselves under the dust of ancient rules about resumes, cover letters, references and introductions. Their colleges, parents and mentors had failed them.

I can’t tell you how to be a badass. I can’t mold you into a journalistic superhero. I can’t tell you how to develop a potent mix of personality, precision, thoughtfulness, talent and drive. That’s your job. But if you’ve already achieved a healthy mix of those things, then I can help you get noticed. So put down that Cover Letters For Dummies book you bought at Borders and read this instead. If you’re a recent J-school graduate, chances are your professors are still referring to online outlets as “New Media.” But my aunt had a baby boy 10 years back, and I stopped referring to him as “new” about eight years ago. New media is just media now, just like the PlayStation 3 stopped being “next-generation” the day it was released.

The Message is the Message

Speaking of cover letters, let’s never speak of them again. E-mail is the main way you’ll be applying for any media job. And when was the last time you sent someone an e-mail with nothing in the body? The cover letter is now the body of the e-mail you send to the hiring manager. Imagine an inbox with 600 e-mails in it. Would you want to open multiple attachments for each e-mail without having the slightest hint about their worth? My ideal job application is an e-mail with a catchy (but not loquacious) subject line. The body of the e-mail serves as the cover letter. It is informative, intriguing, and professional but laced with personality. The signature includes links to the applicant’s social media sites, city of residence, e-mail address and phone number. There is at least one attachment: the resume.

I Don’t Care About Your GPA

You can’t hide from inexperience. I can sense it like Private Hudson senses aliens. So peppering your resume with lies is pointless. If you don’t meet the requirements for a position but feel strongly that something in your background still warrants consideration, show me why. Please do not include your grade point average (mastery of school is not a predictor of success in this business), fraternity/sorority affiliations or Microsoft Office proficiency. If you don’t know how to use Microsoft Word, I’ll know. Lists of software knowledge are fine, as long as they are relevant, but they’re pointless on their own. If you’re a PhotoShop hero, send me a sweet .PSD. If you know how to use FinalCut Pro, send me a link to a video you made. The key to a good resume is tailoring the description of your experience specifically to the position. If I haven’t read anything about gaming, writing, creating or publishing by the second bullet point, I’m out.

Give a Damn About Your Words

If you looked up the definition of “loquacious” above, then you’re on the right track. Words matter, even if you’re writing for video. In our business, they’re the foundation for everything we do. But writing well is not enough. We’re looking for a voice. Who are you? What do you have to say? What motivates you? Who are you picturing in your head when you write? All this should seep into your words and the structures of your sentences. If that sounds ridiculous to you, then you should not be applying for a writing job. Notice I didn’t say the writing had to be perfect. That’s just because I haven’t gotten to that bit yet. I’m half kidding. We all make mistakes. Every day. You might have seen one on IGN today. But you (the applicant) only have one chance to impress a hiring manager. Keep the mistakes to a nearly transparent sliver. When I’m reading a job application, I overlook one typo. If I find another, I roll my eyes and start skimming. If I see a third, I delete the application.

Leveraging the Social Graph to Pilot the Zeitgeist and Incentivize User-Created Ecologies

Yeah, I get it. You think Twitter is dumb, and you’re bored with Facebook. So apply for a job as a bread maker or something. Media professionals live online now, and they straddle a strange line between always-on company representative and lone actor. You should already be active on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or some new hotness that I haven’t even heard of yet. Can you share those links with pride? If not, why not? You should be building your own personal brand with an authentic voice, not because you feel like you should, but because you just can’t help yourself. Five years ago, local news channels reported breathlessly about job seekers whose potential employers looked them up on the Facebookers and were aghast at what they found. Old.

This Is Relevant to My Interests

You might be a good writer. You might have an encyclopedic knowledge of a topic that matters to the hiring manager. You might be so creative that your pants hurt. Great! Now turn that into something I can relate to. Because I manage an editorial department, I’m looking for attached writing samples, links to your hilarious (relevant) video or a peek at the web site you tailored for me with custom CSS. And how does all that relate directly to the company I work for? Gone are the days when you could simply mail an editor a resume, cover letter and packet of clips. Things are immediate now, like it or not. I want the whole picture at once, and I want it now. I want to click through you. Make that easy for me.

You Again?

Media companies tell stories. Is that what you’re truly interested in doing? If so, then start with your application. No, I’m not talking about kicking off your cover letter with, “It was a dark and stormy night…” After you’re done putting your application together, print everything out, lay it on a table, and think about whether it really tells your story. If not, mark it up and go back to the drawing board (hint: this is what your job will eventually be like). That doesn’t mean I want to know what you enjoy eating for breakfast, or who you slept with last night. I want to know what you’d be like to work with, what your strengths are, and who you might develop into professionally. If you’re convinced you nailed that and you don’t get a response to your perfectly crafted masterpiece, follow up a few days, weeks or months later. Hiring managers like to think they’re good at this sort of thing, but sometimes it’s a crapshoot. Oh, and no oversharing. Google it.

__________________________________

As I mentioned earlier, this is not a secret key to media employment. If you don’t have what it takes (yet) then none of this will help you. But it’s a start, and I hope it will be useful to people who are about to enter the job market or are still toiling in the relative obscurity of entry level. Searching for your dream job is a tiny hell, but it’s one of the most worthwhile endeavors you can undertake. It takes time, effort and dedication. Each hour you put it off is one more hour you’ll have to spend getting it right once you finally decide you’re worth it.

I wrote this post because IGN is always looking for an amazing new editor (editorialjobs@ign.com), but I also felt the genuine need to reach out to new talent, wherever it may be. If you’ve read this far, then you’ve earned the right to read the less-than-140-character version: “Tell your story authentically. Respect your audience. Find your voice. Make it easy. Don’t be a jerk.”

-Ryan Geddes

Lake Superior State University banished the term "viral"

2011-01-02T10:54:00.004-05:00

That's right, the hot term "viral" that we all love to hate has been banished at Lake Superior State University. Each year the college comprises a the "List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness for 2010." Of which, "viral" was one. The usage of "Facebook" and "Google" as verbs also made the list. A few others mentioned were "epic," "fail," and Sarah Palin's "refudiate."

Read more here.

Embrace Life PSA

2011-01-02T00:06:00.003-05:00

I somehow missed this beautiful PSA for seatbelt safety that came out this year. It isn't extreme and dangerous as most are, but chooses instead to take a more heartfelt approach. Check it out here:

h

BMW after image ad

2010-12-16T21:03:00.002-05:00

Whoa, this is neat. Check out this ad that BMW did where they burnt the BMW logo into the eyes of the audience:

C-3PO and R2-D2 walk into an electronics store

2010-11-12T21:15:00.004-05:00

Sounds like a bad joke doesn't it? Well it makes for a hilarious commercial for Curry and PC World Megastores:

Influencers: How Trends and Creativity Become Contagious

2010-11-11T20:41:00.002-05:00

Wow, here's a really inspirational short documentary about what it is to be an influencer and the importance of them in today's society and culture.

INFLUENCERS FULL VERSION from R+I creative on Vimeo.

Chuck Norris on the second amendment

2010-11-03T21:07:00.002-04:00

Hahahaha, check out this election video for Chuck Norris on the second amendment:

Wham! Bam! Thank you Hamm!

2010-10-31T14:06:00.003-04:00

Too bad I missed last night's SNL hosted by Jon Hamm. Check out his introduction as he creates ad slogans:

Gilbert Godfried PSA against piracy

2010-10-19T22:29:00.002-04:00

Listen to him blabber on and snicker and laugh, just cuz it's Gilbert Godfried.

Gap reverts to old logo

2010-10-12T09:06:00.002-04:00

Good for them...Read the Adweek article here.

Paris Hilton ain't got nothin on Conan O'Brien

2010-10-07T20:56:00.002-04:00

Check out this sexy new promo for Conan:

Who ya gonna call? Volkswagen!

2010-10-07T20:56:00.001-04:00

So last Saturday I finally got to see my favorite movie, "Ghostbusters" in theaters. It was awesome! Well, this new Volkswagen commercial just came out. It honors the real firehouse that was GBHQ, Ladder 8.

New Gap logo...sigh

2010-10-06T19:39:00.005-04:00

Damn you hipsters...That's right, the Gap has come up with a new logo...and what's the font of choice? That's right, Helvetica...complete w/ random blue box in the top right. Ugh...

Cute girl dances for Samsung

2010-09-15T09:50:00.004-04:00

Here's another Samsung flashmob video. This has an interesting twist. Cute!

Creatives vs. Strategists

2010-08-27T10:59:00.002-04:00

For those looking to get into digital and aren't programmers or coders (I'm in this boat too), check out this Ad Age article "Do We Need a New Definition of Creativity?" It breaks down the divide between creatives and strategists and the importance of a strategist in order for the digital creative to work. I love the final paragraph that reads:

Ironically, advertising's creative class needs strategists in order to find their way in the digital world. Those strategists once dismissed as "talkers, not doers," are just as vital to creativity as the guys in the ironic T-shirts who dream of bellying up at the Gutter Bar in Cannes. Or, as leadership consultant Warren Bennis put it, "there are two ways to be creative. One can sing. One can dance. Or one can create an environment in which singers and dancers flourish." At the end of the day, to create something needs both.

Women, stop falling down the stairs

2010-08-22T20:33:00.005-04:00

Why are women always falling down the stairs? You women are so clumsy...wait, oooooh, I get it. Check out this rather powerful PSA from Young & Rubicam Germany deterring women from, falling down the stairs.

I still think this might be my favorite though:

Gary Busey gets you yours

2010-08-22T19:21:00.007-04:00

Gary Busey would make the ultimate lawyer, why? He scares the living hell out of anyone and everyone. Gary Busey is, Norman Tugwater...Fantasy Sports Attorney. If you're into fantasy sports, then maybe you should think about these messages from Vitamin Water at Tugwater.com.

Lance Armstrong is Radio Shack's Mobility Officer

2010-08-19T00:23:00.004-04:00

Take a memo...
So I don't watch much television, but I'm glad I decided to the other day (apparently these have been on for the last two months?). I was able to see the Radio Shack ads featuring Lance Armstrong. I'd say these are a cross between the Old Spice guy and the PS3 Kevin Butler ads. These made me laugh!

Vitamin Water Ad

2010-08-12T23:16:00.002-04:00

I just saw this cool sidebar ad for Glaceau Vitamin Water and thought I'd share.

The McCrosswalk

2010-08-12T23:07:00.002-04:00

Are you an after hours athlete?

2010-08-12T22:17:00.003-04:00

Droga5 never ceases to amaze. This is a new video for Puma Social honoring the "after hours athletes."

...When last call calls, don't answer.

Everything Ages Fast, vintage poster style

2010-08-12T22:07:00.008-04:00

I've always been fascinated with the art and design of the 1950's. Check out these vintage ads for Facebook, Twitter and others. These were done by Moma Propoganda for a campaign entitled "Everything Ages Fast."

Fiat Makes Music Videos...and tweaks your nipples

2010-08-12T22:02:00.003-04:00

What does this music video have anything do to do with Fiat and their new Punto Evo? I have no idea, but I really dig the song and the video and am glad they did it! I'm interested in seeing where this leads. This video is the result of a collaboration between Fiat and Faithless and I can't wait to see more of them.

Baby Fishermen

2010-08-12T21:58:00.006-04:00

Baby fishermen rock! Check out these ads from fishing retailer Okuma and the "Born to Fish" campaign that features babies with beards and such that look like grungy old fishermen. Personally, I love it.

P&G increases ad spending to $1 billion

2010-08-03T23:52:00.003-04:00

In the words of Kel Mitchell on Nickelodeon's "All That," GOOD LORDIE THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY!

It was just released that Procter and Gamble had increased ad spending to a whopping $1 billion this past fiscal year. It wasn't money completely wasted however, earning a 4% increase in organic sales growth and an 8% volume growth.

"Put simply, we would have been crazy to do anything else," Mr. Moeller (Chief Financial Officer) said of the spending increase. "If you look at the strength of the innovation program that was coming to market, we literally took every resource available to us and put it behind those innovations."

Read the entire AdAge article here.

The Internet Case Study Book

2010-08-03T23:16:00.007-04:00

I've just read an amazing book that I suggest to anyone in advertising, let alone the digital advertising field. It's called the "Internet Case Study Book." This bible of interactive campaigns contains hundreds of the most successful websites ever created, ranging from promotional to e-commerce, to social media and corporate websites. These case studies are broken down and described in detail by either the client or the advertiser who worked on them.

My favorite aspect of the book is that each section opens with words of insight from iconic advertisers such as Alex Bogusky (previously of Crispin, Porter + Bogusky), and Jeff Goodby of Goodby Silverstein and Partners. It's a very quick read and you can read a few passages at a time. Don't pass this one up. You can purchase the book and even read the first 100 pages for free here.

Being an advertising graduate trying to get into the field, this was a great resource for me to learn more about the digital space and it's offerings, while providing key insights and strategies for me to use later on in my career.

Terrific Kevin Butler Response to New Zealand's Copying PS3 Ad

2010-07-22T15:33:00.004-04:00

This was taken from the PS3 blog. Read the actual post here.

As the star of PlayStation’s current advertising campaign, I get compliments on my performances just about every other day. But recently it has come to my attention that a certain television network named TV3 has created an amazing homage to my marketing prowess. A commercial that is nearly identical to one we created here in the states aired on TV in New Zealand, found its way to the internet, and ultimately to my desk. Few film greats have been treated to a shot-for-shot shrine (actually I think it’s just me and Alfred Hitchcock).

If you haven’t seen our PS3 “Montage” ad in question, here it is:

And Here’s TV3’s ad:

It’s been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If so, color me flattered. However, I do have some constructive criticism for the work that I would like to share.

1. No title for your guy? VP of Big Bigness? PS3 Commercial Tribute Manager? Details, folks.

2. The TV3 version was completely lacking in PS3 video game footage. Clips from Uncharted 2, MAG, God of War 3, or even clips of our upcoming releases Killzone3 and Twisted Metal would have really added some epicness to the spot.

3. The beard. I think it should have been longer.

4. I did like the slow motion effect at the end on the guitar solo. Way to plus it out.

5. Two-color mylar confetti > rainbow paper confetti. Just sayin.

It’s clear to me that TV3 appreciates great advertising and I’d like to thank them for their efforts. In fact we’d like to help them out and make our ENTIRE LIBRARY OF COMMERCIALS available for them to copy in order to promote their programming. I only ask that TV3 doesn’t use our actual footage, but all future homages of this sort are now Kevin Butler sanctioned.

You might be asking, “What’s in it for you, KB?” Well, I asked that too, and here’s what I’ve come up with: I’d like TV3’s support in making the PS3 the OFFICIAL GAME CONSOLE OF NEW ZEALAND. I see this as the only way to make it right with the world. Our super hero team-up could bring the benefits of incredible HD games, Blu-ray movies and the wealth of content available on the PlayStation Network to billions of New Zealanders. Only a total victory in that fine country will satisfy this situation. That, and a box set of Flight of The Conchords sent to the fine creative team in our marketing organization.

Let’s do this.

I await your reply via my Twitter account: @TheKevinButler

Facebook hits 500 million

2010-07-22T15:08:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to Facebook on gaining 500 million users! This is quite the milestone. I'm looking forward to see what happens in the future as it grows even further. Read the Facebook blogpost here.

Zuckerberg's Response:

Playboy now SFW?

2010-07-20T16:27:00.004-04:00

Introducing TheSmokingJacket.com, the SFW Playboy site! Complete with all your office needs, with pertinent articles such as "How to Get Laid at Work."

1000 views!

2010-07-19T10:51:00.003-04:00

Thanks guys! I've just discovered I have 1,024 total page views, consisting of 792 unique visitors. While it may not seem like a lot to some, it means a lot to me. So thanks everyone and keep reading! Hopefully I continue to entertain and educate. Please let me know if you have any suggestions! Thanks again!

The Success of the Old Spice Blitz

2010-07-19T10:38:00.003-04:00

The Breakdown and results of the Old Spice response campaign by John Bell of Ogilvy: http://johnbell.typepad.com/weblog/2010/07/how-to-reproduce-the-old-spice-video-phenomena.html

TomTom feels the force

2010-07-15T15:03:00.003-04:00

TomTom has finally come out with their new voice-overs for Star Wars characters. Check out these hilarious clips recording Yoda and Darth Vader. Round-a-bound!

Yoda:

Darth Vader:

Zoo-bee-doo-bee-doo-bee-doo!

2010-07-15T14:19:00.001-04:00

Geico has devised a new spokesman for this commercial...a singing octopus!

"The Social Network" Debut Trailer

2010-07-15T13:25:00.005-04:00

A new movie by Aaron Sorkin is coming out called "The Social Network" starring Jessie Eisenberg ("Zombieland") who plays Mark Zuckerberg and chronicles the creation of Facebook. The movie is based on Ben Mezrich's book "Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal." And for all the ladies, the film also stars Justin Timberlake. I can't wait to watch.

184 videos later and the Old Spice guy is finally done

2010-07-15T11:35:00.006-04:00

Well, aside from the 22 video thank-you's that were posted when I last made an entry...it's apparently finally finished...with a massive 184 videos!!!! At one point they were producing one video every 7 minutes for 11 hours...Wow! Here is the last of them. Looks like I've got 160 more videos to watch. Such a sad day, hopefully he's not done for good! Some are calling this the best social media campaign ever. Very impressive, Isaiah Mustafa, and very impressive Wieden+Kennedy.

See all of them here. Note: He also gave AdFreak a shout out too!

Old Spice spokesman thanks his fans (and explains why the Netherlands lost the World Cup)

2010-07-13T13:26:00.006-04:00

Again with more of the Old Spice guy...a lot more! Hurray! He thanks his fans in a bunch of videos, enjoy. I've posted a few of them, but the rest can be found here.

The beauty of iPhone 4's Facetalk

2010-07-13T09:38:00.004-04:00

Have you seen the new Apple iPhone 4 spots? They showcase the new two way facetalk feature in a beautiful way that is full of emotion. They really make you smile and start the day off well.

Smile:

Haircut:

Meet her:

Big News:

I'm on a hog! Behind the scenes of the second Old Spice Ad

2010-07-08T14:50:00.005-04:00

Isaiah Mustafa was recently on G4's "Attack of the Show" revealing the secrets behind the second Old Spice ad. It's great! Also, he's a comic book junkie and really wants to be Luke Cage. I can get behind that!

Original:

AotS Segment:

Game Reviews - E3 2010 - Movies and TV

Old Spice on a Boat!

2010-07-08T14:35:00.002-04:00

Another Old Spice ad has been released. This time on a boat, with mustaches!

Who uses location-based apps?

2010-07-08T10:42:00.005-04:00

Here's a funny view of who uses Twitter and location-based marketing, that I mostly agree with:

Let's dwell on that for a moment: Urban hipsters (and de facto tech early adopters) want the world to care where they are at any given moment, and marketers are being told that it matters. But consider the average daily life of an average American, which might not involve prideful trips to the new "it" bar or hot party or recently opened boutique. I'm thinking it's more like: back and forth to work, one weekly trip to Walmart, a couple trips to the Shop-Rite, a stop at Walgreens to pick up a tube of antifungal cream, a back-and-forth to the mall multiplex on Friday night, a back-and-forth to the kids' soccer practice Saturday morning, etc.

The full article is pretty interesting though, check it out here.

Girl Scouts logo gets a facelift

2010-07-06T13:25:00.003-04:00

Girl Scout's logo just got a facelift after 32 years. Read more about it here.

I Hate Divers

2010-07-06T10:37:00.003-04:00

Thank you US National soccer team from Nike.

Swan dive! New Old Spice Ad

2010-07-05T23:04:00.003-04:00

Wieden + Kennedy recently released a second ad for the Old Spice "The man your man could smell like" campaign....swan dive!

Alex Bogusky Leaves MDC Partners

2010-07-01T11:47:00.007-04:00

Whaaat!? Ad legend Alex Bogusky, Executive Creative Director of the ad agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky (most known for their Burger King campaigns) is leaving MDC Partners. To further communicate his magnitude in the ad industry, Bogusky recently was also awarded Adweek's Creative Director of the Decade. AdAge reports he wants to "pursue efforts outside the ad world." Whatever that means. I wonder where the creative revolution will lead now? You will be missed Mr. Bogusky and I wish you the best of luck... Read the full article here.

Check out this Skype interview highlighting some of his future plans:

Futbol, Glee style?

2010-06-29T09:33:00.006-04:00

I don't know if I can put how amazing this is into words...Puma has created a Youtube campaign in preparation for the World Cup that takes hardcore soccer fans from various countries across Europe, and has them singing pop songs, in a contest called "the Hardchorus European Song Contest"...this is just priceless!!!

Original Promo:

England:

Germany:

Italy:

France:

World Cup Twitter Replay

2010-06-17T14:30:00.003-04:00

Now this is a really cool use of Twitter. You can visually see how various discussions went during each game of the World Cup!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/insideguardian/2010/jun/17/world-cup-twitter-replay

Read how they did it here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/insideguardian/2010/jun/17/world-cup-twitter-replay

People who call soccer "football"

2010-06-15T10:50:00.002-04:00

Hahaha, I saw this while looking for ad blogs from Wieden + Kennedy. They are ofcourse the agency behind this year's terrific "Write the Future" campaign for Nike.

Coke's Secret Recipe

2010-06-08T22:24:00.006-04:00

Want to know Coke's secret recipe? The secret is in the video. Check out this ARG (Alternate Reality Game)...view the myriad of links throughout the video collage comprised of old Coca-Cola ads.

My personal favorite is the Doc Pemberton Twitter Feed..."Summertime Coke float: 2 parts Coke, 1 part vanilla ice cream, 1 part stomach bitters. What? I’m 179 y.o. – don’t hate on bitters."

Axe Rise Up commercial

2010-06-08T22:17:00.006-04:00

Oh snap! You're going to want to watch this twice...you'll see. Just keep an eye on the guy. Enjoy the French Axe Rise Up commercial:

And if you were wondering, the band playing on the commercial is the Jukebox Collective (I wanted to know also, ha!).

Uniqlo Lucky Switch

2010-06-08T22:09:00.004-04:00

Wow. I really love everything that the Uniqlo ad campaigns do. This is an awesome way to rule the internet and get visits generated to their website. Check out this amazing case study for the Uniqlo Lucky Switch:

UNIQLO LUCKY SWITCH from HN on Vimeo.

Gone Fishing

2010-05-31T16:23:00.005-04:00

No, I don't mean the AMAZING movie from the 1990's featuring Danny Glover and Joe Peschi, I'm talking about companies fishing for ideas outside of an agency. It's time to discuss the crowdsourcing debate.

I just read another interesting article on crowdsourcing on AdWeek. Check it out.

It's now a classic argument. How dare companies go to the public to do our jobs? They don't have a clue what's going on right? They need to come to the professionals, after all, that's what we're paid to do! Come on guys, really? Now I don't mean to stir anything up, I can understand completely where you're coming from. But, at the same time, times are tough, and companies are looking for new ways to get the job done cheaper and more efficiently. I can't blame them. Well, I'm going to throw it out there, so here are my thoughts on crowdsourcing:

I completely agree that crowdsourcing is quickly being overdone, but I do however believe it can be an effect part of a campaign. A lot of companies incorporate it in their marketing, but don’t use it as a core piece of their campaign.

Take Mountain Dew for example. They still have their flagship brand, but they also have created a movement that many look forward to each year. “Dewmocracy” keeps growing and people love the idea of being able to taste the next newest flavors. It also creates a sense that they’ve had a part in it’s creation, which is a powerful asset.

I feel that when companies do projects like these it works best. To go through an advertising agency and tackle it together. It remains on target, and can many times be quite effective. OMD’s Doritos Superbowl contest was what allowed two Ball State alums to create one of last year’s most popular ads of the entire game. It stood out from all of the others, and didn’t cost them anything to make.

So I while I do believe that crowdsourcing is becoming, well, crowded, I do believe it can be effective if done correctly. But yes, don’t lose the ad agencies and fly solo, come to us and let us do what we do best.

I now ask you, what are your thoughts on this heated debate?

Half-Life 2 "1984" Throwback

2010-05-28T19:47:00.002-04:00

So we all remember the classic Apple commercial "1984." Well Steam is now releasing the computer game Half-Life 2 on Macs. Check out this awesome throwback:

Original "1984" Ad:

Write the Future - Nike

2010-05-26T23:28:00.002-04:00

So I posted a preview that Nike put out on my other blog, Safety Scissors Suck, for their new "Write the Future" campaign for the World Cup. They've recently released the full spot, and damn if it isn't one of the best soccer ads I've ever seen! It's hilarious and takes the greatest of the sport and shows them in various "what if" perspectives, poking fun at endorsements and the like...It's awesome! And as much as I hate Cristiano Ronaldo, I think his segment is the best. Decide for yourself.

"You Will" 1993 AT&T campaign

2010-05-19T21:56:00.004-04:00

Wow, well that wasn't too far off. Here's something that's quite interesting. It's a campaign for AT&T forecasting the future from 1993. We've come a long way.

hp and movies too!

2010-05-17T11:58:00.004-04:00

I love movies and I love advertising. So when the two are combined, ofcourse I love it! I've always been really impressed by the HP campaign that showcases a celebrity and the many uses for their HP's. For the last few years, they've integrated many movie promotions along the way, and they're seamless transitions too. Subtle, yet cool. The newest spot that sparked this blog post was the Sarah Jessica Parker spot promoting "Sex in the City 2":

Here are a few more HP''s done in the past. The first one I saw that really impressed me was the spot that combined Hayden Christensen and his movie "Jumper" with an HP spot with Serena Williams:

Jerry Seinfeld's is just hilarious and his promotion for "Bee Movie":

ecto-1 cameo

2010-04-29T22:01:00.004-04:00

Check out the Ecto-1 cameo in the new Sony cybershot commercial with Taylor Swift:

Best culture attracts best talent

2010-04-29T12:29:00.007-04:00

"There's a vibe that you get from a place that feels contemporary and fun, and another you get from a place that feels like a sweatshop."

Here's an interesting article that is so true in the landscape of job hunting and progressive shops. We as recent graduates are looking for fun places to work. Sure it's partly that they are hip and trendy, but jobs have to be fulfilling and fun or we'll be burnt out, and the results will show. I've worked at TJ Maxx for seven years now as a part-time gig, and it definitely isn't where I want to be for the rest of my life. The culture is terrible and everyone hates their jobs, so it's a real drag walking into work. From management to policies, it just isn't a good place to be. The happier the person, the better the work, period. Check out the article here:

http://adage.com/agencynews/article?article_id=143477

This is Alabama...

2010-04-29T10:09:00.005-04:00

I don't want to get political, but, I can't help it. This needs to be posted. This is a gubernatorial campaign video for Tim James of Alabama. Are you serious???

...This is Alabama, we speak English. If you wanna live here, learn it.
Wow.

AdAge's 6 Foundations of Great Digital Creative

2010-04-23T22:37:00.000-04:00

AdAge Digital 2010 6 Foundations of Great Digital Creative

View more presentations from Soap Creative.

Adidas Originals: The Street Where Originality Lives

2010-04-20T22:08:00.003-04:00

Anyone who knows me knows I love Adidas. So simple, yet so classy and hip. This new commercial for Adidas originals just screams cool. It's entitled "The Street Where Originality Lives." God I want to live in the city!

The Making of Promo 1:

The Making of Promo 2:

(mini) Nissan Sentra Drift Commercial

2010-04-08T13:01:00.002-04:00

Here's a super cool commercial for the Nissan Sentra that uses a 1/10 scale RC version complete with an RC helicopter that has a camera mounted to it for aerial shots!

Try Again Nike: Tiger Woods Corrective Ad

2010-04-08T09:42:00.005-04:00

What were you thinking Nike? And come on Weiden + Kennedy. This is some terrible corrective advertising. I know you had to do something about this whole Tiger Woods scandal, but this isn't the way to go about it. Good move pulling it and not deciding to air it on the Master's.