You guys, let's get the bartender from Cheers for this! Casting: unoriginal. Acting: uninspired. Dialogue: painful. All of which is too bad. SMIRNOFF™ vodka deserves better advertising. It's a Russian-born brand, but it's made in America. It's also a quality product at an affordable price point. So, why insist that actor, author and environmentalist, Ted Danson, prefer SMIRNOFF over premium brands? …
House of Marley Got Riddim
I recently purchased a portable Bluetooth speaker from House of Marley. It sounds incredible. In fact, it sounds so good that I'm now considering their turntable. Let's examine the product's video marketing: https://youtu.be/QUvoUGdLyHs https://youtu.be/EKK5_KZij20 https://youtu.be/h-eVfn8HZWE What do you think? Are you ready to buy? I am. Bob Marley's son, Rohan Marley, told Forbes, "The Marley …
Hold It, What Are You Laughing For?
Paul Burke, a freelance copywriter and novelist, thinks advertising is no longer funny. He knows what of he speaks, and he knows why. "A client erring on the side of caution is like a pope erring on the side of Catholicism," he argues in Campaign. In other words, you need to take substantial risks to create the kind of emotional bonds that music, art, comedy, theater, literature, and the very best advertising help …
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Lovely Day for A Powerful Song
Emotion belongs in advertising. That's where the connections are made. Put another way, if you want to "win hearts and minds," you better make people feel something. Like so...BBDO/New York taps the soft spot with this spontaneous moment: https://youtu.be/FpdKo6JnQJA According to Campaign, when Alex Guthrie set his guitar case down in Atlanta’s Woodruff Park and began to busk, he thought he’d finally had …
Achieve Amazing Things Without Flying Too High
What happens when creative professionals rise too far up the agency ranks too fast? Word is they may lose touch with their craft. Veteran copywriter Ernie Schenck weighs in on the view from the top of the pyramid: ...far above the creative tree line, there’s nowhere to hide. And until that moment, there has always been somewhere to hide. But that’s not the worst of it. How do you stay creatively motivated …
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Film At 150
As a signature event celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary, this year’s National Canadian Film Day 150 will see more than 1,500 screenings in schools, theatres and public squares across the country and in consulates and embassies around the world. To help promote and drive participation in the festival on April 19, Reel Canada, the nonprofit that hosts NCFD, is launching a Canada-wide campaign developed by Leo …
Love, Sweet Love
Hyatt is a leading hospitality brand the world over. Therefore, inclusion is a core brand value and it shows. https://youtu.be/vOwVmRM9mIM According to Campaign, MullenLowe's new anthem is the hotel chain's first TV spot in a decade. The commercial makes its TV debut tonight during the 89th Academy Awards. Grammy-nominated singer Andra Day provides the soundtrack, a new rendition of the Hal David/Burt …
The Richards Group Keeps 7UP In the Mix
In a play for new customers, The Uncola is mixing it up with Sir Mix-a-Lot and 2 Chainz. The Dr. Pepper-owned brand is also making a strong play to be the mixer of choice for fans of adult beverages. It's an interesting twist to take a back seat to spirits, and one that could pay huge dividends. The following recipe videos were made by The Richards Group and the legendary recording artist. Sir Mix-a-Lot said, …
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What the Favre Is Going On?
Brett Favre isn't the player he once was. Time is a wicked messenger. https://youtu.be/AHK-AEJbn6Q https://youtu.be/DYiVjNDVvO4 Has Favre become a foreign agent in order to restore his arm to its previous state of grace? People do weird things to remain vital. What's your theory? Buffalo Wild Wings asks that you #HitTheButton and fit the advertising pieces together in a social media puzzle. We …
From Mad Man To Pitch Man
Jon Hamm is a commanding figure in front of the camera. His character "Don Draper" could sell ice to Eskimos. As an actor playing a tax prep pitchman, he's not bad either. There's drama in his delivery, and that's what top tier clients pay out the large dinero for—some sizzle to help them stand out in the crowd of over-produced, say nothing spots (that we're about to see much of during the run-up to Super Bowl …