The Swines!

While the whole world panics about Swine Flu, the media continues to relish the opportunity to have headlines like "KILLER FLU" "KILLER FOREIGN BUG HITS MIDDLE CLASSES" and "KILLER FLU STRIKES ON ANIVERSARY OF PRINCESS DIANA's CHICKEN POX SCARE" (guess which papers)

But this reminds me that despite the obvious danger this virus could pose, we should always be sure to look at things realistically to help us take precautions that actually help.

Which takes me to a great book I read recently by Ben Goldacre that uncovers all the bullshit and media panic behind health stories. He has appeared on Watchdog AND Charlie Brookers Newswipe... that alone makes it worth a view: Bad Science

To explain in a few words, here is a great pic from XKCD (via Layscience)

Pardon?

A while ago I mentioned the build up to the new Renault ad with Eric Cantona. I hoped it would be the start of some good work for Renault, and remind us why even those of us who hated (at the time) Man Utd liked the Frenchman.

Well after that I never saw or heard a peep about the actual ad.

Which given the nature of it is hardly surprising. It looks pretty dull, and is effectively a feature list.



I don't think it is the best use of Monsiour Cantona, but he does make it work. The exaggeration of the selling just about comes through, and the play on his personality is pretty nice.

Nothing amazing, but its a damn site better than what Renault have done recently. I hope they keep improving though, as this only worked because of good casting.

It's oh so quiet...

Ssh! Ssh!

Yes I know it's been pretty quiet here recently, and I apologise! Been pretty darn busy both at work and at home. That will change from... er... NOW!

Help!!

You know how annoying it is when an opportunity comes up that you aren't quite able to take? I feel like that at the moment...

I have been offered tickets to go to the 50th Anniversary Clio Awards in Las Vegas in May. A really excellent experience of awards, keynotes, panels and the like for someone who has only been in adland for a year (1 year Tuesday I might add!).

The annoying part is I just don't have the money for the travel costs...

So in the spirit of entrepreneurs, bloggers, and nutcases; I have decided to take this one online and see if I can't wangle something somehow somewhere!

It's time for the Help Get Rob to The Clios! campaign. How this will work I don't yet know... Ad funded blogging? Legal name change to brand spokesman? Nice airline looking for publicity? ...but any help, retweets, links or ideas you can give are very very much appreciated!

Social Media Theory No 1

State THEORY - Still thinking through it...

Social Media is not straight response, it is a creative world.

If you want to fuel social media, treat your ad/campaign as if it were a brief to creatives. Provide inspiration but don't be too rigid on where they can go.

and then this

Following on from Birds Eye and their odd Salmon fetish, we have a new car ad struggling so very hard to be sexy and failing totally.

"I'm looking for something kinda Drive sexy"
"We have a Peugeot 308 in your size"
"Fact me"

I see how that might be funny, but the actors look like they have been plucked Gillette style for their looks not their abilities. Which spoils the whole ad completely, it sacrifices the potential humour for sexiness, but fails to actually make it work.

What's still remarkable to me is just how little advertising has actually changed when it comes to gender and sex; sadly this ad forgets that small Peugeots aren't really sexy. (Except the Pinifarina designed ones...205, 406 coupe)

Something fishy going on...

Kids are going to find this Salmon fish fingers ad funny and silly, but to me it just doesn't feel like Birds Eye. It lacks their usual homely charm and replaces it with mild sexual references...

Come Back TV... Come Baaaaack!

Is TV dead?

There has been a lot of debate on this at Scamp and The Ad Contrarian recently, and I felt now was time for my two cents worth.

No.

Does anyone realistically forecast the death of tv unless there is a business, political or financial reason to do so? Do you think the average man on the street (in the UK at the very least) would say TV is dead?!

We are not the population. Just because we watch iplayer and have Sky+HD boxes with every episode of The Wire recorded doesn't mean the other 59.9 million folk do.

Every country is different but even then, TV dead? Don't make me laugh.