Monday, March 31, 2008

Travelers Insurance Red Umbrella

In a noisy bar this weekend a commercial between March Madness Ballgames caught my eye. I wasn't surprised to find out it was the latest commercial for Travelers Insurance.

In the past Travelers has brought us award winning ads such as, "Risk Never Sleeps" and "Snowball."

You can view the ad by clicking the image. I haven't been able to hunt down who directed it yet but will post as soon as I do.

Client: Travelers
Agency: Fallon
Executive Creative Director: Al Kelly
CD/Art Director: Scott O'Leary
CD/Copywriter: Ryan Peck
Creative Director: Todd Riddle
Director of Broadcast: Vic Palumbo
Agency Executive Producer: Kate Talbott
Production Company: MJZ
Director: Rupert Sanders
Director of Photography: Christopher Soos
Executive Producer: Eric Stern
Line Producer: Laurie Boccaccio, Katie Smith
Editorial Company: Spotwelders
Editor: Bill Smedley
Executive Producer (Editorial): David Glean
Producer (Editorial): Lisa English
Assistant Editor: Sterling Robertson
VFX: Mass Market
VFX Creative Director: Cedric Nicholas
Lead Flame Artist: Jamie Scott
Flame Artist: Sarah Eim
VFX Executive Producer: Justin Lane,
Angela Bowen
VFX Producer: Nancy Nina Hwang
3D Lead Artist: Jeff Dates
Telecine: Company 3
Colorist: Sean Coleman
Music: Stimmung
Composer: Robert Miller
Producer (Music): Joey Reyes
Engineer: Michael Golub
Sound Design: Mit Out Sound
Sound Designer: Ren Klyce
Producer (Sound): Misa Kageyama
Mix: Sound Lounge
Mixer: Tom Jucarone



Friday, March 28, 2008

Video Pop-Up Book

I'm in love. I found this over on Motionographer. I love the diverse interactive elements incorporated in the alphabet, how cool is the 'U'?

Jayson Atienza

I've been in New York the last couple of days. I attended the Creativity 50 event last night, met some clients, and had the pleasure of chilling with Art Director Jayson Atienza of BBDO. Jayson is disgustingly talented, with his hands in the art and fashion worlds as much as advertising.You can check out more of Jayson's artwork on his site here.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Schweppes Bursts in a Slow Motion Ballet

This spot was brought to my attention last week by Jeremy of Reptastic . I don't know what i think is more beautiful, the moments of quiet anticipation as the balloons slowly hover in space or when the balloons seem to liquefy right before they burst. It's all wonder full, slow down and give it a watch.

The spot was created by agency George Patterson Y&R
and directed by Garth Davis via Exit Films both out of Australia. Garth has an amazing reel including award winning work for Xbox and Boots.






Monday, March 24, 2008

YouTube Awards

Last week YouTube announced the winners of the 2007 YouTube Awards. One of my clients won for best series "The Guild" - toot-toot! Very funny stuff.

The video that I had to shout about aside from that is the winner in the creative category, "The Human TETRIS Performance." You can't help but imagine all of the choreography that went into making this one...and the rendition of the TETRIS theme music is quite nice as well.


Hanker for a Hunka Cheese

OK, there is nothing new about this commercial, it's from when I was a kid, but the animation in the Tap project PSA reminded me of it so much I couldn't help myself. The quality of the video isn't great, I'm going to keep looking for a better version.

Friday, March 21, 2008

UNICEF Tap Project: Los Angeles

This spot is showing up in all the trades and I just think it's really sweet. I love the simple, cheery animation and I really love the song.



The spot comes via TBWA/Chiat/Day Los Angeles. The song is performed by artist Joey Ryan.

The Tap Project has invited restaurants in LA to ask customers to donate $1 for their glass of tap water March 16-22. The proceeds will provide clean drinking water for those that are not so fortunate.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Illustrations on Vinyl for NOVA French Radio

Here is some more Vinyl Art this time advertising NOVA French Radio.

The ads were created via Young & Rubicam Paris, and the illustrations were done by a handful of artists, including the agency Art Director and Copy Writer, Jessica Gerard-Huet and Jean-François Bouchet. So thats how they got the range of looks! I think the James Brown one is my favorite.




































I found these on Ads of the World. If you want more you should go there,
they blow up huge so you can see all the detail of the illustrations.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Michael Muller at Folsom Prison

I was feeling uninspired today so I decided to check out photographer Michael Muller's website to see what he's been up to. Michael has a really amazing portfolio that spans advertising, film promotion, celebrity portraiture, creative photography and extreme sports.

Muller was responsible for all of the Walk the Line promo photography, (not to mention X-Men, Spiderman, Fantastic 4.) You may have seen the hugely over-sized Black and White portraits of Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon hanging from the ceiling in your local mall when the film came out. Anyway in the gallery on his site he has some other photos he took while at Folsom Prison shooting for Walk the Line, which I thought were worth sharing.













It's snowing here, turn on the Johnny Cash and look at some pretty pictures.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Stop Motion "Cherry Bomb"

I stumbled upon the newest video for Spoon "Cherry Bomb," over at Feed this morning. So nice to see people are still making creative and interesting music videos.

This video is hand animated using paper cut outs and photocopies (very similar to the Juno intro.) My favorite part is the behind the scenes
flickr photos that reveal some of the film making process. I think it's inspiring to see the set up in what looks like someone's apartment, makes me feel like there is no reason not to be making something.










The video was created by
Double Triple and Ryan Junell.

Monday, March 17, 2008

American Apparel's Synchronized Nylons

If you've ever spent any time on American Apparel's website you've seen the art and media that they showcase in addition to their online store. My favorite section is the amateur photography gallery, full of random contributors documenting their surroundings or adventures (I love the Minnesota gallery.)

American Apparel recently created this video with the LA Contemporary Dance Company to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of nylon. Enjoy the color wheel of limbs.



I found this bit on Contagious this morning.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Guinness Campaign to Make St. Patrick's Day a Real Holiday

Because I'm over this work week and very much looking forward to singing Rattlin' Bog, Drunken Sailor, and Charlie on the MTA, with a lot of drunk strangers tomorrow I thought I'd post one of the new Guinness spots. This one with Abe Lincoln is my favorite, cracked me up the first time I saw it, actually no, it still cracks me up.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Polaroid Alive and Well in Adidas Original

This new video celebrating Polaroid is actually an Adidas Original, titled "Handbags for Feet."

The short (or commercial or whatever it is) is the story of a young woman in Berlin that documents the details of her world with her trusty Polaroid SX-70.



The spot is directed by Ben Dawkins of Stink, the agency is 180 Amsterdam.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

A City Without Advertising?

Wallpaper Magazine is featuring the work of photographer Gregor Graf, whose latest exhibition, Hidden Town, explores what cities across Europe would look like with all of the advertising and language stripped away.

The result is amazing, and somewhat disorienting. My first thought was that it looks like the Universal Backlot, my second thought was, what would Boston look like or Sunset Blvd.? I found myself trying to imagine the signage that might be there, and have to admit I was forced to look at the captions to tell which city I was looking at.

The
Wallpaper article that accompanies the work is quite good, give it a read.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

AWNtv : Elena Wen's Seat 29E

Animation World Network has launched an online tv channel, showcasing hours of animated shorts, trailers, music videos, commercials, viral content, and more.

This short by Elena Wen is in the form of a complaint letter to Continental Airlines about the seat next to the bathroom. Funny, stylish, and so relateable...I've never had the luxury of sitting there but I know I'm guilty of being a space encroaching line waiter.



Monday, March 10, 2008

Twist: Play With Yourself

These print ads are fun, kinda creepy, something about the reality of the dolls is a little weird, and that big reflection in the Dressing Room mirror is just scary. So I like them, and with a tag line of "Play With Yourself" all in all I think the ads are good. But. What the hell are they for?









I assume it's a clothing line, or accessories, fashion of some sort, but I can't find exactly what. I'm very frustrated. Normally I like to check out the product an ad is selling so I can form my own opinions about it. Do I think it's a good match branding wise and hey - I'm a woman, I'm all for doing some online shopping if the clothes is as interesting as the ad. But I can't find it.


I've googled "Twist," 'Twist Clothing," "Twist Play with Yourself," and many variations. I'm able to find other ad blogs with the campaign showcased but no one explains what they are for. They come from Grey Istanbul, maybe it's a local Turkish brand? If anyone can shine any light on them I'd be very excited.

Friday, March 7, 2008

RIME (aka Jersey Joe) Show Opens at Ghettogloss

Graffiti Muralist RIME opens a new show in Silverlake tonight. I read the news on Lurker, an LA Weekly blog dedicated to street art in the Los Angeles area, one of my favorite reads.

Jersey Joe is of particular interest to me, as he recently painted on camera for some Adidas spots. The commercials, which are about a year old now, show the process in a time lapse format, ultimately promoting a limited edition sneaker designed by the artist.

Part of what I love most about the spot below is the homage to street graffiti in the way we see the mural from start to finish and we also get to see it covered and turned back into a blank canvas.
It has to take a great artist to come to terms with the temporary nature of this art form, truly loving it for the process.



The commercials were produced by Guerilla fx.

*** check out photos from the show here.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Some Sophisticated Sound for Panasonic DVD Theater

I think these ads are pretty enough to frame. I found them over at Ads of The World. I love how the agency, Fischer America, took the traditional Batman and Robin Pows! and totally glammed them up.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Wristband Advertising

I had the pleasure of going to a show this weekend, ( Matt Costa and he was great in case you're wondering) and was surprised to see the accessory of the evening, the wristbands that separated me from the youngans, were more colorful than normal.

The sticky arm band doubled as an advertisement for FX's series Dirt. The graphics are pretty cute, and I do see the appeal of branding the wrists of club goers for the night or the weekend, or however long the average person keeps their band on for, but it got me thinking about the demographic and how the advertiser chose the venue.Being a socially active twenty something in LA and Boston, I've seen plenty of hand stamp advertising but I think this is the first wristband that didn't just advertise the event or club I was attending. Normally its a cosponsor, a liquor label, or the club name if its not a black X or a crappy smiley face on the back of your hand, right?

On aesthetics alone I like it. The comic book colors and styling are fun but I was at The Paradise Rock Club in Boston. The clientèle doesn't scream Courtney Cox to me. How did they come up with that?

I thought maybe they were coating the city and it was a generic thing without too much thought, then I realized it was a specifically printed Paradise Club bracelet. Hmmm. Lets look at the schedule and see who's playing this month...

Sia, Slightly Stoopid, Pete Francis, and then the yearly return of The Dropkick Murphy's. I dunno, maybe I need to watch the show before I judge, do you think it's a match?

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

A Brief Guide About Bridesmaids

After performing maid of honor duties in two weddings in the last two years I found myself hooked on wedding planning sites. The production designer in me loves the the idea of having and amazing budget to basically set decorate one big room for a day, and the girl in me can't help but pick and choose the elements that - at the moment - would be perfect if I was to be forced to plan my own wedding. ( don't get scared Mike!)
That being said, I couldn't resist when i saw this short, A Brief Guide About Bridesmaids, on Feed this morning.

The film was made by Amber Mackay, Nicolas Alexander and Yaniv Fridman for a class at the Vancouver Film School. The end result is darling, and they even have a blog dedicated to the making of where they share the secrets of their creative process.

Monday, March 3, 2008

Flaming Red Bull

Ogilvy Action, Beijing has created some new print ads for Red Bull letting you know what to order the next time you want a little pick me up with your cocktail.











Is this a new trend? I feel like there have been a couple other brands lately advertising not just their product but how to order it or what to drink it with. Jose Cuervo Black is one with their "Ask for Cuervo Black and Cola" campaign. I know there are others, any thoughts?