This week's guest judge is Alan Russell, Chief Creative Officer, DDB Canada, Vancouver.
Alan was influential in turning Palmer Jarvis, now DDB Canada, into the creative force it is today. He was Strategy Magazine's top-ranked copywriter for five consecutive years, #1 Creative Director twice and has been named in Advertising Age's List of Top 10 Creatives. His work has won numerous awards, including Cannes, Communication Arts, One Show, Clios, D&AD and London International. Last year, DDB Canada was named Canada's Strategy Magazine Agency of the Year. When not obsessing about creative, Alan enjoys travel, hiking, theatre, hot curries, live music and, masochistically, following Bolton Wanderers of the English Premier League.
Click Read More to read Alan's review...
BEST TVIs it just me, or is there a plethora of expensive spots these days featuring the 'domino effect' theme? For this reason,
Sony doesn't make the podium, whereas the we're-being-responsible-with-the-budget-looking
Walls spot does, as Runner Up. It's a simple premise, with a simple fact and simple production. Very funny, too. Meanwhile, my First Choice has to go to
Canal. This campaign, with the insight of 'Films too good to keep to yourself', had me hooked from day one, and they show no signs of lowering the bar. Well-scripted, beautifully shot, perfectly cast and no, I hadn't the slightest idea how it was going to pay off on first viewing until the final reveal.
BEST PRINTI was certainly intrigued by
Black & Decker Lawnmower, and pondered for a minute if they used a real snake, but finally
Ogawa Ventilating Fan won out for Runner Up. It's classic problem/solution, but done in a refreshing and humorous way. Nice one. For me, there was no question for First Choice: SBS Television's
First Australians. What a riveting piece, that can only lead me to believe the tv program itself would be equally as riveting. Best of all, this doesn't come across as an ad, rather as part of history, in the not-too-distant past at that. Wish I'd done it.
BEST OUTDOORAs much as I liked
Keep Holland Clean Garbage Bus (gets the point across in an original way, despite blocking the driver's rear view), I settled on the
Sampoerna Ramadhan Fasting idea for Runner Up. It's a somewhat busy execution but a really smart idea, exploiting day and night messages to the fullest. First Choice goes to
Green Party. It's so damn simple I ask myself, as with all the best work, why didn't someone think of that before? Few words, striking photography, emotional appeal, clever, yep it's got my vote.
