Islam is Cool. By the Way, Here's a Wife.

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Hoping to expand your nuptial smorgasbord? Add Shaadi to your list -- which, if you've been paying attention, should already include Russians, Filipinos and good white-bread Christian girls.

Shaadi is a conservative Indian "matrimonial" site, which I guess is less obnoxious than Filipina Heart's more overt cattle call. I found the ad alongside an article titled "Ad campaign promoting Islam angers NY lawmaker." Dude, that is some seriously misguided contextual action.

by Angela Natividad    Jul-23-08    
Topic: Bad, Online, Strange



Hey Look, a Motorcycle Show.

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Here's a really long trailer for Sons of Anarchy, a gritty FX man-drama about motorcycle clubs and the families that send the burly soldiers yonder.

What you can expect: emotional outbursts, a Molotov cocktail or two, some girl-punches and a swastika. And you thought Mad Men was real!

The ad was built in-house, with a heightened sense of melodrama brought to you by PrimalScream Music, which composed The Dream We Left Behind especially for the show.

by Angela Natividad    Jul-23-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Commercials, Television



Just Another Sad Chick Who Thinks Sex Will Save Puppies

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Subject Line: How Sex with Brad Garrett Can Save Puppies!

Body: This is hilarious! You got to see it. Regina Russell partners with us at The Humane Society of the United States from time to time and oh man is the video a riot! She is one creative gal producing this video!

Homegirl's not that funny. Though I can see how the scene with the bear and the cigarette might elicit a hoarse guffaw.

by Angela Natividad    Jul-23-08    
Topic: Bad, Cause, Online, Video



Get Diverse During Advertising Week With Recruitment Program

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During Advertising Week, Adrants and the Business Development Institute will be hosting its second annual ADEx: The Advertising Industry Experienced Hire Diversity Recruiting Program. Yes, we know it's a mouthful but its purpose is really simple: to bring recruiters and and experience advertising professionals together. Although all, of course, are welcome to apply, our focus is on diverse candidates including those with minority backgrounds, women, and GLBT.

There's lots of opportunities for job seekers as well as employers (remember how poorly you were represented a couple weeks ago. Here's a chance to rectify that a bit. Check out all the details here.

by Steve Hall    Jul-23-08    
Topic: Industry Events



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Shoot! the Day Brings Stock Photo Angst to the Fore

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On Sunday I moderated an ad agency panel for Shoot! the Day, a day-long photographer conference put together by PhotoShelter.

A few things I picked up amidst coleslaw mountains and sassy stock:


  • ADs and art buyers depend pretty heavily on stock photography, but feel like they've seen everything the industry has to offer -- including its paltry selection of models. "It's become a running joke," said Molly Aaker of Unit7. "'There's that same girl, except with her hair up!'"

  • Diversity is an issue, but it can't be solved just by changing the color of people's faces. Belinda Lopez of StrawberryFrog wants to see more "documentary-style" imagery -- people in natural poses, expressing real emotions, and doing things a person in that situation and/or of that ethnicity is likely to do.

  • Everybody seems crazy about PhotoShelter -- which is probably why they attended the first annual Shoot! the Day in the first place.

more »

by Angela Natividad    Jul-23-08    
Topic: Agencies, Events, Good, Opinion



This is Not an Ad For Apple

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This is not an ad for Apple. Apple doesn't do racy ads. Apple doesn't believe sex sells. Nope. This is not an ad for Apple. Apple prefers hipsteresque silhouettes and white space. Industrial design and witty repartee. Tiny envelopes and bloviated PC guys. This is not an ad for Apple.

We're more likely to see Steve Jobs himself appear in an Apple ad than some cutie in black lingerie lounging on a white couch. No, this is not an ad for Apple. It is, however, an ad for MacUnblogged. Sort of.

You've got to love a brand that motivates people to photograph themselves - or hot models - with the brand's products.

by Steve Hall    Jul-23-08    
Topic: Brands, Racy, Spoofs



Next Time You're in Quicksand, Lie Still. (Thanks, Samsung!)

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Test Your Instincts is a free (brought to you by Samsung Instinct!) quiz that gauges a person's wildlife savvy: what do you do when a jellyfish stings, when a shark comes angling for your surfboard, or when you're stuck in quicksand (which happens to me all the time)?

The scenarios are wordy, but you'll at least learn something* and there's no registration process. I fared pretty terribly. Oddly, the answers I did know were mostly culled from Captain Planet.

more »

by Angela Natividad    Jul-23-08    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Games, Online, Promotions



British Royal Zara Phillips Continues Work With Land Rover

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As a follow up to its original rugby film, Land Rover is out with another which debuted mid-July and has, again, tapped British royalty to appear in the video. In the new video, the goofy rugby lover puts his smarmy moves on Zara Phillips, the eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II. Phillips, an equestrienne Eventing World Champion is seen taking her horse out of its trailer while the goofy dude tries to explain to Phillips, who, apparently, he doesn't know, how simple horse rising is. Philips just smiles but the horse doesn't take too kindly to the dude's smarm.

In late 2006, Phillips appeared in a print ad for Land Rover wearing a gown covered in mud with the headline, "Beautifuly Poised." The Queen wasn't all that happy about her appearing in the ad but perhaps she's had a chance to get used to Phillip's more "real world" endeavors.

by Steve Hall    Jul-23-08    
Topic: Celebrity, Good, Strange, Video



Yawn. Lions Yawn. Dead Antelope Dances. Yes, It's A Samsung Ad!

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To some, yawning lions who break into song could be interpreted as funny, amusing or even entertaining. Even a half-eaten dead antelope who gets up and dances could cause a giggle. Thankfully for those who don't find this sort of thing amusing, this Samsung video promoting the NV24HD only lasts 1:19. For the rest of the story (as some old news dude used to say), a visit to seethewholestory.com will give you the details on the new camera.

by Steve Hall    Jul-23-08    
Topic: Brands, Video