Martha's Vineyard May Become Haven for 'Upscale' Advertising

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I know two things about Martha's Vineyard: 1) It's remote, and 2) it's where WASPs flock to decompress, especially since cohabitating co-eds have completely overrun the Hamptons.

But sometimes even plush places need sponsorship. The Martha's Vineyard Airport commission -- which does brisk business, since the island is only accessible by boat or plane -- is contemplating selling ad space inside and around the airport. Luxury Media Partners presented it with a 16-page handout earlier this month, outlining an upscale print and video ad package that covers indoor, outdoor and landing strip displays.

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by Angela Natividad    Sep-14-08    
Topic: Outdoor, Poster, Specialty, Trends and Culture, Video



Sifting Through the Debris of PhotoShelter's Collection

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"Ok, so this picture is a metaphor of-sorts," began Rachel Hulin in her last post for PhotoShelter. "You see, those are beautiful balloons. And we had a wonderful New Year's. But eventually the balloons floated to the floor. And then the cats ate them.

"And it's with this bit of knowledge that I sadly depart as stewardess of Shoot! the Blog."

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by Angela Natividad    Sep-12-08    
Topic: Online, Social, Specialty, Trends and Culture



Divorced? Divorcing? Hoping to? We've Got Your Card!

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Check out the "new face of divorce." FirstWivesWorld.com aspires to be the go-to social network for divorcees -- or women that expect to be divorced soon.

The site is chock-full of social media distraction, like blogs and videos from other casualties of wedlock. And like jilted partners trying with vigor to keep their outlooks sunny-side-up, desperately gleeful headlines shout, "A Single, Liberating Act: Reclaiming My Maiden Name" and "Divorce is the Best Thing Ever, Says Kate Hudson"!

But there are also practical lessons, like an old-fashioned schooling on the meaning of "honeytrap" and -- finally! -- a near-solid response to that irresistible question: do men have an infidelity gene? (Apparently some do.)

It's like the '50s! 2.0. With the most crucial difference being that while you drink alone, your charmingly redecorated home will ring with the slightly-delayed warmth and pixellated cheer of spankin' new digital chums.

Still perplexed? See video tutorial on why First Wives World exists.

by Angela Natividad    Sep-10-08    
Topic: Online, Social, Specialty, Strange, Trends and Culture



NCSoft Offers 'Immortality' With Space Station Time Capsule

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When you were little, did you ever make a time capsule with your friends and promise to come back to look at it in five years? Ten years? 15 years? No? Neither did I but millionaire, founder of NCSoft and creator of the game Tabula Rasa Richard Garriott is spending $30 million to be the sixth private citizen to fly into space and leave a digital time capsule behind. On his trip to the Space Station, he will take a flash drive full of information submitted by anyone who chooses to enter the Operation Immortality contest.

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by Steve Hall    Aug-13-08    
Topic: Inflight, Promotions, Specialty



ESPN 'Lost Socks' Chide Red Sox Over Ramirez Trade

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Acting quickly following the trade of the Red Sox' Manny Ramirez to the Los Angeles Ddgers, last Thursday, ESPN agency Ground Zero, by noon Friday, had plastered laundromats around LA county with lost socks affixed to a tag which read, "Lose a sock, Boston? ESPN joins Los Angeles in welcoming Manny Ramirez." Quick thinking and wit works just about every time. Nice work.

by Steve Hall    Aug- 4-08    
Topic: Good, Guerilla, Specialty



Rhea Scott Talks Music Videos, Little Minx, Exquisite Corpse and Fresh Underpants

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I recently got to sit down with Rhea Scott, Ridley Scott's daughter-in-law. (A breathy PR guy related that trivia to me about four times, which is why I mention it in the VERY. FIRST. SENTENCE.)

Rhea once headed the music video department at Propaganda. 10 years ago she started Little Minx, a production company focused on turning ad directors into filmmakers. From what I gathered in the film reels, directors are encouraged to treat each ad like a miniature manifesto. (It probably also helps to be a surrealist art fan.)

Little Minx is able to provide the necessary creative resources -- read: king-sized budget, the ideal artist's sponsorship -- through parent company RSA.

Rhea says the company was named for her second daughter, "the ultimate little minx" and the child actress in "Come Wander with Me," part of a promotional project called Exquisite Corpse.

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Watch Out for that Hair; It Could Kill a Small Mammal

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Hoping to milk the star (?) for all his worth, Nationwide has released behind-the-scenes footage of its ad featuring Sanjaya Malakar. Shot in India, footage depicts the American Idol castaway singing in the face of a firmly shut door (what a metaphor!). You'll be pleased to know Sanjaya's hair is as wack as ever.

Nationwide loves a talented media whore, and Sanjaya certainly fits the bill, so it was just a matter of time before the two found each other eventually.

To learn more about his partnership with Nationwide, read a recent Sanjaya interview.

by Angela Natividad    Jun- 1-08    
Topic: Agencies, Campaigns, Celebrity, Commercials, Specialty



Seat Savers Help Philadelphia Boost Nightlife

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Sometimes you walk into a bar and you want everyone to pay attention to you. Other times, you want to be left the hell alone. Philadelphia's Center City District, with help from LevLane, is there to help with a promotion from Brazilian run importer Leblon which features two-sided seat savers with varying messages.

Other media include newspaper, radio, bus shelter and direct.The whole thing hopes to promote downtown Philadelphia as an after work entertainment spot with a weekly "Sips Happy Hour" every Wednesday in 60 bars from 5-7PM during the summer.

by Steve Hall    May- 2-08    
Topic: Specialty



National Lampoon Democratizes Whores, One Diamond at a Time

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For the Spitzer in all of us, National Lampoon debuts Whore Diamonds, a Hot or Not-type site that uses the Emperors Club "diamond" rating system to, well, rate whores. Whore Diamonds joins the Drunk University Network.

Most images and videos are strays from Eros-Vegas and Adult Friend Finder. The pressie says the site "will expand into a forum for breaking news and daily biting commentary on the underground world of politics, pop culture, and entertainment."

Two cents from Sam Elhag, head of strategy for Drunk University Network: "We don't feel that only politicians and Emperors Club members should have an exclusive on rating today's generation of working girls. This opens up the process to the masses. Who knows, a 'five diamond' girl to a Spitzer may only be a 'three diamond' to the rest of the world."

How noble.

by Angela Natividad    Apr-28-08    
Topic: Brands, Online, Racy, Specialty



Tactical SEO: Welcome to the Google Show

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The most informative session I attended at ad:tech was the Tactical SEO Workshop -- which isn't really saying much.

Panel stars included Bruce Clay, the most talkative moderator I've ever seen, and Aaron D'Souza of Google -- who, Clay anxiously pointed out, was also on this panel last year. There were two other people on board -- but as Aaron Batte snippily Twittered, it was pretty much The Aaron D'Souza Show.

To kick things off, here's something you probably didn't know: Of all sites that commit the icky mistake of using it to point to a URL, Adobe ranks highest for the phrase "Click here."

Do yourself (and whomever else you link to) a favor. When linking, use relevant anchor text instead of the generic sort.

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by Angela Natividad    Apr-21-08    
Topic: Industry Events, Online, Research, Specialty