There Are Similarities Here

I finally watched 30 Rock for the first time this weekend after tons of my friends saying they love it. There are a lot of parallels with the advertising world on that show – it makes me a little uncomfortable. The people are eerily the same. A friend told me I have a lot in common with Alec Baldwin’s character, Jack. This is quite frightening. Might have been his way of telling me he thinks I’m a overworked, meddling psychopath. Am I? Shit.

This banner ad on Gawker for it makes me want to click through for one reason: Tracy Morgan’s face. Love it. So when I did click through, I was pleasantly surprised. The site for the show (lives within nbc.com) is actually really well done! Tons of content, streaming video, etc. But if you’re on a Mac, like me, you’re fucked. Can’t see/watch anything interesting.

Come On Eileen

This European microsite for Wrangler Jeans was really well done by Emakina. I think the video is embedded perfectly, the art direction’s great, everything. But I have 2 questions: 1) are Wrangler jeans popular in Europe? If so, this disturbs me, and 2) why do the models look like they’re from a Dexy’s Midnight Runners video?

(via Favourite Website Awards)

Chanel, Chanel, Chanel. What’s Wrong With You?

Come on now. I know you’ve got the goods. Your latest print campaign is beautiful. And the email I got last night for the same campaign was okay. But the “private” microsite to which it redirects (username: mademoiselle, password: private)? Stuffy. Lackluster. Prosaic. Shall I go on? I’m sure it cost you a small fortune to make this site about Coco Chanel’s apartment. But video for video’s sake can be a huge mistake. It was well filmed. The sound design is very nice. But after spending a minute on the site, I wanted to roll around on a bed of pushpins, douse myself in rubbing alcohol and then light a match.

Peyton’s 7 for 15

Commercials, that is. During the first Monday Night Football game last night, I swear I saw him in every other commercial. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Peyton. But Jesus Christ, he’s endorsing everything. Thought I’d visit the video-based microsite he stars in for Sprint, Manning’s Mind, where you match wits with Peyton on football trivia. Apparently, I know that there are 6 tiger stripes on the Cincinnati helmet. This knowledge must have been acquired by osmosis from watching last night’s game, because I damn sure know I don’t pay attention to that crap. I’m kinda bored by the site, but I’m positive it’s not Goodby Silverstein‘s fault, since they always do such engaging work. Must be the client. I’m just saying.

Strange and Beautiful

Looooooong loading time on this site, but it’s worth the wait – Fingal did an excellent job for the Aston Martin DBS. The Flash backgrounds are subtle but beautiful – very impressive.

Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But…

I’m just reminded of a scary movie or The Blair Witch Project when I watch the video on this site.  But it’s okay – it’s only an art director from Saatchi and Saatchi showing off his work. On a separate note, how does Dracula keep his part so nice and neat if he can’t see himself in a mirror?

I’ll Never Cheat On You Again Eyewonder

Our shop’s been alternating between EyeWonder and one of their competitors for a few months but I’m always impressed by the rich media campaigns they make happen.  Right now they’re featuring a floating video ad on their site for Adidas they did with Nitro Group.  Very nicely done. But what’s more impressive is the metrics: average time viewed, 23.17 seconds and a CTR high of 5.74 (which is outstanding).

Think Filthy? Okay. Twist My Arm.

I couldn’t be happier – porn and advertising! My two loves. DDB New Zealand did this microsite for Sky Television’s new adult channel, Fresh. Very funny video – I’m a sucker for bad double entendres and chickens.

(via Ads Of The World)

The Bitch Is Back

After 2 weeks of client (and boss) hell and out of town conferences, I finally can breathe! I promise to never leave you like that again.  Unless something better comes along, of course. Kidding. Kind of.

I so love that European agencies can get away with banners like this (below) – this reminds me of the business trip I just got back from…the suitcase part, obviously.  I got so much schwag at the conference, I’ll be good on t-shirts and flash drives for a while.   Banner for the NHS by UK shop Grand Union – very nice job.

(via Banner Blog)

 

I thought yesterday was a bad day….

…until I came to work today. I can honestly say this was the worst day at work I’ve ever had in a long time. When your managing partner yells “I’ve fucking had it!” across the office and turns bright red, you know you’re on the cusp of some good YouTube video. It’s a little after nine at night and I see no end in sight – so I just took a little break and saw this interactive UK health department site on BannerBlog news. It’s called “Private Dick Movie” – I swear the girl looks like our office whore biz dev manager.

Four Seasons Boring Boring

My mini-vacation was great but the Hyatt I stayed in was no Four Seasons, and definitely no Four Seasons Bora Bora (although my mini-bar did have Pringles and Ritz crackers). I have these pretentious asshole friends who stayed there for a month on their honeymoon and I still turn green with envy every time I think about the photos from their trip. So when I saw on Favourite Website Awards that The Four Seasons Bora Bora had a new site for their private residences, I made a beeline over there. The video is fabulous – well rendered, compressed and beautifully shot, but the rest of the site is a big yawn. Can’t blame the agency though – we all know how that works. Take a look – you’ll probably disagree and think I’m a stupid jealous bitch. And I am.

(site by Sid Lee – whose agency site is very, very cool)