Does honesty sell?

"Men Wanted for Hazardous Journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success."


Ad written around 1900 by the famed polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton.

"???" in today's context of consumer cepticism and distrut, would plain honesty without the hyperbolic adjectives we're used to hear on brands' speeches, be the best and more effective way to reach people?

Grand Central Station stunt:::bikinis and bathing suits hit grand central

YouTube Cannes Young Lions 48 Hour Ad Contest

Cannes International Advertising Festival is collaborating with Oxfam GB and YouTube to run a 48 hour advertising contest for Young Lions 2009. The entries are pouring in thick and fast right now. Here’s a few samples of what’s out there. But first, the explanation from Cannes.

Creative teams have the opportunity to get to Cannes with their winning entry but must be 28 or under. The ads, to be produced between May 15 and 17, will need to be turned into a viral campaign from May 18 to 31

Click on the image below to play the video in YouTube (HD)

YouTube Cannes Young Lions 48 Hour Ad Contest Brief (Summary)

Strange

Sehr Khan and Jure Repina demonstrate how strange the world would be without seasons. Director: Blaz Zavrsnik, Art Director: Matija Kocbek, Creative Directior Tine Lugaric, Music: Adam Giacomelli, Sound Production and Mastering: Andrija Sulic, Video Production: Blaz Zavrsnik, Post Production: Matija Kocbek, Lights: Adam Giacomelli.

Click on the image below to play the video in YouTube (HD)

Cow’s Fart

From France comes this exposition on the science of methane production, brought to us by Bruno Maugery at Conseil Publicis.

Click on the image below to play the video in YouTube (HD)

Oxfam Big Petition

Jon and Rob from Rapp, London, went to the streets with a giant petition.

Click on the image below to play the video in YouTube (HD)

New Media[Social Media]::: Who stays????

Sign Spinners

McDonald's:::Tourists are lovin’ it…

McDonald's Piccadilly Circus

BRAND OWNER:McDonald's Corporation

CATEGORY:Food

REGION:UK

DATE:Apr 2009 - Dec 2008

Piccadilly Circus is London's equivalent of Times Square - right at the heart of the city and filled with brands digital billboards, each clamouring for attention. Some 1.1 million Londoners and tourists pass through each week. McDonald’s tends to have a presence there, but wanted to create a more interactive experience and encourage people to specifically photograph the brand’s ad and then share the photographs.
McDonald's therefore launched an interactive sign where passers-by can interact with images displayed on McDonald's giant LED screen, and visitors can take an interactive role at one of London's most photographed locations. 

A series of images ranging from hats to speech bubbles, to idea clouds are shown on the giant LED screen billboard. People in Piccadilly circus can then position themselves to make it look as though they are wearing a hat, saying something or having an idea. People are then encouraged to post up their photos to Flickr or Facebook

McDonald's has long been the friend of weary tourists whose enthusiasm for the local cuisine has been exhausted by one dietary novelty too many...
But now that relationship has gone one step further, with the launch of a new 'interactive' billboard in London's Piccadilly Circus. The giant LED sign displays a rolling selection of images which invite camera-happy tourists to strike a pose with the props on screen.

Some of these have a British theme - an open umbrella and a city gent's bowler hat - while others are just about inviting participation - a birthday cake with candles you can pretend to blow out, a hammer that seems to beat you over the head, a strongman barbell you can hold triumphantly aloft.

The YouTube clip above shows the idea in action and the magnetic appeal it has to tourists... how many go on to eat a McDonald's burger after painstakingly lining up their shot has not yet been established but we're SO tempted to send someone down there to follow that up!  Participants can also upload their snaps to a dedicated Flickr group, set up to corrall all those happy memories into one big experience-extending gallery and ensure that the event remains public long after the holidaymakers go back home.

Inventive stuff from Leo Burnett! 

Flickr group 

Peugeot::: Nude |308 CC

In a cheeky bit of naked ambition, French automaker Peugeot inundated London's morning commuters today with a pool of 308 'nude' actors who appeared to only be wearing scarves. What was the reason for the au natural display? Why, to celebrate the arrival of the company's latest topless model, the 308 Coupe Cabriolet.
Upon closer inspection, it turns out that the flesh flash mob was actually outfitted in form-fitting body-colored suits, thus preventing the local authorities getting rude with the nudes.

Website : http://www.nudeinascarf.com/

Twitter:http://twitter.com/nudeinascarf/

Subway Art Gallery Opening

From http://improveverywhere.com/, 50 Improv Everywhere agents create and art gallery opening on a subway platform