NewsReel 14/11/08

Wave Studios launches in Amsterdam.

Award-winning audio post-production and sound design hot-shop expands operations, opening new studios in Continental Europe

Wave Studios one of London's most respected audio post-production and sound design facility, opens its doors in city-centre Amsterdam, at the heart of the city’s creative hub, on the Herengracht. This month, founders Johnnie Burn and Warren Hamilton, who opened Wave’s UK doors in Soho in 1999, see the culmination of two years work in bringing Wave’s audio expertise and creative talent to the Netherlands.

The UK’s multi-award winning sound design hot-shop capitalises on its reputation at the top of its game with the new facilities in Continental Europe. Wave Amsterdam is designed to service both the local Dutch market as well as the international creative industry and will be working on a local rate card.

Founder Johnnie Burn explains: “Amsterdam is a magnet for creative bureaus. The Dutch are known for their design talent and creative eye, we’re excited about tapping into that. We also considered New York and LA, but expansion into mainland Europe is a better first step. Eventually we’d like to attract business from throughout the Continent, but the Netherlands is certainly our main focus.”

Co-owners Burn and Hamilton assume the role of Creative Directors to oversee projects by their audio-design team, who work from three state of the art studios. These cater for all radio and dubbing needs including Dolby Cinema in 5.1. The studios also have digital picture facilities and access to a vast collection of 200,000 sound effects.

Warren Hamilton points out: “Wave has developed a worldwide reputation for sound excellence because we've built the business on a core ethos of creative distinction, passion for audio and unswerving dedication. Our Engineers are like artists; their creative talents make them an obvious choice for the industry's leading writers and directors."

Established 10 years ago, Wave's very first TV spot was the iconic Guinness 'Surfer' ad which sees horses stampeding through the ocean. Since then, Wave has been responsible for countless ad classics including Sony Bravia 'Paint', Sony 'Balls', Honda 'Grrr', Stella Artois 'Skating Priest', BBC ‘Rush Hour’ and Levis 'Planet'.

http://www.wavestudios.com/
http://www.wavestudios.nl/


Awards Mania.
The Reel was recently invited to attend the 22nd London International Advertising Awards, the winners of which were announced at an epic ceremony in London’s glitzy, velvet draped, Hippodrome. This year saw a grand total of 17,969 entries in total, with categories ranging from packaging design to digital and integrated media. In keeping with the awards’ spirit of rewarding only the ‘right kind of advertising’, only six of the nine categories saw grand prizes awarded at all, with integrated, packaging design and outdoor missing out on the top spot.

BBDO New York made history by scooping a grand total of three grand prizes; for BBC World in the NTM and design categories and for their HBO Voyeur campaign in the digital media category. The office scooped a staggering 39 statues including the three grand prizes.

A fourth was scooped by Colenso BBDO in Auckland for their radio ad ‘Offensive’, to promote the New Zealand Comedy Festival in what amounted to a bumper year for the network. This coincides with the launch of the 2008 Gunn Report, which saw BBDO claim the most awarded network spot.

Big TV winners that were on the night included the eponymous Fallon ‘Gorilla’ bashing his way to the big prize as well as a slew of other Reel faves winning one of the many, many gold and silvers. Some of the highlights included Shweppes ‘Burst’ Skittles ‘Touch’ and ‘Enemy Weapon’ for Halo 3.

Awards for best haircut and lamest dance were not given out at the event, but we at the Reel are hoping that they will be included next year. Well done to all the winners (and there were quite a few) and thanks to the LIAA for a top night.
For more info the winners this year and details on next years event / submitting work check the LIAA site http://www.liaawards.com/


Mauricio Alarcón joins SCPF.
Mauricio Alarcón joins SCPF to share the Executive Creative Management of the agency with David Caballero. Both will have responsibility over all of the accounts and all of the agency teams, reporting directly to Toni Segarra. With this addition to the team, the restructuring of SCPF’s creative leadership is complete.

Born in 1973, Mauricio Alarcón has spent the past two and a half years working at Crispin Porter + Bogusky on accounts for such names as Burger King or Nike
Mauricio will share the management of the Spanish agency’s creative department with David Caballero, while Toni Segarra will be in charge of overall supervision and strategy coherence.

Toni Segarra comments:
“We continue to work with mature talents who possess a wide range of experience and solid strategic thinking, capable of both dialogue and maximum levels of collaboration with every single one of our clients. We hope that Mauricio’s incorporation will allow him to share his international experience; his first-hand knowledge of the transformation being brought about by digital technology in all areas of day-to-day life; and his fascinating experience in a projects that is one of the most successful in achieving an overall management model with the idea as the fundamental principle, as the seed and process, not as a momentary solution to problems as they arise. We do not understand communication that lacks structure. For this reason, we believe our job is more akin to architecture than to the creation of trends or fashions.”

Cyber Jury Announced.
The Meribel Ad Festivel has unveiled the Cyber Cristal Jury for the 2008 meet.

The award will be under the presidence of :

Stéphane BERINGER, (collège International)
President Tribal DDB Europe, Global Chief Strategic Officer, Tribal DDB Worldwide

Jean-Et ienne BOUEDEC,
E-market ing Manager , La Française des jeux

Florian LANG, (collège France)
Président Di recteur Général , KASSIUS

Its on like donkey kong!

Reel Opinion: Barry Hughes

For this month's Reel Opinion we handed the baton of judgement to Therapy's Barry Hughes. After checking out five pieces that caught our eye from the October editions, here's what he had to say:

Barry Hughes

MD
Therapy Films, London

Thankfully, up to now, I have managed to steer clear of having to publicly voice my opinions on aired work. Most of which will obviously have had all sorts of barriers put in its way, prior to delivery of the finished spots we see. I am very aware of how frustrating this process can be, only for someone to then start slagging it off and highlighting it’s shortfalls. Nearly all of which will have been the result of endless research and testing, prior to airing. Hence the reason that there is still an abundance of director / agency cuts that get put on show reels.

Here however, we do have a couple of fantastic examples of exactly what can be achieved with creative thinking and a degree of trust.

Diesel - 'SFX XXX'

Agency: The Viral Factory, London

Production: The Viral Factory, London

Director: The Viral Factory

For so long, virals relied entirely on sexual content, and lacked strong ideas. We are all becoming more aware of how far reaching good virals are, and the need for something original and either eye catching or very funny, in order for anyone to feel the urge to pass it on. This one has it all. Fantastic idea, brilliantly executed, better with repeat viewing, and definitely one I would pass on. Even to my Mother, who may even find it amusing – not that she buys Diesel products… I even like the cameo appearance of Graham Fink chewing the corn cob.

Guinness - 'Fridge Magnet'

Agency - IIBBDO, Dublin

Production - Sonny, London

Director - Fredrik Bond

I am a big fan of Fredrik Bond. I don’t know how he finds the time to do every job he does, but each one is handled with the same flair and artistry as the next. And this is no exception. Looks fantastic, and each of the cast members look like they are genuinely having a good time. This adds a great depth to the spot, and coupled with a cracking track, makes for the best Guinness ad I have seen for a long time.

From here it all starts to go downhill a bit.

Amnesty International - 'Electrocuting Man'

Agency - n/a

Production - Stink, London

Director - Darkfibre

It is getting increasingly difficult to deliver a hard hitting charity ad with a message that the viewer can not only understand, but also feel enough to donate money for. This one for me does not manage either. I was completely at a loss to understand what was going on, and felt absolutely no emotion toward the people on screen, or their plight. At first I felt guilty about this, and started to think that maybe that was the message: So many charity ads challenging for money that the best way to get it is to baffle the viewer and make them think that only they don’t understand it, and surely its better to donate money than admit stupidity…. I still didn’t put my hand in my pocket.

Cadbury Roses - 'Showers'

Agency - Publicis Mojo, Melbourne

Production - Independent Films, Sydney

Director - Scott Otto Anderson

This is probably a personal one to me. I am not a sweet person, but every Christmas, it has become tradition to fill the house with every conceivable chocolate and sweet available. Within our family it has become a big challenge as to the diversity of sweet on offer. Roses and Quality Street are a staple part of the mix. So when confronted by pictures of Roses in a nice sunny location, it does absolutely nothing for me. Surely the last thing you would be thinking about in the midst of summer, is a chocolate sweet. I do realise that Christmas down under does occur in the middle of summer, and that the feelings I have here may be shared by countless Antipodeans, that would think it odd to partake of chocolate any time other than the middle of summer. Oh the joys of global advertising. I shall still be buying my one family size tin of Roses in around three weeks time.

BBC Radio 2 - Jonathan

Agency - RCKR/Y&R

Production - Outsider, London / Red Bee Media, London

Director - James Rouse

I stopped listening to Radio 2 when Mark Lamar ceased doing his show on Saturday mornings. When Jonathan Ross took over, it was enough to make me take it off the auto tuner in the car. Not being a fan of Jonathan’s, it is hard for me to watch anything he does. But this spot does sum up what Radio 2 has become. Men of my age trying to revisit their youth, on air, to millions of people in the same boat. I much prefer accepting middle age, and moving straight to Radio 5 for a good old rant and rave on a phone in.


I am sure there really is a need when writing reviews to think more laterally. But what the hell. These are my thoughts and opinions. They will surely not matter to anyone, but apologies to anyone that feels I may have done them any sort of disservice.