NewsReel 30/01/09

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Jason Zada gets Tooled up

Bicoastal Tool has recently signed internationally recognized director Jason Zada. With nearly two decades of experience working with both the advertising and digital content sides of the business, Zada had developed an impressive multiscreen storytelling ability that allows him to create unique work for nearly any product, client, or audience, and to deftly transfer a message across all mediums, from television to the web to print.

Check out more on the website - http://www.toolofna.com/

TBWA starts ’09 with a digital influx

TBWA\London has shown it’s clear digital leanings this week with the hiring of digital planning guru Indy Saha, and senior digital producer Daniel Polanco. They will spearhead the agency’s digital offering as it embraces the global TBWA\ Media Arts concept.

Saha starts as group planning director from Agency Republic, where he was head of planning. He began his career at JWT, before going client side at adidas, followed by a move to Xbox where he launched the Xbox 360 and several games including Halo 3 before joining several Agency Republic, one of the most digitally literate outfits in the UK.

Polanco joins as Head of Digital Production after a recent stint freelancing at Tribal DDB. He has 10 years experience working with companies like W&K, Play, Red Bee Media, BMB, Amnesty International, The Viral Factory and Grand Union. A consummate strategist in all things digital, his client list is second-to-none and includes Nokia, Foster’s, Coke, Abbey, Xbox and Comic Relief.

http://www.tbwa-london.com/

…And finally – a bit of dead Aard fun for Friday

Here at The Reel we often get sent branded games that … well … err on the side of shonk. However, imagine our delight when we were sent the link to this little doozy from Aardman Animations.

A companion to the (frankly brilliant) Wallace and Gromit short ‘A Matter Of Loaf and Death’ that aired on BBC One on Christmas Day, the game encourages players to try to run the ‘Top Bun’ bakery successfully as things get more and more hectic. Based on the antics in the new film, the player takes control of Gromit as the orders begin to pile up. He must make sure the dough enters the right ovens, receives the correct topping, bakes in the correct time and is placed in the van before it starts to burn. A variety of bakery upgrades and challenging demands tests your limit across eight levels.

Surprisingly addictive due to the level-up system at the end of each stage, we’re sure this will help you on the long road to Friday hometime - http://www.wallaceandgromit.com/game