Lest We Forget

11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, 1918; Germany sign the Armistice, furthermore, this day would become recognised as Remembrance Day. A day where we obvserve 2 minutes silence to remember all those who have lost their lives during combat, whether it be in today's modern warfare or it be back in the World Wars.
Lest We Forget; Dulce Et Decorum Est, Pro Patria Mori.

ADCC Awards

Congratulations to Benjamin Weinstein for his successes at the Advertising and Design Club of Canada Awards last night. Benji picked up a Gold in the category for TV Public Service, for his spot for Science World entitled 'Ice Cream Goodness.'
Other highlights include a Merit Campaign for Benji's two Wrigleys spots, 'Beard' and 'Tattoo' and a Merit Single for Yellowpages 'Oily'.

The Jack-O'Lantern

The age old tradition of carving a monstorous face into a Pumpkin for Halloween. But how did it come about? Who is Jack?
Well, there are many myths or stories that go with this tradition but one stands out the most and has a clever little twist! It involves a man named Jack, The Devil, some Villagers and a very clever plan.
Once upon a time there was a man named Jack. Now Jack was a thief and one day while being chased by some irate Villagers Jack meets the Devil who tells him it's his time to die and he is there to take Jack's soul. Now cunning as Jack is he tells the Devil that if the Devil, who can take on any form, turns himself into a Gold coin, Jack will pay for the stolen goods and the Villagers will fight over the coin therefore the Devil can take their souls instead. So the Devil, a bit unwittingly, agrees and no sooner as he takes form of a gold coin Jack puts the coin in his wallet and attaches a Cross to it - therefore trapping the Devil and removing his powers.
Now the Devil is in a predicament and Jack says "Ok, if you don't take my soul, I shall release you." The Devil in no state to disagree promises not to take Jack's soul.
All is well and as every living thing has to die, Jack, one day succumbs to death. Now, Jack has been bad all his life so he can't get into heaven and obviously he has an agreement with the Devil. Now stuck in nothingness with no light, the Devil mockingly gives Jack a flame from hell that will never burn out so Jack carved out a Turnip [how he got hold of a turnip I don't know] and put the ember inside and with his lantern he eternally wanders the earth looking for a resting place and so he became know as Jack of the Lantern aka Jack-o'-Lantern.
So, there you have it, you now have a story to tell to others while wolfing down some Pumpkin Pie and Trick-or-Treat chocolate!

New Kia 'Soul' Advert

With the release of the Kia 'Soul' comes a fun, playful advert which enthusiastically highlights the new Soul's "street-smart" attitude and innovative design.
The fresh, attractive advert directed by Mark Romanek of 'Anonymous Content', tees off with pro-golfer Michelle Wie rocking up at a posh Golfing Country Club in a fiery-red Kia Soul complete with hip-hop blazing out of the speakers, much the distress of the abundant silver-haired, silver-car drivers.
Mouths aghast as a glamorous Michelle Wie takes a swing that has heads turning, director Mark Romanek personifies in Michelle Wie exactly what the new Soul has to show; a design that has heads turning, a fresh, contemporary style and an attitude that's tailor made for the younger driver.
A blazing-red Kia Soul has all the characteristics to bring life and a sense of vibrancy and colour to a seemingly bland world.
Seems Michelle may have rubbed the green up the wrong way!

A Well Prepared Rendezvous

Take a gander at this sexy viral short directed by Anonymous Content's Guy Ritchie. The short, starring Jude Law, is made for Dior Homme.

MTV VMA's 2010

It was a successful evening last night at the MTV Video Music Awards for Francis Lawrence and Rich Lee. Lawrence (DNA) directed Gaga's "Bad Romance" which picked up awards for Best Direction, Best Pop Video and Best Dance Video. Lee's (DNA) video for Eminem's "Afraid" won for Best Male Video and Best Hip Hop Video.

For a full list of winners and categories click here

Peter Thwaites, out of Gorgeous, just completed a clever pair of spots for AT&T, working with BBDO NY.

'How Long' features an intense camera close-up of a man's anguished face as a narrator asks how long it takes to "...forever change history... turn doubtful into hopeful...?" The shot switches to a panorama, revealing the man sitting in a crowd of soccer fans, which erupts as a goal is scored and the voiceover intones, "just one second", implying that no fragment of time is insignificant.

'Couch' is a humorous story starring on a man on a couch. The couch potato is about to flip on his flatscreen at home when a pair of movers lift his couch, carry him out of his apartment, down the stairs, across a busy intersection and into an AT&T store, where he stares at the dazzling new product.

"The ads vary remarkably in tone and content, highlighting Thwaites' versatility and ability to tune a message to his clients' needs and vision.'

iPhone 4 vs. Canon 7D

Click here to watch full video.

Canadians Represent!

Tally for Cannes-Lions thus far is as follows: Grey Vancouver picks up a GOLD for their direct piece for Griffiths, Leo Burnett takes home a SILVER for James Ready and BBDO Toronto scores a BRONZE for Smart Car! Way to go Canada! What a great start!

Brett Morgan gives reality a go.

Director Brett Morgan, out of Anonymous Content, introduces the new Gillette Fusion Proguide razor. The 60 second spot stars an undercover news team entering a health club and interrupting the men in the change room as they shave. The 'real guys' proclaim the Gillette razor to be the most comfortable razor they have ever used.

Congratulations to Benji Weinstein for picking up Silver in this year's Marketing Awards for his spot for Science World, entitled, 'Ice Creamy Goodness' by Rethink, Vancouver.

NEW Tom Carty Spot - Jose Cuervo "Sold out"

This spot shows any night can turn into an adventure with a little Jose Cuervo!

Watch it HERE!

NEW Frank Budgen Honda spot

For the new Honda CR-Z

Watch it HERE!

Benji wins 2 Gold Bessies!

Congrats to Benji Weinstein for his 2 Gold Bessies! He won with DDB Vancouver for his BC Dairy spots, and Rethink Vancouver for Science World!

Muttonhead Collective Video

Produced and shot by Jill Brennan and Eric Thompson of Steam!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHOHDg-TJBI&playnext_from=TL&videos=XjX5U20j9hY

AXESUD

This video was shot by a French graphic arts and visual communications schools. CRAZY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZD8p6T9hTI&feature=player_embedded#!

This M.I.A. video is crazy!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEX8XrQOD0M

The Frog Prince

New spot directed by Albert Kodagolian for Mitsubishi, entitled 'Frogs.' To view pictures from set, including the celebrity frog himself, visit our facebook group

Sony Rockstars

1 of 2 Sony spots directed by Frank Budgen out of Gorgeous, UK. The spot shows off the new Monolithic Design range of TV's, with built in internet video service. 'Rockstar' features the music by the infamous AC/DC, with the track Thunderstruck. In Donington Park, August of 1991, the band played this show that became one of the most iconic moments in music history. Is Sony's new product going to become an iconic moment in television/home entertainment history?

Great Footage From the Volcanic Crater

To see the full video click here:

Whoa! Google Earth just made NYC 3D!

Penthouse Ad in Bulgaria

Is this billboard creative advertising or just plain dirty?

Jay-Z's doc on his 911 Concert

We love these black and white films!

NY-Z: Jay-Z – Full Version from Emmanuel A Brown on Vimeo.

NEW Tiger Woods commercial

Looks like Nike and Tiger are already beginning to repair his public image.

http://www.youtube.com/user/NikeGolf#p/u/0/5NTRvlrP2NU

Marc Klasfeld directs a school play

No this isn’t a real school play. Its a video directed by Marc Klasfeld. It features kids that were found through a casting agent, but you gotta love when Lil Tony points his yellow machine gun at the audience.

Behind the scenes with X

The-Dream brings a ton load of girls on the set for his “Love King” music video shot by X (formerly Lil’ X) from his upcoming album of the same name.

Behind The Scenes Of The-Dream's 'Love King' Music Video Shoot from the.LIFE Files on Vimeo.

Jonas Akerlund's Gaga video is raising eyebrows

Lady Gaga and director Jonas Akerlund channel the spirit of Quentin Tarantino in this very ambitious video for "Telephone." Some of the homages are absolutely explicit — the Pussy Wagon, or the quirky dialogue, for example — while others are more in spirit, such as the fascination with exploitation films like the Prison Chick inspiration that grounds the video. But mostly, it's a wholly created world, like the '50s-meets-future vibe of Pulp Fiction, that's totally nonsensical, yet strangely believable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ95z6ywcBY&feature=player_embedded#at=141

iYellow Wine Club Commercial

Here's a new web spot for the iYellow Wine Club. Written and Directed by Steam's Eric Thompson. Produced by Jill Brennan.

Get a LIMITED EDITION Canon EF LENS TRAVEL MUG with every Canon eStore purchase over $200.

We don't mean to advertise for Canon but this is just too cool!

Architect makes new record of most cards stacked.

This playing card castle consists of 218,792 cards, or 4,051 decks, to create a replica of the Venetian Macau with no glue or other solvents to hold them together. This hotel replica is 33 feet long and 10 feet tall! 

Steam experiences the Olympics!

Steam's Vancouver correspondent, and all around good guy, Eric Thompson shares his Olympic experience with the office.

OK Go - This Too Shall Pass

An AMAZING music video by the band OK Go!

http://www.likecool.com/OK_Go_This_Too_Shall_Pass--Video--Gear.html

Drivemocion LED Car Sign Makes Middle Finger Obsolete

The Drivemocion LED Car Sign saves you from that inability, allowing you to send crystal-clear, unclouded messages to other drivers on the road. Want to apologize for cutting someone inadvertently? Choose the SORRY signal, which displays an excusatory face, followed by the actual word "sorry." Guy behind almost rear-ended you at the stoplight? Tell him off by getting your machine to display "idiot SLOW down." Awesome.

T-Shirt War!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKWdSCt4jGE&feature=player_embedded

Richard Branson’s Underwater Plane

After owning a mobile phone company, an airline company, a Caribbean island and some luxury restaurants, billionaire Sir Richard Branson’s latest possession is an underwater plane dubbed the Necker Nymph. It can dive to depths of up to 130ft, Richard hopes to one day explore depths of 35,000ft, and it will cost Branson around 415,000 British pounds.

The Necker Nymph is is relatively small and can carry just three people, one pilot and two passengers.The luxury sub has fighter jet technology and is piloted with a joystick. While most subs use ballast to propel subs under the water, the Nymph uses downward 'lift' on the wings to fly down. It was designed and built by Graham Hawkes. Sir Richard plans to lend the Nymph out to visitors of his luxury hideaway, Necker Island. Gliding like an aeroplane through the water it can carry a pilot and two visitors on a two-hour trip.

After undergoing scuba training, guests can uncover ancient shipwrecks, fly side-by-side with dolphins or follow whales.

Cheesy Conan O'Brien

How to build cheesy art: http://likecool.com/Conan_OBrien_Cheetos_Portrait_Cheesy_Art--Video--Gear.html

Sky of Dubai

http://www.likecool.com/Sky--Video--Gear.html

Filmed in Dubai over 5 days and nights.
Shot on the Canon 7D, 2x5DmkII and one Panasonic GF1.

Sony conifrms Marc Webb is to direct Spiderman!

Steam (who reps Webb in Canada) just learned through NY Mag that Webb will helm the next three "Spider-Man" films. The new movie is being written by James Vanderbilt (Zodiac) and is scheduled to hit theaters during the summer of 2012.

http://www.imdb.com/news/ni1438804/

The Viral Factory's Top Virals for January

 Benji Weinstein's Science World ad entitled 'Ice Cream' makes Matt Smith's list of the top virals circulating online. Check out these 'Sexy Pentitioners' here:  http://www.boardsmag.com/community/blogs/input/index.php?p=651

Every Sound Tells a Story

Very cool video for Top Digital from Saatchi & Saatchi, Milan, Italy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH4cjveaqVA&feature=player_embedded

New Bio Phone

New eco-friendly phone for Nokia, which runs on Coke, or any sugary water. Its fuel cells generate electricity from carbohydrates (sugar) in the liquid. Bio batteries have the potential to operate three to four times longer on a single charge than conventional lithium batteries and it could be fully biodegradable. 

Have you been to the movie theatre lately? If so, you will probably recognize this new spot for Wind Mobile directed by Albert Kodagolian.