The first rule of Fight Club is...

Something is not right here. It's getting easier and easier to act violently and get away with it. Even worst is the fact that violent acts are getting acknowledgment on social networks and in schools. Every day on facebook dozens of new violent videos are being uploaded and the amount of likes they're getting is frightening.
Now I am not naive, and I know society is getting more and more violent. But when did violence become expectable? Or better yet, encouraged?
I think that for the first time I realize, that as advertisers we have a major roll here. The "funny" thing is that by relinquishing all violent, sexual or racist elements from advertising doesn't make it less appealing or effective. Working for the biggest names in the Israeli market while targeting the religious people both here and abroad for a few years proves that exact point.
Advertising and violence are not a match made in heaven!

Creative of the week

spot the not

http://www.nssmag.com/fashion-or-porn

Creative of the week

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPkyPdubqDs

Is there anybody out there...not

It all started with a philosophical / cheeky question: "If god all mighty is capable of anything, can he outdo an already done thing from the past, lets say the deluge".
Of course the fact of me being a renowned atheist working with orthodox Jews helped considerably to the ever lasting discussion. The answers were all over the place, from "yes" through "if he created something he would never want to change it" to "when the understanding stops, faith begins". Now the last one for me is the most horrible of answers. Because it puts everything in a stand still with no prospects of any further discussion and I for one love a good discussion. I am not and never will try to convince anyone (well never say never) but to start and end a discussion within 2 minutes says something not so flattering about the other party. Well I just wanted to share these thoughts with you.
So let me sum it all up and leave you with this "philosophical" line:
I do not believe in god, but I am sure he/she believes in me.

Beauty is skin deep

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpaOjMXyJGk#t=151

Creative of the week

Speechless

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv-Do30-P8A#t=296

"Look, mommy. There's an airplane up in the sky"

The future of advertising or a nice gimmick? Whatever it is British Air's new billboard that reacts to overhead flights is refreshing in my book.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtJx_pZjvzc

Creative of the week

Like?

Harassment, bulling, violence at school... We always say: "they're just kids, it's OK" or "they'll grow out of it".
Well, a campaign aired on channel France 5 shows us grownups what it's really like to be at the short end of the stick. The spot ends with the sentence: "A day at work doesn't end this way, and a day at school?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpT9PL8RCw0

Making people see the big C

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_uQAyFPM2Y

Creative of the week

True, it may not be P.C but still I think it's a great ad

Before and after

After Pepsi's campaign against Coca-Cola (left) Coke didn't wait and came out with a beautiful replay... 

X station

Two game consoles, two commercials, one idea?  

X-box: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1mfIg1I3zE

Play Station: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0d9d-cdxhk

It's safe to be a Virgin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DtyfiPIHsIg

Creative of the week

I guess it's a compliment

And again... my work is being copied (homaged)

Creative of the week

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UelJZG_bF98

A full house short of a queen

I went to see Rihanna last night with my 9 year old daughter and 55 thousand others. I must admit I love concerts and being with my daughter was an amazing and different experience for me. Seeing a concert trough her eyes, eyes that experience this sort of thing for the first time ever. She of course loved every minute of it, the crowd, the lights, the lasers, even the fact Rihanna started an hour late didn't ruin it for her.

But for me, the experience was a bit different. After David Gueta's show in Masada last week which was one of the best ever, things didn't look that great. The wait was long and unprofessional, the sound was of balance, the playback was to obvious and the show was way too short.

But hey, I got a discount...

King David

The first time King David visited Masada was during his flee from Saul. Since then, The king has visited the site at least three times. In the last one after realizing the strategic values of Masada he staled there till the profit Gad asked him to leave.
Thousands of years later it seems that king David has returned. Only this time he wasn't only chased by Saul, but by thousands. We all took the long journey to Masada. Upon arrival at the foot of the mountain we were joined by the rest of the troops, we all set down and prepared ourselves for the king. We fed, we drank and we continued our travel towards the plateau. It slowly became dark as the celebration grew louder and it all started to remind us the golden calf festival at the foot of mount Sinai many years before. Then he appeared, king David in the flash, back at Masada. Everybody went into a frenzy and so did I, and at one o'clock he started his "sermon"...
I am a believer.

David Gueta -424 Masada 2013

Creative of the week

Spot the not

With just a week apart these two commercials appeared one after the other. To be fair the Mercedes one was aired before...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLwML2PagbY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26bw-fF3QbY

Creative of the week

Jane doe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0kONuUoDw0

Creative of the week

http://adsoftheworld.com/media/tv/mercedesbenz_magic_body_control

It's my life

Getting messages on Facebook like: David wants you to give him life on Candy Crash is a bit weird I must admit. In real life when something happens, you can't just ask for extra time or another life. But in your online life (which for some it's basically their wannabe life) you can have 9 lives like a cat or even more. I know it's obvious and I am not telling you anything you didn't know before, but think of this. Younger and younger kids play online games and it makes you wonder if their concept of life and death is getting warped.
Now, I am only writing my thoughts not my opinions, so some might say it is a good thing and it helps them deal with death easily, but then again it is the death of a virtual life and not a real one.
So I will leave you with this though... What happens when someone dies for real while finishing their last life on Candy Crash and sends out a life request on Facebook?
I smell another episode of Black Mirror :-)
 

A powerful ad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGxPUpMx5ZI

Creative of the week

Just create it

What is good creative and how do we really measure it? It all starts with an idea right? Wrong.
It starts with a product (tangible or virtual), the market or audience it's aiming for and of course what does it stand for. Then comes the strategy, and only then do we start searching for the right idea.
Now of course not every idea is creative. But who really defines what is creative? Is it a visual or a textual thing, is it an arty thing? What is it? Well I don't know :-) I only know what is creative in my book. There is a saying: "To each his own" so I guess it's applicable in this case too. An idea can be interpreted or perceived differently to different people whether we believe it's creative or not.
What have we learned then? Nothing, this is not school, it's just me thinking out loud.
So, go and find your creative way or in the words of a "death row" inmate: "Just do it"

Spot the not

Gray 1/2011

RKCRY Y&R UK 9/2013

Creative of the week

Back from paradise

:-) Yes we're back.

Two weeks in Thailand, pure paradise and now we're back to work, to routine, to... Paying for paradise. But it's not all bad. There is one thing I brought back with me (accept the shopping of course), it's a simple thing we all take for granted, a smile. I know it's may sound corny or maybe even stupid but I am talking about the concept of smiling as a way of life and not just a facial feature.

Truth be told I am a positive person and I do smile a lot, but in paradise I came to realize there is a difference between smiles. So today I woke up with a different look at life, I believe it's basically a look at now instead of yesterday or tomorrow. It's not for lack of ambitions or dreams, but it is the choice of not living them before they happen.

There is a famous line from "Field of dreams" that says: "If you build it, they will come", and I say If you smile they will stay.

Good morning :-)

Work is for the people... who want to travel

That's it. It's my last day at work. No I am not resigning, I am leaving for my vacation. You basically work all year just so you can spend the money you made on a vacation. I've been asked by my nephew a few days ago which is better: working your all life so you can retire with enough money to live well in your remaining years or just work to survive and have fun as much as you can? I think it all depends on your status in life. Age, KIDS, family status etc. But I've decided to try (at least) and combine the two theories.
One must do something one likes and good at that will earn them enough money to enjoy life as they go and leave some for later. So to put my money where my mouth is I am leaving for Thailand tomorrow :-) and if you don't hear from me for a while, well... I will leave you with this image

Creative of the week

The hunt for the perfect cell

No, I am not talking about the human genome project or the manipulation of stem cells.
I am talking about is the non stop chase for the best cell phone, if we can still call it a phone. When one loves gadgets as much as I do, this chase is a serious problem. Every month (or less) basically a new cell phone is out. Back in the day you had the tape for years and than came the CD. After a few years the laser disc arrived. Then the DVD, which ruled the market for years... and you know the rest. But now the pace is so rapid that by the time you get used to the cell you have a new and improved one comes along. So, we already understood that the cell phone is "not only" used as a phone and created the tablets and by doing so we created a new race. Another funny thing is that cell phones started big and became smaller and smaller over the years, but now they are getting bigger and bigger.
In all that mess let's not forget the war between Apple and Samsung. This war not only pushed the race for the best cell, it divided us from just simple gadget lovers or users to 2 camps - iOS Vs. Android.
So it's true, we're not talking about the human genome but we're not so far from it. Because the companies are trying their best to solve our consumer DNA and provide us with the cell our bodies simply could not reject.

Creative of the week - Right up my alley

Creative of the week

P.C or P.IC

Israelis are not strange to the term Political correct but even more there are not strange to what I like to call P.IC - Political incorrect. In the past elections for the Israeli government a "new kid on the block" was elected, and found himself acting as the minister of finance. This guy, was of course already know for his opinions and beliefs through his work as a journalist (one of the reasons that got him elected of course). But what wasn't known (or believed) was his "acting abilities" or in this case his P.IC. Why? Because the platform of his campaign was based on the promise for a new kind of politics and what we got was, well... A new kind of bullshit.
As an advertiser you learn that one thing worst than a bad campaign is a good one for a bad product. True, in the near future it's great for the product, it's instantly sold. But for the brand and for the future? The lucky thing for this "brand" is that we are stuck with it for four years and in four years a lot can happen, both for us and both for the "clients" collective memory. So as someone that actually voted for this brand, I hope my memory will out last his term of office, because even though I do believe in 100 days of grace it seems that in dog year they're already over.

Creative of the week

Ho, Ho, Ho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxy4n0UT82o

Creative of the week

Hot as a mother f...

Every year, Cannes ad festival gives us beautiful and highly creative ad campaigns. But some of them don't (in my opinion) get the right amount of attention. Like this great campaign for air-conditions from the Argentinean company BGH. Taking a"trivial" issue and making it the focus of the campaign, along of course with beautiful cast, great camera work and flawless direction, is what makes this spot worthy of attention:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=law8ySzfEto

Creative of the week

Share is it

Coke has done it again, with a brilliant yet refreshing idea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=72fRuE8vmo0

Creative of the week

Bloody good

I just had to add this ad... (at least I made myself smile). Pepsi shows us the power of a brand in an original and beautiful way. 

Enjoy

Creative, Creative , Creative Tel Aviv style

Creative of the week

After a long and busy week we are back..
I think it was worth the wait:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-S9nnkTrrAI

Creative of the week

Good morning?

What is going on in the land of cereals? Two week, two commercials, one big mess.
The first is an American TV spot for cheerios, showing a nice family talking about the benefits of cheerios for the heart. The "problem" here apparently is that the commercial is showing a interracial family. This fact alone started a wave of bigot comments and remarks.
The second is an Israeli spot for a chocolate filled cereal, showing a baby surrounded by models acting in a sexual and provocative manor. In this case too the comments and reviews were not late to come. Only in this case I believe they were justified.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYofm5d5Xdw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=011Z2_dbS8U

philosophy bitch

Facebook, the final frontier, these are the voyages of the social network. It seems that Facebook has become the philosopher of our generation. No more simple "stay in touch" or "look at my kid's new trick" posts, people are taking the "what's on your mind?" literally and posting what's on "their minds". They have been posting a ray of ridiculous and out of context tacky philosophical sentences that supposing reflects their thoughts. The problem is... It's not really theirs.
Captain's log:
So when does a thought becomes your own?
Does it have to be an original?
Can someone have a non-original philosophical thought?
And what if you thought it's an original but it's not?
Are these questions philosophical?

Hey there's a philosophical thought, maybe I should post these questions on Facebook.
Not

Creative of the week

Bansky who?

Bansky, is an English based graffiti artist/political activist etc. How do I know all that? Advertising. The same Bansky just came out with this work, that basically goes against advertisers. I believe you can at least relate to the paradox here. Correct me if I am wrong but advertising has many forms, one being has been used by Bansky to "advertise" his anti-advertising work.

Now, there is no doubt that Bansky is extremely talented and has a lot of real social messages, but using advertising to promote an anti advertising message seems to me a bit, well... off the wall

Creative of the week

Big ideas, come in all shapes and sizes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wyYuXxccTWU#!

Sticky as maple syrup

Well I am back. In the last post we blamed Canada for basically everything, but truth be told Canada is a great country. But I do have a long "blame list", so let's start:
We flew out from Tel Aviv with KLM, which probably stands for: Killing Leisure Masters. The flight was on time but that was about it. First of all, they set us in separate seats (yes, the tickets were ordered together), the crew was unpleasant and the food wasn't all that. But let me give an example for the crew's "helpful" demeanor. This one sided conversation was held between a KLM stewart and, well himself:
"Madam, the seat-belts go over the blanket, madam over the blanket. We need to see that you actually fastened them (because we all are so infantile and not trust worthy), Madam, the seat-belts go over the blanket, no. First the seat-belt than the blanket. Madam, the seat-belts go over the blanket... This went on for at least 7 minutes. Any way, the flight wasn't the best ever. Flying back was even worst, we flew with Alitalia. Now the Italian are know for at least three good things: Design, ice cream and coffee. So, when you get a brow liquid in an Italian air lines and call it coffee well that is a slap in the face for all Italians out there. The plane was, for lack of better words, old. One big screen was showing a movie (chosen by the airline of course) for every 5 rows of seats. 5 channels of radio with mostly Italian shows and all the magazines, You guessed it right, only in Italian. Let's just say our flying experience wasn't a good one.
We can still blame Canada for a few things too like, really bad coffee, the non existence of free wireless networks etc. But I choose not too. Canada was great. Great people, great food, great culture, simply great.
So as strange as it will sound coming from me, I came back to amazing coffee, free wireless everywhere, even better food and my daughters of course. But still there is one blame, and that's on us. For not learning more from places like Canada, as for how to treat each other with curtsy and respect.

Blame Canada

It seems everyone likes to blame Canada. From Israel, for using (alleged) Canadian passports in the Mabhouh assignation in 2010 to South park for basically, anything else. So theredadman has decided to look into these harsh accusations. Yap I am going to Canada. I pledge to check it all. The pubs, the restaurants, shopping, food, even maple syrop. I will leave no rock unturned no sushi untested. I will get results! Will it change anything? Will the world stop blaming Canada? I doubt it. But a man's got to do, what... you know the rest.

   

Creative of the week

Now you see it, now you don't

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6zoCDyQSH0o

Same same but...

3G

Happy birthday to me, Happy birthday to me, Happy birthday a title in progress... Happy birthday to me :-)
3 years old and kicking
Like

The financial times

This country is in a financial turmoil. It's not like in Europe where some countries are going belly up, our economy is strong and solid. We are in a different kind of financial times. We have a new  government and a new finance minister and for the first time in... History things seem to be a bit different. Some feel the winds of change while others feel, well a different kind of change.

This country was always divided. Jews and Arabs, religious and secular, right wing and left wing and so on and so fourth. But now, the division between the religious and secular become a financial one more than anything else. Just browsing through Facebook everyday is enough to see how deep and wide this conflict really is. Whether it's purely a financial conflict? I doubt it, but is it a necessary one in our path to a better society, I truly hope so, but only time will tell.

One thing is obvious, things are not going to be boring around here, they never are.

Creative of the week

Creative of the week

F... Terrorism

The art of war

"The greatest victory is that which requiers no battle."
Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Every year as I attend a Memorial Day Ceremony and listen to the endless names of young men and women who were killed in or out of action, and kids who perished in terror attacks, I can't stop thinking about the redundancy of it all. What is it all for? Is it for land? Religion? Does it matter? 23,085 died! That's in a country with the population of London, a city.

But I believe that the real questions are: "Where do we go from here?" and "Is there really a future?" Well, we all battle with these questions every year and I still don't know the answers, but for the sake of my girls, I hope there is a future and a bright one.
Tomorrow Israel is celebrating its 65th anniversary and like every year the quick shift from griff to celebration will not be easy. But for someone like me, an optimistic and realistic rolled into one there is still a shred of hope...

Remembering

Creative of the week