A blog by a copywriter from India about new and improved ways to communicate, be it through a better web site, logo, ad, SEM plan, billboard, viral film, SMS promotion, marketing strategy or television commercial.
Home of project world's worst call center worker.
The title: Method and means for creating anti-gravity illusion.
It's a system that consists of a special shoe that has a hitch designed to attach to a projection in a stage. When the shoe engages with the component in the stage, the performer can lean forward beyond his or her center of gravity.
Why did he invent it? According to the patent, he had dance steps in his video performances where he and members of his dance crew would appear to lean forward beyond the center of gravity. This illusion was achieved by using cables attached to each dancer's waist. But the set up required stage hands to help out and was too clumsy for use during live performances.
The solution: The shoes. The video shows the anti-gravity shoes in action, live:
Twice voted Britain’s “Designer of the Year,” Hussein Chalayan made headlines in recent years by fusing high tech with high fashion in his ”transformer dresses,” which can mechanically adjust hem and sleeve lengths on command, and his “video dresses” as seen in the video below:
The Film Lions at Cannes International Advertising Festival have been awarded. Of the 3453 entries in the Film category, the jury, chaired by David Lubars, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, BBDO North America, shortlisted 261 entries of which 16 were awarded Gold, 36 Silver and 35 Bronze Lions.
Film Grand Prix.
Philips: Carousel
A sign of the changing times: Tribal DDB persuaded Philips to launch an international movie theater-proportioned TV set brand with a digitally focused campaign that embodied the cinematic experience the Philips Cinema 21:9 is selling. The film jury agreed that's the way forward by awarding "Carousel" the Film Grand Prix, which has traditionally gone to the world's best commercial.
Carousel, the center piece of the Cinema project, clocks in at a (totally coincidental) two minutes and 19 seconds, but it works as an endless loop. Visitors to the microsite, www.cinema.philips.com, therefore have the option to ‘spin’ through the film’s single take shot repeatedly, to stop on a specific frame, or to watch it at the preordained speed. The film also contains embedded hotspots, which, when triggered, transport the viewer seamlessly from the heavily posted film to a behind-the-scenes version of the same shot. This constant moving between two layers of reality proved one of the project’s biggest and most ambitious production challenges. Viewers are able to choose between 21:9 and 16:9, turn Ambilight on and off, and “scrub” the film. The microsite’s loader doubles as a credit sequence. Rich media takeover banners drive traffic to the site by teasing viewers with an original Carousel trailer.
1. Boag’s Draught: Pure Waters of Tasmania
Boag’s Draught, a beer developed by Lion Nathan in Australia, is being associated with the pure waters of Tasmania. Three television commercials, 60, 30 and 15 seconds, introduce us to the transforming powers of the Tasmanian water. An old narrator, holding a ukulele, then guitar then balalaika, tells the imaginative story of how the pure waters of Tasmania are special, and have the power to make things better. The local community gathers to dunk a wide range of objects into the water and receive improved and somewhat surprising versions in return.
2. Sagami Condoms: Love Distance
Japanese condom manufacturer Sagami promoted their 0.02 mm thin products in an award-winning interactive campaign, Love Distance, run in the month leading up to December 24, 2008.
The unbranded Love Distance web site introduced the public to two lovers living in Fukuoka and Tokyo, separated by 1000 kilometers. Over a month they were shown closing the gap by running towards a central rendezvous point. Iori Abeno and Shohei Kawasaki aimed to meet on Christmas Eve. The counter on the site converts the 1000 kilometers into millimeters. Visitors to the site were required to choose one of the couple, meaning that they needed to find another computer to check on the other. The running commentary included SMS, blog entries, video chats, and running paths. And in the end, the whole documentary thing turned out to be an advertisement whose client was revealed on the night of the 24th of December, being this the final movie. Their ecstatic embrace resulted in emotional spikes between 0 mm and 316 mm.
3. Volkswagen: Dog Fish
Volkswagen do Brasil is promoting the SpaceFox, a mini MPV/station wagon with a 360 mm-extended tail (4165 mm vs. 3805 mm), a larger boot and more rear leg room than the hatchback Fox. The car, also known as the Suran, SportVan and Fox Plus, is being promoted in a commercial featuring a Dog Fish or a Fish Dog, tying in with the tag line, “Anything You Can Imagine”. To the sounds of the Ben E. King song, “Stand by Me”, a young man takes his dog/fish to the beach. The fish-tailed canine responds to his best friend’s whistle, goes surfing, plays ball, chases cats, shows affection, hangs out with the local fisherman, and jumps with ease into the back of the Volkswagen SpaceFox.
4. Times of India:A Day in the Life of Chennai.
Nakka Mukka mixes social life, politics and fabulous music in just one minute. This is India’s first Gold Film Cannes Lion.
5. MTV: Choose or Lose: Phone
Old people outvote young people 2-1.
5. T-Mobile: Dance.
Flash mobs spontaneously break out into a dance at Liverpool Station.
Silver Film Lions
6. Carlton: Woman Whisperer
Looking for a break from home duties to spend time with the boys? And you need your wife to understand that? You need someone who speaks Woman to tell her you need time out with some special friends to invigorate your soul. Take note - speaking Woman is as much about body language as about vocabulary.
7. Heineken: Walk-In Fridge.
A young woman shows three friends through her apartment, with the absolute thrill being the walk in wardrobe. Her friends’ cries of delight are soon drowned out however, by the guys discovering the walk-in fridge filled with bottles of Heineken.
Nike’s commercial for the Nike Football range of clothing and footwear, challenges players to leave nothing to fate.
We’re taken through the lives of two NFL players, LaDainian Tomlinson and Troy Polamalu, from childhood and adolescence through to adulthood. Throughout their lives these two young men learn to run and push everything out of their paths, until they meet each other.
9. Apple: Bean Counter
Apple’s “Get A Mac” television commercial, pokes fun at Microsoft’s high budget for advertising. It’s a poke at$300 million campaign featuring Bill Gates, Jerry Seinfeld and many “I’m a PC” partners.
PC opens his dialogue by allocating wads of US currency to advertising, advertising and advertising, with just a small amount given to fixing Vista. With all the frustrations Vista is causing Microsoft customers, PC has to take drastic action, by investing in advertising and more advertising.
10. eBay: Civil War.
You don't need an authentic British red coat from the Revolutionary War for your Civil War re-enactment, but you can get one anyway.
11. Pizza Pops: Karate Chop
Beware. Pizza Pops are loaded.
12. Washington Lottery: Bird
No matter what nature intended, every bird should get to fly.
13. Amnesty Interntional: You Are Powerful.
Amnesty Internationalvideo, “You Are Powerful”, to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ 60th birthday. Michael Stipe sings the backing track, “Until the Day is Done”, from R.E.M.’s 2008 Accelerate album.
The video shows a range of people taking action to stop unjust treatment of prisoners, removing the noose, staying the charge of the riot police, taking off the blindfold, unlocking the door, intervening in a police brutality, standing in the line of a firing squad, disarming a child soldier. Viewers are urged to “Protect the Human” and sign up at protectthehuman.com
14. Nokia: Ping Pong.
Bruce Lee is resurrected for this viral video for the Nokia N96 model.
Bronze Film Lions.
15. Hovis Bread: Go On Lad.
The tv spot starts with a boy buying a loaf of bread from a late 19th century bakery. He takes this little brown loaf home to his mum in the modern day, and his journey takes him through defining moments in modern history – the suffragette movement, both World Wars, the coronation, the mini-skirted sixties, the 1966 World Cup, the miners’ strike and the millennium. The boy reaches home with a wry smile and a title fades up: ‘As good today as it’s always been.’
It’s the final frame in the Lady’s Ten-pin Bowling competition. Competing for the Beauty prize, our heroine glides down the lane with her bowling ball. All seems to be going fine until one skittle is left standing. The commentators are stunned. A close-up replay reveals the problem.
17. Levis: Secrets and Lies.
Secrets and Lies is one of four television commercials from the Levi Strauss 501 Unbuttoned campaign. The television conmmercial explores the sensuality of gradual self revelation symbolized by the use of buttons rather than zips.
18. Audi: Unboxed.
Audi’s quirky yet impressive television commercialfor the new Audi Q5. Unbox the Box features an animated carton character building an Audi Q5 out of a cardboard box and features the famous American folk singer Woody Guthrie’s “Take Me Riding In The Car” song.
19. Dare Iced Coffee: The Boss.
Just what could the boss talk about over a coffee? Maybe he’s going to break the news about the end of his job, or even worse, declare his love, arrange a fake death or a transfer to North Korea.
Ignore the gobbledegook text that runs for the first minute and eleven seconds. Just forward past it and enjoy the rest. From their attire, I can assume that the "possessed women" are Indian.
Begum Akhtar(1914-1974) came from Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh and studied with "eminent maestros like Ustads Vaheed Khan and Ata Khan of Patiala" according to the skimpy sleeve notes of a 1969 LP for EMI India.
She was one of the finest and most spellbinding exponents of ghazals, but extremely under-represented in available recordings.
She received the Sangeet Natak Akademi award for vocal music as well as a Padma Shri. She was posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan.
Today, her name is almost synonymous with the concept of ghazal gayaki, and her imitable style of singing which immortalized her, and gave her the title of “Mallika-e-Ghazal” (Queen of Ghazals).
1. Aaey Kuch Abr, Kuch Sharaab Aaey
2. Tabeeyat Inn Dino BeGaanaey Ghum Hoti Jaati Hai
3. OBey Dardii Sapne Mein Aa Jaa
4. Aaj Tum Yaad Behisaab Aye
5.Kaisi Yeh Dhoom MachaaiRe
6. Jalsaghar
7. Rare documentary on the life of Begum Akhtar (Part I)
8. Rare documentary on the life of Begum Akhtar (Part II)
In 2002, he won a battle for life. Seven years down the line, he has won a match of muscles with his toned abs. Meet the man with a big heart, Mr Universe Mahadev Deka. The 40-year old engineer from Assam on Saturday clinched the title in bantam weight category for India at the 2009 Musclemania Superbody world championship in Florida.
His wife Nayana, a fitness freak herself, said: “Mahadev called me up from Florida on Sunday after winning the title. This is the happiest moment for us. We are waiting for him to reach home.” In 2008, he was the runners-up at a musclemania contest in Miami.
Though he had to struggle with a tight budget for his diet, Mahadev is the first from the state to win the prestigious world body building championship. Mahadev underwent an open-heart surgery in August 2002.
Post-operation, he developed a lump in his chest. Doctors advised an open-heart surgery to get it removed. He took a break of three months. But his love for the sport took him back to his favorite place, the gym. Mahadev is an assistant engineer with the public health department of the Assam government.
Mahadev took his first training from Monohar Aich in Kolkata in 1992 and went on to win bronze at Bharar Kumar championship in Bangalore the same year.
If you know anyone interested in cardiac rehabilitation (rehab), please get in touch with my friend, Dr Aashish Contractor, Head of Department: Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation at the Asian Heart Institute, Mumbai, IndiaHe is not only a brilliant doctor but a great human being. His cardiac rehab patients have participated in the Mumbai Marathon over the past few years.
Cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) is a medically supervised program that helps improve the health and well-being of people who have heart problems.
Rehab programs include exercise training, education on heart healthy living, and counseling to reduce stress and help you return to an active life.
Cardiac rehab helps people who have heart problems:
Recover after a heart attack or heart surgery.
Prevent future hospital stays, heart problems, and death related to heart problems.
Address risk factors that lead to coronary artery disease and other heart problems. These risk factors include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol (ko-LES-ter-ol), overweight or obesity, diabetes, smoking, lack of physical activity, and depression and other emotional health concerns.
Adopt healthy lifestyle changes. These changes may include a heart healthy eating plan, increased physical activity, and learning how to manage stress.
Improve their health and quality of life.
Each patient will have a program that’s designed to meet his or her needs.
The Cardiac Rehabilitation Team
Cardiac rehab involves a long-term commitment from the patient and a team of health care providers.
The cardiac rehab team may include doctors (such as a family doctor, a heart specialist, and a surgeon), nurses, exercise specialists, physical and occupational therapists, dietitians or nutritionists, and psychologists or other mental health specialists. In some cases, a case manager will help track the patient’s care.
Working with the team is an important part of cardiac rehab. The patient should share questions and concerns with the team. This will help the patient reach his or her goals.
Outlook
People of all ages can benefit from cardiac rehab. The lifestyle changes made during rehab have few risks. These changes can improve your overall health and prevent future heart problems and even death.
Exercise training as part of cardiac rehab may not be safe for all patients. For example, people who have very high blood pressure or severe heart disease may not be ready to exercise. These patients can still benefit from other parts of the cardiac rehab program.
Ask your doctor whether cardiac rehab can help you prevent a future heart problem and improve your health.
A viral video by McVities depicting all the cliches about England. I would say it's "funny" but since it is about England, the viral video is "witty, very very witty."
A public service video in aid of Volunteers for the Blind Foundation, New Delhi, India.
Client: Volunteers for the Blind Foundation, New Delhi, India.
Voice over: Angelina Rai/Mindy Singh
Producer: Sudhir Datta
Company: I.T. Media Broadcasting (Vancouver, Canada)
Copywriter: Manu Chopra/Sunil Shibad
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Volunteering can be undertaken individually or collectively. Volunteers can choose options based on whether they like to work directly (Visiting) or indirectly (Non–visiting) with the Blind. Individuals will be assigned responsibilities in accordance with their preference, as part of a larger team. Independent responsibilities will follow after they have become comfortable and confident. All Volunteers are given orientation and familiarisation training, prior to being assigned to work with the Blind. Sometimes a single blind person may be assigned a team of volunteers as support, although, the blind beneficiary interacts with only one person and feels only he is the mentor. The truth would be that the entire team works together for the future of the one person.
INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
Programmes for Visiting Volunteers
(Work with specified NGOs. The visits will be pre-planned and based on projects decided by the NGO. These will be a commitment, be time bound and not liable to change)
(a)Volunteers to act as mentors, tutors, escorts and friends.
Academics.
Improving knowledge – Books, Libraries, Internet.
Build General Awareness in Current Affairs science, maths, environment, animals and nature.
Build aspirations, plan for the future, career, family, relationships.
Visits to offices, museums, exhibitions, cultural programmes, workshops, seminars, shopping or the bank, morning exercise, child’s birthday.
Mentor – Very personal and intense effort; leadership required; greater time commitment; involves children and youth; building aspirations; plans for the future; career, family, relationships.
Skills - Nil
No needed - 10
(b)Volunteers act as advisors to the NGO in developing special skills: -
·Financial Management.
·HR functions.
·Library Management
·Event Management.
·Legal and Rights based issues.
Skills - Corresponding
No needed - 7
(c)Volunteers can help build Talent and Ability,
·Placement preparation.
·Improving English and communication skills,
·Performing Arts – Dance, Drama, Music, Singing.
·Presentation Skills.
·Personality Development and Leadership Skills.
·Management Techniques.
·Organise Games, Sports and Physical Fitness.
·Debating, Poetry, Writing.
·Computer and Internet literacy.
·Photography. (yes, the Blind do take up Photography)
We are currently negotiating a large nation-wide project with the YMCA. You could be part of it.
Skills – Corresponding
No needed - 10
Programmes for Non-Visiting Volunteers
(Work on telephone and Internet, from home or office. Not a time bound commitment)
(a)Volunteers to assist us with Networking.
·Develop Corporate and Govt contacts, influential people and agencies.
·Facilitate building public awareness about the Blind, fund raising,
·Recruitment of volunteers.
·Developing contacts, with possible donors.
·Develop appropriate databases.
You could put us in touch with organisations like the Nehru Yuva Kendra; the Rotary Club; the NSS organisation of a college; a particularly sensitive VP in your Company; a sensitive MLA; an NRI organisation; a popular radio channel; a blind person or merely a suggestion or an idea.
Skills - Familiarisation with computers.
No needed - 15
(b)Volunteers to act as coordinators for Projects in different cities.
·Supervise the work of Volunteers and interact with Blind persons.
·Interact with NGOs, Teachers, Resource Persons, Administrators, Govt agencies, private companies, influential citizens, donor agencies, volunteer bodies and team leaders.
·This programme will bring the largest possible benefits to the largest numbers of the Disabled.
·Background information, detailed briefings and databases will be provided.
Skills - Familiarisation with computers.
No needed - 30
.
(d)Develop Internet based opportunities,
·Finding information on NGOs, funding agencies, news, views, and forthcoming events.
·Developing corporate contacts and a database.
·Interacting with NGOs – National and International
·Income generating opportunities.
Skills - Familiarisation with Internet searches.
No needed - 5
(e)Employment and Placement. Help get a job.
·Creation of a CV, responses to Ads or on-line websites.
·Identification of training needs and finding a suitable course.
·Grooming and preparation for interviews.
·Interaction with placement agencies.
We are currently negotiating a large nation-wide project with the YMCA. You could be part of it.
Skills - Background in Placement or Training.
No needed - 4
(f)Building Knowledge.
·Access to Libraries (Govt, Public and private) and guidance in finding books, publications, articles, magazines, journals,
·Internet based searches, Google, Wikipedia.
·Compilation, collation and evaluation of notes.
·Using available technology applications.
Skills - Familiarisation with the Internet.
No needed - 4
Projects
(Get involved with our current projects; working from home or office)
(a)Books for the Blind. Assist with the development of an on-line Library with digitisation of books.It involves scanning and validation, using MS Word, on a PC.
This is the single largest opportunity in the coming decade and will need thousands of volunteers. Volunteers act as assistants, organisers and advisors. The project uses cutting edge technology.
Skills - Familiarisation with computers.
No needed - 30
(b)Disabled Armed Forces Personnel. Volunteers act as assistants, coordinators, organisers and advisors; especially with beauracratic contacts. The aim of the project is to persuade the Ministry of Defence to refine their existing policies to enable better quality of benefits for Disabled Personnel, nationally. Volunteering is open to all and not restricted to Armed Forces personnel.
Skills - Familiarisation with Min of Defence procedures and policies.
No needed - 4
(c)Higher Education. Volunteers act as Resource Persons to prepare a plan for any university or college to adopt. Institutions of Higher education are willing to take on Disabled students. However, they are unsure of the resources required to be put in place or the costs involved. The aim of the project is to develop a skeleton document which can be handed over to the Institution, anywhere in the country, thereby bringing clarity for decision-making.
Skills
·Familiarisation with Educational procedures and policies.
·A background with the MHRD / UGC / IGNOU / College education.
No needed - 4
(d)Undertake escorting and coordinate summer camps and adventure sports. These camps bring multiple benefits for personal growth and development. The blind need the same advantages. Volunteers will escort the Blind on such camps. The blind undertake trekking, rock climbing, mountaineering, rafting, The French are preparing an all blind team to climb Everest from China.
Skills
·Familiarisation with summer camps and Adventure Sports.
·A background of Sports organisation (not essential).
No needed - 3
- 5 -
(e)Develop a Brochure, Banners, Posters and a Website for this Foundation.
Skills
·Familiarisation with computers.
·Designing and Writing.
No needed - 2
(f)Develop a programme for the elderly blind or for blind infants. Volunteers will need to visit the person frequently and may have to read for them or run errands or escort them for visits to the doctor.
Skills - Be interested in the elderly or in infants.
No needed - 4
(g)Development of Technology Applications. Volunteers will need to be well versed in IT applications. As they become familiar with the needs of the blind, ideas for developing new applications will begin to emerge. Volunteers will be put in touch with Research bodies enabling scientific development. Volunteers will represent the blind users in this process.
Skills - Familiarisation with technology for computers.
No needed - 2
(h)Vocational Training in the Garment Industry. The aim of the project is to develop a document which acquaints a Garment Factory Owner with employment opportunities for the Disabled. Volunteers will assist develop the document, with obtaining NIFT Certification, with contacts to develop training and employment opportunities on a national scale.
Skills
·Familiarisation with Garment manufacturing procedures and policies.
No needed - 4
CORPORATE and COLLECTIVE VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
(a)Undertake Training. The concerned department undertakes the training, which needs to be customised for NGOs. We, in the VB Foundation, would assist in formulation of content.
·Organisational concepts,
·Finance and HR Capacity Building functions,
·Rights and legal issues;
·Planning and Strategies.
- 6 -
Skills
·Relevant to the topic.
No of training teams needed – 1 per Company, per topic undertaken.
(b)Senior Volunteers (CEO / MD)
Can guide / Mentor NGO CEOs and develop the following: -
§Strategies, Planning and conceptualising the structure of the Organisation
§Organising, assessment, evaluation and leadership abilities.
§CapacityBuilding, optimising meagre resources.
§PR, BrandBuilding, Corporate Communications.
§International Interaction.
Do this individually or collectively. When undertaken collectively, the blind beneficiary or the NGO concerned only interacts with one person and is unaware that an entire team is developing its future.
Skills
·Relevant to the topic undertaken.
No. needed – one per CEO.
(c)Assign Employee Volunteer Teams
Each team will have a team leader, a clear cut task and a deadline. These will be worked out jointly, in consultation with this Foundation and the HR Dept. Team leaders will report progress to the Sr. Mgr. (HR).
(d)Support computer literacy
·A PC is the only available tool for a blind person to read and write independently. This renders basic computer literacy as crucial to all blind people.
·Donation of H/W and S/W (Desktops, laptops or accessories).
·Assign volunteer Teams to teach basic literacy.
No. needed – 1 team per company.
Contact Person:Col. P. Kapoor
Designation:Hon General Secretary
Address :D7, Defence Colony, New Delhi, 110024, India.
E mail: vftblind (AT) yahoo.com
Tel :(+91.22) 246.939.65.
The organization has Members and Volunteers. They are spread across the country.
The organization is a Trust, with Registration No. 768/4 in 2000, at New Delhi, India. The accounts are audited in accordance with the current laws.
Hello, I am Sunil (sshibad AT gmail.com). I provide creative solutions for brands, across traditional media, new media and interactive forms of communication.
I bring a lot of traditional agency experience to the table, and in my 20 years as a copywriter and creative director, I’ve developed a diverse portfolio of communication products. A lot of advertising, branding, corporate graphics, websites, social media marketing, and, of course, word of mouth and viral marketing.
Skype: sunilshibad
