Cracker by Damian Christie

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Cracker: I don't just read the newspaper. I get it.

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  • Jake Pollock,

    BTW, when did the term "bling" appear? Got accused (by a 15 year old) of being try hard for using the word "bling" recently.

    The OED tells us that it first appeared in 1999, in a song by Jamaican artist Gleaner. I doubt he came up with it, but it definitely originated in Jamaica, and migrated from Jamaican patois into American hip hop around then.

    Raumati South • Since Nov 2006 • 489 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Sofie, forgive my ignorance but what's a chav?

    Okay after much discussion on said night, it was decided by English, Scottish and Irish that
    a: A chav is a good type of chic ,(insert white trash/tart)
    b: Probably from Essex.
    Likes and uniformly wears adidas cardigans (with 2 white stripes down outer arms) and probably track pants in pink..
    c: will probably be at the Local on the corner (uk).
    But generally it's an English thing. You just have to be there .and when you see one you just know.:)
    oh, and as a friend suggested. Ozzy version would be a combination of 'Kev and Shaz"

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    And Rob,
    Westpacs are supposed to be authentic(read your comment after writing my other one) My friends agency is called Real People. They have used her for ads but I don't think the script is authentic.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie,

    The ads aren't terribly complex. They involve looking at the camera and saying some lines. I know that acting's harder than it looks, but it's not that hard. We're talking about a 30-second commercial, not a LotR-length epic.

    You're talking about a 30 second commercial where the people are beyond natural - they're great talent.

    I'm not saying it's impossible that out of hundreds of thousands of clients, someone might know someone and have a story, but as someone said above, it's a lot quicker and easier to find fake people to do it for you.

    As a reporter, almost every day I try and get 'real people' to appear, as themselves, naturally, on TV. I know how hard it is. On the odd occasion where I've asked them to say something specific (such as read a line out to camera), it takes agggggggges and the results are very average. To try and get a banker AND their client, who both have this great wacky story, to be that good... wow.

    Having said that, it's not impossible, and I have a call in to ANZ's Communication Manager right now, to settle the debate :)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • James Francis,

    But generally it's an English thing. You just have to be there .and when you see one you just know.:)

    I met one last year. (In Newfoundland of all places). Your description to a 'T'.

    Thanks, Sofie

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Llewellyn,

    Westpacs are supposed to be authentic

    I can assure you at least one of the Westpac ads is authentic, the subjects (hubby and wife) being friends.

    But by and large I agree with Damian, while real people would be better, fake people are just so much easier to find:)

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Rowe,

    Chavs are the yobbos from out East London way who were famous for crimes against fashion like Burberry Check baseball caps, trackpants and the like. The birds wear those hideous silver nylon puffer jackets, even in the height of summer. Not sure where the term originates, but I'm sure in the talky bit at the end of Hersham Boys you can hear Jimmy Pursey saying awright chavvy? a number of times.

    I think that bloke from The Streets is some sort of Chav hero.

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    almost every day I try and get 'real people' to appear, as themselves, naturally, on TV. I know how hard it is. On the odd occasion where I've asked them to say something specific (such as read a line out to camera), it takes agggggggges and the results are very average.

    You have them for, what, 15 minutes? Tops? My flatmate's commercial was filmed over three 12-hour days. It's about the same length as the ANZ ad, maybe a touch longer. Your point is valid, but only for as long as you have no time to polish the people who you're interviewing. If you had them for the better part of a working week you could do wonders, I'm sure.

    I have a call in to ANZ's Communication Manager right now, to settle the debate

    Excellent. Will be very interested to hear what the truth is.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I met one last year. (In Newfoundland of all places).

    Hah! those Essex girls , they get around:)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    So it is also general consensus Chavs can be guys too and some come from Kent.So, what Paul Rowe said also is to a t

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie,

    NEWS JUST IN

    ANZ's communications manager just called me back and was very happy to answer my questions. Yes, both the staff and the customers are ACTORS. Apparently it was just easier that way. Although they have used staff in the past and still use them in internal advertising.

    You have them for, what, 15 minutes? Tops?

    No Matthew, I'm not a news journo, I work in current affairs (or at least used to be, not so much any more). We at least spend a few hours with people, and often a few days or more. And yes, usually we manage to get decent results, with a lot of editing.

    My point was though, that the Scottish guy and his crew seemed far too smooth, funny, bouncy, wacky interesting and conveniently available to be real. And as it turned out, it was.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    Well, there ya go. I sit corrected. Obviously my friend was getting confused over internal vs external stuff.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Julie Fairey,

    Waaay back someone mentioned something about the UOA using actual students for their advertising. I remember when they did a huge glut of new shots for their advertising, probably about 2000, and one of my friends ended up being one of the main faces of their campaign. She, and others featured, were indeed current students at the time, but they were also staff of the UOA, and were asked to take part as part of their normal employment. They weren't paid talent-level fees, just their normal hourly rate (not big). My friend reckoned her understanding was that they were just shots to put in the prospectus etc, and was quite surprised to end up on bus stops etc. So yes, they did use real students, but the main driver was probably keeping the cost down, rather than authenticity, as my friend was a commerce student yet her pic appeared next to Architecture in one brochure, and with a different subject altogether in another.

    Puketapapa Mt Roskill, AK… • Since Dec 2007 • 234 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    They still use students, and the recruiting is done through student email not staff. I've seen two such campaigns so far, and will doubtless see another before the end of the year. Yes, they do just pick random students and use them regardless of which faculty allegiances they may have.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    The OED tells us that it first appeared in 1999, in a song by Jamaican artist Gleaner.

    The Gleaner* is the name of the daily newspaper in Jamaica.

    What the OED is referring to is the first written record of "bling bling" used as an adjective, which was in the Gleaner on December 18, 1999.

    The first published use of bling bling as a noun is the 1999 rap song of the same name by B.G.

    * The Gleaner one of my favourite online newspapers because it has some articles and commentary written in Jamaican patois, fo' example. I tink dat important.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Susan Snowdon,

    About using 'real' people in ads, for whatever purposes, eg UOA. Do ordinary people worry about their loss of privacy? (Do you?) Or the use of your image for commercial purposes when that's not your job or you haven't been paid for it? Or does everyone just want to be on TV (or buses)? I wouldn't even agree to be filmed for being the hero of the hour in a news item, should that occasion arise.

    Since Mar 2008 • 110 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Jimmy Pursey saying awright chavvy?

    If he does it would be a very early coinage, as I come from much the same area and time as Mr Pursey, and never heard the word before the late 90's. (Hersham, btw, is an suburb in Surrey. Maybe the equivalent of Pt Chev or Kohimaramara. Not the ghetto).

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    I was looking at the NZ iTunes store's top songs list and noticed this:

    2. Baby Come On - Elemeno P
    3. In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins

    Both these songs feature in current TV ads. Interesting how old media has such an effect on new media.

    Also, can anyone explain why Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer always seems to be in the iTunes top 50?

    I can understand its appeal, but I can't work out why it seems to be relentlessly popular? Is there something about the tale of the struggling lovers that strikes a chord with Kiwis in these often difficult economic times?

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Susan Archer,

    Sorry, I'm a bit late latching onto this topic, but have enjoyed the discussion and thought I'd add my tuppence worth.

    When I first saw the ad I quite enjoyed it, then did a double take on the McCallum & Partners name at the end because I used to work with a firm called McCallum Petterson, which has recently become part of Deloitte.

    So I watched it again and was terribly upset not to see anyone I recognised. But I'm over it now.

    And I've learned a couple of things from the Spare Room discussion about the ad: it's okay for "new media" to mash up anything & everything from "old media" but not vice versa; and "amateur viral charm" is always to be trusted!

    Auckland • Since Oct 2007 • 9 posts Report Reply

  • Jake Pollock,

    The Gleaner* is the name of the daily newspaper in Jamaica.

    What the OED is referring to is the first written record of "bling bling" used as an adjective, which was in the Gleaner on December 18, 1999.

    Right you are.

    Raumati South • Since Nov 2006 • 489 posts Report Reply

  • Richard C,

    If he does it would be a very early coinage, as I come from much the same area and time as Mr Pursey, and never heard the word before the late 90's. (Hersham, btw, is an suburb in Surrey. Maybe the equivalent of Pt Chev or Kohimaramara. Not the ghetto).

    Hmm, interesting. 'Twas a common phrase down our way (Herefordshire) at least as far back as the mid-eighties.

    Generally used by suspicious villagers and, eh, silly schooboys in reference to the gypsy caravans that were holed up in a Hereford Road layby.

    All of which tends to support Sofie's wiktionary citation....

    Waiheke Island • Since Oct 2007 • 27 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Rowe,

    Rich, I bow to your superior knowledge on this one. Hersham Boys came on my iPod recently when I had it on shuffle, and I noticed it.

    The comments on the Youtube clip says it all - "Cockney Cowboys, when the f--- has Hersham been in London!!"

    I noticed what ads look like when you use real amateurs - check out the Lotto ad with the "What would you do?" question being answered ("I'd send my wife to the moon" etc).

    And my kkids love the gorilla playing the drums ad for cadbury. Whoever came up with that is a blingin' genius.

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    On the subject of viral ads it is obvious that my friends over at Silverstripe are not PA readers. No other explanation for their fine "pants optional" effort not appearing on this thread:

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvEiPUax1tM

    Wellywood meets SiliconWelly (we do love our wellies).

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    Fark. How does that youtube embedding work again?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

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