It always looked like a cheap bollywood musical to me.

I was thinking more Dennis Potter — though brilliant as Pennies from Heaven and The Singing Detective are (in a fraught, psychosexually twisted kind of way) Bollywood is a lot more fun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDOe7Npinl4

What kind of moron pays many tens of thousands for In the Air Tonight and then puts the key drum fill in the wrong place?

The sort of moron who:

a) has only got 30 seconds to play with

b) wants to get to the end of a Phil Collins…

If King Kong is a black guy, then the Cadbury gorilla might be Buddy Miles — whoever it is, they sure know how to play some rock drums.

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/12/20/171052.php

As for f#cken Ph!l C@llins – ahh aaa ah aaaa ahhh (or wot ever Tazan says)

I like it too. I think it's to do with the emotion that the gorilla conveys, which is humanlike in its breathing and blinking and stretching, but also gorilla-like in that little snarl it does at the camera in its face. It owes something to King Kong.

It's not actually…

You can have ours. We don't want him, honest. I don't think even the staff want him, and the students definitely don't. In less than the length of a basic undergraduate degree he's managed to make himself roughly as popular as a pork pie at a Jewish wedding.

No we'll…

The stupid one with the Vice Chancellor was the real VC, thankfully he's gone now, and not just because of the bad advert.

You can have ours. We don't want him, honest. I don't think even the staff want him, and the students definitely don't. In less than the length…

(I believe) those were unscripted, improvised, real conversations (which Telecom still use on big hoardings up at Wellington Airport).

Will you believe that of any future similar campaigns? Way to ruin your brand.

Waaay back someone mentioned something about the UOA using actual students for their advertising.

The University of Otago 'Get Over It' campaign features _mostly_ real students. Some of them aren't actually students, but were working at the students association at the time.

The stupid one with the Vice Chancellor was…

Not so…

By the way, I do dislike systems that force the www prefix on you. PA cookies are weak in this respect.

And the unexpectedness…

Or is it the slippery slope to MySpaceness (spiritual home of the ) tag)?

I can't for the life of me work out the appeal, but it's the coolest ad I've seen in years.

And it's for chocolate? Go figure.

It's something that only regulars know how to do. Should we keep it like this or should this tip…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvEiPUax1tM

Don... for some reason it also needs the www (as in http://www.etc.etc so lessee if I'm right:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvEiPUax1tM

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

I can't for the life of me work out the appeal, but it's the coolest ad I've seen in years.

& youtube: I think the secret is to include the…

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FvEiPUax1tM

Fark. How does that youtube embedding work again?

You were almost there, but you've got to include the 'http"-colon-double-forward slash as well.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvEiPUax1tM

Wellywood meets SiliconWelly (we do love our wellies).

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

I noticed what…

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.

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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:)

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

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…

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…

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…

My work and wandering attention thanks you.

As soon as I find out what a chav is I'm going back to work.

Pretty sure it's like some London version of "white trash".

"Excuse me, please and thank you".

The still sorely missed Mel's Diner in Berhampore did a great meal but was also a hang out for big biker chaps (Satan's Slaves HQ just down the road).

Pregnant GF and were I just about to tuck into our iron filled burgers when…

It looked like actors, but the lisp thing had a…

As soon as I find out what a chav is I'm going back to work.

Writing an ad.

Now I'm feeling very insecure.

You're in company.

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

ANyway, I assured them it was my generation that coined it (Mr T?)& maybe they should find their own…

Yes, you can use 'real' people but as I said before most commercials are made with talent.

Oh, of course. And everyone knows it (I hope). But the fact that ordinary industry practice is to use talent doesn't mean that nobody does otherwise.
Most ads don't pretend to portray "real"…

Just do better than me and don't betray the fact that you think it's pronounced 'shaav'.

You mean that not only do I not know what a chav is but I can't pronounce it either? Now I'm feeling very insecure.

you're making out that there's simply no possible way that they could be using real people.

I thnk you're putting words in my mouth. I said that they were probably talent.

Yes, you can use 'real' people but as I said before most commercials are made with talent.

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

Just do better than me and don't betray the fact that you think it's pronounced 'shaav'.

Emma, why do I agree with nearly everything you say about any given topic? It's... kind of freaking me out. :)

Me three. Only having to quickly Alt+Tab back to work stopped me from saying exactly the same thing earlier!

I think you'll find it's because I'm incredibly intelligent, articulate…

Now it feels desperately like a middle-aged man trying to talk 'yoof'.

On the other hand, maybe I shouldn't ask.

So, you've made a commercial, Matthew?

No, only acted with many people who have been in them. And I flat with a guy who was dancing talent in one that showed in the US, having never been in front of a TV camera before. So I know that it's entirely…

people like me, who wear cardigans without irony. :)

was informed by our bar staff that cardigans are all the rage.(you little trend setter). And proof of this was a chav party t'other night, where to my delight I saw many cardis (and sweat bands, and head bands,They…

The chances are that they will be talent.

In which case, ANZ could find themselves on the end of a BSA and/or Fair Trading Act complaint. Deceptive/misleading practices are illegal. Telecom's on very, very thin ice with the McCallum ad, because of how it was presented, and the banks have…

I love those leper colonies... Back steps at a party is always the best conversation zone.

Emma, why do I agree with nearly everything you say about any given topic? It's... kind of freaking me out. :)

Me three. Only having to quickly Alt+Tab back to work stopped me from…

Oh, and Craig, while I'm sure you're a considerate smoker, as are most of the handful of them I know, there are plenty of obnoxious smokers out there.

And in the same spirit, most non-smokers I know aren't that bad either. As the old Japanese proverb goes, it's the hollow…

Now that's addiction, I thought. (I'm a reformed smoker, btw, who occasionally puffs, mostly…

Oh, come on. A handful out of people out of hundreds-of-thousands isn't exactly impossible. Statistically it's almost a certainty that you'll be able to find a few people who are your customers and can be presented to a camera, when that's your sample.

The chances are that they will be…

Hah – yes we have those lovely pictures on our ciggy packs, I was watching an ad last night with a tragic case – a guy recounting his radiotherapy as a result of smoking (no idea if he was an actor).

Lots of lurid pictures of cancer, tragic…

And when I'm a guest in other people's homes, I either accept their rules or go home if the company and house rules are that objectionable.

I left far earlier than I'd anticipated, largely because of that situation. I know it's their rules, fair enough, but my point was that…

And do I doubt they are real people in the ANZ ads? Yes, I doubt it very much... you just don't find crazy talent like that in your customer base.

Oh, come on. A handful out of people out of hundreds-of-thousands isn't exactly impossible. Statistically it's almost a certainty that…

I love those leper colonies... Back steps at a party is always the best conversation zone.

Emma, why do I agree with nearly everything you say about any given topic? It's... kind of freaking me out. :)

Depends enormously on the smoker. I was unfortunate enough to be at a party last weekend where a hardy (thoughtful?) few went outside while the rest sat in the lounge and puffed away.

And when I'm a guest in other people's homes, I either accept their rules or go home…

Do these ads play through Mad Men?

Heh. Yeah, anyone who thinks current smokers are 'inconsiderate' might have a nervous breakdown if they got into a De Lorean and headed back forty-fifty years...

We've come a long way, baby. ;)

They're all shivering outside at any social gathering, in their dedicated leper colonies...

I love those leper colonies. Innings break in the cricket at the Caketin, and all the smokers run up to that little corner of the concourse they're allowed, and talk to each other. Back steps at a…

I suspect they've reached the apex (or nadir?) of (probably expensive) discouraging campaigns & what's next?

And the big-bacco companies really care?..over here there are two current campaigns..one tells you that ciggies make you virile, the other, my favourite, tells the viewer that the best way to kill the flu is…

It's funny how anecdata can give you entirely different impressions of the same issue. My observation is that most of them have been shamed into submission by the vigilantes shouting 'unclean! unclean!' They're all shivering outside at any social gathering, in their dedicated leper colonies...

Depends enormously on the smoker.…

As for the smoking thing, yes I probably have missed past threads on the topic. I'm quite happy to leave it alone, but

Might be because I mused about banning ciggies completely. I will point out that that was a tongue in cheek response to watching the lurid cancer advertisement,…

many of them are perfectly happy to make sure that everyone around them must share their habit regardless of whether or not they want to

It's funny how anecdata can give you entirely different impressions of the same issue. My observation is that most of them have been shamed into…

Especially considering this was supposed to be after work drinks. To get that liquored up to act the fool & keep instep is impossible for a whole office, moi however.

Yeah, although they could be a Christian firm, who I believe are able to get High on Jesus, without losing their…

Why doesn't everyone get all activist and scapegoaty about petrol fumes, incidentally?

Oh, I do get right fucked-off when I'm following a vintage Stagecoach bus up Symonds St on my bicycle, or overtaking it, assuming I can get enough oxygen through the clouds of diesel smoke. There's certainly not much…

I will acknowledge your right to smoke at such a time as you can do it in my presence entirely without me having to be subjected to your pollutant by-products.

I, on the other hand, would like to invite Jackie over to my house to blow her second-hand smoke into…

I will acknowledge your right to smoke at such a time as you can do it in my presence entirely without me having to be subjected to your pollutant by-products.

You know, Matthew, I feel exactly the same during flu season when I have to share an enclosed, air-conditioned workspace…

Especially considering this was supposed to be after work drinks. To get that liquored up to act the fool & keep instep is impossible for a whole office, moi however.

peoples' rights to do what they wish to their bodies, as long as they aren't affecting other people adversely

Two words (or three, depending upon one's particular brand of pedantry): Second-hand smoke.

I will acknowledge your right to smoke at such a time as you can do it in my…

Do NZ cigarette packets have the luridly coloured photos of decaying feet and flesh?

Hell yes — my response, I'm a depraved nicotine addict who's had skankier looking offal for breakfast. Someone's not bringing their A-game here. :)

Absolutely, Craig. I often wonder what my lungs look like, and then…

And those BNZ ads with the stereotypes, Asian haircut guy, Scottish dad etc, are cleeeearly fake

I think you mean ANZ, and I wouldn't be too quick to judge on that. ANZ take pride in using actual staff in their ads, so I'd hesitate to assume that they don't use…

Maybe I lost all my principles somewhere between being a lawyer and a journalist...

That's like saying :

"Maybe I lost all my elegance between being a pimply wart-hog and an STD that is visible to the eye"

Hasn’t Fairfax done a brilliant job of slowly drip-feeding the Veitch story, and as a result made TVNZ look very shabby?

I'm thinking this is a wonderful opportunity for someone to start marketing lovely cigarette boxes like my mother used to have.

Beaten to the punch! My mother already has a metal Peter Stuyvesant-logo case to cover up her particular brand of decaying flesh.

Do NZ cigarette packets have the luridly coloured photos of decaying feet and flesh? Tell me they're not real please? Were I a smoker, it'd put me off (don't nobody tell me where I can see images of my liver but...)

I'm thinking this is a wonderful opportunity for someone…

(And those BNZ ads with the stereotypes, Asian haircut guy, Scottish dad etc, are cleeeearly fake)

Umm, they're for ANZ.

BNZ have flying pigs. I'm undecided as to whether or not the pigs are real.

Too subtle? :).

I like to get my sledgehammer out nice & early.

Maybe type "boom boom" after the next one. That might filter through to my tired brain.

Even just a month ago, the brain-damaged woman in the LTSA ads simply turns out to be Australian

Hah!

I can kinda handle that. But I will be most peeved if the trachy guy from the 'it's not worth it' smoking ads is not for real. Both people have me…

Do NZ cigarette packets have the luridly coloured photos of decaying feet and flesh?

Hell yes — my response, I'm a depraved nicotine addict who's had skankier looking offal for breakfast. Someone's not bringing their A-game here. :)

Too subtle? :).

I like to get my sledgehammer out nice & early.

Even just a month ago, the brain-damaged woman in the LTSA ads simply turns out to be Australian…

There's a poor taste joke going begging there...

Er, I think I did make that joke Llew, right there. Too subtle? :)

I think if the ad hadn't had "McCallum & Partners Friday…

Lots of lurid pictures of cancer, tragic slurring of…

Even just a month ago, the brain-damaged woman in the LTSA ads simply turns out to be Australian…

There's a poor taste joke going begging there...

I did wonder...

Do NZ cigarette packets have the luridly coloured photos of decaying feet and flesh? Tell me they're not real please? Were…

That Fernleaf Butter family that had everyone entranced in the early 90s? Fake.

The Fernleaf family was obviously played by actors and they were obviously acting.

The Telecom ad looks like it could have been made by real people who'd made the ad as part of some workplace team-building exercise.…

Beer just isn't that much fun,

Shame on you D, Beer is that much fun!

Even just a month ago, the brain-damaged woman in the LTSA ads simply turns out to be Australian…

There's a poor taste joke going begging there...

wonder if this is similar to the outcry after…

Worked up about it? Not especially.

It's vaguely like how if, for example, a bank were to have individuals telling their personal banking stories people might assume it's…

In other threadjacking news, a lovely taxi driver (Mr. Khan, of co-op taxis) handed in my vey expensive digital SLR to the police after I left it (sans any form of easily identifying ID) in his cab in my various nocturnal wanderings on Saturday night. I…

When something's written down for some reason it becomes that little bit more truthful (seeming). Last night i saw the Telecom ad and then a minute or so later there was an ad…

That was a bit of an issue with the drink drive ad and the guy got a conviction for drink driving. The issue came from his contractual obligations not to.

And what's the issue over the price? Is someone getting a…

Now it feels desperately like a middle-aged man trying to talk 'yoof'.

Nicely put, James. And the thing about those Vodafone ads – I know they're not aimed at people like me, who wear cardigans without irony. :) But I couldn't really imagine them doing a Spot The Dog either.

I'd be even more impressed if someone could come up with a masterplan to turn around the (largely self-inflicted) damage to the Telecom brand.

That's the other thing about this ad. It's not Telecom. I know that's the logo on the bottom but it feels more like the youthfulness of…

I'd have been impressed by that.

In Paul Reynold's swivel chair, I'd be even more impressed if someone could come up with a masterplan to turn around the (largely self-inflicted) damage to the Telecom brand. I don't think even Spot The Dog Redux would induce me to move away from…

The people getting exercised are largely, IMO, industry juniors who seem to have nothing better to do than slag each other and their agencies anonymously. Edifying it…

Then when it became a controversy, I looked straight at it, and it was immediately obvious that it was talent, rather than real people.

Which…

so, while she is annoyed that the ad is fake,…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPCyWE-xL1s&feature=related

Maybe I lost all my principles somewhere between being a lawyer and a journalist, but I can't quite get worked up about an advert creating a fictional company (or in this case, a partnership).

Well, no — and it's not as if Telecom was presenting a fictional company as a…