Last Friday we joined our video production partner, Casual Films, at the prestigious IVCA Awards. And a fun evening it was too, despite an entertainment programme that jumped shark after shark after shark. In future, perhaps the organisers could cut down on the performance drumming and the opera-singers-dressed-as-waiters and give over the hour or two saved to – I don’t know – showing a few of the videos that were up for awards?
No matter. The glimpses we did see of this year’s winning entries gave us an intriguing insight into the many ways video is being used in modern marketing, education and fund-raising (there was a strong charity theme throughout the evening). There were entries at all levels of scale, ambition and budget using a rich variety of humour, music, innovation and special effects to get their message across. The tub-thumping opening address of the IVCA’s Marco Forgione was fully borne out by the quality and creativity on display throughout the evening.
In all, Casual picked up five awards – including two Golds – and a bunch of additional commendations. Well done to everyone there.
But what really made the evening for us was recognition for some of our own work: a Silver award for the video we made last year for ENOVIA, the core collaborative backbone of the Dassault Systèmes software platform. This film was one of the highlights of an intensive branding project that touched all aspects of the ENOVIA business and really helped an unsung brand find its voice.
It’s fantastic to be there when a concept you’ve seen through from start to finish receives this kind of accolade. It goes without saying that we couldn’t have done it without the help of the people behind the cameras (thanks chaps) but a big vote of thanks must also go to ENOVIA themselves for sharing the vision and passion that helped make this branding project such a success.
Mixing business and pleasure in consummate style, I have just returned from a heady weekend in New York and a head-down working week in our Detroit office. It seems an appropriate time, then to respond to the observations my colleague made after her first visit to the UK.
Everyone drives in the US. Everyone. I realise this is axiomatic – and that my US colleagues have little choice given the scarcity of public transport – but coming from an urban environment where basically the opposite is true makes you appreciate just how a big a cultural difference it really is.
We went out for a team meal in Birmingham, MI on my last night and, of the seven of us there, only two were not driving. Over here, even one colleague not drinking in a restaurant or pub after work would be the cause of instant mockery and/or gossip. Over there (at least among the responsible drivers) after-work sobriety is a way of life. I’m not here to sit in judgment, of course, but I know where I’d rather live.
Sport is optional. I was in New York on Super Bowl Sunday, which this year meant a clash between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots – practically a local derby. And sure, most bars were showing the game and many were doing special food and drink (apparently only Thanksgiving results in more excessive consumption). Even our too-cool-for-school SoHo hotel was having some sort of Super Bowl party.
But – aside from a bit of token horn-blaring when the Giants pulled off an exciting last-quarter win – it would have been perfectly possible to ignore the whole thing. Perhaps the ubiquity of US sport – and there is a crazy amount of it – has diminished the significance of the showcase events that eventually do come around. Or perhaps the US has a healthier attitude to the importance (or lack of it) of sport in general. Either way, an admittedly statistically dubious two different people I chatted to had no idea what time the game was on, and there was no obvious rowdiness, violence or vomit. Compared with the compulsory madness of, say, an England World Cup match and… well there is no comparison.
There are more hours in the day in America. Now obviously this one isn’t actually true, but every time I’ve been to the US I’ve noticed that it’s never as late as you think it ought to be. The rational explanation is probably something dull to do with jetlag, getting up a bit earlier and being out of phase with colleagues back in the UK and the majority of one’s social media contacts.
But I prefer to believe there’s a simpler explanation: in the US time runs more slowly. I don’t know how they’ve done it, or indeed why (best guess so far: to enable them to squeeze in more baseball). But I wish we could learn the secret over here.
At TheFrameworks we’re never shy of mixing business with pleasure. So we thought why not organise a little surprise for James, our long-serving and ever-patient account director, who today celebrates what he described as “not a special” birthday?
The goodies in question came from our friends at Crumbs and Doilies, who have been instrumental in a couple of recent projects including a DM campaign for EC Group and a special event at IBM UK. And bloody tasty they were too.
Happy birthday James.
We’re not sure about the description of Jay-Z’s autobiography as an “epic moment in pop culture” but we are sure that this is an impressive and creative integrated campaign that’s done wonders for both Bing and the man himself. Nice one.
Blink and you might miss it, but TheFrameworks has a minor starring role in a new viral campaign from Alfa Romeo.
Our new(ish) London office fronts on to a paved parking and loading area belonging to our neighbours, the Design Museum. It’s not usual for us to have to negotiate the odd lorry as new exhibits arrive or old ones are taken away, but a couple of weeks ago we were picking our way past lighting rigs, shiny new cars and former international athletes.
Much of the opening scenes of the Man vs Mito promo are filmed in front of the office. The trained eye might even spot the building itself reflected in the Mito’s bonnet. It may not be the most high-profile film debut, but it’s ours.
By coincidence, this auspicious occasion comes at a time when the agency is working on a number of its own film projects. Watch this space for examples of some exciting new projects over the coming weeks and months.
Full details of the Man vs Mito campaign, including Top Gear-esque race footage, are on Facebook.
